Vento’s Post

We're proud to be part of Greece's thriving startup ecosystem, attracting international talent and fostering innovation. Discover more about how Greece is becoming a hub for global founders in this insightful article by Sifted x Endeavor Greece 🌍🇬🇷 #Innovation #StartupEcosystem #GlobalTalent

US regulations can cause concerns and problems for Danish entrepreneurs wishing to enter the US market. There are several considerations to take into account, like where you are going to incorporate and how. In virtual session 4 'Entering New Markets', Pooja Jain provided a framework for the LEAP FORWARD participants on what to consider and where to start.

🚀 Excitement is in the air as 17 Danish startups are right now preparing for a trip to Silicon Valley next month, each embarking on their journey through the LEAP FORWARD accelerator program!    Navigating the transition from a local market to the global stage in Silicon Valley presents a unique set of challenges and learning curves for international startups. Adapting to new business environments, understanding diverse customer bases, and the nuances of Silicon Valley’s fast-paced ecosystem are just the beginning. In our preparatory efforts, we've had the privilege of collaborating with renowed experts, enriching the startups' journey with a wealth of knowledge and insights. Among these experts is Pooja Jain, Senior Vice President at WSP in the U.S., whose expertise in global market strategies and keen understanding of the common pitfalls faced by international companies has been invaluable for the startups in LEAP FORWARD .    - Embarking on a journey to enter new markets is akin to setting sail on uncharted waters, filled with both challenges and boundless opportunities. Excited to share insights with Danish startups venturing into the US market, where innovation meets possibility, says Pooja Jain.    With a focus on not just navigating but excelling in Silicon Valley, our program aims to equip each of these 17 startups with the tools, knowledge, and networks necessary to thrive. From fine-tuning their pitch to understanding the complexities of investor relations in the U.S., the journey ahead is one of growth, challenge, and immense potential 🌱    We look forward to showcasing the best of the world’s tech-hub to our startups in collaboration with INTENTIONAL, and supported by Found Diverse, and Industriens Fond 🌟    Jonas Samland | Daiana Fobian Nielsen Davis | Jon Therkildsen | Johan Hyldig Nielsen | Stine Colding Alstrup | Mariana Napuri

We are deligthed to publish the CEE startup ecosystem 2024 we have put together with our partners Dealroom.co, Vestbee and Cogito Capital Partners. You can find and download the full report here: https://lnkd.in/dPnMqzSx Key takeaways: - Despite a challenging year 2023 marked by high interest rates & looming inflation the startup ecosystem in CEE has proven a remarkable resiliance - The value of the ecosystem has been stable and increased slightly to about 215bn EUR on the back of 52 unicorn startups in the region - Next to SaaS and Enterprise Software which have been the backbone of the industry over the past years new verticals such as energy, AI, healthcare and biotheck are gaining momentum - The region is still facing a funding gap especially in later stage rounds and remains dependent on international FDI and VC funding - A new batch of first time as well as second time founders are working on a next generation of startups that are very much focusing sustainable business models At UNIQA Ventures, founded in 2016, our mission is deeply rooted in this vibrant region: to back exceptional founding teams during their pivotal scaling and growth stages and to close the later stage funding gap in a region that we consider our second home. Although we invest throughout Europe we cannot deny a certain home market bias towards the CEE region. Our commitment extends beyond investment; we partner with visionary teams to harness the potential of innovative ideas that can transform lives and to allow companies to use CEE as their launchpad for global expansion The cycle of innovation in CEE is inspiring and we are committed to nurture the local startup ecosystem, as today's leaders emerge as tomorrow's founders, creating groundbreaking companies with a sustainable approach to growth.” UNIQA Insurance Group Credo Ventures OTB Ventures Creandum Elevator Ventures KAYA VC Telemedi - Digital Health Platform & Telehealth Provider Insly Insly Polska UNIQA Polska UNIQA osiguranje Srbija UNIQA osiguranje Hrvatska UNIQA Biztosító UNIQA Bulgaria UNIQA osiguranje u BiH Mavie Gesundheit Mavie Next 3VC 3TS Capital Partners Speedinvest UNIQA Asigurari SA PZU PZU Zdrowie Vienna Insurance Group (VIG) Erste Group Bank AG Luminor Group Red Bull Raiffeisen Bank International AG ČEZ Rockaway Capital LEAD VENTURES PortfoLion Capital Partners Eleven Ventures A1 Telekom Austria Group Swisscom OMV VERBUND AG

🚀 Eastern Europe: The Rising Star of the Venture Landscape 🌍 The latest "Venture in Eastern Europe Report" by How To Web has just landed, and the numbers are telling a compelling story of growth, resilience, and potential across the region. In 2023, Eastern Europe witnessed a remarkable 27.4% surge in total investment volume, reaching €129.6M across 61 transactions. Despite a broader investment volume drop, six standout countries - Poland, Greece, Lithuania, Czech Republic, Estonia, and Romania - each raised over €100M, painting a clear picture of a region on the rise. 📈 Poland led the charge with an impressive €466M, underscoring its burgeoning status as a startup haven. Yet, the real narrative extends beyond numbers. A staggering 78.5% of the total investment volume stemmed from follow-on rounds, highlighting a mature, scaling startup ecosystem poised for global impact. But here's the kicker - the average deal size in 2023 leaped by a whopping 260.8% 💥 compared to 2017. The journey of ElevenLabs to unicorn status in a mere two years is a testament to the untapped potential of Central and Eastern Europe's startup landscape. 🦄 As investors, we're turning our gaze towards this dynamic region. 💼🌐 What about you?! What are you seeing in the region? #VentureCapital #EasternEurope #StartupEcosystem #Innovation #GrowthInvesting

Check out this interesting article on the top startup cities around the world! According to the data, the US is still leading by far, but China is quickly catching up. Surprisingly, only two European cities made the list and one shining small city - Tel Aviv. It's fascinating to see how the startup landscape is evolving globally.

Why is 🇪🇪 Estonia such a great place for startups? Local founders Kaspar Mooses and Oliver Pappel from Inspectle Food share insights on what's putting Estonia on the global map in the startup scene. Curious? 😏 It only takes 4 minutes to satisfy your curiosity, let’s get into it!👇 1️⃣ WHAT ASPECTS OF THE ESTONIAN STARTUP ECOSYSTEM CONTINUE TO 😱 SURPRISE YOU, FOR BETTER OR WORSE? The ease of networking in Estonia is remarkable. Given the country's small size, connecting with other founders, investors, and industry professionals is just a few phone calls away. This accessibility is something we've come to appreciate deeply. 2️⃣ WHAT IS THE MOST SIGNIFICANT CHANGE YOU'VE OBSERVED IN THE ESTONIAN STARTUP ECOSYSTEM? There's a growing sense of caution among startups and investors alike. The previous focus on rapid growth at any cost has shifted towards sustainable development and profitability. This shift necessitates a strong foundational approach from the outset, contributing to a more robust startup environment. 3️⃣ COULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH SECURING 💰 FUNDING IN ESTONIA? Funding is readily available for robust, value-driven companies in Estonia. A solid team, compelling idea, and clear business plan typically open many doors to financing. However, governmental support for startups could be improved. Despite this, Estonia's strong track record in fostering unicorns has made it an attractive landscape for foreign investors. 4️⃣ WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO FELLOW FOUNDERS SEEKING 💰 FUNDING IN ESTONIA? Engage actively with the community. Investors not only provide capital but also offer critical insights that can refine your business approach. Each interaction is an opportunity to improve your pitch and deepen your understanding of your business. Remember, securing funding is challenging, and maintaining focus on building your business is crucial. 5️⃣ HOW HAS YOUR 🚉 JOURNEY BEEN SINCE YOUR FIRST INVESTMENT ROUND WITH FIRSTPICK? Securing our first round of investment from FIRSTPICK was a milestone for our company. It provided essential funding and validation for our business model. With FIRSTPICK's support, expertise, and network, we've accelerated our growth and navigated challenges effectively. We look forward to continued collaboration and accessing further investment opportunities through their extensive network of VCs and investors. Thanks, Kaspar Mooses and Oliver Pappel, for sharing your 💡 insights and experiences that highlight why 🇪🇪 Estonia is such an exciting place for startups. #FIRSTPICK #vc #startups #startuplife

Is e-residency a hot topic for our startups? Here's a quick recap of the latest event in Madrid. On Thursday, I attended an awesome e-residency event by the Republic of Estonia at one of six Madrid’s Impact Hub Madrid spaces. In a nutshell, over 100 startups applied for a 60-second pitch to Estonian VCs, but only 20 made it to the finals. Probably because they aimed to join the ranks of Estonian unicorns like Skype, Playtech, Bolt, and Pipedrive. 😄 After the pitch session, Agur Jõgi, CTO of Pipedrive, shared the perks of Estonia’s e-residency, and here are some key takeaways: ✅ Pioneering e-residency, opening doors to the global market. ✅ Enables you to manage your business online and access European markets. ✅ Full digital infrastructure that makes business management easier. ✅ Seamless operations with international payment providers and digital signatures. ℹ️ With over 111,700 e-residents and 29,800 companies, Estonia seems to offer a business-friendly environment that is perfect for testing, especially for DeepTech startups. And here is another data to keep in mind: Estonia is ranked 14th globally and 6th in the EU when it comes to the success of startup ecosystems (Startup Blink 2023). Huge thanks to Guillermo Chávez García for organizing everything, networking session included! So, if you know someone who finds this info helpful and wants to join the fiesta, Guillermo is your go-to person, and now you know the address. 🇷🇸 🇪🇸

A few years ago I made a conscious decision to become part of the startup ecosystem in Denmark 🚀 I wanted to work with startups and contribute to their success just as much as I wanted to experience and learn from them and their dynamic work approach. I’m fortunate to be mentor for and board member in a number of cool foodtech/food & beverage startups in Copenhagen and in the Netherlands and Spain. It's as enjoyable and rewarding, as I anticipated!😍 The startup founders/teams are without exception visionary, ambitious, extremely hardworking and equally pleasant to work with. They also excel at leveraging their extensive network for support and guidance, especially in areas such as sales, pipeline management and engagement with larger corporates. And rightly so, for the obvious reason. Without sales, no business. However, one standout aspect of startup culture is their 'execution over perfection' mindset. The startups do, act, try, execute, implement, take action and they do it consistently without waiting for it to be 100% perfect. Don’t get me wrong, sometimes their perfection occurs, but without excessive reviews or committees. At times you obviously need to take the time to make it absolutely perfect. But taking action and showing up every day can and do create magic! 💫 I’m reflecting on this 'execution over perfection' mindset in the startup culture, as I’m currently on a train to Århus to visit INCUBA A/S as part of a Keystones member event. I’m excited to dig into the Århus startup scene and hear some, I’m sure, interesting pitches and perspectives from that big Danish startup hub. My focus when I engage with the startups will be on ambition, execution – and sales👌 #Startups #ExecutionOverPerfection #StartupEcosystem

🚀 Heads up, Startup Enthusiasts! Major shifts in the European startup landscape as Pitch's CEO, Christian Reber, steps down, signaling a strategic reboot. 🔄 The move reflects broader challenges faced by European startups, highlighted by a 55% decline in investments, reaching over €40 billion. 🔍 What caught our attention: 🤔 The recognition of hurdles in securing funds. 💰 Transitioning from hyper-growth to prioritize profitability and organic growth. ⏳ A strategic pivot towards sustainability and a balanced approach to long-term success. Let's watch how this strategic shift sets the tone for other startups in 2024!✨ #startupstrategy #EuropeanTech #LeadershipShift