Seedcamp’s Post

How often do you meet your investors in person? We have become so accustomed to meeting online that we don‘t always get to meet the founders in person before we invest. Online meeting culture has brought so many benefits but how well can you get a feel for an investor or founder, if you have never met in real life? While I absolutely enjoy that I can take more meetings due to not having to travel, there is still this question of whether or not we got the right impression of the founders we have only met online. I am glad about two things: 1) Our process seems to work because… 2) Luke is a top-notch founder with an important mission that we support. Being able to connect apart from work is also important to build the relationship between founders and investors. It‘s much easier in person without it being a 30 min meeting where you have to talk about the business. We as the earliest investors should not forget that we are mostly in the people business since we invest in the founders who then build a company. We‘re really happy that everything worked out so well and that we are invested in Luke Ferris‘ startup OriginAI alongside EWOR, ROI VENTURES and many other great investors. Excited for what the future will bring! Picture: Tobias Burger, me, Luke Ferris and Laura Raggl

Breakfast meeting in London with Andrey Anishchenko, co-founder of EBAC - Escola Britânica de Artes Criativas e Tecnologia and Skillbox ✨ It took me an hour to get from Richmond to Hampstead, where Andrey lives. It was a bit of a journey, but it was worth it! I really enjoyed talking to Andrey. Even though he has way more experience in business and life than me, we have a lot of common interests and had some really interesting and deep conversations. We talked about the edtech industry and how Andrey's company, EBAC (which is like the British School of Design in Russia), is one of the few that's still going strong in LatAm. It's a tough time for the industry right now, but Andrey is optimistic about the future 💪 We also talked about angel investors and how they can be a bit of a pain. Andrey said that it's often better not to take investments from them because they don't always understand the risks involved. For example, if a startup fails, they might want their money back, which can be a huge problem 😮 Andrey was really impressed with what we're doing at R-Founders. He thinks that if we can roll out our model globally and connect with local communities, founders, and their teams, we could build a really successful business. I know it might sound a bit ambitious, but I really believe in what we're doing. I think we can build a marketplace of services around our community, and it's a really exciting opportunity 💖

I want to express my gratitude to Pete Howard and UC Centre for Entrepreneurship for all the mahi with the incredible Summer Startup cohort, and a special thank you to all the mentors for their invaluable insights. The speed mentoring session experience was incredibly enriching. I am truly inspired by our cohort's diverse perspectives and expertise, particularly the emphasis on addressing problems through cultural and sustainability lenses. During the session, I had the privilege of sharing three key takeaways with our fellow cohort: 1. Love the Problem! - It's crucial to refine and focus on solving the problem rather than building a solution you love 2. Involve Your Customers - Let your customers guide you. Listen to their needs, and let them be the champions of your solution. 3. Beyond Immediate Stakeholders - Consider the broader societal and environmental impact of your problem or solution. Understand the interdependency and strive for positive contributions to the people and the planet. Thank you to each member of the cohort for your active participation, enthusiasm, and the wealth of inspiration shared. Let's harness this collective momentum, support one another, embrace the exciting journey that lies ahead, and above all, remember to have FUN along the way. #socialinnovation #startup #UCE

🚀 A Look Back at the Demo Day at 3dots Accelerator_001! Last Thursday, betahaus was abuzz with energy as we hosted 3dots Accelerator_001 Demo Day. It was an evening filled with promise, inspiration, and community spirit. ⚓️ Key Highlights: Welcoming Address: A warm welcome from Olivia of betahaus set the perfect tone for the evening, reminding us of the collaborative and supportive environment that betahaus embodies. 🎯 Pitches: Bioground (fka En Küçük Müze) (Türkiye): Their innovative, compact biodiversity learning experience designed for public spaces is a creative step in environmental education. Naz Yaman Derin Altan Utku Guven Guayaba (France): They brought the vibrancy of Latin American cinema to the forefront, emphasizing its rich cultural heritage. Harry Bracho Valerio Mendoza myCulture (Austria): Vera L. B. Grablechner, MA, presented a compelling vision for making art and culture more accessible to the younger generation. 🗣️ Spotlight on Learning and Creativity: Gokce, the architect of our learning program, shared insightful thoughts on the program's structure and its pivotal role in fostering the creative economy. Her words underscored the importance of nurturing creativity and innovation in today's world. 👥 Networking and Connections: The event was more than pitches; it was a hub of meaningful interactions. Founders, mentors, and investors exchanged ideas and insights, laying the groundwork for future collaborations. 🌐 A Virtual Gathering: Thanks to everyone who joined us online! Your participation brought a global dimension to our event, making Demo Day not just a showcase but a celebration of shared entrepreneurial spirit. 💡 Heartfelt Thanks: We extend our deepest gratitude to our mentors, participants, and everyone who played a role in turning this Demo Day into a landmark event for 3dots Accelerator_001. Your support and dedication are the pillars of our success. We're already excited about the future, continuing our mission to support startups and drive change in the creative economy. Stay connected for more updates, and here's to the growth and success of all our ventures! #3dotsDemoDay #SocialInnovation #CreativeEconomy #StartupJourney

The seed investing landscape is on the brink of significant transformation in the years ahead, driven by a confluence of factors that collectively point toward the waning participation of large investors and a decline in seed deal metrics. The responsibility for sustaining seed deal activity will increasingly fall upon smaller investors, which, until now, have had the necessary capital to support startups at progressively higher deal sizes and valuations. However, as their available dry powder dwindles, raising new funds becomes more challenging, and value creation between Seed and Series A startups continues to erode, investors will prompt a recalibration of seed deal metrics to align with their diversification and return objectives. We can anticipate that seed deal metrics will hit a plateau in the coming quarters and eventually exhibit signs of decline toward the latter part of 2024 https://lnkd.in/ejJEq5yK

Did you know employee engagement is the top HR challenge for 2024? 71% of executives recognizing its critical importance, meanwhile, 82% of employees are at risk of burnout, and only half of employers have implemented effective well-being initiatives. I help executives implement Kolbe to better understand and utilize their team's unique strengths, fostering better collaboration, and higher productivity so they can foster a culture of engagement. Such a great example of promoting employee engagement! Way to go Chris Ronzio 👏🏼👏🏼

STL folks. Stay tuned for more about STL Startup Week this year! & DM me if you want to learn more about speaking/volunteering/attending!

I highly recommend this program to learn more about Angel investing and the startup world.

🌟I am very proud that Hub Planning is part of the Enterprise Ireland's Class of 2023/24'. 🌟We are now actively seeking SEED funding! 🔍 I am eager to connect with fellow founders and experienced funders. If you've navigated these waters before, I would really appreciate if you could share what worked best for you? I would love to learn from your experiences! #EnterpriseIreland #StartUpFunding #Entrepreneurship #BusinessGrowth #SeedFunding

How To Raise a Seed Round in Under Two Weeks