Nicolaj Højer Nielsen

Europe unfortunately is a combination of many individual capital markets, some bigger and some smaller, which is keeping the industry's growth modest and never really challenging the US. #vc #funding #startups #privatefunding #privatecapital #investmentstrategies #growth #deeptech #seed #startupcapital

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Our mission is clear: to make top-tier services affordable and accessible to the mid-market. Freelancers were often the only viable option in the past, while consultancies came with high costs and other downsides. Our experience shows that a small integrated team of senior operators delivers the best results. A rapidly growing number of repeat customers agrees. Reach out to learn how we can help you accelerate growth affordably yet through a best-in-class delivery model. #operatingpartner #commercialexcellence #privateequity #freelancer #managementconsultant Mitul Ruparelia Pedro Correia Krishna Chaitanya Simon Blackburn

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The last report released by Invest Europe on the state of the European VC industry contains some great data on the role that VC companies are playing in helping the European economy grow (link in the comments). But I do have to (again) take serious issue with the performance data they use and the claim that European VC has outperformed its US peers over the last decade. Invest Europe uses the Cambridge Associates data when analysing the performance of European venture capital. However, the analysis is only as good as the underlying data and, unfortunately, Cambridge's data on European VC fund performance is extremely limited. According to Pitchbook, there were 2,733 VC funds raised in Europe (including the UK) from 2010 to 2019. However, just 88 of these are included in Cambridge's European benchmarks. That equates to just 3.2% of all the funds raised during the period. In some vintage years, there are just three funds in the Cambridge analysis! In a power law asset class such as venture, a 3.2% sample size will produce conclusions that are, at best, meaningless and, at worst, misleading. The most you can honestly say about this data is that the tiny sample of European funds in the Cambridge data has outperformed the slightly larger, but still small (13.3% of all funds raised) sample of US funds. You cannot extrapolate this data to say European VC funds outperform US ones. We have been investing in European venture funds for over 25 years and there are some outstanding VC firms in the region. If investors want to commit to European VCs, they should do it because they believe that specific firm to be one of the best VC managers globally. Allocating to venture capital based on average performance from a highly limited data set is not a winning strategy.

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Vsquared VC: New Fund II Raised💰 Vsquared Ventures has successfully closed its Fund II at €214m to invest in early-stage deeptech startups across Europe. The fund significantly exceeded its initial target of €165m, reflecting the growing momentum and understanding of deeptech's importance in Europe. Founding partner Thomas Oehl attributes this success to the increasing recognition of deeptech's potential.🌟 The fund will invest between €500k and €5m in approximately 25 companies, reserving two-thirds of the fund for follow-on investments. The portfolio already includes notable startups: cylib, Synthara AG, and NEURA Robotics.🤖 🔎The new fund will focus on six key themes: AI and next-gen software, energy transition, new computing and sensing, space, tech bio, and robotics and manufacturing. Oehl emphasizes that Vsquared aims to be the first institutional investor in these deeptech startups, positioning itself as a leading supporter of innovative technologies.🦸‍♂️ Vsquared's latest fund is primarily backed by European LPs, including Novo Holdings, the NATO Innovation Fund (NIF), the Export and Investment Fund of Denmark, the European Investment Fund (EIF), and Germany’s KfW Capital . This deliberate choice showcases Vsquared as a pan-European fund. The fund also includes founders as LPs, such as Simon Bolz of Klara, and Dr. Oliver Trinchera and Dr. Alexander Huettenbrink, co-founders of KINEXON.💵 GP Lise Rechsteiner, PhD notes a significant shift in the perception of deeptech investments over the past few years. "Two or three years ago, you had to explain a lot why you were doing deeptech investments, and that has completely changed. There is no question around that anymore," she says. Rechsteiner emphasizes that Europe's strength in deeptech is underpinned by its high-quality universities, scientific research, and graduate talent. Rechsteiner highlights several emerging deeptech hubs outside the traditional powerhouses of Munich, London, Paris, and Stockholm. She sees Vilnius as strong in cybersecurity and tech bio, and Copenhagen emerging as a hub for quantum and biomanufacturing.🏦 Despite the immense opportunity for Europe to build deeptech champions, Rechsteiner points out challenges such as fragmentation in the European IPO market. Unlike the centralized Nasdaq in the US, Europe's decentralized IPO markets create a fragmented investor base, making it difficult for not-yet-profitable companies. "Getting rid of hurdles and trying to really see Europe as a united region would be amazing," Rechsteiner concludes. 🌍✨ ✅ Looking to raise capital for your #VCfund and increase the international pool of your LPs?   🤝 Need warm #LP introductions?   📝 Selling #secondaries to increase liquidity?   🧐 Looking for co-investments (Series A/Series B)?   ▶G+QUANT's link for inquiries and fund decks: https://lnkd.in/gjC_EuTE   #Deeptech #VentureCapital #EuropeanInnovation #Startups #TechInvesting

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Speed is everything in startup life. Read a post the other day that put it better than I ever could: “The faster you can collide your ideas against reality, the faster you get feedback. By increasing the speed at which you can act on the context, trying new things will become cheaper for you — and so you will take more risks, and extract more information from the context. Write faster, prototype faster, ask for feedback faster. Velocity is underrated.” Couldn’t agree more.

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Fundraising is a numbers game. But not just because most investors will say no. (though they will) The other reason is it takes some level of volume to find the best possible investors for your company. In the best case scenario, you don't want to just raise money you want to raise from the best investors possible. Unless you already know a ton of investors (and sometimes even if you do), you'll need to meet a lot of folks to figure out: - who you vibe with most - who sees the world similar to you - who shares your values - who understands your market the best - who else already shares or can get to the conviction you have on the opportunity you're pursuing - who's network can be uniquely helpful to what you're building etc. This is one of the times when cringe statements like "investor 🤝 founder partnerships are like a marriage" or "fundraising is like dating" bares some truth. You're not marrying your VCs. And fundraising is def not the same vibes as dating in most ways. But it is an evaluative process and it takes reps to find your people. When we were raised, I was surprised at how many investors I liked in general that didn't feel like good fits for the specific company we were building.

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Otto - Framework Venture Partners’ AI assisted investing, matching and optimizing platform has been busy. YTD we have matched almost 10,000 startups with almost 150 VCs! Did you know according to Otto: -for a successful Seed or Series A round the average North American Startup has had to contact approximately 150 VCs? You can now reach that instantly using Otto! -the average VC in North America sees over 1,000 startups a year! -roughly 1 out 1,500+ startups become a unicorn -Otto sees 10,000 startups a year and learns from all of them! Improving match making. The experience for startups and VCs constantly gets better! To get started go to: startups.framework.vc We will be rolling out data insights and tools starting this fall. Can’t wait to share. PS - Otto is FREE! PPS - are you an investor? Want A.I. powered matching to your specific criteria for deal flow? Go to: investors.framework.vc

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The costly mistake 90% of new VC investors make (and how to avoid it) It’s hard to spot the most promising early-stage technology companies. New investors haven't built up the: • Specific knowledge • Extensive network • Pattern recognition Which are all needed to separate winners from losers. Without that: → Your returns suffer → You get discouraged Yet when that happens, you miss the incredible wealth creation potential of backing early-stage tech companies. What I do at Cape Fear Ventures is leverage decades of experience as a tech founder, investor and board member to identify and back the most transformative startups. My track record from 50+ VC investments (from 1,000+ deal opportunities) • 25% - Big winners (greater than 3x w/ 4 making unicorn status) • 15% - Smaller winners (1x to 3x) • 50% - Still invested • 10% - Written off as a loss Cape Fear’s portfolio includes successes like SpaceX, Palantir Technologies, ID.me and Ohanafy. Around 10 years ago, I jumped into investing after building two software companies to 60+ employees each and exiting both for 8-figures … Partnering with an experienced investment firm was the single most effective action I took to pick winners and maximize my returns. That’s why I started Cape Fear Ventures. Now I help newer investors with my: • Deep domain expertise • Extensive network • Ability to spot promising opportunities early P.S: Got capital to deploy but overwhelmed with the noise and hype? Send me a DM to see how Cape Fear can help. My first investment grew into a unicorn - yours could too.

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“I always tell founders that they only have three jobs, but the number one is don't run out of money. And one way of not running out of money is being really good at raising money, and the other way having a sustainable business. So we're not in our zero interest rate environment anymore, but I think depending on who you are, you can't drink your own Kool Aid. If you're running the fundraising game, then there is an endpoint to it. The music does stop at some point, and so hopefully, you took advantage of all that cheap capital and built something that’s great and sustainable. And you didn't drink too much of your own Kool Aid.” - Shiyan K., Managing Partner of Hustle Fund Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://lnkd.in/gwdNvBiF   Nonton, dengar atau baca wawasan lengkapnya di https://lnkd.in/g4D794Mt 观看、收听或阅读全文，请访问 https://lnkd.in/g-wvTUdA #Singapore #China #USA #GeopoliticalTensions #TradeWar #Mobility #BikeSharing #VentureCapitalist #VC #BRAVEpodcast

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📊 US Business Migration on the Rise: 🇪🇺 Europe 🇪🇺 Loses Top Startups in 2024 The trend is emerging in 2024: promising European tech start-ups are increasingly relocating their offices to the United States. 🇺🇸 With venture capital investment flows declining in Europe, many startups are finding better opportunities for growth and development in the U.S., a market that offers a more favourable environment and greater access to funding. 🚀 This should be cause for concern! Key Trends Driving This Shift: 👁️ The U.S. continues to attract startups with its robust venture capital ecosystem, advanced technology infrastructure, and supportive legislative and tax incentives. 🚩 Many European countries are struggling to provide long-term funding and growth opportunities, leading to a "brain drain" of talent and innovative companies. ✈️ Startups from Germany 🇩🇪, Spain 🇪🇸, France 🇫🇷, and other parts of Europe are setting up new HQ's in major US tech hubs. Looking Ahead: As the U.S. continues to solidify its status as the global tech innovation hub, more and more European startups are eyeing a move across the pond to scale up and compete. But, let’s not overlook the friendly neighbour to the North 🇨🇦. Canada should be seen as a serious contender for any European venture or founder contemplating a move. With its supportive ecosystem and growing tech landscape, Canada presents a compelling alternative and often excellent alignment, that warrants closer consideration. Europe needs to step it up to stay competitive and attractive for growth. It’s time for us to innovate and elevate the broader tech ecosystem, particularly funding appetites, if we want to keep talent and startups thriving right here. Stay tuned for more updates on how global startups are navigating these changes! #StartupMigration #TechStartups #VentureCapital #Innovation #USMarket #BusinessGrowth #GlobalExpansion #P2 #ScalingUp

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Europe's tech market has some catching up to do. #eu #techmarket #technology #techcompanies #marketvalue #financing #growthcapital #scaleups #commercialisation

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At ScaleupStream we guide you, support you, and help you get the funding your startup needs. Join ScaleupStream and grow your startup. #Startup #StartupGrowth #ScaleupStream

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My VC-tech newsletter for the first half of September can be summarized in 5 words - Summer Slump and AI Hype - https://lnkd.in/eHuihDec European VC Market 📉 August was the worst month for European startup funding since April 2017, with only €1.8bn raised across 247 funding rounds. 📈 Despite this, median late venture rounds are growing in size, with the median Series B round size up 40% year on year. Global VC Trends 📉 The number of VC transactions continued to decline in Q2'24, to 4,207 from 4,452 in Q1. 📈 However, aggregate value ticked up to $69.4bn from $61.2bn, boosted by tech deals. 🚨 Exits continued at a very moderate pace, with only 13 VC-backed IPOs in Q2 compared to 44 in Q1 2024. AI Update 🤖 AI features prominently among the 6,868 VC funds currently in market worldwide, aiming to raise a combined $462.6bn. 💰 The US has increased its domination of VC in recent years, with prominent funds like Andreessen Horowitz and Balderton Capital investing heavily in AI (A16Z did close their Miami shop which Khosla shrugged off). Mega-Deals and IPOs 🚀 Safe Superintelligence raised a $1+ billion round at a reported $5 billion valuation, while OpenAI and Coreweave are out to raise unprecedented rounds. 💰 Sequoia Capital bought $861 million worth of Stripe shares. IPO 🔔 Companies like OpenAI, CoreWeave, and Rebellions are reportedly planning IPOs. Come along for much else on how VC valuations shaped up in early Sep, the California AI act, AI eating jobs at your favourite BNPL shop, Paul Graham's awesome new article on 'founder mode'. #VC #Startup #Tech #AI #IPO #VentureCapital #Funding #Innovation

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☀️ Summer Update: Freshly announced VC funds - €4bn+ since April! ☀️ The VC market is back, great time to build great companies in Europe! 🚀 Due to PitchBook, "The venture capital market (globally) has already bottomed out, with signs that a gradual rebound is underway." (https://lnkd.in/e7G6cQEH) "The venture industry is more active than any time pre-2021. Q2 venture capital investment in Europe is up 14% on Q1, and 12% year on year, and European startups raised $15.6B in Q2 2024." Dealroom.co (https://lnkd.in/egYHgkNg) Here are a bunch of fresh funds: <100m Funds: 💰 Carbon Equity 🇳🇱 - €60m (https://lnkd.in/e6trwJup) 💰 BlackWood 🇩🇰 - €15m (https://lnkd.in/ed__M4Np) 💰 Italian Founders Fund 🇮🇹 - €50m (https://lnkd.in/ehfZpuF8) 💰 Kfund 🇪🇸 - €70m (https://lnkd.in/eWVGi-xE) 💰 Dreamcraft Ventures 🇩🇰 - €66m (https://lnkd.in/eYaRm7WT) 💰 identity.vc I Backing LGBTQ+ Entrepreneurs 🇩🇪 - €15m (https://lnkd.in/eKTSVPXa) 💰 Openseed VC 🇬🇧 - €9m (https://lnkd.in/e_hPphrY) 💰 Pitchdrive | Early-stage VC 🚀 🇳🇱 - €40m (https://lnkd.in/e6r49mMz) 💰 14Peaks Capital 🇨🇭 - €28m (https://lnkd.in/eBSjW-cw) 💰 Elevator Ventures 🇦🇹 - €70m (https://lnkd.in/eahGkeXM) 💰 BOOOM💥🇩🇪 - €17m (https://lnkd.in/eJqWt2MH) >100m Funds: 💰 13books Capital 🇬🇧 - ￡121 (https://lnkd.in/eXhaydg9) 💰 MiddleGame Ventures 🇱🇺 - €150m (https://lnkd.in/eGd69gSx) 💰 Wind 🇫🇷 - €130m (https://lnkd.in/eeaNHZJm) 💰 Vsquared Ventures 🇩🇪 - €214m (https://lnkd.in/eNFj9rGf) 💰 Suma Capital 🇪🇸 - €125m (https://lnkd.in/efk7QJGk) 💰 Creandum 🇸🇪 - €500m (https://lnkd.in/e7ztHAU9) 💰 ETF Partners 🇬🇧 - €285m (https://lnkd.in/eKPdGPkJ) 💰 Norrsken VC 🇸🇪 - €320m (https://lnkd.in/ewxTh7zD) 💰 Alpine Space Ventures 🇩🇪 - €170m (https://lnkd.in/e3SQQwwf) 💰 Accel 🇬🇧 - €600m (https://lnkd.in/eYewqRqj) 💰 imec.xpand 🇧🇪 - €300m (https://lnkd.in/e-S-TyhW) 💰 Lakestar Early+Growth 🇨🇭- €560m (https://lnkd.in/e_SeFicE) 💰 Armira Growth 🇩🇪 - €200m (https://lnkd.in/efVRktgx) 💰 Index Ventures 🇬🇧 - $2.3bn (https://lnkd.in/eVzF5ncE) Forgot one? Feel free to comment! 👇 Link to Dealroom.co's Q2 Report: https://lnkd.in/eAVxFHGx

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Welcome ecoLocked to the Climentum Capital portfolio! We are proud to have led the €4M funding round together with Matterwave Ventures, and delighted to have existing investors Counteract, Startup Family Office, Sabancı Building Solutions, and VOYAGERS.io joining the round. The investment will support ecoLocked’s mission to revolutionize the construction industry with carbon-negative building materials. Concrete production accounts for 8% of global CO2 emissions, making innovations in this field crucial for achieving net-zero goals. ecoLocked is leading the change by converting carbon captured from biomass into functional, carbon-negative building materials. This funding will accelerate ecolocked's efforts to turn buildings into carbon sinks, scaling their innovative biochar-based solutions and enabling 1Gt carbon removal by 2040. Doerte Hirschberg Morten Halborg Stefan Maard

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🚀 Investment Criteria and Fundraising Success 🚀 🔍 Techstar’s Marting Schilling delved into the success of 58 companies in the Tech Start DeepTech Berlin portfolio (2022-2024), analyzing 17 investment criteria to identify the strongest signals for early-stage fundraising success. 💡 💰 Top Indicators of Success: Monetisation Potential (0.61) Domain Expertise (0.59) Speed of Execution (0.57) Market & Timing (0.55) ❌ Least Correlated with Success: Role Clarity (0.12) Team Co-Location (0.08) Number of Cofounders (0.02) 🌟 To attract investors, founders should emphasize the top 4 categories and spend less time optimizing for less impactful factors like role clarity or co-location. While these might have other benefits, they don’t significantly boost fundraising success. 📈 #Investment #Fundraising #Techstars #DeepTech #StartupSuccess #VC #EarlyStage #Monetisation #DomainExpertise #MarketTiming #ExecutionSpeed

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Our newest #camelstartup investment #startup #sweden

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