Theresa Imre

🙋🏻‍♀️ 𝙒𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙣 𝙣𝙚𝙚𝙙 … 𝙍𝙤𝙡𝙚𝙢𝙤𝙙𝙚𝙡𝙨, 𝙁𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙨 & 𝙑𝙞𝙨𝙞𝙗𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙮 ! 𝙒𝙝𝙮? 💡Even though women make 50% of our population, only 2 out of 10 women found a company in Germany. 💰Only 2% of Venture Capital goes into female founded companies. 👩🏻‍💻Only 15% of senior partners in VC firms are women. 📑 In the Innovation Agenda of the Startup-Verband we set the objective that every third startup in Germany should have a female co-founder by 2030. For this we need: 👉🏽 Visibility of female founders and investors through media, publications and networks such 2hearts, the Evangelistas, STRIVE Magazine, FRAUEN100 and many more. 👉🏽 Role Models and mentors who are willing to support and empower women who want to found or are already running their own company. 👉🏽 Funding into female founded companies supported by an increased number of senior female partners in VC firms and investment roles at large. 🙏🏽 Thank you Welt, Katja Deutsch, Alia Fahda (Contentway GmbH) for the important conversation on how to support and empower women in the German economy with focus on tech and startups! 🗞️ Link to the entire publication in the comments. #Gründergeist #Innovation #FemaleFounders #VentureCapital #Diversity

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🌟 Exciting Times at 4GAMECHANGERS Festival 2024 in Vienna! 🌟 Day #1 has already set the stage with riveting debates around #AI, sparking the essential question: "HUMAN OR MACHINE - Who is in control?" …. This and many other questions were addressed in numerous discussions 👉 https://lnkd.in/dzAde_2j The energy is palpable as over 5000 visionaries who gather daily, to dive into a wealth of knowledge through inspiring speeches and interactive panels. #4GAMECHANGERS4GAMECHANGERS is truly the nexus where innovation meets inspiration, bridged by digitalization and entertainment! A huge shoutout to the organizers and partners for making this possible! InnovaticGroup. Create the Future Now innovaticgroup.com #4Gamechangers #TechChange #FutureIsNow #SustainableInnovation #Innovation #Technology #Entrepreneurship #Investment #Networking #InnovaticGroup #BusinessGrowth #SustainableInnovation #GlobalImpact #Investors #BusinessAngels #VentureCapital #LPs #GPs #Innovation #DigitalRransformation #Digitalization #Startup #Scaleup

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Studying at Tomorrow University of Applied Sciences: How we use the Master program as an academic incubator for our startup journey… 🚀 Sarah & I are currently on a mission to identify an idea for our climate tech startup. We also started a Master's program in Sustainability, Entrepreneurship and Technology at Tomorrow University in March. We did not start the program for the sake of an M.Sc. (we both already have a master's degree) but rather to help us on our journey. While we knew we had the skill set to build digital solutions, we also knew we had more to learn, especially in entrepreneurship. The program at ToU allows us to use our ideas in the courses, get feedback from a diverse group of students and extend our skill set. It's kinda like using the Master's program as an academic incubator for our startup journey ✨ Of all the courses (challenges) at ToU I did so far, three stood out for me: 1️⃣ Mission Identification with Dr. Thomas Funke This was the first challenge I've done and it really helped me to understand what drives me. I knew I wanted to work on solving the climate crisis, but I had never identified my why (purpose) and how (mission). This challenge with Thomas helped me accomplish that and also to build a support network for the future. 2️⃣ Finance for Entrepreneurs with Johannes Arning A few months ago, Sarah & I calculated a business case for an idea we had. It was alright, but after this challenge with Johannes, we had created a really sophisticated model that could easily be adapted for different business ideas. We had a clear overview of our profit & loss, cash flow and cost structure. This challenge gave us crucial new insights into our cases and helped us a lot in planning for 2025. 3️⃣ Getting Funding Ready with Christian Rebernik It is safe to say that funding from business angels or VCs is still way down the road, but nonetheless, I would say that this challenge was really eye-opening. Honestly, before this challenge, I would have always seen external funding as the second option and bootstrapping as the preferred choice. Learning about the different aspects, including shares, convertible notes, and dilution, was really eye-opening. Overall, it is safe to say that our pitch decks and business cases would not be as good without our studies at Tomorrow University. The vibrant community and discussions with fellow students are inspiring and broaden my horizons every time. I'm excited for my next year at Tomorrow University! 🚀 🦋

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Start-ups in Europe: a light at the end of the tunnel - finally!    This article by Nadine Schimroszik in Handelsblatt gives reason for hope for the tech ecosystem, as it summarises a development that has been tentatively emerging for some time: The number of new #start-ups in Germany is growing again, by 17 per cent, as shown by a comparison of the first quarter of 2024 with the same quarter of the previous year.   💡It is particularly interesting to see that most investments are being made in AI. An unmistakable sign that they continue to be a driver of innovation for the German startup ecosystem.   We recently came to a similar conclusion with my team, as part of our analysis of the German startup landscape. Our conclusion: more and more funding are being mobilised for ♻️ #Greentech business ideas that are based on AI-based technologies and have a positive impact on our planet. More info on our research at IRIS can be found in Startup Insider`s Investors Report 2024: https://lnkd.in/dU-5AMPz More info on Nadine’s insightful article here: https://lnkd.in/depicwGA

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📈 The latest startupdetector report couldn't have been better for me. - the number of newly founded German startups increased in Q1 2024 - a trend reversal we waited for some time new! - Leipzig and Dresden were the cities with the biggest increase of new startups (+41%, +36%), while Jena had the most financing rounds per capita - while many regions had a smaller number of new startups, Saxony increased most by 35% - the energy sector saw the strongest increase from all industries - our Smart Infrastructure Ventures ('SIVentures') portfolio company traide AI GmbH with their founder Leonie Althaus got featured next to SpinLab - The HHL Accelerator alumnus Dr. Jannik Lockl from inContAlert - our partners from TGFS Technologiegründerfonds Sachsen are ranked #5 in the most active VCs list. Smart Infrastructure Ventures ('SIVentures') among the top investors in AI All in all a great job Arnas Bräutigam & team

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There is an omnipresent deal killer in B2B sales, only 30% of founders & sales people see: Traveling by train to conduct a sales workshop for startup founders - hi there digitalHUB Aachen e.V. 👋- I overheard a loud phone conversation. A gentleman was discussing company succession and mentioned that he needed an 'argument' for a negotiation. Of course, I didn’t know the full story, but an internal alarm bell immediately went off. When negotiating with a prospect, I aim for agreement - not for arguments. I share this perspective with all my mentees too. Why? The words "arguments" and "arguing" are very close for a reason. It’s one person against the other. Why would you want to argue with your prospect? You want to agree with them, right? Agree on … their promised land. their challenge at hand. our mutual action plan. their needs, risks and mitigators. our impact, the price tag as well as their RoI. I always aim for a win/win situation—for my prospect and myself. If there’s an issue or my prospect is unsure about something, I simply ask questions: Why do you feel that way? How can we move around this? What can we do to find a good solution moving forward? Agreements > Arguments. What is your favorite question to ask in a tricky situation? - - - - - Hi, I am Florian, your tough love guy.  I mentor startups & corporate ventures to close their first 100 deals faster. Reach out if you want to know how! 🥷🏻 #sales #startups #gotomarket

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Always asked myself, if I can be happy …always? As an entrepreneur you are in the natural habit of optimizing all aspects of a project so why don’t optimize your life? After many years of learning about what makes us happy, I think it is only a transient state. But maybe we can feel even better … when we are in Flow! Flow is the state of consciousness in which we forget space and time, are maximally happy, motivated and efficient. In this state, we feel our best and achieve the most. What do we need to achieve this flow? Why is it so important for founders and managers? I talk about this in the podcast with editor Elena Todeva Listen in and share your best flow moments. #flow #flowmoment #success #performance #motivation #alignment #leadership #newwork #startup #vc #entrepreneurship

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Is the retail giant REWE Group building Germany’s first food-superapp? 🛒📲 Rewe has always been a pioneer in digital offers and now expands its portfolio with investments and partnerships. Last month alone, 2 deals hit the news: 1️⃣ Rewe participated in Flink's new funding round of 150$mn valued at ~900$mn (down about 70% since its peak valuation). With this cash injection, Flink plans to break even in Q2 2025, apparently having reached operational profitability in selected markets already today. Also they plan to open 30 additional warehouses. 2️⃣ Lieferando and Rewe announced a partnership, providing access to 3000 SKUs of Rewe’s assortment via Lieferando’s app, delivered by Lieferando’s courier network. “Rewe Express” promises delivery times of 45 minutes, closing the gap between Rewe’s scheduled delivery and Flink’s ultrafast delivery. With the new offers, Rewe now ticks many boxes that I expect from a food-superapp, combining all things food, and beyond: ✅ Brick and mortar stores ✅ Click and collect ✅ Scheduled delivery ✅ Quick-commerce (via Flink and Lieferando) ✅ Offer promotions in app  ✅ Digital travel agency  ❌ The only piece missing is food delivery. Did you know that the Russian chains X5 and Magnit are also at the frontier of supermarket tech? ➡️ Magnit has integrated AI to monitor inventory at shelf level, ensuring products (including 5000 pharmacy SKUs) are always available for their 30 minute delivery & click and collect. ➡️ Meanwhile, X5 Group deploys smart shopping carts, automatically scanning products for a frictionless checkout. I’ve just talked about why the concept of the food-superapp is so appealing at a conference and will share the takeaways here, soon. 

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Business angel statistics: How to come from 500 contacts to 5 deals a year.   Here is what it looks like from my perspective:   500 to 250: Not relevant Like many well-connected angels and VCs, I receive approximately 500 requests to meet through various channels yearly.   I have an Open-Door policy, where I try to meet all startups that fit my primary investment criteria (stage, company type, location, etc.). This results in meeting around one new startup a day for a brief introductory meeting. For example, I am having 13 online meetings today, as it’s one of my Open-Door days.   I politely decline meetings for the remaining contacts, as it would be a waste of their time. I’m not going to invest in a US Series C round of $50M or in a pre-seed round for a German restaurant chain, for example.   250 to 50: Not a good fit Most initial meetings don’t lead to further action, as there isn’t a good fit. This goes both ways and is just part of the process for both parties.   The startup might be looking for a different type of investor (VC?) or may have misunderstood my investment criteria.   I’m a pre-seed investor, which means there isn’t much data available in these early stages. Therefore, I mainly rely on gut feeling about whether the opportunity is exciting and if I believe these are the founders worth betting on.   It’s important to quickly say “not for me” to most opportunities, so nobody’s time is wasted.   50 to 20: Digging into the opportunity Most angels are not experts in the specific fields of the opportunities they evaluate, so even though we may initially be excited, we need to dig in and learn more.   Personally, I do this through two main sources:   1. My personal network. If you’re presenting software for industry X, I will consult someone in my network (ideally potential customers) and use their input to further validate the opportunity. 2. My business angel network. I’ve built an angel network that currently has 20 members. They possess a wealth of industry insight, and in most cases, we have experts in each field. Their opinions and potential co-investments matter greatly. Many opportunities fail in this process. Perhaps the solution isn’t unique, or the assumed problem doesn’t truly exist.   20 to 8: Due diligence Even if the opportunity seems promising from a market/problem/solution perspective, many things can still go wrong. I can’t list them all, but common issues include: Founder due diligence (reference checks) and ownership issues (messed-up cap table, dead equity) 8 to 5: I also lose deals Remember, selection goes both ways. Sometimes, I lose deals to other investors, either because they offer better terms or valuation, or simply because they are more attractive. For example, it’s hard to compete with Sequoia if they want to invest.

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The German Startups Association, founded in 2012 and headquartered in Berlin, represents the interests of startups in Germany. It requires that member startups demonstrate a highly scalable business model and strong growth potential. The association has over 700 startup members and works to provide a voice for startups in relation to politics, civil society, and the established economy. An analysis by Global Corporate Venturing shows that having a corporate investor doubles a startup’s chances of success and increases the exit multiple. CVC (Corporate Venture Capital), which involves equity investments from established corporations, offers advantages beyond capital. These benefits vary across different business stages: - (Pre-)Seed Stage: CVC provides market validation, domain expertise, and opportunities for co-development, helping startups refine products and build credibility. - Early Growth Stage: CVC facilitates client acquisition, market insights, and access to corporate infrastructure, making scaling more efficient. - Growth Stage: Strategic partnerships, operational efficiency, and international expansion are key benefits that help startups scale faster. - Late Stage: CVC helps startups prepare for exits, providing guidance in market strategies, risk management, and potential acquisition opportunities. While CVC brings many advantages, startups must evaluate potential trade-offs based on their cap table and business nature.

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Are you looking to elevate your e-commerce game with a new webshop? Look no further than Gambio GmbH! Trusted by over 25,000 businesses, our ECOMMERCE ONE portfolio company Gambio GmbH offers a robust, all-in-one webshop solution tailored to meet the needs of startups and established enterprises alike. Key Benefits: 🌐 Hosting in Germany: Enjoy the peace of mind that comes with hosting your online shop in Germany, coupled with exceptional German customer support. Our servers ensure top-notch performance and security. 🛠️ Ease of Use: No coding skills? No problem! Gambio's intuitive interface allows you to set up and customize your shop effortlessly. With our StyleEdit tool, you can design a professional-looking store without any technical know-how. 🔍 SEO Optimized: Enhance your online visibility with our built-in SEO tools. From search engine-friendly URLs to automatic sitemaps, Gambio helps your shop rank higher and attract more customers. 📊 Comprehensive Features: Benefit from extensive functionalities including multilingual support, SSL & data protection, automatic updates, and a wide range of free themes. Our platform supports unlimited articles and categories, making it scalable for your growing business. 👥 Community & Support: Join a vibrant community of merchants and get access to our customer portal for continuous support and updates. Set up your own shop in seconds at www.gambio.com

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🚀 EXIST Business Startup Grant: Is Your Team Eligible? Thinking of applying for the EXIST Business Startup Grant? Watch our video guide to see if your team meets the criteria! 🌟Ready to turn your innovative ideas into reality? We're here to help! 📩 Contact the HTW Startup team at [email protected] – let's make it happen! #Startups #Entrepreneurship #Innovation #HTWBerlin #EXISTGrant

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What a night - German Startup Awards 2024! Last Thursday, we attended the annual German Startup Awards ceremony in the heart of Berlin, organized by the Startup-Verband. It was an inspiring night celebrating founders, investors, and the growth and innovation within the German startup ecosystem. As Verena Pausder pointed out, "Some say the lights are going out in Germany. I think: We haven't even turned them on yet." This spirit of optimism is precisely why Amazon Business is proud to have partnered with the Startup-Verband since 2023. Congratulations again to all the winners. Here's to the future of German startups! #GSA24 #Startups

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In February it will be 6 years since I had a 𝗯𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗼𝘂𝘁. With some distance Business Insider has asked me to talk about my experience in consulting, my burnout and the new company I started: WirDämmenDeinHaus.com You can find the link in the first comment.  (I’m also happy to share the pdf, in case you cannot access it.) My ask to you:  𝗣𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗹𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗮𝗻𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗻𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸, 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗺𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗯𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗳𝗶𝘁 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗶𝘁. Having talked to many people that suffered a burnout, my observation is that it can be tremendously helpful to get a nudge from people that care about you. It is a common burnout symptom to “try to keep pushing through” and “take care of one self, after X, Y, Z is finished” -> this often significantly prolongs the healing process. Be there for the people you care about and encourage them to take care of themselves now and not when it’s too late. I’m also here for anyone that wants to talk 1:1 about their experience or ask questions. Please feel free to reach out. Happy holidays to all of you!

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🚀 Big news for Heidelberg! 🏆 Heidelberg is now #1 in startup density across Germany! 🎉 Thanks to its vibrant research scene and a strong startup ecosystem, the city is leading the way for innovation and entrepreneurship. Startups are driving growth even in tough times, with 2,766 new startups founded in Germany in 2024—an 11% jump from last year. Heidelberg’s success shows the power of research hubs to create big opportunities. Let’s keep this momentum going and make Heidelberg an even bigger hotspot for ideas and innovation! 🌟 Thanks to Startup-Verband and startupdetector for their great work! 👉 Check out the full report in the comments! #Heidelberg #Startups #Innovation #Entrepreneurship 💡

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Deeptech startups are the driving force behind some of the most innovative products the world has seen in recent years. But fundraising for a company with a grand vision and long R&D cycles is not without challenges in the current market environment. I am looking forward to discuss our recent learnings with two of biggest Infinite Roots‘ supporters and investors, European Investment Bank (EIB) and redalpine, at the TechBBQ in Copenhagen tomorrow. #Startup #VentureCapital #DeepTech #Fundraising

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Just came back from a workshop that I'm organizing together with the VDI Wissensforum GmbH. I had a great time, learned a lot and it made me realize (once again) how much has changed in AI over the last 5 years: When we started with the first workshop in 2019, the format 💠 targeted engineers who were able to code in Python 💠 focussed on the convolutional neural networks architecture 💠 involved building neural networks from scratch in Keras 💠 emphasized use cases that cost >100k to implement On Tuesday and Wednesday, we ✅ were a diverse group with little to no Python knowledge ✅ discussed Transformers (briefly) and RAG (in detail) ✅ used off-the shelve models and tools ✅ talked about use cases from 2k to 200k To me this is another testament to how much more accessible and ubiquitous AI has become. If you are interested in learning how to use retrieval augmented generation in industrial applications check out the workshop: https://lnkd.in/eTsG3x6h Thanks Nicolas Regiani for creating this together! #vdi #rag #industrialai

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😅 “We celebrate every success right away!” – said no startup ever The startup business is one thing above all: exciting - and stressful, admittedly. We at the AI.STARTUP.HUB Hamburg support our startups on their journey for 6 months. Every team is unique, but there are also things that connect them. 🚀 We asked Wencke Nottmeyer from VeRise and Johannes Jamroszczyk from Charit Insights to “Sit down, start up”. In a small panel, the two lovely Summer Batch 2024 participants looked into our camera and we looked behind the scenes of their startups. Thank you both for your time, energy and openness, Wencke and Johannes! 🎉 Find out how (and whether) they celebrate their successes, what the Imposter Syndrome has to do with it and what role a certain “millionaire” plays in it in our sneak peak video. 🫶 Stay tuned for the full interview with Wencke and Johannes! #AIStartupHub #SummerBatch2024 #StartupHamburg #IdeationProgram #AcceleratorProgram #Hamburg #StartupSuccess #StartupSupport #StartupFunding #Startups #AI #Gründer #Gründerinnen #Gründen #Founder #Founding #Gründerszene #StartupSzene #Accelerator #Pitch #AICommunity #TurningVisionsIntoReality #SitDownStartUp #StartupInsights

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