Aleksander Dahlberg

What’s happening in healthtech? 💊🎉 💰The Vic Gov will invest $7.5M to fund researchers to create 50 new startups  run by Breakthrough Victoria 💻 Safewill, bagged $17M to expand services like digital wills, power of attorney, & probate assistance 🧘‍♀️ Pronto Pilates snagged $1.6M in crowdfunding, to disrupt reformer pilates with affordable, trainer-free classes 💼 Hostplus committed $125M to VC, backing startups through IP Group plc Innovation Fund 📜 Private companies will now have to upload health data to My Health Record thanks to the Health Legislation Amendment Bill 2024 🧪 Aussie women will soon have access to at-home chlamydia & gonorrhoea tests 🤖 Baymatob won ‘AI Innovator - Healthcare’ at the Aus AI Awards for its maternal health tech providing early warnings for complications 🧬 The Fed Gov launched Genomics Australia, a national body to lead & coordinate genomic research, with a $30M commitment over 4 years 💼 Aus's $15B National Reconstruction Fund begins investing in deep tech, allocating $300M to boost quantum, robotics, & clean energy innovation ~~~🌎 US & Beyond the Borders 🌎~~~ 💍 ŌURA raised $75M, reaching a US$5B+ valuation, partnering with Dexcom to integrate glucose monitoring data into its platform 🧠 Headspace laid off 13% of its staff & is transitioning all therapists from employed roles 📈 WHOOP adds psychedelics tracking to its Journal feature, letting users log ketamine, LSD, & psilocybin use ⚽ David Beckham codeveloped longevity supplement brand IM8 Health with biotech company Prenetics, launching a longevity drink 💻 Eli Lilly & Company, the global pharma, invests S$42M in Singapore to launch a Digital Health Innovation Hub 🛠️ Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers trained a surgical robot using imitation learning from surgery videos Keen for the links & delicious deets?? 🍩🙌 Take a gander at last week's newsletter in the comments below👇😊 --- PS - if you liked this and are keen to join >8700 legends getting health tech and innovation news dropped direct to your inbox, subscribe to our newsletter, What the Health, linked in the comments below! 💜 📩 #healthtech  #health  #healthcare  #digitalhealth  #medtech  #biotech

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Why is taking grant money from the Australian goverment detrimental to lean startups? #AskGPT #FatBureaucraticStartup #ObeseStartups #FakeEconomy #AustralianStartup #LeanStartup #DeathByForms #WasteOfTime #LeanStartup Taking grant money from the Australian government can be seen as detrimental to lean startups for several reasons: 1. **Loss of Agility**: Lean startups thrive on agility and the ability to pivot quickly based on market feedback. Grant funding often comes with specific conditions and reporting requirements, which can slow down decision-making and hinder flexibility. 2. **Dependency on Funding**: Relying on government grants can create a dependency that detracts from the startup’s motivation to achieve sustainable revenue. Startups may focus on meeting grant criteria instead of building a viable business model. 3. **Misalignment with Lean Principles**: Lean startups emphasize customer discovery and validation. Government grants may incentivize startups to focus on meeting funding milestones rather than directly addressing customer needs. 4. **Increased Bureaucracy**: Navigating the application process for grants can be time-consuming and bureaucratic, taking time away from core business activities. This can be especially challenging for startups with limited resources. 5. **Limited Market Signals**: Grants can distort market signals. If a startup is funded by a grant, it may not be compelled to seek market validation as aggressively as a self-funded startup, potentially leading to a misalignment with actual market demand. 6. **Expectations and Pressure**: Grant funding often comes with expectations from the government for job creation or technological advancement, which can pressure startups to scale prematurely or in directions that may not align with their strategic goals. While government grants can provide valuable support, it's essential for lean startups to carefully consider the implications and ensure that any funding aligns with their long-term business objectives and lean methodologies.

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This post is great for Startmate, but don't ignore the headline: "9 out of 10 times VC loses money". This is a truth a lot of startup founders just don't get... when you take VC, you think you've made it... but *most of the time* a VC writes a check it goes sideways. Getting VC is NOT a magnificent milestone... it's the start of a very risky journey. Think about that: your investor comes to your board meeting... and 8 or 9 out of every 10 board meetings they go to they know "this company ain't gonna make it". I'm not against VC's and I had a terrific VC in my company, but I don't think enough founders *understand* the realities of venture capital, *particularly* in Australia, where the whole ecosystem is quite immature and a long way behind the US. #VentureCapital #fundraising #VC #startups #founders

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🌟 Australian Startups 2023: A Year of Strategic Shifts and Emerging Opportunities 🚀 In 2023, the Australian startup landscape navigated a cautious investment climate, recording a total of 413 deals with an overall investment value of $3.5 billion. Despite a significant drop in deal value from previous years, there was a notable shift towards robust activity in the early stages of investment. Angel and Pre-Seed rounds not only resisted the broader downturn but actually increased, highlighting a vibrant seed funding environment that underpins a dynamic market for emerging technologies. This heightened competition at the entry-level indicates a strategic pivot within our ecosystem, investing in the foundational potential of new ventures. Such insights are crucial as we steer towards nurturing a resilient and innovative startup community ready to tackle future challenges. Dive deeper into the full analysis and explore how these shifts are shaping the future of Australian innovation. https://lnkd.in/gc4gNtGc #AustralianStartups #VentureCapital #StartupEcosystem #Innovation

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**The Illusion of Early Success: Why Some Startups Crash After Their Initial Triumph** Startups often celebrate early victories—securing seed funding, launching a minimum viable product, or landing that first big client. These milestones are crucial, no doubt. But they're not definitive indicators of long-term success. As a Venture Capital Investor & Founder, I've observed a troubling pattern: startups mistaking early wins for enduring triumphs. **The Body of the Matter** Early successes can be deceptive. They generate buzz, elevate expectations, and sometimes, unfortunately, lead to complacency among founders and their teams. The real challenge? Sustaining momentum post-launch and continuously innovating to meet market demands and customer expectations. It's about building a strong foundation—a robust business model that can withstand the test of time and market fluctuations. Moreover, securing initial funding is just part of the journey. Managing that capital efficiently while focusing on growth, scalability, customer acquisition, and retention are what differentiate fleeting successes from sustainable ones. **Concluding Thoughts** Celebrate your wins; they're well-deserved. But remember, the real work begins after the celebration ends. Stay focused on your long-term vision. Constantly iterate based on feedback and data-driven insights. And always be prepared to pivot when necessary—not just to survive but to thrive in this dynamic startup ecosystem. #startupgrowth #venturecapitalinsights #sustainablesuccess #venturebacked

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Solo GPs are shaking up venture capital. Could they be the partners your start-up needs? The rise of solo GPs brings: -Speed -Relationships -Founder-first thinking Here’s why they matter for your fundraising: 1️⃣ Agility and accountability Solo GPs act fast and own their decisions. With no committees, they’re fully invested in your success. 2️⃣ Founder-first perspective Many solo GPs are ex-founders. Bringing real-world insights and empathy. They get your challenges. 3️⃣ Strategic branding From strong networks to standout platforms. Solo GPs build influence in unique ways. 4️⃣ LPs betting on soloists LPs are backing smaller, focused funds. Valuing their agility and direct founder relationships. What can you do as a founder? Seek fit over size. A nimble, relationship-driven GP might suit your vision best. Leverage shared experience. Partner with GPs who’ve walked your path. Evaluate branding reach. Does their platform or network boost your growth? The VC game is changing. Could a solo GP give you the edge? Share your experiences! 🚀 Link to PitchBook article: https://lnkd.in/eJGGHPkd #startups #fundraising #vc

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📢 Want a crash course in angel investing and venture capital? If you're interested in learning more about angel investing and the world of venture capital, we're hosting an intro series on this topic across multiple sessions, kicking off today! Sign up details below 👇

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Complete list of all active pre-seed & seed lead investors in NZ below. Thank you to all those who helped fill in the gaps. Quite a few people have reached out and said it was helpful, which is great. Next, I am thinking of creating the list of pre-seed & seed investors in NZ who follow and fill in investment rounds. As the list will be quite long, help would be appreciated. Please add in the comments. Aera VC AgriZeroNZ Blackbird Brandon Capital Bridgewest Ventures NZ Cure Kids Ventures Ecliptic Even Capital GD1 (Global From Day One) Hillfarrance Venture Capital Icehouse Ventures Maker Partners Motion Capital Movac Nuance Connected Capital NZ Growth Capital Partners NZVC Outset Ventures Pacific Channel Phase One Ventures Punakaiki Fund Quidnet Ventures Soul Capital Sprout Agritech WNT Ventures

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UPDATE: For anybody who hasn't received the link: https://bit.ly/3yTnAc7 VCs are pouring money into bootstrapped startups. The conventional wisdom was that venture capital and bootstrapping are mutually exclusive. But increasingly, we're seeing VCs invest in startups that have avoided taking on external funding - at least in the early stages. Take Atlassian, the Australian software giant now valued at $46.84 billion. It funded its growth entirely through bootstrapping, never taking any primary capital investments. Only later did it raise $100 million in secondary funding. So, what's driving this VC mindset shift? **Proven Traction and Profitability** 📈 Bootstrapped startups have had to focus on building a sustainable business model from the start. This means they've achieved real traction and profitability - two metrics that VCs find increasingly attractive, especially in uncertain economic times. **Efficient Capital Use** 💸 Founders who have grown their companies without VC funding have demonstrated an ability to extract maximum value from limited resources. VCs see this as a competitive advantage, knowing their investment will be put to good use to accelerate growth, not just burn cash. **Founder Alignment** 🤝 Bootstrapped entrepreneurs have "skin in the game" in a way that founders who've taken on VC funding often don't. This closer alignment of incentives appeals to investors looking to back teams truly invested for the long haul. Founders who've built profitable, capital-efficient businesses through bootstrapping possess the entrepreneurial qualities and bottom lines worth backing. Wondering which bootstrapped startups will be the next big investments? If you’re hunting for deals, don't miss your chance - get the list of 99+ bootstrapped startups to watch 👇 Source: dealroom #VCfunding #startupfunding #bootstrapping PS 🔔 Follow me for strategies and resources for startups and VCs! Looking to raise capital? 💸https://fundingstack.com/ for VCs and investors 💸https://foundersuite.com/ for startups At only $250/month: Fundingstack gets you access to 227K+ global investors. Or you can send me a direct message with "FREETRIAL," and I'll give you a secret access link.

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FOUNDER pitching has begun at Super Founder (SFGN). 1 MILLION founders and 1 MILLION investors on SFGN is the plan. Today we have five founders pitching in the video here as a small preview of what is to come. Part 2 of the announcement is at the end of this post…but first let’s finish Part 1. Today we have founders that have partners / team members from Deloitte, NFL, Solana, SHL, Google, Salesforce, Fortune 100 and more. I’m honored to feature these five (of many more in the network to come). They are phenomenal humans. Crystal Kendzior Brett Butler  Zoya Lehrer Katja Kempe  Leong Cheah Connect to and follow these amazing founders today :-) Ask them about what they're working on :-) Generally in regards to founder pitches... Amazing humans + long term relationships + long term visions (5-15 yrs) means being able to spot "seed traits" of great leaders/humans early. - No trauma - Communication with word precision, numbers and dates - Extreme brevity - Ability to have difficult conversations with craft & kindness (not avoid) - Consistent daily habits - "Gravity Ball" effects (pulling in employees, partners, customers, investors - stemming from no trauma and good communication and a good vision with good human values) - A/B testing science/math - and MUCH more. To see beyond the now and beyond the pivots. Easy to say...hard to do. A skill for many to practice building. PART TWO of the announcement is that we will launch a form on sf-gn.com in the next few weeks for all founders around the world to list themselves to get access to SFGN investors. No more investors and founders struggling to connect (or needing outreach training/services or getting “Keep us updated” rejected)…we’ll connect everyone…algorithmically (where there is fit) in an unprecedented way. The short term goal is 1 million investors, 1 million founders/execs and 1 million service partners. I hope you enjoy these five amazing founders pitching today! SFGN Podcast launched on YouTube and Spotify this week. P.S. We will be hosting a 10,000 - 30,000 attendee Super Founder Conference in Las Vegas or London in 2025 (or both locations)…and we’ll have digital events (pitching and digital conferences leading up to it/those). The world will not be the same when we are done with it. Let’s have some fun! 

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A recent conversation made me ponder the winding paths that innovation companies take and success in early stage investing. In 2016, along with an angel syndicate, I looked at a very early stage private, pre-revenue round in DroneShield. Sadly, after meeting the team, I passed. The CEO left a year later and CFO took over as CEO. DroneShield listed later in 2016, still pre-revenue (which probably wouldn't be supported today). For 7 years, the share price was fairly flat. Fast forward to the break out of global wars and DroneShield has benefited from massive government orders, leading it to raise >$300M in the last 12 months. It's market cap today is just under $700M, having catapulted in 2024. An entirely unpredictable series of events in 2016. Well done DroneShield and Oleg Vornik on being positioned and showing many years of tenacity. Wish I had invested :)

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From Seed to Series A in fundraising: Navigating the journey from Seed funding to a successful Series A round involves more than just progressing from one stage to another; it demands meeting specific milestones that prove your startup's potential and readiness for further investment. Michael Ho sheds light on this crucial transition, outlining the three non-revenue based milestones that every founder must achieve to attract serious Series A investment. Essential Milestones to Secure Series A Funding: 1) Proof of Happy Customers: It's not just about having customers, but having customers who are genuinely satisfied and engaged with your product. This proof often goes beyond initial feedback and is about showing sustained satisfaction and value. 2) A Repeatable & Scalable Model: Demonstrating that your business operations can not only be replicated but also scaled efficiently is crucial. This means having a solid blueprint that shows potential for growth without proportional increases in costs. 3) Defined and Scalable Customer Segment: Identifying and understanding a customer segment that can be repeatedly and reliably served is vital. This involves showing that there's a significant market for your specific solution. Action Steps for Founders: -Continuously gather and analyze customer feedback to demonstrate satisfaction and market fit. -Refine your business processes to ensure they are scalable and repeatable. -Sharpen your market segmentation to target your marketing and sales efforts more effectively. PS. check out 🔔 for a winning pitch deck the template created by Silicon Valley legend, Peter Thiel https://lnkd.in/ejp-Bhnu

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What’s happening in Aussie healthtech? 💊🎉 🧬 Presagen’s Life Whisperer IVF embryo AI tech was acquired by Japan's Astec, to expand its use globally 🧫Cartherics Pty Ltd raised $15m to support a clinical trial for CTH-401, a cell therapy targeting ovarian cancer 🧠 Tessara Therapeutics, Psylo, & USyd snagged a $3m CRC-P grant 🤰 Kali Healthcare bagged a $2.65m CRC-P grant to advance its AI-enabled wearable for pregnancy monitoring 💉 Vaxxas, is raising $100m for clinical trials for its needle-free vaccine patch 🩺 ANDHealth+ invested $3.25m of MRFF grants into 5 startups as part of its digital & connected health accelerator program: Eugene, Atmo Biosciences, Immunosis, Metabolic Health Solutions, Humanetix 💊 Wesfarmers Health expects $6bn in revenue this year as it expands digital & pharmacy operations 📱 Medibank partnered with League to enhance customer experience with AI-driven personalisation across its services for 4.2M customers 🖥️ Bupa is offering eligible members 3 free telehealth consults/ year 🚀 Cortical Dynamics Limited, Microbio, & Resonait join the Biomedical AI Sprints Accelerator by ARM Hub & MTPConnect 🧠 Griffith University launched a clinical trial using olfactory nerve bridges from patients' cells to treat chronic spinal cord injuries 💼 SA’s Upper House voted 10-9 against a proposed law restricting abortions after 28 weeks 💡 > 400k Aussies downgraded from "gold" health insurance due to cost-of-living pressures Keen for the links & delicious deets?? 🍩🙌 Take a gander at last week's newsletter in the comments below👇😊 --- PS - if you liked this and are keen to join >8550 legends getting health tech and innovation news dropped direct to your inbox, subscribe to What the Health, linked in the comments below! 💜 📩

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⏰There is a Tick Tock pulse in fundraising and sales⏱️ If Tick is fundraising, Tock is sales. ❌ The problem is most founders go Tick Tick Tick > Tock Tock Tock ❗️Now the next Tick will be much harder because your valuation has now priced in all that past revenue (fair) but without a clear line of sight to future revenues that drive venture-scale growth. 🕥This can prolong the fundraising process as investors wait to see your next batch of contracts come in. 💡One solution is to fundraise after signing a contract but before servicing it. In other words, pre-A/B rounds. It’s a short window but this is the Tick Tock pulse that works incredibly well if you get it right. Here’s the narrative: 1️⃣We have $x in signed contracts and will have to service them over the next 12 months 2️⃣We’re raising now so we can focus on pleasing our customers when the time comes. 3️⃣For this peace of mind, we’re willing to take a 20% discount on our next round valuation given the contracts are already signed. 4️⃣Of course, you are welcomed to join after we’ve closed the revenues. We might be raising at 20% discount to the following round by then. 💡As an added benefit, founders get to focus on one thing at a time - fundraising > sales > fundraising > sales (Tick Tock Tick Tock!) ➡️As with most things I share, works for B2B deep tech. I think? 🧐 💸Don’t try this at home (consumer tech).

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Bryan Johnson thinks ageing is a choice. And he’s betting millions on it. Bryan Johnson is pushing the limits of what’s possible. Not in tech this time, but in biology. At 46, the founder of Braintree (which was bought by PayPal for $800M) has launched Project Blueprint to tackle the one thing money can’t buy: Time. He’s spending millions yearly, aiming to reverse his biological age. Johnson claims that he has the: → Skin of a 28-year-old → Heart of a 37-year-old → And the lungs of an 18-year-old His philosophy? If you treat your body as the most valuable asset, it will be more rewarding than any investment. His daily routine consists of: - 111+ pills - Intensive health monitoring - A dedicated team of doctors tracking organ performance Bryan's protocol may not be possible for the average person. But his journey is forcing the world to rethink what’s possible in health & wellness.

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IMO it's pretty crazy for a founder to demand a minimum check size of $50k early days. Most people's appetite for venture is around 5% of their NW. If they are taking venture even remotely seriously they'll need to make 30 bets (100 is what they should be doing). So calling $50k means you're suggesting they have $1.5m for venture and they then have a NW of $30m... Founders should cop the admin of smaller checks from people who are more strategically aligned and proactive angels more often.

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What’s happening in healthtech? 💊🎉 💪 Hapana raised US$17M led by OIF & Bailador to grow its SaaS for fitness bizes 🩺 Australian Medical Angels bagged $300k from LaunchVic to launch a new VC fund for early-stage health startups 🧬 Proto Axiom got $20M for its incubator to invest in early-stage biotech ventures 🧠 Kinoxis Therapeutics Pty Ltd Therapeutics, raised a $14.5M Series B for Phase 2 trials of its drug candidate 👁️ Eyeonic closed $2.6M for its AI-enabled home glaucoma tests 🔨 Bunnings is trialling blood pressure stations in 30 stores 🚀 Startmate announced their Winter ’24 Accelerator cohort, ft. 3 of our amazing Private WTH community members: PREVE, Tendl & Trova Health 💧 Aussie hospitals face an emergency as IV saline drip shortages force fluid rations 🏥 Medibank announced plans to acquire Pinnacle Health Group, a leading corporate health & wellbeing provider 🩺 nib Group launched hubPass for Business, a subscription service by Midnight Health 🍬 Breathe Life Sciences (BXN:ASX) is Aus’s first manufacturer of pharmaceutical-grade THC gummies with TGA approval 🦠 Long covid, affecting 10–20% of recovered patients, cost the Aus economy nearly $10B in 2022 🧪 The Senate's doing an inquiry into "forever chemicals" (PFAS) over health & environmental concerns 👂 Gold Coast Health partnered with Lyrebird Health to trial an AI-powered ambient listening solution to automate clinical docs 🏛️ The Fed Gov passed the NDIS reform bill amidst controversy 🏅 Aussies are Winning the Longevity Game? 🏅 Researchers found Aussies live 1-4 years longer than those in 6 English-speaking countries. This edge is supposedly driven by lower death rates from treatable diseases, healthier lifestyles, & a high migrant population, with the biggest gains seen between ages 45-84. Keen for the links & delicious deets?? 🍩🙌 Take a gander at last week's newsletter in the comments below👇😊 --- PS - if you liked this and are keen to join >8200 legends getting the latest in health tech and innovation dropped direct to your inbox, subscribe to my newsletter, What The Health linked in the comments below! 💜 📩 #healthtech  #health  #healthcare  #digitalhealth  #medtech  #biotech

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Venture-backed founders sign up for a binary outcome: Go Big or Go Home. Which is why it is so puzzling to see so many of these founders pivot away from growth to "sustainable" low-growth profitability, according to Tim Doyle, founder of Eucalyptus. Low-growth, sub-scale venture-backed companies have no future -- even if they are able to turn a small profit. Don't waste your life force building a zombie company! -- It was heaps of fun getting some of Tim's hot takes in today's BONUS episode of The Startup Podcast, with me and Chris Saad.

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