Jessica Holzbach

Startup Insider has released the German "Investoren-Report 2024," featuring an interview with EQT Ventures. 🇩🇪 Link in comments. What's your top advice for startup founders currently fundraising or aspiring VC investors? Doreen Huber, Partner EQT Ventures: "Stay resilient, cultivate relationships, and prioritize delivering tangible value. Adopt a learning mindset, welcome feedback, and glean insights from setbacks. Furthermore, build a diverse team that both strengthens and challenges your abilities. Remember to prioritize your well-being and stay connected to your purpose, as it will guide you through challenging times."  💪

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Discussing with many VCs in the past months has taught me a lot. Especially on differences between US and European investors. Everybody knows that investors are different on the other side of the Atlantic (works both ways). As European, we’re fully aware the market size is bigger, growth can be quicker, the average amount of $ raised by round is higher, investors are more willing to take risk. But theses considerations are kind of obvious. It gets more interesting when we dive in the process of US and European VC. At first they seem similar. Sourcing, 1st call, little bit of research, 2nd call, few other calls if needed, investment committee. And so on. But if we look carefully, the way of sourcing is super different: ➡️ European VC tend to focus on the country they’re based in so the potential pool of startup is pretty small. Consequence : most VC automate their sourcing to get a full coverage of every single early stage start-up that is created. It’s a lot of work and a lot of companies but it’s still doable. After all, France is only a 67M people country. ➡️ The way of sourcing in the US is very different. Too many companies are created each day. It’s impossible to source and screen every new deal. So sourcing in the US network based. The network of a VC (generally the network of the partners) act as proxy, filtering the good deals and allowing access to them. So no need for automation, but a big need to have a good network. To sum it up European VC tend to have more automated sourcing process (if it’s still not your case, we’re here to help) while US VCs, especially the small early stage ones, tend to have a more inbound and network based approach. For us it was a key learning because conceiving tools require to know how your client works. So a tool for sourcing in Europe could be useless in the US.

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ideas grow with #feedback! any great #innovation, any great #startup has gone through many iterations and has grown over time with the contributions of #experts, #investors, #customers and many more #stakeholders. Founder Institute Berlin / Germany is hosting these #feedback events to give you just this! Take this #leapoffaith and put yourself out there, you won't regret it! #pitch #startupsuccess #entrepreneurship

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Three biggest learnings from a fundraising journey. Shared by Rainer Märkle, General Partner at HV Capital at EUVC 1/ Have a time box with a deadline attached. Have a defined horizon & create a clear plan. Have some urgency to get things done at some point. Execute very transparently and reliably. 2/ Stick to your narrative. But don't do it blindly. Tweak it when necessary. Adapt it. Don't let yourself be surprised by major changes. Keep focusing on delivering according to your strategy & plan. 3/ Fundraising is a marathon with many sprints. There are moments when you'll ask yourself - Why do I do this? Is it gonna work out? But don't get too negative during the down phases. Adapting and pivoting is part of our job. As it is for the founder of a company. How about you? What fundraising lessons have you learned? Join the conversation. 🔽 #venturecapital #angelinvesting #startupfunding #europe

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Did you know that Antler welcomes already-formed startup teams to our residencies, offering fast initial investment to accelerate your venture's growth? 💼💰 Take inspiration from these remarkable success stories: 🔹 NetBird: Based in Berlin, @NetBird soared to success, securing a remarkable €1.1 million in pre-seed funding. Their mission? To revolutionize VPNs for businesses by simplifying IT infrastructure and networks. 🔹 FERO: Start-up from Amsterdam, @FERO, founded by industry experts from Ekata and Mastercard, raised an impressive €2.8 million. Their vision? To streamline payments processing for end-merchants, inspired by firsthand industry insights. If you're part of an established startup team hungry for growth, seize this opportunity to join Antler's May residency. 💥 #StartupAcceleration #EntrepreneurialSuccess

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It's official! I am both excited and proud to share that HV Capital has published a guide to demystify ESG for startups. Why write it? Because #ESG is not just a feel-good gesture – it’s about driving value and setting #founders up for long-term success. Yet, there’s a lot of confusion about what it is and how to get started. The problem: ESG as we know it from public markets is not fit-for-purpose for startups. We hope that with this guide, our pragmatic and proportionate approach to ESG will help you get started. Interested in knowing more? Download it for free from the link in the comment section. You will find lists of free tools, useful tips and much more to help you turn ESG into a value driver. Thank you to our partners VentureESG and lfca.earth - Community | Leaders for Climate Action who push us to do better! PS: You've got ideas on how to improve the guide? Great! Leave your thoughts below, we all have got a lot to learn from one another!

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For 200 years, our economic growth has been borrowed from Nature. Now, the Nature Bank is empty... 🐼❌ ➡️ 3 reasons why investing in Nature is a strategic business necessity Nature Capital is the backbone of our economic model. Prof. Dr. Martin R. Stuchtey from The Landbanking Group (and previous founder of Systemiq Ltd.) joined me to go deep on the impact of investing in Nature. Watch our episode to understand why nature capital might be the most crucial asset class of the 21st century. Full episode here 👉 https://lnkd.in/difPBfBk #NatureCapital #NatureSwag

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Getting ready for an upcoming workshop on angel investing led me to the Angel Next Door Podcast episode on 2024 trends (sharing the link in the first comment 👇). Here are a few key takeaways: 🔍 With AI technology evolving rapidly, it's essential to stick to the basics when conducting due diligence. Asking fundamental questions about the business model, target market, sales cycle, expenses, use of funds, deal terms, valuation, risk assessment, and exit strategy is crucial. Quality data will be a game-changer in evaluating AI companies effectively. 💡 The future is looking brighter for tech industry, and it’s a great time to be an angel investors. Angel investment was the most resilient asset class in 2022, as well as very consistent — capital invested was down but not dramatically different than VC, capital invested per deal and capital invested annually per angel group was similar to previous years. We stay the course in 2024. 🌍 Angel world is changing — Gen Z investors will seek a more tech-savvy approach to investing compared to traditional angel investors. Gone are the days of in-person dinner meetings; instead, transactions will be conducted swiftly and electronically through apps on mobile devices. If you want to be a part of this transformation, join us in ICLUB: https://lnkd.in/dWdsCxp9 #AngelInvesting

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The only thing to follow is the quality of your deal flow: this is for VC:s and professional business angels. And of course, for #startupfounders Think about being a startup founder as being an athlete. When I was founding my fist startup (Balancion) I thought a lot about the similarities between sports and founding a startup. What do all of the best athletes have? They have the best coaches around them. And a supportive family and friends. Being the best possible startup founder to be you also have to learn how to be coachable. But on the other side of the table (VC:s and business angels): you have to learn about how to become the best possible coach. Because that is the only way to get the best athletes (startup founders) to want into your portfolio. You have to be supportive. You have to be demanding. But the most important thing: you have to be a human being that people really want to work with.

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Dr. James Hollis is a fascinating American Jungian psychoanalyst, author, and public speaker. After starting to read one of James Hollis's books, I also listened to the podcast #SpeakingofJung #32, which discusses his book „Living an Examined Life“. You can watch it here https://lnkd.in/dsJEV-Uw. Three main points stood out to me as very relevant to my own life and to our society. As I prepare my workshop on the Landscape of Impact Investing in Europe at #Noah24 on June 3rd at 11:50, I wondered if these points are also important for us as investors. First, he talked about Meaning vs. Happiness: "I'm saying it's not about happiness, it's about meaning. Happiness is not a permanent state, it's transient... and what is meaningful is often found in areas that are uncomfortable." Second, he discussed Accountability and the difference between hedonism and adulthood: "It's the word accountability at the end of our journeys. All of our systems—civic, political, religious, ethical, etc.—all of them consider us accountable for the life we've lived, even though we've had hard times. We're accountable, and becoming an adult means you have to deal with what is difficult for you and exercise as much freedom of choice as you can manage in the face of the circumstances of the outer and the inner world! Now, when you look at popular culture, you realize that the typical rites of passage for men and women have really disappeared. What we have is an extended adolescence, which describes modern American pop culture. I mean, where is the depth of discussion when we have a reality show president, for example, and a bunch of clowns in public office? We have people who respond to slogans that are emotionally charged, and very few people sit down and really sort of work through anything. It's almost as if I occupied a big body and played big roles, and then I died without ever really knowing who I was, why I was here, and in service to what. So why should we not live a hedonistic lifestyle? Why not take responsibility for things and stop blaming other people for everything? The world needs grown-ups to survive!" Third, he explained that True spirituality is about embracing the mystery: "Intellectual development sometimes involves the work of your hands. It's whatever really moves and touches you and engages your spirit. Your spirituality is not a single thing, and true spirituality often takes us deeper than that which is comfortable. True spirituality, in a way, respects the mystery and allows it to be mysterious. Because any time you have a psychology or religion that has figured it out and wrapped it up in a package, it's really delusional. Those are people enchanted by and captivated by their own ego constructs. They are bewitched by their own construction rather than allowing the mystery to be the mystery." What has that todo with #Impactinvesting? Read in my comment!

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James Hollis is a fascinating American Jungian psychoanalyst, author, and public speaker. After starting to read one of James Hollis's books, I also listened to the podcast Speaking of Jung #32, which discusses his book „Living an Examined Life“. Three main points stood out to me as very relevant to my own life and to our society. But also being an Investor talking with Cyril Colin at #Noah24conference on Impact Investing. First, he talked about Meaning vs. Happiness: "I'm saying it's not about happiness, it's about meaning. Happiness is not a permanent state, it's transient... and what is meaningful is often found in areas that are uncomfortable." Second, he discussed Accountability and the difference between hedonism and adulthood: "It's the word accountability at the end of our journeys. All of our systems—civic, political, religious, ethical, etc.—all of them consider us accountable for the life we've lived, even though we've had hard times. We're accountable, and becoming an adult means you have to deal with what is difficult for you and exercise as much freedom of choice as you can manage in the face of the circumstances of the outer and the inner world! Now, when you look at popular culture, you realize that the typical rites of passage for men and women have really disappeared. What we have is an extended adolescence, which describes modern American pop culture. I mean, where is the depth of discussion when we have a reality show president, for example, and a bunch of clowns in public office? We have people who respond to slogans that are emotionally charged, and very few people sit down and really sort of work through anything. It's almost as if I occupied a big body and played big roles, and then I died without ever really knowing who I was, why I was here, and in service to what. So why should we not live a hedonistic lifestyle? Why not take responsibility for things and stop blaming other people for everything? The world needs grown-ups to survive!" Third, he explained that True spirituality is about embracing the mystery: "Intellectual development sometimes involves the work of your hands. It's whatever really moves and touches you and engages your spirit. Your spirituality is not a single thing, and true spirituality often takes us deeper than that which is comfortable. True spirituality is something that I think asks us to embrace ambiguity and uncertainty rather than resolve it. True spirituality, in a way, respects the mystery and allows it to be mysterious. Because any time you have a psychology or religion that has figured it out and wrapped it up in a package, it's really delusional. Those are people enchanted by and captivated by their own ego constructs. They are bewitched by their own construction rather than allowing the mystery to be the mystery." #impactinvestment XAnge #entrepreneurship #venturecapital #climate #sustainability #startup See my points of discussion below in the comments!

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Today I visited the GREENTECH FESTIVAL in Berlin with my dear friend Andreas. 💚 To make it short: Good vibes, busy floors and a big startup space. But tbh I wondered if it's really worth it for startups. I remember from my active time as an exhibitor that we weren't honest about the hard costs per lead. We argued a lot: being there is everything, you have to be seen, brand building is important, it's where the industry meets, serendipity happens, if we just get one big order it will pay off... not to forget the parties! That's all true, but the opportunity cost of attending a trade show is very high, especially for startups. And while this isn't meant to be a trade show bashing at all, here are a few suggestions from my experience, on how to make the most of it... - Train your team to proactively approach people. - Initiate a challenge to see who can get the most leads. - Prepare in advance and market your attendance by actively inviting customers. - Consider a small side event, such as a VIP dinner. - Try to book a package with a speaking engagement at the conference, that has always paid off for us. - Use the exhibitor directory for your own prospecting. - Calculate cost vs. lead conversion after the show with real data and decide whether to repeat. - Push your presence on social in real time. Good luck to all exhibitors and happy selling 🚀 ____________________________ Sharing my experience as an entrepreneur and angel investor. Investing in early stage B2B SaaS startups. Happy to connect 👋

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#fundingalert 💼Company: Caeli Wind GmbH 💰Funding: €11 Million ⚡Round: Series A 👥Investors: Growth Capital from international investors, Notion Capital, Santander Alternative Investments and longtime backers like HTGF | High-Tech Gründerfonds. Caeli Wind is a sophisticated cloud-based technology that facilitates fast marketing and finds wind-potential places. Their overall objective is to dramatically increase the probability that project development will be accomplished, which is why they employ exact analyses. The business was able to find 173 new wind turbine locations in #Germany in 2023 and assign them to energy providers and project developers. The AI company's digital research and awarding platform speeds up the realisation of wind farms by an average of eighteen months. Ben Schlemmermeier, Klaus Lehmann, Julia Berkenfeld Read more - https://lnkd.in/ejmb4t7z To share your startup story write us on - contact@startuprise.co.uk #CaeliWind #cloudbasedtechnology #research #development #funding #startup #fundingnews #startupnews #startuprise

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Don't forget your home market. 📍 Advice from Daniel Keiper-Knorr, Founding Partner at Speedinvest. Speedinvest got more than half of its money from Austrian investors. They wouldn't have predicted such strong domestic support. Your home market can be a hidden gem. Don't neglect it in your fundraising efforts. Global markets are tempting but focus matters. If a specific region isn't delivering, don't be afraid! Shift your focus and target more receptive areas. Resources are precious – use them wisely! What other tips do you have to navigate the fundraising journey? Join the conversation below. #venturecapital #angelinvesting #startupfunding #europe

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Join me on June 5! Angel Investing - Lessons from the Experts: Harvard Business School Alumni Angels announce their Angel Investing Bootcamp https://lnkd.in/eFU7uD7i

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Fintech mittelstand I became an entrepreneur in 2015 when I fell in love with blockchain and broke the shackles forever impeding my creativity. My calling was to democratise finance. I have failed to make any dent, but the game is not over yet. One thing I wanted to replicate was a mittelstand, the family-owned backbone of Germany’s manufacturing prowess and much of its GDP: the best quality possible known from devoted aficionados. Picture meeting for a coffee and whilst talking, your fingers run spontaneously appreciating the grain of that tabletop. You look under it and spot a brand you have never heard of; an online search finds it is behind the best coffee tables in the world…You are hooked and have become an ambassador. It’s a story of unbending, uncompromising quality, and care in everything you do: you aim to provide the best service and build the best product ever. In that quest, you have to be forever disappointed because it is an antidote to complacency.   Whilst the term “mittelstand” describes SMEs under 500 employees, I take the following attributes in everything I want to build (in no particular order): ✅ Quality – Respect the vision, the brand…treat everything you do as an opportunity to show your craft, as an opportunity to excel. Be proud of your output as good work done, not to build your ego. ✅ People – Without your team, you can’t build anything let alone get clients. Whilst you may not be able to pay market rate at the beginning, pay over it once you can because your teammates are your soul, your sales, your brand. ✅ Clients – Be of service with unparalleled customer service. There is always a human at the end of your tech stack so not only build your products for them but also with them (in mind but critically in flesh through user testing). Solve a customer’s problem without creating any in the process. ✅ Pride – Whilst you treat everyone with respect, you have a mindset where your product is the best in class, the Hermes of your aspirations which means you can say no to anyone that doesn't share your vision...prospect, client, or investor. ✅ Cashflow mission control – Easier said than done. Setting up a business is stressful enough hence having the right focus on the right numbers is important: low operating costs, decent margins, recurring revenues and therefore positive cashflow. ✅ Independence – it’s key to have control of your future to be free to research and develop new products, let alone pivot when the headwinds are too strong. Innovativeness is priceless. ✅ Strong connections – Size matters when it comes to making meaningful connections, knowing each other, and driving towards a shared goal. Your brand is an ambassador of the place it emanates from. It represents the best of the people building it. Be proud, be you...keep building! #motivation #leadership #learning #entrepreneurship #fintech #mindset #success #brand #startuplife #growth #mentalhealth #bankingindustry

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How it felt to look at the download and revenue chart of a billion-dollar app for the first time… Starting my own business was never easy. When I first embarked on this journey, the responsible department in Germany for supporting new entrepreneurs told me bluntly, "we cannot support you in any way because we have no capital." That was my first encounter with the frustrating bureaucracy of German officials. It was then that I realized the path ahead wouldn't be easy. But I persevered. I would rather fail on my own terms than succeed while being dependent on the ideas of others. “F*ck them,” I thought, and continued striving forward. Against all odds, I eventually found myself in an extraordinary position. I had just closed a deal with a billion-dollar company by pulling an all-nighter and developing a killer proposal. This proposal convinced the Head of Growth in Los Angeles that my services were crucial for their go-to-market strategy in Germany. When I finally got access to their App Store Connect and Google Play Developer Console, the reality of my achievement hit me. Looking at the download charts of one of the fastest-growing unicorns made me reflect on my journey. From struggling to land my first client by handing out business cards at Berlin startup events, to working with a unicorn – it was a surreal and gratifying moment. But this is just the beginning… Below is a screenshot of the proposal I spent countless hours preparing. I still remember those nights at WeWork, working tirelessly until the early hours. 😁 Oh yeah, happy times. #Entrepreneurship #StartupLife #BusinessJourney #Perseverance #SuccessStory #BusinessGrowth #BillionDollarClub #AppGrowth #DigitalMarketing #MobileMarketing #BerlinStartups #GoToMarket #Innovation #BusinessStrategy #EntrepreneurMindset

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Because it‘s currently a topic i think a lot about: how to set-up a great board of directors for your company. See below what we discussed 👍🏽

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