Frank-Jürgen Richter’s Post

Last week I flew to Copenhagen for a deep-dive into the Nordics tech ecosystem and an insightful exchange with local founders and international investors at TechBBQ.   By elaborating on the quotes of some great speakers, below 3 (+1) key take-aways on the current state & challenges of the European (and Nordics) tech landscape:   1)   On current VC investment topics: „The rebirth of #vertical #SaaS“ (Julie Kainz, Lightspeed). 📍 Aside from the „buzz of AI“, we are entering a phase of rebirth of vertical SaaS, driven by higher budgets - unlocked by a widespread acknowledgment of the potential held by new technologies as a key competitive advantage - and characterised by an even deeper verticalization. On the other side, capital-intensive industries such as defense tech, aerospace, semiconductors, quantum computing are increasingly turning to venture investments as a result of a geo-political shift driven by an increased willingness to gain sovereignty.   2)   On market correction & founders‘ challenges: „The only freedom is #free #cashflow“ (George Robson, Sequoia Capital). 📍 The market today is more polarized than ever, with investments still happening for a subset of great companies selling mission-critical products while displaying solid fundamentals; similarly, the winners of tomorrow will be those able to capitalise on long-term trends that solve a supply-demand mismatch while always keeping profitability as their north star. The challenge for founders now is to take calculated risks and act with a higher level of conviction in front of an opportunity cost that is greater than ever before.   3)   On internationalisation: „Actively seek #discomfort“ (Andreas Helbig, Atomico). 📍 Nordic ventures, as all those coming from relatively small European markets, have the tendency to be more cautious and stay local for longer at the beginning of their journey, while they should try to build a global company and adopt a global mindset from as early as possible, so as to mitigate the inevitable challenge and disadvantage of a fragmented market to scale.   Last, the Nordics enjoy the rare benefit of having a deep foundation of social responsibility and a long tradition of reinvesting back in #society (with a resulting strength in sub-sectors such as climate, biotech, healthtech & deeptech), combined with „an amazing environment to take #risks“ as backbone and enabler (Erin Platts, HSBC Innovation Banking).    🇩🇰 The full content here: https://lnkd.in/ewHaDr3f

Last year, Vicknesh R Pillay spoke at the Elevandi Insights Forum, co-chaired by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and Syfe in collaboration with the Singapore Venture & Private Capital Association, and delved into emerging opportunities and challenges across various sectors. Here are some trends in the current market, as shown in the recently published report on venture capital investing in APAC: 1. Balanced Outlook: Southeast Asia's macroeconomic landscape prompts cautious optimism among VCs. Despite challenges like GDP slowdown and inflation, VCs recognise the region's enduring potential for success. 2. Strategic Assessment: VCs prioritise the viability and profitability of startups, stressing robust unit economics and sustainable growth strategies amid economic uncertainties. 3. Thriving Sectors: Artificial Intelligence (#AI) and climate tech sectors gain momentum, offering lucrative investment prospects in line with the region's tech innovation and sustainability agenda. 4. Regulatory Synergy: Startups are urged to collaborate with regulators to foster innovation-friendly environments, balancing progress with societal needs. 5. #ESG Integration: Environmental, Social, and Governance principles take centre stage in supporting VC strategies, emphasising sustainability alongside financial returns. Chaired By: Anthony Scaramucci (SkyBridge Capital),  Moderators: Dhruv Arora (Syfe), Alvin Singh (Monetary Authority of Singapore) Speakers: Genping Liu (Vertex Holdings), Nicholas Smalle (Apis Partners), Shweta Rajpal Kohli (Peak XV Partners), Vorapol (Brook) Supanusonti (Asia Partners), Andrea Baronchelli (Aspire), Caecilia Chu (YouTrip), Tanuj Bhojwani (Oliver Wyman)

🚀 Sometimes it’s nice to experience companies outside of fintech. Something tangible - not digital. Not just another app or digital service. Don't get me wrong - I have much passion for #fintech 😉 Today I traveled a couple of hours to visit ENORM. I learnt that the 'Black Soldier Fly' larvae can play a crucial role in the environmentally friendly development of our agricultural and food industry. These larvae have the ability to consume residuals from the food industry and transform them into nutritious and sustainable ingredients for both feed and food. SUPER COOL 😎 - well done Carsten Lind Pedersen and the rest of team ENORM. Huge fan 🙌 Reason for the visit was the launch of the new strategy for business growth and development by the Danish government and Danish Board of Business Development - thank you for inviting Christian Motzfeldt and Morten Bødskov. Going back I was particular happy with the focus on scaling companies beyond #denmark and the #nordics. That is exactly what we have been working on since establishing Copenhagen Fintech in 2016 and what we will continue to do in the future. Creating jobs and growth... #cphfintech #smv #innovation

Greetings from #Singapore: On closing day of #SingaporeFinTechFestival during a #firesidechat at the #TiEGlobalSummit which was running parallel, #BenjaminSwan asked me several great questions: 💸💰💵What is the #stateofplay in general and specifically for #agtech and #foodtech ? How is the current economic and #investment environment impacting #agrifoodtech investment? 🌾🐑🚜Given the broad value chain in ag- from farm to fork- and high interest in #AI do you see any shifts in funding priorities? 🌮🥗🥪Your hash tag is #NoOneShouldGoHungry, talk a little about #GlobalFoodInsecurity and what we need to focus on? 📈What specific spaces are you investing in right now? What are you most excited about? 🔥Give us examples of game changing startups and technologies. Where does #Singapore fit in the big picture? 🌞🌅I remain optimistic about #Agtech space- it is holding better than other spaces. The downturn is actually giving investors breathing room to make #wiser choices and decisions rather than chasing the most hyped. The #dichotomy of #Hunger and #obesity is worth our full attention. Bravo #TiE teams Singapore and #SiloconValley. #AmitGupta #VishMishra #VijayMenon

It made me appreciate the level of detail provided, and I am glad I just read this article. The article, titled “The Japan Fintech Fest: A Comprehensive Event exposed a lot of influential sessions and topics,” creates a clear picture of all that was discussed during the event. The matter is pretty obvious because Japan leads the world fintech scene, and the measure to unite the efforts of the government and private companies is proving effective too. One of the most debated breakthroughs is AI and its influence on financial services. The opinions also show how the rules that govern matters will change in the coming years. Also, given that the key theme of the summit is Southeast Asia's digital transformation, the region has the propensity to experience economic growth and innovation. Generally, I like the joyful tone compared to the celebration of the festival's goodness, which is to display the position of Japan as the leader of the fintech industry. #FinTech #Innovation #Japan #GlobalFinance #DigitalEconomy #Collaboration #EmergingTechnologies #AI #FinancialServices #SoutheastAsia #DigitalTransformation #EconomicGrowth #TrustXPay #cryptocurrencynews

🌐 Join us from June 20th to 21st for The Next Web Conference (TNW) in Amsterdam, Europe's leading tech event. This year, over 10,000 technology professionals, more than 3,500 startups, and 300+ investors will come together to shape the future of technology. The conference will delve into current tech trends across four stages and seven themes, offering deep insights into #AI, #emergingtech, #martech, #sustainability, #fintech, #venture, and #innovation. For this edition, the organization curated a diverse speaker lineup, showcasing perspectives from various industry stakeholders. Gain insights from experienced leaders at Vinted, Booking.com, bunq, Microsoft, Wise, Adobe, Netflix, and Too Good To Go. Discover practical knowledge on securing funding and investments from reputable venture firms including Index Ventures, OpenseedVC, Motive Partners, EQT Ventures, Speedinvest, and HV Capital. Gain strategic awareness through policy discussions led by experts from the European Innovation Council Board, Allied For Startups, the European Investment Bank (EIB), the European FinTech Association (EFA), and more. 🇵🇹 Additionally, aicep Portugal Global will be showcasing the vibrant Portuguese #technology sector, underscoring Portugal’s strong appeal as a prime destination for #investment in this dynamic industry. Don’t miss this opportunity to connect and discover the potential of the Portuguese technology and innovation sector at booth #43! More information about the speaker lineup here 👉 https://lnkd.in/gbcdg4H   #TNW2024 #TheNextWebConference #Portugal #Tech #Innovation #PortugalMakesSense #InvestInPortugal

Janos Barberis will be heading to Singapore. Here is what he has to say: I owe a lot to the #FinTech industry in Asia for who I have become. Singapore FinTech Festival was a key part of my impact in the sector. Unfortunately 5 years ago, everything stopped suddenly. My body couldn't take it anymore. I went from startup founder to hospital patient overnight. I recovered physically from pretty bad odds. Once I did I had another peak to climb. Calming and refocusing my mind on what I am capable and not. I could have done so much more, if it wasn't for having let myself fail. The same applies to so many founders. My public story is their silent taboo. This is what I will be sharing. I don't take for granted I can go back on stage. So thank you Rebecca Martin, Navin Suri , Sagari White, Sopnendu Mohanty, Pat Patel, James Boey and Yong Liang Mun for giving me a platform, or I should say this circle of trust. And of course, because we are here to share stories but also build ecosystems. The next day, we will hold a roundtable with 45 investors. The objective is to provide to Venture Capital Funds an understanding about the importance of Founders Mental Health for the perception and performance of their funds. We aim to have investors that have a combined investment capacity of $3billion. This will be the first 1% of a trillion dollar industry that will promote healthier founders to generate healthier returns. Let me know if you to want to join me. Thanks to these that cared for me during these years and those that are enabling me to do much more with Founders Taboo. Annabelle Cameron, Eleni Socratous, Dani Olliffe & Noshin Chowdhury PS: Thanks for Esade x Annelore Huyghe for inspiring the title of the keynote.

Inspiring innovation, shaping industries!  Discover how Finvasia is leading the charge towards a brighter future. Read the full article on Cyprus Business News for insights and inspiration. https://lnkd.in/gMRfXrpZ #Finvasia #InspiringInnovation #IndustryShapers

Heading to Singapore and very proud to be able to give this keynote, literally. I owe a lot to the #FinTech industry in Asia for who I have become. Singapore FinTech Festival was a key part of my impact in the sector. Unfortunately 5 years ago, everything stopped suddenly. My body couldn't take it anymore. I went from startup founder to hospital patient overnight. I recovered physically from pretty bad odds. Once I did I had another peak to climb. Calming and refocusing my mind on what I am capable and not. I could have done so much more, if it wasn't for having let myself fail. The same applies to so many founders. My public story is their silent taboo. This is what I will be sharing. I don't take for granted I can go back on stage. So thank you Rebecca Martin, Navin Siri, Sagari White, Sopnendu Mohanty, Pat Patel, James Boey and Yong Liang Mun for giving me a platform, or I should say this circle of trust. And of course, because we are here to share stories but also build ecosystems. The next day, we will hold a roundtable with 45 investors. The objective is to provide to Venture Capital Funds an understanding about the importance of Founders Mental Health for the perception and performance of their funds. We aim to have investors that have a combined investment capacity of $3billion. This will be the first 1% of a trillion dollar industry that will promote healthier founders to generate healthier returns. Let me know if you to want to join me. Thanks to these that cared for me during these years and those that are enabling me to do much more with Founders Taboo. Annabelle Cameron, Eleni Socratous, Dani Olliffe & Noshin Chowdhury

Today, we delve into the vibrant capital investment scene in Asia. Despite trailing behind Europe and the US in investments last year, Asia remains the world's tech manufacturing leader. So the real opportunity for the region lies in its potential to evolve from a manufacturing titan into a hub of tech creation and innovation. With its dynamic mix of startups, tech giants, and robust government backing, Asia will undoubtedly redefine the future of technology. This dynamic shift promises not just growth but a redefinition of Asia's role in the global tech narrative. Next week, we'll continue to unravel the capital investment dynamics of the #AdvancedTechnology industry last year, diving into a sector-by-sector analysis. Discover more insights in our 2023 Advanced Technology Market Analysis Report. Check the comments for details on how to download the full report. #TechInnovation #TechLeadership #GlobalTechLandscape #TechinAsia