Swiss Chamber of Commerce in The Netherlands (SwissCham NL)’s Post

💡 Get to the point! Tell me in a sentence or two what you're doing and why. 👨💻 Stefan Sollberger is the CFO Swiss Chamber of Commerce in The Netherlands (SCCN) and the CEO of Sollberger KMU Treuhand. He has an extensive number of years of experience and expertise as a Partner, Advisor, Mentor and Investor. 🎧 English Translation: "In the introduction, the biggest mistake is not being clear to the audience and not telling them what you're actually doing. Mr Lohse would probably say the following: "I've seen thousands of pitches (I don't think there were more than 12), and the most common mistake startups make is that they forget to say what they're doing. Tell me in a sentence or two what you're doing and why. The following answers/approaches are not optimal here: - Cool sprinting through the audience onto the stage and stumbling over a garbage can on your nose (Hoi Zäme) - before the presentation I still knew... - where am I, why is the earth banana-shaped and who are these people who stare at me so stupidly? Oh, you must have solved a lot of crossword puzzles. - I don't know exactly what I'm doing, but my grandma still thinks it's good. - You don't have to understand my product, i.e. solutions, but only see that it works." ⬇ Curious about how an investors mind works ? Comment on any question or topic you would like Stefan Sollberger to write about in his future posts . . Brought to you by The Digital Socialitez - Official digital marketing and social media management partner of Swiss Chamber of Commerce in The Netherlands (SCCN) . . . . #SwissChamberofCommerceInTheNetherlands #SCCN #BusinessExpansion #EuropeanMarket #MarketAccess #StrategicGrowth #BusinessOpportunities #BusinessGrowth #entrepreneurship #Startups #entrepreneurs #Business #europeanbusiness #Investors #Europeannews #euronews #Europeaninvestment #Europeancountries #Europeaninvestments #Europeanfunding #TechUK #TechGermany #TechFrance #TechNetherlands #TechSweden #Investment #Entrepreneur #InvestorMindset #InvestmentAdvice

💡 Being a start-up entrepreneur means one thing above all: hard work. 👨💻 Stefan Sollberger is the CFO Swiss Chamber of Commerce in The Netherlands (SCCN) and the CEO of Sollberger KMU Treuhand. He has an extensive number of years of experience and expertise as a Partner, Advisor, Mentor and Investor. 🎧 English Translation: "Social media has distorted the image of start-ups and the minds represented there. Being a start-up entrepreneur means one thing above all: hard work. Interested parties are often blinded by the supposed start-up lifestyle. They rave about the idea of being self-employed, but then often can't bring themselves to do all the work to really do what is necessary. With a start-up rarely come quick successes, money and conveniences, but rather failures, risks and unsuccessful attempts after the famous product-market fit. So, it takes an iron will. Those who nevertheless dare to do so often need years before substantial successes come. Of course, no one can guarantee that. You have to cope with possible dry spells - otherwise you will have little joie de vivre in a start-up life or in the scene. " ⬇ Curious about how an investors mind works ? Comment on any question or topic you would like Stefan to write about in his future posts . . Brought to you by The Digital Socialitez - Official digital marketing and social media management partner of Swiss Chamber of Commerce in The Netherlands (SCCN) . . . . #SwissChamberofCommerceInTheNetherlands #SCCN #BusinessExpansion #EuropeanMarket #MarketAccess #StrategicGrowth #BusinessOpportunities #BusinessGrowth #entrepreneurship #Startups #entrepreneurs #Business #europeanbusiness #Investors #Europeannews #euronews #Europeaninvestment #Europeancountries #Europeaninvestments #Europeanfunding #TechUK #TechGermany #TechFrance #TechNetherlands #TechSweden #Investment #Entrepreneur #InvestorMindset #InvestmentAdvice

💡 It means much more that the entrepreneurs know what they can do, but also what they can't do, and that they communicate this convincingly. 👨💻 Stefan Sollberger is the CFO Swiss Chamber of Commerce in The Netherlands (SCCN) and the CEO of Sollberger KMU Treuhand. He has an extensive number of years of experience and expertise as a Partner, Advisor, Mentor and Investor. 🎧 English Translation: "How can startup entrepreneurs deal with the challenge of making a good impression on investors that signals that they are aware of the risks and can handle them? In my opinion, I would focus on the sovereignty factor. Sovereignty does not mean that startup entrepreneurs are perfect in everything they do in the context of a presentation. This is simply not possible, even if the ones presenting (it may be a little more) have experience with presentations. It means much more that the entrepreneurs know what they can do, but also what they can't do, and that they communicate this convincingly. It is therefore your job to give investors the feeling that their investment is in good hands with you or your team. This does not mean that you can do everything and have a solution for everything immediately. But it means that you are aware of what you can do and where there are still deficits, and that you can communicate this calmly. " ⬇ Curious about how an investors mind works ? Comment on any question or topic you would like Stefan to write about in his future posts . . Brought to you by The Digital Socialitez - Official digital marketing and social media management partner of Swiss Chamber of Commerce in The Netherlands (SCCN) . . . . #SwissChamberofCommerceInTheNetherlands #SCCN #BusinessExpansion #EuropeanMarket #MarketAccess #StrategicGrowth #BusinessOpportunities #BusinessGrowth #entrepreneurship #Startups #entrepreneurs #Business #europeanbusiness #Investors #Europeannews #euronews #Europeaninvestment #Europeancountries #Europeaninvestments #Europeanfunding #TechUK #TechGermany #TechFrance #TechNetherlands #TechSweden #Investment #Entrepreneur #InvestorMindset #InvestmentAdvice

💡 Investment is always based on trust. 👨💻 Stefan Sollberger is the CFO Swiss Chamber of Commerce in The Netherlands (SCCN) and the CEO of Sollberger KMU Treuhand. He has an extensive number of years of experience and expertise as a Partner, Advisor, Mentor and Investor. 🎧 English Translation: "New angels are people who do not perceive themselves as business angels and are therefore not members of business angel networks or other associations. Most of them do not introduce themselves as investors, but are interested in entrepreneurship and making early-stage investments. Unlike members of business angel networks, who have usually invested in five or ten companies, new angels may only be invested in one or two. You can find these new angels through your extended network Linkedin. Linkedin is a good place to start: look here for people you know, either directly or through mutual friends, who you know have money to invest (due to their business career and/or their own business) and who you think are interested in entrepreneurship (because they've started or funded other businesses). New angels can be right under your nose: for example, old schoolmates or a former boss. And the good thing is: You know each other and a corresponding trust already exists. Because an investment is always based on trust. And only you as an entrepreneur can achieve this trust through your personality. " ⬇ Curious about how an investors mind works ? Comment on any question or topic you would like Stefan Sollberger to write about in his future posts . . Brought to you by The Digital Socialitez - Official digital marketing and social media management partner of Swiss Chamber of Commerce in The Netherlands (SCCN) . . . . #SwissChamberofCommerceInTheNetherlands #SCCN #BusinessExpansion #EuropeanMarket #MarketAccess #StrategicGrowth #BusinessOpportunities #BusinessGrowth #entrepreneurship #Startups #entrepreneurs #Business #europeanbusiness #Investors #Europeannews #euronews #Europeaninvestment #Europeancountries #Europeaninvestments #Europeanfunding #TechUK #TechGermany #TechFrance #TechNetherlands #TechSweden #Investment #Entrepreneur #InvestorMindset #InvestmentAdvice  #InvestorMindset #DeriskStartup #InvestmentRisk #StartupDeRisking  #InvestorThoughts #InvestorMindset #InvestorThoughtoftheDay

💡 One of the biggest concerns of many investors is that they will end up in a market that is too small. 👨💻 Stefan Sollberger is the CFO Swiss Chamber of Commerce in The Netherlands (SCCN) and the CEO of Sollberger KMU Treuhand. He has an extensive number of years of experience and expertise as a Partner, Advisor, Mentor and Investor. 🎧 English Translation: "One of the biggest concerns of many investors is that they will end up in a market that is too small.   There are two different markets:   1. The market already exists: Your customers are already spending a lot of money on a similar product, it's easy to find a marketplace for it, and you can explain why you're going to take customers away from existing sellers.   2. The market is new: Potential customers don't spend money on something that solves the exact same problem, so it's hard to estimate how big the market will be. However, many startups, especially innovative ones, fall into the second category. Precisely because there is currently no similar product for which customers (can) spend money, you assume that there is a market opportunity.   But how do you convince investors that there is a huge market opportunity when there is no market yet? " ⬇ Curious about how an investors mind works ? Comment on any question or topic you would like Stefan Sollberger to write about in his future posts . . Brought to you by The Digital Socialitez - Official digital marketing and social media management partner of Swiss Chamber of Commerce in The Netherlands (SCCN) . . . . #SwissChamberofCommerceInTheNetherlands #SCCN #BusinessExpansion #EuropeanMarket #MarketAccess #StrategicGrowth #BusinessOpportunities #BusinessGrowth #entrepreneurship #Startups #entrepreneurs #Business #europeanbusiness #Investors #Europeannews #euronews #Europeaninvestment #Europeancountries #Europeaninvestments #Europeanfunding #TechUK #TechGermany #TechFrance #TechNetherlands #TechSweden #Investment #Entrepreneur #InvestorMindset #InvestmentAdvice  #InvestorMindset #DeriskStartup #InvestmentRisk #StartupDeRisking  #InvestorThoughts #InvestorMindset #InvestorThoughtoftheDay  

💡 Your idea alone will not raise capital. 👨💻 Stefan Sollberger is the CFO Swiss Chamber of Commerce in The Netherlands (SCCN) and the CEO of Sollberger KMU Treuhand. He has an extensive number of years of experience and expertise as a Partner, Advisor, Mentor and Investor. 🎧 English Translation: "Professional investors don't invest in ideas. First-time founders think that coming up with a good business idea is the hardest part, and that implementing the idea is easy. Nothing could be further from the truth, and for this reason alone, your idea alone will not raise capital. Many people think it would work like this: Create a business plan and send it to investors. The investors would then be convinced that this would be a great idea and give money and with this money you could then create a website etc. and of course conquer the world. Professional investors know that the difference between a successful startup and a failure is not the unique idea, but the hard work of the team in the many years following the original idea. And that's why no one invests in a business idea alone, also because the risk is/would be far too high." ⬇ Curious about how an investors mind works ? Comment on any question or topic you would like Stefan Sollberger to write about in his future posts . . Brought to you by The Digital Socialitez - Official digital marketing and social media management partner of Swiss Chamber of Commerce in The Netherlands (SCCN) . . . . #SwissChamberofCommerceInTheNetherlands #SCCN #BusinessExpansion #EuropeanMarket #MarketAccess #StrategicGrowth #BusinessOpportunities #BusinessGrowth #entrepreneurship #Startups #entrepreneurs #Business #europeanbusiness #Investors #Europeannews #euronews #Europeaninvestment #Europeancountries #Europeaninvestments #Europeanfunding #TechUK #TechGermany #TechFrance #TechNetherlands #TechSweden #Investment #Entrepreneur #InvestorMindset #InvestmentAdvice

💡 If the information is missing here, it is regularly an extremely bad sign to investors. 👨💻 Stefan Sollberger is the CFO Swiss Chamber of Commerce in The Netherlands (SCCN) and the CEO of Sollberger KMU Treuhand. He has an extensive number of years of experience and expertise as a Partner, Advisor, Mentor and Investor. 🎧 English Translation: "Have no business model! Founders do not present to investors as a pastime, but because they want money for their start-up. Sometimes, however, one has the impression that the business model is questionable. This is because the founders cannot always explain exactly how they want to earn money and, in particular, how much. Of course, every business forecast is fraught with uncertainty. Investors know that. Nevertheless, founders must be able to plausibly explain what income, costs and profits they expect. In addition, they need to know what factors can influence costs and profits. If the information is missing here, it is regularly an extremely bad sign." ⬇ Curious about how an investors mind works ? Comment on any question or topic you would like Stefan to write about in his future posts . . Brought to you by The Digital Socialitez - Official digital marketing and social media management partner of Swiss Chamber of Commerce in The Netherlands (SCCN) . . . . #SwissChamberofCommerceInTheNetherlands #SCCN #BusinessExpansion #EuropeanMarket #MarketAccess #StrategicGrowth #BusinessOpportunities #BusinessGrowth #entrepreneurship #Startups #entrepreneurs #Business #europeanbusiness #Investors #Europeannews #euronews #Europeaninvestment #Europeancountries #Europeaninvestments #Europeanfunding #TechUK #TechGermany #TechFrance #TechNetherlands #TechSweden #Investment #Entrepreneur #InvestorMindset #InvestmentAdvice

💡 Questionable business model is always an issue. Start-up entrepreneurs struggle to explain how they want to earn money and, in particular, how much. 👨💻 Stefan Sollberger is the CFO Swiss Chamber of Commerce in The Netherlands (SCCN)and the CEO of Sollberger KMU Treuhand. He has an extensive number of years of experience and expertise as a Partner, advisor, mentor and investor. 🎧 English Translation: "Founders present to investors because they want to have money for their start-up. Sometimes, however, you get the impression that it is precisely the business model that is questionable. This is because start-up entrepreneurs cannot always explain how they want to earn money and, in particular, how much. Of course, any business forecast is fraught with uncertainty. Professional investors know this. Nevertheless, founders must be able to plausibly explain what income, costs and profits they expect. In addition, they need to know what factors can affect costs and profits. If there is a lack of information here, this is usually an extremely bad sign. HORSEPOWER: Recently, a start-up entrepreneur told me about investments: No Risk, no Fun! However, investors don't invest in a company just for fun. With an investment, a clear goal is intended - namely the greatest possible return on investment. Therefore, it should be clear in the context of a presentation that it is worthwhile for the investor to invest in the presenting start-up. And don't forget: Shares of a start-up company are illiquid assets because they are not traded on any public stock exchange and are usually tied up to an exit for 5 - 10 years. " 👁️🗨️ Curious about how an investors mind works ? Let our investment and financial expert and the Swiss Chamber of Commerce in The Netherlands (SCCN)'s Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Stefan Sollberger break it down ⬇ .. . . Brought to you by The Digital Socialitez - Official digital marketing and social media management partner of Swiss Chamber of Commerce in The Netherlands (SCCN) . . . . #SwissChamberofCommerceInTheNetherlands #SCCN #BusinessExpansion #EuropeanMarket #MarketAccess #StrategicGrowth #BusinessOpportunities #BusinessGrowth #entrepreneurship #Startups #entrepreneurs #Business #europeanbusiness #Investors #Europeannews #euronews #Europeaninvestment #Europeancountries #Europeaninvestments #Europeanfunding #TechUK #TechGermany #TechFrance #TechNetherlands #TechSweden #Investment #Entrepreneur #InvestorMindset #InvestmentAdvice  #InvestorMindset #DeriskStartup #InvestmentRisk #StartupDeRisking  #InvestorThoughts #InvestorMindset #InvestorThoughtoftheDay #BusinessModel #HowDoYouMakeMoney

💡 Keep it short – every type of material you send out has only one goal – to get to the next step with investors. 👨💻 Stefan Sollberger is the CFO Swiss Chamber of Commerce in The Netherlands (SCCN) and the CEO of Sollberger KMU Treuhand. He has an extensive number of years of experience and expertise as a Partner, Advisor, Mentor and Investor. 🎧 English Translation: "There are three types of basic materials that I think you need to contact investors. The first is the initial contact material, which you'll likely send via email. It has to summarize - very briefly - what your business idea is and why the investor should take the next step, i.e. what jumps out of it. Maybe you can already get to a conversation here, preferably online. You then need an executive summary with enough details that the investor will bite and be interested in a meeting. You send this summary after he asks for it. Finally, you need a more detailed presentation, which can either be sent out or presented in a reduced version. Keep it short – every type of material you send out has only one goal – to get to the next step with investors. You don't close the deal on the first contact. What not to do: - At the first contact, send an NDA with a contractual penalty. - Dictate the conditions for an investment right away. Usually, an investor participates via shares of the company and unfortunately these are illiquid assets in the majority of all startups. " ⬇ Curious about how an investors mind works ? Comment on any question or topic you would like Stefan Sollberger to write about in his future posts . . Brought to you by The Digital Socialitez - Official digital marketing and social media management partner of Swiss Chamber of Commerce in The Netherlands (SCCN) . . . . #SwissChamberofCommerceInTheNetherlands #SCCN #BusinessExpansion #EuropeanMarket #MarketAccess #StrategicGrowth #BusinessOpportunities #BusinessGrowth #entrepreneurship #Startups #entrepreneurs #Business #europeanbusiness #Investors #Europeannews #euronews #Europeaninvestment #Europeancountries #Europeaninvestments #Europeanfunding #TechUK #TechGermany #TechFrance #TechNetherlands #TechSweden #Investment #Entrepreneur #InvestorMindset #InvestmentAdvice

💡 If you succeed, that progress/traction will change everything! 👨💻 Stefan Sollberger is the CFO Swiss Chamber of Commerce in The Netherlands (SCCN) and the CEO of Sollberger KMU Treuhand. He has an extensive number of years of experience and expertise as a Partner, Advisor, Mentor and Investor. 🎧 English Translation: "Statistics show that few startups make it all the way from an idea to a successful company. Many things can go wrong during this process. Maybe you won't be able to put together a great team. Maybe you can't build a great product. And in the idea phase (without customers), it's hard to argue that you'll attract a lot of customers later on. But progress, i.e. traction, is changing all that. Imagine a gaming app. Maybe the team didn't get investors in the idea phase because the investors didn't believe they could do it. But maybe they still managed to develop the game and put it online. If you succeed, that progress/traction will change everything. Results from real customers/users beat any prediction! " ⬇ Curious about how an investors mind works ? Comment on any question or topic you would like Stefan Sollberger to write about in his future posts . . Brought to you by The Digital Socialitez - Official digital marketing and social media management partner of Swiss Chamber of Commerce in The Netherlands (SCCN) . . . . #SwissChamberofCommerceInTheNetherlands #SCCN #BusinessExpansion #EuropeanMarket #MarketAccess #StrategicGrowth #BusinessOpportunities #BusinessGrowth #entrepreneurship #Startups #entrepreneurs #Business #europeanbusiness #Investors #Europeannews #euronews #Europeaninvestment #Europeancountries #Europeaninvestments #Europeanfunding #TechUK #TechGermany #TechFrance #TechNetherlands #TechSweden #Investment #Entrepreneur #InvestorMindset #InvestmentAdvice  #InvestorMindset #DeriskStartup #InvestmentRisk #StartupDeRiskin