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Numerous studies show that startups led by women or mixed-gender teams are significantly better investments in terms of returns 📈, efficient capital usage 💼, revenue growth 📊, and achieving profitable exit strategies💡. I covered this topic in my latest column for Svijet novca in Poslovni dnevnik. To learn more about why the underrepresentation of women in the private capital markets is an issue and how we can change it for the better, read the article at this link:🔗👉 https://lnkd.in/dQgK4VCd 🔗. However, I will also be addressing this topic at upcoming events 🎤 organised by the ESIL aimed at developing the innovation and investment environment across the EU, with a focus on building business angel communities 👼. As the team leader for Croatia, I am delighted to participate in two training sessions for current and future female and male business angels 💡 on October 1st and 15th in Zagreb. (More information at this link 👉🔗 https://lnkd.in/dXE7DaYQ 🔗) Given the importance of this topic 🌍, we will also discuss it at the upcoming LP-GP Networking Event in Dubrovnik from October 9th to 11th, 2024. (More details at this link 👉🔗https://lnkd.in/dbA8jc6H 🔗) It's worth being persistent and repeating ♻️, as increasing the involvement of women in private equity, especially in venture capital funds, is crucial not only for achieving greater inclusivity and equality ⚖️ but also for achieving better business and social outcomes 💪. #WomenInBusiness #Startups #Investment #VentureCapital #GenderDiversity #WomenEmpowerment #PrivateEquity #BusinessAngels #Networking #ESILProgram #DiversityAndInclusion #FemaleLeadership #LPGPNetworking

🌍 Get ready to hear an exclusive panel discussion about LPs' perspectives on alternative investments! 💼💡 Join us on Thursday, October 10, at the LP/GP Networking Event 2024 in Dubrovnik, where leading industry professionals will share their insights on: 👉 Why raising capital for PE & VC funds has become increasingly difficult 🚧 👉 The biggest challenges for fund managers today ⚖️ 👉 How LPs decide which funds are worth their investment 💼🎯 I'm honoured to moderate this panel, consisting of an exquisite list of experts, including: ✅ Alicja Hlibowicka, Relationship Manager and Business Development, European Investment Fund (EIF) ✅ Dominic Maier, Partner, AXA Venture Partners (AXA VP) ✅ Željka Idžan, Specialist, Croatian Bank for Reconstruction and Development (HBOR) ✅ Igor Filipović, Head of Portfolio Management, Erste Pension Funds ✅ Primoz Kovacic, CO-CEO, Prosperita Family Office 🔗 Don’t miss out – register via the official event website: https://lnkd.in/dbA8jc6H #PrivateEquity #VentureCapital #InvestmentInsights #conference #networking #croatia #dubrovnik

🌟 We are thrilled to announce an exceptional lineup of keynote speakers for the LP-GP Networking Event 2024! 🎤✨ This elite gathering of family office representatives and institutional investors focuses on European private equity, venture capital, and alternative investments. 🌍💼 📅 Join us in the beautiful and historic city of Dubrovnik from  Wednesday, 9th October (afternoon) to Friday, 11th October (lunchtime) 2024, for exclusive access to top investment insights and a luxurious experience. This off-the-beaten-path event includes private cocktail receptions, gourmet dining, a classical concert on the beach, and a cruise on the traditional "Karaka" ship. 🏰 🔗 To secure your place and learn more about the event, please register via the official event website:  https://lnkd.in/dbA8jc6H  🌟 Don't miss this unique and exceptional opportunity! ✨ #PrivateEquity #VentureCapital #AlternativeInvestments #FamilyOffices #InstitutionalInvestors #NetworkingEvent #InvestmentInsights #LuxuryEvents #Dubrovnik #KarakaExperience #LPGPNetworking #InvestmentOpportunities

I’m thrilled to have participated in the Golden Aurora Award 2024 ceremony, organised by Business Angels Europe. 🙌✨ It was an incredible honour to be nominated alongside such talented and inspiring women from across Europe! 🌍💫 Congratulations to Annegien Blokpoel from The Netherlands 🇳🇱 for winning this year’s Golden Aurora Award 2024 🏆! Annegien, your impact in fostering gender diversity and investing in female-led startups is truly inspiring. 👏💡 Your dedication to positively impacting people and the planet sets you apart as a visionary leader. 🌱🌍 It was also a pleasure to share this space with my fellow nominees: 🌟 Isabel Neves from Portugal 🇵🇹 🌟 Leen LIMBOURG from Belgium 🇧🇪 🌟 Mariarosa Trolese from Italy 🇮🇹 🌟 Mirna Marovic from Croatia 🇭🇷 (that’s me! 😇) A special thank you to the expert jury members for their dedication and support: - Reginald Vossen (Belgium 🇧🇪 – President BAE, CEO BAN Flanders) - Jenny Tooth OBE (United Kingdom 🇬🇧 – VP Diversity BAE, Exec. Chair UK BAA) - Mary McKenna, MBE McKenna MBE (Ireland 🇮🇪 – 2023 Golden Aurora Award Winner) 🌟 These amazing women are making a major impact in their local ecosystems while bridging connections across Europe. 🌍🤝 The event at the Inbound Investors Conference in Belfast was a great opportunity to celebrate these successes and inspire future generations of female business angels. 🚀✨ Looking forward to working together to create a more inclusive, innovative future for European startups! 💪💼 Thank you again to Business Angels Europe for this fantastic initiative! 🙏 Let’s continue driving catalytic change and empowering startups across Europe! 🌟 #GoldenAurora2024 #WomenInBusiness #AngelInvesting #Winner #Innovation #Startups #Diversity #ImpactInvesting #Empowerment

Did you know that private equity (PE) and venture capital (VC) fund managers have been active in Croatia since 1997 and are now reaching their fourth generation? 🚀 Members of the Croatian Private Equity and Venture Capital Association (CVCA) currently manage an impressive €3.2 billion in capital! For more on the opportunities for startups and the PE/VC landscape, check out my column in Poslovni dnevnik: 📰👉https://lnkd.in/dYvWqD7S To support the capital attraction, CVCA is hosting the LP-GP Networking Event from 9 – 11 October 2024 in Dubrovnik—a private, invitation-only event bringing together the PE& VC fund managers (GPs) and their end-investors (LPs), including institutional investors and family offices and from across Europe. Find out more at: 🌐👉https://lnkd.in/dbA8jc6H See you in the Pearl of the Adriatic! 🇭🇷 Jeste li znali da Private Equity (PE) i Venture Capital (VC) fond menadžeri djeluju u Hrvatskoj još od 1997., a sada smo već došli do četvrte generacije? 🚀 Članovi Croatian Private Equity and Venture Capital Association (CVCA) upravljaju s impresivnih 3,2 milijarde eura kapitala! 📈 Za više informacija o prilikama za startupove i PE/VC sceni, pročitajte moju kolumnu u Poslovni dnevnik: 📰👉 https://lnkd.in/dYvWqD7S Kako bi se olakšali privlačenje kapitala, CVCA organizira LP-GP Networking Event od 9. do 11. listopada 2024. u Dubrovniku – privatni, ekskluzivni događaj koji okuplja PE/VC fond menadžere (GPs), te njihove krajnje ulagače (LPs), uključujući institucionalne investitore  i predstavnike family office-a i iz cijele Europe. Saznajte više na 🌐👉https://lnkd.in/dbA8jc6H Vidimo se u biseru Jadrana! 🇭🇷 #PrivateEquity #VentureCapital #Investments #Europe #Networking #LPs #GPs #GrowthOpportunities #CapitalRaising #PEVC

In Croatia 🇭🇷 and across Central and Eastern Europe 🌍, the investment ecosystem for business angels 😇 has definitely developed and flourished over the last ten years. 🚀 It's often the business angels 😇 who provide the first capital 💰 to startups. This is followed by collaboration 🤝 with local venture capital funds 🏦, all of which is slowly but surely transforming Croatia into a high value-added economy 📈, or as I often like to emphasise - a "high tech, high skill, high wage" economy. 💻👩💻💵 I see this nomination for European Female Business Angel of the Year 🏆 primarily as a recognition of the development of the entire startup ecosystem 🌱 in Croatia 🇭🇷, from business angels 😇 to venture capital funds 🏦, to founders and entrepreneurs 👩💼👨💼, rather than as a personal accolade. 🙌 The joint efforts to foster the growth 🌱 of fast-growing 🚀and innovative 💡 startups, some of which become scale-ups 📊 and some even unicorns 🦄, are certainly opening doors 🚪 for many capable and ambitious entrepreneurs 🌟 from small Croatia 🇭🇷 to conquer global markets 🌐. What could be a greater reward 🎉 than that? A huge thank you to Business Angels Europe for the nomination! 🙏 Honored to be recognised and excited to keep supporting our growing ecosystem. 🌍🚀 More about the nomination at https://lnkd.in/dnyAyxpS U Hrvatskoj 🇭🇷 i Srednjoj i Istočnoj Europi 🌍, ekosustav ulaganja poslovnih anđela 😇 se u posljednjih 10-ak godina definitivno razvio i zaživio. 🚀 Često su upravo poslovni anđeli 😇 ti koji daju prvi kapital 💰 startupovima. Na to se nadovezuje suradnja 🤝 s domaćim venture capital fondovima 🏦, a sve to skupa Hrvatsku 🇭🇷, polako ali sigurno, transformira u gospodarstvo visoke dodane vrijednosti 📈, odnosno ono što često volim istaknuti - "high tech, high skill, high wage" ekonomiju. 💻👩💻💵 Ovu nominaciju za European Female Business Angel of the Year 🏆 prvenstveno doživljavam kao priznanje razvoju cjelokupnog startup ekosustava 🌱 u Hrvatskoj 🇭🇷, od poslovnih anđela 😇 preko venture capital fondova 🏦 do osnivača i poduzetnika 👩💼👨💼, nego što ju doživljavam osobno. 🙌 Zajednički rad na poticanju razvoja 🌱 brzorastućih 🚀 i inovativnih 💡 startupova, među kojima neki postaju skaleupovi 📊, a neki i jednorozi 🦄, svakako otvaraju vrata 🚪 brojnim sposobnim i ambicioznim poduzetnicima 🌟 iz male Hrvatske 🇭🇷 da osvajaju globalna tržišta 🌐. Što može biti veća nagrada 🎉 od toga? Veliko hvala Business Angels Europe na nominaciji! 🙏 Počašćena sam priznanjem i veselim se daljnjoj podršci našem rastućem ekosustavu. 🌍🚀 Više o nominaciji na https://lnkd.in/dnyAyxpS #BusinessAngel 😇 #StartupEcosystem 🌱 #VentureCapital #Croatia 🇭🇷 #WomenInBusiness 👩💼 

🤔 Reflecting on two decades of remarkable growth in Croatia's private equity and venture capital (PE & VC) industry! When the Croatian Private Equity and Venture Capital Association (CVCA) was founded 20 years ago, the PE & VC markets were in their embryonic stages. Fast forward to today, and our industry has flourished into a robust ecosystem where CVCA members now manage over 3.2 billion euros in capital. 🚀💡 Our journey began with adopting the Investment Funds Act in 2005, a pivotal moment that laid the foundation for venture capital funds in Croatia. This early legislative success and strong partnerships between local fund managers (GPs) and institutional investors (LPs) set the stage for the dynamic growth we see today. 📈Croatia now boasts several notable investments, including two unicorns, as well as successful exits, demonstrating the significant impact of our industry on the economy. 🚀The rigorous due diligence processes of international financial institutions have only bolstered the credibility of local PE & VC fund managers, enabling us to attract and manage substantial capital with confidence. 📈🚀😊 🙏 A big thank you to my esteemed colleague Tomislav Pili for inviting me to share these insights. For more details, check out the latest issue of Lider media 💡 🙏 Sa zadovoljstvom sam se odazvala pozivu cijenjenog kolege Tomislav Pili da se osvrnemo na razvoj private equity i venture capital industrije, sve do samih početaka, kao i da vidimo koja nam je trenutna pozicija kao polazna točka za budući rast. 🚀 Više pročitajte u najnovijem broju poslovnog tjednika Lider media💡 #PrivateEquity #VentureCapital #Finance #Investment #Growth #Croatia #Leadership #Innovation #Unicorns #Exits