SeedBlink

Takeaways from last night's #VentureAccel kickoff event by MyidEA - great discussion panel 👏 with Dan Calugareanu, Andrei Pitis, Sergiu Negut and Cosmin Ochisor moderated by Eric Bartha at SeedBlink. Kudos to Matei Dumitrescu for organizing and for bringing so many people from the ecosystem together! Views are aggregated!   🌍 Characteristics of successful founders A mindset to correctly identify and address market gaps is crucial = “Founder-market fit”. Understand broader market trends. Founders need a complementary team with domain expertise and adaptability to new experiences. So, ideally a team vs. solo founder. Experience with previous startups is a plus, but also the ability to reinvent yourselves. Have the super-power to change your mind. Learn from all generations. Global ambitions. 💡 Investor insights Investors today are less patient with stories and more focused on results. Appetite for pre-seed and seed funding is still strong in the region, but the path to Series A has become more challenging—graduation rates have dropped globally also. Conclusion: regional cooperation is key: US funds often avoid early-stage European companies, so local networks and investors need to step up and they are stepping-up.   🚀 Accelerators: A catalyst for growth Accelerators are vital for structuring and preparing startups. It’s not just about validating ideas; there’s also focus on teamwork, communication, and mentorship. It’s fantastic that we have accelerators in the region, there’s room for more! Ideally, accelerators should be adaptable to startup’s unique needs (achieved a lot already via 1-2-1 mentoring).   💼 Engaging with investors Don’t approach angels or VCs when you need funding! Build relationships early and understand each investor focus and timeline. A compelling story is essential in the first round, but need solid numbers for future funding. Investors offer not just capital, but valuable networking opportunities. Bootstrapping is great, but not all startups manage to grow without external funds.   🛠 What’s hot in tech? Cybersecurity, enterprise & dev tools are favored and gaining traction in SEE, with a growing interest in new fields such as biotech. AI is not just hype, good to see applicability and focus on narrow niches. Surprises (good ones) can come from anywhere, also in the context of global ambitions and revolutionary deep tech innovations.   🔗 Business models Recurring revenue models are highly desirable. Investors are looking at MRR/ARR, and more. These insights highlight the evolving dynamics in the startup ecosystem and the growing importance of adaptability, global ambition, and strategic investor relationships. What where your takeaways from the event? P.S. Great pitch at the end by Bogdan Neacsu at Evopath - main takeaway: be laser focused on customer needs. Good luck with the upcoming round on SeedBlink!   #startups #venturecapital #founders #accelerators #investmenttrends #angelinvestors #startupfundraising

#Ventures | “We’ve made significant progress in advancing our hyperloop technology, setting world records in Switzerland and constructing the largest Hyperloop R&D Center in the U.S., where full-scale testing will soon begin." - says Denis Tudor, the CEO of Swisspod Technologies. Read the entire article on SeedBlink - https://lnkd.in/gSTNCHAJ Explore the opportunity here - https://lnkd.in/du2qriA2

Cu mare plăcere va invit la o discuție marca Seedblink despre un subiect complex, des abordat în ședințele de board: ESOP-ul. Alături de mine vor fi doua dintre cele mai respectate doamne ale HR-ului, care ne vor oferi perspective complementare și extrem de practice despre ce înseamnă, în mod concret, un plan de ESOP atât pentru companie, cât și pentru angajaț.

On 28th October, join us for an inspiring session with Bogdan Neacsu, the CEO & founder of Evopath as he reveals his vision to offer AI-powered productivity tool that helps managers create and manage meaningful tasks. Evopath is a start-up founded by two entrepreneurs with a combined 40 years of European experience in building and implementing SaaS products. Proudly supported by ITKey Media, highlighting Central and Eastern Europe's most inspiring stories.

#Ventures | The future of secure deliveries “We have signed Belgian contracts with big mailbox companies. We aim to sign 2 more (International) by the end of the year which means that volumes will quickly increase to thousands of pieces. We have the ambition to work with the top 3 manufacturers in the coming 3-5 years.” - said Francis Delplanque, the CEO and founder of Custo. Read the full interview here - https://lnkd.in/deV6X36j  

#Secondaries | €3.7M in transaction volumes. Up to 3x returns. 1 year and a half. In early-stage and growth-stage investments, liquidity is often the elephant in the room. The allure of a potential 10x return is tantalizing, but traditional venture capital has always required patience—waiting for that long-awaited exit often takes years. Yet, SeedBlink’s secondary market has surpassed €3.7M in transaction volumes—giving investors a chance to exit early, with some seeing returns of 2.5x to 3x. This growth was driven by two distinct types of transactions: Bulletin Board Secondaries & Secondaries in mature scale-ups or pre-IPO companies. This not only benefits investors looking for flexibility but also provides new entrants the opportunity to join exciting deals at various stages of company growth. Read the full article: https://lnkd.in/dRjsKpmB

#Testimonials | What does the SeedBlink community think? Swipe through to hear from the SeedBlink community—where innovative startups meet visionary investors. These testimonials showcase how SeedBlink has empowered their journeys, from raising capital to building strong investment portfolios. 

#PITCH | Few hours left until Denis Tudor, the founder and CEO of Swisspod Technologies – the LogTech startup developing the technology for Hyperloop transportation - will pitch in front of our community, followed by an open floor for your curiosities.  Register now: https://lnkd.in/dADGs4km  

#Investors | Stay ahead in the dynamic world of startups and investments with our Weekly Digest.  Get key insights and updates by subscribing here: https://lnkd.in/dxDJmGVQ  

#startups | How’s your pitch deck? Need some feedback on it? FREE review available now on all SeedBlink plans! 💡How does the SeedBlink tool work? It’s an AI-powered review tool that helps you refine your pitch deck: > Slide-by-slide tailored scoring, feedback and recommendations. > Flags the strongest assets and weak points of your funding materials.  > Gives you an instant analysis aligned with investor expectations. Elevate your pitch with SeedBlink! Pitch deck review is available on all SeedBlink plans #raisehub #aipitchdeck #investorpitch #allthingsequity #startupfundraising