Abac Nest Ventures’ Post

Why #startups are like climbing a very high mountain? 🗻 16/20 The final stretch is called La Canaleta – it is a rocky scree so we were blessed with snow pack and wore crampons. La Canaleta was steeper and even slower going. Smaller chains of climbers dot the stamped trail up it. My mindset never asked ‘Is THAT the summit?’. I learned that the hard way as a kid, the disappointing false summits walking up The Three Rock in South Dublin. For the first 7 hours I didn’t even allow myself to think about the summit. There were too many elements still at play that could turn me or us around. It was only half way up La Canaleta, I allowed myself to say for the first time “I am actually going to make this!”. A brief moment and then back to power breathing. Start-ups have so many moments you think you’re made it, got your launch, got some customers, revenues on the board, sales traction and then something goes wrong, or needs tweaking, or becomes a headache or a growing pain. Try to avoid tempting fate or saying ‘is that it?’ when it is just a false summit. -------------------------------------------- I love mountain metaphors and use them often. I climbed Aconcagua in January 2004 and am sharing a few metaphors or analogies about why starts are like climbing a very high mountain. #Founders and #CEOs of fast growth #startups need to understand finance. Nothing new there. It's just an important reminder to #ownyournumbers. You can start to own your numbers today.

Building a successful company is a marathon, not a sprint. We’ve just crossed our halfway point—both in business and in the Copenhagen Half Marathon last weekend! After four years of trying, failing, and learning, we’ve successfully completed our startup phase. We now have paying customers, and we’re proud to say we’re still self-funded. Just like a marathoner at 21km, we didn’t finish the race as the fastest runners. But we’ve built the resilience needed to finish, and that's what counts. The next phase is our scaling phase, where we’ll improve in speed, strength, and height. We’re ready for the full marathon of building a global product. Let’s keep moving forward. 🏃♂️💪 #StartupJourney #ScalingPhase #HalfMarathon

Why #startups are like climbing a very high mountain? 🗻 7/20 The Ass Kicker – what our guides affectionately called the Carry from Base Camp to Camp 1. The Carry brings food, fuel and tents up the mountain and then two days later we move up with our personal gear – there are no sherpas on the mountain above Base Camp, just us. It took us seven hours to climb 850m in altitude at a slow steady pace with 65lbs on our back. One stretch we made a trail through the field of penitentes – which are chest high ice formations that grow up from the glacier below. By the end of the day, I was better at getting my 65lb pack on my back on my own without any strain or headache – thanks to the hack from our guides. And dropping 65lb of weight after seven hours on my shoulders – I felt I was floating off the ground! The Carry to Camp 1 is the first day of proper mountaineering – the second toughest day on the mountain after summit day – it gives our guides a great opportunity to see who is physically and mentally doing OK. It really does kick your ass. But it’s all part of the adventure. With the double climbing you effectively climb the mountain twice. Ascending and descending also helps the body acclimatise. All part of the itinerary. Startups might have a plan to start, launch, grow, scale, exit, done! The reality can be very different. More like Start, raise, build, test, redo, launch, fix, relaunch, retest, redo … pivot, raise again ... It feels like it might be taking you 2 or 3 times as long to get to where you want to get to. It might take 2-3 the funding. It might also feel that one or two of these steps is the ass-kicker. Through experience CEOs know it's coming and are ready for it. -------------------------------------------- I love mountain metaphors and use them often. I climbed Aconcagua in January 2004 and am sharing a few metaphors or analogies about why starts are like climbing a very high mountain. #Founders and #CEOs of fast growth #startups need to understand finance. Nothing new there. It's just an important reminder to #ownyournumbers. You can start to own your numbers today.

Why #startups are like climbing a very high mountain? 🗻 19/20 Back at Base Camp – we came down from Camp 4 in one day, picking up all our gear and rubbish on the way at Camps 3, 2 and 1. #LeaveNoTrace. And that was the end of the heavy packs.   To celebrate, our guides had successfully got some beers and champagne to base camp without exploding on the mules. Some expert wrapping there!   After one cup of champagne, I had to return to my tent to get my headtorch before the sun went down. I can safely say that is the dizziest I’ve ever been after a glass of bubbles - woah! #12kgWeightLossInThreeWeeks This was such a memorable evening - to celebrate and talk about the ups and challenges of the previous couple weeks. The main job was done, just 30 miles to hike down the valley to the road.   In startups it’s so easy to miss out on the big milestones that you and your team deliver. Sometimes just from sheer tiredness. It doesn’t always need to be a beer, make sure you grab the opportunity to stop and celebrate with team, your investors, key stakeholders and your customers – especially the earliest customers who also believe in what you are doing.   -------------------------------------------- I love mountain metaphors and use them often. I climbed Aconcagua in January 2004 and am sharing a few metaphors or analogies about why starts are like climbing a very high mountain. #Founders and #CEOs of fast growth #startups need to understand finance. Nothing new there. It's just an important reminder to #ownyournumbers. You can start to own your numbers today.

🌟 From Deals to Wheels: Former Venture Capitalist Kristen Faulkner became the third woman in history to win in two different disciplines (track cycling and road cycling) at a single Olympic Games. 🚴♀️🥇 Who would have thought that someone who helps businesses strike gold would go on to win not just one, but TWO Olympic gold medals? From closing million-dollar deals to crossing Olympic finish lines—Kristen Faulkner did just that! As a former venture capitalist at Threshold Ventures and Bessemer Venture Partners, Kristen had a knack for spotting the potential of startups. She sourced investments in companies like Restaurant365 and Applitools, helping them reach new heights. Kristen moved to the Bay Area in 2018, balancing her rising cycling career with her role at Threshold Ventures, where she led a $9.3 million Series A round for Sanity. By 2021, she left venture capital to pursue pro cycling full-time. “A lot of what I learned to do is how to take calculated risks. In a race, I take that mindset with me.” on how her VC background has played a critical role in her cycling success. #SheLovesTech #ParisOlympics2024 #Paris2024 #Olympics2024 #VentureCapital #womeninsports #investor #vc #athlete #venturecapitalists #funding

Did you know there’s a Luxury Vacation rental platform where every home used to include a Tesla? - Im not joking. This startup is called Wander and here’s why it is one of the best startups we've ever heard of 👇 → Launched in 2021 → Embraced the remote work revolution → Rapidly expanding portfolio of properties → Raised $150 Million → Integrated technology for seamless booking → Provides a unique and luxurious experience for travelers → Offers concierge services for personalized stays I always post about startups I love ❤️ And it’s great to see Wander leading the way in redefining luxury vacation rentals 🚀 If I had to ask a question to John Andrew Entwistle (founder) is: —What’s the most exciting new destination you are looking to add to the portfolio? *Repost & follow for more startup stories 🎉

It’s easier when you do it surrounded by friends. Our Veniam Exit Story brilliantly documented in video: https://lnkd.in/dm4i8j-c It was super fun to share Veniam’s exit story together with my dear friends João Barros and José Félix. Oh boy, there’s so much I could say about the near decade we spent together building the Internet of Moving Things. Some memories will naturally fade away as all those years building Veniam were rich in experiences that became lessons for life. The startup journey is made of ups and downs, variable successes, and countless moments that take time to fully appreciate. From the stories untold and the challenges related to building Veniam from the first to its final chapter, this video was an amazing opportunity to share our story everyone else crazy enough to kick-off their startup journey Naturally, this story was shaped by many others, colleagues and lifelong friends who not only made it possible, but also made it a fun and joyful ride. Big kudos for the initiative by Founders Founders, Miguel Albuquerque, Liliana Pinho, and Tiago Monteiro with the Unset Studio. Paulo Calçada and Filipe Araújo, from Porto Digital and Câmara Municipal do Porto for supporting Veniam since the very beginning in building in Porto a city-scale living lab that became a showcase for the most innovative startup nations of world. The sweetest aftertaste is when you close your eyes and see memories that last a lifetime.

Why #startups are like climbing a very high mountain? 🗻 13/20 A rest day at Camp 3 at 5,850m – and the views! Almost at the same height as Kilimanjaro. Anyone who’s done Kili will know how tough it is to take a step approaching the summit and wearing just a day pack. I so needed this rest day. Just to recover after the previous day’s exertion. I was so low on energy, but because of wearing thermals and mostly covered up from the elements, wasnt aware of the weight loss from just not eating enough. That we got clear skies was a bonus as well. The following day was the move to Camp 4 and then, weather permitting, attempt the summit. Rest days are important – especially in startup world where founders and teams don’t always do rest mode. I’ve had some late ones, early ones, weekend ones. It can shift the needle and have an impact but rest and sleep are so so important to remain sane! And be more likeable. -------------------------------------------- I love mountain metaphors and use them often. I climbed Aconcagua in January 2004 and am sharing a few metaphors or analogies about why starts are like climbing a very high mountain. #Founders and #CEOs of fast growth #startups need to understand finance. Nothing new there. It's just an important reminder to #ownyournumbers. You can start to own your numbers today.

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Ready to scale your foodtech venture in Poland? 🍽️ 🚀 Join us at EU Helpers for expert business guidance on launching your foodtech startup in Poland! 🌱 Let's turn your ideas into success stories together.