Morning Startup’s Post

🌱 Building Community to Find the Next Big Thing At Forum Ventures, we believe that the best investments start with building authentic relationships within startup ecosystems. This November, we made two new investments in companies that we connected with through our community-driven events - one at a panel during LA TechWeek and the other at a coffee meetup in New York. These informal settings allowed us to engage with founders in a way that goes beyond the traditional pitch and really get to know their vision, values, and the problem they’re solving. As part of my role at Forum Ventures, I’m focused on growing our community of founders, investors, and innovators across North America. I truly believe that the best way to find breakthrough companies is by creating spaces for meaningful human connections. Whether it’s a large event or a small, casual meetup, every conversation has the potential to spark the next big idea. If you’re a founder looking for partners who are truly invested in your mission or an investor looking to engage with the next generation of innovators, we have a ton of events coming up that can come out to meet the Forum team and the link to our calendar is in the comments! 👇 #CommunityBuilding #VC #Startups #FounderConnections #InvestmentOpportunities #EcosystemGrowth #Innovation

Since we created Fundamental in 21-22, Enviu has been one of our main source of inspiration. Enviu built the first impact venture builder ever in 2010, when very few people were investing in social entrepreneurship. 14 years later, their track record is impressive: 🚀 24 impact startups cofounded. ⭐ 3 exits 💰65M raised for their entire portfolio 💡 Fun fact: Their first startups Energy Floors builds dancefloors that generate sustainable energy and equipped Coldplay's world tour! That's why I'm super excited to co-host a webinar with Enviu and Dieuwertje Nelissen to dive into how the venture studio model can drive global impact 🌏 This is gonna be a hands-on session exploring how venture studios provide a great opportunity for philanthropic and impact investors! We'll cover: 🎲 Impact Venture Studio 101: What they are and how they work. 🌍 Development Done Right: Discover how Venture Studios create scalable, self-sustaining solutions. 🚀 Leveling Up Philanthropy with Catalytic Funding: Understand the role Grants and Blended Finance plays for redesigning the economy, filling gaps, and creating self-sustaining impact. 💡 Real-Life Examples: Practical insights from Fundamental and Enviu 📅 Date: Wed, July 17 ⏰ Time: 9:30 AM (CET), 5:30 PM (CEST) 🔗 Register here: https://lnkd.in/g63YaYsp See you there! 🌟 #Webinar #VentureStudios #Impact #Philanthropy #Innovation #Enviu #Fundamental Dieuwertje Nelissen Linus Mueller Paul van der Linden Elfid Torres Maxime Braun Irene Nathalie Valerie Martin Glenn Kate Manuela Roger Tatiana Jennifer Vicky Alberto Carlos Carlos Rocío Tina Adrian Susanna Charu Fernando Luz Annabel Payal

What is an Impact Venture Studio? Find out from two of the leading organizations Fundamental and Enviu who are leveraging the venture studio model to create positive social and environmental impact. See the details below 👇

A small recap about #StartupCentralEurasia, which is something like a guide on the start-up eco-system in Central Asia and surrounding regions. If I understand correctly, Irakli Kashibadze, the managing partner at Future laboratory manages this resource. About once a month, Irakli’s team gathers start-ups in the region, conducts a short call with them to check their validity and relevance, and then commits to a small online pitch event with these start-ups and a pool of investors, angels, and funds that are either part of Irakli’s network or Future Lab Ventures’. I sincerely encourage start-ups to participate in these types of activities at different stages. The more your start-up is noticed in the community, the better. Investment is, in part, a social process, meaning any fund will look at you like someone they know and can connect with. Randomly knocking on investors’ doors and pitching your company could work, but the effect won’t be as big. I still think pitching is useful, but pitching your product to a group that includes other start-ups and investors is even better. You’ll start to compare yourself against others and they’ll do the same to you, which is an important part of the selection process. You know the life hack for talking with a stubborn child when they say, “I don’t want to go outside”? You create a different choice, asking, “Are you going outside in the red or blue jacket?” The child immediately forgets about going outside or not and focuses on which jacket to wear to go outside. When you pitch alone to investors, they think about whether to “get interested” or “not get interested.” If you pitch with other start-ups, the “not get interested” becomes a secondary thought, and they choose between what’s in front of them. It’s a little cognitive hack. By the way, a week after this improvised event, DOMiNO Ventures contacted us. In my prev posts, I've shared that Enji was selected to be the part of their newborn accelerator Better Future AI. P.S. If you are an accelerator or are somehow involved in the start-up environment, then connecting your start-ups with such activities is super important. If the founders say, “We’re not ready,” ignore them and get them to these events. They will get a boost from the outside and inside when they see themselves reflected in those around them. P.P.S. Thanks Maksim Burianov for reaching us out 😉

Brighteye Ventures posts an article that could be read as the state of #edtech in Italy (link in the first comment). I met the nice folks from the VC fund some days ago in Milan (Hege Tollerud missed you very much), at an event superbly organised by Edtech Italia (bravo Matteo Bagnato and team) and hosted by Alessandro Rimassa (note: Ale invested in zick learn) at Future of Work House, and featuring Stefano Molino from CDP Venture Capital SGR (note: CDP invested in zick learn). The article sheds a very optimistic light on what's happening in the Italian edtech ecosystem and, boy, as an entrepreneur who decided to build his new venture in Ireland, it sounds juicy (still: Ireland is the best place in Europe to kick off your new startup). I was proud and hopeful while reading it. Maybe, MAYBE Italy is starting to take its place on the map. And many are the friends mentioned in the article: Claudio Erba (founder of Docebo), the godfather of the Italian edtech entrepreneurs; Davide Dattoli Zhang, with whom I co-founded (and exited) Talent Garden in Milan; Finanz and his super energetic founder Lorenzo Perotta (curiously enough, Lorenzo and I first met at Dublin Tech Summit); Marco Ogliengo (the wizard of LinkedIn comms), founder of Jet HR, whom I originally met at day zero of his previous startup ProntoPro. What these guys are doing is huge. What's happening in Italy with the new startup act is huge. I'm starting to look at this Country's future with a different perspective. P.S. Ah, and zick learn is opening our Italian subsidiary to better cover this market P.P.S. Probably never wrote a post with some many quotes. And have not yet reached the Linkedin ceiling.

🌟 Calling all Investors and Startup founders! 🌟 Are you ready for an unparalleled opportunity to connect, collaborate, and catalyse your startup journey? Join us at the Reverse Pitch: Investors Showcase and Mixer, an exclusive event at Startup Grind Scotland Aberdeen! 🔍 Explore New Ventures: Mix and mingle with like-minded individuals, sharing innovative ideas and forging invaluable connections that extend far beyond Startup Grind Scotland Aberdeen. 🤝 Build Meaningful Relationships: Whether you're on the hunt for your next big investment or seeking mentorship for your startup, this event is your gateway to a network of diverse entrepreneurs and seasoned investors from across industries. 💡 Spark Insightful Conversations: Engage in thought-provoking discussions, uncover emerging trends, and unearth exciting business opportunities that could shape the future of your startup journey. 🌟 Don't Miss Out: The Reverse Pitch: Investors Showcase and Mixer is where the best and brightest minds in the startup ecosystem converge. Mark your calendars and prepare to connect with industry leaders who can propel your venture to new heights! 📅 Save the Date: [June 6, 2024] 📍 Location: ONE Tech Hub Aberdeen 🔗 Register Now: https://lnkd.in/ecqwnqh7 Seize this chance to elevate your startup journey and position yourself for success. See you there! #StartupGrindAberdeen #ReversePitch #InvestorsShowcase #Networking #StartupJourney #Innovation #Entrepreneurship

🌟 From winning the Health VentureLab Weekend to being rewarded from Microsoft, Setareh’s story fills us with pride and inspiration. Setareh Rezaee participated in the 2023 Health VentureLab Weekend, where she and her team took home the top prize. She came with the goal of enhancing her academic background with entrepreneurial skills, but left with so much more. By stepping out of her comfort zone and tackling unexpected challenges, Setareh reignited her belief in her startup, ShineTech, and led her team to an extraordinary victory!🎉 After her big win, Setareh shared how much this recognition meant to her: “No one believed in me, but I did, and now people trust me.” Fast forward to now, her dedication has earned her a spot in Microsoft’s 10-week AI-focused startup acceleration program, along with many more supporters! 🚀 Setareh's journey is a powerful reminder of what hard work and initiative can achieve. ------------- 💡 Feeling inspired? Join the VentureLab Weekend! Test your idea out, embrace the challenge, and discover if the entrepreneurial life is for you. Find the registration link in the comments below! 👇 #StartupJourney #Entrepreneurship #HealthInnovation #VLWChallenge

🚀Kicking off 2025 with momentum As we step into 2025, the energy at Mission Studio is palpable. Here’s a glimpse into what we’re thrilled about as we work to shape the future with mission-led startups: 🛠️ Big things ahead: we’re diving deep with Mendara, our latest concept, and exploring solutions aligned with Nesta’s A Healthy Life mission – so watch this space! 🎨 A fresh look: this year, we’ll unveil a new look and website that reflects our vision of creating impact at scale. 🤝 Building communities of founders: we’re welcoming a new wave of exceptional founders and expanding support across our portfolio with a new founder platform. Because impactful startups need more than just capital: it takes community, connections, and real-time knowledge sharing. 💫 Speaking of community – stay tuned for news on our upcoming events and opportunities to connect with the people and ideas driving change. 📲 And yes, we’ll continue to share developments and learnings from our venture-building journey right here on LinkedIn. Follow along as we build the next generation of mission-led startups 🚀 #MissionStudio #VentureBuilding #StartupStudio #Innovation #SocialInnovation Kenny Ewan Alexandra Gilbert Matt Seden Christiana R. Claire Butler Hattie Gryspeerdt Yetunde Abdou Leah Pattison Jim Rhodes Akhil Menon 🌍

Want the latest ecosystem-related news, tips, and event updates? Be part of the Make Startups community! Subscribe to our newsletter and never miss an opportunity. 📈 Sign up now! https://lnkd.in/eP8nTMgd #EcosystemNews #EntrepreneurshipTips #StartupEvents #Newsletter #MakeStartups #EcosystemBuilding #BusinessGrowth

In my practice, I often work with cofounders at a pivotal moment in their business and partnership. The days of a small, easily aligned team are behind them. The company has entered a new phase. As one client put it, this shift can be subtle—like a frog in hot water, it’s easy not to notice until it’s too late. Here's the thing about startups: as you scale your product, you’re also building a company, and that requires discipline. That’s why I created the Cofounder Tuneup guide—to support cofounders transitioning from one phase and gearing up for the next. Nine questions to help you check in, tune up, and restore alignment. You can access it here: https://lnkd.in/e5_p3bYf