Nfluence Partners’ Post

Alex Wong and Alex Chan share their thoughts on proactive strategies for startup investments and the pivotal role of sustainable business models in navigating today's dynamic business landscape.  #Startups #Investment #DueDiligence #Investors #Investment

Angel investors, have you ever wondered how to boost your startup investment game? Learn the perks of forming investment groups and the potential rewards. 💹 Dive into the blog from SPV Hub - A FinTech Company for a clear breakdown! Learn more: https://lnkd.in/dtF3fuhr #AngelInvesting #Startups #InvestmentInsights #investmentopportunity #startupfunding

Corporate #investors backed 27% fewer #funding rounds in 2023 and the value of the #startup deals they backed fell even more dramatically. The number of active #CVCs in the market is down 17%, as many have opted to sit out poor market conditions.

So you say you want to raise capital through equity financing? Will you achieve success or failure? Equity financing, when navigated wisely, can open up a world of opportunities for businesses ready to take their growth to the next level. We've worked with startups and small and medium business leaders to help navigate through the treacherous waters to secure equity financing. Here's what we found: - The right partners and strategies are imperative - Startups and SMBs alike can leverage these strategies - Survival and Thriving await those who do so successfully! However, the competitive business landscape for equity finance is fierce... Enjoy! #RaisingCapital #CapitalRaise #VentureFunding #Capital #BloodSweatSpears https://lnkd.in/g3r-7TdR

What is the best way for a Founder to fund their company's growth? 🤔 Sean Duffy, Managing Director of CIBC, spoke to Startups Magazine about the #funding journey of #highgrowth businesses, and the variety of options their management teams face 👉 Read more here: https://shorturl.at/htGQ5 #Innovation #VentureCapital #Investment #Tech #Growth

#Companies |  Investment readiness is critical for startups looking to raise money, as it directly impacts their ability to secure funding and scale operations. Besides a solid business plan, a strong team, etc., etc., what else is a key component of funding readiness that not all founders may immediately think about? Information about who owns how much of the company. 💡That's where the cap table comes in! Learn more about it:  ✅  What a cap table is  ✅  Why is a cap table important for attracting new investors?   ✅  Understanding dilution for you and your current investors  ✅  Tools to create and maintain a clean and accurate cap table For more insights, read this article 👇 Funding readiness: is your cap table attractive to investors?  https://lnkd.in/dEPisY4f  #captable #startups #Fundraising #StartupGrowth #equitymanagement #allthingsequity 

Hi dear friends and followers, This is my traditional annual summary of my business angel activities over the last 12 months. ✅ 2023 was challenging; that's a fact we're all familiar with. Unfortunately, my prediction from a year ago that fundraising would become even more difficult turned out to be accurate. For many companies, minimizing expenditures and increasing run rates became imperative. In cases where existing investors were unwilling or unable to provide bridge financing, the outcome was often a firesale or the liquidation of the company. While, in many instances, this represented a long-overdue correction, it, regrettably, impacted even 'good' companies. In this challenging environment, all the companies within the Hans(wo)men Group performed admirably. Those who had to adjust their cost structures successfully navigated the changes, while those already at break-even or profitable stages continued to grow as planned or even exceeded expectations Perhaps owing to our more cautious investment approach compared to many venture capitalists, we have consistently avoided endorsing extravagant burn rates. Having a contingency plan in place is much more manageable when operating with lower burn rates 😎. In 2023, our focus shifted towards consolidation within our portfolio. We dedicated substantial efforts to portfolio management, including 14 follow-on investments and eight bridge loans into existing portfolio companies. ✅  With our great team, the strong and talented individuals Lisa Pallweber, - Helena Torras -, and Pavlina (comprising a 75% female team!), we are well-prepared to navigate whatever comes our way and make the best out of the circumstances. #happyhansi 😇 ✅ Statistics: 39 total startup transactions (=money/shares involved):   ➡️ 24 (last year: 33) investment transactions ·      1 (6) NEW lead investment: WoWplay ·      6 (10) NEW CO-investments (Vitaance, Ohana, trppn, reebuild. +2) ·      3 (9) NEW fund investments ·      14 (8) equity-investments in the existing portfolio (Ada Growth, Shopstory, Storebox, LEVY Health, Doshi, MEETOPTICS, Anyline, credi2, techbold technology group AG, Mimo, hello again +3) ➡️ 8 (8) bridge/convertible loans ➡️ 1 (0) exit (very small 😎) ➡️ 3 (0) writeoffs ➡️ 3 (5) other operations (typically with heavy workload) - LineMetrics (restructuring with promising restart), Coinpanion (merged into Altify), +1 ➡️➡️ Our current portfolio includes now 51(49) active startup-investments + 17 VC investments ·      33 active members of Hans(wo)men Group (plus 12 alumni) ·      31 out of the 51 are companies based in Austria   Thank you to all startup founders - nothing of this would be possible without you 🙏. My big personal goal for 2024 is getting healthier and being able to do sports again 🙏 .   I wish all of you a wonderful New Year 2024. Stay (or get) healthy & positive. Take care but conquer the world. Love people (and tell them). And never give up :-).   All the best Hansi

Unlock the secrets of startup valuation: your comprehensive guide to calculating your business's worth for investment. #melkacapital #venturecapital #vc #vcfunding #valuation

Founders rightly focus on impressing the VC in front of them. But, it's crucial to understand that these VCs themselves answer to those who fund their funds – Limited Partners (LPs). Most founders don’t get it, but LPs expectations and demands shape what VCs fund. .. I thought, it would be good to cultivate more discourse on the subject. Thus, I sat down and penned some thoughts around the common perceptions versus the often-murkier reality. .. Myth 1: "LPs Just Want Outsized Returns" While true, it's more nuanced. Time horizons, risk tolerance, and the desire for positive impact alongside financial gains vary greatly between LPs (pension funds vs. family offices vs. endowments etc). The VC fund's strategy needs to align with who's backing them. This directly impacts which startups even get serious consideration. .. Myth 2: "LPs Are Out of Touch with Startup Reality" Some are, but with the rise of institutional LPs, you often have ex-founders or sector experts calling the shots. This can be a double-edged sword – deep insights, but also potentially narrower focus on replicating their own past success vs. truly disruptive bets. .. Myth 3: "It's All About the Big Exits" Consistency matters. LPs want a portfolio approach, not just home run swings. A fund stacked with 'unicorns' but too many duds is less attractive than steady, if less headline-grabbing, returns. This impacts how aggressively VCs push for exits that may not be in the founder's best long-term interest. .. What does all of this mean for the founders? -> Research the VC's LPs. Are they aligned with your sector/stage? A mismatch means wasted effort, even with a supportive partner -> Managing Up: Strong founders build relationships with LPs, not just 'their' VC. This creates allies when tough decisions (pivots, down rounds) loom -> Tailor the Narrative: A sustainability-focused pitch won't land as well with a fund backed by an oil magnate. Highlighting the path to consistent profitability alongside the 'moonshot' potential shows you get the broader game .. This is a power dynamic rarely discussed openly. But, I really feel that understanding the VC's 'bosses' helps you strategize wisely from your first pitch onward. .. And if you need any help when fundraising, our fab investment banking team at Dexter Capital Advisors is always there to help. Reach out at devendra.agrawal@dextercapital[dot]in Likewise for Dexter Ventures, our micro VC arm that recently invested in Medulance and Atomgrid. Share with us what you are building at deals@dexter[dot]ventures Best, Devendra Tags: Anuradha, Jayant

Angel Investors or VCs? Here's How YOU Can Choose the Right Funding Partner. A critical question. Especially for early stage founders. Answer is... It depends. First, if you have the luxury of choice. Second: - What do you want from investors? - What are you willing to give them in return? Here are 6 criteria to consider To make the RIGHT decision for you. (1) What business stage are you at? Angels: Usually invest in very early stage. You're still building your case and need funding to kick off. VCs: Usually looking for a proven concept + potential for growth and traction. (2) What ticket size are you after? Angels: High net worth individuals investing from their savings. Expects tickets between ($10k to $250k) VCs: Corporate investors with multi-million dollar funds. Tickets range from $250k to multi-million dollar deals. (3) What kind of support do you need? Angels: They can mentor, but have limited time and resources. Usually stay on the financial front. VCs: They can OPEN DOORS. You'll gain access to a powerful network, and support and mentorship from leads in your industry. (4) How much control are you willing to let go of? Angels: Minimal dilution. They have a smaller ticket size, and mostly remain passive. VCs: Higher dilution, as VCs expect on average a larger stake. In some cases, VCs get involved in the business, especially if they see it going in the wrong direction. They will usually hold seats on the board. (5) What's your long-term strategy for your business? Angels: Invest in everything, but are also open to fund a business you want to build for the long term. VCs: Attracted to investment that deliver high returns, usually via the acquisition / merger route, or an IPO. (6) How quickly / easily do you want access to capital? Angels: A simpler process. Willing to assume more risk. Go with their gut. Invest in vision and trust in founders. VCs: Complex process. Extensive due diligence process in place, with a very structured approach to evaluating business. You'll need to do your homework. 💡 Pro Tip: Angel Investors make sense if you're in the very early stages and need financial support without losing control. VCs make sense if you have a proven concept and need substantial funds and strategic support to scale rapidly. How have you experienced funding? What other pro-tips do you have? Let's discuss 👇 --- Feel free to repost if you found this useful! credit Majd A. #Startup #innovation #entrepreneurship #founders #entrepreneur #money #investing #markets #venturecapital #business #personaldevelopment #motivation #investment #future #sustainability #technology #fundraising #dreamers