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Layoffs, rising interest rates, spiraling valuations — this is a tough time for startups. Amid the broader economic downturn and bear market in tech stocks, investors favor profitability — or at least a reasonable path to get there — over the promise of future growth. But we've been here before: circa 2008, when companies prioritizing cash flow positivity emerged as industry leaders. Despite the volatility, success stories like Airbnb and Stripe showcased resilience and potential for long-term growth in a downturn market. Nirvana, a health tech startup, is thriving (in this downturn market), maintaining profitability while experiencing growth. Check out our interview with their CTO to learn how they did it. 

This is about building an "engine" to pivot faster, and better. Last week, I have shared how I have been asked multiple times recently if I am into consulting now, with Pivotal. The answer is no. My mission is to empower founders, board members, and investors to pivot more effectively and at scale. How? In economics, when it comes to strategy work, there are many frameworks on “how to”. However, from an R&D and also from a pragmatical, conceptual standpoint there is a big blank when it comes to the topic of pivoting. Therefore, I started to build up and test a dedicated “pivotal framework”, 12 months ago. Drawing on established concepts like Alexander Osterwalder's Business Model Canvas, I adapted and enhanced these tools to match the unique needs of stuck Series A+ tech ventures. Turned out, it works. It resulted in a standardized seven-step process, supported by seven specialized tools. These are all integrated into one digital platform—the "Pivotal Engine". The Pivotal Engine analyzes thousands of data points from a tech venture and suggests tailored pivot patterns, including essential steps for managing the transformation. Today, the Pivotal Engine is fully operational in a version 1, and available to companies collaborating with Pivotal. Curious to learn more about the Pivotal Engine? DM me or book a call: https://lnkd.in/d4u9GaH7 *********   Hi, I am Stefan. I support tech founders, board members and investors in pivotal situations. More on Pivotal: pivotal.ag More on me: stefanzanetti.com #TechVentures #Pivoting #BusinessModelCanvas #Innovation, #Pivots, #VCs, #VentureCapital, #Entrepreneurship

"Health-Tech seem to be damn hard place to do business says" my analyst after analysing 1900 HealthTech startups both successful and Failed ones in the last 15 years. Hear are the insights We found top reason for success and failure is the same "Quality of Founder" But digging deeper reasons Why 90 % of Health-Tech Founders Fail ? 22% Lack of Product-Market Fit (the most common pitfall) 20% Outcompeted due to inadequate market research 📉 14% Struggle to Raise Capital, missing out on vital funding 💸 12% Misunderstanding Clinical Workflows, a critical oversight 🏥 10% Wrong Business Model, Timing, or Pivot, a costly mistake ⏳ 14% Lack the Right Team & Regulatory Insight, hindering operational success If you see at least 30-40% of idea, money and time could have been saved if done proper market research , continuous research on place. At Pitchworks we are building the playbook for early stage founder to do research on a auto pilot mode, stay tuned.

Jonathan Weitz and Claire Broido Johnson from MCJ Collective provide a detailed analysis on how climate tech startups can navigate challenges and avoid common pitfalls in their quest for impactful scaling and sustainable growth. Here’s a concise breakdown of their insights: 1. 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲: Prioritize a strong culture and efficient communication, develop a robust HR function, align on decision-making, and maintain a balance between growth and profitability. 2. 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁 𝗦𝗶𝘇𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗚𝗼-𝘁𝗼-𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝘆: Avoid overestimating market size. Regular feedback and realistic assessments of market readiness and differentiation are crucial. 3. 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁 𝗩𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗗𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Ensure timely product development aligned with financial and market demands, follow a logical product roadmap, and address scalability early on. 4. 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘁 𝗘𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗰𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘂𝗲 𝗠𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗹: Focus on scalable unit economics by considering customer willingness to pay, reducing costs of sales and service, and adjusting to market conditions. 5. 𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴: Emphasize standards in operational processes, enhance customer experience, leverage automation, and manage the supply chain effectively. 6. 𝗖𝗮𝗽𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗰𝗸: Diversify funding sources, plan for different capital needs, and focus on financial derisking to attract larger pools of capital. 7. 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗲𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Recognize the power of entrenched competitors and adapt strategies, accordingly, focusing on niches or innovative offerings where possible. 8. 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝘆: Engage proactively with regulators and understand political risks, ensuring compliance and adaptability to regulatory changes. These insights guide climate tech startups toward sustainable growth and significant environmental impact, emphasizing the importance of strategic planning and adaptability. #ClimateTech #StartupStrategy #SustainableBusiness

A skill to master to unlock EXPONENTIAL scale – Capital Efficiency!!! Upon reflecting on a highly interesting conversation I had with the great Chiraag Kapoor of Radian Capital It reminded me of the importance of doing more with less... It also reminded me just how much more work there is to do in the Tech start-up community.... Some call it Capital Efficiency Some call it Financial Prudence Some call it Smart Spending Some call it Frugal Innovation However you call it, it brings some tremendous benefits to tech founders, here's my top 3 ✅ Sustainable Growth - Slow and steady wins the race, but fast and steady becomes a Unicorn ✅ Resilience - An ability to not just withstand an economic downturn but be able to grow in a capital-lite environment ✅ Attractive to Investors - Spoiler Alert - Investors love a company that can manage money To me Capital Efficiency is a mindset shift 🧠 How can I optimize my costs? 🧠 How can I enhance profitability? 🧠 Do I need this piece of software right now? 🧠 What tasks can I automate, outsource and delegate? 🧠 Do I grow organically or leverage strategic partners? In a nutshell, capital efficiency isn't just smart—it's essential. It's the difference between a startup that fizzles out and one that scales to new heights. So, let’s make every penny count and drive our tech ventures towards unparalleled success! 🚀 #TechGrowth #CapitalEfficiency #ScaleSmart #StartupSuccess #Innovation #SustainableGrowth

Gartner, IDC, etc. have little value to VCs and Angels. This is what many in the investor community think, but I offer two different perspectives: For the INVESTOR themselves, looking for the next big thing and trying to find the value. For STARTUPS they fund, looking to grow in a solid, healthy way.  INVESTORS need to understand a lot to make the right bets. And in the tech space, there is an exceptional amount to understand.  It’s complex. It’s confusing. It changes all the time. Industry analysts (Gartner, IDC, etc.) do nothing but study technology trends. It’s their job to know what’s happening and what’s likely to hit big.  They know the technology itself, the vendors, the customer needs, and the developing innovations. Smart investors lean on analysts to vet concepts and trends. It’s fast and powerful input.  Firms like 451 (part of S&P Global) have a whole division focused on providing this guidance. Analysts help investors make bets. STARTUPS leverage analysts to speed their journey.   Analysts can introduce the startup to buyers, spread awareness of their brand,and give them highly valuable feedback and advice on everything from messaging to the product roadmap.  Smart investors advise their startups to work with analysts and get these advantages.  Few startups take advantage of this lever… so they get outplayed in the market.  And never reach their potential. Analyst help startups grow Most interestingly, analysts VET startups for investors.   If you’re an investor looking at startups, inquire with analysts about them. They’ll help you understand which startups may be the next best thing. If you’re a startup looking for funding, make sure the analyst community knows about you and are impressed with your differentiators.  Don’t be the one the analyst never heard of. Would love some opinions from my investor friends... #VC #vcfunding #angelinvesting #ar #analystrelations

My colleague, Sofia Guerra, is the "go to" person when it comes to understanding how healthcare companies scale. She has built the definitive data set as to what key benchmarks should look like on the path to $100m+ revenue. Her presentation below is a must watch IMHO for anyone building or investing in healthcare!

What's on the horizon for the health tech industry? To a room of early stage investors, Sofia Guerra explained the sector's recent performance and how its next cohort of growing private companies can deliver long-term value. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗲𝗻𝗱𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗲𝗰𝗵 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗼𝘄 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 "𝗮𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗺𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗵𝗼𝗲𝗻𝗶𝘅" 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗼𝗻: 🔥 𝗛𝗮𝗶𝗿 𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺: Solve a mission-critical problem for your customer.  🏥 𝗛𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗥𝗢𝗜 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀: Demonstrate clear and fast return on investment for your customer. 📈 𝗟𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁: Take advantage of tailwinds and systemic shifts for adoption and regulation to articulate a strong ‘why now’ for your opportunity. 💰 𝗔𝘁𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁 𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗰𝘀: Focus on high margins and recurring revenues, which are strong signs of attractive and enduring business models. 🧠 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗶-𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺𝘀: Build a team that marries industry and technical knowledge to accelerate distribution, and build best-in-class product. Read and watch the full report ⤵️ https://lnkd.in/g8EfDQbC #healthcare #healthtech #startups #venturecapital

This 7-step process enables us to make investment decisions in 1-2 days. We believe in transparency at ROI VENTURES and want to share our process with you: 1️⃣ Initial Contact:  👉 Warm intro, LinkedIn, website application, or at an event. 2️⃣ Hard Criteria Check: 👉 Pre-seed or first round (we want to be the first investors!) 👉 Great European founding team with tech expertise 👉 B2B software or "easy" hardware 👉 No health, biotech or life science If it fits: 3️⃣ Internal Discussion: 👉 Market size & opportunity, similar startups we've seen, and defensibility. If it fits: 4️⃣ First call (30 minutes): 👉 Get to know the team, their story and the founder's personality. We delve deeper into areas beyond the deck. We also discuss the dynamics of the funding round. If it fits: 5️⃣ Reference calls: 👉 Gather insights from industry experts, potential customers and other investors. This step of our DD is a win-win. We get more information and the founder gets access to relevant contacts. 6️⃣ Financial Review: 👉 Understand the strategy behind the business model, growth mindset and funding round dynamics. If it's still interesting: 7️⃣ Second call (1h): 👉 Whole team meets with all co-founders. Discuss questions from reference calls, financials and initial discussions. Product demo and possible future collaboration. Now the deal lead can make the final decision. 🙌 This process can take 1-2 days or up to two weeks. #venturecapital #startups #investments 📸 Fabian Klima

⚾️ I hold in high regard anyone that pitches their startup to me as a problem they solve over the solution they’ve built. 🔮 Problems are solution-agnostic. No matter how many solutions exist, you can enter the market with your own solution. The key is in understanding competitive advantage. The best investors have a profound ability to pick up on the smallest nauances. 🤷♂️ Try this out for your self. Ask a founder “What does your startup do?” Reflecting on hundreds of conversations. I’d estimate 80% say something like: “We’re building a healthcare platform with AI-driven analytics, real-time collaboration, and seamless integration with…..” 🤔 Versus, “We’re helping reduce patient wait times by streamlining appointment scheduling and optimising resource allocation. We’re utilising AI-driven analytics, real time collaboration….” 👏 🦾 The notion of investing in people over products stems from the belief that strong, adaptable, and problem-focused teams are more likely to succeed in the long run, even if the initial product needs to evolve or pivot. #product #startup #productrocket 🚀