STATION F’s Post

Sorry to have missed my panel with Jonny, Molly, Oli and Theo this morning on the SeedLegals stage at Rare Founders - blame poor scheduling on my part 🛬 what would I have added? As a day-zero investor, what trends and changes have you seen from the profiles and mindsets of founders coming through Antler over the past few years compared to cohorts today? 1️⃣ More people than ever before are starting companies. In the UK, we've seen applications consistently increase 50% YOY. We are now one of the most active AND selective investors in the UK and globally, receiving >100k applications annually. These founders are hungrier, too. They know how much it takes to build for success, and we see people achieving incredible things in ten weeks or less during our residencies when paired with 80+ ambitious entrepreneurs. As you have a better sight of new companies than almost anyone in the ecosystem, what are some of the most prevalent sector trends you're seeing coming through Antler in 2024? 2️⃣ We've just finished our first residency of 2024; the next kicks off in September. During each residency, we work very closely with the founders we back. We've seen a deeper understanding of how to build Gen AI, not just how to build with it—think fewer wrappers, given we can assume OpenAI will keep innovating at pace, but more meaningful innovations. Looking ahead, security and defence will become an old-new kid on the block with the €1BN Nato innovation fund. Then, with London firmly the world's second financial capital, we see a continued interest in FinTech, but it's becoming harder to stand out without unique experiences or genuine insights. Novel innovations in sustainability and climate, too, such as beneficial insects promoting food security, building management to reduce CO2 emissions or strengthening solar infrastructure to wean us off of carbon-intensive energy sources. What would you add to your predictions for UK founding and funding in 2024 🤔

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2 WEEKS LEFT TO APPLY TO PITCH AT INVESTOR WEEK ! WHAT'S INVESTOR WEEK? 💰 Investor Week, running from September 2-6, is Sydney's premier event for startups and investors, featuring five themed days of pitching, networking, and learning. Hosted at some of Sydney's most iconic venues such as Stone & Chalk, Fishburners, Tank Stream Labs and Greenhouse, this event offers a unique opportunity to gain insights, secure funding, and connect with industry leaders. ✏ WHY APPLY? - Access Capital: Pitch to angel investors, VCs, and impact investors. - Gain Feedback: Receive valuable insights from top investors. - Network: Connect with a diverse array of professionals. - Compete Globally: Win $1M USD at the Startup World Cup on Thursday. 🌟 With highlights including keynote speeches from industry leaders, panel discussions on the latest innovations, and interactive workshops encouraging collaboration, thus networking, there is no doubt this very first edition of Investor Week will be a milestone for startups all around Australia, hoping for a breakthrough. APPLY NOW : https://lnkd.in/g7xpa_VJ FIND OUT MORE ABOUT INVESTOR WEEK : https://lnkd.in/gHxahepJ Leo Denes Pooja Nair Romane Delvallee Celine W. Enora Bouget Reza Khosravi Liliane Ndour Mathilde MARRIAT Eleonore Zumbiehl #InvestorWeek #PitchingSession #StartupEvent #Growth #Investors #event #StartupOpportunities 

📣 Attention, seed-stage founders! Do you want a $1 million investment? Here's your chance—but there's a twist: you'll need to relocate to Buffalo, NY, for one year! Why Buffalo? Because @43North_ says so. And the deal is hard to beat: $1 million for 5% equity In addition to funding, you will receive mentorship, office space, and extensive networking opportunities. Not convinced? @43North_ is giving you the chance to operate tax-free under the STARTUP-NY program. Their track record speaks for itself: with 69 startups in their portfolio and partnerships with top VCs like Bessemer and Greycroft. Criteria for Application: Established traction with paying customers Previous venture capital investment(s) A team of three or more full-time members Willingness to relocate to Buffalo and leverage its unique opportunities Apply by June 7, 2024, to be considered for the 2025 accelerator program. Learn more and apply now: https://lnkd.in/eU6w8UUr

🚀 Calling all our European start-ups! 🌟 Are you ready to take your venture to the next level? This is your chance to shine on the Bits & Pretzels main stage! 📢 The European Pitch Contest offers start-ups an opportunity to pitch their groundbreaking ideas to a captivated audience of investors, industry leaders, and fellow entrepreneurs. As part of the initiative #RiseEurope, UnternehmerTUM fosters the European start-up scene with its partners. Thus, we want to see as many founding teams in the spotlight as we can! 🌍 Why apply? 👉 Exposure: Showcase your start-up to thousands of attendees, including top-tier investors and media. 👉 Networking: Connect with industry leaders, potential partners, and other like-minded entrepreneurs. 👉 Feedback: Gain valuable insights and feedback from an esteemed panel of judges. 👉 Recognition: Elevate your brand and increase your visibility within the start-up ecosystem. 🗓️ Event Date: 29 Sep - 01 Oct 📍 Location: Munich, Germany 📩 How to Apply: 1. Check out the application page https://lnkd.in/dH2QxVJK | 2. Submit your application | 3. Prepare to impress! 🔔 Deadline for applications: July 21, 2024 Let's make your start-up dreams a reality together. See you at Bits & Pretzels 2024! 🍻 #Bits24 #europe #startups

2023 Year In Review:  - We completed 25 new investments (~$1M deployed) - Over 80% of these were B2B companies covering multiple verticals - On this note, the leading spaces included: AI, dev tools, digital health, and climate tech, in line with solving some of the world’s pressing needs - While the majority of companies are focused on North America, we continue to see a trend in emerging markets (particularly in South East Asia and LatAm) - 64% of companies are led by diverse teams (this includes women, people of color, immigrants, and veteran-led companies)  - We recruited 20 new incredible CIPs with diverse backgrounds as operators, investors, and founders - We ran 3 pitch competitions across the three schools and the second edition of our Tri-School Pitch Competition this fall We are still as excited as we were when we first launched the MBA Fund almost 6 years ago! We're so grateful for everyone who's been a part of the journey to date. Happy New Year! We hope 2024 is an incredible year for founders, investors, and everyone involved in the venture & startup ecosystem! Founders, we’re actively deploying and backing pre-seed and seed-stage companies across our three ecosystems (University of Pennsylvania, Harvard University, Stanford University).

Kicked off my 33.33 Coffee Challenge with a great catch-up! ☕ Had the pleasure of meeting with Paul Baron from Melbourne Angels Inc. Paul has an incredible wealth of knowledge about the tech sector, from his early days launching a digital job board (before Google was even a thing) to today’s enterprise SaaS landscape. His perspective, shaped by decades of tech experience, is something special. We could have chatted for hours, but here are a few key takeaways from our conversation: - Invest in startups with a clear path to revenue. - Founders with deep domain expertise are invaluable, but the ability to execute is crucial above all. - Diversification is vital for returning capital to investors, aligning with some of my thinking. - Most Angels want to be more than just financial backers; they want to be part of the journey of the companies they support. I’m calling on my network for future introductions to founders, investors, and other venture studios. I have such a cool job!!

I love seeing how much I gesture when I’m on stage! A fun pre-_SOUTHSTART session with founders interested in expanding to the UK. It’s always interesting to hear from founders about their different approaches for international expansion. My top tips were: ✈️ think about what you want your life to be like as a founder before you start - international expansion can be a big change 👀 assess the opportunity and the *opportunity costs* fully before you start 📝 prep is essential, including spending time in the new market & assessing morale of a split team 🧱 success is down to people and executing the plan (even if the plan changes), and knowing what your pull-the-plug triggers are if it’s not going well A big thank you to Stone & Chalk Adelaide for hosting us, Hemant Padale, Joshua Warland and Janette Munday for putting it together and sharing their insights. Great to catch up with some familiar faces 👋🏻Nick boniciolli, Steven Benn, Robin Sands, Nathalie TAQUET, Allys Todd, Mark Roe, Michelle (MJ) Brodie, Seshnie Taylor and meet new ones! #growth #internationalexpansion #gep #scaling #_southstart

👀 Delving into Team Insights from our Alumni! Last week, we shared the fantastic news of our startups raising a staggering total of 54 million euros post-competition! Now, it's time to dive deeper into our team statistics, providing our supporters a glimpse into the status of our companies when they stepped onto the stage in Berlin. ✨ 45% Female Founders: We're proud to have a strong representation of female entrepreneurs within our teams, driving innovation and diversity in the startup ecosystem. 💰 €40 Million in Federal Funding: Even before the competition, our startups have been making waves, securing significant federal funding to fuel their growth and development. 🌱 >90% Seeking Pre-Seed and Seed Funding: The hunger for growth is real! The majority of our teams were actively seeking pre-seed and seed funding during or immediately after the competition. Stay tuned as we unveil more insights about our remarkable teams in the coming days! 📈 And keep your eyes peeled for any exciting updates about this year's competition. It's going to be epic! 💥

Graduating from Innosphere Ventures doesn’t guarantee success - you need to actively practice and build on the insights you gain here. We see a difference. Founders who disconnect from the community or don’t apply the lessons they’ve learned often struggle to pitch their ideas or gain traction on their own. Founders who keep that work relevant, continue to apply lessons learned, and go on to develop it further, tend to find more opportunities. Success comes from staying engaged with your network, revisiting the coaching you received, and applying those principles in the real world as you navigate the ups and downs of your entrepreneurial journey. We’re called an incubator for a reason - when you leave, your journey is just beginning. The next step is pressure-testing what you’ve learned and making the right adjustments. And remember, we’ll still be here to help. Stay disciplined, stay connected, and keep applying what you’ve learned. That’s the real key to moving forward.