UP.Labs’ Post

It's here! Following up from our Season 1 episode on the investor perspective in travel tech, we bring you the latest from the front lines of venture capital and corporate innovation. What, if anything, has changed for the ecosystem in the past year? Are we bullish or bearish on where the innovation market is heading for travel, hospitality and mobility? If you’re a startup in this space, how should you be thinking about fundraising now? And if you’re heading up innovation within a corporate enterprise, how can you best capitalize on the new ideas coming to market so you don’t get left behind? For this episode we hosted a Salon featuring some of our good friends in the investing community, Gaurav Tuli (Partner, F-Prime Capital), Suzanna Chiu (Head of Amadeus Ventures) and Katelyn Foley (President, UP.Labs), to break down what they’re seeing, what they’re excited about, and how they each approach investing in innnovation in the travel sector. We also shine a light on some of the alternative models available for fundraising and innovation, digging into the differences in models among traditional venture capital, corporate venture capital, accelerator programs and the venture studio model. Each of these approaches may work better (or worse!) for a given type of startup or corporate innovation team, so we break it down for you. Finally, we hear from our guests what areas they are keeping a close eye on and where they are most excited to invest. #traveltech #venturecapital #startups https://lnkd.in/gP_Qfxqk

Corporations have a unique advantage over new companies: They already know where the problems are, making them uniquely suited for success with venture studios. High Alpha Innovation CEO Elliott Parker recently spoke with InnoLead about why executives at large organizations should embrace the venture studio model, how studios differ from other innovation strategies, and the ideal corporate venture building structures to implement today. https://lnkd.in/gARdpW6S #VentureBuilding #VentureStudios #CorporateInnovation

Compare 2 approaches: 1. Late-stage VC: "If you put a $50M check in a $2B-valuation company, you'll have 2% of equity and 0 or minority vote rights. The founders could not even answer your phone call." 2. Venture Studio: "Invest $50M in building 10 companies, and you'll get way way way more value, control & experience" Here is how a $500M VC firm (that made ~20 deals of $20-50M) transitioned from late-stage investments into the venture studio model: 1. Based in Europe since 2017, they have started approaching the US unicorns, but it wasn't easy to get into the deals. So, they started partnering with US companies to help them grow in Europe as business development partners (for free). 2. After providing value, investing became easy. They also decided to build joint ventures in Europe with these US companies. 3. Soon, it became obvious to the VC firm that they could build companies without US partners. In 2020, they combined the venture studio model of launching startups with the Private Equity approach of buying companies. 4. It became successful – out of 7 launched companies – 5 are alive today. One of the companies, Cowa, is valued at $750M generating $30M EBITDA. This is the story of LIAN Group from its co-founder Fiorenzo Manganiello & investment associate Robin Vaks. More ideas: 1. To fundraise for a studio (as an abstract concept) might be difficult – some investors are willing to invest in specific companies but don't like others. This is why they've decided to fundraise on a deal-by-deal basis. Investors love the due diligence process and want to tell a story about the company they've supported. 2. 2 reasons for founders to build a startup with the studio – 1) a team of 50 employees helping them to succeed & 2) capital – save much time that you waste on fundraising. 3. In the best scenario, a $500M fund aims for 3x cash on cash. With the venture studio model, you aim for 5-10x in 5-7 years. Watch the full interview: https://lnkd.in/diB8d5-5 Bonus article from Fiorenzo & Robin – The Synergies of Private Equity and Venture Building: https://lnkd.in/dcYW9wPB Maxime Rutagarama, Erenik Yzeiraj, David Wigger, Clémentine Savy, Nessim-Sariel GAON, Stéphane Muller, Pierre-Emmanuel Besnard, Jacopo Spoto, Alexandre Tréhu, Michele Di Minno, CFA, Veronica Tsurankova, Marco E. Chong, Matteo Cardarelli, Laura González-Valdizán

🎙️Curious about the future of investing? We're excited to share our interview with Max Pog, where Fiorenzo Manganiello and Robin Vaks discuss the evolution of LIAN Group and our Venture Studio activity – a fresh approach to investment. Max Pog's contributions to the Venture Studio space through research and interviews are truly inspiring, and we're honored to be featured! Watch our interview with Max Pog and explore LIAN Group's venture studio model at www.liangroup.io #venturestudio #investment #LIANGroup

In the dynamic world of innovation, we often focus on the initial spark of an idea, but the true magic happens when those ideas evolve into transformative solutions that reshape industries. For those in venture studios, venture capital, and experienced CEOs, this journey is especially significant. In my experience, working closely with visionaries in venture studios and alongside seasoned CEOs, I've witnessed the profound impact of turning innovative ideas into tangible solutions. It's not merely a process; it's a narrative of growth and evolution. The real game-changer lies in the transition from concept to commercial and enterprise solutions. This isn't just about creating; it's about crafting solutions that resonate with enterprises, reshaping industries in the process. The power of innovation is unleashed when we understand the strategic journey of bringing products to the forefront of enterprise solutions. A journey that goes beyond the ideation phase. Venture studios, venture capital enthusiasts, and CEOs, let's explore how the transformation of ideas into tangible solutions can elevate your approach to innovation and reshape the business landscape. The impact of bringing your products to commercial and enterprise solutions is not just about short-term success; it's about creating a lasting legacy. It's about positioning your innovations at the forefront of industry transformation and setting the stage for long-term business impact. Are you ready to elevate your innovation game? Let's dive into the narrative of how transforming ideas into tangible solutions can reshape the business landscape. #InnovationEvolution #EnterpriseSuccess #VentureImpact #InnovateToElevate #BusinessTransformation #IdeasToSolutions

At VE2VENTURES vision meets execution in the realm of tech innovation. Our unique venture studio model, dedicated to ideating, designing, developing, and scaling digital products is set to redefine the landscapes of sports, media, and entertainment. Why VE2VENTURES? 💡A proven team with over 50 years of combined expertise. 💡A track record of transforming visionary ideas into market-leading companies. 💡An integrated approach to ideation, design, development, and strategic growth. 💡A commitment to creating user-centric digital products that not only meet but exceed market demands. What sets us apart? 💡 Our venture studio model is crafted for investors seeking to diversify their portfolio with high-potential tech ventures, promising a higher ROI and lower risks compared to traditional investment channels. #VE2Ventures #techinnovation #venturestudio #digitaltransformation #startupinvesting

What is the main thing in venture? Çıkış! Exit is what the whole point of the venture is. It doesn't matter how many projects you invest in, it's the number of exits that matters. And the results of those exits. All the key metrics that determine an investor's success are tied to the exits and the amount of money they make from them. VC investments are not very liquid, so you can't just "get out" of a startup easily and quickly. You have to wait for a liquidity event - when you can finally "exit". There are three main ways to do this: 1. Sale of shares to a new investor 2. Takeover by another company 3. IPO 👉 👉 The investor thinks about exiting even when they first invest, because they don't want their money to be stuck in a project forever. If a startup can't show the investor how they will be able to exit successfully, they won't be as attractive to the investor. Funny fact: Ausgang (also "exit") is my favorite German word, according to my wife. She loves to tell the story about when we were walking around the museums in Berlin for days 😒 , and I was always looking for signs that said "Ausgang". It was 10 years ago, so that means I was looking for exits even before I became an investor. Venture seems to be in my blood!

🎨 Facelift STS Ventures --- Venture Capital doesn't need to be boring to be valid! --- STS Ventures is a Cologne-based early-stage investor. With the mindset of a business angel and the firepower of a VC, they fill the gap between business angels and traditional venture capital firms. They Invest in companies like Emma – The Sleep Company Klima.Metrix GmbH audible otto nova ReBike JustWatch talent360 Airbnb PureFoods GetSteps ampido Mailo UpsellGuru How do you feel about this? I'm curious to know Stephan Schubert Kira Thormeier Johannis Hatt Niklas Boehlke Carolin Heuser Know another company that could use a #design upgrade? @tag them below for a #design facelift! 👇 #venturecapital #vcbranding #startupbranding #rebrand #ladingpage

In this Studios 101, we examine the differences between studios and other similar entities. 📝 Read our takes below and be sure to comment if you think we are missing a part of the story! ⤵ vs. VC: Studios stand out by intertwining investment with hands-on strategic advice and help build. They take more significant equity for their deeper involvement compared to venture capital firms that focus on funding and advice with a more hands-off approach. vs. accelerators: Unlike the short-term focus of accelerators, studios engage deeply and for the long haul, truly co-creating businesses. Studios are often involved from an earlier stage and focus on long-term success and not on kickstarting hypergrowth. vs. incubators: Compared to studios, incubators offer less intensive resources. They more or less facilitate an environment for startups to thrive. Studios invest the expertise of their team, capital, and time in addition to network opportunities and office space. #startupstudio #venturestudio #fundraising

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