Dominik Matyka

Series A Engineering: How does Dreamcraft Ventures support startups towards a successful Series A? 🚀 Find out in our Bits & Pretzels Masterclass in Munich on 30 Sep, which will be hosted by Nico, Founder Enablement Partner, and yours truly 🙌 We will cover how we invest and support portfolio companies. Using Hiber as a case study, I will talk about our collaboration with Michael and his team, and give you insights into how they raised their $15m Series A led by EQT Ventures 🤩 Nico will do a deep dive into crucial building blocks for early-stage startups. Based on his +15 years of experience from VC-backed startups like Trustpilot and Platypus, which he co-founded, Nico will provide hands-on advice for hiring, creating structural trust, retaining talent and building a performance culture 💪🔥 Are you going to Bits & Pretzels? Then join our Masterclass or reach out to myself, Nico or our colleague, Mads, if you want to meet up elsewhere! 💬 #Bits24 #venturecapital #vc #startup

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Europe unfortunately is a combination of many individual capital markets, some bigger and some smaller, which is keeping the industry's growth modest and never really challenging the US. #vc #funding #startups #privatefunding #privatecapital #investmentstrategies #growth #deeptech #seed #startupcapital

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🚀 UVC Partners: Driving Europe's Leading Deeptech Startup Ecosystem 🌍 Munich’s UnternehmerTUM stands out as a powerhouse in Europe’s startup scene, largely thanks to UVC Partners, a key player providing vital early-stage funding for B2B deeptech, climate tech, software, and mobility startups. 🚗 A Hub for Innovation and Growth📈 Founded within UnternehmerTUM in 2011, UVC Partners has grown significantly, helping to transform the funding landscape for European startups. 💰Initially starting with a modest €25 million fund, UVC Partners now manages around €400 million in assets and is currently raising its fourth fund, targeting €200-250 million. This impressive growth reflects the firm’s success in identifying and nurturing startups with the potential for world-changing innovations, such as space technology platforms and flying taxis. A Changing Funding Landscape💰 The shift in funding dynamics is stark. In 2012, deeptech companies across Europe received a mere €400 million. Fast forward to 2023, and German deeptech startups alone secured €1.6 billion, with the German government announcing a €1 billion fund for deeptech and climate tech growth-stage companies. UVC Partners has been at the forefront of this evolution, closing its third fund generation in 2021 with €260 million raised across two funds. Strategic Connections and Deep Expertise🤝 UVC Partners benefits from its close ties to UnternehmerTUM, leveraging a vast network of corporates, Mittelstand companies, universities, and government figures. This network provides startups with unparalleled access to industry leaders and policymakers, a significant advantage highlighted by many portfolio companies. “We have a unit called Value Creation that focuses on customer creation and knowledge,” explains UVC partner Benjamin Erhart. This unit taps into UnternehmerTUM’s business relations, offering startups tailored introductions to industry heavyweights when needed. Success Stories and Flagship Investments UVC Partners has a strong track record of successful investments and exits. Notable investments include: Flix, Isar Aerospace, Vimcar, FAZUA, Aleph Alpha, Reel The Future of European Deeptech🤖 UVC Partners' commitment to fostering innovation and connecting startups with essential resources has solidified its role in Europe’s leading startup ecosystem as an early-stage backer of B2B deeptech, climate tech, software, and mobility startups that are working on potentially world-changing innovations, reported Sifted. ✅ Looking to raise capital for your #fund and increase the international pool of your LP #investors?   🤝 Need warm #LP introductions?   📝 Selling #secondaries to increase liquidity?   🧐 Looking for co-investments?   ▶ G+QUANT's link for inquiries and fund decks: https://lnkd.in/gjC_EuTE 🌟 #VentureCapital #Startups #Deeptech #Innovation #Entrepreneurship #UVCPartners #TechFunding #MunichTech #ClimateTech #EuropeanStartups

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If you are a founder or funder in Austin on Wednesday, November 6th, join us at Stubb's BBQ 🍖 to hear these six pitches from startups visiting from Switzerland: ​- Magnes AG offers a cutting-edge solution for monitoring walking patterns in patients with neurological disorders. Smart sensors embedded in sneakers collect data during daily activities, and AI generates reports and real-time feedback to prevent falls and freezing. ​- MYNERVA has developed a groundbreaking medical device combining AI and neurostimulation to artificially restore the sense of touch and decrease pain in patients suffering from diabetic neuropathy. ​- Authena advances supply chains with real-time technology, improving transparency, efficiency, and sustainability. Their eco-friendly IoT devices and AI analytics, developed with leading Swiss universities, offer single-unit visibility for tracking and actionable insights. ​- Auxivo AG, a Swiss exoskeleton spinoff from ETH Zurich, enhances worker safety with wearable exoskeletons that reduce physical workload and injury risk. The company has quickly established itself as a leading developer, launching multiple products in the market. ​- ORamaVR aims to transform global healthcare with advanced XR and deep learning technologies, addressing the urgent issue of inaccessible and unaffordable surgical care by modernizing outdated medical training systems. ​- Biosimo Chemicals specializes in sustainable chemical production using renewable resources and green chemistry. They combine bioprocessing with advanced catalysis to create environmentally friendly, scalable solutions. In partnership with FIESTA. https://lnkd.in/gi6q8ged

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🚨 Red Alert for Germany’s Startup Ecosystem: A 30% Drop in Active Investors – How Can We Keep the Innovation Engine Running? A recent article from Handelsblatt (link in comments) points out that early-stage startups are especially at risk during this downturn since they depend on venture capital to scale. The expanding funding gap will further stifle growth in areas where innovation is most needed. Yet, within this challenge lies opportunity: 🌱 Resilient Sectors Lead the Way Sectors like #GreenTech and #AI are still drawing investment, showing their potential to drive innovation. These industries highlight where Germany can have the most significant impact. 🏠 Family Offices as Growth Catalysts As traditional investors pull back, family offices can step up. By leveraging patient capital, they can empower promising startups and lay the foundation for long-term success. 🤝 Venture Clienting as a Key to Co-Innovation Strategic partnerships between startups and established businesses bridge the funding gap. These alliances not only drive digital transformation but also deliver mutual value and foster innovation. At D11Z. Ventures, we believe Germany’s competitive edge depends on collaboration. That's why we invest in high-potential startups and create co-innovation opportunities with family offices and industry leaders. Together, we're fostering an ecosystem that drives innovation and supports long-term growth. 🚀 💬 How can family offices and industry leaders support the next wave of startup innovation? Share your ideas below! #D11ZVentures #Innovation #StartupEcosystem #VentureCapital #InnovationLeadership #FamilyOffices #CoInnovation #ArtificialIntelligence

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How to catch (the right) angel investors: The best way is not to ask for money, but to ask for help. Why is that? because (most) angel investors are looking to be valuable, so if there are no insights for them to give, no people to connect to, and no founder-investor rapport, they will simply not invest. Carefully narrow down the type of angel investors that will help develop your business in the long term, with their involvement bringing a lot more than just financial resources. Make sure they have enough 'skin in the game' and that they are incentivized properly, but remember that the right angel investors will be the ones who are truly passionate about the company you are building and want to be an essential part of your journey. Follow & Connect 🤝

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#Germany's Funded Startups Directory. You can view the list of startups funded in #Germany whenever you need it. Access the directory here https://lnkd.in/dc9emGbb #startup #startups #vc #venturecapital #investmentbanking #privateequity #managementconsulting #b2b #founders #entrepreneurs

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Excited to share what I learned from Sandro Stark, founding partner at Vanagon Ventures backing FrontierTech from Munich/DACH 🚀 to the World at the YUVC video podcast (links in comments) 💡 Above all, Sandro is a super nice person to get along with and has a great NPS from founders 👋 Here 3 Core Takeaways ✨ 1. Vanagon’s approach to startup evaluation 👀 - Distribution capability is now the key differentiator, not just technical innovation - Customer "stickiness" and deep industry understanding - The solution must demonstrate both climate impact and profit potential 2. Why is Munich's ecosystem strategic? 🇩🇪 - Part of DACH region - third-largest market globally after China and US - Rich concentration of technical talent and corporate headquarters - Untapped potential in Mittelstand venture engagement 3. What's the philosophy behind sustainable success? 😉 - Don't postpone happiness for future achievements - True leadership creates more leaders, not followers - Consistent effort matters more than breakthrough moments Now listen in for more insights! ❤ Kudos to his great co-founders/GPs @Vanagon: Susanne Fromm Axel Roitzsch Shoutout to their amazing portfolios: Senken Particula Renoster youba The Landbanking Group LoopID heartstocks Learn.xyz ExoMatter and more

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🌟 Spotlight on Female Founders in European Venture Capital! 🌟 The latest Q1 2024 European Venture Report from Pitchbook reveals intriguing trends in VC activity, especially concerning female-founded companies. While the overall investment landscape has been challenging, the resilience and innovation of female entrepreneurs stand out. 📉 Current Trends: Deal activity for female-founded companies started slower this year, with €1.9 billion in deals, marking a 28.6% drop YoY. Despite this, the ecosystem for female-led companies is vibrant, with sectors like femtech showing promising growth. 🚀 Top Deals: The largest female-founded deal was with Everphone, securing a whopping €270 million in venture growth funding. Other notable deals include Medical Microinstruments and Razor Group in the healthcare and B2B sectors. 🔍 Looking Ahead: Female-founded exits appear more buoyant, showing a healthy exit/investment ratio, which highlights the growing investor confidence in female-led startups. With increased focus on diverse and inclusive funding, the future is promising for female founders. Let's celebrate and support the incredible achievements of female entrepreneurs in Europe. Their success is not just a win for gender diversity but a testament to the innovative spirit driving the European venture ecosystem forward. #VentureCapital #FemaleFounders #EuropeanVenture #Innovation #DiversityInTech #StartupEcosystem

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Forget VC moonshots. There’s a different model that underrepresented founders should pursue. Here's what you need to know about mittelstand businesses. “Mittelstand” is a German word typically used to describe companies focused on doing one thing well and doing it with great margins. In the world of venture capital, these companies are typically classified as lifestyle businesses that generate “only" $1-50M in annual revenue. While plenty of founders want to build big businesses with many employees listed on NASDAQ, most of us would be more than happy to build a sustainable, revenue-generating business that employs 10-50 people and has a great culture. Mittelstands are the best route. The problem is that many (not all) tech founders default to VC, which means they default to chasing VC outcomes. Defaulting instead to a mittelstand model allows founders to expand and aim higher if the opportunity presents itself. Imagine this: you raise a $2m Seed round. You grow to $1M in ARR in 2 years, but it’s a grind. You’re not growing at the high rate your VC investors want you at, but you’re profitable and have a product that your customers love. You have two options: 1. Follow traditional tech startup advice, raise more money, and try to pivot into something with more growth potential, potentially throwing away the traction that you’ve already found and setting your company up to flame out if you can’t raise more money or if the pivot doesn’t work. 2. Go the mittelstand route and grow your company sustainably to ~$5M in revenue while staying as lean as possible. Two years later, your company profits $1-2M a year, and you can exit for $20M to a big player OR keep riding the wave. Option 2 sounds pretty good to me 🤷🏾‍♂️ Venture-sized outcomes are not the only path for founders. The more we know about the different growth models for companies, the more optionality that gives to underrepresented founders looking to build something. H/t Neil Thanedar for introducing me to the idea of a mittelstand business Did you find this useful? If you did, give me a follow Toby Egbuna 💰 and/or report it to your network!

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Europe’s 20 biggest 2024 funding rounds of women-led startups   The momentum in European VC ecosystem is electrifying, fueled by founders building startups driven by true passion and 💯 dedication. Among them, the women founders are truly standing out, making remarkable waves in Europe's bustling startup scene. Let's celebrate these top 20 trailblazers having successfully raised the biggest funding rounds so far.   Huge shout out to:   1/ $145M in Series D for Eléonore Crespo, Romain Niccoli, and team Pigment led by ICONIQ Growth 2/ $107M in Series B for Klara Forslund, Anders Forslund, and team Heart Aerospace led by Sagitta Ventures 3/ $100M in Series B for Vidya Peters and team DataSnipper led by Index Ventures  4/ $100M in Series D for Shrestha Chowdhury, Tushar Ahluwalia, Dr. Oliver Dlugosch, Christoph Felix Gamon, and team Razor Group led by Presight Capital 5/ $40M in Series B for Eleanor Lightbody and team Luminance led by March Capital 6/ $27M for Priscilla Rozé-Pagès, Antoine Coutant, and team AgriLife Studio led by Bpifrance 7/ $27M in Series A for Pauline Glikman, Joseph A., and team Payflows led by Balderton Capital 8/ $26M in Series B for Vilve Vene, Myles Bertram, and team TUUM led by CommerzVentures 9/ $24M in Series B for Delphine Groll, Martin Raison, and team Nabla led by Cathay Innovation 10/ $16M Series A for Romina Coll, Carlos Serrano García-Lisón, Antonio Berga, and team Embat led by Creandum 11/ $15.4M in Series A for Drs. Sara Marquart and Max Marquart, and team Planet A led by World Fund  12/ $15M for Shelley Copsey, Anish Patel, Karl Simons, and team FYLD led by Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan 13/ $15M in Series A for Cassidy Daly, Lucas Vogelsang, Martin Quensel, and team Centrifuge led by ParaFi Capital and Greenfield 14/ $13M in Series B extension for CEO Kate Henningsen, and team Information Grid co-led by Keyframe Capital and A/O 15/ $13M in Series B for Michaela Wachtel, Dr. Sascha Bach, Marcus Stein, Ronald Claus von Nordheim, and team Wattron led by the Circular Innovation Fund and ECBF  More in the comments below.   👩🏾‍🎤 So far 38 gender-diverse startups have already notably raised Series A+ with a huge pre-seed and seed pipeline of startups also having secured money to build generation defining businesses. Huge congrats! #pavingtheway That said, we know there are a lot of founders who are working extremely hard to reach those critical financing milestones. 💸 Let’s roll up our sleeves and collectively shape a more diverse, equal, and inclusive future of European tech. 💡 For all venture capitalists aiming to further diversify deal pipeline and portfolio feel free to comment with a “yes” for last years funding list of gender-diverse startups in Europe. #startups #captablediversity the Evangelistas #founder

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🌍 Explore the vibrant startup landscape in Germany! Our detailed list features key information on funded startups, including their investors and markets. Don’t miss out—access it here: https://lnkd.in/dpdZUJyi #startup #startups #venturecapital #funding #vc #B2B

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Is Germany missing out by not backing its tech champions? 🤔💭🚀 Germany is a global leader in innovation with over 1000 companies driving disruption worldwide. However, many promising startups struggle to scale internationally due to a lack of large local funding. When growth-stage companies have to look abroad for investment, it puts them at a competitive disadvantage versus overseas rivals. With limited local options, more may feel pushed to relocate rather than stay to build in Germany. While American tech companies have abundant access to both private and public investment, including VC funding and IPOs, financing for later-stage German startups tends to lag. On average, US tech companies raise significantly more money per funding round compared to their German counterparts.  📈 For example, in 2021 the average Series B round for a US startup was $35 million, whereas for a German startup, it was only $10 million. This financing gap has real consequences. With more funding, American tech scaleups can achieve stronger growth and international expansion faster—and they can also offer higher salaries to attract top talent 🔝 on a global stage. As a result, many promising German founders end up relocating to Silicon Valley to access resources and continue building at the scale required to succeed in a global market. 🌎 We believe in leading great entrepreneurial visions sustainably into the digital future—D11Z can provide a network to enable startups to have better later-stage options. So how can we inspire our own investors to back the country's burgeoning tech champions and help them scale at home? I'm interested in your thoughts on strategies to close the late-stage funding gap. #D11ZVentures #FutureOfTech #VCInsights

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You’re in corporate innovation and you’ve built a venture that cannibalized the core business. Should you get fired? 🙀 What if your venture took longer and more investment than expected to generate revenue? should you get fired then? 😮 Unfortunately, as Georg Baumgartner has outlined in his recent post, innovation (and venturing) activities are rarely closely aligned with the corporate strategy 😕 - The missing link is called innovation strategy and it helps in not getting fired for doing venture building! 💪 😁 In my course at WU (Vienna University of Economics and Business), I just outlined to the students why an innovation strategy is crucial for targeted venture building - and the arguments hold for innovation professionals as well: 🎓 - A good strategy defines clear objectives and thus fosters a discussion of what you want to achieve with venturing: cultural change? diversification? additional revenue? - Unified Goals: A venturing strategy ensures that objectives of all the ventures are aligned and there are no conflicting goals - which is particularly important if you follow a portfolio approach - Resources: A good strategy outlines the way to get to the goal, including necessary budgets, team capacity and so forth. In the worst case, you see that your goal is not achievable with the resources you have - but i’d rather know that sooner than later - Management Support: A good strategy is an effective tool to obtain top management commitment and a great framework for communication and status updates - Room for “crazy ideas” and a defined playing field: An innovation strategy should provide enough freedom for creative thinking while also limiting the horizon in a way that productively limits the options - Finally: Venture Building might not be the right tool for all your innovation goals and a solid strategy will help you in defining what should be tackled with venture building and where other instruments are better suited 🤔 As a venture builder who has seen more than one venture fail because of a lack of strategy: By developing a comprehensive innovation strategy, you maximize the chances of success! And yes, venturing is a numbers game… 🔣 #Innovation #VentureBuilding #Strategy #CorporateInnovation #InnovationStrategy Picture: On my way to the lecture hall...

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Predictors of a Future Exit: Key Factors I Consider When Backing an AI Startup I know there are quite a few #founders following me. This post is primarily for you. I hope it may be useful when speaking to investors or simply to understand our point of view. Let me know your thoughts! When evaluating a startup for potential #investment, I consider several key factors regardless of its sector. Here they are: 1. I assess whether the founders truly comprehend their business. Can they substantiate their claims with concrete figures? 2. I prioritise startups capable of delivering long-term value over those pursuing short-term profits driven by market trends. This focus on sustainable growth potential is crucial for lasting success. 3. I analyse the founders' adherence to sound business practices, which means: they demonstrate a clear market vision, carry out efficient company management, develop robust financial models and transparent decision-making processes, and have a clear, well-defined action plan. This makes the strategic decision-making process more transparent and manageable. 4. In early-stage businesses, I value substance over style. While an appealing product can generate initial interest, ultimate success hinges on quality and utility. 5. I gauge how well the founders are able to sell themselves. This is key not only when they are presenting to me, but also when interacting with larger players at later stages, all the way up to an eventual #exit. A founder’s ability to present a compelling pitch that outlines their vision is a critical success factor in these situations. 6. As I invest in AI projects, it's crucial for me to understand if AI is truly a key component of the project and is being effectively used to solve problems, or if it's merely a trendy buzzword the startup is using to appear cutting-edge and boost valuation. By the way, I also rely on my #network to validate and vouch for new prospects. Interestingly, when industry experts dismiss an idea as impossible, I sometimes see this as a positive sign of its potential for innovation. Fellow investors, did I miss something that you pay attention to when deciding whether to invest in a startup? Let me know in the comments.

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How to Navigate VC Dynamics. 🌏 8 insights to master the fundraising game: 🚀 1. Understand VC Behavior Patterns VCs often say "show more traction" as a default response. This demand escalates with each meeting, creating a moving target. 2. Leverage Social Proof and Herd Mentality A term sheet from a top-tier VC can dramatically shift perceptions. This highlights the strong influence of social proof in the VC ecosystem. 3. Balance Risk Aversion vs. FOMO VCs juggle the fear of missing out (FOMO) against their risk aversion. A respected VC's involvement tips this balance towards FOMO. 4. Build Trust Dynamics Initial hesitation from VCs often stems from a lack of trust. Third-party validation, especially from renowned VCs, acts as a trust catalyst. 5. Master the Fundraising Game Securing investment is as much about social dynamics as it is about business metrics. Understanding these unwritten rules is crucial for founders. 6. Target Respected Lead Investors Early-stage startups might benefit more from targeting respected lead investors. Building relationships with top-tier VCs, even if not immediately fruitful, can pay off later. 7. Decode the Paradox of VC Decision-Making Despite claims of data-driven decisions, VC behavior suggests a strong reliance on peer signals. This creates a circular system where VCs validate each other's decisions. 8. Focus Your Efforts Wisely Understanding these dynamics can help founders navigate the fundraising landscape more effectively. Focus your efforts where they're likely to yield the best results. And succeed! ♻️ Repost if you found this useful 💡 Follow David Kim for more 💡 Subscribe my newsletter, Founders' Edge on LinkedIn https://lnkd.in/g8w7GjAT

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