Michel Johannsen

The venture capital industry is experiencing a comeback: Over 500 funding rounds of two million dollars or more were closed by European startups in the first quarter of 2024, according to Dealroom. This represents an increase from 24 percent (Q4, 2021) to 43 percent (Q1, 2024) in Series A funding rounds. The crucial question is, how do founders manage to quickly move from the seed phase to Series A in today’s highly competitive landscape? The essential tools for this can now be found in a new book, titled “Series A Blueprint: A Guide for Seed-Stage Founders“ written by my amazing colleagues from XAnge in collaboration with HV Capital, Carta Zendesk, Amazon Web Services (AWS), torq.partners and featuring tips from dozens of experienced founders. https://lnkd.in/dzx622hB

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🔥 Get exclusive access to the Product Discovery Cheat Sheet 🔥 with 26 Product Discovery Methods that will enable you to "build the RIGHT THING" and not just "build the THING RIGHT" for your users. At konversionsKRAFT AG, we collected the most relevant methods that we have used in order to help our clients build and grow their digital products - you can use this board to evaluate your status quo and select the matching methods based on where you stand. To get access, follow these simple steps: 1️⃣ Connect with me and Anastasia Shvedova 2️⃣ Like this post ❤️  3️⃣ Comment on this post ("Brilliant, I want access!") 🚨 Disclaimer: this is the first version of the Product Discovery Cheat Sheet and we are looking forward to your questions and feedback while you are using it. Please feel free to approach us any time with your thoughts! #productdiscovery #discoverycheatsheet #productexperimentation #cromethods #testing #experimentation #growthmarketingsummit #growthmindedsuperheros #productmanagement

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🟠🟣 𝗔𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗪𝗘𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗢𝗠𝗬 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗽𝗵𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗸𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗳𝗳! At WECONOMY, founders win what money can't buy: The competition brings founders together with experts and managers right up to the executive boards of the German economy. Are you a tech start-up and want to take your business to the next level?  This is your chance! ✔️ 𝗪𝗵𝗼 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗹𝘆? Start-ups in the early stage / pre-seed phase as well as start-ups that have not yet been founded with proof of concept or pilots. ✔️ 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗹𝗱𝘀? We are looking for startups with a focus on STEM and technology. MedTech, FinTech, AgriTech ... the possibilities are endless! ✔️ 𝗔𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮 𝗱𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺? Not a must, but all the better. After all, it has long been known: More diverse teams are more successful. Any questions? Message Christine Heuwing or comment below! ⏰ 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝘆 𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗹 𝗝𝘂𝗻𝗲 𝟮𝟰! WECONOMY is an initiative of Wissensfabrik - Unternehmen für Deutschland e.V. in cooperation with UnternehmerTUM and Handelsblatt.

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"Most founders start planning their next funding round too late." The best time to start working on your next funding round is right after closing the previous one, by drafting the new fundraising deck immediately. This inspiring topic we discussed during my latest workshop with our portfolio company Valuecase with Dr. Jan Niklas Wick & Lennart Prange and Mika Weissenberger from XAnge. I've noticed a pattern among our most successful founders they're already visualizing and planning their next milestones while the ink is still drying on their current term sheet. The strategy is simple: Work backwards from the next funding round! Here’s a quick example: One of our portfolio founders wrapped up their Seed and immediately mapped out their Series A milestones in a draft deck (such as Paul Hock & Nina Germanus @ Green Fusion GmbH). Six months later, not only were those goals achieved, but the original deck turned into the blueprint for their next pitch. They saved valuable time and secured a successful future by having a clear plan from the start. Here’s why this "VC manifesting" approach works: 📍 Crystallizes the goals for your next milestone. 📊 Creates clear accountability to achieve them. 🎨 Shapes the narrative evolution of your company. 🧭 Provides a north star for team alignment. The (next round’s) deck becomes more than just a fundraising tool, it’s your company’s strategic compass. And here’s the magic: when you actually hit those milestones, the deck becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. You’re not scrambling to piece together a narrative at the last minute; you’ve documented the journey from the beginning. Pro tip: - Include specific numbers. - Make it a living document. - Review it quarterly. - Let it evolve with your learnings and market dynamics. This approach ensures the final version is stronger, clearer, and ready when you need it. Remember, the best founders don’t just build to raise, they raise to build. Having a clear picture of your next chapter? That’s just smart business. What’s your process for preparing your next funding round? Would you try working backwards like this? #VentureCapital #Startups #Entrepreneurship #Fundraising

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Always asked myself, if I can be happy …always? As an entrepreneur you are in the natural habit of optimizing all aspects of a project so why don’t optimize your life? After many years of learning about what makes us happy, I think it is only a transient state. But maybe we can feel even better … when we are in Flow! Flow is the state of consciousness in which we forget space and time, are maximally happy, motivated and efficient. In this state, we feel our best and achieve the most. What do we need to achieve this flow? Why is it so important for founders and managers? I talk about this in the podcast with editor Elena Todeva Listen in and share your best flow moments. #flow #flowmoment #success #performance #motivation #alignment #leadership #newwork #startup #vc #entrepreneurship

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Size isn't everything

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Germany's startup ecosystem is a powerhouse waiting to fully unleash its potential in driving digital and sustainable transformation. But how do we make sure this happens? The Startup-Verband, the voice of German startups, addresses this head-on with their bold new initiative, "Innovationsagenda 2030: Weltklasse Made in Germany" (link in comments). Here’s what resonates most with me: 🚀 A Regulatory Framework Built for the Future To foster real innovation, we need policies that allow startups to experiment, iterate, and scale swiftly. Flexible, forward-thinking regulations in areas like AI and Climate Tech could be the catalyst for Germany’s long-term global leadership. 🌟 Stronger Leadership & Collaboration The future of innovation depends on tighter collaboration between government, industry, and startups. Building partnerships that connect research with industry can ignite sustainable growth and cement Germany’s place as a global innovation hub. 💬 What do you think is the most crucial next step in shaping Germany's innovation landscape? Let’s discuss in the comments below! #Innovationsagenda2030 #Startups #DigitalTransformation #Germany2030

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🌐 Digital Asset Market Insights 🌐 🖌 Interesting study for the German market by DekaBank Deutsche Girozentrale, Frankfurt School Blockchain Center, intas.tech and WM Datenservice. The latest report highlights ongoing growth in the digital asset market, marked by moderate but steady increases in emissions and volumes. Here are the key points: 🖌 Market Trends: 🔗 Steady growth in the number of emissions: 35 in H1 2024 compared to 26 in H1 2023. 🔗The presence of new, smaller international issuers is growing, supported by domestic institutions for registry management. 🖌 Regulatory and Market Developments: 🔗Over 60 institutions are participating in ECB trials for tokenizing fiat money (Wholesale-CBDC). 🔗BaFin (Federal Financial Supervisory Authority) requires EU credit institutions to have a branch in Germany to obtain a license for crypto-securities registry management. 🔗In June, BaFin granted full licenses to Cashlink and DekaBank for crypto-securities registry management. 🔗The Basel guidelines for digital assets, including tokenized securities, are postponed to January 2026. 🖌 Technological and Infrastructure Insights: 🔗Polygon outperforms other blockchain protocols with 58 emissions in H1 2024, leading the market. 🔗The first tokenized registered share was issued by NYALA Digital Asset GmbH in January 2024. 🖌 Regulatory Challenges: 🔗European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA)'s interim report highlights regulatory hurdles in the DLT Pilot Regime. 🔗No company has yet received permission under the DLT Pilot Regime, with four currently in the process and eight more expected by year-end. 🖌 Institutional Participation: 🔗Cashlink intensifies its activities, leading in emission numbers (41) and volume (~100 million EUR). 🔗Despite Basel capital requirements, no shift to private blockchains is observed yet. 🖌 Future Outlook: Continued interest is expected from foreign issuers, potentially due to Germany's progressive regulations. The market is bound to evolve with the full implementation of BaFin licenses and the ongoing ECB trials for blockchain-based fiat money settlement. The market is bustling with activity, and new players are expected to emerge soon, significantly increasing volumes. eMoney tokens and regulated stablecoins will play a crucial role, and public blockchains as well as exchanges with true atomic settlement will ultimately prevail. See below linked full report (in German, use your favorite translator) or directly here: http://s.de/2s9u #web3 #blockchain #digitalassets #regulation #stablecoins #emoney #atomicsettlement 21X Celsion Finance AG

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⏰ 𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝟭 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝗹𝗲𝗳𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗹𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗪𝗘𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗢𝗠𝗬! ⏰ At #WECONOMY, founders win what money can't buy: The competition brings founders together with experts and managers right up to the executive boards of the German economy. Are you a tech start-up and want to take your business to the next level?  This is your chance! ✔️ 𝗪𝗵𝗼 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗹𝘆? Start-ups in the early stage / pre-seed phase as well as start-ups that have not yet been founded with proof of concept or pilots. ✔️ 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗹𝗱𝘀? We are looking for startups with a focus on STEM and technology. MedTech, FinTech, AgriTech ... the possibilities are endless! ✔️ 𝗔𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮 𝗱𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺? Not a must, but all the better. After all, it has long been known: More diverse teams are more successful. Any questions? Message Christine Heuwing or comment below! ⏰ 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝘆 𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗹 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗝𝘂𝗻𝗲 𝟮𝟰! WECONOMY is an initiative of Wissensfabrik - Unternehmen für Deutschland e.V. in cooperation with UnternehmerTUM and Handelsblatt.

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✨"Innovation - What is behind the buzzword?" ✨ 🎙️ No.42 https://lnkd.in/ev-Xw8xk #Innovation can often feel like an abstract concept, and I frequently encounter the question: How is innovation still possible today? Human existence is a history of constant innovation. Take the music industry, for example—famous songs are sampled in new tracks, or they resurface as covers in different genres. It may not be entirely new, but it still sparks creativity and reinvention. I often wonder how, in so many other fields fresh ideas and groundbreaking innovations continue to emerge. To explore innovation within the tech industry, I had the pleasure of sitting down with my colleague, Björn Wulfmeyer, Strategic Projects & Operations Manager in the BTP Innovation Team. Björn broke down the buzzword ‘innovation’ in a highly visual and engaging way. In addition to sharing insights on the essence of innovation and how it shapes SAP, Björn highlighted key skills that he believes are crucial – not just for working in innovation: 🗣️ “Yes, and …” instead of “Yes, but…” 🌱 Curiosity – keeping fresh perspectives 🤖 Continuous learning and leveraging technology This episode was made possible by the editorial work of my colleague Christoph Haffner. 🎧 To get more insights join the conversation I had with Björn and feel free to share your impressions!

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🚀 Exciting times ahead! 🌟 Discover the key milestones for the EXIST Business Startup Grant in Berlin. Whether you're an aspiring founder or simply curious about the journey after the EXIST approval, this video breaks it down step by step. Ready to turn ideas into action? Let's go! 💼✨ HTW Startup #EXIST #StartupSuccess #InnovationJourney

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📣 Last Call: Get to know 10 of Germany's most promising AI startups today in Palo Alto! Attention all AI visionaries and investors: Today you still have the chance to get to know 10 of the best AI startups Made in Germany. Register now for our Pitch Night in Palo Alto: https://lnkd.in/dAgsn6aM 😱 Don't panic if the places are taken: just put your name on the waiting list, we'll try to make everything possible, even spontaneously! 🚀 Let yourself be inspired by future-oriented businesses and great personalities. Experience these startups live on stage: 36ZERO Vision Cyreen dealcode AI dpv-analytics GmbH Energy Robotics Exazyme FUSE-AI neuroflash streamboost GmbH yoona.ai (Techstars ´21) 🫶 We are looking forward to your visit tonight! ⚡️ Powered by AI.STARTUP.HUB Hamburg, K.I.E.Z. Künstliche Intelligenz Entrepreneurship Zentrum, hessian.AI Darmstadt, and the MUNICH INNOVATION ECOSYSTEM, Start2 Group, German American Chamber of Commerce, Inc. and GABA NorCal (German American Business Association). Thanks to Petra Vorsteher, Ragnar Kruse, Harald Kratel, Arthur Erdmann and Martin Mahn. AI.STARTUP.HUB Hamburg, AI.HAMBURG, AI.FUND #AIStartupHub #KIEZBerlin #HessianAI #MunicInnovationEcosystem #GACCNY #GABA #UnleashGermanAI #AmericanFunding #StartupFunding #StartupSuccess #StartupSupport #Accelerator #Pitch #AI #Investor #InvestorPitch #PitchNight #PaloAlto

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🌟 Reaching the next level faster with the AI.STARTUP.HUB Hamburg: Thank you, FlowShare! Our Alumni Accelerator Startup FlowShare has been able to speed up its development through our AI.STARTUP.HUB program. We appreciate the wonderful feedback, thank you very much! 📄👌 FlowShare documents every step and action you perform in any software and then provides a ready-made guide that you can use to train your team, for example. Documentation becomes child's play! 🚀 We at the AI.STARTUP.HUB supported the team around Sofia Gertzen and Louis Maywald with 1:1 coaching, workshops on startup-relevant topics and our network on their journey. 🙌 Take your AI startup to the top with us! No matter what stage of development you're in, we'll pick you up and provide you with what you need. 👉 Apply now for the Winter Batch 24/25 at the AI.STARTUP.HUB Hamburg! About the Accelerator Program: https://lnkd.in/enJs3CXP Straight to the application: https://lnkd.in/eWB9Zy46 🫶 We look forward to receiving your application! #AIStartupHub #WinterBatch24 #StartupHamburg #IdeationProgram #AcceleratorProgram #Hamburg #StartupSuccess #StartupSupport #StartupFunding #Startups #AI #Gründer #Gründerinnen #Gründen #Founder #Founding #Gründerszene #StartupSzene #Accelerator #Pitch #AICommunity #TurningVisionsIntoReality #Application #StartYourJourney

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#Investors & #corporates, this post is for you! Whether you're on the lookout for a deep tech investment or collaboration with AI startups, join our 𝐀𝐈 𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐃𝐞𝐦𝐨 𝐃𝐚𝐲 on December 11 at Experimenta Heilbronn. If you're interested in joining, please contact Samer. With so many Demo Days happening in December, here are 3 things that set ours apart: 1️⃣ Top-Tier Founders with Impressive Track Records. From over 350 startups, we’ve handpicked just 14 – our 4% acceptance rate speaks volumes! Here are some notable achievements of the founders in this cohort: • Scaled a fintech from 4 to 80 employees as COO, leading a £48M Series A fundraising and growing the customer base from 0 to 200,000. • Built and led the global data organization at Delivery Hero. • Developed data monetization and geolocation ML platforms at scale for Yelp. • Co-founded multiple ventures, with two successful exits. • Founded a top-ranked educational app in Germany’s App Store. 2️⃣ Decision-Makers-Packed Event! With 90+ investors and over 100 corporate representatives attending our previous Demo Days, this event offers unmatched networking opportunities for those focused on AI innovation. 3️⃣ Exclusive Pre-Show Meet & Greet  To help you connect with fellow investors and corporate leaders, we’re hosting an exclusive networking session at 15:00, ahead of the main event. Let us know if you’d like the registration form. 🤝 Seats are limited due to overbooking at past events and the venue’s capacity. Reserve your spot now to ensure the right connections are made! #AIDemoDay #NetworkingOpportunity #TechInnovation | Campus Founders

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we gained 1 MIO impressions & beat Apple on Product Hunt thanks to our community. 💪 WHAT A WEEK!🥹 we officially launched Scripe just a few days ago, making our community part of the game. the result: - 50+ posts about Scripe were ALL over LinkedIn - one million LinkedIn impressions in one day - more than 200 new users on launch day 🍒 the cherry on top just dropped yesterday: 𝘄𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝗶𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗼𝗽 𝟯 𝗼𝗳 Product Hunt'𝘀 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁. and even surpassed Apple products that launched that day(!!!) this shows the power of community - and how important it is to build an audience. here's how I approach it: 𝟭) 𝗮𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 & 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁: this might feel awkward sometimes, but actively asking for support is so key. 👉 the more specific, the better. 𝟮) 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗲: community-building is all about trust. and trust comes with a personal connection and valuable relevant content. 👉 aka, personal branding. ;) 𝟯) 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺: our community is part of our journey and we show them that we value their involvement. 👉 we gave away free months for everyone who shared a post about Scripe last week. 🙋‍♀️ and now, I have another favor to ask. next week, we have our big exclusive launch event. my highlight is going to be our panel with amazing speakers: Lubomila Jordanova , Mona Ghazi, Cephas Ndubueze, and Christoph Meise – moderated by Sophie Ronczka. 👉 if you want to be a partner for the event or contribute in any way, let me know. we don’t have any more spots for attendees, but there’s always room for contributors. my DMs are wide open, let me know! :) now back to prepping the event. 😎 #startups #launch #community #startup #event

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Strong founders are like benevolent dictators. 👑🤝 How do personality profiles of successful early-stage founding teams differ from those who are not so successful? We analyzed our 83 early stage founders in our Techstars Berlin portfolio to understand the secret recipe of successful founding teams at the early stage. Our founders took an assessment called Profile Dynamics®, which is an assessment designed to analyze people’s individual driving factors and motivation. Cornelius Schaub and Robert Siegers were so kind to introduce this to us. Profile Dynamics breaks personality factors down into 7 main categories 👉 💡 Yellow: Inspires with visionary ideas, forward-thinking, optimism, and is analytical 🏆 Orange: Competes, plays to win and to be viewed as successful 🏎️ Red: Executes quickly and decisively, and not afraid to be confrontational when necessary 💜 Purple: Stays loyal and dedicated to a cause or people, seeking security and safety 📘 Blue: Thrives in a structured environment, seeking stability and reliability 🌿 Green: Seeks harmony among people, listens empathetically, and desires consensus 🌐 Turquoise: Sees situations holistically, integrates difference in perspective, connects dots Here is the pattern in most of our founding teams that were successful in early-stage fundraising: 🏎️ More Decisive Red 🔴 Successful teams have on average 10 more points on their red score than unsuccessful ones. Takeaway: Strong founders are masters of execution. They cut off discussion to act quickly and decisively. They are relentless in working toward their goals, even if it sometimes means stepping on some toes. 💡 Lots of Visionary Yellow 🟡 100% of our most successful teams have at least one co-founder with a score of yellow higher than 10 points (average difference is 7 points). Takeaway: Successful founders are insanely ambitious with a vision for a new future. They can set a clear and inspiring Northstar for their company. They push for data to back up their vision and set the course. 🌐 Some integrative turquoise 🌐 Successful teams have on average 4 more points on turquoise than unsuccessful ones. Takeaway: While being decisive and visionary, it is critical to be able to integrate a diverse set of opinions around the (leadership) table. Strong teams tend to think in “and” not in “or” (e.g. growth AND profitability). 🌿 Less Harmonious Green 🟢 Unsuccessful teams have on average 8 points more in green. Takeaway: Unsuccessful founders often focus too much on building internal alignment instead of making decisions quickly and executing them. Therefore, don’t feel bad about being assertive and making decisive choices from time to time. We define successful as having raised a (pre-)seed round from institutional investors. Our sample size is 83. While this does not qualify for a scientific publication, is should give some practical advice.

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"Space travel is far more than just the pursuit of stars and planets - it is a driving force behind technological innovations that are revolutionising our daily lives." Can rarely put in words how deeply I embrace this strong statement by Matthias 👍 Our friends from Helios paradigmatically stand for this. By developing efficient methods to extract oxygen from the lunar soil they discovered a novel method to produce green iron (and other metals) very energy/cost-efficiently, opening a great potential for the steel industry to decarbonize their value chain without any "green premium". To make just one amendment: In the long run, the survival of all life on our home planet depends on our will and capabilities to become a star-faring civilization. As "four billion years from now, the increase in Earth's surface temperature will cause a runaway greenhouse effect, (...) heating Earth's surface enough to melt it. By that point, all life on Earth will be extinct." Those wo care about environment and sustainability can't seriously be against space travel. When you look at the broader picture. In this sense: 🖖 https://lnkd.in/dCQ9CRaD

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Let me introduce you to LquiX... As a Start-up or business owner, Cash flow challenges shouldn’t hold your business back. LquiX is the game-changing platform that connects cash-rich companies with those in need of short-term liquidity. ° AI-powered insights to predict and manage cash flow. ° Real-time liquidity trading to unlock opportunities instantly. ° Heba insurance for peace of mind, protecting lenders and borrowers alike. Whether you are looking to optimize your working capital or secure essential funding, LquiX turns liquidity into a powerful tool for success. The future of liquidity is here—efficient, secure, and global. Join the move 🚀🚀🚀

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What better than to read a good book on this mental health day!! A beautiful book by a dear friend !!!

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