Oliver Oster

Having already evaluated a multitude of outliers in the current AI-driven innovation cycle at MDSV, we’ve distilled our learnings into three important takeaways for investors: 1. With more startups than ever, investors must take a different approach to navigating an increasingly larger herd to find great investments.  2. The Power Law of Venture Capital rings truer now more than ever, with fewer and faster growing companies driving all returns. 3. With revenue growth fueled by newfound operating leverage from AI and automation technologies, startups may not require as much growth capital as before, making the early stage potentially THE ONLY access point for investors. Learn more about the MDSV strategy to navigate the coming disruptions in venture capital: https://lnkd.in/g7ZWBwXS #VentureCapitalInvesting #Investments #AIInvestments #Strategy

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Zeitgeist is changing and we need to adapt or to encounter. When we started Climate Founders 4.5 years ago, we had a perfect Product Zeitgeist Fit (explained by a16z: https://lnkd.in/ePtBRVD3) in 2018 and 2019 activist groups like Fridays for Future played an important role to make the societies aware that we are in a climate crisis and need to act, with the beginning of the new decade announcement after announcement was made: politics made important changes from regulation to investment programs, more people than usual voted for green politics, the climate crisis got relevant media coverage, thousands of companies world-wide set decarbonization goals, huge asset managers implemented ESG and decarbonization strategies, billionaires pledged for the climate, hundreds of climatetech fund were established, serial entrepreneurs went into climate topics, Covid made many poeple think about contributing to a better world … in general you could feel change to make this decade to what it is in fact, the decisive decade for humanity. Even with beginning of the Russian war, there was a positive thinking that renewables are the solution to solve energy, industry and dependence problems, even climate chrisis deniers called them „freedom energies“. In 2023 we saw some Zeitgeist changes, the climate crisis seemed not to be a main topic anymore, in the media, in the politics, in companies and the society in general. Ambitious politicians understand that the society is not ready to change, some media work heavily against climate politics, companies realize how hard it is to decarbonize and partly drop their goals, asset managers start to drop ESG and decarbonization goals, investors and entrepreneurs look more at AI, politics goes right and populistic. Regarding Climatetech im still very optimistic: The 2018-2022 Zeitgeist helped to build a massive ecosystem, which is still growing. The current Zeitgeist is not in favor for Climatetech, but it will come back for sure, as unfortunately the climate crisis will hit us harder every year and we always had this typical left-right cycles in politics and societies. Due to our expanded activies our dealflow is still growing, but in general we have the impression that less new founders entered the space in the last 12-18 months and also hear from some other VCs that they see less climatetech teams. We take it as a challenge and re-focus on co-founder matching to make it easier to enter the space for founders. Especially scientists and serial entrepreneurs are our target group for our co-founder matching. Take the world’s biggest challenge as your personal opportunity and apply here: https://lnkd.in/egvTQApi

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Three biggest learnings from a fundraising journey. Shared by Rainer Märkle, General Partner at HV Capital at EUVC 1/ Have a time box with a deadline attached. Have a defined horizon & create a clear plan. Have some urgency to get things done at some point. Execute very transparently and reliably. 2/ Stick to your narrative. But don't do it blindly. Tweak it when necessary. Adapt it. Don't let yourself be surprised by major changes. Keep focusing on delivering according to your strategy & plan. 3/ Fundraising is a marathon with many sprints. There are moments when you'll ask yourself - Why do I do this? Is it gonna work out? But don't get too negative during the down phases. Adapting and pivoting is part of our job. As it is for the founder of a company. How about you? What fundraising lessons have you learned? Join the conversation. 🔽 #venturecapital #angelinvesting #startupfunding #europe

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Today I visited the GREENTECH FESTIVAL in Berlin with my dear friend Andreas. 💚 To make it short: Good vibes, busy floors and a big startup space. But tbh I wondered if it's really worth it for startups. I remember from my active time as an exhibitor that we weren't honest about the hard costs per lead. We argued a lot: being there is everything, you have to be seen, brand building is important, it's where the industry meets, serendipity happens, if we just get one big order it will pay off... not to forget the parties! That's all true, but the opportunity cost of attending a trade show is very high, especially for startups. And while this isn't meant to be a trade show bashing at all, here are a few suggestions from my experience, on how to make the most of it... - Train your team to proactively approach people. - Initiate a challenge to see who can get the most leads. - Prepare in advance and market your attendance by actively inviting customers. - Consider a small side event, such as a VIP dinner. - Try to book a package with a speaking engagement at the conference, that has always paid off for us. - Use the exhibitor directory for your own prospecting. - Calculate cost vs. lead conversion after the show with real data and decide whether to repeat. - Push your presence on social in real time. Good luck to all exhibitors and happy selling 🚀 ____________________________ Sharing my experience as an entrepreneur and angel investor. Investing in early stage B2B SaaS startups. Happy to connect 👋

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Big news in Berlin! Daato just secured €5 million in seed funding to turbocharge the ESG transformation. Here's the scoop: 1. Who’s investing? kopa ventures (formerly Wi Venture), neosfer, and IBB Ventures. Big names, big confidence. 2. What’s next? Enhancing automation, expanding market reach, and leading in sustainability management. 3. Why it matters? New EU regulations mean 60,000 companies need to step up their ESG game, and Daato is here to make it easier. Daato's unique approach simplifies compliance and boosts sustainability for both large corporations and SMES. It’s more than just ticking boxes; it’s about shaping a greener, more ethical business landscape. How are you handling your ESG goals this year? https://lnkd.in/dT3fcwdY #Sustainability #ESG #StartupSuccess #MondayFunding

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📰 Great to be featured on the latest Sifted article by Amy Lewin Joe Schorge, Maria Rotilu and I share our thoughts on the topic of ''How many new #VC funds does Europe need?'' and the ''rise in solo GPs across Europe'' 💭 TLDR: In my opinion, Solo GPs are fantastic! They truly do care and are super useful with great networks, hunger and high-speed. However many solo GPs don’t lead deals at pre-seed, and the European ecosystem could do with a few more funds that do. But there are exceptions, such as Germany’s Gloria Baeuerlein, Finn Murphy, and Max Claussen, to name a few. Full article here: https://lnkd.in/dWXUFsWb

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𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘂𝗽𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗿𝗮𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗮𝗻 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿’𝘀 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲? 💸 Meet Nina Mayer, principal at the Earlybird Venture Capital which focuses on European technology companies. Earlybird identifies and backs exceptional early-stage companies on a pan-European basis and supports them through their growth and development phases Nina shared with us her tips and advice for founders from an investor’s perspective: 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗧𝗼𝗽 𝟯 𝘁𝗶𝗽𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗿𝗮𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱? ✅ Common objectives are key: be very clear about your company vision and which investor type would fit your goals. ✅ Stay focused & persistent when reaching out to investors – always verify the investment scope & interest. If your network cannot provide an intro, reach out directly via a personal and short in-mail/LinkedIn message including your deck. ✅ Be well prepared – set up a good data room, clean up your website/Linkedin, do research on the investor you are speaking to, etc. 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀? Share update messages and/or have regular catch-up calls with a few, selected investors. You can also ask for support from the ones you built a closer relationship with. 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝗲𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀? ✅ Do research on the investor you are speaking to (ie. check the investment scope, the portfolio in your sector, the board roles, and background) so you can personalize your pitch. ✅ Prepare questions for the investor (ie. What does portfolio work/support look like?). ✅ Prepare to "tell a great story" with a clear vision. 👉 Are you a female founder working in the HR Tech sector and preparing to for your next fundraising round? We have a real funding opportunity for you, check it out here: https://lnkd.in/e5ntuQBn #InvestorPitch #PublicSpeaking #femalefounders #PresentationSkills #Event #Startup #Entrepreneurship

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🌴💰 While many are off enjoying summer holidays, founders are gearing up for their fundraising rounds. If you’re looking for fundraising advice, Earlybird Principal Nina Mayer covers three essential elements of the fundraising journey in a recent interview with Grace - Accelerate Female Entrepreneurship. 📝 Preparation: Stay focused when reaching out to investors – always verify the investment scope & interest. If your network cannot provide an intro, reach out directly via a personal and short in-mail/LinkedIn message including your deck. 👩🏼‍🤝‍👩🏽 Networking: Share update messages and/or have regular catch-up calls with a few, selected investors. You can also ask for support from the ones you've built a closer relationship with. 🤝 Pitching: Do research on the investor you are speaking to (ie. check the investment scope, the portfolio in your sector, the board roles, and background) so you can personalize your pitch. For the full interveiw head to: https://bit.ly/4fivyvW🏃‍♀️ cc: Leonie Moos, Zarah Sieges, Asma Gammoudi #FundraisingTips #StartupSuccess #VentureCapital

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Last month, we at World Fund announced our investment in Faircado. I’ve written a ‘why we invested in’ blogpost, looking at why we led the deal - and what excites me about this startup. Founded by the brilliant Evoléna de Wilde d'Estmael 🌱and Ali Nezamolmaleki, Faircado is an AI-powered browser extension that makes sustainable choices more accessible and mainstream for millions of consumers online. Our collective closets overflow with items we no longer need but that others could use. We need to embrace a circular economy, and Faircado can help us break this ineffective cycle - perpetuated by awful brands like SHEIN - by helping us make better buying decisions online. You can read the full piece here: https://bit.ly/4coXxYy

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Fundraising is a long and continuous process, usually taking no less than 3-4 months to finish, and it's better to start it when you have at least 9-12 months of runway (cash in the bank divided by monthly burn rate) #fundraising #startups #investors

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After receiving a huge response, over the past three weeks I selected and had Clarity Calls with 7 incredible founders. Let me introduce you to them: Bettina Mueller Reichl with Cape de Coeur, a luxury rainwear brand that’s both sustainable and sophisticated. Watch "She Came To Me", and you'll see Anne Hathaway wearing one of her pieces! Daphné Eastmond, CPA with Frizz + Co., elevating the standard of curl care through innovative, intentional products, bridging the education gap within the curl community. Dallas Barnes with Reya Health, helping women and people with ovaries take control of their health and lives, fostering healthier families and communities. Lee-Anne Reuber with Sekond Skin Society, an inclusive fitness app where people with and without disabilities can work out together. Frankie Leigh Shelton with Wisdom Medicine, providing hormone-informed care for women at every stage of life, from puberty to menopause. Sajna Massey, P. Eng, MBA with Couth Studios, a brand leveraging AI to combat overproduction and overconsumption. Deb Flanagan with Bizzidy, democratizing access to funding information, offering trauma-focused programs for women entrepreneurs, and building connected, meaningful communities where no woman is left behind. From Canada to the US to Europe, I’ve been working with founders on everything from branding and marketing to planning pop-ups, navigating things when we're stuck in comparison (we all face it!), onboarding talent, developing fundraising strategies, and prioritizing the steps to move forward. I genuinely love this work — it’s what drives me. If you’re a self-aware woman builder or operator ready for clarity and progress, I’ve opened up more space for Calls. And yes, you can be based anywhere in the world. Link in the comments to apply👇🏽 #WomenFounders #StartupSupport #InnovationForGood #Mentorship #Entrepreneurship #AriseAndLead

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Join me on June 5! Angel Investing - Lessons from the Experts: Harvard Business School Alumni Angels announce their Angel Investing Bootcamp https://lnkd.in/eFU7uD7i

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I’ve just found a video of Marc Andreessen outcompeting other VCs in startup funding rounds with their new $7.2bn fund. In all seriousness the split and timing of their mega fund structure is interesting. 2/3 focussing on infrastructure and growth. Rest - the uje. Except for one phrase that I think is just awesome - they’ve allocated $600m to ‘American Dynamism’. I almost don’t care what that means. I just love the notion and will be borrowing the theme for our UK future fundraises. UK Dynamism is long overdue. The United States of Freedom leads the way for our ecosystem and they’re suggesting back into growth kids. Yes inertia. Yes this will take some time to deploy! But back into growth all the same. Where as is the norm in startup land - timing is everything. Congrats to A16z. I’m not in the slightest bit envious. #venturecapital #vc #startups #investing #startupfunding #oldwhitemen #lps #fundraising #vcfunds #usausausa

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European VC Fundraising Uptick Germany's KfW Capital, has reported a significant uptick in VC fundraising, indicating a positive trend for startup investments. Jörg Goschin, managing director at KfW Capital, noted that fundraising was sluggish in 2022 and 2023, but things are "steadily improving." He highlighted that KfW Capital examined around 220 funds last year, expecting an even higher number this year. Goschin stated, “I think we can say that the light at the end of the tunnel which we saw last year is getting brighter.” KfW Capital is a prominent limited partner (LP) in various European VC funds, including Germany’s Project A, Earlybird Venture Capital, and France’s Partech. Since its establishment in 2018, KfW Capital has invested in 120 VC funds, with nine funded this year. Goschin also mentioned an increase in capital calls from VCs, which he described as a “reassuring” sign that investments in startups are also on the up. In analyzing the types of funds being considered, KfW Capital found that 50% of the 220 funds were from the ICT sector (SaaS startups, AI, marketplaces, and e-commerce). About a quarter of the funds focused on life sciences, while the remainder were generalist funds without a specific sector focus. Notably, KfW Capital is also witnessing an increase in deeptech funds seeking investment, which Goschin identified as necessary, given the longer development times associated with these types of investments. Gender diversity is a key focus for KfW Capital in its due diligence process, with 46.3% of the funds having at least one female GP in 2023. The firm’s €200 million emerging manager facility, aims to invest in funds with €50 million in AUM that prioritize representation of women and non-binary individuals in leadership roles. Its first investment through this facility was in Nucleus Capital, a deeptech and climate tech VC fund led by GPs Dr. Isabella Fandrych and Maximilian A. Schwarz. In terms of increasing private capital in VC, Goschin highlighted the launch of Germany's €1B Fund of funds last year, which aims to boost investments in German and European VC funds. He noted the importance of mobilizing private capital, especially as state budgets become tighter. “The mobilization of capital from private investors is very important, especially from a point of view as a sovereign investor,” he remarked. ✅ Looking to raise capital for your #VCfund and increase the international pool of your LPs?   🤝 Need warm #LP introductions?   📝 Selling #secondaries to increase liquidity?   🧐 Looking for co-investments (Series A/Series B)?   ▶ Please use G+QUANT's link for inquiries and fund decks, or send an inquiry to [email protected] #VentureCapital #VentureFunding #VentureDebt #Fundraising #Innovation #Technology #Entrepreneurship #Investing #Network #Investors #LPs #GPs #EmergingManagers #Economy #Business #Founders #Startups #StartupFunding #ai #artificialintelligence #unicorn #secondaries #secondarydeals

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https://lnkd.in/epFgH79T You’ve probably read tons of articles about the different rounds of VC funding and all the associated terms, but how often do you come across something that really breaks down the numbers? Ever wondered how to keep track of your startup’s equity as you grow? Dive into our hands-on guide to cap tables, where I break down everything from your first seed round to that exciting exit moment.  By walking you through various scenarios and terms with comprehensive examples and visual aids, I offer a solid foundation for managing equity financing in startups. While real-world cap tables can be intricate, this primer ensures fair ownership and proceeds distribution, helping you maintain investor confidence and support your startup’s long-term growth.Let’s get your cap table game on point!

The nature of the current AI-driven Innovation Supercycle and the exponentially larger number of startups birthed have changed how the power law of venture capital will play out in this tech boom. The new venture investing playbook will require getting into outliers earlier in their life cycle as growth capital is less needed than ever. But how can LPs access outliers before they achieve enough revenue growth to sustain themselves without further investment capital? At MDSV, we access outliers through our 300+ strong emerging manager network. Learn more about our 𝘌𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘔𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘳 𝘈𝘭𝘱𝘩𝘢 𝘢𝘵 𝘚𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘦 strategy to get into outliers: https://lnkd.in/gK9Nj3PD #EmergingFundManagers #VentureCapital #Investments #AIInvestments

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Great insights from Adam Agius on what to consider when raising debt for a search fund buyout. Most relevant to the UK market, but a worthwhile read for all searchers. There's more debt capital keen to support search acquisitions than ever before, but approaching it naively can be very costly...

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Top tips for angel investors for more international deals. From Eva Spannagl, Managing Director of Climatos. The easy part: 👉 Build connections with international investors. 👉 Reach out proactively to international teams. 👉 Use Linkedin The tough one: 👉 Define your unique value proposition for this type of founders 👉 Preach what you want to do a thousand times. Talk about what you want. And the actions will follow. What do you think? What other tips will you add to the list? Join the conversation. #venturecapital #startupinvesting #angelinvesting #europe

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