Pawel Chudzinski

#notoptional is likely the most impactful startup policy initiative in Europe so far. Germany on par with US in stock option policy was unthinkable a few years ago. 1. Exposed the problem: Created global rankings that showed just how ridiculously bad Germany's policies were. 📊 2. United the tech community: Got top founders on board to demand change. 🤝 3. Offered solutions: Showed policymakers exactly how to fix the mess. 💡 Great work by Vojtech Horna and Index Ventures.

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Once more an excellent longread by Andreessen Horowitz .... ⚡ 🔌 Decentralizing the Electric grid ... Recommended reading to grasp the dynamics of decentralisation , applied to the energy market in the US (but relevant for EU). 💬 "Critically, to build this decentralized grid demands our most talented entrepreneurs and engineers: We need a “smart grid” with serious innovation across ahead-of-the-meter, behind-the-meter, and grid software technology. Policy and economic tailwinds will accelerate this electricity evolution, but it will fall to the private sector to ensure this decentralized grid works better than the old one."

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20 years in VC. Going from CVC to VC. Here's the story of Rainer Märkle, General Partner at HV Capital. 1/ Engineering roots: His journey began in electrical engineering. Working on exciting projects like mobile and fiber communications. 2/ A twist of fate. By chance, he landed a role at a corporate VC arm of Siemens. Investing in the very tech I helped build. 3/ VC journey: That's where the VC journey began! He discovered a passion for nurturing innovation. So, he knew his mission was to help promising startups. What inspired your VC journey? Share your thoughts with us in the comments. #venturecapital #angelinvesting #startupfunding #europe

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Dirk Hoerig shares how he’s overcome near-death business moments to lead commercetools to Centaur status, all while balancing family life. “This is it, we’re not going to make it next month,” – Dirk Hörig and his team had this same thought over and over again between 2010 and 2014. So, how did they go from this to becoming one of Germany’s only Centaurs? Today, Dirk gives us a peek behind the scenes of his journey building the game-changing e-commerce platform. When asked about his top achievements, Dirk says “Number one, would be not messing up the big opportunity we had—seizing it and not screwing it up. Number two is raising three great kids while building a company. And number three is disrupting a whole category that didn’t even exist before.” From sharing stories from the early days, when they had to fight so hard to survive, to today where the company has undergone impressive growth and success – Dirk has learned to embrace the ups and downs with a cool head. Dirk also talks about what’s kept him grounded - from squeezing in surf workations with friends to traveling with his family and playing sports with his kids. Read on to find out how Dirk finds that sweet spot between work and life; finding a way to lead a fast-growing business without losing sight of what really matters.

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The acquisition of Quarero Robotics by an investment vehicle advised TACTICAL MANAGEMENT is a significant step towards to robotics and innovation. Thanks to all parties involved. Quarero Robotics TACTICAL MANAGEMENT #Innovation #PrivateEquity #Management

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Seraphim Space Ventures II (SSV II): Meet the companies 🛰 🌌 Following the same strategy as its original SpaceTech-focused venture fund, a top-performing fund for its vintage, SSV II aims to build a portfolio of c.30 companies. The Fund has already made nine investments aligned with some of our key themes via a warehouse portfolio. Hubble Network – Internet of Things satellite constellation for connecting directly to billions of Bluetooth-enabled devices Delos Insurance Solutions – Space data-powered wildfire home insurance provider ATMOS Space Cargo – Space cargo return service for life sciences Auriga Space – Novel electromagnetic launch system Array Labs - 3D satellite imagery on a global scale Privateer Space - constellation of small SATs for in-Space Situational Awareness (SSA) Ubotica Technologies - Live Earth Intelligence (Space: AI) Renoster - Deep Transparency for nature-based carbon projects constellr - Space data-powered high-precision smart farming services Take a look at our new page to find out more - https://lnkd.in/dau2tw2d

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How To Handle VC Negotiations: What To Expect And How To Respond https://buff.ly/3ZXGJVt Understanding VC Negotiations: What to Anticipate and How to React effectively is crucial in the world of startups. Being prepared for the dynamics of venture capital discussions can significantly impact the outcome of your business endeavors. By familiarizing yourself with common negotiation tactics, such as valuation strategies and equity distribution, you can navigate these interactions with confidence. Remember, VC negotiations are not just about funding; they are about building strategic partnerships that can propel your company to success. Stay informed and proactive to make the most out of these opportunities. #VC #NegotiationTips

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Per PitchBook, defense-tech related companies are receiving significantly higher interest from the venture capital market. Per the article: "Tech investors historically shied away from the defense-tech market—not only because of the related ESG risks but also the difficulty in securing government contracts. However, with the conflict in Ukraine, rising tensions in the Middle East and other geopolitical tensions, national security has become a priority for governments, globally. Dual-use technology—any product or software that can be used for both civilian and military purposes: GPS, for example—has also become more of a focus for startups in the sector." Industries like defense tech have often been a challenge for the VC growth model. Oftentimes (but not always), these companies tend to have higher upfront capital costs, and growth is dependent upon a small number of very large customers (such as government agencies). Those are risks that are difficult for VCs to underwrite, and at times can lead to binary growth characteristics (pass/fail situations). However, technology and software - such as AI - are increasingly penetrating deeper into these opportunities. As Pitchbook has detailed, the venture industry has taken notice. Endeavor Colorado Zeb King Tegan Stanbach Kathryn Dickson #privateequity #venturecapital #innovation #investing #entrepreneurship #founders #startups https://lnkd.in/gCm3viVN

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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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#DeepTech: Europe’s next big leap? At the Falling Walls Science Summit last week, I joined Michael Brigl, Bernd Scheifele and Peter Soelkner for a CEO Table focusing on ‘From Science Breakthroughs to Market Success‘. The discussion was centered on bridging the gap between groundbreaking scientific discoveries and their translation into marketable applications—a key challenge for Germany as an innovation hub. Our conversation touched on many key insights from Boston Consulting Group (BCG) Consulting Group’s report "From Lab to Leader: Unlocking Europe’s €8 trillion Deep Tech Opportunity," highlighting Europe’s potential to become a global leader in this space. For me, some key takeaways were: 1. A cultural shift is necessary (amongst others, we really need the next generations to see founding a business as a "normal" career option), 2. "Spin-offs" should be included as a true third pillar for universities and institutes next to Research and Teaching, and 3. We need far more ecosystem linkages and cooperation between all relevant stakeholders. Find out more about the future of Deep Tech in BCG’s latest report: https://lnkd.in/d3MvVpwD #FallingWalls #ScienceSummit24 #Innovation 

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🌟 Venture-Growth Market Round-Up: Fortnight Commencing 1st May 2024 🌟 🔍 Where is the innovation happening? Pitchbook’s recent VC Ecosystem Rankings highlight the global hotspots for startup innovation. Silicon Valley tops the list, but London ranks only #7, surpassed by cities like Beijing, Shanghai, and Boston. European cities make the top-15, bolstered by significant government support. 💡 European Boost EIF committed €2.8bn in 2023 State banks in the UK, Germany, and France are also key players 📉 IPO Struggles Despite a decrease in write-offs and bankruptcies, IPO activity remains sluggish. The weak exit environment and low IPO activity are impacting valuations and leading to more down rounds. 📈 Positive Outlook Private markets control $14.7 trillion in AUM, growing annually by 12.8%. Pitchbook forecasts nearly $20 trillion by 2028. GPs are raising funds that could outperform, but LPs should remain cautious. 🔄 Continuation Funds on the Rise Continuation funds are becoming a staple, providing liquidity for LPs and stability for portfolio companies. However, they come with challenges, including potential conflicts of interest and fee disputes. 💥 Mega-Deals Round-Up SumUp: €1.5bn debt round led by Goldman Sachs CoreWeave: $1.1bn round at $19bn valuation Wayve: $1.05bn Series C funding led by SoftBank Wiz: $1bn Series E round at $12bn valuation 🚀 Exciting IPOs Zeekr: Largest U.S. IPO by a Chinese company since 2021 Puig: Raised €2.6b in its Madrid IPO Games Global: Set IPO terms to 14.5m shares 💡 Upcoming Trends Private markets are expected to continue their growth trajectory, with significant funds being raised and invested across various sectors. Despite challenges, the outlook for innovation and growth remains positive. 🔗 Read the full blog post here [https://lnkd.in/eyYRhHeT] for a detailed analysis and more insights! #VentureCapital #Startups #Innovation #IPOs #PrivateMarkets #Funding #Growth

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Pleased to share some insights into our latest fund SSV II 🛰 🌌 Following the same strategy as its original SpaceTech-focused venture fund, a top-performing fund for its vintage, SSV II aims to build a portfolio of c.30 companies. The Fund has already made nine investments. The 9 companies currently making up the SSV II portfolio are: 💫 Hubble Network – Internet of Things satellite constellation for connecting directly to billions of Bluetooth-enabled devices Delos Insurance Solutions – Space data-powered wildfire home insurance provider ATMOS Space Cargo – Space cargo return service for life sciences Auriga Space – Novel electromagnetic launch system Array Labs- 3D satellite imagery on a global scale Privateer Space - constellation of small SATs for in-Space Situational Awareness (SSA) Ubotica Technologies - Live Earth Intelligence (Space: AI) Renoster - Deep Transparency for nature-based carbon projects constellr - Space data-powered high-precision smart farming services Find out more👀 https://lnkd.in/eS_9w7c3

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Creating a New Future for WealthTech: A Conversation with UnitPlus Co-Founder Fabian Mohr After years as a stock market analyst, Fabian Mohr made a bold leap into entrepreneurship with a vision to create a meaningful impact in WealthTech. Today, Fabian and his team at UnitPlus are reimagining financial solutions for retail and business clients, and we at Robin Capital are thrilled to back this journey. In our recent interview, Fabian shared insights into: 🔹 The motivation behind leaving the corporate world 🔹 How UnitPlus is blending finance and tech to deliver savings and cash management solutions 🔹 Plans to build the first "digital capital market CFO" for SMEs Join us as we explore how Fabian and his co-founders are innovating the FinTech landscape, creating accessible, secure financial options for everyone from individuals to SMEs. Their vision aligns perfectly with Robin Capital’s commitment to supporting founders who drive change. Read the full story and learn more about UnitPlus's €4.7M seed round, led by Pact and joined by Robin Capital:

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This week in European startup land and investing - what is happening? Monik, Mads and I talk about Germany's €12bn WIN Initiative, startups moving to the States, Naval and the libertarians, what interest rate cuts really mean, the new EU commissioner for startups and much much more. The Seed Episode 10 is now up on all pods with links in comments - Startups moving from Europe to the US - who, when, why - The Real Impact of US Interest Rate Cuts on Global Investments - UK's Economic Challenges and Labour's Uphill Role - Germany's €12bn Initiative to Boost Startup Investments - We Have an EU Commissioner for Startups - Any Teeth? - Proxies for Economic Health in Startup Ecosystems - Regulation or Regulation? Let's Regulate... Love your thoughts.

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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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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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🚀📍 At the Heart of Germany's AI Landscape: The Rise of AI Conference Since 2014, the Rise of AI conference has been a pivotal event for fostering connections and discussions among AI experts, decision-makers, and innovators. As a VC specializing in nurturing and supporting AI startups, I am thrilled to attend the Rise of AI Conference 2024 today. Hosted by Veronika Westerheide & Fabian J. G. Westerheide, this event has consistently been at the forefront of connecting AI visionaries. Highlights of the Conference: 🔹 Inspiring Speakers: Fifty experts covering various facets of AI, including its impact on society, politics, and the economy. 🔹 Networking Opportunities: Engage with like-minded individuals passionate about AI innovation. 🔹 Interactive Formats: Over 40 interactive sessions, ranging from keynotes to workshops. 🔹 Expert Insights: Learn about sustainable, trustworthy, and secure AI practices from leading professionals in the field. I look forward to connecting with fellow AI enthusiasts and driving the future of AI together. 💻💪 #RiseOfAI #AIConference #ArtificialIntelligence #Networking #Innovation #FutureTech https://lnkd.in/eZsNw293

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Otto - Framework Venture Partners’ AI assisted investing, matching and optimizing platform has been busy. YTD we have matched almost 10,000 startups with almost 150 VCs! Did you know according to Otto: -for a successful Seed or Series A round the average North American Startup has had to contact approximately 150 VCs? You can now reach that instantly using Otto! -the average VC in North America sees over 1,000 startups a year! -roughly 1 out 1,500+ startups become a unicorn -Otto sees 10,000 startups a year and learns from all of them! Improving match making. The experience for startups and VCs constantly gets better! To get started go to: startups.framework.vc We will be rolling out data insights and tools starting this fall. Can’t wait to share. PS - Otto is FREE! PPS - are you an investor? Want A.I. powered matching to your specific criteria for deal flow? Go to: investors.framework.vc

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🔬 Excited to launch 𝐒𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 interviews on Substack! This series will showcase scientists who transition into founders, spotlighting their journey from academic research to launching startups. 🥼The inaugural interview features Stefan Müller, co-founder and CTO of Ferroelectric Memory Company (FMC). This interview is special as Stefan represents my first VC investment. His journey from lab research to securing support from top investors like M Ventures ,imec.xpand, Bosch Ventures, Air Liquide, TEL Venture Capital, and SK hynix is truly inspiring. 𝑲𝒆𝒚 𝑰𝒏𝒔𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔: Persistence Pays Off: Unwavering commitment to research. Strategic Partnerships: Collaborations with industry giants. Industry Impact: Revolutionizing semiconductor memory solutions. Read the full interview and subscribe for more inspiring stories. Let's continue transforming scientific research from university labs into startups. 🚀 💡 Calling All Scientist-Founders: Have you made the leap to entrepreneurship? I’d love to connect and explore your journey! #Scientist #Founder #VentureCapital #PhD #Spinoff #Lab #Startup #Research #Univeristy

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