Mikko Silventola

WSJ reporting Foundational Model company Mistral is raising $600mm at a $6 Billion Valution. For VCs goes to show Foundational Models are a big boys game with hundreds of millions if not Billion + needed to be raised to be competitive. But I wonder longer term if these are + ev bets or simply a way for the blue chip VC firms who have raised billions for their new AI funds to deploy massive amounts of capital in low-risk low-return bets. The more interesting companies are still worth $50 million or less but; 1. Finding them is hard 2. Check sizes are by definition smaller so for big VCs won't move the needle 3. The risks of failure are extremely high But that is where the highest expected value lies.

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Want to hear some good tech news? Aleph Alpha and Silo AI have joined forces to unlock the full potential of generative AI across Europe! The two companies bring different elements to the table: 🔹 Silo AI has expertise in deploying enterprise environments and open source large language models for European languages. 🔹 Aleph Alpha's team of international scientists, engineers and innovators has developed a proprietary generative AI operating system and Europe's fastest commercial AI data center. This partnership will accelerate the growth of generative AI in Europe. Customers will be able to fully leverage Aleph Alpha's enterprise-grade tech stack, while leveraging Silo AI's experience in delivering AI to a wide range of customers across Europe. 🗣 Peter Sarlin, co-founder and CEO of Silo AI, said, "I am particularly excited about our mutual commitment to advancing open source models that support European languages. Aleph Alpha's deep research, tech stack and expertise, combined with our end-to-end capabilities and open-source models, make for a compelling offering." 🗣 Jonas Andrulis, co-founder and CEO of Aleph Alpha, adds, "We are united in our mission to empower European organizations with sovereign, generative AI technology." This long-term partnership between the two powerhouses of AI in Europe will enable enterprises and government organizations to leverage a generative AI tech stack that meets the highest standards of sovereignty, trustworthiness, and transparency. Get ready for exciting things! #D11ZVentures #innovation #artificialintelligence #partnerships

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Klarna Files for US IPO, Eyes Expansion in Fintech Market - Klarna, the Swedish fintech giant known for its buy now, pay later services, has filed for an initial public offering (IPO) in the United States, signaling a major expansion effort. - The move aims to capitalize on the growing popularity of alternative payment solutions and position Klarna as a leading player in the competitive US financial technology market. - With a successful IPO, Klarna plans to enhance its platform capabilities, expand its user base, and further innovate its payment solutions to meet evolving consumer demands. - This development reflects the broader trend of fintech companies pursuing public listings to access capital and accelerate growth in digital financial services. #Fintech #KlarnaIPO #BuyNowPayLater Read more: [https://buff.ly/3UOW47q]

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🕚Here’s a flashback to an exciting and bold VC fund launch from 2023. 💸 In Q4 2023, #UK and #Sweden based venture capital firm Oxx closed its $190M fund backed by LPs such as British Patient Capital, Saminvest AB, Argentum Asset Management, Pool Re, Coeli and KfW Capital 💡 Scale-up stage #B2B #SaaS companies that have reached product-market fit. 🌍 #Europe 📈 ‘Oxx’s portfolio includes exciting start-ups, including Funnel, Goodlord, Latana, Gravitee, Black Swan Data, Codility, CyberSmart, among others. 💭 “We are now at an inflection point, entering the early innings of the AI paradigm of SaaS. AI is not merely hype, it is the technological driver underpinning a structural shift and spurring another tidal wave of innovation, driving migration from incumbent legacy systems and applications.” - Mikael Johnsson, General Partner at Oxx 🗞️ Abhinaya Prabhu Tech Funding News https://lnkd.in/gYqTqn-C 👏 For the #AudaciousInvestors unleashing innovation and empowering tomorrow🚀 Richard Anton I Mikael I Philip Edmondson-Jones I Bob Thomas I Benjamin Palmer I Toby Lywood I Carole Ginman I Mark Lewis I Sebastián Harlander I Gökçe Ceylan I Reshma Sohoni I oren zeev I Team Oxx … #venturecapital #vc #funds #startups #entrepreneurs #funding #tech #entrepreneurship #technology #innovation #venture #fund #london

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Meet Amin Jaibi in Tallinn and learn more about vent.io and how we can support your B2B start-up!

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8i Ventures Exits M2P Fintech with an Impressive 12x Return ➡️ A Game-Changing Exit in the Fintech Landscape Early-stage venture capital firm 8i Ventures has made a remarkable exit from M2P Fintech, realizing a 12x return on its investment! As the first institutional backer of M2P Fintech, 8i Ventures invested ₹9.7 crore back in 2019 and exited with a substantial ₹115.9 crore, marking an impressive 131% IRR. Key Highlights: 🔹 Series D Funding: M2P Fintech raised $100 million in its recent Series D round, led by Helios Investment Partners. 🔹 8i Ventures ’ Growth Story: The firm’s Fund I of $15.5 million has shown a 2.5x increase with an IRR of 37% and a MOIC of 3.3x. 🔹 Beyond M2P Fintech: 8i Ventures also invested in Blue Tokai Coffee Roasters, slice, Easebuzz, and BBETTER, showcasing its diverse investment portfolio. 🔹 Fund II: 8i Ventures secured the first closure of its second fund at $25 million in 2022, aiming for a total of $40-50 million. Vikram Chachra, Founding Partner of 8i Ventures, highlighted their strategic vision, emphasizing M2P’s growth from a category creator in the challenger card space to a full-fledged core banking system provider. This exit is a testament to the firm’s foresight and dedication in supporting disruptive startups. The success story of 8i Ventures and M2P Fintech reflects the power of strategic partnerships in the #Fintech space, inspiring emerging startups and investors alike. With a focus on API infrastructure and integrated financial services, M2P Fintech has become a critical player in the digital finance ecosystem. #BFSI #FEBFSI #ModernBFSI #VentureCapital #FintechSuccess #InvestmentReturns #Startups #APIEconomy #CoreBanking #StrategicGrowth #M2PFintech #8iVentures #FundingRounds #DigitalTransformation #FinancialInclusion Indian Venture and Alternate Capital Association (IVCA) | Freecharge | Zerodha | CRED | InfoEdge | LetsVenture | Matt Chitharanjan | Rohit Prasad | Madhusudanan R | Nithin Kamath | Kunal Shah | Sanjeev Bikhchandani | Shanti Mohan | Tanya Krishna | Sumana Sarkar | Sakshi Kuchroo | E Kumar Sharma | Roshun Povaiah | Financial Express (India)

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In recent months, the Swedish startup ecosystem witnessed the unfortunate downfall of three promising companies: Mycorena, Coloreel, and &Repeat. These startups, with unique value propositions, faced challenges that led to their bankruptcy. Let's analyze the common factors contributing to their struggles. Mycorena aimed to revolutionize the food industry with sustainable mycoprotein products. Despite the growing demand for alternative proteins, scaling issues, high operational costs, and intense market competition hindered their success. Coloreel brought innovation to the textile industry with its coloring technology for textile threads. However, intensive R&D, supply chain disruptions, and slow market adoption contributed to its downfall. &Repeat focused on a circular economy for disposable food packaging but encountered challenges in driving behavioral change, navigating regulations, and securing funding. Key themes among these startups include financial strains, market entry barriers, and external factors like the pandemic and regulatory changes. Their experiences highlight the importance of effective financial management, strategic scaling, and adaptability to market conditions for long-term success. While the bankruptcy of these startups is a setback, their innovative spirit leaves a lasting impact. Their journey provides valuable lessons for future entrepreneurs to learn and grow from, shaping a more resilient startup ecosystem.

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Any start up or organisation in my network willing to test Unikorrn management meeting platform please get in touch with Onyeka Nweze ACG or follow the link in the below post. The platform is meant to improve your risk management framework and increase your survival and success rate. It would be really appreciated, thanks! #startup #mvp #testing #riskmanagement

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Klarna’s IPO & the Rise of Crypto Mania Today on This Week in Startups, we unpacked Klarna's discreet IPO filing and explored why this move is more significant than just another fintech going public. • Klarna’s Big Comeback: Once valued at $46B, Klarna’s IPO marks a turnaround from a low of $6.7B, signaling growth in the BNPL sector. The Swedish fintech giant is expanding beyond BNPL with cards, a shopping app, and now, banking through Klarna Balance. • Market Timing Matters: Amid optimism and reduced regulatory fears, Klarna’s valuation benefits from recent growth in comparables like Affirm and PayPal. • Crypto & Trading Euphoria: With Bitcoin up 24% in a week and Robinhood shares jumping, the “young investor” demographic is pushing gains across crypto and trading platforms. • NFT Mania, Round 2?: A new wave of market excitement mirrors past NFT and sports betting surges. Is this euphoria here to stay, or another bubble waiting to burst?

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Helsinki looking very wrapped up and cosy from here at least. Looking forward sharing more about shipshape.vc at Slush tomorrow! #capitalraising #startups #fundraising #founders #venturecapital #investors #vc #vcfunding #technology #startup #tech

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In the evolving landscape of digital banking, the migration from legacy systems to modern solutions is essential yet costly. This challenge significantly impacts the growth of neobanks, especially in regions where access to financial services is already limited. Here’s a quick snapshot: • 💸 High Migration Costs: Legacy systems are expensive to upgrade and maintain. • 🏦 Traditional Banks vs. Neobanks: In Europe, there are approximately 6,000 traditional banks compared to just 80 neobanks. The Middle East shows a similar disparity. • 🛑 Barriers to Entry: The financial burden and complexity of transitioning hinder the development of new, agile digital infrastructures. • 🌍 Impact on Users: This results in fewer services for users, particularly in areas with limited financial access. • 📈 The Need for BaaS: Banking-as-a-Service solutions can help neobanks overcome these barriers, fostering innovation and enhancing customer experiences. It’s time to embrace modern, scalable solutions to ensure a more inclusive and advanced financial ecosystem. #DigitalBanking #Neobanks #LegacySystems #BankingInnovation #BaaS #FinTech #FinancialServices

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"The Lessons Learned from Rapid Growth" A talk by Amra Zacina Začina, Co-founder and CMO, Ministry of Programming at Fast Growth Icons, Grand Hôtel Stockholm, with 100 #Founders and #CEOs from some of the most exciting hashtag #scaleups in the Nordics on 8th October 2024 Rapid growth opens the door to new talent and new opportunities. Many of us have hired rapidly without sufficient planning, which has led to structural and cultural challenges. When market conditions shift, as they did post the 'grow at all costs' days of 2020-21, businesses learned the hard way that a more strategic approach is needed. Amra shares how the lessons learned with such changes in market dynamics should drive meaningful change, including better workforce planning, formalizing processes, and empowering a leadership team. Amra talks from experience about the practical steps that help build stronger, more adaptable businesses that are prepared to thrive in a rapidly changing market. Amra is a Co-founder & CMO at the Ministry of Programming, a dynamic tech startup factory designed to uplift various startups through extensive support and development. Her leadership includes overseeing the marketing strategies, hiring executive management, and guiding the company's strategic direction. Fast Growth Icons thanks Kim Larsson Nyheim and team JPMorgan Chase Commercial Banking, Maria Dahlin Kolvik and team @Vinge, Henrik Wireklint and team White & Case LLP, Charlie O'Donoghue, at IDA Ireland - High Growth Companies This is an invitation-only event for founders and CEOs of successful Nordic scale-up businesses. If you fit these criteria, you can apply on https://lnkd.in/dU8YqsnV https://lnkd.in/dTtpRY6K

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CHARTS SHOW POSITIVE TRENDS FOR EUROPEAN VC MARKET: A number of metrics and key trends show clearer skies to start 2024 in Europe, as startups in the region raised about $17.4 billion in the first quarter. That represents an increase of almost 19% from the same period during the prior year, and nontraditional investors appear to be making their way back to the market, the data shows. After ending 2023 on a sour note, European VC deal value has bounced back in Q1 with an increase of 19.1% YoY and 16.2% from Q4. Fewer rounds took place than in the previous quarter as investors prioritized quality over quantity, according to PitchBook’s Q1 2024 European Venture Report, sponsored by J.P. Morgan. https://lnkd.in/gmmMst9r

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How to be a top country to launch and scale a startup? The suggested Norwegian "exit tax" triggered a long-requested debate on the data informing the startup ecosystem, the effect of politics, and what it takes for Norway to take the lead. The viral mobilization of founders, and political responses, proved at least two things: It is a long way to the top, and it's critical to get there. We need endless numbers of new companies solving some of the biggest problems globally, and for Norway - and the world - it's critical to substitute the coming decline in traditional and fossil-based industries. For the Norwegian Association for Startups and Tech (NAST), the focus has been on the most upvoted topics by Norwegian Scaleup founders: Tax, Talent, and Venture Capital. This week Data-Driven VC newsletter (Jérôme Jaggi and Dr. Andre Retterath) wrote up a meta-analysis on the topic, filled with links to some of the leading data and research. Summarised with this top-five list: - Talent: The level of accessible human capital. - Culture: The inclusion and appreciation of entrepreneurship (reflected in politics). - Community: The level of connectivity, engagement, and support mechanisms - Funding: The maturity of competent Venture Capital and its regulations - Maturity: The number of startups, investment level, connectedness to incumbents and industry It is not that complicated to get right, and as they summarise the analysis; "Talent is distributed equally, but opportunity is not". Consequently, for small countries, it is even more crucial to create the politics of opportunity. For Norway, it's a long way to the top, a bit like for the European Football Championship, and it is up to us to change that. With exponentially more data available to analyze this - and with higher data quality - i.e. like the datasets Yoram Wijngaarde has built with Dealroom.co, these factors will be more and more prevalent, and we can go from the vague "startup ecosystem" terminology to more precise data-driven political insights. AI will be here to stay, also for political analysis... Anders Mjåset Håkon Haugli Merete Nygaard Ingar S. Bentsen Marit Rødevand Adam Scheuring Johan Brand, FRSA Kristian Jul Røsjø Anne Solhaug Tutar Vegard Aakre Vik Jon Kåre Stene Karl-Christian Agerup Karl Munthe-Kaas Karen Dolva Odd Skarheim Per Christian Goller Cecilie T. Myrseth Linda Hofstad Helleland Alfred Bjørlo Ingrid Liland Leo A Grunfeld Jarand Rystad

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So far we've received pitches from >30 countries - from Vietnam to Sweden, from Kenya to Luxembourg - and we have one more week to go! Last call for all marketplace startup founders as the applications for our €1M The Marketplace Conference Award will close Friday, 02.08.24 at midnight! Why apply (here in 5 min: https://lnkd.in/dbPGhBiP)? ▶ You compete for a €1M investment by Speedinvest, DFF (Dutch Founders Fund) and FJ Labs and legal support by VOY ▶ Get a free ticket to the conference if you make it to the Top 50 and pitch in front of more than 500 marketplace experts, investors and founders on stage in Berlin if you make it to the Top 10 ▶ Get access to generous perk packages from HubSpot, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Notion and Deel to kickstart your journey ▶ Become part of a startup community in love with network effects, marketplaces and create lots of visibility for your own mission PS: And as it is our first edition, we can only imagine how the winners will look like on stage - we promise a real picture for next year 😉

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Founders, Don’t miss our upcoming webinar with TroopHR - “How to Beat a FAANG Offer” where you’ll get actionable insights on making competitive offers and mastering negotiation tactics from Laura Terheyden (ex-Airbnb), Rockman Ha (ex-Patreon), and more. Prepare to up your recruitment game and win over your top candidates! Sign up link below.

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Lots of good discussions at the Zero One Hundred Conferences (PE & VC Platform) in Amsterdam these days. Some topics in focus: - a common frustration across the continent is the lack of risk apetite in the form of 2.5x smaller rounds than in US and the ones doing them accepting only commercial and no technological risk for example in the case of DeepTech series B and above rounds - a regional initiative supported by the organizers and The Recursive team to shine more light and make more attractive the CEE ecosystem to western LPs - Q1 2024 is unfolding a significantly positive trend and is boosting confidence on a comeback of the industry #startupventures #rocax

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