Fabrice K.

You wanna know how startup funding is going on right now in Belgium 🇧🇪 ? 🔮 I shared with Maxime SAMAIN (L'Echo) my point of view on that matter. 🦄 < >🐌 Article here: https://lnkd.in/e9qbCKKX Discover my take on the situation in 4 points: 1️⃣ More experienced 🐼 Belgium's startup scene boomed around 2015. These early-stage investors, the Business Angels, have gained experience through their investments made between 2015 and 2020. This newfound expertise makes them more rigorous in their analysis and more demanding of startups, ultimately limiting funding for a select few. 2️⃣ Investment shift ↩ The 2022 inflation surge reshaped investor mindsets and expectations. This trend solidified in 2023, becoming the "new normal." Consequently, 2024 witnessed a significant decline in funding for startups lacking a clear path to profitability. 3️⃣ Cycle ♻ The pre-pandemic boom in startups (around 2020) is now experiencing its first wave of bankruptcies. This has understandably shaken some Business Angels' confidence. While this cycle is natural, fear currently dominates investment decisions for many. 4️⃣ Post trauma 🤕 We are in a “post trauma” period. The above elements are making Business Angels much more risk averse. To restore confidence, we need to see successful Belgian 🇧🇪 startups emerge. Thankfully, time can be a healer, and some inspiring success stories 💪 are likely unfolding even as you browse this tremendous LinkedIn post 😜. Let's scale it up! 👏 #startups #scaleups #buildingbridges

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📰 Proud of the incredible impact of the “Spendesk Mafia” on the startup ecosystem! This article by Les Echos highlights how our journey at Spendesk has paved the way for over a dozen groundbreaking startups, including my latest venture, Better Call. At Spendesk, we experienced hypergrowth, relentless innovation, and a culture of excellence. These experiences honed our skills and ignited our entrepreneurial spirit, leading us to launch ventures that transform industries. Better Call embodies these lessons, providing urgent expertise solutions that businesses need to thrive. Here are some stellar startups born from this adventure: • The Mobile-First Company (2022, France) - Co-founded by Jérémy Goillot • Cargo (YC S23) 🧱 (2023, USA) - Co-founded by Maxence de Villepion 🧱 and Aurelien Aubert 🧱 • Ceamless (2024, Germany) - Founded by Deniz Can Sebik • Defacto (2021, France) - Co-founded by Morgan O'hana and Jordane Giuly • Highcast (2021, France) - Founded by Vivien Robert • Hyperline (2022, France) - Co-founded by Lucas Bédout and Clément Garbay • Kulipa (2023, France) - Co-founded by Karl V. and Axel Cateland • m.ai club (2023, France) - Co-founded by Nicolas Marchais and Guillaume L. • Mithril (2023, France) - Founded by Kevin Bonte • næctar (2023, Denmark) - Founded by Andrea Karan, a breakthrough I’m proud to be part of this vibrant community, helping launch transformative businesses driven by Spendesk’s entrepreneurial spirit. 📖 Full article in the comments

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‘Le Chat’ ‘la platform’ Mistral AI artificial intelligence, France’s Startup Darling, Takes Aim at the US Market : Mistral's edge could come from customers that want to avoid being locked into particular cloud companies “Customers are even saying ‘Le Chat’ and ‘la platform’ It seems that the French touch is having an effect.” opportunity is huge — Bloomberg Intelligence estimated that the software and cloud market in generative AI market could reach $350 billion by 2032 : Mistral is going after OpenAI’s home turf “They do not want to be forced into an AI stack” “They want choices” Mistral released a series of AI models, which power generative AI services, and a ChatGPT-like feature called Le Chat : US manager says businesses are looking for alternatives to Big Tech : will find customers through these partners as well as via direct deals with companies using its open-source models. Open source is one of Mistral’s main selling points : the approach — where the underlying computer code is openly shared and tweakable — as a safer, more versatile method than closed systems offered by OpenAI and others : Mistral’s open-source models on-premises, with data stored in local servers instead of with public cloud providers ---- generative artificial intelligence ---

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📊​ Last month, Bpifrance released an encouraging report highlighting the significant growth of green #technologies in France in 2023. New entrepreneurs are actively contributing to the country's reindustrialization by establishing modern, less carbon-intensive companies and promoting scientific research to address the challenges of global warming. ​ 🌿​ This wave of #green entrepreneurship is accompanied by a substantial increase in #deeptech investment, paving the way for cleaner #energy solutions and sustainable industrial breakthroughs. Additionally, it is driving the creation of numerous new jobs and fostering a more eco-friendly European economy. 🌱​ The Greentech sector, at the forefront of this transformation, is tackling major challenges such as the preservation of water and biodiversity and the development of new environmentally friendly materials. 💪​ With an ambitious vision, we can revolutionize the #IT sector through disruptive innovation—an approach we have already adopted at Exaion. We've initiated this transformation with projects such as waste heat recovery and the reuse of end-of-life materials. 🇨🇦 We are leveraging research breakthroughs, particularly in Canada, in core areas such as #quantum technology, #AI integration, #blockchain, and #cybersecurity. These advancements enable us to directly support industrial projects, catalyzing innovation and sustainability across Europe and North America. 👀​ I invite you to consult the #Bpifrance report for more insights (article in French) 👉​ https://lnkd.in/eR5Wjmn4 Cc Simon Napierala - Julien Villeret - Louise Vilain - Catherine Jouny - Mathieu Bertrane - Tiphaine David (Croville) - Anthony M. - Jeanne Colombet - Laurent BERNOU-MAZARS - Christophe Rodrigues - Simon Thomas - Sébastien Pussiau - Adrien Fournillon - Emerson BAGUET - Gilles Deleuze - Joachim Simon-  Alice CHAVIGNY

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What do you need to be top quartile as a SaaS company in Europe? Sébastien Le Roy started to share the results of the Serena European SaaS benchmark during #Saastr Europa this week. Great way to quickly check whether you’re on track for a next VC round or simply what you have to improve. More results coming soon with the whole report.

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I am proud to announce the launch of CompliancR, the first software to calculate and pay eco-contributions for any company selling physical products in France. I’ve exchanged with 100s of producers and marketplaces, and since AGEC Law implementation, they share the same challenges: 1. How do we get our UIN? 2. How do we find the right products’ eco-contributions? 3. How and where do we submit our market declaration data to calculate the eco-contributions we owe? That’s what we’re solving with CompliancR. You can manage all your eco-contributions for any products you sell in France in just a few clicks. We’ve built and trained the most advanced AI model for product recognition: 1. Share your product reference and automatically get it recognized and assigned to the correct eco-contribution category. 2. Everything can be handled on CompliancR UI, from calculation to payment. 3. Designed to comply with French regulations: perfect for any business operating in or expanding to France. If you’re a marketplace or a producer and want to learn more about CompliancR, let’s chat: https://lnkd.in/ehCPJF4i

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Exciting news ! Younited is on the "Fintech 100" podium, which has just been released ! 🥇1st Fintech in France in turnover 🥉3rd Fintech in France overall (4 criteria, including turnover) 🥉3rd consecutive year in the top 4 We are honored to be recognized in this latest report published by Truffle Capital, Finance Innovation, Groupe BPCE, and Sopra Steria ranking the top fintechs in France and very proud to be leading the fintech landscape alongside our friends at Qonto and Ledger ! A big thank you to our customers and partners across Europe - your trust and collaboration fuel our continued innovation and success. Check out the full report here: www.fintech100.fr #Fintech #Innovation #Younited #Sopra Banking Software

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Building tech is all about creating real human connections 🤝 Last week, we hosted our first annual event “Chift Connect” at STATION F, bringing together 65 software companies, mainly fintechs. Our CEO Gauthier led a super insightful discussion with three of our clients (Pennylane, Axonaut, Defacto), who shared their integration strategies and feedback on Chift - One API. Their praise really gave us a boost 🤩 This event was a real milestone for the entire team. It not only reinforced our belief in what we’re building but also gave more meaning to our daily work. Sure, raising funds and signing new deals is great, but nothing beats meeting our clients in person and hearing their honest thoughts on our work. It made us realize what we’re building together and brought our team even closer 💪 Startup life is intense! But it’s also super important to take a step back and celebrate the milestones along the way. We’re proud of what we’ve accomplished so far and are even more motivated for what’s next 🚀 Who wants to join the ride ? There are still many open positions, and more are coming ! (link in comments)

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📈 What drives top-tier performance in venture capital? In the latest episode of Entretien avec un VC by Benjamin Wattinne, Serena Partner Sébastien Le Roy, author of the Serena European SaaS Benchmark, unpacks what it takes to make a venture capital fund thrive. 🧑‍💻 Sébastien began as an engineer and entrepreneur until a pivotal trip to San Francisco shifted his career towards VC. Returning to France, he joined Serena as an intern, where his passion took root, ultimately leading him to become a partner. 🎙️ Some key takeaways from this episode: ✨ VC is high-risk, high-reward. Serena’s “home run” philosophy is about backing bold and visionary founders who can multiply the fund’s size and change the landscape of their industry. By partnering with them on strategy and execution, we accelerate growth in high-stakes environments. ✨ Most VC teams typically include two operating members. At Serena, we’ve built a team of eight. This larger structure provides founders with the resources needed to streamline execution and prepare for funding rounds. Our approach, recognized by the France Digitale Operating Talent Award, reflects our commitment to going beyond capital to address founders’ evolving needs. ✨ The Serena Squad, our network of over 500 C-level executives across our portfolio, is a powerhouse for founders. This community grants their teams access to practical templates, growth-focused workshops, and direct peer support. By connecting with other leaders, founders and their teams can navigate common challenges and scale more effectively. ✨ Our focus on Applied AI and Climate Tech At Serena, we’re especially enthusiastic about two areas: ➡️ Vertical AI solutions tailored to industries like finance and manufacturing, solving complex problems at scale. ➡️ Climate Tech, with a focus on decarbonization and biodiversity.  ➡️ One of Serena's standout investments is Descartes Underwriting, which operates at the intersection of AI and climate. Descartes leverages artificial intelligence to build parametric insurance models, assessing and pricing climate risks in real time. 💡 Spotlight: Jimmy A “coup de cœur” for Sébastien, Jimmy Energy is revolutionizing industrial heat decarbonization with nuclear fission—a game-changer for emissions-heavy industries. Tune it to deep dive into the inner workings of VCs!

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A podcast with Alex Delivet on SaaS Connection has just been released 👋🏻 It was great to discuss various topics, including: - Our positioning in a competitive market - Our aim to help users build real relationships to secure winning deals - Our different acquisition channels, with wins, lessons, and failures - Some insights into our future developments Since it's a podcast dedicated to SaaS, no need to apologize for all the anglicisms and SaaS jargon 😜 https://lnkd.in/et6FiVPc

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Your VC Meeting Toolkit 🛠️: Before, During, After At my last startup, I met over 350 investors. Here are the best FREE tools that'll save you time and headaches 1️⃣ Before the meeting : -Use this fundraising CRM from Airtable https://buff.ly/4dsxlfW - To look for investors in your stage/sector: NFX signal: https://buff.ly/4dj35UG Crunchbse: https://buff.ly/4eCiL6w - To send your deck use docsend, so that you know who views it https://buff.ly/3MYvFzW - To schedule the meeting: Calendly: Calendlyy 2️⃣ During the meeting: - To record and take notes, so that you can write your follow up emailFireflies.aiai 3️⃣ After the meeting: - Use box for your data rooBoxBox - Use Mixmax for email sequencing, because VCs typically dont respond to your 1st emaMixmaxxmax

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Since 2022, the demand for AI projects has skyrocketed by over 70%, pushing businesses to the cutting edge of innovation 📈 At Malt, we're seeing more and more companies racing to embrace AI technologies and weave them into their strategies. And freelancers? They're leading the charge, pushing the limits of what's possible, and shaping talent ecosystems 👩‍💻 Read more about the growing demand for AI projects here: https://bitly.cx/jX0UF #AI #ArtificialIntelligence #Hiring

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🔍 Looking to boost your fundraising strategy or grow your business? Alexandre Dutoit is now available for exclusive advisory sessions on Coffee ! Alexandre has 15 years of experience in Private Equity and Venture Capital. At ScaleFund, he helped many startups grow and raise funds. He knows the challenges entrepreneurs face and how to overcome them! Here's what he can offer: ✔️ Growth strategy: tips to optimize your business expansion. ✔️ Fundraising: expert advice to optimize your valuation. ✔️ Strategic consulting: use his deal experience to make better decisions. ✔️ Executive coaching: improve your management and negotiation skills. ✔️ ... and much more ! 🎯 Whether you lead a startup, scale-up, or SME, Alexandre can provide valuable insights to help you reach your goals. Ready to transform your business with real, impactful advice? 📈 Book your session with Alexandre on Coffee now! 👉 https://lnkd.in/efH6WJfp

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Alarming report on generative AI and pedophiliaIn a context where technological advances are transforming our daily lives, the Fondation pour l'Enfance is today publishing a worrying report on the growing use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) by pedophiles. This document highlights the insidious dangers posed by this technology, which is now being used as a formidable weapon against children.

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 🚀 OSS Ventures Secures €8.5 Million to Propel the Future of Operations 💡 We are thrilled to announce that OSS Ventures has successfully secured €8.5 million in our latest funding round! This milestone was made possible by our esteemed investors, including Tikehau Capital, Bpifrance on behalf of French Tech Accélération 2, Etablissements Peugeot Frères, and visionary business angels like Max Pog. 🌿 At OSS Ventures, we are driven by a mission to make industrial operations not just more efficient, but also adaptive and future-ready. We envision factories where technology and human ingenuity combine to create sustainable solutions that meet the challenges of tomorrow. 🌎 Our vision extends beyond technological advancement. We're committed to transforming the very foundation of how goods are produced, addressing critical challenges like climate change and working conditions in the process.  Since our inception in 2019, we've launched 15 startups, invested in four external projects, and our innovative solutions are now empowering over 40,000 operators across nearly 2,200 industrial sites worldwide. 🔧 "Operations account for 25% of the world GDP, yet only a fraction of startup funding goes to this sector. This funding round is pivotal as we aim to scale our impact globally thanks to our esteemed investors for their confidence, » says Renan Devillieres, our CEO. 🙌 A huge thank for the trust and support of our investors and to every team member, partner, and supporter who is part of this transformative journey. #OSSVentures #Innovation #Fundraising #FutureOfManufacturing Francois Lavaste Romain FRIEDMAN Pierre GILLET Frédéric Villain Ulysse Laroche Pierre GILLET Océane Fleury Renan Devillieres

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