Jean-Rémi Kouchakji

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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in French :) https://lnkd.in/e7W5Hu6T #capitalraising #startups #fundraising #founders #venturecapital #investors #vc #vcfunding #technology #startup #tech

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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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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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More prizes for the #1 Impact Startup Awards… Discover them now! 👇 What if we could offer square meters? I recently met the right partner for all startups out there: “We create steady square meters for entrepreneurs to shake things up” - Quoting Alexandre Ponchon and Axel Kuborn - co-founders Silversquare. In a fast-changing world, companies and individuals alike are rethinking their use of space and time, seeking more efficiency and flexibility, while preserving a sense of community and togetherness. Silversquare was born from this state of mind. Aware that the workspaces of tomorrow will be the cornerstone of new lifestyles, we provide state-of-the-art coworking venues to meet every need and every dream. I’m happy to announce the Silversquare prizes of the future #1 Belgium Impact Startup Awards winners. All Prizes are valid for 12 months in the 12 Silversquare spaces across Belgium 🇧🇪 and Luxembourg 🇱🇺: 🥇 1 FREE event in collaboration & hosted at Silversquare + 10 day passes. 🥈 10 day passes.  🥉 5 day passes. + 🏅 Special B2B Prize: 2 FREE FLEX memberships. 🏅 Special B2C Prize: 2 FREE FLEX memberships. Are you an impact #startup or #scaleup? Apply now! https://lnkd.in/gDxeth_C Apply with a 10-slide pitch to make a lasting impact! Let's scale 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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2 years ago, I met Antoine Freysz for a discussion to join one of the startups he was advising as CMO. I ended up not chosing the job, for a variety of reasons, including for starting what eventually became Hirondo. Now I’m a CEO, not (only) a CMO. But regardless of the position I hold, I often remember our discussion and his insights for leaders hiring quality candidates. Here are some of his key principles: ⌚ Spend time doing it. 5% to 10% of your time is too little. Spend 20% to 30% of your time networking, interviewing, selecting & onboarding top talent. 🕰 Never stop doing it. Hiring is an endless game, it is a constant state-of-mind of identifying top talent, attracting and closing it. You must be a people-lover to be happy with it. 🗺 Start with the plan. Don’t start the hiring process with a job description, start with strategy. Especially for senior hires, you must find the right person to reach a goal, not to fill an empty spot. Align with your co-founders or investors if necessary. 🔎 Look inside first. Hire externally if you don’t have the right resources in-house. The A-players often (not always) come from internal promotion of top talent. 🤝 Get external support. Use the services of a head-hunting firm or platform for tough jobs or unknown territories, they will help you with it. But don’t delegate all of it, stay involved. For more, listen to - or watch - César Mourot’s excellent Les Péripates masterclass about hiring a-players: https://lnkd.in/ePVBEc2g For more about hiring in marketing, wait for the upcoming TechMarketingLeaders book about marketing, including 2 chapters about building killer teams, written by Camille Moreau, Leslie Tedgui, Joel Gaudeul & Geoffrey Vion 📚

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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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Boom 💥🚀, here is the 3rd edition of the #Fintech100, available for all free and open source, 🙏 thanks to Finance Innovation, Groupe BPCE and Sopra Steria, at the initiative of Truffle Capital, with the support of Marina Ferrari SECRETARIAT D'ETAT CHARGE DU NUMERIQUE. Despite harsh fundraising conditions #Fintechs grow 📈35% year on year, gain market share, internationalize (68%, primarily 🇪🇺), consolidate, focus on B2B (72%), and invest massively in AI 🧠. Watch them out: 10 years from now #fintechs will account for 20% of the financial sector (incl. banks, insurance, asset management). 👍🙏Thank you so much so much to the great team 👏👊behind the #Fintech100, Maximilien Nayaradou, Stéphane Hannache, Bruno CAMBOUNET, Qianwen ZHAO, Paul Bouscaud, Pierre-Yves Platini and Fabien MONSALLIER. for your commitment and dedication over the past 3 months and the great work you’ve produced, for the benefit of the community. 🍾 Congratulations to the top 100 fintechs in 🇫🇷, 39 of which are new, and also to all the others (getting close!) 🏆

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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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Inspired by recent posts like the one by Sebastien Douville, companies like AISDR and Artisan have raised over $40M in seed investments, aiming to automate the outbound sales process. But what can they do it? In my opinion, AI still has a long way to go before it can effectively replace humans in outbound outreach, especially in the more intricate process of deal sourcing. I don't see that happening anytime soon.   Most companies using AI SDRs will burn through their market quickly, generating some leads, but it’s not a sustainable strategy. Business owners are receiving more cold emails than ever—almost 2x what they were 18 months ago. As AI-driven outreach increases, inboxes become more crowded, making it harder to stand out, so it is likely to affect everyone relying on cold email to generate opportunities. Kyle Coleman produces great content around this. AI works best when it’s used within strict boundaries, automating single tasks to free up time for your team. The more complex the task you ask it to complete, the less reliable it becomes. This is particularly true in deal sourcing, where you often have a limited and niche pool of potential targets. Here, human knowledge is irreplaceable. Building trust and closing deals requires relationships, creativity, and strategic thinking. Rather than replacing your team, AI should enhance what they do. It’s a tool to boost efficiency and allow your team to focus on the parts of the process that require human insight and expertise. As outreach continues to become more saturated, balancing automation with human insight will be essential. What are your thoughts on how AI and automation will impact your business?

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Industrial Startup Studio OSS Ventures Raises €8.5M #OSSVentures, a Paris-based industrial #startup studio, has successfully raised €8.5 million in its latest funding round. This funding was led by Tikehau Capital, France 2030’s French Tech Accélération 2 fund (Bpifrance), Etablissements Peugeot Frères, and business angels including Max Pog. With this new capital, OSS Ventures has now amassed a total of €11 million. Founded by Renan Devillieres, OSS Ventures partners with industrial companies to enhance productivity, improve product quality, and address the climate crisis. The studio works closely with industries, visiting sites weekly to identify challenges and develop co-created solutions. They recruit founders and co-build startups, investing €300K to €500K for a 25-30% equity stake, and provide comprehensive support through all growth stages. Since its inception in late 2019, OSS Ventures has launched 15 startups and invested in four additional projects. Their innovative solutions are currently used by over 40,000 operators monthly across nearly 2,000 industrial sites worldwide, with a significant presence in France, Europe, and the US. The 19 startups under OSS Ventures' umbrella generate a collective annual recurring revenue (ARR) of €25 million. With the new funding, OSS Ventures aims to establish five startups annually, focusing on expansion in Europe and the US, and targeting significant international clientele by 2027. This strategic move not only positions OSS Ventures as a key player in industrial innovation but also underscores the growing importance of tech-driven solutions in enhancing industrial operations and addressing global challenges. Want to stay up to date with the market? Here my newsletter: - Linkedin: https://lnkd.in/d4h8zqKA  - Substack: https://lnkd.in/dzfGJzmW

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How #Google slow down the emergence of young startups by closing their Google Play Developer Accounts ? On May 20, 2024, we proudly launched KryptaPay P2P on the Play Store after more than two years of hard work with a dedicated team. In just one month, we achieved over 300 downloads and initiated an intensive marketing campaign to boost our visibility. The sense of accomplishment was immense, but our joy was short-lived. On June 20, around 5 a.m., I woke up to a #surprising email. Google had closed our account, and our app was no longer accessible online for reasons unknown. #Panic set in, both for us and our users who couldn't access their accounts or personal information. In a state of panic, I woke up the technical team and established a crisis cell. Our first solution was to redirect downloads to our website to maintain user communication, and the second was to appeal this closure. Unfortunately, we received no resolution or attention. Research revealed that many others faced similar situations without success or recourse. How can #Google shut down the accounts and applications of young entrepreneurs without warning or an opportunity to explain? How can they easily deal a blow and cause financial losses to startups that painstakingly build solutions through applications? Google, we need your attention. Please help us share and raise awareness so that KryptaPay can regain its accounts and reinstate its application. And if any assistance is possible, we'd greatly appreciate it. The KRYPTAPAY Team Google Google for Developers Google Pay Google Operations Center we need our account 👏🏽 Loïc-Yvan Ayémou BS, CSC, MS Gédéon LALEMI STATION F Cedrick AHOUANGANSI #RestoreOurDevAccounts.

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The new edition of 🇫🇷 French Tech Updates is here with everything you need to know this week including: 🚀 A new accelerator program at STATION F 💶 Startups who raised €296 million 👩‍💻 Interesting job opportunities with French startups 📆 Upcoming startup and VC events Read the full update here 👉 https://lnkd.in/eTMUZiDy #frenchtech #startups #venturecapital

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Yesterday, at H-Nat Summit, I had the pleasure to be part of the panel about the challenges of financing the nascent industry of natural hydrogen with private money. 👉 What is the state of funding ? 👉 Who are the investors entering the market ? 👉 What are the lessons learned from fundraising ? 👉 What is the investors view on natural hydrogen ? It was an honor to share the floor with Vincent Bordmann, Nicolas PELISSIER, Antoine FORCINAL, P. Eng. and Nicolas Piau, under the great moderation of Morten Stahl. My conclusion was nothing else than my deep conviction : to make this natural hydrogen revolution a reality, we must all work closely together. Strong cooperation and high ambition must guide pioneering explorers and visionary investors in the same direction. Hydrogen revolution is in the earth 🌍

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pretty interesting! As this states very hard to find a seed round over $10 million yet this one came in at $220 million! Reading the article You can kind of get the idea why. Basically a who's who in AI research. What I found interesting is that in addition to Charles Cantor heading things up, they had some high level researchers Karl Tuyls and Julien Perolat that focus on game theory. I find this interesting because I'm going through a course from deeplearning.ai called multi AI agent systems. they just put it out last week but it's pretty relevant. I see how game theory can definitely be crucial in developing and designing these AI automation agents. there are many facets that game theory can be utilized in building these systems including 1 Strategic decision making Can help in multi agent (AI/and or human) environments. Game theory can provide a framework to help model interactions, predict outcomes and devise strategies. It can also help in understanding when agents should compete or cooperate, making more efficient decision making processes. 2 Optimizing interactions It can assist in optimal resource allocation among competing agents ensuring fairness as well as efficiency. It can also help with negotiation and bargaining to maximize utility. 3 Learning an adaptation Game theory can help with reinforcement learning which is used in many AI algorithms, helping to learn optimal policies in cooperative and competitive settings. It can also help with behavior prediction and understanding strategic behavior of other agents, which can lead to better models enhancing the performance of the system. 4 Handling uncertainty Game theory can help in making informed decisions in environments with incomplete data or information. This is common in real world scenarios. It can also help design robust strategies that perform well under various conditions. 5 Building ethical and fairness into AI Game theory can help design mechanisms that ensure fair outcomes, essential for deployment of ethical AI systems. It can also help in preventing exploitation by malicious entities. So it seems that incorporating game theory into developing these systems leads to significant competitive advantages. I think it is very smart to leverage these techniques and cutting edge research to push the envelope. Looking forward to diving deeper into this as well as seeing what H comes up with in the near future!

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🚨 𝙅𝙐𝙎𝙏 𝙄𝙉: Spendesk, the complete spend management platform for mid-sized businesses, has officially launched Spendesk Financial Services, its payment institution: With Spendesk Financial Services, Spendesk has transitioned from being ‘just’ a spend management platform to also having its own separate payment institution and platform, licensed by the Autorité de contrôle prudentiel et de résolution (ACPR) in France. Regulated by the ACPR (Autorité de contrôle prudentiel et de résolution), and including a strategic collaboration with VISA, Spendesk Financial Services enables the company to deliver innovative and secure payment solutions to its clients across France and the European Union. To develop its payment institution, Spendesk partnered with leading industry players, becoming a principal member of the Visa network for card issuing. “The autonomy enabled by Spendesk Financial Services allows us to continue innovating while providing clients with enhanced security and simplified management. Our goal is to become the standard for payment at work in Europe and this launch is a crucial step forward. Spendesk Financial Services, in strategic collaboration with VISA,enables us to control the entire payment chain and unlock new innovation," comments Axel Demazy, CEO of Spendesk. With Spendesk Financial Services, Spendesk now has end-to-end control over its payment services infrastructure. The company offers its 5,000 client businesses, representing more than 200,000 users across Europe, a fully integrated spend management solution. Source/more info: https://lnkd.in/eSe7PP6v Also more info in this video where Stephane D., CEO of Spendesk Financial Services, and Thomas Douchez, Director of Business Development France, Belgium & Luxembourg at Visa, introduced the launch of Spendesk Financial Services, their own licensed payment institution: https://lnkd.in/eQtVA67v Find this helpful? [ 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘁 ] Anything to add about this subject? [𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁] Nice story, Marcel. Next! [ 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 ]

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