Maurits Stuyver

We recently touched on how to pick the best European country to incorporate your startup. To continue that discussion, I’d like to tell you about a few European countries that offer residence permits through their Startup Visa programs. Here are some worth considering: 🇳🇱 1. Netherlands: Their program grants a one-year residence permit to startup founders, with the option to extend it later as a self-employed. To qualify, you need an innovative business plan and must work with a recognized facilitator, like a business incubator. I'll share some details with you later. 🇪🇪 2. Estonia: The Startup Visa allows entrepreneurs to develop their projects and hire foreign workers. To be eligible, your startup should show a high level of innovation and growth potential. 🇫🇮 3. Finland: They offer a Start-up Permit for foreign entrepreneurs, allowing them to work in Finland while building innovative projects. The application is assessed based on your business plan and growth potential. 🇵🇹 4. Portugal: With the Startup Visa program, founders get a residence permit to grow their projects in Portugal. Your project needs to be innovative and have the potential to create jobs. 🇪🇸 5. Spain: Spain’s "Entrepreneur Visa" program offers a residence permit for startup founders. Your startup should contribute to the country’s economy and be innovative. 🇫🇷 6. France: The French Tech Visa program is designed for startup founders, investors, and employees of tech companies. To qualify, you’ll need an innovative business plan and approval from the French Tech program. 🇱🇹 7. Lithuania: Lithuania’s Startup Visa is available for entrepreneurs looking to launch their innovative business in the country. You need to demonstrate both growth potential and an innovative business model. 🇮🇪 8. Ireland: The "Start-up Entrepreneur Programme" offers a residence permit to those who plan to invest in innovative business projects in Ireland. These are just a few countries with similar programs. Each has its own requirements for both the applicant and the startup, so be sure to do your research before applying. In my next post, I’ll dive into more countries offering these types of programs. If you have specific questions, feel free to ask in the comments! #venturecapital #startups #innovation #technology #founders #immigration #startupvisa

6

1 commentaar

Some of my takeaway from the #DPWAmsterdam; Honestly, even being miles away I could feel the energy and vibe from the event. Great event ! 1. For startups: a) For a VC to trust your company, build a company survival plan for next 3- 4 years b) Avoid those distractions from the big logo. I am hearing it second time in this week. One from my network and from Eva Arh from 3VC. 2. Is SaaS overshadowing AI or is it going to co-exist? Another conversation with Spencer Penn from LightSource also mentioned about SaaS vs Agentic workflows - Something to ponder about for us Procurie 3. Great potential for products to solve the pain points/challenges in the direct procurement area. There are so many problems to solve in this area - I agree to it. 4. The one I loved the most, use technology to make your process simpler and spend that time in making your employees learn your core business. 5. Finding the sweet spot/comfort zone for personal development. 6. Lastly, The talk from Jason Busch about data asset was eye opening. What are some of your key takeaways? Keen to know. #DPWAmsterdam #Procurie #LearningsfromDPW #procurement

15

𝗜'𝗺 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮 𝘄𝗲𝗯𝟯 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗽 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁'𝘀 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘁-𝗠𝗩𝗣, 𝗽𝗿𝗲-𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘂𝗲, 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗮𝘁 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗵𝗼’𝘀 𝗮𝗹𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝗲𝘅𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱. 𝗜𝗱𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆, 𝗮𝘁 𝗽𝗿𝗲-𝘀𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗮 𝘃𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 £𝟱 𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻 If only ChatGPT could show me startups raising funds that matched this exact search. Luckily, Chainvest can. For investors: Imagine describing your ideal startupand having a variety appear. Chainvest’s AI-driven platform makes that a reality. Finding the right startup shouldn’t feel like finding a needle in a haystack. For founders: Forget endless cold emails and repetitive pitches. With Chainvest, the right investors will find you. Real connections, no guesswork. We’re launching soon. Investors and founders—join our waitlist at www.chainvest.io Tag a founder who needs a better way to connect with investors. Sam Simpson Ekaterina Manoilenko, MBA Jan McGinley Cait Pilkington Ricardo Pascual Duc Zambrini Vasily Alekseenko Kristina Pereckaite David Levine Samuel Izzard Ed Prior

49

6 commentaren

Understanding the Rule of X for SaaS Scaleups For SaaS scaleups, the Rule of X offers a straightforward framework to estimate revenue multiples. It was originally developed by Bessemer Venture Partners and supplemented with data last week by Dealroom founder Yoram Wijngaarde. It emphasizes that growth significantly outweighs profitability, even amid VC crunches. However, when growth is constrained, profitability becomes essential. Framework Overview: The Rule of X combines growth rate and free cash flow (FCF) margin to evaluate company value, using a multiplier (typically 2-3x) on growth. Datadog Example: With a 25% growth rate and a 25% EBITDA margin, Datadog achieves a Rule of X score of 100%, implying a 15x revenue multiple for 2024. Importance of Growth: Growth has a compounding impact on valuation, significantly outweighing FCF margins. Subscribe to ‘Siliconnector’ Telegram channel for insights and news from Tech world and Silicon Valley: https://t.me/siliconnector

9

2 commentaren

Congratulations and many thanks for this work First Momentum Ventures, Dr. Maximilian Ochs, David Meiborg, Lena Späth, Reinhardt Karpenko ! Tach2yone GmbH as a Growth Equity investor in the Green Energy Transition and related areas is looking to invest in more mature Deep Tech companies (Series B and later). One of our most important investment criterion is (positive) EBITDA: we believe, that in industries with high CapEx, EBITDA is useful because it eliminates the distortions caused by significant depreciation and amortization expenses, providing a clearer view of operational profitability. Thus, EBITDA is an essential tool for us to assess a company’s core profitability and financial health. First Momentum Ventures and community: what are your thoughts on this approach and would you consider to take also EBITDA into your napkin for later stage companies?

1

All founders and only 1 problem! Just one! ‌ Last week, I sat down with several startup founders. Their biggest challenge? Sales and growth. ‌ ✨Despite their hard work, their products weren't selling as expected. The main takeaway was clear: knowing your audience is crucial. ‌ ‌ As a founder, it’s natural to focus on your product. But, understanding your audience is even more important. Your customers decide if your product succeeds or fails. ‌ Ask yourself Why would customers buy or refuse our product? Understanding this helps you improve your approach. ‌ ‌ 👂🏻 Listen Actively- Talk to your customers. Use surveys and feedback forms. Find out their needs and concerns. ‌ 🧑🏻‍💻 Analyze Data- Look at customer data. Track their behavior and preferences. Identify patterns in their decisions. ‌ 🗺️ Customer Journey Mapping- Map out the customer journey. See every step from discovery to purchase. The spot where they hesitate or buy. ‌ 🧪 A/B Testing- Test different marketing messages and features. See which ones work best for your audience. ‌ 🔁 Feedback Loop- Continuously collect and use customer feedback. Improve your product and marketing strategies based on this. ‌ ‌ Knowing your audience is not just about research. It’s about building a relationship. ‌ A customer-centric approach boosts sales and fosters long-term growth. Let’s shift our focus from just the product to also understanding our customers. ‌ Comment tips on getting to know your audience Follow Sanjay Pekam for such more updates

17

4 commentaren

Today, I want to share some thoughts on a statement I heard at the TNW conference in Amsterdam last month. During a panel discussion with venture fund founders from the Netherlands and other parts of Europe, one participant mentioned, "Ego doesn't scale." This came up while discussing which startup founders can attract venture capital and what kind of founders venture funds are willing to invest in. The panel covered various topics, including the educational background of startup founders, their career histories—whether they should be conventional or not to get investments—and the founder's personality. One panelist pointed out that while founders can have different personalities and character traits, venture capitalists are wary of those with big egos. Such egos can prevent founders from spotting problems or opportunities in their startups in time and can hinder the team and the startup's mission more than anything else. I've thought a lot about this statement because, especially in the early years, a startup's success heavily depends on the founder's personality. Positive traits for a founder include coachability—being able to take and implement advice—and having the right attitude. A founder shouldn't suffer from imposter syndrome; their fear of starting should not outweigh their desire to launch their business. Passion for the startup idea is crucial, as this passion drives the company's development in the early stages. A founder must also juggle multiple tasks, roles, and responsibilities, especially in the pre-seed and seed stages. What are your thoughts on this? What other traits do you think help or hinder a founder's chances of building a successful business? #StartupSuccess #FounderMindset #VentureCapital #Entrepreneurship #Leadership #VCInsights

8

2 commentaren

🚀 Entrepreneurial Insight: Build a Painkiller, Not a Vitamin 🚀 One of the key lessons I shared in my recent keynote speech at the University of the Witwatersrand was all about focusing on solving real problems. Here’s why it’s crucial: 🔍 Painkillers vs. Vitamins: In the world of startups, your product or service should address a pressing need—a "pain" for your customers. A painkiller provides immediate relief, while a vitamin is a nice-to-have but not essential. 💡 Why It Matters: When you solve a significant problem, you create real value and a strong demand for your solution. This approach not only drives growth but also ensures you’re meeting a genuine need in the market. 🔥 Actionable Tip: Always ask yourself, “What problem am I solving?” Make sure your solution is indispensable, not just an enhancement. Stay tuned for more insights from my keynote! For a deeper dive into this and other key lessons, check out the full video https://lnkd.in/d34JfAFY ! #Entrepreneurship #Startups #Innovation #BusinessAdvice #PainkillerNotVitamin

10

2 commentaren

Startup founders often get negotiation wrong. Winning sustainably means mimicking a successful poker player, and treating (and respecting) your opponent like The House. You can't position yourself too strongly. Opening an investor conversation with 'We're oversubscribed' or a sales conversation with pricing that is completely out of whack with expectations will almost always result in the other party walking away early. The House will shut you out. What I'm saying is, the goal isn't to win 6-0. The goal is to win 6-5. It seems counterintuitive, but you need to concede points to win. Case in point: The ideal first investor call might start with you pitching your startup and justifying your worth. You're on the back foot; 1-0 to the investor. But perhaps you then ask if it's OK to leave a minute early, as you've bunched your investor calls into the next few days and you'd like a breather before the next one. 1-1. It's a dance until the end. If done well, you leave the call in an advantageous position, whilst your opponent is left feeling respected and as though it was a fair fight. If done perfectly, you earn admiration. Paradoxically, your opponent actually wants you to win. #negotiation #startup

23

3 commentaren

We have been advising B2B SaaS companies on how to leverage community-led growth for over a year now. Those companies are tapping into the power of community to drive serious growth. They're winning trust, loyalty and priceless user insights. Five examples of companies who are killing it: 1. Notion - This workspace app has over 100K members in their buzzing online community. They get users involved in product development, creating a real sense of ownership. 2. Figma - The design platform brings its community together through virtual events, workshops and hackathons. Designers get to connect, upskill and directly shape the tool. 3. Personio - The HR tech firm takes community offline with regular meetups for HR pros to network and share know-how on the future of the industry. 4. Miro - Over 35 million whiteboard wizards make up this online community. Forums, user groups and events help members collaborate and innovate together. 5. Airtable - This spreadsheet-database hybrid harnesses its community's knowledge through forums, templates and integrations created by users themselves. Want to dive deeper into this community-led growth movement? Don't miss "The Power of Community in B2B SaaS" at the Personio office in Amsterdam on May 22nd. We'll have Julia Pilkes (HubSpot), Koen Stam (Personio) and Lorenzo Tiberi (Crono) breaking it down while you network with other community builders from the best sales and marketing teams in tech. Spots are limited: https://lnkd.in/eP8D3ymM

52

6 commentaren

I haven't (really) posted on LinkedIn for 5 months. So I thought Let's introduce myself. 👇 I’m Sven, 44, from Amsterdam, living in Asia. • I'm an investor & dealmaker • co-pilot to 6 & 7 figure founders • seeking to Fast track Growth Funding & Acquisitions. • track record of 300+ clients | US$240m transactions 𝟭𝟮 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗯𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗺𝗲 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗠𝗲 𝗮𝘀 𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁: → Shut up & Listen. It solves 50% of your problems 𝗠𝗲 𝗮𝘀 𝗗𝟮𝗗 𝘁𝗼 𝗦𝗮𝗹𝗲𝘀𝗺𝗮𝗻: → Sales highlight problems. You're the cure to better futures 𝗠𝗲 𝗮𝘀 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗢𝗿𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘇𝗲𝗿: → Great Experiences create loyalty. Incorporate them. 𝗠𝗲 𝗮𝘀 𝟳-𝗙𝗶𝗴𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗖𝗘𝗢: → Just build what the market wants. Nothing else. 𝗠𝗲 𝗮𝘀 𝗘-𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗲: → Engineer your AOV to beat CAC. Win by maxing CLV 𝗠𝗲 𝗮𝘀 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗲𝗳 𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗢𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗲𝗿: → Maintain investor relationships to fund any opportunity at hand 𝗠𝗲 𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗮𝗻𝗸𝗲𝗿: → Deals need "airtime". Close investors with worst-case scenarios 𝗠𝗲 𝗮𝘀 𝗠&𝗔 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁: → Work your deal around what the seller wants, you get there. 𝗠𝗲 𝗮𝘀 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘁𝘆 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿: → Build Big vs Small. Same process. Easier to Fund. 𝗠𝗲 𝗮𝘀 𝗳𝗶𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 (𝘀𝗼𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝗛𝘂𝘀𝗯𝗮𝗻𝗱): → Your partner is key to achieving anything—invest in a balance 𝗠𝗲 𝗮𝘀  𝗗𝗼𝗴 𝗼𝘄𝗻𝗲𝗿: → Teach morning routines and what unconditional love means. Get one 𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗱: → Create circles that help you thrive. Kick out those to make you survive. And that's 50^of it! ------------------------- 𝗧𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆 👉 I help founders raise capital smarter & faster To fund Growth & Acquisitions as fast as 60-90 days 𝙎𝙤 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 (𝙤𝙧 𝙖 𝙛𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙙) 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙧𝙖𝙞𝙨𝙚 → 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙤𝙩 𝙢𝙚 𝙖 𝘿𝙈 :) ------------------------- Look forward to connect with everyone! Questions about insights? Comment below 𝗣𝗦 - 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗼: 𝗢𝗡𝗘 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗯𝘆?

14

3 commentaren

🚀 'Skypointer offers one-stop shop for family offices that want to access VC' 🌟 Your next game-changer is here! 🌱 Calling all investors and founders: Dive into actionable insights, groundbreaking ideas, and strategies to take your journey to the next level. 👉 Read it now: https://lnkd.in/egK_tTpA ✨ Skypointer Capital last month announced a final close on $30 million for its debut fund, but the Miami-based firm has been deploying capital since its first close in 2022. That includes commitments as a fund of funds to 10 other venture funds across the US, Europe and Latin America of roughly $1.5 million each. The […] Don’t miss out on this must-read for leveling up in the world of startups and investment. Let’s innovate, grow, and succeed together! #Leadership #Innovation #Startups #Entrepreneurship #Founders #Investors #Growth #Strategy #Success

1

Read more on the 9 biggest startup mistakes and key takeaways from female entrepreneurs in the article below ⬇🌟 https://lnkd.in/egQrbh8N

17

If everybody goes after bigger clients, what about the small ones.. Arnaud Belinga 🧊🔨 from Breakcold is doing the opposite of 'what you should do' as a founder. They set out and entered one of the most competitive markets - CRM - and succeeded. We talked about: 🚣‍♂️ How to break into an extremely competitive market (CRM) 🚣‍♂️ Don’t create your own market, enter one with a crystal clear niche 🚣‍♂️ Bootstrapping a lean startup (PS. Skip the seed stage) 🚣‍♂️ Look at competitors and do the opposite, cuz food is left on the table 🚣‍♂️ 2 advice on creating good content: Write like you talk & use your own images Available where you listen to pods and watch videos. Search for Hot SaaS or climb the linktree in my profile #HotSaaS 🌶🚀

12

3 commentaren

Startups are not uinque in regards to their probability of success. Sometimes people say that VCs invest in startups knowing that only 1 in 10 will be successful. And it’s talked about as if it’s a bad thing. How is that different than other ambitious paths in life? Football players, junior clubs are full of young ambitious players who will mostly fail to rise into the next category and reach the World Cup. Artists, lots of them will draw amazing art and yet only a handful of them will become world renowned and sell paintings in the millions. Car drivers, million or billions drive cars around the world. Yet only a few hundred race at the formula one each year. Statistically the probability of someone reaching the top of their profession is very very low. But with the right team, coach, sponsor and ecosystem the chances are raised immensely. And if the experience of going through the struggle was a great one, that’s what matters at the end.

73

9 commentaren

We invest in B2B companies only at Founder and Lightning Capital. 'Why not B2C?' you ask. Because building tech companies is hard ! ...and our job is to de-risk that for the Founders we work with, ourselves and our investors. The best way we've found to do that is by investing in and helping build B2B companies. B2B means: 1) It's easier to raise money, and acquire customers. The founder can do a lot of the selling early on, and are less reliant on digital marketing channels. 2) It's easier for Founders to prove model offline and build "real businesses"- a big part of our thesis. 3) More loyal customers, with bigger budgets. Scaling a B2C audience is really difficult, especially in this environment. #investment #venturestudio #b2bstartups

54

14 commentaren

I believe language can be the barrier keeping your business small, especially for start-ups and e-commerce companies. You wouldn’t go to Albert Heijn expecting to be spoken to in Italian, right? 😬 Sure, you can auto translate your website, but you can’t automatically translate the way you connect with customers. In today’s connected world, offering support in multiple languages isn’t just a nice-to-have; it’s essential 🏆 Imagine losing a sale because your customer couldn’t get help in their native language or receiving a 1-star review because your after-sales support was in Spanish instead of Dutch. That’s why multilingual support, especially Dutch, is a game changer for businesses looking to expand globally. It’s not just about “having” it; it’s about being intentional, understanding your market and knowing which languages will make the most impact. Many businesses miss this, and that’s where they fall short. #MultilingualSupport #CustomerService #BusinessExpansion

31

If I had known about this when I founded my first startup, the ride would have been quite different (this isn’t an empty hook 😉). As a first-time founder, you naturally look up to VC partners and experienced entrepreneurs for advice. You hear, “hire the best talent,” but reality often clashes with that ideal. Due to a lack of resources and network, you often find yourself making sub-optimal decisions in critical areas like Finance or HR, and diverting your “learning focus” away from the most important aspects at an early stage - Matías Tini shared a good post about it last week. In our case, we turned to external advisors, but it didn’t yield the expected results. Few startups seem to benefit from these deals in the early stage. We delayed too long in hiring experienced leaders in key areas like Finance, Logistics, and HR—and we paid the price. So, what would I have done differently? If I had known about it, I would have embraced Fractional leadership early on —seasoned professionals bringing strategic guidance part-time, allowing startups to tap into top-tier talent at a fraction of the cost—. This model supports not just decision-making but team-leading, implementation, and access to invaluable networks. The Fractional concept, while well-known among VC’s and startup founders in the US, is still expanding globally. Leaders like Karina Mikhli with Fractionals United - on a global scale- and Pedro Marín Campero with Landa Club - on a Latam level- are pushing this model forward, but there’s still more potential. I believe it’s important to build awareness around the benefits of Fractional leadership as a more inclusive and accessible entrepreneurial ecosystem is possible. If you think your company—or one in your portfolio—could benefit from this approach, I’d love to connect and help  🚀🌍✨ #innovation #technology #productivity #startup

46

7 commentaren