Gideon Carroll

Want a demo of Deal Lite? Happy to give a personal demo https://lnkd.in/erspFMm9 At Deal Lite, we capture data on funding rounds. We focus on UK technology businesses only. Here’s a snapshot of what we have captured over Monday and Tuesday of this week. Our data includes: - 4,346 venture-backed UK tech companies. - 3,920 venture capitalists who have funded them. - 1,859 business angels who have funded them. - 6,512 funding rounds We focus on giving you timely information so you can do something about it. In most cases, our customers use us as a lead generation service. We are not attempting to replace expensive databases you already subscribe to, e.g. Pitchbooks. We sit alongside them, offering you bite-sized leads and information you can act on today. Accordingly, we have priced both Deal Lite News and Deal Lite Web App to be affordable to everyone. Book demo: https://lnkd.in/erspFMm9 Deal Lite website: https://deallite.uk Deal Lite weekly deal news: https://lnkd.in/efmz5xBP #UKtech #UKTechInvestments #TechInvestments #Investments

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The most common untapped potential we see in CS & AM Teams @ B2B Software companies Mid-Market+... is how to maximise the value of long-tail customers / unmanaged tiers. With a bit of extra love these customers can frequently add several NRR% points to a company's growth - because they are: 🎯 resilient due to diverse range of vertical, geo's and business models 🎯 rarely using the full range of available products 🎯 not maximising the value of the ones they already use 🎯 likely to never have had a business discussion with an AM or CS Rep 🎯 the MOST likely to be churning due to entirely preventable reasons 🎯 the MOST likely to have been poorly onboarded and activated But there are a combination of factors that actually make it tricky for Mid Market and Enterprise Companies to cater for these lower segments (efficiently): 🔺 It's tricky to deliver dynamic, cross-system insight on each account 🔺 the CS & AM Team rarely have the capacity to address every one 🔺 or the account isn't spending enough to warrant attention (ouch!) 🔺 It can be hard to predict the impact LT initiatives will realise 🔺 responsibility lies across both product and the CS/AM team When I was at Nexmo (now Vonage) in the early days, accounts like Airbnb and (Line) LY Corporation were in these cohorts and graduated to spend millions of dollars EACH month on our APIs. 😱 And today, we talk to other market leaders (Public, Series C+ Orgs) and not one we've spoken to is truly nailing this... In the age of efficient growth, it's vital companies rectify this and get closer to these customers. With Median NRR in Public Saas at 108% the potential is meaningful. ❗ While Saas category saturation means its highly likely that one of your competitors is currently cherry-picking your high-potential long-tail customers and is actively helping them move off your product...

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We'll be answering the three BIG Value Selling questions on our webinar this week 👀 On Thursday we will be sharing the first ever Value Selling benchmarks based on research we did with Tom Pisello & April Morley from Genius Drive. Over 100 B2B tech companies participated - sharing answers to some of the biggest questions in Value Selling. You can register here: https://lnkd.in/esQaxEJj It's worth signing up even if you can't attend live as we'll be sharing the research with all those that register. Can't wait to share the results! #valueselling #customervaluemanagement #businessvalueengineering

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Who wants free access to a list of 2,000+ VC contacts investing more than $20bn into SaaS startups (early stage + growth) in 2024? We've spent more than 1 month to compile this data and make it easily searchable in our database. If you are a SaaS founder looking to raise VC money within the next 6 months, then this VC list will help you save tons of time. Get free lifetime access to the VC list here https://lnkd.in/eDTgBb7p If you know of any SaaS founders who could benefit from this list, just mention them in the comments section. If you know some really awesome VCs investing into the most promising SaaS startups, then please mention them in the comments and we will include them into the VC list. #venturecapital #startups #startupfundraising #saas #vc

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Building my software business - day 433. If you want to see what it's like: Reducing churn Running a 7-figure and 6-figure SEO businesses Finding SaaS product-market-fit Then this video might interest you. It focuses on how I gather quantitative and qualitative feedback to grow SEOSpace. Check it out below 👇 https://lnkd.in/ez52dUUH

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Our product team at SparkLayer B2B have been on an absolute roll over the last 3 months... 30+ features published in our release notes, and that excludes all the under-the-hood improvements we’re making 👀. Many of which will help lay the groundwork for some humongous updates later in the year! Here’s just a selection of what’s fresh out of SparkLayer HQ: == Frontend experience == 🎨 Product customisations: B2B customers can now add customisations to products (e.g. freeform text) 📜 Purchase history: customers can easily see their recent order history and 1-click re-order 📊 Barcode support: customers can upload orders via a CSV file just by using barcodes == Sales agent tooling == 📅 Order history: letting sales agents keep tabs of their recent orders ⚙️ Custom settings: sales agents can set custom product rules (e.g. pack sizing) 🔍 Search improvements: making it faster for sales agents to find their customers == Order workflows == 🚦 Order approvals: company roles can be set up that limit who can/can’t place orders 👀 Order visibility: customers can now see “draft” orders placed right within their account We use the word “cadence” internally to describe how we build and release, and there’s nothing more satisfying in software than reaching a rhythm within your team. And getting stuff done! Our website only scratches the surface of what SparkLayer B2B can do and what our team delivers, head over to our help docs if you want to see what our solution is capable of!

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Pump fakes vs. *actual* signal - both can be indistinguishable to a founder but produce drastically different results. Let me explain.... In venture, a 'pump fake' results in a founder building a bespoke solution for a customer under the false pretense that the solution/product has broad applicability for many customers. Customer product requests are intoxicating, especially in PMF phase, because it makes teams feel that 'we're onto something' and there's a market for our product. Pump fakes can be company-killing b/c it sends a team with limited resources down a path that ultimately becomes dead-end with little runway to pivot. Here's how you can avoid the perennial pump fake and keep pushing forward: (1) Don't just hear the customer, *listen.* Hearing is a passive and involuntary activity resulting in zero info retainment. Listening is active and voluntary process that forces you to absorb and react to information. By listening, you're able to translate customer feedback into measured actions. (2) Speak to *many* prospective customers BEFORE you start building. This helps you internalize the true hair-on-fire problem customers are facing and filters out atypical feedback not shared by a customer cohort. (3) Understand customer nuances and recognize that not all customers are created equally. When evaluating prospects, try to understand the composition of their business (team, fundraising, revenue, ICP, etc..) to triangulate why your service is needed for a particular customer. Often times, pump fakes are missed simply due to lack of customer context! https://lnkd.in/euYZ-TKk

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🚨 Funding Alert: It's the last day of October, and 2024 is slipping away faster than you think... You know it, I know it – the funding world moves at LIGHTNING speed ⚡️ Timing is everything, and opportunities vanish in the blink of an eye. If you're aiming to land a funding deal before year's end, we've got your back! 💪 At Magdalena Reith, we're offering a special Q4 deal: Book a pitch deck package before November 15th and get a FREE one-pager 🎁 Your strategic conversation starter that turns "Maybe later" into "Let's talk!" Looking to finish Q4 strong and slingshot your startup into 2025? Here's what you get in our Q4 Power Package: 🎯 Expert guidance  🎁 FREE one-pager  💼 Professional pitch deck  ⏰ Priority completion (optional) Reach out via DM or drop a comment below to learn more and lock in your package before November 15th! #StartupFunding #PitchDecks #Startups

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DOES ANYONE WANT A TICKET FOR A BORING EVENT? TicketCo delivers a rock solid platform based on a range of the best global technologies out there. We have 24/7 support, world class Service Level Agreements (SLA) with our customers and professional processes and services across the whole value chain. Our far biggest investment is our product, backed up with the professional services needed for a rock solid ticketing platform. 🎟️ Millions of tickets through our platform every year, and there is nothing funny about that. But here is what is funny… 🤩 Every ticket sold through our platform is for something fun. Who buys tickets for a boring experience? No one! That is why ticketing and the heroes in this industry needs to be more in the spotlight. Remember - They are the ones who open up the first part of the customer experience to all the fun stuff you are doing. They are a key part of the machinery that makes it all happen. People like Manal S., Georgia Bekyra, Thomas Rypens and so many others that we have had the pleasure of meeting through our podcast. So here is a shout out to all the wonderful people in ticketing who are working non stop so that you - yes you, can have wonderful experiences, share emotions with your best friends and have memories and stories to tell forever. Sports clubs have mascots and now, so does our ticketing podcast Dont forget your tickets who are boosting the category of ticketing people 🐶 Meet Booster, on this picture - Created for one purpose - To boost positive energy, boost ticket sales, boost fun and to show you that ticketing is more than just a ticket. It is something that represents the above and so much more. 🪨 We will continue to deliver a rock solid ticketing platform with all the serious features a ticketing team needs available 24/7, minute after minute one ticket at a time. But we will not forget that it is important to have fun. Neither should you and most important of all - Do not forget your tickets. 🎙️ Stay tuned for more fun from Dont Forget Your Tickets, a podcast powered by TicketCo. We are now taking it to the next level. 😍 #ticketing #serious #enterprise #fun

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100 billion+ messages are sent on WhatsApp daily.... 👀 Yet most businesses aren’t using it to connect with their community or customers? IMO, WhatsApp will be the top engagement and acquisition channel for businesses within the next few months. We're currently testing a Top Lender community at HURR to get real-time feedback (the good, bad and ugly) and I’m very excited about how this feedback can drive a competitive edge for community-driven businesses. Think about it, your life happens on Whatsapp. It’s inclusive, it’s free, and literally anyone can use it—and already does... Are you using WhatsApp for your business? Any top-tips? Let me know in the comments! 👇

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Every tech founder want cash (nothing new here) 😂 Cash comes in many ways: - Revenues - the best form - Equity finance - Debt - Grants I (https://deallite.uk) sit on investor data with relationships built over a long time. Whilst I (Deal Lite) share this data through monthly subscriptions, I avoid investor introductions at all cost due to a number of reasons. I'm currently evaluating a light weight approach of investor introductions for Techcelerate members. Deal Lite also has the ability to include live fundraisers. Just wondering whether there is sufficient demand for us to create a product related service. It could look like below (not finalised - very early research): Product: - Listing on https://deallite.uk (company needs to keep us up to date so the data remain live) - Pitch deck sent to us for a quick review and inclusion with above. Service: For personal introductions, you would need to follow additional process: - Join Techcelerate as a Member. - Build credibility and trust within our community - Sign an agreement on light weight fundraising - Make introductions Of course, I would chat with Stuart Scott-Goldstone to understand legal ramifications. Whatever decided, it has to be a very light weight product related solution to ensure a decent quality of service. No decision has been taken. Just researching at present. I bet David John William Bailey might have some views on this. #fundraising #investment #DealLite

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😮‍💨 We don't just want to be the fastest and most affordable option for founders - we want to be the very best option for them We've had loads of great reviews over the last couple of years but I think this one really nails the value that Verticode team 🧑‍🔧 offers to founders - alongside the power of the Verticode tech ⚡️ #startups #founders

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🚀 Always Banging the Drum – But for Good Reason! 🥁💥 I know I’m always banging the drum about the incredible deal flow we’re seeing on DealDirect, but with 170+ off-market deals added in 12 weeks, I think we have pretty good reason! We’ve got some exceptional opportunities coming through, including: ✅ A highly profitable global PE Backed firm looking for acquisitions between £1m and £750m revenue bands with EBITDAs of any size to £nine figures. ✅ A hgh £six figure EBITDA Accounting Firm for sale - exclusively with DealDirect. Also interested to interact with legal firms and/or M&A firms who can support a exit process. ✅ Clinical business with £3.6m revenue looking for a significant raise to speed up expansion The list goes on...... To arrange a call, contact myself or one of the team. #dealflow #M&A #offmarketdeals #offmarket #professionalservices #Virtualnonexecs

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Boom! Incredible event last night by Phase One in partnership with ZINC talking about one of the top areas for startups: Customer discovery and building something people want. A huge thank you to Ella Morris, Rosie Webster, Nick Marsh, Stefan Sabev and everyone who joined us! Key takeaways: - Make customer feedback part of your DNA at your company. - Spend time with your customers. - Build something that you would want to use. - Go to where your users are. Examples: Meta for B2C, LinkedIn for B2B, going to markets to find people building physical products (just how Etsy got started). - Don't try to prove yourself right - you'll always find justification in your research. Do the opposite. Try to prove yourself wrong. And the most important one: just ship it. I meant when I said I would do anything for my users. As a founder, having that customer obsession is a true superpower. Ship fast. Talk to users—Obsess over their problems. Thanks everyone!

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💦 + 📬 … we’ve made a splash   Am delighted to share our latest case study with HUX, just in time for the summer heat 🔥🔥 'We don't know what to do with one time purchasers who haven't come back again... and aren't engaging with our email and SMS flows.' <- We hear this from Subscription brands all the time. FADI SHUMAN and the team at HUX were looking to solve this problem when we met…  they're now reaching + converting those people every day with Paper Run. 💬 “Implementing these automated flows with Paper Run allowed us to tackle the challenge of unreachable one-time purchasers. We achieved significant conversion rates,, all while generating revenue effortlessly in the background.” - FADI SHUMAN, Co-Founder HUX. … and yes, the Paper Run team are staying fresh this summer with HUX's hydration supplements (would highly recommend the Ginger and Lemongrass). Check out the case study here: https://lnkd.in/ey_SftMk

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I posted previously on when to hire your first AEs, and what to look for. So presuming you’ve done this and have a few AEs in the role, how do you assess whether these AEs are doing well? A few founders I’ve spoken with have mentioned this challenge - especially because, very early on, there is so much noise amidst the signal of what is working. In this context I think it’s critical to consider input and output metrics separately. ✅ Output metrics - These are the metrics you are ultimately trying to deliver as a business. This includes things like ARR, number of new logos, maybe even usage or number of DAUs, WAUs, MAUs, etc. While these metrics are influence-able via behaviors, they are the dependent variable. You can’t just tell your early AEs to triple ARR when you're learning all about your market and target buyers; that’s not an effective management strategy. ▶ Input metrics - The activities which (presumably) drive the output metrics. This includes things like number of email sequences sent, number of calls made, number of meetings held, even number of hours spent in the office (though I do not recommend tracking that one). A pattern I’ve observed is that many early-stage founders dramatically under-goal input metrics early on. This may be because they have not run sales teams before, or because they are “anchoring” to a very different phase of the company. When you have new salespeople for the first time, every incremental metric feels like gravy; the CEO has gone from no one caring about her product, to doing five pitch meetings a week, so it can feel like stratospheric growth - which in a way, it is, on a percentage basis. But your basis for comparison should not be the zero meetings per week that you held previously, but the twenty five meetings per week you need in order to close x deals per month, at z ACV. So when in doubt, triple your input metric goal. You held 20 discovery meetings last month? Let’s do 60 next month! That said, it’s important not to overly goal the very leading indicator input metrics - for instance, the number of emails sent. Since you have hired smart, scrappy, malleable early AEs, you want them to think creatively about how to drive the earlier part of the funnel - meetings held - and that may involve fewer, more thoughtful emails, calls, or LinkedIn messages. An AE who sends 10 emails to land 2 meetings is much more effective than one who sends 100 emails to land 2 meetings; the latter is polluting your lead pool with less relevant outbound content; the former is learning how exactly to break through to prospects, and these learnings should be replicated throughout the team. You’ll learn so quickly with audacious input metrics - about the messaging and channels which work best, and critically, which AEs have more grit, hustle, and creativity in securing those meetings.

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Asking the important questions for a Friday afternoon: “How much Tequila do we have in stock?” 🍹🍸 This is a demo of a WhatsApp agent that not only retrieves pricing and product information from a database, but allows the user to INPUT new data into the system on the fly! Simple tools like this can make a seismic difference to operational efficiency for hospitality and event operators alike. 🤖📱 #ai #whatsappassistants #whatsapp #events #hospitality #stockmanagement

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🎉 Exciting News! ThirdRetail has secured SEIS advance assurance within 24 hours of self-application! 🚀 🔍 What is SEIS? The Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS) is a UK government initiative designed to encourage investment in early-stage startups. It offers tax reliefs to investors, making it easier for young companies like ours to raise capital. 👋 Who are we? ThirdRetail is revolutionizing offline distribution for D2C brands! 🏪 We're the Airbnb of retail shelves, making it affordable and accessible for direct-to-consumer brands to scale their physical presence. Our AI-powered platform removes cross-channel blindspots, providing seamless integration between online and offline retail. 💡 Our mission: - Empower D2C brands to expand offline - Optimize retail space utilization - Bridge the gap between digital and physical retail 🤝 Calling SEIS Funds! Are you interested in being part of the third channel of retail sales? We're currently raising our pre-seed round and would love to chat with SEIS funds looking for exciting investment opportunities. Let's connect and explore how we can shape the future of retail together! 📈 Anil Junagal #RetailTech #SEIS #SEISFUNDS #Startup #D2C #Retail #Marketplace #B2B #SaaS

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Since our US launch last Christmas we: 🇺🇲 Currently have HUNDREDS of US members 📈 Operating at $600k ARR So how did we get there? Well there’s two key areas👇🏻 1️⃣ Partnerships The sheer size of the US market means any partnership we foster unlocks a much bigger scale of distribution compared to the UK. From Mana Tech to Startup Grind, we’ve partnered with key players in the Miami startup ecosystem to sponsor tech meetups, pitch competitions whilst offering incentives such as free memberships and masterclasses. 2️⃣ Bolstering our tech We’ve been making heavy investments into our data/tech capabilities, leveraging AI to help startups understand their data better and enhance their ability to connect with the right experts. Have a read through my interview with Refresh Miami with Riley Kaminer for more insight into our US expansion and the future of Connectd. #Founders #MiamiTech #Startup  

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