WAWEB3’s Post

Despite recent macro headwinds, the stage is set for long-term adoption of climate tech solutions and investors remain committed to the sector. Report Highlights: $11B in US VC fundraising closed in the last four quarters Climate tech VC fundraising has held up well, settling at a historically high level.    14% Decline in deal activity since 2021   Compared to the 24% decline in overall US VC deal activity, climate tech remains resilient.    60% Of climate tech companies with less than 12 months of cash runway  Cash continued to fall for climate tech startups in 2023.     Read @Silicon Valley Bank’s annual report for a full update on what recent venture trends mean for the #climatetech ecosystem. https://lnkd.in/gCETKZZz

From #unicorns to #ethical hacking, from #impactinvesting to #quantumcomputing - passion could be felt in the air, driving energy and ambition at START Global #StartSummit2024! 🌏⚡🚀 These are the words that I would describe this year's Summit in the heart of Switzerland, St. Gallen. VCs, founders, fellows, hackers, and students—gathered from across the globe—to celebrate innovation and delve into the forces shaping our future. It was inspiring to witness a plethora of remarkable ideas spanning fintech, climatetech, healthtech, and beyond. These days have been full with panel discussions, great people and inspiring ideas. Reflecting on this enriching experience, I'd share just a tiny bit for now: 🔹Major corporations highlight that consumer demand isn't the main catalyst for sustainable transformation at the moment. "Ideally, it should be on par. " (Yet as I think, sustainability still shouldn't equate to higher costs; it should be the default choice). 🔹Embrace competition as a founder. It's essential for progress, fostering market development and growth. 🔹If you are fintech founder, prioritize quality and compliance over rapid growth and speed. 🔹Avoid scaling a company prematurely; focus on building a solid product, even with substantial VC funding. Efficiency is paramount. ❓A question arose: should VCs ride the wave of regulations or go beyond? The answer is clear. 🔹VCs favor impact-driven startups and frown upon early-stage use of advisory services, often blocking their emails (this I found quite peculiar). 🔹Ponder deeply: Is immediate funding necessary, or can organic growth suffice? 🔹#AI dominated panel discussions, but what's the next big thing beyond the buzz? Think carbon technologies, nuclear fusion, and quantum computing. A whole separate stage was dedicated to sustainability, which is absolutely great. A very special thank you to the Swiss Financial Innovation Desk, Ms. Eva Selamlar-Leuthold, Justin Friedrich and the colleagues for the invitation to the Design Thinking Financial Innovation Workshop. It's been a great pleasure! As I was heading to the train station on my way to Frankfurt, a poster caught my eye: "Dream BIG. Go BIG." Indeed, this embodies the ethos of Start Summit 2024. Let's do it 🚀 #START24 #StartSummit #Sustainability #ESG #VCs #Funding

Feeling fantastic to be back on stage at a tech conference after quite some time! #EchelonX brought back memories of the many events I attended while building and running Lucep. The energy and buzz from so many innovative companies and founders is always invigorating. This time, I had the pleasure of moderating a panel on a topic close to my heart: climate tech in Asia and the opportunities and challenges it faces. A huge thank you to my panelists— Piotr, Puiyan, Nicol, and Ernest—for their candid and insightful contributions. Your openness about the sector's dynamics made the discussion genuinely enriching. Also thanks to Mohan Belani and the team from e27 (Optimatic) for giving us a platform to discuss climate tech in the region. One key takeaway was the critical importance for climate tech companies to view themselves as businesses first. Helping the planet is vital but cannot be their sole purpose. Investors are looking for solid business cases with clear opportunities for growth and returns alongside environmental impact. This underscores why telling the right story is crucial for companies, especially when raising funds from investors. It's not just about showcasing the product; it's about painting a comprehensive picture of business growth and potential returns. I've noticed that many companies often use the same pitch deck for both customers and investors without realizing that investors need a different narrative. The product is just one part of the story. Companies need to craft compelling stories that resonate with investors and bring them along on their journey. If you'd like to chat about how to refine and amplify your business story to better connect with investors, feel free to reach out or DM me. Looking forward to helping more companies tell their stories effectively.

Climate tech is soaring in Europe! 🌍📈 Q1 2024 marked a new chapter for European tech, with climate tech leading the charge as the best-funded sector. Here’s a brief yet insightful breakdown from the latest Sifted analysis. In the first quarter alone, climate tech startups secured a whopping €3.7 billion in funding. This surge in investment reflects a robust commitment to sustainable and eco-friendly technologies, with a total of 288 funding rounds signalling both quantity and quality in deals. Fintech held strong at €2.4 billion, showing that even in a rapidly changing economic landscape, the backbone of tech funding remains resilient. Healthtech and deeptech were not far behind, bringing in €2.1 billion and €1.9 billion respectively, proving that innovation in health and deep technology is still a top priority for investors. Interestingly, B2B SaaS and consumer sectors experienced a lighter funding flow, with €1.6 billion and €1.4 billion respectively. Despite the lower figures, these sectors continue to play a crucial role in the European tech ecosystem, with B2B SaaS being the top dealmaking sector. The remarkable funding journey of climate tech and its peers illustrates a dynamic shift towards sustainability and innovation. For more detailed insights, check out the full article by Sifted in the comments. #ClimateTech #InvestmentTrends #Sustainability #EuropeanTech #Innovation

🌟 Viva Technology 2024: It's a Wrap! 🌟 Exciting insights and innovations took center stage at Europe's largest tech and startup gathering in Paris. The event highlighted the transformative power of disruptive technologies and their impact across various sectors. 🔑 Selection of Key Highlights: 🌏 Global tech spending is projected to reach $4.7 trillion in 2024, with significant investments in AI, green technologies, and digital innovations. 📈 AI is revolutionizing and accelerating all industries such as manufacturing, finance, and healthcare, enhancing efficiency and creating significant new market opportunities. 🌟 The field of corporate venture building and portfolio management is gaining momentum. Recent movements highlight the need to balance corporations objective for certainty with entrepreneurial venturing in uncertain territories. It requires risk-taking and top-down executive determination to transform and drive future growth through innovation. 💻 Quantum computing technology is advancing rapidly, offering unprecedented computational power transforming areas like cryptography, material science, and complex system simulations. This technology promises to solve problems that are currently intractable for classical computers, pushing the boundaries of what is possible in data processing and security. 💡 Disruptive technologies not only offer exciting investment opportunities but also promise to reshape the future of most industries at a level of acceleration which is mind boggling. Paris and its vibrant, diverse startup culture have made this event truly unique, fostering an environment where innovation thrives. A BIG thank you to Mark Melvin - Natalie Hammerich - Victoria Burlacu Letourneur - Julia Sabitova - Leire Corral Barcia - Tina Waedt - Joachim Vandaele - Fabian Koenig - Karin Sailer - Mathias ABRAMOVICZ - Hans Sailer - Dieter Poller - Georg Frick - Thomas Mazzurana - Alexey Shirobokov - Martin W. for the great exchange, new insights and inspiration! Richard Luetzner and I are looking forward to the follow-up. & Thank you to the Event Team from Viva Technology #GreatJob & all the inspiring speaker on stage. By focusing on further collaboration we can tap into the potential of these groundbreaking innovations. Connect - Learn - Share #VivaTech #REHAUNewVentures #WeEnhanceLives #TechInnovation #AI #DigitalTransformation #InvestmentOpportunities #FutureTech

Delighted to be sponsoring and involved with this years Tech Industry Alliance Tech Fest taking place 14th May here in Cork organised by the wonderful Juliette Crowley & her colleagues - this years theme: "Tech for Good: Driving Deep Tech, Fostering Sustainability & Building a Better Tomorrow" - the conference is a ground breaking event dedicated to exploring the pivotal role of technology in addressing global challenges and fostering a sustainable future. This conference will bring together visionaries, innovators, and thought leaders from the tech industry to delve into how deep tech can be harnessed for positive social and environmental impact. Real Insights 📊will have a stand there so be sure to come over and say hello to myself and my colleague Mark Stratfold and find out more about how we can support your market research and insights needs www.real-insights.com - Look forward to seeing you there! #mrx #marketvalidation Event Highlights: Keynote Addresses: Renowned speakers from the tech industry will share their insights and vision for leveraging technology for the greater good. Panel Discussions: Engage in in-depth discussions on topics such as AI for social good, sustainable tech innovations, and ethical considerations in deep tech development. Networking Opportunities: Connect with like-minded professionals, potential partners, and investors who are passionate about leveraging technology for social and environmental impact. More info here: https://rb.gy/opzyy6 Tickets here: https://rb.gy/24y7uc #TIATechFest #AI #trends #deeptech #sustainability #innovation #business

Inspiring meet-up at Slush Earlier this week, I had the privilege of attending Slush, one of the world's premier start-up events that brings together European start-ups, world-class investors, and tech journalists.   It was an absolute pleasure to mingle, converse, and learn from incredible entrepreneurs and investors. I shared the Impact Stage at Slush moderated by the brilliant Tatiana Shalalvand Kinnevik. Our panel, titled "Fuelling Climate Tech: Harnessing Diverse Capital Sources for Growth," delved into the critical topic of financing European climate tech—a pressing issue vital for enabling the innovative ideas that will drive change.   With many clean-tech founders and aspiring entrepreneurs in the audience, we shared insights and some of the key things we've learnt along the way building climate tech focused businesses:   𝗖𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆 𝗱𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝗼𝗹𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴: Be explicit about the problem you're solving for your customers. For us Aira it's straightforward—cutting emissions and energy costs. 𝗦𝗲𝘁 𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴: Establish clear key milestones that you can deliver on, to strengthen your investor relations. 𝗔𝗱𝗼𝗽𝘁 𝗮 𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗺𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗹: We utilize a vertically integrated business model to maximize our value proposition, allowing us to reduce costs at every stage. Ultimately delivering value for our customers.  𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗮 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺: Assemble a great team from the start. Our founding team members are crucial as they shape the culture. 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘆 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗻-𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱: Not everything will go as planned. Test, learn, adapt, and never give up—make the necessary changes to succeed!   Thank you, Slush, for the invitation. It was a brief yet energising visit, and I look forward to returning! #Aira #ClimateTech #Slush2024 #Innovation #Sustainability #Growth

🚀 SwissHacks 2024: exploring the challenges 👀 Let’s dive into one of the 5 challenges of SwissHacks, our hackathon around financial innovation powered by Tenity. Microsoft & Unique are joining forces to present a groundbreaking challenge… 🤔 The Problem Business analysts are overwhelmed with data, combing through massive annual reports to extract valuable insights. With the sheer volume of data available, making sector-wide comparisons and analyzing trends is incredibly challenging. 🚀 The Challenge We are looking for an innovative tool that simplifies the process of extracting and comparing key data from these reports. Imagine a solution that makes analyzing trends and benchmarking KPIs across various companies and sectors effortless. 💡 We are eager to see your creative solutions that could revolutionize our approach to business data! 📊 Everything you need - data sets, materials - is ready to go. 🌍 Ready to innovate? We invite participants from all backgrounds—students, developers, finance experts, designers, marketers, and innovators, as well as curious and creative minds from around the globe! 📍 Come join us at SwissHacks 2024, happening from June 28-30, just before the Point Zero Forum in Zurich. 👉 Apply by May 31 for SwissHacks 2024 at www.swisshacks.com. 🏆 Not only will winners revel in their success, but they will also have the opportunity to present their solutions at the Point Zero Forum and an exclusive side event. This isn't just a competition; it's your chance to launch your ideas into the world! 🚀SwissHacks is as well proudly supported by... its visionary partners: finance.swiss Raiffeisen Switzerland Innovation Zurich its community partners: Pestalozzi Attorneys at Law Zürich Tourism Innovation Booster – Blockchain Nation Switzerland SwissDevJobs and its media partner: MoneyToday *** Bundeskanzlei BK State Secretariat for International Finance SIF Innosuisse Digital Switzerland Eva Selamlar-Leuthold Jürg Wüst Andreas Iten Switzerland Global Enterprise Green Fintech Network Startupticker.ch GirlsinTechSwitzerland WE SHAPE TECH Swiss Fintech Innovations SICTIC Swiss Banking - Schweizerische Bankiervereinigung IDSIA USI-SUPSI University of Zurich Elevandi Embassy of Switzerland in Singapore #SwissHacks2024 #InnovationUnleashed #FromIdeatoImpact #ChallengeAccepted #ConciergingFinancialInnovation #FutureOfFinance

This past weekend, I had the privilege of being part of ✨𝐂𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐲𝐬𝐭 𝐗 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒, a startup hackathon centred on the themes of economy, health, climate, and education. I’m thrilled to share that our team emerged as one of the 𝐭𝐨𝐩 𝟏𝟎 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐬 🏆, a recognition that truly underscores the dedication we invested in this exhilarating journey. During this three-day event, our team worked on developing innovative solutions for the expanding 📈𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐛𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭 in Singapore and beyond, aiming to bridge the gap between everyday households and the carbon trading ecosystem using advanced data algorithms. By enabling households to monetize their reductions in energy emissions, we sought to turn sustainable living into a profitable venture 💸, empowering individuals to make a tangible impact on both their finances and the environment ☘️. Here are my key takeaways from the experience: ⭐️𝑬𝒎𝒃𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑼𝒏𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘𝒏: Don’t shy away from tackling unfamiliar challenges. Our curiosity and drive to explore the intersection of sustainability and profitability enabled us to push through despite the challenges, reaffirming that determination turns ambiguity into opportunity. ⭐️𝑫𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒎 𝑩𝒆𝒚𝒐𝒏𝒅 𝑳𝒊𝒎𝒊𝒕𝒔: The essence of problem-solving often lies in simplicity, but ambition shouldn’t be constrained by today’s limitations. Revolutionizing the carbon trading market may seem unfeasible, but it could also be highly profitable in the next decade as demand grows. ⭐️𝑹𝒆𝒔𝒊𝒍𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝑭𝒖𝒆𝒍𝒔 𝑰𝒏𝒏𝒐𝒗𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏: Setbacks are inevitable, but adaptability transforms them into stepping stones. Our concept evolved through rigorous iterations, yet our persistence led us to a solution that resonated with our target market. Beyond these lessons, the experience highlighted the strength of our three-person team, driven by a shared passion for sustainability and a desire to create change, turning visions into actionable strategies. I’m grateful to ✨𝐂𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐲𝐬𝐭 𝐗 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒, for creating a platform that truly fosters innovation. I also owe a heartfelt thanks to my mentors Antonio Scaramuzzino ACME/CGMA and Wang Ke for their guidance, and to my incredible teammates Máté Ujvárosi and Jihoon Han for their creativity, dedication, and collaboration. Together, we turned a weekend into a defining milestone on our journey toward impactful solutions for the future 🔮.

Save the Date for TransformBase 2024: Shaping the Future of Business, Skills, and Investment in Frontier Technologies 🚀 We are thrilled to announce TransformBase's flagship event, taking place on the 27th of June 2024, at the prestigious Northeastern University London Campus in St. Katherine's Dock. This year, we continue our mission under the theme "Activate, Adopt, and Innovate," calling on investors, founders and businesses to embrace the future of the powerful technologies reshaping our world. Last year's event set a precedent, uniting industry leaders, policymakers, and visionaries in a collaborative effort to navigate the future of technology adoption. Commenting on the event, Alex McCraken, Managing Director, Innovation Economy, J.P. Morgan: “J.P. Morgan is delighted to support the TransformBase event, recognising the pivotal role of frontier technologies such as AI in driving innovation and productivity." Join over 300 investors, founders and business leaders for a day filled with insightful talks and interactive sessions designed to translate the transformative power of AI and emerging technologies into actionable strategies for your business. Stay ahead of the curve. Apply now and be part of a community shaping the future of technology for a prosperous and purpose-driven future: transformbase.com/register Check out the full press release here: https://lnkd.in/epKPXmwt Northeastern University #TransformBase2024 #Innovation #TechInnovation #FrontierTechnologies #BusinessAdoption #EmergingTechnologies #AI #InvestmentSkills #NU_LondonCampus #LondonTechEvent #BusinessTransformation #TechEvent