Post on 12-Jan-2017
Copy right 2016 © Mobility Ventures LLC All Rights Reserved
Insider guide to successful fundraising strategies
3 x F
Bootstrapping
Business
Angels
Accelerators
State support
VC
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Wlodek Laskowski
Background
LSE
Investment & corporate banking
Entrepreneur
Co-founded BOT.Inc
From bootstrap to exit
Investor
Set-up and run a VC fund
Matching startups with right investors
Commitment: series A and beyond
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Bootstrapping
Your own time, money and hard work
True commitment
Diversification & specialization
Survival & character test
Proof of Concept
Important to get it right
Try and try and try again
Investors expectations
No risk, no gain
Sharing pain
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3 x F (Family, Friends & Fools…..)
Natural first port of call
Make it relevant
Don’t just take money
Active involvement
First users
High risk warning
Absolute must
Invest only what you can loose
Beware of broken trust Total transparency
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Business Angels
Choose CAREFULLY!
Investor Due Diligence
Origin of funds
Impact on future investments
A reliable local co-investor
Sharing the risk
Local monitoring
Smart Money
Connections, advice, hands-on help
Not only cash!
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Accelerators
Be EXTREMELY picky!
Find REAL value
Don’t give away equity
Negotiate
Shop around
Free lunch
MassChallenge
Look at state-sponsored programs Important visa considerations
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State Support
UK
UKTI Global Entrepreneur Programme
The Sirius Programme
Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) visa
Ireland
The Start-up Entrepreneur Programme
Enterprise Ireland
Holland
New 'start-up visa' // BrainPort
Finland
Tekes USA: ????
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Venture Capital – Research Stage
Research in Depth!
DON’T ever mass target!
Never use a template approach
Research the Firm
Why should they invest in you?
Deal mindset (for PROFIT)
Portfolio companies synergies
Research the Best Partner for your Deal
VCs interests, hobbies
Similar deals
Your attractiveness to them
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Venture Capital – Approach Stage
Avoid COLD CALLING
Get recommendation if you can
LinkedIn: best business networking tool
Chat-up VCs
Executive Summary (CV)
Preferably 1 page (max. 2)
Pitch Deck (cover letter)
DON’T invent, just copy success
Keep it SHORT & Proof-Read!
Technology start-ups: WHITE PAPER!
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Venture Capital – One Shot
ONE SHOT – prepare CAREFULLY!
Don’t waste an opportunity
No second chances
Practice your pitch
Get feedback from friendly VCs
SELL yourself!
People are the most important factor!
Choosing partners for good and bad times
Show true PASSION and commitment
Don’t be shy!
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Venture Capital – Best Strategy
Be Aggressive - but not Arrogant!
A fine line between arrogance and being too aggressive.
The defining factors are knowledge and passion rather than bravado and swagger.
Show an true dedication to your start-up to make a formidable impression.
Be passionate and well-informed
You are the absolute expert when it comes to your business.
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Venture Capital – Don’t Do!
Don’t Try to Outsmart the VC!
The job of a VC is to find what’s wrong with your business
Don’t bend the truth
If you do have some questionable metrics or problems with your business model,
Be transparent about it!
VCs appreciate candor and honesty
They want to see that founders are coachable and transparent
They will work together!
.
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UK & Ireland
UK - accelerators
Dreamstake
Level 42
Techstars
Seedcamp
Oxygen
Wayra/Collider
Startupbootcamp
UK - VCs
AccelDN Capital/Balderton/Index/DFJ Esprit
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Central & Eastern Europe
Poland
Innovation Nest / hub:raum
Austria
Impact Hub / SpeedInvest
Bulgaria
Cross Border Angels/ LaunchHub
Hungary
iCatapult / Traction Tribe / Connect East
Estonia Startup Wise Guys / E-residency
BuildIT / Tehnopol
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Germany, France, Spain & Holland
Germany
Point Nine Capital / e.ventures / Earlybird
Axel Springer / ProSiebenSat.1 Accelerator
France
Kima Ventures
Partech
Spain
4YFN
Holland
Rockstart
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Scandinavia
Finland
Startup Sauna
Vendep
Go International
Nexit Ventures
Inventure
Sweden
True Global Ventures
Northzone
Creandum
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USA
Silicon Valley
500 Startups
Plug & Play
BlackBox
Y Combinator
New York
Nest New York
LemonSqueeze
Brooklyn Bridge Ventures
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Asia
Singapore
SPH plugandplay
Rockstart
China
muru-D
Chinaccelerator / Hox
Hong Kong
Cyberport / Brinc
South Korea
born2global
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Good luck!
Thank you for your attention!
Get in touch if you want help & guidance
Connect with me on LinkedIn
wlodek.laskowski@gmail.com