August tech funding beats expectations August 2023 was a remarkably strong month for capital raising across the European tech ecosystem. The latest monthly report from tech.eu says that August now goes on record as the busiest month of the year in terms of the total amount of capital raised, reaching…

Seed valuations rise again but VCs more selective Due Diligence gets tougher — and everyone benefits Seed valuations rise again but VCs more selective The recent news that Seed-stage valuations across Europe rose again in 2Q23 surprised many. Founders that had been holding back funding campaigns as valuations tanked in…

- Seed-stage valuations show resilience - Why VCs have to better understand hardware Seed-stage valuations show resilience VC valuations have declined sharply in recent quarters but new data reveals that deals at the very earliest stages have bucked this trend. Pitchbook’s 2Q23 European Valuations Report shows that valuations at Angel…

The role of corporate finance advisors in capital raising is well established. For businesses moving through the growth stages and eventually onto the public markets, ‘managed’ fundraisings and the brokerage business model that underpins them is the accepted norm. But this approach doesn’t work for startups. Investors, especially VCs, want…

A founder’s ‘insight’ is the core ingredient for startup creation. It’s the thing that they know but others don’t yet know. The insight reveals a unique market opportunity that the founder believes they can exploit before others jump in. The startup’s first product embodies this insight. To fund the startup…

The startup world has changed out of all recognition over the past 10 years. The explosive growth in venture capital and the ecosystem that it supports has been a major driving force. Capital deployed globally last year was up more than 10x over what it was a decade earlier. VC…

With increasing competition for capital, founders must take a closer look at investor psychology — Anyone could be forgiven for thinking that we are in a golden era of VC. Every year the amount invested globally reaches new heights. Against all odds, 2020 even exceeded 2019. As private valuations soar, more and more unicorns are created and IPOs provide record returns. VC funds are awash…

A ‘guided fundraise’ can give founders the leg-up they need — The transition from raising private investment to institutional investment can be a huge step for any founder. Whilst the ultimate interests of these different investor types may seem aligned, their mindsets and methods are radically different. For aspiring high growth businesses, the accelerant of institutional capital — most likely from…

Founders who are building future growth stories will be in great demand. — VC as an asset class has outperformed in recent years. Investors (known as Limited Partners or LPs) have been piling in as valuations have moved relentlessly upwards. …