All the talk about investments these days revolves around startups, the investment-hungry companies still struggling to stand on their own two feet. But what if the startups is a spin-off or a part of a profitable agency? Does it pay to invest?
You've probably heard of a 'little' company called Deutsche Telekom, the global provider catering for hundreds of thousands of users? If that user base is something you'd like to sink your teeth in, get your reading glasses out and learn what its Poland-based accelerator program offers.
We can say that Oradian, this year’s Pioneers Challenge winner, is truly an interesting startup, even though its area of expertise is finance [insert obligatory accountant joke here]. Oradian’s cofounders come from Croatia, Germany, USA and South Africa and they chose to be a part of the Croatian startup scene. Was that a wise decision and what the next step is for Oradian, Julian Oehrlein, one of the cofounders, revealed for Netokracija.
In the past five years, seed-stage investing has experienced a boom. In North America, seed funds now represent 67% of all VC funds, up from 33% in 2008. The CEE region is no different: according to European Private Equity and Venture Capital Association, the number of seed deals has increased 19x over the past four years. Even considering the fact that EVCA’s data is not fully comprehensive, since many investments are not announced at all or are not made by EVCA’s members, it still illustrates my point
"I am sick and tired of the word startup. It seems like everyone and their mother has a startup today, I might even start calling the Vietnamese grocery store next doors a food startup."
The fifth iteration of How To Web, Romania's top startup and entrepreneurship conference is yet again taking place in Bucharest from November the 20th through 21st. Over 70 speakers coming from four different continents will come together to talk about the Internet of Things and the evolution of hardware startups, the revolution of electronic payments brought about by crypto-currencies, the opportunities and challenges of startup financing, including crowdfunding, or how and why it is the perfect moment to start building video games.
Eleven, a Sofia-based accelerator venture fund, has a very particular mission: to help startups gain enough momentum to break free of local restraints and launch themselves into the global market. In search of new members for their startup family, it's just announced its 8th investment round.
That is right - the application phase for Deutsche Telekom’s hub:raum Krakow WARP, a turbo accelerator for CEE startups, is open till November 16th. Selected projects will receive an 8-day-long training program in Krakow, Poland, and learn how to develop, grow and sell their product in different European markets. Prizes include cash award for the best pitch, partnering with Telekom in selected countries and potential investment.
Early stage startups in the CEE looking for investments, mentoring opportunities and networking can now be a part of this year's How to Web Startup Spotlight - competition and orientation program with $20.000 cash prizes for the best 32 teams in the region. Aimed at those startups who've been running under two years and have received less than 100.000 euro in funding, Startup Spotlight is an intensive program for CEE startups that are working on tech products.
Croatian consulting company DC&T, specializing in creative, efficient, and humane office space design, is setting out to conquer the world markets. First step: Dubai.
