Speedinvest

We’re excited to unveil the new management team driving Speedinvest into our next generation of success! European VC is evolving, and so are we. To ensure our long-term success and adapt to the shifting tech and venture capital landscape, we’ve expanded and strengthened our leadership team to guide us into 2025 and beyond. While the management team may be new, the faces are very familiar. Long-time investors Andreas Schwarzenbrunner and Markus Lang have been promoted to General Partner and Nora Frizberg, our long-time general counsel, has been appointed COO. They’re joining our General Partner Marie-Helene AMETSREITER and CEO & Managing Partner Oliver Holle as part of our new, broader leadership team. This forward-focused step reinforces our commitment to delivering exceptional value to founders, LPs, and the broader ecosystem for the long haul. Oliver shares more about our vision for the future and leadership evolution on our blog ⬇️ https://lnkd.in/eNTsyzft Miriam Partington of Sifted also interviewed Oliver about the strategic changes. A link to the article is in the comments section. #EuropeanTech #startups #leadership #venturecapital

Thank you, Slush, for another amazing conference 💪 We had a fantastic (and frosty!) time in Helsinki, connecting with founders, friends, and ecosystem partners at the conference and side events across the city. We were also honored to share insights with early-stage companies to help them overcome challenges and seize opportunities. On Stage: Mathias O. sat down with Niklas Tauch, CEO & Co-Founder of Liefergrün, for a candid conversation about the rise and fall of his Series A startup. We’re incredibly grateful to Niklas for sharing such a personal & helpful story with fellow founders. You’re a rock star! Frederik Hagenauer, Partner in our SaaS & Infra team, led a powerhouse panel with Adil Bouhdadi (CEO & Founder of our portfolio company, autone), Pietro Ferrari (CTO & Founder, Board), and Marc Manara (Global Startups GTM Lead, OpenAI). The panel to explore strategies for fast-growing software companies to sell to Europe's largest and most iconic businesses was packed, and founders left with tangible advice for taking their sales games to new levels. On the Ground: Did you miss connecting with our team this year? Feel free to reach out to: Andreas Schwarzenbrunner, Rick (Jingchun) Hao, Maximilian Wilhelm, Julien Lézé, Daniel Keiper-Knorr, Vito Tomasi, Callum Burroughs, Aliénor Bossé We look forward to hearing from you and seeing you in Helsinki next year! #founders #tech #startups #slush #venturecapital

Struggling to navigate the unique challenges of selling AI solutions to organizations still defining their AI strategy? We have your roadmap to mastering your AI Enterprise GTM strategy! ️ In our latest blog article, Audrey Handem of our Saas & Infra investment team speaks with industry leaders Orion Penner (Hugging Face), Christoph Schink (Asana), Harald Nitschinger (Prewave), Adil Bouhdadi (autone), Michael Killeen (Complyance), and more to find out what proven strategies they recommend. From leveraging founder-led sales to aligning your pricing with enterprise value. Learn why laser-focused ICP, trust-building, and strategic partnerships are key to success in this space. The Enterprise AI GTM landscape may be evolving, but with these proven strategies, you can ensure your company is at the forefront of innovation. Read the full blog post 👇 https://lnkd.in/eaJfFSiX #gtm #enterprisesales #ai #startups #venturecapital

Are you tired of expensive roaming charges and limited data plans? Firsty.app is changing the connectivity game! The Amsterdam-based company's eSIM-based freemium solution allows users to choose between essential connectivity at no cost and high-speed plans starting from €1 per day. Firsty has also partnered with Uber, making it possible for users worldwide to access the Uber app and order a trip without extra data charges. On our blog, Jeroen Arts breaks down how Firsty is upending the slow-moving telecommunications industry and why we’re pumped to partner with Vince, Gauthier, and our fellow investors DFF Ventures (fka DutchFoundersFund) Marcel Smits, and former executives from Mollie, Booking.com, Vodafone and Adyen. Blog: https://lnkd.in/e83mJ6eQ Media coverage in the comments section ⬇ #eSIM #MobileTechnology #TravelTech #venturecapital

Our team is finalizing their presentations and packing for Helsinki. Will we see you at Slush? Founders Day: Join Mathias O. for a candid conversation with Liefergrün CEO & Co-Founder Niklas Tauch about the rise and fall of his Series A startup. If you’re a founder looking for honest, first-hand advice from a fellow founder who faced the ultimate pitfall and turned it into a learning opportunity, you won’t want to miss it! More info: https://lnkd.in/dfTMzvkK Day 1 Office Hours: Frederik Hagenauer, Partner with our SaaS & Infra team, will sit down with Adil Bouhdadi (CEO & Founder of our portfolio company, autone), Pietro Ferrari (CTO & Founder, Board), and Marc Manara (Global Startups GTM Lead, OpenAI) to discuss what fast-growing software companies need to get right to sell to Europe’s largest and most iconic businesses. Seats are VERY limited so apply to join the session today ↓ https://lnkd.in/dCFKieya We’ll also have additional team members on the ground throughout the conference and they’re ready to meet you! Set up a chat with: Andreas Schwarzenbrunner: Climate Tech & Industrial Tech Rick (Jingchun) Hao: Deep Tech  Jeroen Arts: Marketplaces & Consumer Julien Lézé: Fintech Daniel Keiper-Knorr and Vito Tomasi: Fundraising  Callum Burroughs: Brand & Communications Aliénor Bossé: Portfolio Success Hope to see you in Helsinki!

Pemo secures $7M in pre-Series A funding to revolutionize spend management in the Middle East. The additional funding comes as the Dubai-based spend management platform celebrates reaching AED $1.4bn in transactions. More than 4,000 companies currently use Pemo’s award-winning software to manage their expenses using the company’s corporate cards – allowing employees to set limits, match receipts, and track company spending through real-time analytics and AI-driven automated accounting. The team will use the new capital to expand throughout the GCC region, including Saudi Arabia, to empower more businesses to make faster, better-informed decisions to fuel their growth. Alvaro Perezcano with our Emerging Markets investment team, says, "Corporate card and expense management software is a familiar business model worldwide. What’s truly innovative is how Ayham, Alessandro, Valerie, and Saed have adapted this model to the unique nuances of the UAE and Saudi markets. They’ve not only ensured the highest level of compliance but have also positioned Pemo as the leading regional player. We’re excited to continue supporting the team on this remarkable journey." Links for more information on the funding round co-led by Shorooq and Augmentum Fintech in the comments section 🔽 #fintech #smes #uae #venturecapital

Tranched is simplifying the complex and costly asset-based financing process through blockchain technology. Backed by the Andreessen Horowitz Crypto Startup Accelerator (CSX) program, the real-time on-chain embedded asset-based financing platform tokenizes assets and automates workflows, making it easier and more cost-effective for lenders and investors to connect and transact. By eliminating manual processes, Tranched reduces costs – in some cases by up to 90% – ensures transparency and security throughout the process, and opens new opportunities for lenders and investors by democratizing access to asset-based financing. Olga Shikhantsova, Partner with our Fintech investment team says, "Tranched represents the tool most fintechs have been dreaming of to attract financing more efficiently to fuel further growth. This will support hundreds of fintechs globally that have been underserved by traditional investors over the last decade. We are excited to partner with Michaël, the Clément, and the Tranched team on their exciting next stage of development." We’re proud to lead Tranched's $3.4 million pre-Seed round with participation from Blockwall, Kima Ventures, and OVNI Capital. Head to the comments section for more on Tranched's plans to expand beyond Europe to support lenders, credit funds, asset managers, and banks ⬇ #blockchain #fintech #crypto #venturecapital

AllFocal Optics (formerly Lark Optics) recreates human vision using nanophotonic lens technology for the ultimate virtual experience. The Cambridge-based deep tech’s cutting-edge thin nanophotonic lenses allow users to visually access virtual information in the real world without the nausea and discomfort typically associated with virtual, augmented, and mixed reality — marking a significant advancement in overcoming a critical obstacle to the mass adoption of XR hardware and applications. AllFocal’s optical technology also paves the way for using digital visuals in everyday life, including being built into cars to display sat-nav directions on windscreens, displaying vital medical information on smart glasses during procedures, and nausea-free interactions with virtual games in physical settings. The first trials of AllFocal Optics in-car settings will take place early next year in partnership with Jaguar LandRover, and lenses are set to be in augmented reality glasses and virtual reality headsets in the next two years. Rick (Jingchun) Hao, Partner with our Deep Tech investment team, says, “AllFocal has unique technologies that are fundamentally changing the way nanophotonics are designed. Their patented technology is the key enabler for a variety of industries, including smart glasses, heads-up display, and defense. We are thrilled to support Pawan Shrestha, Professor Daping Chu, Xin Chang, Dr Ash Saulsbury, and the team as they push the boundaries of visual technology. AllFocal is recreating human vision via its technology, which is critical to the future of any industry.” Sifted has more on the $5.3 million Seed round led by our Deep Tech team, which includes grants from Innovate UK. Link in the comments ⬇ #virtualreality #uktech #deeptech #venturecapital

Hiring diverse talent when building a climate hardware startup can be difficult, but we’re here to help 💪 Limited resources, the convenience of hiring from familiar networks, and niche technical requirements that limit the pool of applicants can all make hiring diverse teams more difficult. But the proven benefits of hiring diverse teams far outweigh the challenges! Countless studies have found that diverse teams enhance the long-term success of companies. McKinsey & Company, for example, found that the top quartile of companies for ethnic diversity are 36% more likely to outperform their less diverse peers financially. That’s why we’ve enhanced our exclusive Climate Hardware Playbook built in collaboration with Norrsken VC and Planet A Ventures to support you and your hiring teams. Dive in below to get practical tips and proven methods for attracting, hiring, and retaining top and diverse talent for your climate tech company today ⬇️ https://lnkd.in/e8GnQ2dc #climatetech #hardware #dei #venturecapital 

Are you a Biotech and Pharma clinical trial and innovation leader? Join us for our virtual Demo Day: The Future of Clinical Trials on Thursday, 24 October 2024 at 16:00 – 17:30 CET. Explore how technology is transforming clinical trials, from patient recruitment to improving real time intelligence. Hear directly from pioneering startups: Lindus Health, Rivia, Stitch, IOMED, Carelane, TrialHub. We only have a few spots left! Click the link below to request a spot ⬇️ https://lnkd.in/dKErpdes #DigitalHealth #Pharma #Biotech