IT Logs’ Post

"If we want to revitalize a high-value-added economy, we must think internationally". Recently my opinion was published in Ir Nauda If we desire a high-value-added economy not only "on paper" but also in reality, then Latvia must establish international consortia, combining our talents with international ones, as only in this way we can build sustainable and state investment-worthy knowledge-intensive startups. https://lnkd.in/dgZfAj5F

I’m currently involved in over a dozen different startups — most of which serve a global market. Groningen Mail, an English newspaper, is the only local project we have and it also happens to be my favorite. Here’s why: The business landscape encourages everyone to aim for unicorn status, have multi-zero MRRs and single handedly change the world. People often forget the principles of a successful business. Serve one customer right and expand. For our international projects, no matter how many thousand customers we serve, they’re just numbers on a screen. It’s all about the next goal and the one after that. With Groningen Mail, every reader is a person that lives no more than 20 minutes away. It’s opening doors and providing connections I can realize in real life. Plus, I see our progress all around me. Don’t get distracted by the big dream. Start small. You’d be surprised the things that can come from even the simplest improvements. Check out Groningen Mail here: https://lnkd.in/ernAbWrg

Redefining Growth: The Philippine Startup Ecosystem's Journey Towards Sustainability ♻ In 2023, the Philippine startup ecosystem faced a significant shift. Total fundraising saw a 60% decline, and average deal sizes shrank by a stark 71.5% amidst challenging market conditions and a more cautious investor landscape. Despite these hurdles, our startups showed remarkable resilience, pivoting strategies to navigate the so-called "funding winter." Startups have wisely tightened their belts, focusing on cash conservation, business model refinement, and securing bridge rounds to extend their operational runway. This strategic pivot is not just about survival; it's about building a foundation for sustainable growth. Interestingly, while funding and deal sizes dipped, the number of deals in the Philippines rose by 55% in 2023, setting a new record. This surge is driven by an increase in bridge rounds, government grants, and a keen focus on seed and early-stage investments. While growth-stage deals faced a downturn, the enthusiasm for nurturing innovative, sustainable business ideas has never been higher. This evolving landscape highlights a pivotal shift in investor priorities, with a growing emphasis on startups that promise sustainable growth rather than mere rapid expansion. The message is clear: resilience, adaptability, and sustainable planning are the keys to thriving in the current #ecosystem. Our startup community—founders, enablers, and investors—is rallying around this new paradigm, championing sustainable growth and long-term viability over fleeting spikes in growth. Want to learn more about the Philippine startup ecosystem? #Download our updated Philippine Startup Ecosystem Report here: https://lnkd.in/g42qnw75 #GobiCorePH #GobiPartners #Innovation #VentureCapital #PhilippineStartupWeek #Philippines #StartupEcosystemReport

Some good news for #European #Startups

Interested to see who's making waves this year as the fastest growing startups in the UK & Ireland? 🌊 Sifted have released the inaugural Sifted Leaderboard, the Sifted 100: UK & Ireland, which ranks the fastest-growing startups across the UK and Ireland by revenue growth 🚀 Coming in as the top 5 💥 1.Allica Bank 2.Artios 3.Zilch 4.Seat Unique 5.Peppy The full article is below 👇

A win for startups in the European Union but also this will serve as a great learning opportunity in terms of implementation, rules and the benefits of the decisions made for other markets such as those in Africa and especially in Uganda. 🥳💪💯

The latest article by ESNA’s Executive Director, Arthur Jordão in EU-Startups is just out, featuring insights on the value of stock options for the ecosystem.   Startups face a key challenge—attracting and keeping top talent. Adopting Stock options schemes can help address this challenge for startups. By offering employees a stake in future success, companies foster a culture of ownership, motivating employees to stay and contribute to growth. ➡ 𝑯𝒐𝒘 𝒅𝒐 𝑺𝒕𝒐𝒄𝒌 𝑶𝒑𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒌? Employees gain the right to buy shares at a set price after a vesting period. As the company grows, employees can profit, aligning their goals with the company’s success. ➡ 𝑬𝒖𝒓𝒐𝒑𝒆𝒂𝒏 𝒍𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒔𝒄𝒂𝒑𝒆: Europe is making progress, but tax policies and frameworks still vary widely, making stock options less attractive in some countries. While 76% of surveyed countries allow non-voting stock options, only 43% tax them once at sale. 💡𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕'𝒔 𝒏𝒆𝒙𝒕? Harmonising stock option policies across Europe will make it easier for startups to attract top talent, fostering innovation and growth. #Startups #TalentAcquisition #StockOptions #Innovation #Entrepreneurship

"It's not a matter of choosing between local and global; it's about building solutions that can thrive in both." Thanks to WeeTracker and Henry Nzekwe for discussing and highlighting the exciting journey of African startups going global with me. I proudly shared approaches adopted by Ingressive Capital in supporting our portfolio companies in building world-class companies. The article features the success stories of our portfolio companies (+ Exits) including: Bamboo which just announced expansion to Canada Paystack whose early strategic focus on infrastructure laid the groundwork for international success and made them attractive for international acquisition as well as fast-growing businesses like Mono and Carry1st. We dove into the challenges and opportunities for founders looking to expand internationally, and why a strong local foundation is key to success. Check out the article to learn more about building for the world!

The EU is finally waking up to the potential of startups! 🚀 Ursula von der Leyen has announced plans for EU Inc., a groundbreaking 28th regime for startups. What started as a petition is now a priority. Incredible progress in just a few months! 🥳 Why does this matter? Imagine a Europe where investment is simplified, cross-border employment is streamlined, and stock options are standardized. Founders will benefit from a unified ecosystem, leveling the playing field across the continent. Europe, your time to build is now. What opportunities do you see in this new era? Share your thoughts! PS. check out 🔔 for a winning pitch deck the template created by Silicon Valley legend, Peter Thiel https://lnkd.in/ejp-Bhnu

We are 🥇 on Sifted's leaderboard for the fastest-growing startups in central Europe 🚀 What an achievement 🏆 a big shout out to all our Yokoylini, partners, customers and investors reinventing global zero-touch spend management based on #artificialintelligence https://lnkd.in/eWhZW7N4