Miguel Mendonça’s Post

🎉 Celebrating 5 Years of Aurelia Ventures! 🎉 Over the past 5 years, we've partnered with visionary entrepreneurs, groundbreaking startups, and incredible partners, fueling innovation and driving growth in the startup ecosystem. 🌟 Our Journey Highlights: - 230+ Founders. - 140+ Startups. - 50+ Operators. - 35+ Scouts. - 160+ Tech Partners. - 1.5M+ in perks & benefits. - Industries: AI/ML (proprietary data science), FinTech, Cybersecurity, Enterprise Software. Thank You to our 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀, 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀, 𝗟𝗣𝘀, 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀, and 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿 𝗩𝗖𝘀 – your unwavering support and trust have been instrumental in our journey. Together, we've navigated challenges, celebrated successes, and pushed the boundaries of what's possible. As we look to the future, we remain dedicated to our commitment to constantly innovate on how early-stage startups receive support during their most fragile period, empowering entrepreneurs and driving meaningful change. Here's to many more years of growth, impact, and success! 🚀 #VentureCapital #Anniversary #Innovation #Entrepreneurship #Growth #Startups

The idea of Stealth startups really got me thinking. While the concept of staying hidden to protect innovation is intriguing, it also raises an interesting question: in an era where visibility and rapid iteration are often key to success, is the stealth approach still the best route? On one hand, operating under the radar can give a startup the time and space to perfect its product without the pressure of public scrutiny. But on the other hand, being too secretive might mean missing out on valuable feedback, partnerships, and early adopters who could help shape and accelerate growth. It seems like a balancing act—finding the right moment to step out of the shadows and into the market spotlight. I’m interested to hear others’ thoughts: Is the stealth strategy a smart play in today’s fast-paced startup ecosystem, or is there more value in early visibility and engagement?

Another tip to become a successful startup, you need to identify real needs and affordability. To all startup enthusiasts, the journey to success always starts with what problem are we solving. Success is not only determined by brilliant ideas but also by their relevance and affordability to the end user. It's not about creating a product, it's about creating value that the customer is not only willing but also sufficient to pay for it. The path to startup success is to understand the real need and affordability and constantly focus on the end user. VeriEstate Shaariq Vision Tech Solutions DMCC #successfulstartup #startupsuccess #affordibility #enduservalue #tipsforstartup

Stealth Startups: Invisible pass to success Ever wondered how some startups seemingly appear out of thin air? The answer might lie in the world of stealth startups. These enigmatic companies operate in secrecy, carefully guarding their innovations until the perfect moment to strike. But why go stealth? It's a strategic move to protect intellectual property, refine products without external pressure, and build anticipation for a grand launch. And FIND MARKET FIT. However, maintaining secrecy comes with its own set of challenges. Would you like to discuss the pros, cons, and strategies for pulling off a successful stealth mode?

Ever thought about building your startup in stealth? 🕵️♂️ 10 years ago, that was the go-to strategy—raise money, work in secret, and launch big. But today, a major shift is happening... More founders are building in the open right from day one. In this clip from my recent Q&A with Peter Ceredig-Evans, I explain why this trend is gaining momentum—and why it might take a lot of pressure off your startup journey. Building in the open allows for more transparency and collaboration with customers, employees, and investors, giving you the support you need—when you need it most. So, what’s your take? Are you building in stealth or in the open?👇 Book a free strategy session to explore how to navigate your journey with confidence! https://lnkd.in/gzhjA5gT #StartupJourney #Founders #StartupBuilder #LeapSheep

5 hard lessons I learned from being in startups 1. A stranger has to be willing to buy your solution before you build it. 2. Start with an MVP. The winning solution is never going to be what you envisioned it to be. 3. You know you have a winning product when you have repeated customers and they also refer you to their friends and family. 4. You will have a more rejections than wins. The small wins is all you need. 5. Startup is an evolving process that lives or die with its founder, you only fail when you stop. Learn more at PhoneTapify.com #earlyadopter #nfcdigitalbusiss #googlereviewsnfc #openhousenfc #aiassistantnfce

Important reminder for founders: Your attention is your most important resource. Especially early on, it’s easy to scatter your attention across different projects. You end up lacking focus on any core primitive, doing too much at once, and making no progress on what's actually important. Here’s what I suggest instead: 𝗙𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗴𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝟭% 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸. Anything that doesn’t contribute to this goal isn’t worth pursuing. If you sustain this over time, you’ll build momentum to keep creating value for all of your users. And in startups, momentum is everything. Original image concept: James Clear

In early-stage startups, flexibility isn’t just a trait – it’s essential to survival. Your product, target market, business model… each can change with a single customer conversation.   I’ve seen non-technical founders, especially, struggle with this constant flux, believing that building a product is a ‘one and done’ effort. But the truth is, every new insight can completely shift your direction. And that’s the beauty of agility in product development – it allows us to evolve and meet real market needs.   With DevReady, we make sure founders are prepared for this journey. Through clear planning and design thinking, we’re here to support every pivot, every new insight, every bold choice.   Let’s build products that aren’t just good in theory – but truly valuable in practice. #DevReady #StartupSuccess #AgileDevelopment #ProductDevelopment

Startups and the whole #startup world is often more glamorous and simple than it seems Thanks Riley Kaminer for the interview and giving me the space to share some top 10 points that might seem obvious but more often then not aren't. Which ones were a surprise to you? Which ones are your biggest challenge? #leadership #ceo #founder #miami #startups

You must have heard alot about USP(Unique Selling Preposition). But have ever heard about USI ( Unique Startup Idea ). I bet you don't. Because is nothing such. When planning to build product or startup, don't just look for unique idea but do look unique way of doing it. Here are some ways you can have USP or business moats. 1. Distribution 2. Network Effects 3. Community 4. Ease of Use 5. Data 6. IP etc. What could other be USP and business moats for startups? #usp #businessmoats #productideation