Milan Maksimovic’s Post

Fascinating insights from the Techstars 2024 State of Innovation Survey! I'm in shock to see that 60% of founders are not developing an AI solution—it's hard to believe, considering how integral AI has become in our industry. I used to think only lazy people didn’t use it 😂 I also completely agree with the trends regarding working hours and mental health. With nearly one-third of founders working 60+ hours a week and high rates of anxiety and depression, it's clear we all need to prioritize our mental well-being. I truly hope that by 2024, these numbers will improve and reflect a healthier balance for everyone. Thanks for sharing Zamir Shukho, MBA! #StartupInsights #WorkLifeBalance #TechTrends #AI #MentalHealth #GlobalStartups #TechTrends

Here are the most interesting data points from the Techstars 2024 State of Innovation Survey: 1. Long-Term Goals of Startups: Only 15% of startups aim for an IPO, while 34% aim to be acquired by Big Tech or a large corporation, and 30% prefer to stay private and independent.    2. Working Hours and Mental Health: Nearly one-third (31%) of founders work at least 60 hours per week, and 17% work 70 hours or more. Additionally, 45% of founders have experienced anxiety, and 23% have experienced depression in the past year. 3. AI Integration: Despite AI being a major trend, 60% of founders are not developing an AI solution. Instead, 33% use AI as an enabler, and 41% see it as a direct component of their business. 4. Innovation Hubs: Silicon Valley is expected to remain the world's most innovative hub in five years, but Asian cities like Singapore and Shanghai are gaining ground. 5. Regional Growth Predictions: North America is predicted to see the greatest spike in new startups, with 29% of respondents believing it will create the most startups this year. Africa is also expected to outperform Europe, with 17% predicting it will produce the most startups compared to 6% for Western Europe. Download full report https://lnkd.in/e2gdTr-e for more details. 

👉 As we look ahead to 2025, #startups face significant challenges in developing and implementing effective technology strategies. Here are just 5 challenges startups will encounter with their #technology strategies: 1. Balancing #Innovation with #Ethical Considerations Startups will grapple with leveraging cutting-edge technologies like #generativeAI while addressing ethical concerns and data privacy issues. The challenge lies in harnessing the power of AI for automation and personalisation while maintaining transparency and #accountability in their practices. 2. Integrating #Sustainability into Tech #Strategy Sustainability will become a strategic priority and competitive advantage for startups in 2025, if it hasn’t already. The challenge will be to incorporate sustainable practices into their technology strategies, aligning with growing consumer expectations and government incentives while driving innovation in green technologies. 3. Adapting to Rapid Technological Shifts Startups will need to stay agile and responsive to the ever-evolving technological landscape. This includes embracing AI, cloud computing, automation, and other emerging technologies to streamline operations and reduce #costs while remaining flexible enough to pivot when necessary. 4. Managing Data-Driven Decision Making With the increasing importance of data, startups will face the challenge of effectively collecting, analysing, and utilising data to drive their technology strategies. This involves implementing robust data management systems and developing the skills to extract meaningful insights from vast amounts of information. 5. Securing #Funding for Tech Innovations In an uncertain economic climate, startups will struggle to secure adequate funding for their technology #initiatives. The challenge will be to navigate new funding models, such as decentralised finance options, while demonstrating the value and potential return on investment of their tech strategies to #investors.

The challenge is real... and having the right partners to help you navigate and position yourself is key to a successful strategy execution. With fractional support you can achieve your strategic goals quicker, simpler, and, often, cheaper than more traditional hiring routes. #strategy #startup #scaleup #technology #fractional

🚀 Tech Startups in the Netherlands Are Changing the Game! 🚀 1. OPENAI: THE BILLION-DOLLAR GIANT 🤑 OpenAI now brings in $3.4 BILLION annually. Big names like PwC, Moderna, and Estée Lauder are on board. Microsoft pumped in $13 BILLION, a massive vote of confidence. BUT, here’s the kicker: 👉 Regulators worry. 👉 Experts question AI power and its impact on society. 👉 Massive power consumption stressing the grid. 👀 THE BURNING QUESTION: Are we really ready for AI’s dominance? With Big Tech soaking up all the oxygen, where does that leave women-led startups? 🤔 2. GREENIRON & MORPHO: EUROPE’S GREEN HEROES 🌍 Stockholm’s GreenIron nailed it with its CO2-free metal processing tech. Paris-based Morpho secured $50 million for its decentralized crypto lending on Ethereum. WHY SHOULD YOU CARE? 👉 GreenIron’s tech could be a game-changer for eco-conscious industries. 👉 Morpho’s funding shows crypto isn’t dead, it's evolving. 🌱 REAL TALK: Green and crypto tech isn't just for the big boys. Women-led startups can and should step in. Will you grab the opportunity in sustainable and decentralized tech? 3. ELYSIAN’S ELECTRIC DREAM TAKES OFF ✈️ Dutch startup Elysian introduced the E9X, a fully electric regional aircraft. Aims for a 500-mile range. Seamlessly integrates with current airport infrastructure. BUT THERE’S A HITCH: 👉 Battery charging time is still an issue, 45 minutes max. 👉 Average charging time around half an hour. 😅 CHALLENGE OR OPPORTUNITY? Can we overcome the tech hurdles and make sustainable aviation a reality? This isn’t just for the engineers—females in tech biz, where can you innovate and lead? 🔥 WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR YOU? Whether it's AI, green tech, or electric aviation, there's space to innovate, disrupt, and lead. Are we ready to tackle the big players head-on? What's your take? Can women-led startups carve out their niche in these emerging fields? Drop your thoughts below 👇! 🫡 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐩 𝐧𝐨𝐰: https://femaleswitch.app 🔈🔈🔈 🫵 𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐩 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐮𝐫𝐬, 𝐡𝐢𝐭 𝐅𝐎𝐋𝐋𝐎𝐖 #startups #femalentrepreneur #zerocode #ai

𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝟏𝟎𝟎𝟎+ 𝐤𝐞𝐲 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐀𝐈 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐩𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐄𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧 𝐄𝐮𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞'𝐬 𝐀𝐈 𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐬𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦: 𝐀 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐕𝐂𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐛𝐞𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐝. You can find startups from countries such as Romania, Poland, Greece, Hungary, Serbia, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, and more – check the link at the end of the post. If you are a startup or scale-up founder developing AI products or providing AI services or an investor in AI innovation, an accelerator, or a member of the AI community in CEE, add your brick to the ecosystem by participating in The Recursive’s Survey, "𝐌𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝗔𝗜 𝗟𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗽𝗲 2024." https://lnkd.in/dQzc9r4K 𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒍𝒊𝒔𝒕 𝒊𝒔 𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒕 𝒐𝒇 The Recursive 𝒆𝒇𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒎𝒂𝒑 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒂𝒏𝒂𝒍𝒚𝒛𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑨𝑰 𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒔𝒚𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒎 𝒊𝒏 𝑪𝑬𝑬. 𝑺𝒕𝒂𝒚 𝒕𝒖𝒏𝒆𝒅 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒅𝒆𝒕𝒂𝒊𝒍𝒆𝒅 𝒓𝒆𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔! https://lnkd.in/dt3AFHnM Drop me a line if you know an important player which should be on the list. 💡 I share my tech & research journey here, providing insights and updates on the latest developments in AI. For more learning materials and news, please check my previous posts. Feel free to reach out to me for further discussions, questions, or if you have any insights to share. Let's add a brick to the startup ecosystem in Central and Eastern Europe! #CEE #AI #TheRecursive #startups

The Startup Acceleration Pilot Running from September to October 2024, this pilot programme aims to foster innovation and partnerships in data, compute, and talent pipelines—the three critical pillars underpinning local AI ecosystems in Africa. By focusing on these foundational elements, the pilot programme seeks to address the need for an integrated private sector approach to mitigate risks and unlock the transformative power of AI for sustainable development. It aims to support innovations that are locally based and put people and sustainability at the centre, ensuring that innovations benefit communities in countries where the innovations are designed.  As part of the programme, selected startups will have the opportunity to participate in an ecosystem-building event hosted by INNOVIT and the Italian G7 Presidency in San Francisco, California, USA on 12 - 14 November 2024. During the event, selected startups will have the chance to showcase their innovative solutions, attract potential investment, form strategic partnerships, and network with INNOVIT's start-up network and Silicon Valley AI leaders. https://lnkd.in/gy3f79ht #aistartups #startup #accelerationpilot #aihub #sustainabledevelopment #undp

Explore the evolving tech landscape in ASEAN, from Traveloka’s insights on travel platform trust and regional payment preferences to Generative AI’s transformative impact across industries. Dive into key challenges, innovations, and the dynamic interplay between startups and Big Tech. Read more similar articles here: https://lnkd.in/gqhY4Yhb 📑 Traveloka’s APAC survey reveals high trust in travel platforms in Singapore and Indonesia, contrasting with Japan’s caution. Pricing, trust, and tailored payment solutions drive platform adoption regionally. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gqXKaXxu 📑 Generative AI is thriving in ASEAN, with Singapore leading, followed by Vietnam and Indonesia. The region’s dynamic startups leverage AI to tackle diverse challenges, attracting investments and global interest. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gVEdAXat 📑 Generative AI is driving transformation in ASEAN across productivity, healthcare, finance, and education sectors. Startups leverage AI to address regional challenges, enhancing efficiency, personalisation, and accessibility while fostering innovation and growth. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gv2Cn5dB 📑 ASEAN GenAI startups face go-to-market challenges like slow enterprise adoption and funding constraints. Success hinges on niche focus, partnerships, regional strategies, and support from governments and accelerators. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gJ9EGtfA 📑 ASEAN GenAI startups navigate a complex “co-opetition” dynamic with Big Tech, balancing collaboration for resources and partnerships while differentiating through niche applications to mitigate competitive threats and thrive. Read more: https://lnkd.in/g5tpE6ZH

👋 What’s brewing in European tech might just redefine the game! 🚀 1. AMD SCOOPS UP SILO AI 💸 Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) is acquiring Finnish AI startup, Silo AI, for a whopping $665 million. WHY THIS MATTERS? 👉 This enhances AMD’s machine learning capabilities. 👉 Silo AI's advanced tech will integrate into AMD’s lineup. 👉 A bold move to compete fiercely in the AI market. 💡 CONTROVERSIAL THOUGHT: Does this acquisition spell the end for smaller AI startups in Europe? With giants like AMD swallowing innovation, can we still find niche breakthroughs in our local ecosystems? 2. EARTHSHOT WINNER 44.01 RAISES $37M! 🌍 44.01, an Earthshot Prize winner, secured $37 million in Series A funding. WHY IT'S BIG NEWS: 👉 They focus on turning CO2 into rock, battling climate change. 👉 Investors flock to green tech, showing market confidence. 👉 Huge win for Europe’s environmental innovators. 🧐 CAN WE MATCH THIS? Europe is leading with green solutions, but can women-led startups capitalize on this momentum? Are we geared up enough to tap into this green goldmine? 3. VENTURE CAPITAL BOOST NEEDED 🚀 IMF suggests Europe needs more venture capital reforms to fuel economic growth. KEY POINTS: 👉 Reforms might increase investment in tech startups. 👉 Boosts productivity and economic growth. 👉 Could decentralize innovation across the continent. 💬 THE HARD QUESTION: Will these reforms actually benefit grassroots startups? Or will it just enrich the big players further? Are we, particularly women-led startups, equipped to seize these opportunities? 🔮 WHAT’S NEXT? As the landscape shifts with these massive moves, it’s prime time for us to gear up, innovate, and navigate the tides. How do you think these developments affect our startup ecosystem? Are we ready to take on these giants or do we need a game plan? Share your thoughts below👇! 🫡 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐩 𝐧𝐨𝐰: https://femaleswitch.app 🔈🔈🔈 🫵 𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐩 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐮𝐫𝐬, 𝐡𝐢𝐭 𝐅𝐎𝐋𝐋𝐎𝐖 #startups #femalentrepreneur #zerocode #ai

The Startup Acceleration Pilot Running from September to October 2024, this pilot programme aims to foster innovation and partnerships in data, compute, and talent pipelines—the three critical pillars underpinning local AI ecosystems in Africa. By focusing on these foundational elements, the pilot programme seeks to address the need for an integrated private sector approach to mitigate risks and unlock the transformative power of AI for sustainable development. It aims to support innovations that are locally based and put people and sustainability at the centre, ensuring that innovations benefit communities in countries where the innovations are designed.  As part of the programme, selected startups will have the opportunity to participate in an ecosystem-building event hosted by INNOVIT and the Italian G7 Presidency in San Francisco, California, USA on 12 - 14 November 2024. During the event, selected startups will have the chance to showcase their innovative solutions, attract potential investment, form strategic partnerships, and network with INNOVIT's start-up network and Silicon Valley AI leaders. https://lnkd.in/gy3f79ht #aistartups #startup #accelerationpilot #aihub #sustainabledevelopment #undp