Startup Daily’s Post

Scotland's ecosystem for nurturing tech start-ups continues to transform into a powerful support network, greater than the sum of its parts. The latest example is the new partnership between Scottish EDGE and TechScaler. By combining two of our most effective assets within Scotland’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, we significantly increase the value that they bring to our start-ups. Alumni start-ups from Scottish EDGE can now access an ongoing development path within Techscaler, while Techscaler’s network of startup founding teams is strengthened further by dynamic businesses curated by EDGE.  https://lnkd.in/eZcM9RYR

How can Detroit keep growing its startup ecosystem? Here are 4 takeaways from Detroit Homecoming. Read in Crain's Detroit Business:

The LaunchLNK grant helps early-stage high-growth startups establish and grow in Lincoln, NE. It provides six qualifying startups with a non-dilutive grant, connections to potential sources of additional capital and mentors, and introductions to local corporations who may become early customers or partners. Applications due November 25th. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gPniS_Ft

Our St. Louis Inno Madness competition is back. This year, we’ve got 32 local startups vying for the coveted title of 2024 Inno Madness champion. Inno Madness is St. Louis Inno's friendly, bracket-style challenge where readers vote to advance companies based on one question: Who would you invest in? Whether you believe in one mission or product slightly over the other or would prefer to back a more established company versus an early-stage startup, how you answer that question is entirely up to you. The bracket is designed to shine a spotlight on 32 innovative, fast-growing local businesses. https://lnkd.in/gabJd7NG

"The best time to start was yesterday, but the next best time is now. You won’t know until you try, and Antler gives you the structure and the safety net to take that leap." well put by Kshitija Deshmukh, CEO of Antler-backed company FOBOH. In last week's AMA, I sat down with her and Nate Spiteri (Shopfront) as they shared how Antler’s day-zero support played a pivotal role in their startup success. 🔑 Some key takeaways: 👉 Finding the Right Co-Founder: KD and Nate stressed how critical it is to find someone with complementary skills to partner with. Antler’s residency is designed to help you meet the right people - Nate met his co-founder Drew Flaherty on day one! 👉 Pivot and Grow with Mentorship: Both founders made significant pivots while building with Antler. Market feedback during the residency helped Nathan and his co-founder shift from a marketplace to seller tools, while KD says Antler pushed them to refine their problem-solving focus. 👉 The Power of Community: Building a startup can be lonely, but with Antler’s residency, you’re surrounded by fellow founders and Antler team members who’ve got your back. Antler helps build strong co-founding teams, provides capital and early-stage expertise and coaching, and access to a global network to help founders succeed from day zero. Dive into their journeys and how Antler can help you build your next venture: https://lnkd.in/grb8Jwiq -- Antler is an early-stage VC that enables and invests in exceptional people building the defining companies of tomorrow. It supports founders as long-term investors by providing a clear pathway to capital, a global footprint to scale, and access to the world’s fastest-growing network of early-stage entrepreneurs. 💡 Want to hear more? Sign up for our upcoming AMAs to learn from more Antler-backed founders: https://lnkd.in/ggkRrBnW  👉 Ready to build with Antler? Express your interest here: https://lnkd.in/gNtBNVrb

A powerful message from me to current and future start-ups, as I prepare for the most ambitious goal in 2025 with #USA. Over the next 6 months, I am working with some very lucrative partners in the #USA including Google USA. Most recently, my expert article with Authority Magazine on the start-ups space was ranked #19, in September, and #24, in October, as most popular. Very important to hold onto the majority control of your start-up in the first 5 years. Lots of conflicting information around this subject matter. All boils down to your definition of success 👇 #Creating100kStartupsBy2034 #Skills4Startups #StartupsGrowth #Voice4Startups #InternationalRoadshows #BusinessStrategy #NewBusinessSchool4Startups ##NewDigitalStartupsMembershipNetwork

The “mighty-middle” segment of startups falls between venture-scale unicorns and small businesses. These startups aim for valuations in the high single-digit to high tens of millions within 5-10 years, targeting midsize niches with significant growth potential. Enabled by internet tools, global advertising, and affordable tech, mighty-middle businesses often bootstrap, use contractors, and require entrepreneurs to acquire diverse skills. They offer a favorable risk-reward tradeoff, allowing founders to retain control and start paying themselves earlier. Investors and corporations find them attractive for their innovation and substantial returns. But to support mighty-middle startups, tailored support is required, emphasizing mentorship and showcasing successful mighty- middle examples. #CompanyGrowth #Strategy

Nearly a quarter of the fastest-growing private companies in the Midwest hail from Chicago. 42 Chicago companies made Inc. Regionals' latest ranking, including AtkCo Inc., which was named the fastest-growing out of Chicago and the third-fastest-growing in the region. Congrats to every Chicago startup that made the list! #chicagobusiness #chicagostartups #venturecapital #inc5000

More From the Local Business Times: Why startup exits are starting to rebound in the Bay Area A report by Deloitte and Pitchbook shows that the value of startup exits in the first half of 2024 has already surpassed the full year of 2023.

In the AgeTech sector, there’s a unique opportunity to significantly improve the quality of life for an often overlooked demographic. Through my involvement with Birdhouse, I’ve seen some incredible innovations, but there’s still work to be done, especially in regions like Flanders where interest in AgeTech could be stronger. Birdhouse is the largest AgeTech network in Europe, offering a 12-week program that’s highly valued by top names in the industry. With the support of Birdhouse Ventures, their early-stage investment fund, startups not only receive initial funding but also have the potential for follow-on investments - crucial for scaling their impact. Developing technology that truly meets user needs is complex and requires a deep understanding of user-centered design. Next to that, refining a sustainable business model is a challenge, especially with different financing models across countries. Birdhouse provides the format and support to tackle these challenges head-on. For those in AgeTech, I highly recommend engaging with the Birdhouse ecosystem. The next cohort starts in November, with registrations closing on September 23rd.  https://lnkd.in/e7Wj4EME It’s a chance to refine your approach and make a lasting impact. #agetech #startups #birdhouse #investment