Start Spark’s Post

Unpopular startup opinion: - For too long, it has been way easier to raise venture capital than it was to find product-market-fit. This has incentivised a whole generation of Startup Founders to disconnect from clients and over-connect to investors and VC funds. As a Fractional CTO, I've been hired by both VC-backed and by Bootstrapped startup Founders. And I think all of them must: - Talk with clients - Launch product as early as possible - Iterate fast

Unpopular startup opinion: - For too long, it has been way easier to raise venture capital than it was to find product-market-fit. This has incentivised a whole generation of Startup Founders to disconnect from clients and over-connect to investors and VC funds. As a Fractional CTO, I've been hired by both VC-backed and by Bootstrapped startup Founders. And I think all of them must: - Talk with clients - Launch product as early as possible - Iterate fast

In the latest episode of Give It A Nudge, Steve Grace talks with Maria Halasz, the CEO of Stride Equity, a venture group that uniquely combines the resources of venture capital with the power of equity crowdfunding. Maria explains how Stride Equity is not just investing in startups but is deeply involved in preparing them for securing investments, leveraging a model that goes beyond simple transactions. During the conversation, she outlines the innovative approach of Stride Equity, which is designed to meet the needs of founders and investors. This venture group provides more than capital; they invest their experience, expertise, and connections, offering mentorship, advice, and invaluable access to their networks. For more stories on startups, scale-ups and high-growth companies, don’t forget to subscribe to Give It A Nudge for our weekly episodes!

He's raised venture capital before. Will he do it again? Why do so many startup founders have mixed feelings about the path that... seemingly arms them with the fuel they needed? This is an extended clip from my conversation with Dan Pantelo on Three Course Founders. What do you think? Is 2025 and beyond a new era for bootstrappers taking advantage of generative AI and cost efficiency, or will venture fight back?

Today, I’m happy to share the second part of the VC Fresh Money series published on The Recursive. For founders, understanding the landscape of venture capital is another homework to do—these VCs are a good source for scaling bold ideas into companies. If you’re a startup founder, this is a read you won’t want to miss. Check the link from the first comment. Here are the next CEE VCs ready to invest 👉 24Ventures, Bitdefender Voyager Ventures, Digital Ocean Ventures, Hard2beat, Impact Ventures, OTB Ventures, Presto Ventures, Radix Ventures, Tar Heel Capital Pathfinder, and Tilia Impact Ventures. #CEEInvestors #CEE #TechEcosystem

George Levin, Founder and CEO of Hints, shares his insights on navigating today’s venture capital world. Reflecting on his experience as a founder and investor, he discusses changes in the startup ecosystem over the last decade and how tools like SAFE agreements and party rounds have transformed fundraising. Find out how the rise of AI, no-code platforms, and increased competition are reshaping how startups raise funds and scale their operations. Read on Tribume: https://lnkd.in/d5nU8rST

Angel investing plays a crucial role in fueling innovation and supporting early-stage startups. However, navigating the complex world of startup investments can be challenging, even for experienced investors. ⚡️ At a recent Brampton Angels event, Moien Giashi, PhD, Principal at GreenSky Ventures, shared valuable insights on angel investing and venture capital. His presentation covered the fundamentals of investing in startups, from understanding the fundraising landscape to conducting due diligence.  🔥 Moien Giashi has been with GreenSky Ventures for four years and, as a principal, leads the firm's deep tech investments. GreenSky invests at the seed stage with cheque sizes between $1.5 million and $2 million, focusing on companies within Canada. Overall, the fund is generalist, with investments in B2B enterprise SaaS and deep tech. 🚀 🔗 Read more in our latest article: https://hubs.ly/Q02V5Hsc0

Boldstart Ventures Raises $250M for Fund VII boldstart ventures, based in Miami, US, has successfully closed $250 million for its seventh fund, Boldstart Ventures VII L.P., with support from 68 investors. Led by Founder and General Partner Ed Sim and GP Eliot Durbin, Boldstart invests early in enterprise tech founders, often collaborating with them before incorporation. The firm specializes in "inception rounds," providing initial checks between $500k and $5 million and maintaining ample capital for follow-on investments. Boldstart’s portfolio includes leading enterprise-focused startups such as Snyk, Blockdaemon, Kustomer, BigID, and Superhuman. If you are experiencing difficulties in raising fresh capital and would require warm introductions to new LPs, contact G+QUANT🤝     ▶ Please use G+QUANT's link for inquiries and fund decks, or send your inquiry to info@gplusquant.com #VentureCapital #BoldstartVentures #EnterpriseTech #EarlyStageFunding #InceptionRounds #EnterpriseStartups #MiamiTech

In 99% of cases, general public can not benefit from startup financial success, because investing in startups is limited to accredited investors and there are rules against soliciting investments publicly. The same is with startups that Geek Ventures invests in; typically, only LPs (limited partners, or investors) of Geek Ventures share the financial upside in those startups. However, there is one exception. Our portfolio startup Sensate is raising funds publicly, and anyone can participate. Sensate delivers real positive impact to customers - helping them decrease stress and anxiety, and improve sleep. Sensate was praised by Forbes and was named one of best inventions by TIME. And you can become an investor with as little as $250 at https://lnkd.in/e94cSUMR. If you're an accredited investor, I'm happy to make an intro to the CEO.

Why choose Genesis Ventures' DayOne over another startup accelerator? 🤔 In my eyes, the thing that sets us apart is the personalized guidance from experienced VC investors, over a 6-week period. By joining DayOne, you will have an open line of communication with our GPs, Dimitris Maroulis and Stergios Anastasiadis, over a 6-week period. You will get hours to hone in on your startup idea and make sure you are setting the right foundations for a VC-backable business. What could be more valuable than getting constant feedback from your potential investor? 🚀 The feedback you get will be actionable. We will tell you exactly what you need to do to secure an investment. It will also be honest. If we believe your idea or business model is not investable, we will let you know and prompt you to go a different direction. Applications for the 6th cohort of DayOne are now open. Link in comments 💪 Lefteris Papadopoulos Marina Kalogerakou Stergios Anastasiadis Dimitris Maroulis Thanasi Tsiodras