North American Dominance: The Outsider’s Hold on German Start-ups

North American Dominance: The Outsider’s Hold on German Start-ups

Germany, with its rich pool of talented engineers, entrepreneur-friendly environment, and strong industrial base, appeared poised to emerge as a frontrunner in the internet revolution. However, the country has struggled to transform its innovative startup ideas into global digital businesses due to a lack of growth capital. This blog post explores the significance of domestic…

Nurturing Investor Relationships

Mastering the Art of Nurturing Investor Relationships

As an entrepreneur, receiving rejection from investors is not uncommon. It can be difficult to accept, and it’s natural to feel discouraged or even question your abilities. However, it’s important to remember that every successful entrepreneur has experienced rejection at some point in their journey. In this blog post, we will discuss some strategies for…

Accurately Calculate Startup Valuations

How to Accurately Calculate Startup Valuations

As an experienced investor, I understand the challenges that early-stage founders face when it comes to calculating their startup’s valuation. Low valuations can impact cap table structures for future fundraising rounds, while high valuations can lead to fewer rounds in the future. To avoid unnecessary friction with investors, it’s crucial for founders to determine a…

Navigating the Rise of AI Tools in Investor Outreach

Navigating the Rise of AI Tools in Investor Outreach

With the explosion of AI tools, early-stage startup founders have access to more data and insights than ever before. While this is undoubtedly a positive development, it also presents a challenge when it comes to investor outreach and pitching. As more and more founders turn to AI to automate their outreach efforts, investors are becoming…

Parul Madan, Founder & CEO of DueDash

Field notes: SVB & banking collapse

What the SVB saga means for fundraising (spoiler: nothing good) In case you haven’t heard, Silicon Valley Bank, the 16th largest bank in the US and the number one bank for venture-backed startups, failed last week. In preparing for this essay, I envisioned a much scarier scenario. While the total disaster was averted, those of…

Why an investor’s no is not a final rejection

Why an investor’s no is not a final rejection

As a startup founder, one of the most challenging aspects of building a successful company is securing funding. Many founders spend countless hours preparing pitches and presentations, only to be met with rejection from venture capital investors. However, it’s important to remember that a “no” is not always permanent, and there are steps you can…

Basics of investor update and reporting

Basics of investor updates & reporting

As a startup founder, keeping your investors informed and updated about your company’s progress is essential. Not only does it build trust and confidence in your investors, but it also helps you establish a good relationship with them. In this article, we will explore the basics of investor updates and reporting. Why it is important…

Investor relations

Investor Relations: A Guide for Startups

Securing funding for your startup can be a huge achievement. Remember that getting funding is just the first step in scaling up and growing your business. Building and maintaining strong investor relations is a key part of this journey. The function of investor relations, or IR, is to manage relations between a company and its…

On a table, writing on paper

Mitigating Startup Risks: Strategies and Frameworks to Inspire You

The German startup scene has contributed substantially to the country’s economy. In fact, an E-Commerce Germany News article on startups shows how these businesses raised a notable €8.1 billion in 2021 alone. However, the same success has been harder to come by recently. According to a 2022 German Startup Association survey, uncertainty among startups skyrocketed due to…