#34 Not the next Silicon Valley ๐ ๐ฝโโ๏ธ
Aspiring Founders launch, Forbes 30 under 30, the art of saying no, and genAI in Fintech
๐ย Hi, Iโm Anais, cofounder of Amela. Every Monday, we publish a weekly round up of insights + learning recs for European techs, from a diverse & inclusive perspective. Follow or share along to learn more about starting and investing in tech companies.
As a self-proclaimed technologist, and someone whoโs spent half her life in Europe, I have heard the comparison between Europe and the US so often. As Anne Sraders rightly pointed out, instead of looking for comparisons we can focus on leveraging our advantages/differences. Currently being based in Berlin, I invite you to consider the cityโs ecosystem and would love to learn from you what city are you building from and what are their advantages ๐
In this edition of European Amela, we cover:
๐ Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe 2024
๐ Q1 2024 Venture Capital Trends
๐ Generative AI in Financial Services: A New Frontier
๐ซ Angel Investing: The Art of Saying No" by Matthew Roberts
๐ "Why Europe Isn't the Next Silicon Valley" - Sifted Insight
We also take the opportunity to invite all ambitious women out here looking to explore their entrepreneurial side to our Aspiring Founder Membership, launching May 1st!
In the meantime, if you want to keep in touch of the latest of startups and female entrepreneurship do join our โAmela Networkโ whatsapp. All genders and careers welcome ๐
x Anaรญs
News
All about technology in Europe and the world ๐
๐ Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe 2024 ๐
Letโs start with some rockstars. Forbes' 30 Under 30 Europe list for 2024 is out, featuring innovative young leaders across sectors like Media, Science, and Technology. This year's lineup has collectively raised over $1 billion in funding, while their social media influence spans an impressive 262 million followers. The roster showcases talents from diverse fields including Retail, Healthcare, and Entertainment, reflecting a vibrant mix of entrepreneurial spirit and impactful achievements. Explore the full list here.
๐ Airchat Relaunches: Voice-Based Social Media ๐๏ธ
Naval Ravikant's Airchat has been relaunched as a voice-focused social app, where users interact through audio posts instead of text. This redesigned platform, now invite-only, ranks #27 in social networking on Apple's App Store. It features a user-friendly interface with functionalities like replying and sharing through audio recordings. Airchat emphasizes human connection by allowing a more natural communication style, distancing itself from traditional text-only social media experiences. Read more here.
๐ Q1 2024 Venture Capital Trends ๐
Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) leads as the most active venture investor in Q1 2024, partaking in 27 post-seed rounds. Following closely are Y Combinator with 18 deals and General Catalyst with 15. Despite a slowdown from peak funding periods, these firms continue to shape the venture landscape, particularly in the U.S. This period also saw significant action from seed investors, with Y Combinator, Techstars, and Antler topping the charts, showcasing a still robust but calmer seed funding environment. Read more here.
Investments
From 7th to 14th of April. Find a ๐ next to the raises of the teams with at least one woman in the founding team.
๐ฉ๐ช Torg raises โฌ2.7M in a seed round to advance its AI-driven product sourcing platform for the food and beverage industry. Congrats Rita!! ๐
๐ซ๐ท KohortPay raises โฌ1.2M in Marseille to innovate social commerce with a referral-based payment system that lowers costs for brands and rewards consumers.
๐ซ๐ท Kor secures โฌ3.5M for its proactive health platform, targeting French employees with personalized check-ups to boost productivity and reduce absenteeism, supported by RAISE Seed For Good. Congrats Khadija and Sophie! ๐
๐ฉ๐ฐ Reshape raises $20M in Series A to automate visual lab experiments with AI, enhancing research efficiency and speed.
๐ซ๐ท Firecell in Nice captures โฌ6.6M Seed funding for enhancing 5G connectivity in industrial settings, backed by Ventech, Matterwave Ventures, and others.
๐ฉ๐ช Proxima Fusion raises โฌ20M in seed funding to expedite the development of its pioneering fusion power plants in Munich.
๐ฌ๐ง Pactio raises $14M in a Series A round led by EQT Ventures to expand its digital infrastructure for the private markets.
๐ณ๐ฑ Kepler Vision Technologies secures โฌ1.5M from ROM InWest to boost production of its 'Kepler Night Nurse' tech, enhancing care in eldercare facilities by reducing staff workload and improving care quality. Plans include expansion into the UK and US markets.
๐ซ๐ท Iceberg Data Lab announces โฌ10M Series A for its financial environmental data solutions, aiding institutions with climate and biodiversity compliance, led by Beringea.
๐ฌ๐ง Mimo raises โฌ18M to simplify B2B payments for SMBs, improving cash flow and financial management with a unified platform that tackles the fragmentation of financial services.
๐ช๐ธ Factorial secures โฌ74.5M in a Go-To-Market investment from General Catalyst to fuel growth without equity dilution.
Opportunities and Events
Open calls and events for entrepreneurs
๐ Announcement: Aspiring Founder Membership (until May 1st)
Our Aspiring Founders membership๐ซ launches on May 1st, offering a global community of female entrepreneurs, monthly mastermind sessions, access to essential startup resources, and exclusive founder wellness benefits. Become a founding member with special benefits. Apply here!
๐๏ธ๐ Online Event: Data-Driven VC Summit 2024 (May 5-8)
Dive into the world of venture capital at the Data-Driven VC Summit 2024, a virtual event with over 20 expert speakers who will delve into how data science and AI are revolutionizing investor productivity. Register here.
๐ Application: Open Innovation Factory 2024 (Apply by April 10)
Got a deep tech startup? Boost its growth with the Open Innovation Factory 2024! This EIT Digital initiative offers up to โฌ400K in financial support, fundraising help, and expert mentoring. Apply here.
๐๏ธ๐ธ๐ช Event: Mashup 2024: Europe's Premier Startup Event (May 15-16, Malmรถ)
Join Europe's most exclusive gathering of startups and investors at Mashup 2024 in Malmรถ! This invite-only event, set for May 15-16, is meticulously crafted to foster meaningful connections. Get your invite here.
๐๏ธ๐ณ๐ฑ Event: Amsterdam ClimateHack Meetup 2024 (April 17)
Join the Amsterdam ClimateHack on April 17, 2024, at Skytree's office in Amsterdam Science Park for a focus on Carbon Dioxide Removal technologies. Engage with experts like Dr. Ramesh and companies showcasing their innovations. Register here.
๐๏ธ๐ณ๐ฑ Building on Bitcoin: Amsterdam Halving Edition (May 2)
Celebrate the Bitcoin Halving at the Amsterdam Halving Edition of Building on Bitcoin! Join a vibrant evening with discussions on Bitcoin, AI, DeFi, and more at Amsterdamโs SoHo House. Register here.
๐๏ธ๐ฉ๐ช Event: Berlin Product Managers: Charting Success Event (April 18)
Network and share expertise at the exclusive "Charting Success: Navigating the Product Roadmap" event hosted by Product People x Delivery Hero in Berlin. Join here.
๐๏ธ๐ฉ๐ช Event: Berlin - Blockchain, NFTs & Web3 (April 18)
This meetup focuses on maximizing blockchain investments, featuring talks on Bitcoin mining without the hassle and earning through crypto staking. Enhance your investment strategies with expert advice from Valentine Pleser and Max Sherwood. Register here.
๐๏ธ๐ซ๐ท Event: Paris Climate & Deeptech Happy Hour - April 2024! (April 25)
Gather monthly in Paris to connect with the vibrant community at the intersection of climate and deeptech. This casual meetup welcomes founders, scientists, investors, and anyone passionate about tackling hard climate problems through deep technology. Register here.
Would you like to add something here? ๐
Recommendations
Articles, videos, and other resources to learn
๐ Whitepaper: Generative AI in Financial Services, A New Frontier
Visa's whitepaper on Generative AI in financial services highlights its revolutionary potential. Promising areas include optimization of internal processes, personalized customer interaction, and improvements in compliance and risk management. Although we are still in the early stages, the combination of large amounts of data, strict compliance standards, and innovative product teams will be key. Generative AI is no longer the future but the present, marking the beginning of an era of significant opportunities for banks and fintechs. Download it here.
๐ซ Angel Investing: The Art of Saying No" by Matthew Roberts
Master the delicate art of rejection in angel investing with Matthew Roberts' insights. Saying "no" is effectively crucial as opportunities grow with your career. Roberts emphasizes transparency and personal belief in decision-making, guiding you to wisely manage your investment choices and time. His practical framework on delivering a "no" could be a game-changer for your investment strategy. Dive into his detailed analysis to refine your approach to angel investing. Read more here.
๐ "Why Europe Isn't the Next Silicon Valley" - Sifted Insight
The idea of creating a "European Silicon Valley" might be misleading and potentially detrimental. This analysis delves into the unique strengths of Europe's tech ecosystem, arguing for a focus on its inherent advantages rather than imitating Silicon Valley. It highlights how Europe's diversity in tech specializations and strong policy support for sectors like climate technology are pivotal. Explore why fostering a distinct European identity in technology and innovation is more beneficial. Read more here.
xx