European startups got less money this year,but the sentiment is improving. Target: AI & climate tech

European startups got less money this year,but the sentiment is improving. Target: AI & climate tech

Petr Šíma: Forget about the United States, Europe has already overtaken it in the number of new startups. Moreover, it is the only region where the volume of capital invested in startups this year will be higher than in 2020, by 18 percent. Let's leave aside 2021 and early 2022, when startup valuations skyrocketed and investors bought whatever they could. That was an anomaly. This year, $45 billion will flow into European startups, according to a fresh analysis by Atomico. This is the third highest figure after the two years mentioned above and confirms that the ecosystem is on a strong footing.

DEPO’s Founders Meetup: A Catalyst for Innovation and Growth

DEPO’s Founders Meetup: A Catalyst for Innovation and Growth

Last October, DEPO Ventures had a great pleasure of organising a Founders Meetup that served as a beacon of innovation, collaboration, and growth. The event was a precursor to the Engaged Investments Conference and was attended by an eclectic mix of DEPO team members, 30 founders of start-ups from over 12 countries, and our valued Limited Partners (LPs). This event marked the first time that all the parties came together, fostering a vibrant ecosystem that thrives on shared knowledge, mutual growth, and a unified vision.

Czech health tech start-up KARDI AI received EUR 1.5 million from investors for further development

Czech health tech start-up KARDI AI received EUR 1.5 million from investors for further development

The start-up KARDI AI, which aims to prevent heart health and optimize patient treatment through long-term ECG monitoring and early detection of possible cardiac arrhythmias using artificial intelligence, has now raised a further EUR 1.5 million from investors, bringing the total amount invested in the company to EUR 1.9 million. The funds will help the company to realize its ambitious plans aimed at dynamically increasing the number of users at an international level. The planned steps include, in particular, the introduction of a new version of the product with a higher level of approval from the regulatory authorities. This will support a faster expansion of the network of cooperating cardiologists, neurologists and general practitioners as well as the development of cooperations with other healthcare providers, retailers and health insurance companies. All this with the aim of simplifying and streamlining cardiac healthcare across Europe as quickly as possible.

„We live in the current ecosystem, and we shouldn’t hope it will change.”

„We live in the current ecosystem, and we shouldn’t hope it will change.”

The Engaged Investments Conference's agenda was brimming with inspiring conversations, and one such panel discussion delved deep into the dynamics of start-up investments in the Central and Eastern European (CEE) region. With notable industry experts sharing their experience, the panel, titled "Exploring the Pros and Cons: Traditional VC Funds vs. Angel Syndicates and its Place in the CEE Region," provided a comprehensive exploration of the challenges, trends, and opportunities shaping the landscape.

From left to right: Lukasz Pajak (COO) and Henrik Sachs (CEO) at ImpactHub Berlin)

NEW INVESTMENT: Cardino Secures €1M Pre-seed Funding to Build the Marketplace for Used Electric Cars

Berlin-based startup, Cardino, announces its new online platform tailored for the electric vehicle (EV) market. By leveraging innovative tech features, Cardino promises a seamless, digital experience for both EV sellers and car dealerships. The company successfully closed a €1M pre-seed round, with Silence VC and FJ Labs leading, and involvement from distinguished investors like Asymmetric Capital Partners, DEPO Ventures, Voyagers.io, Inclimo, Gaingels, and other industry experts as business angels.

Our Portfolio Company BLOCKMATE Secures 1.5 million Euro Investment! DEPO Is on Board as a Follow-on

Our Portfolio Company BLOCKMATE Secures 1.5 million Euro Investment! DEPO Is on Board as a Follow-on

Providing analytical insights into the world of digital assets and becoming a bridge between the cryptocurrency and traditional finance worlds is the goal of the Czech-Slovak startup Blockmate. They are developing a new generation of solutions for secure and consolidated financial services. They have now secured an investment totaling 1.5 million euros (approximately 36 million Czech korunas) from seven investors. The largest portion, amounting to 760,000 euros, will come from Seed Starter of Česká a Slovenská spořitelna. Among other investors are investment funds Tensor Ventures, DEPO Ventures, Token Ventures, BADideas.fund, ZAKA Ventures, and Diaspora Ventures. This investment marks a significant milestone for the company, enabling them to continue connecting cryptocurrencies, digital assets, and traditional finance.

Autumn Conference to Welcome European Venture Capitalists and Angel Investors to Prague

Autumn Conference to Welcome European Venture Capitalists and Angel Investors to Prague

The Czech startup environment is gaining momentum, as evidenced by the international investment conference Engaged Investments, which, due to high demand, will offer a two-day program for the first time this year. Organizers expect three hundred participants. The prestigious event in Prague will bring together angel investors, fund investors, and representatives of venture capital funds, primarily focusing on startups from Central and Eastern Europe. The exclusive event, organized for the fifth year by the investment group DEPO Ventures, will provide investors with a deeper insight into the world of startups, expand their knowledge, and help strengthen their collaboration. The conference will take place on October 24th and 25th at the Kaiserštejnský Palace in Prague's Malá Strana.

RINGIL Advanced In The Digitalization Of Logistics, And This Year They'll Test The American Market

RINGIL Advanced In The Digitalization Of Logistics, And This Year They'll Test The American Market

André Dravecký set out on a complex mission more than two years ago. He founded the startup Ringil and began building a modular logistics platform with the goal of digitalizing the transportation of goods as much as possible. "In many companies, logistics still relies only on paper and pencil. When I talk to investors, they often don't believe me, but it's true. And we want to change that," says Dravecký. Read more about his plans.

Tapline, a digital finance platform has announced a pre-seed funding of €31.7 million euro

Tapline, a digital finance platform has announced a pre-seed funding of €31.7 million euro

Fasanara Capital, the UK-based alternative asset management company, is providing debt funding of €30m. The €1.7m equity round is led by the Czech VC firm, V-Sharp Venture Studio, alongside Antler, Black Pearls VC, 365 fintech, Depo Ventures, Impetus Capital, and several business angels investing in the round. The funding will allow the Berlin-based team to tap into the exponentially growing SaaS market, where global transaction volumes are set to reach €720 billion in 2028. The investment will also be used to enhance the Tapline solution and hire key individuals around marketing and product.

How to structuralize your pitch deck

How to structuralize your pitch deck

One of the main aspects of pitch decks to consider is their overall structure. A deck can thrive or fail spectacularly based on the amount of clarity and information conciseness you provide. Here are two possible standard, nevertheless, effective ways to structure your pitch deck in order to raise the probability of successful investment.

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