Scaling internationally from CEE – first-hand experience from 500 Startups

MEETUP – If you want to build a successful startup / scaleup, raise capital to support your ambitious growth, you need to think globally, enter international markets and face a bunch of tough challenges leaving CEE. We will proudly host Enis Hulli from the most active global early stage VC firm 500 Startups and take his personal advice based on his deep experience in supporting CEE/SEE startups entering the global playground. When is the right time? What are the main risks and challenges on scaling beyond CEE, incl. founder mindset, sales, marketing, hiring, organization, culture, etc.?

The realistic timeframe of scaling vs. VC investment horizon

MEETUP – After fundraising, the growth expectations from VCs put a huge pressure on founders. They have to deliver profit, prepare for exit, close the fund; but what is the realistic timeframe of scaling, how does it fit into VC lifecycle, how do they handle the conflicts of time horizons?

The role of outbound approach in scaling – can you make it without?

MEETUP – Cold contacting, outbound efforts – a lot of founders, sales managers literally hate them, because it’s seen slow, providing low conversion – or don’t work at all, just burn money, time and motivation. What is the “truth-rate” of these statements? Is there a choice at all: can you scale and deliver an impressive growth to (also) your VC investor w/o an outbound approach, considering that your CEE local market is probably too small?

Beyond early stage: Series B/C rounds, debt financing to support international scaling

MEETUP – What you need to know about raising EUR 20-50M from international investors? Later stage investments, Series B/C rounds, debt financing – characteristics, rules, preparation, requirements and KPIs making these rounds highly different from any earlier stage investments – how to prepare successfully? What are the challenges to become “ready and go for it”? We will discover this topic with our international investor guests from Kreos Capital and OTB Ventures. 

German VC ecosystem and preparation for a Series A round

MEETUP – In CEE with the heavily funded local VC funds, you can easily get seed investments with even less impressive results and “safe” ambitions. Raising a next round (esp. with an international investor) may be hard after such way of funding. How to prepare for a REAL Series A round, what steps to be taken to close a successful deal with international investors? Why is it more likely to get funding from local / CEE VCs than e.g. German ones? How they see the CEE startup ecosystem, how to build on our strengths and “reposition” ourselves?

Meetup with Speedinvest & MOC: Valuation, terms, VC activity in COVID times

MEETUP – Lockdowns, supply chain issues, projects on-hold, strategy redesign, cost restructuring etc. – the majority of business players and startups are affected around the world, regardless which side of the table they sit. If you are building a startup / scaleup and you plan to raise a new VC round, you might have a plenty of questions: so what’s now? how? where from? what terms? Join us and raise your questions on 28 May at Equity Thursday online meetup directly to Jacek Lubinski (Market One Capital) and Alex Zhigarev (Speedinvest)!

TheScaleupFest – International event on scaling

Key highlights of TheScaleupFest event - March 2020

TheScaleupFest is much more than just yet another startup event.

It is aimed to create a friendly place to learn, atmosphere and time for all stakeholders in the ecosystem to meet, share, get inspired, network and build their story in the most valuable way for their scaling and growing beyond CEE – together, successfully.

It is a place for startups, scaleups, investors and corporates where talented businesses, international experience, best practices and capital can find and impact each other. You will hear founders telling their growth stories, real international case studies, investors letting you know why one team succeeded and who they are looking for.

The Scaleup Fest is the 4th wave of VCs in CEE event series, co-organized by Absolvo, HVCA and HunBan –  this time powered further by HR Fest, the leading professional HR event and festival series in Hungary with 4 years history.

For more details about the event, topics, speakers please visit TheScaleupFest event website: https://thescaleupfest.com/

Private Equity investments, buyouts and the taxation issues of transactions

Equity Business Breakfast – Private Equity investments and the taxation issues of transactions

EVENT – This time we put private equity, its specialities and function in focus. Our international PE investor guest Genesis Capital will give an overview what investment opportunities they are looking for, then we give an insight into the specific details of a recently closed PE transaction in which majority of stakes of 11 Entertainment Group was sold. Both investor’s and owner’s perspectives will be discovered and understood during the discussions. Taxation issues will be raised and answered by OrienTax.

VCs in CEE 2019 – The scaleup journey

EVENT – Are you building a startup / scaleup and you are aspiring to become a regional or even global key player? Are you fundraising and want to meet international VCs, share your pitch deck with them and have the opportunity of an initial 1-on-1 meeting? If so, this event on 10th September 2019 is for you! We invite to Budapest and stage again international VCs and great CEE entrepreneurs to introduce you and share their experience, case studies and success stories – this time about the journey of scaling, challenges of global market entry, fundraising, and growing beyond CEE successfully.

VCs in CEE 2019 – The scaleup session

EVENT – Are you building a startup / scaleup and you are aspiring to become a regional or even global key player? Are you fundraising and want to meet international VCs? Or, are you simply interested in the investment and startup world of the CEE region? If so, this event on 26th March 2019 is for youVCs and entrepreneurs will share their experience, case studies, success stories, and discuss the challenges of global market entry and how to scale and grow beyond CEE successfully. We introduce again “new wave” of international VCs interested in the region.