“Fail fast, learn faster” - this is not only a common mantra in the startup cosmos, but also a bitter reality in many cases. The road to a successful startup is rocky, full of setbacks and failed ideas. But what if the reason for failure is not the product or the market, but the founder themselves?

Our CEO and founder Eric Weber shares his latest analysis, giving you insights into what’s happening in the startup and venture capital world - globally, nationally, and at the regional level. This is the second part. Check out the first part here.

A family office is a private wealth management advisory firm created by high-net-worth families to manage their financial affairs. These offices provide a range of services beyond simple investment management, including estate planning, tax optimization, philanthropic efforts, and more. The family office is typically founded by founders or wealthy families who require specialized, personalized management of their assets.

Your comprehensive guide to the most impactful healthcare event recommendations and digital health events in Europe - curated specifically for digital health and medtech startups by SpinLab Coach David Blazek.

Venture debt has long been widespread in the U.S. and Israel, but it only started gaining traction in Germany in 2018, when Silicon Valley Bank established its European branch. This marked the introduction of tailored loan products specifically designed for startups in the region.

At this year’s HHL SpinLab Investors Day #15, more than 200 guests, including venture capital funds, business angels, and corporates from all over Europe – France, Belgium, Tallinn, Poland, and Italy – came to Leipzig. One of this year's topics was shifting from software to hardware startups. 

In 2014, 27pilots founder Gregor Gimmy, while working at BMW's innovation strategy department, conceived an approach to enhance how BMW engaged with startups. He established specific processes, resources, and a new value system, leading to the creation of the BMW Startup Garage, the world's first official Venture Client Unit. In Venture Clienting, established companies actively engage with startups by becoming targeted clients. This involvement goes beyond mere financial support, it provides valuable feedback, expertise, and market access to startups in their early stages. In return, startups deliver innovative solutions and technologies that can be seamlessly integrated into the companies' operational processes. During a pilot project, the utility of the purchased technologies for the company is assessed over several weeks to months. Upon successful adoption, a long-term collaboration is sought, aiming to provide competitive advantages for both parties.

If one were to draw a comparison between startups and established companies, the metaphor of a newborn versus an adult might come to mind. Just as newborns go through an incubation phase and eventually face puberty before stepping out into the world, startups embark on a similar journey. They often start in an incubator or accelerator, undergoing a period of growth, and then emerge to either organically expand or be acquired.

Applying for grants has the potential to significantly impact startups by providing essential funds and resources for their growth. However, the application process is often intricate, demanding, and time-consuming, requiring startups to create compelling narratives, meet specific criteria, and present accurate financial projections.