Sebastian Ross

The world is for those who dare. When Ander Michelena reached out to us to brainstorm and execute All Iron’s rebranding, the premise was clear: the name had to reflect Basque heritage. They say that knowing your roots makes it easier to navigate the future. With this in mind, we decided to delve into history and uncovered the story of Magellan's voyage. The second captain, Elcano, hailing from Getaria, assembled a crew of Basque sailors. Tragically, Elcano returned with only a handful of sailors alive from the hundreds who set sail, and the sole surviving Basque was Juan de Acurio. And btw, Getaria also gave us another genius: Cristóbal Balenciaga. History and creativity run deep here. Echoing what Acurio Ventures has explained since its launching, this rebranding is built on three core pillars: 1) Becoming truly international 2) Emphasizing resilience, determination, and teamwork 3)Daring to play I want to share a couple of extra details that haven’t come up before: the graphic system is all about the sea and navigation maps. So, we naturally leaned toward shades of blue, but we also played around with some complementary tones that really capture that innovative spirit of Acurio. For more context, check out this piece from Sifted https://lnkd.in/dizZbZkU

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🚀 Important: This gathering is specifically designed for companies with a team size of approximately 30 or more—indicating they're beyond the early startup phase. In collaboration with IESE Business School, ranked among the top three business schools globally, 🏫 and partnered with Google for Startups, on behalf of Movens Capital we're thrilled to invite you to a one-of-a-kind event in #Warsaw titled "Foundations of Scaling Open Day Warsaw". This all-day workshop focuses on methods for scaling your business from a moderate size to beyond. 📈 🗓 Date and Time: May 13, 2024, from 12:00 PM to 8:00 PM 📍 Location: Google for Startups Campus, 10 Koneser Square, Warsaw 🔗 Registration Link and Event Details: Please see the LINK IN THE COMMENTS BELOW 💸 Price: Complimentary This workshop is part of the Foundations of Scaling (FoS) program, tailored for ambitious technology company founders ready to scale operations beyond 30 staff members. 🌟 🔍 Event Sessions: 📌Growth Strategy: Prof. @Germán Loewe will begin with a session on strategic planning, discussing the crucial role of market barriers, the relevance of profit pools, and strategic planning for expansion. He will also introduce practical tools to help you solidify your market position and growth strategy. 📌Scaling Your Leadership: Dr. Sebastian Ross and a panel including FoS alumni Ron Fridman 🇺🇦, Rafal Plutecki, and Pawel Bochniarz will cover the critical aspect of leadership in scaling operations. They'll discuss upgrading your leadership approach to keep pace with your company's growth. 🚀 📌Pricing Strategies: I'll be discussing the nuances of setting prices for products and services, focusing on balancing profitability with customer goodwill. 💲 📌Operational Growth Routines: Konrad Kwiatkowski will showcase how leveraging data and effective meeting strategies can support business planning and functional growth, helping foster a culture of adaptability and continuous improvement. 📊 Join us for an evening of networking and refreshments 🍹

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Pitching your GTM strategy to investors? Borja Santos has some tips for you: focus on market demand, show your competitive edge and be clear on use cases. Highlight acquisition costs, sales levers & team KPIs. Read the full post here: https://lnkd.in/eSTWxTE8

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VC investors do have hearts. We found that out yesterday. Jokes aside, yesterday we ran the first VC Bootcamp at the #SchoolOfFounders with legendary coach and author Jerry Colonna. Twenty of Spain's best VC partners spent the day at IESE Business School to reflect on the emotional struggles that building and investing in startups entails. It was a fascinating day, as we usually hear about the founder's side in our programs. One important insight I took away from this wonderful session is the need for investors and board members to be honest: ✔ Honest about how they feel when they show up for a meeting. (A simple Red, Yellow, Green check-in would work wonders to sync emotionally with the founder.) ✔ Honest about their fears, doubts, and insecurities. (Imagine a young VC partner saying to the founder: "This is my first investment. I don't really know yet what I am doing, and I feel tremendous pressure to perform. Can you help me figure out how I can be most useful to you and together help the company perform?") ✔ Honest about their motives for making a particular comment. ("I'm asking you this because I'm very concerned about my reputation if this goes wrong. I'm raising my next fund, and this would make it very difficult.") Nothing fancy. Not authentic, not vulnerable, simply honest as Jerry taught us. Sharing empathetically and, with good intentions, what's really going through your head. This alone would tremendously improve the relationship between investors and founders. (Of course, the founder should do the same.) In any case, it was a fantastic event, and I'm very grateful to Jerry for sharing his enormous wisdom and skillfully guiding us through the day. I'm also grateful to Paula Sancho and her team at Finaves for the idea and for gathering her investor friends. And extremely grateful to our VCs for showing up and sharing so openly. We actually might do this again soon. Albert Botet, Enrique Penichet García, Guillem Masferrer, Isaac Mendoza, Javier Cebrián Monereo, Jordi Vidal, Marc Badosa Rigau, Marc Guasch Rodriguez, Marc Subirats, Marta G. Zanchi, María Romero Miguel, Marti Escursell, Mathieu Carenzo, Josep Casas Pérez, Pepe Agell, Samuel Gil, Sonia Fernandez, Tony Anagor, Stephen Stynes PS: Here is a great article by Allison Schultz, Jerry's cofounder at Reboot on the topic: https://lnkd.in/dPccnPSs

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Join the Pitch-Session in Barcelona powered by our P2S.vc investment program for startups on June 21st at 18:30 CET. If you're thinking of launching a startup and are not yet ready to raise investment, you can attend the event as a guest to ask questions and network. The event program: ✓ 18:30-19:00 - Gathering of guests. ✓ 19:00-20:00 - Startup Pitch Session. ✓ 20:00 onwards - Investors answering your questions and networking. The participation fee is €15. Moderators: → Denis Kalyshkin—Investment Director at I2BF Global Ventures, with 10+ years of experience investing in B2B companies in the US and a focus on transforming old and boring industries with modern technology. → Irina Baigozina—Founder of BCN IT HUB and international IT recruiting agency Hit Hunt, helping large companies and startups find tech talent. The meeting is aimed at Russian-speaking entrepreneurs. If you want to come to our pitch session, write in the comments, and I'll send you the information👇 Yellow Rocks! | AltaIR Capital | Smart Partnership Capital | I2BF Global Ventures #investmentprogram #p2s #preseedtosucceed #startups #fundraising #earlystagestartups #venturecapital

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As the New Year begins, many of us set resolutions—only to watch them fade away over the following weeks. What if this year could be different? Instead of resolutions, create a Personal Strategic Plan—a simple yet powerful way to focus on who you want to become and the legacy you want to leave behind. See: https://lnkd.in/easgYE-b

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📈  The ROI of Vertical Development: 8 Key Competencies That Drive Success 📈 Research by Harris and Kuthnert reveals a compelling truth: leaders with advanced worldviews excel in 8 crucial areas: 1️⃣ Inspiring commitment 2️⃣ Leading change 3️⃣ Managing performance 4️⃣ Cultivating talent 5️⃣ Catalyzing teams 6️⃣ Creating vision 7️⃣ Resilience 8️⃣ Seeing broader context 🤔  Imagine the impact on your organization if your leadership team consistently excelled in these areas. Vertical development isn't just about personal growth - it's a strategic investment in your company's future. Consider this: ❓ How would improved change leadership accelerate your strategic initiatives? ❓ What would better talent cultivation mean for your succession planning? ❓ How might a broader contextual understanding shape more effective long-term strategies? CEOs: As you plan your leadership development initiatives, consider the multiplier effect of vertical growth. It's not just about making better leaders - it's about crafting the architects of your company's future. 👀 Keep your eyes peeled for more posts on this topic and read the essay in full https://lnkd.in/ekYj6v7T ✉️ For advice on this subject, DM me. 🔗 Email mark@fittolead.net #privateequity #venturecapital #CEO #VUCA #decisionmaking #leadership #complexity #valuecreation #problemsolving #VerticalDevelopment #LeadershipGrowth #CEOMindset #VCBacked #PEBacked #LeadershipDevelopment

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Welcome to the Korelya Capital family Ifeel - Humanising Growth! Glad to co-lead this $20m Series B investment that will help building a category leading player in the B2B Mental Health industry. What convinced us about this opportunity: - Mental health issues are unfortunately one these massive secular trends that can be heavily supported by tech to address people in genuine need. - ifeel is actually democratising access to mental health for everyone thanks to a unique and scalable value proposition for all stakeholders: -> for patients: 100% coverage (for low-medium-high risk patients and their family) thanks to a broad suite of AI tech solutions, curated specialised therapists, leading to minutes vs weeks to be supported. -> for corporates: affordable solution (in direct or as part of you insurance health package), with a clear ROI case reducing turnover and absenteism while improving your employer brand. -> for insurers: a scalable business development offering to address new corporates needs while keeping control on their books and collecting insights for smart underwriting. - Finally, we are pleased to see the company is already present in 30+ countries including in Asia where we will do our best to support the team. Kudos Amir Kaplan, Martin Villanueva, Gabriele Murrone and the whole Ifeel - Humanising Growth team for building such an inspiring company. Looking forward to working with you! https://lnkd.in/e3mdb5b4

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What an amazing experience we had in #Berlin for our entrepreurship immersion week with Esade Executive Education . Each day we visited different entrepreneurs. It was a learning and emotional rollercoaster. It was intriguing to see that we experienced similar challenges - at the core of it all - and as long as you are directionally moving towards your goals, all is good.😊 This trip has re-ignited my fire, the lessons and connections giving me the support to chart through this #entreprenurship journey and make this happen. It doesn’t get easier, you just get better. #ESADE #ExecutiveMBA #entrepreurship #development

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Every founder wants to make an impression on VCs they meet with. They want the conversation & pitch to be memorable. But, unfortunately, most founder / VC interactions are usually unremarkable. This week I had a conversation with Maria (Brewer) Palma of Freestyle Capital to find out how founders can be more memorable. Maria and I talked about - How to pitch & communicate like elite founders - Common mistakes founders make when interacting with VCs - How founders in the past made incredible impressions on Maria - How choosing the wrong VC & term sheet can be destructive for startups - And much more... Full Conversation Can Be Found Here: https://lnkd.in/gZJ9hqjp

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At WAD Capital, we focus on selecting great leaders to drive the next phase of growth for European SMEs. Our four-stage selection process is designed to identify entrepreneurs with the skills and commitment needed to build on the strengths of these businesses. What makes our approach unique is that we select CEOs who are already exceptional operators with proven track records. During our intensive search phase, we transform these experienced executives into sophisticated investment managers. Our CEOs learn to analyze markets, sectors, and verticals with the rigor of traditional private equity firms while maintaining their operator's mindset. This dual expertise - combining deep operational experience with investment acumen - enables our CEOs to identify the most promising opportunities in their target markets. Starting from a pool of 500 candidates, we select 10 CEOs who not only align with our approach to sustainable growth, innovation, and responsible impact, but who also demonstrate the ability to bridge the operator-investor divide. The result? Leaders who understand both the operational complexities of running a business and the strategic considerations of building long-term value. Are you an experienced operator ready to expand your skillset and shape the future of European business? Let's connect. #WADCapital #Leadership #BusinessGrowth #ValueCreation #ExecutiveSearch #ThenextstepasCEO #succession #SmallCap

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📢 Boston calling - Oportunidades para startups  📍 Startups from Europe and North America ⏳ Until 15 December They are selecting 40 startups to pitch at HTVD | HIGHTECH VENTURE DAYS in #Boston. The selected startups will be prepared individually for their participation, including a review of their pitch and the preselection of relevant investors to talk to at the event. 📅 7/8 April in #Boston ⏺ High profile meeting for Startups, VCs and Corporates ⏺ Exclusivity: selected Startups and investors only  ⏺  Focus Areas: Cleantech | Electronics | Manufacturing | Materials | Mobility | Space & Defense  ⏺ Industrial high-tech: IP-based technologies, B2B, hardware ⏺ Series A+ +Cultura +Criatividade +Sustentabilidade . . . #empreendedorismo #startup #startuplife #startups #empreendedorismodigital #startupbusiness #empreendedorismojovem #businessstartup #startupcompany

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FRAME 2024, the first-ever conference dedicated to ESG in VC by VentureESG, has come to a close, and what an inspiring event it was! A huge thank you to Hannah Leach, Johannes Lenhard, and the entire team for organizing such a fantastic day in London. It was a privilege to share the room with so many influential players from the global VC community and feel the energy and enthusiasm surrounding ESG. Key takeaways: (1) ESG in VC is here to stay, but it’s clear that collaboration and open dialogue will be crucial for refining best practices that truly drive meaningful impact. (2) It’s not just about collecting data and generating reports (though that’s part of it, and needs to be made more workable for everyone involved), but about creating actionable insights that benefit both portfolio companies and investors. (3) The evidence is there—companies that integrate ESG practices deliver better financial returns. One of the standout themes? In almost every panel, debate, and presentation, the energy transition was a central focus. This underscores the urgency of the work we’re doing at Vireo Ventures and is strong validation that we’re on the right path.

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Some boards thrive; others struggle. Success in board governance doesn’t happen by chance - it’s built on four essential pillars that elevate a board from passive to proactive, from stumbling to strategic. Corporate failures and high-profile scandals show what’s at stake. Effective boards drive value, resilience, and long-term stability for organizations and their stakeholders. Many boards face complex risks, demand for transparency, and strategic growth challenges. However, a board can become a weak spot or even a liability without a clear framework. Strengthening governance begins with the Four Pillars: - People - Information Architecture - Structures & Processes - Group Dynamics. Each pillar is essential, and together, they’re transformative. Here’s how: 1. People: High-caliber, dedicated members determine the board’s value. It’s not enough to have strong résumés; members must bring focused knowledge and commitment that align with the company’s mission. 2. Information Architecture: Boards need structured, strategic, and diverse information, going beyond management reports to include real-time insights and external perspectives. 3. Structures & Processes: Clear structures and processes keep boards on track with the right committees, reporting lines, and ongoing evaluations. Strategy, risk, and CEO succession processes are especially crucial. 4. Group Dynamics: Cohesive boards encourage respectful dissent, avoid groupthink, and ensure every voice is heard. Effective dynamics foster mutual respect and open, constructive dialogue. When these pillars are in place, boards become strategic assets. They safeguard against risk, drive innovation, and help the organization navigate challenges with confidence. Read the full article by Didier Cossin and José Caballero for more insights on building board effectiveness. https://lnkd.in/eR2BARGV

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🚀 Draper Founder Spotlight on #StartupSounds! 🚀 In our latest release, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Juan José Porras Martínez, the #DraperFounder behind Coline Data! 🎙️ Check out the full conversation on Spotify: https://lnkd.in/djF5Kud4 YouTube: https://lnkd.in/dWGpcTvq Connect with Juan on LinkedIn to learn more about his journey and follow the journey of Coline! FROM THE LAB TO THE MARKET 🎧 As he puts it, the idea came to life while he and his co-founders were immersed in a research center at their university, where they noticed a thriving ecosystem of startups in various fields. Inspired by peers who were launching ventures in medicine and data analysis, they realized they had the same technological knowledge and expertise in data, sensors, and AI to tackle significant problems in Chile. 🌟 THE COMPLEXITIES OF SCALING Large-scale mining companies often hesitate to adopt new technologies, despite their potential. The risks of implementing something new can be high, and even a minor failure could lead to significant losses. That's why many companies remain cautious, limiting innovation to specific assets. 📉 Juan's team developed an automated data analysis system that provides alerts and insights directly to mining companies' preferred channels—whether that's email, mobile, or dashboards. But here's the real challenge: scaling this system across thousands of assets in various work areas. 🔐 FROM ENTREPRENEURS TO TECH FOUNDERS Having grown up in a family of entrepreneurs, he witnessed firsthand the challenges and sacrifices that come with running a traditional business. Long hours, financial uncertainty.... ❌ But everything changed when Juan discovered the world of startups. 🚀 Despite the risks being even higher, he saw the potential for immense scalability and growth: with the same effort, he could build something far more impactful, he took the plunge into the startup world. His journey was further fueled by the incredible opportunities available in Chile's startup ecosystem, particularly the support from Corfo. 🇨🇱 SCALABILITY IS THE BIGGEST HURDLE OF AI Maintaining over 90% accuracy in AI systems is a non-negotiable in the industry, but achieving this level of precision on a massive scale can be computationally costly. This makes scalability one of the biggest hurdles in deploying AI solutions effectively. ⚙️ THE IMPORTANCE OF FOLLOWING UP Juan also touched on a critical yet often overlooked aspect of networking: the follow-up: it's not enough to just exchange business cards. After attending events, he dedicated time to reach out to his new contacts via email, which turned out to be incredibly effective. This simple action led to responses from everyone he reached out to! 📨 #DraperFounderSpotlight #TechInnovation #Entrepreneurship #DraperStartupHouse #StartupJourney #Innovation

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Wondering how to create an effective corporate innovation program that helps your company unlock its maximum potential? 👉 An interesting article from StartUs Insights InnovaticGroup. Create the Future Now innovaticgroup.com #InnovaticGroup #StratUs #Innovation #Digitalization #InnovationManagement #InnovationManager #CorporateInnovation

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Gorilla Capital fund 2. Fast growing #camelstartup Serviceform rises €2.45m round. Serviceform was among Deloitte Fastest 50 in Finland and among fastest growing Nordic companies

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This week we're discussing one of our most dreaded topics (fundraising!) with one of our most trusted founder friends. As founders, we feel more in-control in the pitch room by setting deadlines designed to keep investors attentive and engaged. In reality, creating urgency just for the sake of it will backfire. In this week’s episode of Unfinished Business, we dig into this tension — and the delicate dance of fundraising with serial entrepreneur and pitch master Aaron Schwartz. A gem from this conversation, per an advisor friend of Aaron’s: “Never create a deadline.” Instead, investors can build a sense of urgency by: 💡 Showcasing momentum — “I’ve got four meetings tomorrow.” 💡 Letting tangible wins speak for themselves. 💡 Focusing on your job: Building the right interest with the right people. 💡 Trusting the process. Investors have their own pace. A good fit will match your passion and pace, without force. And that’s just the start. Tap in to digest the rest of Aaron’s strategies for navigating the raise: https://lnkd.in/etc9zSe4

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