What separates deep tech ventures that scale from those that stall

Building for International Scale from Day One Nordic startups are proving that ambition and access can coexist. Daniel Uusitalo highlights how the region’s culture of learning, scientific curiosity, and structured support systems are helping founders think globally from day one — not just as an afterthought. From bold funding rounds in AI and quantum tech to international-first strategies in hiring, product design, and partnerships, Nordic founders are showing that global orientation isn’t optional — it’s essential. Confidence, clarity, and leveraging the Nordic ecosystem as a launchpad can turn world-class ideas into global impact. Read the full article by Daniel Uusitalo here: https://lnkd.in/dxpEbkir #community #nordicmade #balticmade #scaling #growthjourney #growth #internationalgrowth #startups #investors #trending

The future is in very safe hands. 🌱✨ One of the highlights of the EPiC 2025 Grand Finale at HKSTP - Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation wasn’t just the global startup pitches — it was the junior category, where 2 young students presented their own innovations with energy, clarity, and confidence that would rival any founder I’ve seen on stage. I left deeply inspired. Watching these students reminded me that the next generation isn’t waiting for permission to innovate — they’re already doing it. If these kids are shaping the future, we’re in very safe hands. 👏 You can watch one of the pitches here (focussed on climate of course)— trust me, you’ll want to. #EPiC2025 #HKSTP #Innovation #FutureLeaders #GreenSpaceTech #Startups #STEM #YouthInnovation #HongKong #AsiaInnovation Mohit Grover Will Symons Blake Wellman Robbie Finch Grace HE Kurt Tan

The startup landscape today presents many challenges, especially when it comes to securing funding in a competitive market. The article I just read highlights the importance of understanding current investment trends and how deep tech innovations are changing the game for entrepreneurs. To navigate these waters, startups can focus on refining their pitches, highlighting the unique aspects of their technology, and demonstrating clear pathways to market viability. Engaging with potential investors through tailored presentations can make a significant difference in capturing interest. Following these actionable tips not only improves a startup's chances of securing funding but also establishes credibility in the eyes of potential partners and customers. It’s not about having the flashiest idea; it’s about showing your commitment and vision. I'd love to hear how others are approaching fundraising in this evolving landscape. What strategies have worked for you? https://lnkd.in/e6EPZMTv

Innovation doesn’t happen in a vacuum. At The Innovation Space, we’ve seen how the right ecosystem helps founders cross the toughest stages of growth between concept and commercialization. Since 2017, our startups have: 💰 Raised $1.2B+ in funding 💼 Created 1,000+ jobs 🔬 Advanced groundbreaking work in life sciences, clean tech, and advanced materials This progress isn’t luck. It’s the result of access to space, mentorship, funding, and a network built for real impact. 🌍

"It’s not being a green alternative in itself that’s good enough. The technology has to be cheaper and better and it just happens to be clean. If you have all three, it should become a no-brainer for the customer." Out now on all platforms: https://lnkd.in/dtrPXAgz This episode we cut through to the core of the truth of what it takes to build a successful industrial climate impact startup. Carlota Ochoa Neven Du Mont is our esteemed guest hailing from London as a Principal of Extantia. The episode will answer these 7 questions: ⚙️ What do investors look for in hardware startup founders beyond technical innovation? ⚙️ Why are step-change innovations more attractive to investors than incremental improvements? ⚙️ Why should founders engage with customers early, and what kind of proof do investors want to see? ⚙️ How can startups avoid losing focus by targeting too many customer segments or product variations? ⚙️ What supply chain and manufacturing risks matter most to investors, and how should founders address them? ⚙️ How should founders set expectations and build productive relationships with their lead investors? ⚙️ What’s the best way to tailor your pitch to different types of investors? #hardware #startup #venturecapital #investment #productdevelopment #cleantech

Big corporations often resist innovation because their internal “immune systems” attack disruptive ideas that threaten the status quo. Startups, however, thrive on disruption.

⚙️ DeepTech founders take on a different kind of challenge. Their work often starts in the lab, long before there’s a product, a customer, or even a clear market. At the NXTGN summer tour we discussed this difficulty with four startups from the #DeepTechHub ecosystem: Prefiro GmbH, AaviGen GmbH, Silvacx and Sensovo. They shared their challenges and experiences working at the intersection of science and entrepreneurship. Their key takeaways? 🔻 Turning deep research into real solutions means years of development, regulatory hurdles, and a constant need for funding. Especially for hardware development, there is a need for investing big and an improving access. 🔻 Our founders need trust: They are experts in their fields for a reason. #DeepTech not about moving fast, it’s about moving with precision and persistence. 🔻 The reward is worth it. DeepTech is where ideas turn into lasting impact — from sustainable materials to quantum computing to medical innovation. At DeepTechHub, we know how demanding that path can be. Our mission is to connect people who understand it — and to build the structures that help ambitious ideas become reality. 💬 What do you think is the biggest challenge founding in DeepTech? #Innovation #ResearchToStartup #Entrepreneurship #ScienceToBusiness

Technology and investments around the Chicago and the Midwest continue. I spent time with my information rich friend Fred Hoch. Fred is a Founding Partner of TechNexus. In this clip, Fred talks about the surgical approach TechNexus took to how corporations invest in various ventures. Over 250 global investments and counting 👀 It's a must watch, in addition to the full interview, which covers: -Illinois' investment in quantum computing (you got that right, quantum) -Detroit's manufacturing background -Gen X and innovation -The importance of private and public partnership as it relates to tech and startups Full nerd sesh here-> https://lnkd.in/gKNFPiKv #midwesttech #tech #startups #chicagotech

💡 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗽𝗿𝗲-𝘀𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗸𝘀 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁 𝘀𝗶𝘇𝗲 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 Every founder wants to show a massive market. It is the slide investors expect to see. But the size of the market rarely determines the outcome. Timing does. Founders love to prove inevitability with big TAM numbers. “The global X industry is $200B and growing.” But here is the real question that decides the outcome: 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴? I have seen deep tech founders pitch huge spaces such as quantum sensors, solid-state batteries, and climate materials where adoption curves are still five or ten years away. They are right about the opportunity, but wrong about the timing. And then there are small, overlooked markets that suddenly take off. A regulation changes. A platform dependency breaks. A cultural habit flips. The difference is not vision. It is timing. The best founders do not just prove the market exists. They prove the moment exists. Big markets impress on slides. Right timing builds companies. #VentureCapital #Startups #DeepTech #EarlyStage #Founders

Europe doesn’t have an innovation problem. It has a capital allocation problem. Dealroom’s data shows more than 1,200 VC-backed power law outcomes across EMEA. About 2,700 companies are already in the $25–100M revenue range. Europe is now forming several superclusters. The New Palo Alto (NPA) is a supercluster of leading European ecosystems and research hubs that are close together (a Journey of 4 hours). It ranks third globally by unicorn count, first for university spinouts, and accounts for half of Europe’s total startup ecosystem value and 40% percent of its unicorns.   Citywise, London, Paris, and Amsterdam dominate the VC funding, with nearly 77% in total, while London alone attracts 53%.   This cluster benefits from Europe’s leading research institutions, Cambridge, Oxford, and Eindhoven’s Brainport, which produce world-class talent and spinouts. Europe’s scientific and entrepreneurial base is already delivering thousands of “Colts” ($25–100M revenue) and “Thoroughbreds” ($100M+ revenue). But look closely at the shape of that funnel: → 50,000 VC-backed startups → 6,000 reach breakout stage ($15–100M raised) → 1,200 cross the $100M revenue or unicorn threshold → And only 48 reach decacorn or centacorn scale That sharp compression isn’t due to the lack of ideas or talent. It’s due to the absence of deep, patient scale-up capital, especially for IP-heavy, asset-intensive companies in energy, AI infrastructure, new materials, and biotech. We spin out extraordinary research, but when it’s time to compound it into global businesses, foreign LPs and late-stage US funds still dominate the balance sheets. As a result, the economic gravity of European innovation leaks abroad— value created here, harvested elsewhere.   #Venturecapital #AI #Deeptech #Startups   Follow us at APEX Ventures and subscribe to our newsletter for exclusive content on groundbreaking Deep Tech startups:   🔗 https://t2m.io/EV2qHQuo