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Founded in 2018, Tilia Impact Ventures is the first social impact fund in the Czech Republic. Co-founding partner Silke Horáková has worked in private equity and is also a co-owner of Albatross Media. Co-founding partner Petr Vítek has worked for nine years as a Deloitte consultant. He is also co-founder of Impact Hub in Prague, Brno and Ostrava. Both have experience working in the social enterprise sector. About 23 investors have contributed to the impact fund. Tilia plans to have 10 local social impact companies in its portfolio, each with an expected investment life of five to seven years. The VC has invested in four companies to date: smart vending SaaS platform MIWA Technologies, data-mining startup Datlab, ready-made spectacles supplier DOT glasses and waste-to-resource marketplace Cyrkl.
Founded in 2018, Tilia Impact Ventures is the first social impact fund in the Czech Republic. Co-founding partner Silke Horáková has worked in private equity and is also a co-owner of Albatross Media. Co-founding partner Petr Vítek has worked for nine years as a Deloitte consultant. He is also co-founder of Impact Hub in Prague, Brno and Ostrava. Both have experience working in the social enterprise sector. About 23 investors have contributed to the impact fund. Tilia plans to have 10 local social impact companies in its portfolio, each with an expected investment life of five to seven years. The VC has invested in four companies to date: smart vending SaaS platform MIWA Technologies, data-mining startup Datlab, ready-made spectacles supplier DOT glasses and waste-to-resource marketplace Cyrkl.
With €42m in investment and trusted by microfinance institutions and unicorns, Mambu is an agile, customizable cloud-based banking architecture SaaS, quick to deploy and transact.
With €42m in investment and trusted by microfinance institutions and unicorns, Mambu is an agile, customizable cloud-based banking architecture SaaS, quick to deploy and transact.
Co-founder of Smile and Learn
Blanca Rodríguez Montero won the MIT LatAm Startup competition in 2015 while completing an MBA in Entrepreneurship and Innovation at MIT's Sloan School of Management. She also worked in Boston for VCs like Rough Draft Ventures and Founder Collective while at MIT. In 2011, she started her first job at Boston Consulting Group (BCG) after graduating with in Law and Business Administration in Spain. In 2014, she joined BCG consultant Victor Sánchez Rodríguez to co-found edtech Smile and Learn. In June 2018, she moved to Paris as co-founder of Next Station, an online recruiting platform for international talent.
Blanca Rodríguez Montero won the MIT LatAm Startup competition in 2015 while completing an MBA in Entrepreneurship and Innovation at MIT's Sloan School of Management. She also worked in Boston for VCs like Rough Draft Ventures and Founder Collective while at MIT. In 2011, she started her first job at Boston Consulting Group (BCG) after graduating with in Law and Business Administration in Spain. In 2014, she joined BCG consultant Victor Sánchez Rodríguez to co-found edtech Smile and Learn. In June 2018, she moved to Paris as co-founder of Next Station, an online recruiting platform for international talent.
CTO and co-founder of IOMED Medical Solutions
Gabriel de Maeztu is CTO and co-founder of IOMED Medical Solutions, which facilitates data extraction from electronic health records (EHR) and where he has worked since 2016. He had the idea for the software in 2014 and worked on it from then, completing two internships during that time: at QMENTA, formerly Mint Labs, a US drug development startup dedicated to brain diseases (where he worked in data science) and at Barcelona bioresearch center IDIBAPS in neuro-imaging research.De Maeztu holds a doctorate in Medicine from the International University of Catalonia, where he first had the idea for IOMED. He also holds a bachelor’s in Mathematics and a postgraduate qualification in Data Processing, Data Science and Big Data. He was also previously a developer at Barcelona tech agency Chroma Branding.
Gabriel de Maeztu is CTO and co-founder of IOMED Medical Solutions, which facilitates data extraction from electronic health records (EHR) and where he has worked since 2016. He had the idea for the software in 2014 and worked on it from then, completing two internships during that time: at QMENTA, formerly Mint Labs, a US drug development startup dedicated to brain diseases (where he worked in data science) and at Barcelona bioresearch center IDIBAPS in neuro-imaging research.De Maeztu holds a doctorate in Medicine from the International University of Catalonia, where he first had the idea for IOMED. He also holds a bachelor’s in Mathematics and a postgraduate qualification in Data Processing, Data Science and Big Data. He was also previously a developer at Barcelona tech agency Chroma Branding.
Co-founder, CEO of Visualfy
Manel Alcaide Dias is the Spanish CEO and co-founder of Visualfy, the first hardware and app employing AI-enhanced sound recognition for the autonomy of the deaf, where he has worked since 2017. Prior to this, he was co-founder and co-manager at the startup’s forerunner, Valencia-based Fusió d'Arts Technology, a communications agency for the disabled from 2011 until its pivot into Visualfy. This agency itself was a pivot from Alcaide’s previous startup Asociacion Cultural Fusió d'Arts, an arts and culture-based association for the deaf, which he also co-led from its founding in 2009. From 2002–2011, Alcaide was also founder and manager of a co-operative pub. Alcaide studied Business Administration and Accounting at Laurona Institute of Professional Training near Valencia and is fluent in sign language.
Manel Alcaide Dias is the Spanish CEO and co-founder of Visualfy, the first hardware and app employing AI-enhanced sound recognition for the autonomy of the deaf, where he has worked since 2017. Prior to this, he was co-founder and co-manager at the startup’s forerunner, Valencia-based Fusió d'Arts Technology, a communications agency for the disabled from 2011 until its pivot into Visualfy. This agency itself was a pivot from Alcaide’s previous startup Asociacion Cultural Fusió d'Arts, an arts and culture-based association for the deaf, which he also co-led from its founding in 2009. From 2002–2011, Alcaide was also founder and manager of a co-operative pub. Alcaide studied Business Administration and Accounting at Laurona Institute of Professional Training near Valencia and is fluent in sign language.
Co-founder, CTO of Visualfy
Angel Albiach Ruiz is the Spanish co-founder and CTO of Visualfy, the first hardware and app employing AI-enhanced sound recognition for the autonomy of the deaf, where he has worked since 2017. Prior to this, he was co-founder and co-manager at the startup’s forerunner, Valencia-based Fusió d'Arts Technology, a communications agency for the disabled from 2011 until its pivot into Visualfy. Before that, Albiach was founder and manager of his IT and company administration agency GX Informatica from 2007–2011. He previously worked as a technician in different firms in the Valencia region. Albiach has studied software development, webpage design, and hardware repair and maintenance at different Valencian colleges. He is a certified Scrum Master and is fluent in Spanish sign language.
Angel Albiach Ruiz is the Spanish co-founder and CTO of Visualfy, the first hardware and app employing AI-enhanced sound recognition for the autonomy of the deaf, where he has worked since 2017. Prior to this, he was co-founder and co-manager at the startup’s forerunner, Valencia-based Fusió d'Arts Technology, a communications agency for the disabled from 2011 until its pivot into Visualfy. Before that, Albiach was founder and manager of his IT and company administration agency GX Informatica from 2007–2011. He previously worked as a technician in different firms in the Valencia region. Albiach has studied software development, webpage design, and hardware repair and maintenance at different Valencian colleges. He is a certified Scrum Master and is fluent in Spanish sign language.
CTO and co-founder of AgroCenta (Holdings)
Michael Ocansey graduated in accounting and IT from Regent University of Science and Technology in Dansoman, Ghana. From 2005 to 2010, Ocansey worked as a lead web developer at Ghanaian digital development agency Esoko in Accra, where he met business development executive Francis Obirikorang. Ocansey also worked as a contract web developer for software developer Origo in San Diego for two years until 2013.In 2015, Ocansey and Obirikorang co-founded Swappaholics Holdings in British Virgin Islands. He worked for one year as CTO for the online marketplace that allows users to “barter” or exchange products, skills and services.In January 2016, Ocansey and Obirikorang established AgroCenta (Holdings) Limited in Mauritius. The agritech startup set up its first office in Accra to provide an e-commerce platform, supply-chain and fintech services to smallholder farmers in Ghana.
Michael Ocansey graduated in accounting and IT from Regent University of Science and Technology in Dansoman, Ghana. From 2005 to 2010, Ocansey worked as a lead web developer at Ghanaian digital development agency Esoko in Accra, where he met business development executive Francis Obirikorang. Ocansey also worked as a contract web developer for software developer Origo in San Diego for two years until 2013.In 2015, Ocansey and Obirikorang co-founded Swappaholics Holdings in British Virgin Islands. He worked for one year as CTO for the online marketplace that allows users to “barter” or exchange products, skills and services.In January 2016, Ocansey and Obirikorang established AgroCenta (Holdings) Limited in Mauritius. The agritech startup set up its first office in Accra to provide an e-commerce platform, supply-chain and fintech services to smallholder farmers in Ghana.
Founded in 2003, Bezos Expeditions is a family investment office based in Mercer Island in the US. The firm was originally set up to manage the personal investments of Amazon founder, Jeff Bezos.The Bezos fund owns the Washington Post, Blue Origin space projects and the Bezos family foundation. The fund has also backed early tech startups like Twitter, Airbnb and Uber. Today, Bezos Expeditions also supports non-profit projects. In 2013, it helped to recover parts of two engines from the Atlantic Ocean that were later identified as belonging to Apollo 11, the first space mission that successfully landed humans on the moon in 1969. The crew of the ship Seabed Worker spent three weeks at sea pulling up pieces of the Apollo F1 engines.
Founded in 2003, Bezos Expeditions is a family investment office based in Mercer Island in the US. The firm was originally set up to manage the personal investments of Amazon founder, Jeff Bezos.The Bezos fund owns the Washington Post, Blue Origin space projects and the Bezos family foundation. The fund has also backed early tech startups like Twitter, Airbnb and Uber. Today, Bezos Expeditions also supports non-profit projects. In 2013, it helped to recover parts of two engines from the Atlantic Ocean that were later identified as belonging to Apollo 11, the first space mission that successfully landed humans on the moon in 1969. The crew of the ship Seabed Worker spent three weeks at sea pulling up pieces of the Apollo F1 engines.
Based in Sao Paulo, Maya Capital was co-founded in 2018 by Lara Lemann and Mônica Saggioro. The VC manages two funds that invest in early-stage startups in Latin America. The first is worth $26m and the second raised $15m in October 2020. Half of the amount raised will be invested in new startups, while the balance will fund Series A rounds of portfolio startups.Together with co-investors like Kaszek Ventures and Y Combinator, the VC has invested in 25 startups in Brazil, Chile, Colombia and Mexico. Investments include plant-based foodtech NotCo, the car-rental operator Kovi and online education platform Trybe. Maya aims to increase its portfolio to 35 startups, focusing on post-Covid opportunities in diverse sectors like health, finance, mobility and logistics.
Based in Sao Paulo, Maya Capital was co-founded in 2018 by Lara Lemann and Mônica Saggioro. The VC manages two funds that invest in early-stage startups in Latin America. The first is worth $26m and the second raised $15m in October 2020. Half of the amount raised will be invested in new startups, while the balance will fund Series A rounds of portfolio startups.Together with co-investors like Kaszek Ventures and Y Combinator, the VC has invested in 25 startups in Brazil, Chile, Colombia and Mexico. Investments include plant-based foodtech NotCo, the car-rental operator Kovi and online education platform Trybe. Maya aims to increase its portfolio to 35 startups, focusing on post-Covid opportunities in diverse sectors like health, finance, mobility and logistics.
SyndicateRoom is a Cambridge-based VC authorized and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), founded in 2013 by Gonçalo de Vasconcelos and Tom Britton, after studying together at the University of Cambridge. The company was initially started as an equity crowdfunding platform allowing its members to co-invest with experienced angel investors and high-net-worth individuals. Each investor is offered the same investment opportunities as lead investors, with the same share class and price per share.In July 2019, Gonçalo de Vasconcelos stepped down as CEO and was replaced by Graham Schwikkard. Soon afterward, the company announced a pivot of its investment model, becoming a VC fund that no longer offers individual crowdfunding investment opportunities. In the same year, SyndicateRoom launched Access EIS, the first data-driven Enterprise Investment Scheme fund.
SyndicateRoom is a Cambridge-based VC authorized and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), founded in 2013 by Gonçalo de Vasconcelos and Tom Britton, after studying together at the University of Cambridge. The company was initially started as an equity crowdfunding platform allowing its members to co-invest with experienced angel investors and high-net-worth individuals. Each investor is offered the same investment opportunities as lead investors, with the same share class and price per share.In July 2019, Gonçalo de Vasconcelos stepped down as CEO and was replaced by Graham Schwikkard. Soon afterward, the company announced a pivot of its investment model, becoming a VC fund that no longer offers individual crowdfunding investment opportunities. In the same year, SyndicateRoom launched Access EIS, the first data-driven Enterprise Investment Scheme fund.
Crevisse Partners is a South Korean investor and venture builder with an impact focus. Its name stands for “Creative, Visionary and Social Entrepreneurs”. Originally incorporated in 2004, Crevisse claims to be the first impact investor in Korea, even before such terms became commonplace. The company strives to develop businesses in sectors “where the market principle wasn’t working”.Crevisse has internally incubated a number of companies in South Korea, such as reusable drinking cup company BringYourCup, sustainable forestry firm Forest Trust, and fundraising service DONUS. Crevisse Ventures is the company’s dedicated VC arm that manages a $20m fund and a number of blended finance funds through collaborations with government agencies and financial institutions. In particular, Crevisse Ventures focuses on startups that solve problems in four major areas: urban communities; climate and energy; education and welfare; as well as jobs and economic growth.
Crevisse Partners is a South Korean investor and venture builder with an impact focus. Its name stands for “Creative, Visionary and Social Entrepreneurs”. Originally incorporated in 2004, Crevisse claims to be the first impact investor in Korea, even before such terms became commonplace. The company strives to develop businesses in sectors “where the market principle wasn’t working”.Crevisse has internally incubated a number of companies in South Korea, such as reusable drinking cup company BringYourCup, sustainable forestry firm Forest Trust, and fundraising service DONUS. Crevisse Ventures is the company’s dedicated VC arm that manages a $20m fund and a number of blended finance funds through collaborations with government agencies and financial institutions. In particular, Crevisse Ventures focuses on startups that solve problems in four major areas: urban communities; climate and energy; education and welfare; as well as jobs and economic growth.
CEO of Shenzhourong
Data services veteran Huang Haijia was the director of the Chinese government’s first online project in 1998; and the co-founder and former COO of ID5, set up in cooperation with the national police, for online identification checks and involving the digitization of ID data of the 1.3 billion population. In 2001, Huang founded Guozhengtong, an IT consultancy supporting local governments in their digitization and, subsequently, banks and telcos. He later founded financial data and credit risk management SaaS company Shenzhourong, which he heads as CEO. Huang holds an EMBA from the Central European International Business School. He is also a member of the fifth batch of entrepreneurs from the incubation program of AAMA (Asia America Multi-Technology Association), Silicon Valley's largest non-profit organization dedicated to the Asian American high-tech community.
Data services veteran Huang Haijia was the director of the Chinese government’s first online project in 1998; and the co-founder and former COO of ID5, set up in cooperation with the national police, for online identification checks and involving the digitization of ID data of the 1.3 billion population. In 2001, Huang founded Guozhengtong, an IT consultancy supporting local governments in their digitization and, subsequently, banks and telcos. He later founded financial data and credit risk management SaaS company Shenzhourong, which he heads as CEO. Huang holds an EMBA from the Central European International Business School. He is also a member of the fifth batch of entrepreneurs from the incubation program of AAMA (Asia America Multi-Technology Association), Silicon Valley's largest non-profit organization dedicated to the Asian American high-tech community.
Former CBDO and Co-founder of Psious
Daniel Roig graduated in Electrical and Electronic Engineering in 2006 and worked as an editor at Digital-text for over five years. In 2012, he co-founded GrowInPallet after completing an MBA. He won the first prize in a competition presenting an app to treat mental illness like phobias. The project led him to co-found Psious in 2014, taking on the role of CBDO. Roig was been responsible for the expansion and innovation strategy of Psious, leading the business development unit until April 2017 when he left the company.Based in Barcelona, he is now the sales manager at Supertronic SA. He had previously worked for Supertronic for two years until 2007 while still at university. He had also worked as webmaster for Redfactory SL for five years prior to joining Supertronic in 2005.
Daniel Roig graduated in Electrical and Electronic Engineering in 2006 and worked as an editor at Digital-text for over five years. In 2012, he co-founded GrowInPallet after completing an MBA. He won the first prize in a competition presenting an app to treat mental illness like phobias. The project led him to co-found Psious in 2014, taking on the role of CBDO. Roig was been responsible for the expansion and innovation strategy of Psious, leading the business development unit until April 2017 when he left the company.Based in Barcelona, he is now the sales manager at Supertronic SA. He had previously worked for Supertronic for two years until 2007 while still at university. He had also worked as webmaster for Redfactory SL for five years prior to joining Supertronic in 2005.
CEO and Co-founder of WOOM
Belgian-born Laurence Fontinoy graduated in Commercial Engineering at Belgium’s Louvain Catholic University in 1994 and went on an exchange program for one year at New York’s Stern Graduate Business School. She worked for almost four years at Belgacom Mobile in Belgium, where she supervised the launch of its first prepaid card. In 1999, she moved to the Netherlands to join Dutch telecoms provider Ben as a customer development manager. After completing an MBA in 2002 at IESE University of Navarra, the mother-of-three joined eBay Spain as head of category and seller development. In 2005, she was promoted to marketing and communications director but left in 2008 to join Google as the regional country marketing manager for Spain and Portugal. In 2015, she left to become the CEO and co-founder of WOOM with former eBay colleague Clelia Morales.
Belgian-born Laurence Fontinoy graduated in Commercial Engineering at Belgium’s Louvain Catholic University in 1994 and went on an exchange program for one year at New York’s Stern Graduate Business School. She worked for almost four years at Belgacom Mobile in Belgium, where she supervised the launch of its first prepaid card. In 1999, she moved to the Netherlands to join Dutch telecoms provider Ben as a customer development manager. After completing an MBA in 2002 at IESE University of Navarra, the mother-of-three joined eBay Spain as head of category and seller development. In 2005, she was promoted to marketing and communications director but left in 2008 to join Google as the regional country marketing manager for Spain and Portugal. In 2015, she left to become the CEO and co-founder of WOOM with former eBay colleague Clelia Morales.
CEO and co-founder of Modulous Tech
Chris Bone is co-founder and CEO at UK-based Modulous, the first end-to-end generative design and delivery solution for affordable, sustainable and modulized housing, where he has worked since 2018. He is simultaneously director and co-founder at engineering consultancy Optimise, based in London and Dubai, where he has worked since 2012 and where the concept for Modulous was conceived. Prior to these, Bone was CEO at engineering company Bone Steel from 2008-10, founder and director at Globalsport from 2005-8, and founder and managing director at Safe Consulting, part of engineering consultancy WhitbyBird from 1999-2004. His experience has included working on major projects, including Wembley Stadium, BBC Broadcasting House and the Royal Ballet School, as well as designing a process for automating fire protection for steel buildings.
Chris Bone is co-founder and CEO at UK-based Modulous, the first end-to-end generative design and delivery solution for affordable, sustainable and modulized housing, where he has worked since 2018. He is simultaneously director and co-founder at engineering consultancy Optimise, based in London and Dubai, where he has worked since 2012 and where the concept for Modulous was conceived. Prior to these, Bone was CEO at engineering company Bone Steel from 2008-10, founder and director at Globalsport from 2005-8, and founder and managing director at Safe Consulting, part of engineering consultancy WhitbyBird from 1999-2004. His experience has included working on major projects, including Wembley Stadium, BBC Broadcasting House and the Royal Ballet School, as well as designing a process for automating fire protection for steel buildings.
Francisco Polo: The former entrepreneur heading Spain's Digital Advancement
He's been charged to transform Spain into an entrepreneurial nation, and a technological and innovation frontrunner
A Q&A with the Veniam founder and CEO
2gether: The world's first crypto-collaborative financial platform
Banking on the opportunities afforded by blockchain, 2gether is owned by its customers who get commission-free financial services in euros and cryptocurrency
Tiantian Xuenong: China's first pay-for-knowledge agricultural platform
Capitalizing on a deep understanding of Chinese agriculture, this startup is building an online school where farmers can learn agricultural and business skills
Bob Xu, one of China's first and most successful angel investors
Known for his whimsical investment style, Xu has caught a number of unicorns
Payfazz aims to be Indonesia's first on-demand financial services company
Handling transactions averaging over IDR 1tn monthly, Payfazz hopes to bring the benefits of banking to all Indonesians
HumanITcare: The first real-time symptom tracker for mental illness patients
FollowHealth’s HumanITcare app combines wearables, analytics and AI to monitor and improve outcomes for sufferers of depression, schizophrenia, alcoholism and more
RecyGlo, Myanmar's first circular economy waste management system, targets regional growth
Turning trash into cash, Yangon-based recycling pioneer RecyGlo wants to extend its zero-waste circular economy model to the rest of Southeast Asia
Bound4Blue’s aeronautical tech propels first sustainable shipping vessel in the Pacific
Winning €5m fresh funding, Bound4Blue also scores with its EC-backed pilot, the first of its kind, offering new possibilities to cargo vessels seeking sustainable transportation
Neil Shen: The super unicorn hunter
His bet on ByteDance, the startup that gave the world TikTok, helped Neil Shen top this year's Forbes Midas List. But for Shen, even in that deal he once made the wrong call
Farm Friend: World’s first agri-drone sharing platform wins over users, investors
Gone are the days of the lone Chinese farmer toiling under the sun. Now drones are here to help – and there’s even a drone sharing platform too
Backed by Kleiner Perkins, Spotahome clinches Spain’s first Silicon Valley-led funding
Now in Europe’s US$500 billion home rental market, the Spanish proptech will soon expand to LatAm, the US and Asia
Kibus Petcare: World's first auto-cook and -dispense healthy pet food device
Kibus Petcare applies the healthy eating revolution to the ever-growing pet-care business, eyes sales in 25 countries after crowdfunding launch
SoccerDream: World's first VR soccer training platform to launch in China, US
SoccerDream uses virtual reality to boost trainee players' performance on the field by 36% compared to their peers
FROGS: Overcoming challenges to launch Indonesia's first drone-taxi for daily commutes
The Yogyakarta-based startup backed by UMG Idealab seeks more technical resources to launch Indonesia's first homegrown “flying taxi,” after the success of its agritech drones
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