• The Lean Canvas – 18th October. One of the main failure for early-stage startups is that there is no market needs towards the products/services they are developing. Thus to avoid to fall into this statistic, it is important early-stage startups explore the Lean Canvas as a strategic planning tool. 
• The Unique Value Proposition Canvas – 6th November. The first goal in adopting the Lean Canvas is to reach the Problem-solution fit which is basically when a startup is developing a solution for a specific need(s) for the customers. In order to reach this goal, startups need to use the UVP as a strategic tool. 
• Approaching risk capital investors – 21st November. High-growth early stage startups need money to scale and boost their activities. It is important that the founders understand which are the kind of investors in the market and which is the best way to approach them. 
• How to master your pitch – 5th December. The first approach to investors is the key to increase the odds to get the funds. Thus, preparing a great pitch is crucial to achieve this first step.

A problem oriented approach

This Business Partnership Action consists of four 90-minute online workshops, each including both theoretical and practical aspects. It also offers the participants the opportunity to connect with fellow entrepreneurs, exchange best practices, ideas and perspectives, and leverage lessons learned from their journey. 

The workshops will be guided by META Group’s senior expert and coach, Lorenzo Valeriani. He has an educational background in Technology management from Unicusano University and in quantitative finance from the University of Rome Tor Vergata. Lorenzo has been part of META Group since 2016. Over the years, he focused in the financial domain, particularly within META Ventures, where he worked as analyst on supportingportfolio startups across Italy. Lorenzo continues to work closely with early-stage startups, aiming to provide them with the expertise and tools necessary to secure crucial financial backing to boost their fast growth. He combines these activities with his involvement in several EU projects. 

Regarding the value that the participants will find in these workshops, Lorenzo said: “We’re trying to orient them to tackle a concrete problem. Giving to the founders, in a seed phase, a problem oriented approach will help them to have a higher chance of success. In our experience, having the right strategic mindset plays a crucial role in increasing the survival rate of early-stage startups. This is exactly what we are looking to transmit during the first two workshops. By provinding the participants with this toolkit, startups will follow a strategy which can stick better to the target customers.  

A workshop to help you navigate the ecosystem of investment 

When asked about the appointments on 21st November and 5th December, Lorenzo explained that “the last two are more focused on how to present the project to the investors and to navigate in the ecosystem of investment. Fast growing startups need money to rapidly scale and thus it is important for them to immediately look around and understand how the risk capital industry works” 

This initiative is open to start-up founders and representatives who are looking to enhance their understanding of business partnerships actions. If it resonates with you and want to improve your chances of finding investors for your company, click here and register now.  

The Region Alliance for Interconnected Startup Ecosystems – RAISE – project aims at developing a new and sustainable integrated support framework to foster startup growth and scale-up across Europe. It targets companies that have already achieved first results, possibly supported by regional programmes and are now aiming to grow. In this framework, the project partners are required to implement several pilot actions, among which there are training, mentoring, and networking sessions which will help startup promoters to get in contact with the appropriate mentors and trainers who can help them gain access to their target markets. 

The post 4 free workshops to maximize the impact of your startup appeared first on META Group.

Outside of work, Lorenzo has a passion for football and vintage video games. His educational background includes MBA program at the University of Perugia and an specialization in quantitative finance at the University of Rome Tor Vergata. Lorenzo also spent six months at SRH Hochschule in Berlin, thanks to the Erasmus program.

How has been your path at META Group?
Initially, I began as an intern for six months, and eventually transitioned to a full-time employee. My initial role involved providing support for tasks related to the development of the company’s Intranet system. However, my responsibilities shifted towards the financial branch of the company, particularly focusing on META Ventures. I worked on the management of the startups and the portfolio companies within Italy. My focus was on supporting the different investment managers monitoring the startups. I continued this task for two years before becoming involved in a diverse range of projects across META Group.

However, my connection with the financial and funding aspects of the company remains strong. I continue to collaborate with funds and startups, particularly with an educational perspective in mind. Our goal is to support business initiatives seeking funding and provide them with the necessary tools and expertise to secure financial backing.

What do you do on a typical work day?
Typically, I handle one or two projects simultaneously, although it can vary depending on the period. My process begins by thoroughly reviewing all the tasks associated with each project and assessing their current status. The approach differs significantly depending on whether we’re acting as coordinators or not.

When we’re in a coordinating role, our responsibilities include continuous monitoring of all the partners involved. This often entails designing programs, which can be quite demanding. During project delivery phases, I’m responsible for organizing the execution process. Additionally, I frequently conduct one-on-one sessions, workshops, and project-related activities. After the projects are successfully completed, there’s a phase dedicated to reporting and evaluation.

Which projects are you currently involved in?
The main so far is Circular Invest where we are technical coordinator. It’s a matter of coordinating and monitoring other partner’s activities. Circular Invest is a project development assistant initiative. It is run under the umbrella of CCRI (Circular Cities and Regions Initiative). Circular Invest aims to support circular economy related projects in being more investors ready and closing the funding gap that they need. Now we are in the initial phase, meaning that in the past months we have worked on the design of the structure of this assistance. Our IT team at META Group has developed the platform, for example. In the meanwhile, we have opened a call for applications and right now we’re in the evaluation phase of the candidatures. From October, the deliver of the services will take place and we as META Group will coordinate the experts.

Another initiative that we have closed recently was the pitch academy that we run together with Business Angels Europe dedicated to Horizon Results Booster’s beneficiaries. These beneficiaries were selected by the European Commission to pitch their projects to a group of business angels, with a focus on technologies aimed at combatting cancer and addressing climate change. We conducted both one-on-one sessions and group workshops to enhance their pitching skills, and we were pleased to receive highly positive feedback from the participants.

Which is the most challenging part of your job?
The most challenging part is a matter always of flexibility. Being flexible is crucial for achieving all the objectives laid out in the project’s proposal. If you’re not open-minded enough to find the right path and to approach different perspectives, you’re not going to succeed. I believe that behind this flexibility, there’s a definite sense of curiosity, a willingness to keep an eye on developments in the field. If you’re not aware of what’s going on in the ecosystem, you’re not getting enough resources and you’re not able to realize how others are succeeding. So, it’s essential to grasp that there’s not just one path to your goals. Staying updated and discovering new methods of doing things is key.

What do you like the most about it?
I’d say freedom, meaning you’re not follow a scheme. Even when you have to work within a framework, there’s ample opportunity to discover innovative approaches to achieve your objectives. Also, I like seeing the impact that our efforts have on society or on specific goals set by the Commission.

What are some trends that you identify in your field?
In the field of training, it’s no longer just about providing content and teaching valuable skills. The competition is fierce, and those seeking training also expect connections through networking, guidance on achieving their goals, and practical advice. To be successful, you must address these aspects. This approach increases the likelihood of having satisfied startups who will speak highly of your training and recommend it to others. Therefore, nowadays is very important to be able to offer an external positive network effect and we always try to include it in our training services.

Could you share with us a nice METAmemory?
During my internship, or shortly afterward—I can’t recall the exact timing—in my first year at META Group, I was working closely with Anna Amati, one of my first mentors here. She assigned me to attend a conference in Southern Italy. I felt quite nervous because I was relatively new to the field. However, Anna reassured me, saying I only needed to share a few insights about our company’s experiences.

As I was talking with the event moderator just before it began, they unexpectedly introduced entirely different questions and topics for discussion that I hadn’t prepared for. It was a pretty stressful and tough moment. However, now I can smile about it and appreciate it as a valuable opportunity for personal and professional growth.

Check out other interviews with Anita Tregner, Lorenzo Barabani, Marco Franchin or Frédérique Pannier.

The post Lorenzo Valeriani: It’s essential to grasp that there’s not just one path to achieve your goals appeared first on META Group.

The Pitch Clinic workshop is designed for early-stage knowledge-intensive startups looking for risk-capital investors. It covers key aspects such as sources of funding, approaching investors, and creating an appropriate pitch tailored to specific situations. The participants will have access to learning resources, including a hands-on session to present their pitch live in front of other startups and receive personalized feedback. 

“We want to unburden entrepreneurial researchers and innovators from the daunting trial and error process of designing and presenting the right pitch. The Pitch Clinic provides not just a set of tools and a proven framework but also the opportunity to develop and practice an effective pitch together with experts and peers in a real-life context,” said Lorenzo Valeriani, Senior Expert at META Group and one of the trainers. 

Learn how to build a successful pitch deck

The post Pitch Clinic: Helping Researchers and Innovators Accelerate Their Entrepreneurial Journey appeared first on META Group.

The post Tips For Successful Financing appeared first on META Group.

Within the participants there were professionals from chambers of commerce and industry, universities, technology park and other start-ups’ support organizations. The aim of the training session was to provide the beneficiaries with the skills, methodologies, and tools. They are needed to help start-ups in the region to increase their investment readiness capacity.

The attendants benefited from a two-day training by the META Group experts. Natali and Valeriani gave actionable insights into supporting high-growth innovative companies to raise funds. “It has been a privilege to meet local stakeholders. We shared with them our experience in dealing with and investing in high growth companies. Izmir’s environment for start-up support is very promising. Although there is room to support innovative entrepreneurship more effectively at local and regional level,” said Francesca Natali, senior expert at META Group.

Meta provided useful information on early-stage investors and how to approach them with a good pitch. Also, the experts used real case studies and presented investment readiness self-assessment tools.

Supporting the start-up ecosystem in the region

“High-growth companies are the engine of economic and social development, but to scale and succeed they need large amounts of money. That is why it is important to create a local ecosystem of actors ready and able to support start-ups in raising money from risk capital investors (VCs, BAs, etc.),” explained Lorenzo Valeriani, Senior Expert at META Group.

The İzmir Network and Innovation Centre (İzmir NIC) is a three-year project. It is carried out within the framework of the financial cooperation of the European Union and the Republic of Turkey. The Ministry of Industry and Technology in partnership with İzmir Institute of Technology (İYTE) and the Software Industrialists Association (YASAD) implemented the project.

The project’s purpose is to enhance the commercialisation and internationalisation of innovative products by fostering networks and strategic partnership among relevant stakeholders. Focusing on the renewable energy sector with information and communication technologies. They are among the pioneers of economic development. The project improves the capacity of ecosystem actors (SMEs, Start-ups, TTOs, TDZs, R&D Centres etc.) in İzmir, with training, consultancy, and networking activities.

Learn more about the program: www.izmirnic.com

The post Investment readiness and capacity-building support for the innovation ecosystem in Turkey appeared first on META Group.

Looking for funding or business partners is a crucial step when bringing innovation to the market. However, in today’s competitive business world, it can be difficult to reach the right people and organisations. Not to mention the difficulty to get their attention, and persuade them into supporting your project.

Learning how to properly pitch is one of the most essential skills a founder needs to develop. That’s because when it comes to presenting your idea, you only have one shot to convince an investor. To make sure you don’t waste it, the ideal pitch must contain all the essential information in a brief and compelling format. This can be challenging for knowledge intensive start-ups. Or even for teams lead by researchers who have to keep things simple for non-science people.

Pitching: from research to business proposition
At META Group, we have analyzed thousands of pre-seed pitch decks. We discovered not only the most efficient template for the deck, but also how to successfully tell your story to attract interest from investors. Remember: the goal is to tell your story clearly and succinctly. And doing it in a way that makes investors want to hear more and come back to you.

This article will provide you with guidelines on how to develop a 3–4-minute pitch. It will offer you hints for the content that you should include in your talk, with instructions on presentation styles, body language and PowerPoint guidelines. It will guide you through the art of keeping it simple and moving from a research project to a business proposition.

The Problem

The first thing to do when pitching is to directly present the problem and how the customer is experiencing it. This will allow you to quickly explain why your solution is needed and who your customers are. In a matter of 15-20 seconds, you will have set the stage for your solution.

The Solution

The next step after describing the problem is explaining how you are going to solve it, so introduce the solution and its features.

The Value Proposition

An essential element of the pitch is explaining the value proposition: why your solution is unique compared to other solutions.

The “Unfair Advantage”

It is now the time to explain how far you are in the process of developing the solution and how you and your partners are going to bring the product to market. Explain the current state of the solution, as well as the professional skills and experience of your team. It is important to show who you are. Which competences you have and especially. How you and your partners complement each other in day-to-day operational activities. You could have the solution for any problem. However, if people are not convinced that you are the right people to bring it to the market, it will not matter.

The Business Model

The next thing to highlight is how you intend to generate revenue with your solution: the business model. A good way to reinforce your speech, is to make a simple graphical illustration of your Business Model as shown below:

Next, the financial plan of the business proposition is the connection between costs and revenues. Develop revenue estimations for 12, 24, and 32 months and connect them to the costs you expect to incur in the same periods. In this way, you will demonstrate that you have a profound understanding of the back-end of your business, with revenues in the front-end.

Minimum Viable Product

One of the best ways to get your message through is by showing a prototype or presenting a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) – the simplest version of your product or service with just enough features to validate your value proposition.

Finally, explain what you want to achieve with this launch, and include a strong closing statement.

Other effective tips
With these guidelines in mind, you should be able to design a presentation that covers the most important elements. But there is more to a pitch than just content: body language and presentation style are also important.

Body language. Some people use their arms wildly, others walk around the stage or room, and some just stand still. This is all up to you. However, the more you rehearse and practice your pitch, the more likely is to feel less nervous and for your body language to be more natural. Try to balance your tone, speak clearly, and look the audience in the eyes.

Presentation style. Consider your personality type when presenting and try to take advantage of certain traits: energetic, funny, welcoming, professional, or something completely different. You need to have something that separates you from the rest and makes you memorable.

When it comes to the slide presentation, keep in mind that the audience is there to listen to you, not to read the text from the slides. Add some key bullet points to summarise the most important aspects of the presentation and combine them with good illustrative images. The slides’ role is to spark curiosity and help the audience visualize and understand key elements of the presentation. Not for you to remember the speech.

Pitching from research to market

Last but not least, find a way to present your research in a simple and understandable way. Avoid technical jargon and focus on the impact of the solution rather than the process. You may think that all the essential parts will be left out but remember that the pitch is about grabbing the attention of your audience.

Interested in learning more about pitching or receiving tailored support for your research-to-market journey? Contact our team.

The post Pitching: from research to business proposition appeared first on META Group.

(English below)

Il fondo di coinvestimento pubblico privato co finanziato dalla Regione Sardegna, dopo aver contribuito alla crescita dell’azienda, perfeziona l’exit dalla compagine sociale di Mondial Capsule, società italiana specializzata nella produzione di una vasta gamma di capsule per vini. Ingenium aveva investito nell’azienda nel 2014.

Da diversi anni Mondial Capsule ha intrapreso un percorso di sviluppo sostenibile, sostenuto e promosso anche grazie all’investimento del Fondo Ingenium che ha contribuito alla costruzione di nuovi impianti di produzione di energia rinnovabile, l’efficientamento delle linee di produzione e la riduzione del consumo di combustibile fossile in Sardegna.

Nuova exit per il fondo Ingenium Sardegna

“La Società ha in questi anni puntato sulle attività di ricerca e sviluppo di nuove tecniche e nuove tecnologie, che le ha consentito di diventare uno dei player principali di mercato, offrendo ai propri clienti una gamma di soluzioni uniche”, dichiara Francesca Natali, consigliere dell’azienda: “Le risorse investite dal Fondo Ingenium hanno avuto un ruolo molto importante anche e soprattutto in questi anni ultimi difficili anni in cui il mercato ha richiesto interventi straordinari”.

META Ventures (MV) è un gestore di fondi a livello internazionale specializzato in investimenti early-stage in società innovative e ad alta crescita. Con oltre 20 anni di esperienza, MV ha investito in più di 100 società in Italia, Polonia, Slovenia e Belgio e vanta una gamma unica di partenariati pubblico-privato tra incubatori e acceleratori di imprese, club di business angel, imprese, autorità di sviluppo regionale, governi nazionali e istituzioni dell’UE.

A new exit for the Ingenium Sardegna fund: Mondial Capsule

The public-private co-investment fund is co-financed by the Region of Sardinia.  After contributing to the company’s growth, it finalizes the exit from the shareholding structure of Mondial Capsule (MC). MC is an Italian company specializing in the production of a wide range of wine capsules. Ingenium had invested in the company in 2014.

For several years Mondial Capsule has been on a path of sustainable development. MC supported and promoted thanks to the investment of the Ingenium Fund. This has contributed to the construction of new renewable energy plants. Also MC helped the efficiency of production lines, and the reduction of fossil fuel consumption in Sardinia.

“In recent years, the company has focused on research and development of new techniques and new technologies. This has enabled it to become one of the leading players in the market, offering its clients a range of unique solutions.” Francesca Natali says , a board member of the company. “The resources invested by the Ingenium Fund have played a very important role especially in these recent difficult years. When the market has required extraordinary interventions.”

META Ventures (MV) is an international fund manager specializing in early-stage investments in innovative, high-growth companies. It counts with more than 20 years of experience. MV has invested in more than 100 companies in Italy, Poland, Slovenia and Belgium. It has a unique range of public-private partnerships between business incubators and accelerators, among others.

The post Una nuova exit per il fondo Ingenium Sardegna: Mondial Capsule appeared first on META Group.

This clearly shows the difficulty for them in fundraising in the early stage. This makes it crucial for funders to find a way to improve the investment readiness of their business.

The post How to secure VC funding for your deep tech start-up appeared first on META Group.

Developing a business plan, exploiting a research result, preparing beneficiaries to launch their project to market… Horizon Results Booster helps recipients of EU funding with all of these activities, and so far has delivered 300 services overall.

The post Horizon Results Booster reaches 300 completed services milestone appeared first on META Group.

The post Two startups take top prize for Italy Finals of Entrepreneurship World Cup appeared first on META Group.