Investment in startups plays a key role in the current economy. New companies create most of the new employment, generate innovations and disrupt existing markets. They are also looking for solutions to the most pressing challenges like climate change, education for all or healthcare. From the investors’ point of view, there is an opportunity to get high returns, while having an impact in society.
Early stage investors, like business angels, venture capital (VC), accelerators and corporate venture capital have invested in some of the most successful companies of the last two decades. Angel investment in new startups has been growing significantly, even during the crisis, with over €8 billion invested, by more than 345 thousand business angels, across Europe in 2019 (EBAN). Venture capital investments accounted for over €9 billion in 2020, which is 15% more than 2019 (PitchBook, 2021). But even more importantly, the amount of venture capital that was fundraised in 2020, to be deployed in the next few years, is a record €20 billion (+35% vs 2019). Additionally, European startups raised €26 billion from corporate VC, mostly going to IT, software and healthcare. Clearly, this is a very active market and understanding its dynamics, and how to get involved – from an investor or an entrepreneur perspective – is key to being successful.
The Entrepreneurial Finance program covers the whole cycle of investing in new ventures. It is targeted at individuals, with some financial knowledge, interested in learning about investing in startups. Potential participants are business angels, venture capitalists, family offices, corporate venture funds, impact investors, consultants, regional development organizations and advisors. Other professionals who interact with startups in the process of raising funds, such as lawyers, accountants or consultants, or who advise venture capital funds and need to understand how they work, will also benefit from attending this program.
How you will benefit
- Understand the venture financing ecosystem, its players and macroeconomic cycles
- Understand the process of startup financing and the venture capital business model
- Learn how to get deal flow and analyze a business plan
- Learn about valuation of new ventures
- Examine the effect of dilution and different rounds of financing
- Explore the legal side of investing in startups and get to know the term sheet and its key clauses
- Participate in negotiating a deal
- Review the different options for exiting an investment in a new venture
- Reflect about impact investing and ESG (environmental, social and governance) factors in venture financing
Program length
2 days
| Day 1 | 09:00 – 17:30 |
| Day 2 | 09:00 – 17:30 |
- The venture capital business model. Venture financing ecosystem and macroeconomics
- Deal flow and screening of opportunities
- How investors analyze a business plan
- Valuation of Startups
- The Term Sheet: Negotiating with investors
- Harvesting: The Exit
- Impact investing and ESG factors
The Entrepreneurial Finance program is targeted at individuals, with some financial knowledge, interested in learning about the whole cycle of investing in startups. Potential participants are entrepreneurs, with good financial acumen, business angels, venture capitalists, family offices, corporate venture funds, impact investors, consultants, regional development organizations and advisors. Other professionals who interact with startups in the process of raising funds, such as lawyers, accountants or consultants, or who advise venture capital funds and need to understand how they work, will also benefit from attending this program.
