In conversation with Claire Munck (Be Angels / Business Angels Europe), Robin Wauters (Tech.eu), Philippe Collombel (Partech), Dmitry Kalaev (IIDF) and Inka Mero (Voima Ventures) we will discuss what is going on with the seed and early-stage funding of European startups in the age of COVID.

Key topics

-How has the world changed for the seed and early-stage investors? Has the appetite for investment changed and how?

- Have investors' expectations and priorities changed, and how?

- Is there any regional variety within Europe?

- Are there any "hot" sectors, where startups could enjoy increased attention from investors. What are they?

- Practical advice to a startup: what could be done to secure funding in the age of COVID. What actions should be avoided?

Networking/Matchmaking Option for Investors and Startups

To compensate for the absence of face-to-face communications, we would like to offer you a networking / matchmaking service. Upon ordering the service (check ticket options), just like in Tinder, you would need to provide your data, define your priorities, and wait for the match to happen. Your data would be further offered to the relevant parties (e.g. list of startups to investors). Those who "match" would be introduced to each other via email.

Speakers

Claire Munck
(CEO Be Angels and Board member of Business Angels Europe)

Claire Munck is Chief Executive Officer and Director at Be Angels, one of Europe's oldest business angel group based in Belgium. In 2013, Claire joined the Board of Business Angels Europe, Europe's confederation of angel investing gathering Europe's strongest national federations of angel groups, where she has the responsibility for the BAE Club and Global Strategy. In Claire's own words: "My passion: learning how to best source, manage and exit deals in the seed and early-stage investment space in Europe."

Robin Wauters
(Head of Tech.eu)

European tech journalist running the region's premier information portal and market intelligence platform, Tech.eu. Robin regularly travels for conferences to present data on the European tech scene, moderate panels or interview executives, investors and policymakers. In addition to that role, Robin is a co-founder of BeCentral and Startup Europe Lens.

Philippe Collombel
(General Partner of Partech)

Philippe Collombel is the co-founder and General Partner at Partech (one of the top European VCs), also responsible for the early-stage fund. Partech has a unique view in the industry as it manages seed, early-stage and growth tech funds. Before joining Partech, Philippe managed the innovation and internet initiatives of the largest French retailer, Carrefour. He was the General Manager of its subsidiary e.carrefour. Outside of Partech, Philippe is also a Supervisory Board member of Unibail Rodamco Westfield.

Dmitry Kalaev
(Head of acceleration, IIDF.vc)

The Internet Initiatives Development Fund is the biggest early-stage fund and accelerator at Europe, according to Dow Jones Venture Source. Every year IIDF invest at 100+ startups and helps to accelerate growth in more than 1500 Russian startups.

Inka Mero
(Founder & Managing Partner of Voima Ventures, Finland)

Entrepreneur, company builder, VC, angel investor and new business executive. In Inka's own words: "My passion and expertise lie in the new global digital and technology business build - from startups to big corporations". Voima Ventures is a Nordic deep tech VC fund. We invest in and help founders to grow startups with a scientific foundation to global markets.

Moderator: Nastasya Savina
(Head of 1step2market)

Nastasya Savina is a marketing veteran with 20+ years of experience in marketing, communications and HR on the global market. As a leader of 1step2market, she helps tech companies to go global and land "softly" in the UK.

Supporting partners

The event is prepared with the support of the Venture Capital and Private Equity and Entrepreneurship Clubs of the London Business School.