Investor & Startup News from Dealum

​[[{"value":" Running a startup accelerator can seem exciting at first – they’re at the heart of passion, innovation, and the promise of a better future. Yet, behind the scenes, running a program includes a lot of admin work. Managing applications is one of the biggest contributors to the accelerators’ administrative burden and can be quite a challenge – from startups applying to the wrong programs to handling the sheer volume day in and day out.  What are the main application management challenges most accelerators face? Where do they go off the track? And which tools and strategies can help keep it all under control? Let’s find out.  Why is managing applications difficult for many accelerators? Most accelerators’ application management problems boil down to one challenge: how to make sure that the right startups are applying to the right accelerator at the right time.  Often, startups apply to an accelerator without fully understanding which industries, focus areas, or stages of development the...

​[[{"value":" For many startups, due diligence is the most nerve-wracking stage of fundraising. While pitching and negotiating terms can be exciting, the moment investors start reviewing contracts, financial records, and shareholder agreements, the heat is ON. It’s a stage where deals can fall apart – or where founders can prove they are worth the investment. At sTARTUp Day, where Dealum organized a seminar, "How to Survive Due Diligence," Marti Soosaar, startup founder and investor, and Alexandra Balkova, partner at Startup Wise Guys, shared practical advice and real-life examples of due diligence done right – or horribly wrong. The key message? Preparation and transparency can make or break your chances of securing investment. Due diligence is often seen as a legal formality, but in reality, it’s one of the biggest trust tests in the fundraising process. Investors don’t just want to check the numbers; they want to understand if the company is structured properly, legally sound, and managed by reliable...

​[[{"value":" As the year winds down, it’s time to reflect on what’s behind us and plan for what lies ahead. We’re not big believers in the clichéd “New Year, New Me” mantra. Maybe that’s just our internal northerner talking — when January through March feel like a never-ending ice bath, it’s hard to muster enthusiasm for grand resolutions. But while people may not need a “new you” in January, your startup can definitely benefit from some fresh focus as you close out the year. Reflect, recharge, and reboot Think of it as an opportunity to take a deep breath: customers are busy with their own year-end chaos, and investors? Well, they’re probably skiing in Aspen. Take advantage of this lull to regroup, recalibrate, and reimagine the road ahead. How to conduct a startup end-of-year review An end-of-year review isn’t just a corporate formality — it’s a chance to figure out what’s working, what’s not, and how to make next year your best one yet. Here’s your guide to wrapping up the year with clarity, intention,...

​[[{"value":" It’s that time of the year again… time to look back, reflect, and give ourselves a good pat on the back for all the good things we’ve done this year. For example – product updates. We released TONS this year. So many, in fact, that when we prepared the list of major new features for the team to vote on, we had to leave out a third because who wants to drag and sort 20+ items into a priority list, right? Furthermore, to make this post more digestible, we also had to leave out some of our CEO’s favourite features that didn’t make it through the team vote, which she is still tiny bit bitter about… so she squeezed some back in as honorable mentions. And that’s how this post came together. But ‘nuff said.  The Dealum team is proud to present – the top 7 features that, in our opinion, made a difference. #1 Network feature  The Network feature allows angel organizations to connect and share deal flow. Deal rooms can send connection requests across the platform, share updates and deals with their...

​[[{"value":" On November 7th, Dealum hosted the Angel Investing Health Check, a webinar that gathered global experts to discuss the state of angel investing. John Harbison (Angel Capital Association, USA), Alessandro Craglia (European Business Angels Network, Belgium), and Ruben Osipyan (Science and Technology Angels Network, Armenia) shared their insights on trends, challenges, and opportunities in this dynamic space. The session combined data and various perspectives to offer a comprehensive picture of the evolving angel investment ecosystem. The Global Angel Ecosystem: A Snapshot Angel investing has become a critical driver of innovation globally, bridging the gap between early-stage funding and venture capital. On the Dealum platform, only about 2% of applicants end up in investors' portfolios and it takes a median of 37 days (on average, 66 days) for a company to get the investment from angels. These numbers reflect both the competitiveness of the funding landscape and the efficiency gains in recent...

​ Equity crowdfunding, the process of early-stage companies raising funds from a large number of people who invest small amounts, has been a game-changer since the early 2010s. Everyday investors could finally access startup investments and potentially profit from high-growth ventures on platforms like Seedrs (UK), Crowdcube (UK), and StartEngine (US).  In 2023, equity crowdfunding accounted for an estimated 10% of early-stage investments with 240 million Euros raised from the crowd. Although not an insignificant amount and not exactly failing as a source of capital for startups, it’s far behind the expectations of early ‘teens and has faced significant obstacles. What happened, and where is crowdfunding heading? Here’s what we think. Why crowdfunding matters There's a lot that crowdfunding platforms bring to the table, for example: Access to capital – equity crowdfunding has created a new way for businesses to raise capital, even businesses that may not fit the traditional venture capital mould. Companies...

​ Dealum is excited to announce a partnership with Aquaty, a pioneer in digital securitization solutions. This collaboration aims to deliver a fully integrated experience for early-stage investors by simplifying the use of Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) and streamlining the investment process. This partnership combines Dealum’s deal management tools with Aquaty’s SPV structuring capabilities. Together, the companies aim to eliminate traditional investment barriers by providing a seamless, fully digital ecosystem that spans the entire investment lifecycle.  With the integration, investors will have access to: Automated legal documentation: streamlined SPV setup with reduced legal costs. Seamless capital deployment: end-to-end digital transaction management. Enhanced decision-making: real-time data and insights to facilitate informed investment decisions. “By partnering with Aquaty, we aim to simplify the startup funding process and enhance our platform's capabilities,” said Seren Rumjancevs, CEO of Dealum....

​[[{"value":" The new partnership introduces an equity-free, virtual accelerator program to support early-stage founders worldwide. Dealum and Peachscore are excited to begin a collaboration designed to assist startups in building a business. Through a comprehensive, data-driven, and equity-free acceleration program, this partnership offers a digital solution for founders at every stage, from idea to Series A, providing a unique pathway to success on a global scale. Each year, countless early-stage founders are excluded from traditional accelerator programs, and this collaboration aims to bridge that gap by making knowledge accessible to all. The Peachscore + Dealum Accelerator addresses key barriers that often hold back early-stage growth. This program features 500 hours of learning opportunities, including office hours and a structured 12-week curriculum, access to a large network of mentors, and extended support for 12 months. By leveraging a data-centric approach, the accelerator tracks progress in...

​ Dealum is excited to announce a strategic partnership with Business Angels Deutschland (BAND), Germany’s national umbrella organization of business angels. This collaboration provides a great solution for early-stage investments, particularly as the number of German angel networks on the Dealum platform continues to grow. Since its founding in 2017, Dealum has become a go-to resource for angel investors worldwide, helping them manage deal flow, increase member engagement, and facilitate co-investment opportunities. Now, with over 230 investor groups, 27,000 investors, and 95,000 companies on the platform, Dealum’s latest partnership with BAND underscores its commitment to supporting the efficient growth and better connectivity of Germany’s national investment ecosystem. "We're excited to collaborate with BAND," said Seren Rumjancevs, CEO of Dealum. "With the increasing number of German Angel Networks joining the Dealum platform, this partnership represents a significant move towards improving connectivity...

​[[{"value":" At Dealum, we know that the buzz and the excitement of the tech and startup scene are intoxicating. “Routine” is a word that doesn’t exist here. But we also know that incubation and accelerator programs, as well as startups, face incredible pressure from all sides. Our team has lived and breathed the startup ecosystem and Dealum is built by startup people for startup people.  In this article, Darja, Seren, and Sandra from our team talk about their hands-on experience with accelerators from both sides of the table – and how this has shaped Dealum. They also share practical tips about using Dealum and managing accelerator and incubator programs in general.  Darja: there’s no ‘perfect’ in processes Darja Ogorodnik is Dealum's Business Development Manager who knows what it takes to keep an accelerator running. She spent five years at Startup Wise Guys, one of Europe's top accelerators where she filled various roles – from Program Manager to Scouting Operations Manager. She helped accelerate over...