Small businesses involve stable operations that generate relatively small profits. Such companies cover a local or regional market, have a ready-made product or service to sell, and do not require major investment. Sometimes a small business is called a startup because it is expected to scale in the future. However, there are certain differences between these two concepts, which you will read about below.

The life cycle is a path that describes the stages of a startup’s development, beginning with the idea and ending with its full payback. All of the work is carried out in a strictly defined sequence, but the number of stages and their duration may vary. A startup has four to eight stages.

These are the 5 most successful startups in Munich in recent years

PERSONIO

The Munich startup Personio was founded in 2015 and, as a holistic HR software, offers great support in personnel management for small and medium-sized companies. The program can be used to recruit and manage employees, making the process transparent, orderly and measurable for HR managers. In its last round of financing, Personio was able to collect around 75 million US dollars, which means that the investment volume is now 130 million US dollars. Well-known investors invested in the startup and continue to send Personio on the road to success, which is why it can currently be described as one of the most successful startups in Munich.

KLARX

Another up-and-coming Munich startup is Klarx. The company, which was founded in 2015, offers customers an online rental platform for construction machinery. Regardless of whether it is an excavator, compressed air device or telescopic machine, thanks to its large partner network, the start-up enables the logistics and insurance of the machines so that customers can rent machines quickly and easily. The start-up is now supported by many well-known investors and has already recorded investments in the double million-euro range. Thanks to the financial resources, Klarx has well over 350,000 machines available throughout Germany. Therefore, the goal of the founders is: to be the number 1 contact person for every need on the construction site.

TEMEDICA

The health startup Temedica, founded in 2016, was able to register a successful round of financing due to the growing economic sector. Because it collected a total of 17 million euros and thus catapulted itself into the top league of startups. The concept behind Temedica is digital therapy support, which is why the company is currently on the market with various apps for healing and sustainable medical care. The plan is to work together with different cooperation partners and to develop products.

MECURIS

The concern of the medtech startup Mecuris is to lead orthopedic technology into the digital age and to revolutionize it. Because the young company, which was founded in 2016, would like to use a web-based platform to develop prostheses and other orthopedic aids that are individually adapted to patients. Mecuris is starting this year with growth financing of 3.6 million euros, thanks to investors such as Bayern Kapital and the High-Tech Gründerfond (HTGF). With this money, the startup is now aiming to increase market penetration on the European market and can therefore rightly be counted among the most successful startups in Munich.

PLANTURA

The startup Plantura is also one of the most successful startups in Munich. Plantura has been one of the most successful digital garden magazines with millions of nature-loving customers since 2017. The founders also have millions of visitors on their website and on social networks. They not only generate digital content. Because Plantura also offers sustainable garden products and serves an industry that has great growth potential. The young companies plan to expand their product portfolio and expand their team in the future.

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What is HEIC, and why convert it?

There are a number of file formats that we use in our daily lives. However, some of them are the most common. Like JPG files, it is the most common file type in the world. Aside from that, some file types that are less commonly used in software and devices—even some software—do not support these file types. These file types include HEIC files.

HEIC is a great format with so many great options. It is one of the most secure options for preserving images in full quality. Although the reason that makes it a bit more difficult to use is that most devices or software do not support the HEIC file format,

Web apps to convert HEIC to JPG

Now there are diverse options for Android and Windows users for converting HEIC files to JPG files. Some might recommend downloading software or HEIC image viewer tools to view the photo. Although it will take a lot of time and it looks very frustrating, why not completely convert the HEIC file to JPG?

For that purpose, using Web apps is the best way to convert the HEIC to a JPG file. The reason is that you don’t have to download any software for it. All you have to do is open your browser, select a Web app, and drop the HEIC image there. Click convert, and your HEIC file will be converted to a JPG.

Following are the best Web apps to convert HEIC to JPG.

• CloudConvert
• AnyConv
• FileZigZag

CloudConvert

CloudConvert is the best solution for converting HEIC to JPG. Using the cloudconvert tool, you can even change the file resolution and format. Moreover, there is an option, so if you want to change the height or width of some images, then you can change them to specific dimensions using the cloudconvert tool.

You can convert the Heic image file to any other format. If you want to change it to JPG, then with a single click, you can choose the JPG file before converting it. So, in short, the cloud converter is a very good platform to use. There is no rocket science in it. You can start using it right away without the need for any third-party tools or software.

AnyConv

If you want to convert HEIC to JPG, then using AnyConv is a great web app to do it. Right now, more than 60,000 daily users use the features of AnyConv.

AnyConv is a great platform for converting HEIC to JPG. All you have to do is drop your HEIC file into AnyConv, select the JPG format, and click on convert. The file will be converted within a few seconds without losing its original size or resolution.

FileZigZag

I present to you another free online file conversion software, FileZigZag. It is a great platform to get your files converted to your desired file type. When it comes to file resolution size and overall quality, FileZigZag is quick and very effective.

If you want to convert HEIC to JPG, then FileZigZag can be the best web app. Most of the time, people need urgent and quick conversion of HEIC files to JPG files. For that reason, using FileZigZag is the best option because it is very quick and efficient in that case.

Conclusion

So if you are in need of converting HEIC files to JPG, then try to use the above tools. Each of them are legit tools that will help you a lot in converting the HEIC file to a JPG file. There are also other features available in these Web apps for file conversion, such as video file conversion, document file conversion, and many others. So always choose any of those web apps for conversion of an HEIC to a JPG file if you are in need of it.

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This article will discuss what Apple Inc Grants are, how to apply for them, and the benefits you can expect if you’re successful.

Overview: Apple Inc Grants

Apple Inc Grants are financial awards given to individuals or organizations by Apple Inc. It was founded with the aim of helping talented students, researchers, and developers unleash their potential and change the world. Over the years, it has distributed more than $100 million in grants to various individuals and organizations.

Apple Inc Grants are given out in various categories, including education, research, health, and development. The organization has a rigorous application process and only accepts proposals that meet its high standards.

Some of the past recipients of Apple Inc Grants include:

• A team of researchers who are working on a new treatment for cancer
• A group of developers who are creating a new app to help people with disabilities
• An organization that is helping children in poverty get access to education

We encourage you to apply if you are working on a project that you think could benefit from an Apple Inc Grant. The process is competitive, but we are confident that there are many deserving candidates out there who can make a difference with our help.

Who Is Eligible for An Apple Inc Grant?

Apple Inc Grants are available to a variety of people and organizations. If you are a non-profit organization, a school, or an educational institution, you may be eligible for a grant from Apple Inc. There are many different types of grants available, so be sure to read the guidelines carefully to see if you qualify.

Organizations that work in the arts may also be eligible for a grant from Apple Inc. Grants are awarded to organizations that contribute to the advancement of the arts. If you are an organization that works in the arts, you may be able to receive a grant from Apple Inc.

How Do I Apply for An Apple Inc Grant?

If you are interested in applying for an Apple Inc. Grant, there are a few things that you should keep in mind. First, it is essential to remember that the company is very selective about the projects and ventures that they choose to support. As such, you will need to have a well-thought-out and compelling proposal in order to be considered.

In addition, you should also be prepared to provide a detailed budget for your project or venture. This will give the company a better understanding of how the money will be used and help them make a decision about whether or not to provide funding.

Finally, it is also important to remember that the application process for an Apple Inc. Grant can be very competitive. As such, you will need to make sure that your application is as strong as possible in order to increase your chances of being selected.

If you’re not sure where to start, or if you have any questions, Apple Inc’s website is a great resource. They have a lot of information about their grant program and how to apply.

Once you’ve submitted your application, all you can do is wait and hope for the best. If you’re awarded a grant, congratulations; you’ll have the opportunity to make a difference with your company and help it grow.

What Are the Benefits of Receiving an Apple Inc Grant?

As you know by now, Apple Inc. Grants are a form of financial assistance that the company offers to various organizations and individuals. The company has been known to give millions of dollars in grants every year.

There are many benefits to receiving an Apple Inc. Grant, some of which are listed below:

Financial Assistance

One of the main benefits of receiving an Apple Inc. Grant is that it can provide financial assistance to help you cover the costs of your project or venture. It can also help you cover the cost of living expenses, which can be a burden when trying to start or maintain a project.

Brand Recognition

Receiving an Apple Inc. Grant can also help increase brand recognition for your organization or venture. This can lead to more publicity and awareness, which can ultimately result in more funding and support from other sources.

Access To Resources

Apple Inc. Grants can also provide access to resources that might otherwise be unavailable to you. For example, the company has been known to offer free or discounted products and services to grant recipients.

Increased Visibility

Receiving an Apple Inc. Grant can also help increase visibility for your organization or venture. This can help you attract more attention from potential investors, donors, and supporters.

Fewer Restrictions

Apple Inc. Grants typically have fewer restrictions than other forms of funding, which means that you can use the money for a wider range of purposes. This can give you more flexibility to pursue your goals and objectives.

Tax Benefits

In some cases, receiving an Apple Inc. Grant can also provide tax benefits. This can help offset the costs of your project or venture, which can be a significant advantage. It is important to consult with a tax advisor to determine if you are eligible for any tax benefits.

Prestige

Receiving an Apple Inc. Grant can also be a source of prestige and recognition for your organization or venture. This can help you attract more attention and support from other organizations and individuals. It can also help you build credibility and legitimacy.

Improved Chances of Success

Finally, receiving an Apple Inc. Grant can also improve your chances of success. This is because the company has a vested interest in seeing you succeed. As such, they will often provide additional resources and support to help you achieve your goals and objectives.

The above are just some of the benefits that come with receiving an Apple Inc. Grant. If you are interested in applying for a grant, it is important to do your research and understand the application process.

The post Apple.Inc: A Leader In Giving Back Through Grants appeared first on Platcomventures.

Marketplace on the Internet
What can be more banal than another marketplace? However, opening a new marketplace online only at first glance seems like a bad idea. In the next few years, Internet commerce will be growing at an unusually high rate. During the quarantine the Ukrainians developed a habit to buy necessary goods in the network. The popularity of classic shopping malls and shopping centers is gradually decreasing due to the pandemic and the departure of both sellers and buyers online. IKEA, which entered the Ukrainian market by launching an online store in our country without waiting for the opening of offline representative offices, is a good example.

Smart-offices and co-working spaces
It is known that a habit is formed in 21 days. It is not surprising that many employees have had time to get used to working remotely and now do not want to return to the offices. In addition, the massive economic crisis forces companies to save money. The quarantine showed that the majority of work tasks can be carried out quite effectively at home, so many companies are planning to substantially cut costs on rent, maintenance of offices, transferring employees to a remote mode of work. According to the CBRE Ukraine survey, after the pandemic is over, half of Ukrainian companies are planning to keep some employees at a “remote location”. This decision will allow businesses to cut costs by a third.

Service to control distant work
One of the major trends of today is an increase in the number of remote workers. According to Gartner research, in the near future, more than 50% of intellectual workers will move to telecommuting. The growth in popularity of telecommuting means that work processes will digitize and go online. Companies now more than ever need a variety of services for telecommuting, cloud data storage, employee tracking and control systems, video communication programs, CRM systems, services for file management. Startups that somehow help organize remote work will be of particular interest to investors.

Healthy Food Delivery Service.
Undoubtedly, now is the best time to launch a startup in the delivery industry. During the quarantine, Ukrainians got used to ordering food from restaurants and supermarkets at home. The food delivery market, according to the CEO of Zakaz.ua, Andrei Kursky, is growing at a crazy pace. While in 2018 the food delivery market was about $50 million, in 2019 this figure doubled to $100 million. In 2020, according to McKinsey estimates, the Ukrainian food delivery market was already $230 million. Moreover, the food delivery market still has potential for growth, because in Ukraine only 1% of all food is sold online, while, for example, in Britain 12% of all food is sold online.

Lead Generation for Business
Now more than ever every company needs hot leads, but it is very expensive to have a huge sales and marketing department. A good solution is to outsource lead generation.

Lead generation is an extremely elastic concept. Lidogeneration agency can do email marketing, SEO, promotion in social networks, setting up ads on Google, cold and warm sales (calls), creating sales pages on the Internet. Nowadays, start-ups that automate the lead-gathering have the best chances to succeed and can seriously increase the conversion rate. Lead generation is an area where the most original business ideas can be brought to life today.

A platform for virtual events
The event industry is undoubtedly in for a tremendous change. It is extremely likely that classic conferences and business events will not return to our lives soon. The educational sphere is also becoming more and more “digitalized,” going online. But the quarantine showed that the classic platforms for distance conferences (Zoom, Skype) do not cope with the tasks assigned to them. As a result, different services for remote conferences, events (for example, Google Meet) began to appear on the market.

Virtual Psychological Therapy
If you have a psychological education or are just savvy in the field of psychology, then try to organize psychological courses on the Internet. In times of crisis and epidemic people have worsened psychological problems, depression appears. For example, almost every third American was found to have signs of “quarantine depression. Hard times are coming, so people will increasingly need qualified psychological help.

Virtual apartment design
Despite the difficult economic situation, people will continue to make repairs to their homes. More and more young families want to make unique designer renovations, but they do not have time to go to a designer and discuss all the details. In such cases, a good idea is a virtual consultation with the designer. In online mode you can solve all issues, in addition, the designer can save on office rent, which in today’s environment is not unimportant.

Backpacks
Recently, backpacks have become an extremely popular trend. They are worn not only by schoolchildren, but also by IT professionals, office workers, and travelers. So if you are planning to launch a startup in the fashion industry, then it is worth thinking about the production of original backpacks. The clearest example of a successful “backpack” business is the Ukrainian startup Pix Backpack, which creates backpacks with an LED screen.

Development of chat-bots
Often customers, before ordering a product or service, ask a lot of different questions, taking time away from the customer support staff. This leads to the fact that the business loses leads and potential customers go to competitors. You can avoid this situation by using a special chatbot that performs some basic tasks of communicating with potential customers. Chatbots are necessary for any business present on the Internet. Creating a chatbot is inexpensive and the product is available to most entrepreneurs. Developing chatbots is a great idea for a startup given that more and more businesses are moving online and the demand for chatbots will only grow.

Smart-home apps
Smart-houses are popular in the West and among affluent Ukrainians. Recently, Ukrainian developers have been actively selling small-scale “smart apartments,” which have nothing in common with smart-housing except the prefix “smart. Smart-house is a “smart home”, a dwelling equipped with various applications to make life easier. A good smart-home is a whole complex of different systems. Such dwelling necessarily has a modern alarm system, automatic regulation of heating and power, and climate control system. It goes without saying that all the software for the smart-house needs to be developed, and in the area of creating “smart housing” there is a large number of opportunities for new start-ups and free market niches.

Apps for yoga, meditation, fitness
The coronavirus epidemic has made us all take our own health much more seriously. Ukrainians in the coming years will not only go to the gym more often, but will pay attention to physical activity at home. In addition, hard times are leading to the fact that more and more people will suffer from depression. The best remedies for stress are yoga and meditation. But most people can’t put together a proper exercise program on their own, so they use a variety of fitness apps. So developers of apps for sports, meditation, yoga and healthy lifestyles will definitely not be without customers.

The post The best startup ideas for 2022 appeared first on Platcomventures.

Abacum
Julio Martinez and Jorge Lluch are the founders. The startup develops financial planning and analysis software, and its target audience is small and medium-sized businesses. The company was founded in New York City and opened an office in Barcelona, with a total of more than 70 employees.

The startup has raised a total of $32 million. Its investors include Creandum, Y Combinator, PROFounders, K Fund, and business angels.

Belvo
Founded in 2019 by Pablo Vigera and Oriol Tintore. The fintech service acts as a reliable communication channel that allows users to communicate their financial data, which is stored in the bank, to budget organizations, as well as to applications of the shoring economy, such as Uber or Rappi.

Since its founding, Belvo has been supported by leading venture funds from the U.S. and Latin America, including Founders Fund, Kaszek Ventures and Y Combinator. The startup’s partners include more than 50 financial institutions and it serves more than 125 clients, including fintech companies in Mexico, Brazil, Colombia and Spain.

Capchase
The startup was created in 2020 to fund SaaS companies that operate on a subscription model and provide them with a cash flow until they start generating revenue from customers.

In its first year, the fintech startup raised more than $300 million in three rounds. It now has more than 1,000 customers, who are using Capchase to grow without raising other sources of funding or selling their stakes early.

Read about: Taxes in Spain: the structure and features of one of the most complex systems in Europe

The startup’s co-founders are Miguel Angel Fernandez Larrea, Luis Basagoiti Marquez, Ignacio Moreno Pubul and Przemek Gottfried. Some of them had worked together at Geoblink, but others did not know each other personally until months before the launch.

CARTO
It’s a SaaS cloud computing platform that uses GIS systems and web mapping to visualize a web navigator.

Here’s how the company explains its mission: “From smartphones to connected cars, location data is changing the way we live and the way we run our businesses. Everything happens in a certain place, but visualizing data to understand where it’s at is not the same as understanding why it’s there.”

CARTO is a leading spatial analytics platform that allows organizations to use location data to most effectively build supply routes, segment markets, locate retail locations and so on. Data Scientists, developers and analysts use CARTO to optimize production processes and predict results using spatial analytics.

Founded in 2012 in Madrid by Javier de la Torre and Sergio Alvarez of K Fund, a venture capital firm that invests in startups from Southern Europe and Latin America. After working on environmental projects for several years, the partners decided it was time to improve the technology available to analyze and visualize large amounts of location data.

Clarity AI.
This is a technology platform that offers information about the social and environmental impact of more than 30,000 organizations.

The startup aims to contribute to a more socially efficient allocation of capital by providing decision makers with the most reliable and comprehensive tools to understand and optimize their impact on society and the environment, drawing on scientific research and the latest technology.

Its product has won awards and been covered by the world’s leading media. The startup, founded by Rebekah Minghella, had a $50 million funding round led by Softbank in December 2021. It raised a total of $80.3 million.

Read on: Ecology and economic risk – how an environmental startup can find balance and survive

Before creating Clarity AI, Rebekah Minghella founded Blink Booking, later acquired by Groupon. She has been honored as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum and as a European Young Leader.

Clikalia
PropTech startup Clikalia was founded in 2018. Its creators, Alistair Moreno and Pablo Fernandez, wanted to provide Spanish citizens with modern digital tools for buying and selling homes. The iBuyer model, which was used by American companies Opendoor and Redfin, has demonstrated its popularity in the European market as well.

The company is based in Madrid, has more than 600 people in its team and has published more than 10,000 listings in the past three years, according to its corporate website.

The next round of funding for the startup took place in February 2022 and brought in $86 million. in total, the company has raised $1.1 billion in investments.

Euros.

The post Promising startups from Spain appeared first on Platcomventures.

A Series A funding round took place in July 2021, in which the startup received a $16.5 million investment. The round was led by Balderton Capital.

Exoticca .
The project from Barcelona is positioning itself as a new generation tour operator that specializes in package tours for several days. The platform allows you to buy online complex and multi-part packages (including flights, hotels, activities) to more than 50 destinations around the world. The company has a presence in the U.S., Canada, Great Britain, France, Germany and Spain.

Read on: Why Barcelona is becoming a hub for travel startups

In July 2021, the startup closed a $30 million Series C funding round, raising the total amount raised to $53 million. The round was led by 14W and Mangrove Capital Partners, with Aldea Ventures, Milano Investment Partners SGR, K Fund, Bonsai Partners, Kibo Ventures and Sabadell Venture Capital also among the participants.

The funds raised will accelerate the company’s development in the tourism market, which is recovering from the pandemic. The plan is to invest in technology and products to automate bookings and improve the traveler experience.

Factorial
The company develops human resources software used by more than 75,000 customers in 65 countries. among its capabilities are tracking time off and vacation, work hours, payroll incidents, hiring, performance reviews and onboarding.

“Our plan is to increase sales in Spain while developing new markets to be able to provide a premium service in the medium term,” states Jordi Romero, founder and CEO of Factorial.

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Publication from FactorialHR Software (@factorial_hr)

The startup was created in Barcelona. In 2017, it received €500,000 in an angel round, and in 2018 it received another €2.8 million from Sweden’s Creandum, Spain’s K Fund and Germany’s Point Nine Capital.

In September 2021, it closed an $80 million B financing round with investments from Tiger Global, CRV, Creandum, Point Nine and K Fund.

Paack
The startup was founded in Dubai more than five years ago by Fernando Benito, Javier Rosales and Victor Obradors. It initially offered a solution for delivering small parcels from online stores, and over time has grown into a network of “last mile” centers and stations, providing next-day delivery after purchase at a time interval chosen by the customer.

The startup’s team has more than 400 employees, and it combines 17 to 20 of the largest online delivery services in cities where it operates (its geography includes Spain, France, Great Britain and Portugal).

Paack boasts customers such as El Corte Inglés, Inditex, Amazon, Decathlon, FNAC, Nespresso and PC Componentes. However, the company says they still have a long way to go.

Travelperk
It’s a company that manages corporate travel. It was founded in 2015 in Barcelona by two employees of the Booking platform. Later, the startup Travelperk launched a new service for customers, which allows them to organize a trip to attend an event.

Notably, despite the decline in travel during the pandemic, the company has received investment over the past two years (raising a total of $408.2 million) and raised its valuation to $1.3 billion. Its investors include Target Global, Kinnevik AB, Spark Capital and other venture capital firms.

Typeform .
The project specializes in creating online questionnaires and questionnaires based on user needs. Its software is used by Apple Inc., Airbnb, Uber and Nike, Inc. Typeform creates millions of surveys every month.

Today, the Barcelona-based startup estimates its sales at 60 million euros thanks to 120,000 paid subscriptions.

Wallapop
It is the leading free app for buying and selling used products that promotes a new form of responsible consumption based on a closed-loop economy.

Wallapop was founded in 2013 and uses geolocation so the user can bid and view offers based on location. The app is available for smartphones, tablets and PCs.

In 2020, sales through the app grew 50% despite restrictions due to the coronavirus. In 2021, the startup received an investment of 157 million euros, increasing its valuation to 690 million

The post Promising startups from Spain P. 2 appeared first on Platcomventures.

ProperGate provides an intelligent platform that simplifies the management and tracking of building materials in complex construction projects. The solution allows companies to improve efficiency and profitability. Since 2018, it has raised $1.3 million in funding from five sources.

Cardiomatics
Year launched: 2017.
Headquarters: Krakow.
Number of employees: 11-50.
Founders: Mariusz Masior, Rafal Samborski.
Cardiomatics

Cardiomatics is developing a cloud-based AI tool for creating digital analysis of ECG data. It is developed in cooperation with physicians and technicians, which ensures reliable and high-quality results. Seven investors have already invested in the company in four funding rounds. In total, it has received about $4 million.

E-contenta
Year launched: 2016.
Headquarters: Warsaw.
Number of employees: 11-50.
Founders: Zoya Andreeva.
E-contenta

E-contenta provides an AI-powered platform that allows brands to distribute editorial content through native advertising. The company has already partnered with world-renowned brands such as SEMrush, PepsiCo and many others.

Six investors, including IBM, have invested in it in five rounds of funding. In total, E-contenta received $505,000.

SatRevolution
Year launched: 2016.
Headquarters: Wroclaw.
Number of employees: 11-50.
Founders: Damian Fijałkowski, Grzegorz Zwoliński.
SatRevolution

SatRevolution develops orbiting nanosatellites that collect optical data from the Earth. The startup has closed five rounds of funding, raising $43 million, much of which was provided by Virgin Orbit, a Virgin Group small satellite launch company.

IndieBI
Launch year: 2021.
Headquarters: Lodz.
Number of employees: 11-50.
Founders: Tom Kaczmarczyk.
IndieBI

IndieBI is a platform for IndieBI game developers for PC and consoles. It allows to collect and analyze sales data and compare it with competitors. The startup, which was founded just last year, has already received initial funding of $3 million in November 2021.

Husarion
Year launched: 2013.
Headquarters: Krakow.
Number of employees: 11-50.
Founders: Dominik Nowak, Filip Kramarczyk, Radek Jarema.
Husaren

Husaren manufactures autonomous robots and the software needed to operate them. The company also offers solutions that allow people to learn how to build and program those robots. Husaren has already closed five funding rounds totaling $578,000 with the same investor.

Sugester
Year launched: 2015.
Headquarters: Warsaw.
Number of employees: 1-10.
Founders: Marcin Stefaniak, Michał Stefaniak, Paweł Deryło.
Sugester

Sugester provides a powerful and customizable subscription-based customer service suite. It includes email, online chat, project management and knowledge management systems. In 2015, the company received $251,000 in funding from a single investor.

EKOBILET
Year launched: 2019.
Headquarters: Krakow.
Number of employees: 1-10.
Founders: Anna Fuk.
EKOBILET

EKOBILET offers solutions for event organizers that provide multi-channel sales, allowing them to sell tickets without the involvement of third parties. Since its launch, the platform has sold tickets to more than 100,000 events. Two investors have invested in EKOBILET in two rounds. The amount of investment was not disclosed.

LiveCall
Year launched: 2016.
Headquarters: Warsaw.
Number of employees: 1-10.
Founders: Andrew Morawski, Mark Zollner, Matt Dulski, Peter Bator.
LiveCall

LiveCall created a platform that allows businesses to get 30% to 120% more inbound sales calls depending on the industry, eliminating the problem of missed calls. Three investors invested in the project in two rounds of funding. The total investment was $54,300.

Doctor One.
Launch year: 2021.
HQ: Warsaw.
Number of employees: 11-50.
Founders: Maciej Malenda, Tomasz Rudolf.
Doctor One

Doctor One is an online subscription platform for private medical services. Its goal is to provide direct access to verified doctors to as many people as possible. The company successfully raised about $500,000 in December 2021.

The post More startups from Poland appeared first on Platcomventures.

“Startup Hunting: record after record
This year, the “hunt for startups” has reached its peak. According to a study by analytical company Dsight, the volume of venture deals with Russian startups in the first half of 2021 more than tripled compared to the same period last year and set a record of $1 billion, and the number of deals in which corporations and corporate venture capital funds participated more than doubled during that period (359 during the six months of 2021).

However, the growth of interest in startups by large corporations is a global trend. Global venture capital investment by corporations and corporate funds set an all-time record this year at $268.7 billion, up from $251.2 billion a year earlier. This was reported by Reuters in July of this year. Most of the deals were with software, e-commerce, digital health and financial technology companies, whose products and services were in high demand during the pandemic.

Everyone has their own infrastructure
As competition intensifies, corporations are having to look even harder to innovate for their businesses, and startups are bringing more and more promising new developments to market. How can a corporation navigate through this sea of proposals and find exactly what it really needs?

The innovation industry in the States is historically fragmented. In order to “flatter themselves” to this or that major investor, startups literally pound the doorsteps and try to make the “right” acquaintances. According to the Startup Barometer 2021 survey, 84% of startups in the United States want to work with corporations or are already working with them.

Realizing the undeniable importance of innovation for business, large companies and corporations spare no time or resources. They build their own infrastructure to work with startups – they use such tools as gas pedals, venture studios, business incubators, hackathons, and so on. They build scouting themselves or turn to specialized operators for services.

The problem is that each corporation is building such a system separately, because of this it is often not able to see all proposals on the market, because for a long time there was no single universal database with relevant information on startups on the Russian market.

One platform for everyone
There are platforms for direct connections between startups, venture investors and big technological companies. These are the well-known Crunchbase, ProductHunt, F6S and a number of others. Crunchbase appeared as an additional project of the media publication Techcrunch, and is therefore more of a showcase of publicly available information, rather than a service that would allow users to connect with each other, as well as to design various services on the platform.

The platform base is formed solely by the participants themselves: corporations, investors, and startups. They fill out their profiles themselves, and the development team thinks through mechanisms to ensure that startups keep their information up to date.

The post Businesses in search of technology: Where to look for startups in 2022 appeared first on Platcomventures.

However, some segments have benefited precisely because of the pandemic crisis. They continue to actively expand and hire new employees. Let’s look at where it is most profitable to do business (and look for work) during the crisis.

1 Innovative educational technologies – EdTech.
Last year the Russian market of remote and online education grew by an average of 20-25% and the volume exceeded 50 billion rubles. The biggest beneficiaries of the pandemic were large platforms focused on school education – their revenues more than doubled.

The segment grew not only at the expense of schoolchildren and students. As the pandemic dragged on, many adult professionals decided to get additional education providing online work. During the pandemic, all EdTech platforms noted a sharp increase in the number of adult users taking courses in digital professions.

Professions in demand in the EdTech segment:

• Online educators;
• programmers and testers;
• pedagogical designers;
• developers and curators of educational materials. 2.

1. telemedicine
   According to BestDoctor, Russians are now 5 times more likely to use remote consultations. In 2020, 5 million Russians used telemedicine services. Remote consultations and diagnostics significantly reduce the need to visit a doctor in person – according to statistics, gynecologists, dentists and psychotherapists have become the most sought-after specialists in remote format.

Some clinics already provide their patients with devices for remote diagnostics. Medical gadgets can be used to take high-resolution pictures, which are necessary for remote consultation on skin diseases, and even to “listen to” the lungs and heart.

In addition to doctors, there is an increased demand in the segment for technical professionals who support the operation of online platforms. Specialists working in telemedicine are:

• programmers;
• analysts;
• designers;
• product managers.

1. online sales
   The growing popularity of online shopping is a worldwide trend that has continued even after the lockdown was lifted. Companies that didn’t pay enough attention to online sales before the pandemic were forced to switch to the ecommerce format. The impressive results of online sales have convinced business owners that this channel should not be neglected even after the pandemic crisis has passed.

Fly Research has published a list of the most popular products among Russians. In addition to products and necessities, it includes:

• products for needlework;
• Computer equipment;
• kitchen utensils;
• Books and all kinds of board games;
• air purifiers.

The leader in online sales continues to be food and grocery delivery. The number of orders in the respective online services has increased tenfold. The champion in 2020 was the Yandex Lavka platform: the number of orders there increased 47.5 times.

According to ANCOR, Russian retail is growing at the expense of online sales: 21% of companies are actively hiring new employees. The following professions are in demand:

• Web developers;
• SMM specialists;
• Internet marketers and copywriters;
• online merchandisers;
• logistics and fullfilment managers;
• specialists in distribution.

1. FoodTech platforms and technologies
   While Europeans are saving on food delivery (Reuters reports that Just Eat and Uber Eats in Europe have noted a steady decline in the number of orders), Russians are increasingly using the services of Yandex Food and other similar services. According to Delivery Club, not only the number of orders is increasing, but also the number of restaurants willing to provide their services. In addition, there is a growing segment of orders for ready-to-eat healthy foods: in the face of the pandemic, people are trying to take care of their health.

Total growth in the delivery segment during the pandemic exceeded 24%. Even more impressive growth is observed in the technological sector of foodtech – the value of shares of companies specializing in the development and production of alternative and HGH foods is rapidly increasing. For example, shares of Beyond Meat, a U.S. plant-based meat developer, are up 49%.

The foodtech sector is always in need of food production technologists, and specialists in alternative protein sources are especially in demand. The delivery segment is always in need of couriers. In addition, the field as a whole needs the following professionals:

• product managers;
• chefs;
• nutritionists;
• IT developers;
• Internet marketing specialists.

5. Streaming services
   The increase in the number of subscribers to online streaming services is another global trend. The online cinema segment in Russia showed growth of 66%, with ivi becoming the leader. Among foreign platforms, Netflix and Disney+ are the leaders. According to analysts from TMT Consulting, streaming services in Russia will continue to grow – by the end of 2021 the market will increase by 42%.

Many streaming services now offer not only entertainment content – music, podcasts, series and movies – but also educational content. Multimedia content subscription companies are expanding and recruiting. They need:

• programmers and testers;
• support specialists;
• product managers and analysts;
• designers;
• creative producers;
• media content editors;
• Internet marketing specialists;
• data scientists.

The post Successful business during the crisis: 5 spheres of business that grew during the pandemic appeared first on Platcomventures.