NuMundo Ventures announces 2025 Mexico Early Stage 100

Nearly 30% of the startups in Mexico are AI focused, applying intelligence across manufacturing, finance, enterprises and others. Great to see more AI-first companies with regional and global ambition. ⤵️

Artificio is building a deeptech startup in Peru. They're raising $7M. Its founder went to Harvard and MIT. Yet, fundraising isn't a piece of cake. They're stuck between two dilemmas. Here's how co-founder Arturo Deza (the Harvard/MIT one) explained it to The Realistic Optimist: "Artificio is an outsider for both LATAM VCs and for American VCs, but for two different reasons. For LATAM VCs, we’re a rare occurrence of a local deeptech startup. They don’t have many benchmarks to point to, and are thus frisky about investing. They don’t know how to value us. Things would be easier if we were doing food-delivery, in which case we could both point to Rappi and call it a day. Of course, Rappi is a spectacular company. But we’re building something very different. For American VCs, we’re a rare occurrence of a non-San Francisco based company building extremely advanced technology. To American VCs, if you’re not based in San Francisco, it means you lack ambition. Many don’t understand that the world has changed, and that Artificio is five steps ahead. We’re playing “4D Chess”. We are not the only ones crazy enough to do this: in other industries, many founders have decided to build outside of the US while still taking US-based VC funding (Mistral AI in France, NotCo in Chile…). They know that post-pandemic, newer markets and opportunities are emerging outside the US that no one else is seizing." Link to Arturo's full Realistic Optimist interview in the comments.

We’ve just opened applications for the Black Belt Global Venture Studio (BBV) — selected under the Tokyo Metropolitan Government’s TOKYO SUTEAM program. In partnership with the University of Oxford’s Science of Startups, we’re building a data-driven model to systematically create global startups from Japan. This program is for: 💡 Aspiring founders – join a scientifically designed team to accelerate your journey. 🚀 Startups – gain structured support for MVP development and investor connections. 🤝 Corporates & Investors – collaborate with and invest in the next generation of high-performing global ventures. We’re creating a reproducible model for global startup success — starting right here in Tokyo. Learn more below 👇 🌐 Official site: https://lnkd.in/gGkMxgwq #BlackBeltVentureStudio #TOKYOSUTEAM #ScienceOfStartups #JapanTechVentures #InnovationDojoJapan #VentureStudio #GlobalStartups #OpenInnovation

🚀 Greece’s Startup Ecosystem is Evolving – Insights from the 2024-2025 Venture Financing Report The latest Startups in Greece Report by Found.ation and EIT Digital paints a compelling picture of a startup ecosystem that is growing, maturing, and increasingly attracting global attention. Key takeaways: ◾ €555M invested in 90+ startups in 2024 (+15% YoY), outpacing many European markets. ◾ Leading sectors: AI, biotech, health tech. ◾ Notable exits and unicorns, including BETA CAE Systems ($1.24B) and Viva Wallet. ◾ Early-stage funding and diversity, especially female founders (24%), remain challenges. ◾ 156 international investors participated in 2024 funding rounds. With stronger partnerships and funding, Greece’s ecosystem is poised to scale globally. This report is a valuable resource for investors, policymakers, and entrepreneurs seeking to understand where Greece is headed and how to contribute to its growth. 📄 Full report: https://www.found.ation/startups-in-greece-report-2024-2025 #StartupsGreece #VentureCapital #Innovation #Entrepreneurship #TechInvestment #GreekStartups #Leadership #EcosystemGrowth

🦄 Slush, Europe’s startup event held annually in Helsinki, acts as a “Founder Factory” that has launched over 2,000 scale-up companies, with 15% of its alumni becoming founders. The Slush Founder Factory Report 2025 (in collaboration with Accel and Dealroom.co) reveals how Slush accelerates entrepreneurial growth by immersing young organisers in real startup-building challenges, creating “entrepreneurial muscle memory.” Key alumni include unicorn founders like Miki Kuusi of Wolt, and many others who met future co-founders at Slush. Timo Ahopelto (Lifeline Ventures), Sonali De Rycker (Accel), and Aino Bergius emphasise Slush’s unique role as a human accelerator, providing ambition, ownership, and practical experience that fuels Europe’s startup ecosystem and consistently produces category-defining founders. 📖 Full story: https://lnkd.in/evFMavmy #Slush2025 #StartupEcosystem #FounderFactory #EuropeTech #VentureCapital #Innovation #Entrepreneurship

@Startup Factory – A Neglected Aspect “Without this program, I wouldn’t have been able to start a company.” Recently, I participated in a FI4INN Interreg Europe workshop focused on the Hungarian Technological Incubator Program, better known as Startup Factory of Nemzeti Kutatási, Fejlesztési és Innovációs Hivatal (NKFI Hivatal) After I had a brief introduction, the more engaging part of the event showcased several incubators and some of their successful startups. One presentation, in particular, stood out and made me feel exceptionally proud—even though I’ve heard hundreds of similar stories before. When we talk about the results of the Startup Factory program, we usually mention the number of startups, follow-on investments, traction, exports, exits, and so on. And rightly so—these are the indicators that help assess whether public funds are being used effectively. But that morning, I realized something more profound—something that, until now, has rarely been discussed. Zoltan Papp , founder and CEO of EV.analytica , one of Hungary’s most successful early-stage startups, made a powerful remark. After sharing the story of their big data–driven electric vehicle development journey, he spoke about the challenges he faced in getting started. Every investor he met asked how much capital he could raise from the so-called “3F” sources—friends, family, and fools. While he understood the rationale, coming from a small village in Szabolcs County near the Ukrainian border, such funding was simply not an option. Despite working at multinational companies with a good salary, he hadn’t been able to save enough to launch a startup. Then he discovered the Startup Factory program. He immediately recognized that this public-private investment structure was a real opportunity. Eventually, his team was selected by the @Lunar Program incubator. As Zoltán put it: “Without this program, I wouldn’t have been able to start a company.” And that’s exactly the aspect we must not overlook. There are many talented individuals in Hungary—and beyond—who come from backgrounds where even modest capital is out of reach. For them, programs like Startup Factory are not just helpful; they are essential. They level the playing field and unlock potential that would otherwise remain untapped.

The big theme around startups this year is...concentration. Concentration in companies. There are more dollars flowing into fewer deals, bigger rounds being raised by selected winners while many companies shiver from lack of VC attention. Concentration in sectors (cough, AI, cough). So much focus and frenzy dedicated to a single theme that startups outside the main thing are left behind. Concentration within companies. Fewer hires than ever, even at companies that raise major rounds. Concentration in geography. The Bay Area has a gravitational pull that sucks in money, talent, and media. One big, tall, concentrated cocktail. 𝗦𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗮 • 70%+ of Series E+ capital went to AI startups so far in 2025.    • Total capital raised by Seed+Series A startups has risen since 2023 while total rounds has actually fallen.    • There are 3.35x more investors leading seed rounds these days than Series B (highest such proportion in 6 years).    • Lead investors are hoovering up more of every round they lead (from 51% in 2021 up to 61% this year).    • Companies on Carta hired the fewest people in January 2025 of any January since 2018 (and January is typically the largest month for new hires).    • 40 cents of every dollar fundraised by US startups on Carta has gone to a company in the Bay Area this year. Bay Area startups lead the fundraising race across every single sector save Biotech. Is this good for venture? You decide. Give me a shout in the comments if you'd like a link to this full deck high-res! #startups #venture

🌱 Why Giving a Chance to Startups Matters for the Industry 🚀 In today’s fast-evolving industrial landscape, innovation often begins where courage meets opportunity — and that’s exactly where startups thrive. Startups bring fresh ideas, agility, and out-of-the-box thinking that large organizations sometimes miss. They challenge conventional methods, introduce new technologies, and push the boundaries of what’s possible. Supporting startups is not just about encouragement — it’s about fueling innovation and driving long-term industry growth. When established companies and customers choose to collaborate with startups, they are not just giving a project — they are investing in the future of technology, sustainability, and smarter solutions. At GHPS Bio, we believe that every great idea deserves a platform. We understand the challenges startups face — from proving credibility to scaling up — and that’s why we’re committed to partnering, supporting, and co-creating with emerging innovators. Because the next big breakthrough in our industry might just come from a small startup — if only it’s given the chance. 🌟 #Innovation #Startups #Entrepreneurship #GHPSBio #Biotech #Manufacturing #Collaboration #FutureReady

🎉 We’re excited to launch our latest article: “Rethinking Startup Success – Insights from the 2025 SoundTech Accelerator”. At Sound Hub Denmark we’ve analysed this year’s cohort and found remarkable results — 88% redefined their beachhead market, 50% made major product changes, and 63% adopted agile processes.  These numbers signal a shift: sustainable growth now hinges less on funding alone, and more on clarity, alignment, and adaptability in the team and business model.  Read how we helped founders ask the right questions, embrace discomfort, and build real momentum — and how that might matter for you too. 👉 https://lnkd.in/dCkY442S #StartupGrowth #SoundTech #Innovation #Entrepreneurship #SoundHubDenmark #BusinessStrategy #ScaleUp #DeepTech

🚀 **Startup Funding Landscape: Global Insights Unveiled!** In a thrilling twist of innovation, the startup ecosystem is witnessing remarkable transformations: *Southeast Asia's Startup Scene*: - Funding dropped to $1.85 billion in H1 2025 - Only 229 equity deals closed - Late-stage funding gaining momentum *North American AI Revolution*: - $145 billion invested in startup ecosystem - Nearly $90 billion directed to AI-focused companies - Investors showing massive appetite for cutting-edge technologies 💡 **Key Takeaway**: The future belongs to startups that combine: - Technological innovation - Capital efficiency - Strong fundamentals Investors are no longer just funding ideas - they're investing in *transformative solutions* that solve real-world challenges! Are you a startup founder ready to disrupt the market? Your time is NOW! 🌟 #StartupFunding #AIInnovation #VentureCapital #TechTrends #InnovationEconomy #EntrepreneurshipJourney #GlobalStartups *Adapt. Innovate. Succeed.*