Our portfolio company Xatena reaches a transaction volume of over CHF 60M and closes a new financing round.

Xatena has been able to convince further investors with its positive operating development. EquityPitcher has already participated in the 2018 financing round and is participating in this round again. Together with further Investors could collectively provide CHF 1.5 M . The new capital will be used for further market capturing- especially the first crossboarder activities in the German market – as well as for the further development and optimization of platform functionalities and database .

Xatena is the Leading B2B-Platform in the healthcare segment.The web-based B2B market platform is experiencing a steady growth in transactions via the platform. Within a very short time, the number of companies on the B2B platform tripled. While in October 2018 already over 100 registered suppliers were present on Xatena, in June 2019 Xatena counted over 350 suppliers. Also the buying companies has developed. They raised from 11 to 20 very rapidly.Xatena is characterised by the digitalisation and automation of processes. From the hospital to the individual practice, medical service providers can use devices, furniture, medical and household goods as well as services invite tenders, request and evaluate structured offers.

We are looking forward to the future and further cooperation

Trivago founders join our portfolio company

Under the umbrella of the RightNow Group, Europe's leading provider in the field of consumer factoring is currently being created. The Düsseldorf-based company specializes in buying legal claims from consumers that they themselves cannot enforce or can only enforce at great expense.

Now the founders of Trivago have stepped in. Both parties have agreed not to disclose the amount of the investment. The value of the company has tripled within one year.

In 2016 RightNow launched the portal Geld-fuer-Flug.de, and in 2018 the offer was expanded to include rail travel and accident compensation. Today the group employs almost 30 people and has just moved into new headquarters. With the new financial resources the company will now be able to push ahead with its internationalisation and further expand its product range.

Sooner or later, every start-up company finds itself in a situation where more capital is needed for the further development of the company. In the first quarter of 2019, CHF 341M has already been invested in Swiss start-ups. From our own experience we share the most important points a start-up should consider when it comes to attracting investors and closing a successful financing round.

Addressing suitable investors correctly

There are a large number of venture capital firms and their focus is different. Each investor has its own investment criteria. It is therefore essential to address the characteristics and needs correctly, to identify your target audience correctly and to respond to their needs in a targeted manner. In which areas and industries do you invest? How large are the investments? In which phases are investments made? Who is the right contact person?

Network and Relations

For the „Cold Calling“ with investors is hard and often does not lead to the desired success. Recognised networks can be used to increase the level of awareness. The common points of contact help to get into the field of vision of investors and leave a first impression. This works best through qualitative recommendations. During previous financing rounds, an ecosystem has often already been established which can be actively used again. Most key stakeholders are happy to help, increase the reach and build trust, especially if they are well-known industry experts.

Partnership before Brand

Obtaining funding is one side of the coin, gaining a valuable partner is the other. Fundraising is about more than just capital. It is about choosing the right investor who actively helps to achieve the goals set. A due diligence of potential investors helps to identify the really suitable investors.

Follow-up

After fundraising is before fundraising. If the contact was successful, it is important to keep the promise and to maintain a regular exchange. Investors want to be sure that agreed goals are achieved. The trust that has been built up helps in the successful further development and also in further financing rounds.

"It is important to transfer the lessons and experience gained from each completed financing round to the next financing round and to start the next financing round early, i.e. without time pressure". – Benno Marbach, Guuru

With more than 100 guests, the equity pitcher "Come together 2019" was a thoroughly successful evening. 

In the foreground of the EquityPitcher "Come together" is the mutual Exchange between the EquityPitcher network and the portfolio companies. We are very pleased that this year again interesting and helpful contacts for our startups have been established.

We'd like to thank all guests, startups as well as the panel participants for the great evening. It is great to have people in our EquityPitcher family who support us and share our goals, values and motivation. A special thank you goes to Prof. Thomas Schmittwhich, with a short presentation, provided the impetus for the highlight of the evening, where Bruno Sauter, Adrian Gautschi and Philippe Hänggi a top-class panel discussed on the topic "The importance of the growing asset class venture capital for the Swiss economy", gegeben hat.

The central insight of the evening was: The importance of venture capital is growing and is well on the way to establishing itself as a respected asset class. This insight and the positive feedback show that we are on the right track with our philisophy and the Initiation of our second find, can look positively into the future!

Our founders Hermann and Sascha had the pleasure to talk with Cédric Bollag in the "Startup Show" about various interesting topics. The resulting video provides insights behind the scenes of EquityPitcher.

Among other things, the interview deals with the structured construction of a diversified portfolio
and the initiation of our second venture capital fund In addition, you can learn more about the history of EquityPitcher, our network and the selection process with the applied screening criteria.

Herzlichen Dank an Cédric Bollag.