SBA Connect

Volume 5 of SBA Connect highlights the success of several members who participated in a 1 million euro closing in France, as well as the Startup Factory event held in September that reinforced ties with the regional innovation/entrepreneurship ecosystem. Due to the pandemic, the International Venture Academy was transformed into a Pitch & Coach session for online coaching, and SBA welcomed three new members who participated in the event. The newsletter also features Vice President Jonathan Laroussinie in the Member’s View section and announces upcoming pitch sessions with promising startups. Additionally, a partnership was finalized to help members master digital marketing.

SBA Connect Volume 4 covers various topics, including a profile of board member Olivier de La Meslière who liaises with funds/VCs, and the introduction of five new members. The Start Up Factory event, set to take place in September in Cannes as part of a partnership with CréACannes, is highlighted in the events section.

SBA Connect Volume 3 discusses the challenges that France faces as it emerges from lockdown and how bold and fast leaders need to be to restart the economy. The issue features an article by Joe Tabet from the Harvard Business Review (French Edition) who provides insightful answers to the crisis. The member’s view section profiles Barbara Saxby, a new board member who brings marketing expertise and fresh ideas to the group. The publication also highlights the activities of SBA members, including the startup hotline, and provides information on GDPR compliance for start-ups.

This newsletter highlights the profile of a new SBA member, Charles Sidman, and invites readers to attend his upcoming webinar on “Different Investor Approaches to the Early-Stage Asset Class.” The article also discusses a recent UPE webinar on the impact of the COVID crisis on the startup ecosystem and the need to adapt to the new world post-pandemic. The newsletter emphasizes the importance of successful exits for both startups and investors and discusses Michael Porter’s five forces analysis on how the BA investment world will change, with a focus on the increased competition for funding opportunities. Overall, the newsletter encourages startups to think outside the box and be creative to attract investors in the post-COVID era.

The SBA board for this year initiated several projects, and this newsletter is one of them. The first issue was released earlier than planned due to current events. The author shares personal experiences of going through major dramatic situations such as the Gulf War, Tsunami, and the 2008 credit crunch. The stages of grief, which are denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance, help individuals understand that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. The first issue covers updates on SBA, issues impacting startups and business angels, spotlight on a startup with an innovative way to address the current situation, views on best practices, SBA members’ activities in the community, events section, and food for thought section. The goal is to provide hope to navigate through these troubled times.