COnnecting INVestment Ecosystems by Strengthening Transparency and INclusion

ended

CO-INVESTIN focuses on creating cross-border co-investment opportunities for modest and moderate EU ecosystems by leveraging promising startups in the portfolio of local investors to attract foreign investors from more advanced ecosystems in their new rounds. To achieve that, the partners will pilot the approach in 4 emerging ecosystems (EL, BG, RO, PT) where the consortium partners have a strong footprint and progressively integrate at least 10 additional emerging/ moderate ecosystems by the end of the project. The project focuses on the funding gap around the Series A, very acute in these ecosystems both from the lack of capital and investors perspective, as well as in terms of deal size with respect to more advanced ecosystems. As demonstrated by the recent experience with the EIC Fund, identifying a lead investor and co-investors is a challenging task for DeepTech start-ups, in particular the ones from emerging ecosystems. The CO-INVESTIN approach relies on 4 main dimensions, that cover in a complete manner both the analytic and the action oriented dimensions of the approach: 1. Investment gap analysis, 2. Development of Market Orientation Programmes, 3. Stimulating cross-border investments and 4. Upscaling the framework and enhancing its impacts. The main project results include: • At least 5 working groups to foster the creation of structured and coordinated networks • At least 20 peer investor match-making sessions • Establishment of local CPI and activation of the Assistance Service for foreign investors • Market orientation programmes for European investors, with emphasis on women for at least 10 ecosystems • 5 networking review sessions & VC syndication to encourage joint ventures & Cooperation with innovation agencies • 2 International business forums & conferences to attract and connect investors Particular focus will be placed on fostering the increased participation of women in both the entrepreneurial endeavours, as well as investment landscape.