Teresa Cunha, Portuguese manager and founder of MT Consulting, deals with Innovation Management & Venture Investments. With InvestHorizon, an European scale-up accelerator, she carries out projects aimed at supporting the development of the innovative companies that stand out in the deep-tech field.
Her tasks consist in providing professional services that include financing opportunities and connecting promising companies to investors, and her job has never stopped even during the recent health emergency; the pandemic has in fact resulted in a further innovation boost for certain companies, accelerating their activities.
In this interview, Teresa talks about the current trends and defines how startups linked to sustainability can find in GECO a showcase to emerge and make themselves known to investors.
In your experience, what sets a successful entrepreneur apart?
Most successful entrepreneurs I have come across are hard working, resilient, focused and charismatic leaders.
You work with European SME and deep tech startups. How has the current crisis affected them and what should they do to recover?
The pandemic had an acceleration impacted on many deeptech companies, notably toucheless technologies, fintech& ciber security, digital&mental health, and of course health related that could have some benefit for covid associated diseases. However, as we know, many other companies faced “headwinds” and were operationally affected, struggling to sell and to deal with cash runway needs. These companies had surely to cut down as much as possible on costs, and those fortunate to be backed-up by investors could eventually benefit from additional funding to navigate the crisis. In addition, most National Governments, as well as the EIF and EIB, have opened several liquidity lines and debt products, which these companies should certainly look into as well.
What are the most interesting trends in deep tech at the moment?
That is difficult question as we observe several trends in the different industries. For sure the impact of AI on the several industries is bringing a lot of deeptech innovations into the markets. I would also emphasise The BIG PROBLEMS of climate change, feeding 8 billion people, and keeping aging population healthy which attract a lot of deeptech solutions, and also the attention of investor, corporates and the EC.
What vision drives InvestHorizon’s work?
InvestHorizon accelerator is a series A accelerator for deeptech companies What we mean by this is that we are focused on the Series A Fund-raising step. All the work we do with the companies is sharpening the business proposal, making it attractive for investors and fostering interaction with target matching investors (Venture Capital, Corporate Venturing and in Individual Investors). Current impact data regarding first 3 cohorts, show that 25% have already raised their series A, with an average funding of €2.3 million
Why did you decide to support GECO?
GECO thematic areas are fully aligned with our accelerator focus in deeptech. We are sure that many of InvestHorizon cohort companies can benefit from the event and we hope to welcome additional good candidates to InvestHorizon accelerator. The next cut-off is already on the 31st of January 2021.