Business angels are entrepreneurs who contribute their capital in early-stage startup companies in return for an equity stake. You may consider becoming one yourself, no matter how experienced in business and investing you might be.
However challenging it may sound, some attempts have recently been made at drawing the US market’s attention to Polish innovations, with Black Pearls VC playing a relevant role in this task. We took part in a mission to the US that can result in fostering the Polish-American cooperation.
In June 2014 I joined the Kauffman Fellows program. It has been a great experience, which I recommend to any venture capitalist who wants to build an amazing investor network globally and learn from the most successful VCs and entrepreneurs in the Valley.
Black Pearls VC is pleased to share this news with you. After months of talks and meetings we can officially announce that Ewa Treitz and Maciej Skórkiewicz joined our team. Ewa joins as a Venture Partner from 3M Ventures and she will increase Black Pearls VC global presence especially in the Baltic Sea Region. Maciej our new Investment Director will support the development of our portfolio companies in areas of the sales and investor relationships. Their track record in venture capital market effectively complements Black Pearls VC’s new strategy.
Black Pearls VC is going to assist 60 startups on their way to the MVP phase. In collaboration with our partners, we will be the launch-pad for the emerging ideas. Innovative startups from Eastern Poland can expect mentoring services, startup consulting and capital entries.
Black Pearls VC has received the distinction of the Pomeranian Employer of 2015 in the large and medium-sized enterprises category! The competition was aimed at micro, medium and large-sized companies which are headquartered or have working area in the Pomeranian Region and the business leaders who achieve very good financial results and, what is more important, look after the interests of their employees.
The cooperation of Black Pearls VC with the National Centre for Research and Development has proven successful. The scheme – aimed at supporting innovative ideas born at Polish universities –helped to raise finance for nine companies from one of our funds, Black Pearls LQT Fund.
What a year it has been for us at Black Pearls VC. We have seen an impressive three-digit growth across the board: in the number of companies in our portfolio, the total amount of investment, the number of co-investors, projects obtained as well as the number of contracts signed with the scientific world.
This September in Kielce (Poland) was held one the largest defence trade show in Europe (third after Paris and London). More than 500 exhibitors from all around the world took part in this fair.
A robust year for investment, divestment and fundraising as CEE activity strengthen.