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Impact of Startups in European Union
 Impact of Startups in European Union 1024 683 RAISE fosters startup growth and scale-up within and across Europe

Startups have become a driving force in the European Union, making significant contributions to the economy, innovation, and society. They have created new jobs, introduced new products and services, and disrupted traditional industries with innovative business models.

One of the areas where startups are having a significant impact is in the digital economy. With the increasing use of technology and the internet, startups are creating new digital products and services that are changing the way people work, live and communicate. They are using cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, and the Internet of Things to develop new solutions in industries such as finance, healthcare, education, and transportation.

Another area where startups are making an impact is in sustainability. Startups are addressing environmental challenges such as climate change, pollution, and resource depletion through innovative solutions. They are developing renewable energy technologies, creating sustainable agriculture practices, and introducing new circular business models that reduce waste and emissions.

Furthermore, startups are contributing to the social and economic development of local communities by providing employment opportunities and creating value for customers. They are also promoting diversity and inclusion by offering equal opportunities and promoting gender and racial equality.

Startups are also playing a significant role in the European Union’s overall competitiveness in the global market. By fostering innovation and entrepreneurship, they are helping the EU to maintain its position as a leader in technological innovation and a hub for business innovation. Startups are also driving economic growth by creating new jobs, attracting investments, and boosting productivity.

In conclusion, startups are making a significant impact in the European Union by fostering innovation, driving economic growth, and promoting sustainability and social development. They are changing the way people live and work, and their contributions to the economy and society will continue to grow in the years to come. The European Union’s support for startups through policies and initiatives will be essential in ensuring their continued success and impact.

Startups as Game Changers
 Startups as Game Changers 1024 623 RAISE fosters startup growth and scale-up within and across Europe

In recent years, startups have emerged as some of the most innovative and influential players in the global economy. These young, often scrappy companies are pushing boundaries, disrupting industries, and driving significant changes in how we live and work. From technology to healthcare to finance, startups are changing the world in ways that were once thought impossible.

One of the key reasons that startups are so successful at driving innovation and change is that they are unencumbered by the constraints that often burden larger, established organizations. Startups are free to experiment, take risks, and try new things without worrying about damaging their reputation or alienating their customer base. This gives them a significant advantage over larger competitors, who may be more hesitant to try something new for fear of upsetting their existing business model.

Another key advantage of startups is their agility. Unlike large, bureaucratic organizations, startups are lean and nimble, able to pivot quickly in response to changing market conditions or new opportunities. This allows them to adapt to changing circumstances and take advantage of emerging trends, often before larger companies even realize what’s happening.

Perhaps most importantly, startups are driven by a deep sense of purpose and passion. Founders and employees at startups are often motivated by a desire to make a difference in the world, to solve important problems, and to create new and better ways of doing things. This sense of mission and purpose can be a powerful force, driving creativity and innovation and pushing companies to achieve great things.

Whether they are focused on technology, healthcare, finance, or any other field, startups are driving innovation and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible.

Of course, not all startups will succeed, and not all will have a lasting impact on the world. But even those that fail can contribute to the larger ecosystem of innovation, paving the way for future entrepreneurs and pushing the envelope of what’s possible.

In conclusion, startups are proving to be some of the most innovative and influential players in the global economy. With their agility, passion, and willingness to take risks, startups are driving significant changes in how we live and work. As we look to the future, it’s clear that startups will continue to be at the forefront of innovation, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible and changing the world in ways that were once thought impossible.

How Affiliate Marketing Can Grow Your Startup
 How Affiliate Marketing Can Grow Your Startup 1 1 RAISE fosters startup growth and scale-up within and across Europe

Affiliate marketing has become a popular marketing strategy for businesses of all sizes, but particularly for small and up-and-coming businesses. It involves hiring people to promote your brand and then rewarding them with a fixed salary per post or on a commission basis. Businesses cannot turn a blind eye to the effectiveness of affiliate marketing, which is often used in tandem with other marketing strategies. One of the primary reasons why affiliate marketing is such a popular strategy is that it delivers results, which can be quantified through increased traffic and sales.

If you’re a small business owner, affiliate marketing through platforms is good option. It’s an attractive marketing strategy for growth as it helps to increase the customer base and stabilize the business’s profit levels. Before you launch an affiliate marketing strategy, it’s important to understand why adopting it as a strategy is beneficial for your business.

One of the primary benefits of affiliate marketing is its low starting cost. One of the biggest challenges that startups face is their budget. They have already spent a lot of money on capital, and their sales are not yet strong, which means that their profits are not yet stable. As a startup, it’s essential to be mindful of your finances, and now is not the time to overspend, even if it’s for essential business activities like marketing.

Something to mention is that digital marketing has given birth to strategies that are less costly to run than traditional marketing, and one of these strategies is affiliate marketing. The cost is significantly less than other marketing forms, as you only pay the affiliate for every post they make. The more followers they have, the higher the rate. As a startup, you can begin with affiliates who have yet to demand high rates.

Furthermore, some affiliates are also paid on a commission basis, which is even more ideal. You only have to pay them for every sale made through the affiliate’s specific code. With this agreement, you have a higher guarantee that the affiliate will work even harder to make sales so they can be paid the agreed commission.

Another benefit of affiliate marketing is that it results in low ongoing costs. Since the affiliate is undertaking all marketing activities, the affiliate bears a bulk of the ongoing costs to keep the marketing campaigns running. Therefore, this marketing model makes the costs associated with advertising activities more manageable. Unlike other marketing activities, there isn’t any interruption experienced in the cash flow.

Affiliate marketing also boosts brand awareness, which is crucial for startups that need to work hard to make themselves known in the industry. The goal is that, despite being a startup, you’ll be so famous in your market that eventually, your startup business becomes a household name in the industry. Affiliate marketing boosts brand awareness because of the power of affiliates. Their word is often given so much trust and weight by their loyal followers, mainly if they’ve already been in the industry for so long. This removes the need for your business to double the time and effort in reaching a target audience when each affiliate already has its respective sets of followers.

Progress tracking is another aspect that businesses should always do after the release of every marketing campaign to check whether or not it’s bringing in the intended results. With progress tracking, you could save time and effort on effective marketing strategies. The longer it takes to discover that, the bigger the chance of wasted resources. This isn’t a situation that businesses, particularly startups, would want to have.

The good news is that affiliate marketing offers real-time tracking. This means you know when a visitor clicks a link and goes to your site. You can also monitor sales through the affiliate’s links or with their code. Because everything is trackable, you can check and see how well each affiliate is performing from time to time. Changes can be implemented before it becomes too damaging for your startup if it’s negative.

In conclusion, affiliate marketing is an effective marketing strategy that startups should consider. It reduces risks inherent in startups, decreases upfront marketing costs, and offers quantifiable benefits. With its low starting costs, low ongoing costs, real-time progress tracking, and increased product reviews, affiliate marketing is a viable option for jumpstarting business growth.

How to Create a B2B Social Media Strategy
 How to Create a B2B Social Media Strategy 683 1024 RAISE fosters startup growth and scale-up within and across Europe

The use of social media channels varies greatly between business-to-consumer (B2C) and business-to-business (B2B) brands. While B2C brands use social channels primarily to reach consumers and drive sales, B2B brands use social media to build brand awareness, create relationships with other businesses, decision-makers, and industry influencers, with the ultimate hope of landing sales agreements further down the line.

However, it’s not just enough for B2B brands to be present on social media platforms. A well-thought-out strategy is required to ensure social media efforts are reaching the right people with the right content. Laura Weidner, communications manager at HR tech firm Personio, provides her top tips for creating a successful B2B social media strategy.

One of the first steps is to outline your business goals for social media and how they align with your broader business goals. This could involve increasing brand and business visibility, establishing thought leadership or building and strengthening relationships with customers and partners. Having clear aims will help you create relevant and helpful content for your audience.

Another important step is to clearly define your target audience. It’s essential to know who they are, what they want to see, and how they like to engage with content. Additionally, identifying the social media platform that best reaches your target audience is crucial. In most cases, your target audience on social media will match your business’s target audience and buyer persona. Therefore, analyzing current customer data can help to identify who your social media target group might be.

To further pinpoint the social target group, research industry-specific hashtags, keywords, topics, accounts, key influencers, articles, and media directly on social platforms via the search function. Most social networks offer insights into your current followers and their demographics, industry, company size, job function, etc.

Selecting the most suitable social media channels for your brand is also crucial. LinkedIn, for example, is popular with professionals and businesses, making it an excellent choice for B2B brands. You can create a comprehensive company page, share content with your audience, and connect with other businesses and industry experts. Meanwhile, Instagram may not be used as heavily by B2B brands, but it can be used for more behind-the-scenes content, less polished posts, and to engage with a wider audience.

Once you have outlined your business goals, defined your target audience, and selected the most suitable social media channels, it’s time to find your content angle. This involves conducting social listening via tools such as Hootsuite to track keywords, hashtags, and mentions about your brand and its specific products. This will help you identify what your audience talks about, what type of topics they are interested in, what their pain points are, and what content resonates with them.

Incorporating industry trends into your content is also vital. For example, if you’re in the HR space, you could create posts related to HR trends on onboarding, employee benefits, and hiring. When creating content, it’s essential to think more “conversation” and less “broadcast.” Making content more intimate and telling a story can help to engage your audience. You could showcase a product feature through a video of one of your customers using it and show the value it brings them.

In addition to tracking social media analytics to identify which types of posts are getting the most engagement and which might need some adaptation, it’s also important to get employees involved in content creation. By showcasing employee stories, you can give potential candidates an insight into your company culture.

Overall, a well-executed social media strategy can help B2B brands build brand awareness, create relationships with businesses, decision-makers, and industry influencers, and ultimately lead to sales agreements.

RAISE at the European Angel Investment Summit 2022
 RAISE at the European Angel Investment Summit 2022 1024 763 RAISE fosters startup growth and scale-up within and across Europe

RAISE is working on the creation of collaboration space to help raise startups and scale-ups: Open Startup Forum. The RAISE project team will present the Forum at the European Angel Investment Summit 2022, organised by the RAISE project consortium partner – EBAN.

We invite you to join our community of interested peers ‘Open Startup Forum’. Workshops, matchmaking events, speed dating with investors, acceleration programmes, business mentoring will be some of the opportunities that will raise from our ‘Open Startup Forum’.

Every startup will have an equal chance at success, with access to top-quality information and training. They will be given all the possible tools to grow, and finally, all the players in the EU startup ecosystem under one umbrella will be linked to help them scale up.

Join our Forum to build collaboration amongst key players of the innovation ecosystem, and create a joint agenda that will contribute to the growth and scale-up of start-ups. Want to find out more about this? Write to us at info@theraise.eu or visit us at the European Angel Investment Summit 2022.

The European Angel Investment Summit 2022, taking place in Brussels on 11-12 October, is the annual conference where early-stage investors, entrepreneurs, and change-makers get together to fuel Europe’s growth.

The EAIS will allow participants a glimpse into the future, a chance to influence the course of tomorrow and a unique opportunity to connect meaningfully with other international colleagues that enable innovations to come to life. During this 2022 edition of the Summit, we will be discussing topics that go from how startups and investors can leverage science to build global companies, to what angel investors can do to foster more interconnected and inclusive innovation communities.

This event is a must-attend for business angels, but also for any other early stage investment actor, supporter of entrepreneurship or innovation at large.

The audience is typically made up by 50% business angels, 20% VCs, CVCs and PEs; 10% startup entrepreneurs; 10% policy makers; 10% other startup ecosystem stakeholders.

The RAISE project consortium partner – EBAN is partnering with the InvestEU Portal, the European Commission DG GROW and DG ECFIN, and the Enterprise Europe Network for the event. 

Latvian Startup Ecosystem
 Latvian Startup Ecosystem 150 150 RAISE fosters startup growth and scale-up within and across Europe

So you’ve got your idea, a business plan and an ambitious startup team. Is there anything you’re still missing? Well, in Latvia it sure won’t be the case, as you’ll have the support of a compact yet dynamic startup ecosystem that has everything you need to succeed. It’s where state, industry and academia work hand in hand to achieve the best result and it’s what will help you meet all the right people (and have fun) at exciting tech events or get funding for your R&D projects.

Overview of Latvian Startup Ecosystem

Latvian ecosystem is small, yet vibrant, it consists of highly motivated multilingual (often with at least 3 languages or more) talented people of various age and backgrounds. The startup environment is dynamic and rapidly growing. To nurture this growth, all important stakeholders have joined hands together.

Latvian startup infrastructure consists of 400+ registered startups, a pool of institutional investors and business angels, a diverse range of modern co-working spaces, dozens of business incubators fuelled by the government, academia and private individuals, as well as full of exciting gatherings, productive conferences, hackathons and meetups. The capital city Riga hosts numerous annual Tech & Innovation conferences: the iNovuss, Deep Tech Atelier, Riga Tech Girls, TechChill and others. Moreover, a unique Startup Law has been passed and Startup Visa, officially – temporary residence permit, has been created in order to make Latvian startup ecosystem even more vibrant and productive.

Government support

Latvian government has particular interest and determination in boosting the development of startup environment, therefore, the support is provided at various stages: ideation & conceptualization, initiation, development and expansion. No matter what stage you have reached – there is a support mechanism just for you! And it is implemented and delivered through Magnetic Latvia Startup (also known as StartupLatvia), which represents a brand under Investment and Development Agency of Latvia (LIAA).

Startup Law

The Law creates a favorable tax regime for startups. The law foresees two benefit scenarios: 1) a special flat tax regime, currently 340,90 euros/month per employee, regardless of salary paid, combined with the 0% individual income tax rate, or 2) 45% co-financing for the highly qualified specialists. Read more on StartupLatvia – Law Benefits website.

Startup Visa

Startup visa, officially – a temporary residence permit, is offered to all non-EU startup founders who are willing to come and develop their startup ideas in Latvia. One startup can have up to 5 founders with a startup visa. The application process takes one month. The visa is given for the period of maximum 3 years and it is also issued to the spouse and children. Read more on StartupLatvia – Startup Visa website.

Innovation Vouchers

Innovation voucher program is aimed for any-size businesses that develop new products or technologies. The R&D actions supported by the program are the development of a new product or technology, the strengthening of industrial property rights and the certification and testing of new product or technology. Innovation vouchers are up to 85% co-financed in the amount of 25 000 EUR. Read more on StartupLatvia – Innovation Vouchers website.

Science Commercialization

The Investment and Development Agency of Latvia provides support to public research organizations for commercialization of research results. Among supported activities are: carrying out a feasibility study, preparation of a commercialization strategy, industrial research, experimental development, participation in international exhibitions, contact exchanges, conferences (seminars) abroad, individual visits and participation in national booths and trade missions, preparation of commercialization offers, attraction of experts and other activities. Read more on StartupLatvia – Science Commercialization website.

Business Travels

Visibility for startups and the ability to build and expand their business network are of high importance. Investment and Development Agency of Latvia (LIAA) is offering an opportunity to reach out to investors, clients, and partners. Startup representatives can attend various events all over the globe, conferences, go on trade missions and get co-financed by the government..

Business Incubators

There are 13 LIAA incubators throughout the whole Latvia that support the necessary environment for the set up and development of business by offering training, mentor support and grants, and organizing events on general business issues. Read more on StartupLatvia – Incubators website.

Acceleration Funds

In 2017, the government made a special EUR 15 million acceleration fund (allocated by the European Regional Development Fund during the planning period of EU structural funds 2014-2020) available through ALTUM to support Latvia-based early-stage startups. The fund was then equally divided after a public procurement between three professional funds: Buildit focusing on hardware and the internet of things startups, Commercialization Reactor focusing on deep-tech startups, Overkill Ventures focusing on B2B software startups. There is one more acceleration fund in Latvia – Startup Wise Guys, focusing on B2B Fintech startups. More on StartupLatvia – Acceleration funds website.

Source: lia.gov.lv

The RAISE Project launched
 The RAISE Project launched 1024 683 RAISE fosters startup growth and scale-up within and across Europe


In June 2022, SERN kicked off another project – RAISE: The Regions Alliance for Interconnected Startup Ecosystems!

The main goal of the project is to contribute to the development of a new, sustainable, and integrated framework of support that fosters startup growth and scale-up within and across Europe in all its dimensions: from initial funding and research support to public incentives and internationalization.

To meet this ambitious goal, SERN is leading a consortium composed of the European Business Angels Network (EBAN), the European Association of Development Agencies (EURADA), the Foundation FUNDECYT Scientific and Technological Park of Extremadura (FUNDECYT-PCTEX), and International Consortium of Research Staff Associations (ICoRSA). All organisations are active at the European level spanning the whole spectrum of startup support and growth: access to public funding, business angels, research & innovation.

The consortium is starting by setting up the Open Startup Forum to connect the stakeholders in a common space and start creating the conditions for further exchanges and cooperation.
The idea is to build on that platform to create links between the different stakeholders, and then design, implement and track pilot Actions for the promotion of startups and scaleups in the EU.

We keep you posted about RAISE impacts!

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