If you missed part or all of the event, check out recordings of the panels, pitching, and speeches here!
Now in its fourth year, Falshpoint’s SummerSaas has become a landmark event in the calendars of European and Israeli VCs, as well as early-stage SaaS companies in rapidly developing verticals. The conference’s record in cultivating relationships and, ultimately, nurturing investments, was demonstrated at last year’s event, from which emerged a number of exciting partnerships.
With a total 4-year attendance of over four thousand delegates, comprising top-tier VCs representing more than $10 billion AuM, as well as over 100 selected pitching SaaS companies from Emerging Europe and Israel, what began in 2020 as a pure pitching competition has become an unmissable conference for investors and ambitious startups alike.
VC panels:
2023’s SummerSaas boasted a packed agenda, with proceedings initiated by Flashpoint’s General Partner Alex Konoplyasty, whose remarks opened the event (PRESENTATION, RECORDING).
The European and Israeli tech landscape was surveyed by Louis Geoffroy-Terryn, from Dealroom.co, who offered delegates a breakdown of the year in numbers (PRESENTATION, RECORDING).
This address was followed by a panel discussion, chaired by Leah Hodgson from PitchBook, about the ways in which slower capital deployment impacts early-stage startups, in which participant speakers offered their predictions for what the year ahead will bring (RECORDING).
Further panel discussions followed, with experts sharing their views on topics from the character, strengths and weaknesses of Corporate Venture Capital for startups (RECORDING), as well as a discussion of the creative ways in which scouts can source strong tech founders and build out their networks (RECORDING).
Moderated by Flashpoint’s Donatella Callegaris, attendees were also treated to a panel conversation analysing the rise of Venture Debt partnerships, and its role in a challenging economic climate (RECORDING).
The event’s final panel dealt with the evolving secondary transaction patterns in the industry, and, with Lukas Harustiak moderating, evaluated the benefits and drawbacks of the secondary markets for companies and the ways in which these calculations are being affected by macro-economic trends (RECORDING).
In parallel with these panel discussions, SummerSaas’ annual pitching competition progressed, with a selected group of 25 startups presenting to a VC panel, from which one in each track reached a Grande Finale. Ultimately, the experienced panel selected Apsy Inc., the next generation AI platform to build elegant custom apps at a significantly lower cost compared with low-code or traditional dev shops, as SummerSaas’ 2023 winner.
Pitch tracks:
VERTICAL SAAS (RECORDING)
HEALTH TECH (RECORDING)
HORIZONTAL SAAS (RECORDING)
FINTECH (RECORDING)
DEVELOPERS TOOLS (RECORDING)
GRAND FINAL (RECORDING)
You can find the pitch decks of all the startups that applied for the competition and agreed to share it with the wide audience here
As ever, we are grateful to the panelists, speakers, judges and attendees who made this year’s SummerSaas another triumph. We’d also like to thank our sponsors – SaaStock and Dealroom.co – and Info Partners, without whom this event could not have had the impact it’s had!
About Flashpoint
Flashpoint is an international tech investment manager with approx. $400 million AUM focused on international tech companies originating in Europe and Israel. Flashpoint manages five venture funds: three VC funds, a Venture Debt Fund, and a Secondary Fund. The firm is headquartered in London and has offices in New York, Tel-Aviv, Budapest, Warsaw, Riga and Nicosia.
Investors in Flashpoint’s funds include Széchenyi Funds, a Hungarian fund manager, and more than 130 major family offices and HNWIs. The funds have made investments in 61 companies including names such as Guesty, Chili Piper, and Office RnD. Flashpoint has completed 13 exits, including the sale of its stakes in Shazam (to Apple), Chess.com (to PokerStars founders and General Atlantic), Marketman (to PSG), and Gurushots (to Zedge).
