Kayla Kania’s Post

Announcing our Co-CEOs! We are excited to announce our new Co-CEOs, Dr. Jan Goetz and Dr. Mikko Välimäki, as part of our next growth phase, effective today. Goetz will lead external relations and fundraising, while Välimäki will focus on enterprise commercial operations. “The new Co-CEO approach has vital advantages to strengthen our leadership capabilities. It will leverage complementary skill sets within our leadership team and streamline our organisational performance,” said our board chairman, Dr. Sierk Poetting.  “As a leadership team, we are confident in Goetz and Välimäki leading IQM to the future and providing value to our customers and partners worldwide. This organisational structure will help us adapt to new opportunities and thrive in a dynamic business landscape.” “Mikko and I have been part of IQM’s incredible journey since the beginning. At this stage of IQM’s growth, I am truly delighted to have Mikko join me as Co-CEO in shaping IQM’s future. The industry is at a critical moment as the processing capability of quantum computers is about to surpass that of even the most powerful supercomputers. Having Mikko on board to support our commercial operations significantly enhances our business capabilities to capture this opportunity,” said Goetz.  “Leading our commercial operations and aligning our sales and marketing with the exceptionally strong technology foundation to drive long-term growth is very close to my heart. I feel honoured to take on the role of Co-CEO together with Jan,” said Välimäki. Read the full press release here: https://lnkd.in/d7A69bUE Picture (Left to right: Jan Goetz and Mikko Välimäki) #IQM #QuantumComputing Juha Vartiainen Kuan Yen Tan Bayern Kapital European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA) OurCrowd QCI SPV Tofino Varma Maki.vc Matadero QED MIG Fonds OpenOcean SALVIA GmbH Santo Venture Capital GmbH Tencent Tesi Vsquared Ventures World Fund Daria Saharova Axel Thierauf Ekaterina Almasque Helmut Jeggle Sylwia Barthel de Weydenthal (she/her) Alexia López Inés De Vega 

Earlier this week, I participated in the event "Insights on Successful Paths to Corporate Venturing" hosted by Entrepreneurship and Private Capital at London Business School at LBS. Insightful talks and panel discussion by LBS faculty Gary Dushnitsky, and industry professionals Maija Palmer from Global Corporate Venturing and Nicolas Sauvage from TDK Ventures. Key takeaways: - CVC-backed startups are more likely to survive in a long term - CVC-backed startups get higher valuation on exit - CVCs are very diverse in their objectives and forms, STARs (Strategy, Team, Alignment of Structure, Renumeration) need to be congruent - Nuanced distance between the mothership is a critical factor to success of CVCs - Strategic value comes from working with the best entrepreneurs - "Carry" should not be a tool to attract talent, it should be for retension - Sustainable partnership with startups comes from "equal win" - CVC investments should be free from annual budget cycle, they are investments, not spendings It was great to see Sony Innovation Fund mentioned as one of the best practice. Thank you Entrepreneurship and Private Capital at London Business School for the opportunity to connect with CVC/VC professionals and entrepreneurs. #LBS #entrepreneurship #venturecapital #CVC #privateequity

Learning from failure by understanding the experiences and insights of other founders, enables us to make better decisions and achieve sustainable growth for our companies. Discover insights from Angela Rossi, Founder of HRM Affärsutveckling AB, during the 9th Founders World Summit. As part of the collaborative exchange within Founders Alliance, she will lead a workshop on the "Anatomy of Failure," offering valuable learnings for all founders. Angela is a member of Founders Group 5. Exchange: The exchange will start with a presentation on the report "Anatomy of Failure" by Angela Rossi. The report is based on interviews with founders, owners and CEOs and presents advice on how to do it as a founder if you want to avoid (!) profitable growth. Highlighted topics: - Failure with CEO: recruiting, appointing and managing and relevant learnings for Founders. - Failure with Boards: composition, process and managing as well as relevant learnings for Founders. - Failure in Owners: alignment, process and process of work with co-owners as well as relevant learnings for Founders. Participants: Founders Alliance Members wanting to succeed better with appointing and managing a CEO and Board for its companies as well as its Ownership work. For Founders Alliance Members: Secure your spot at the 9th Founders World Summit by registering now: https://lnkd.in/dj5sQta4   If you are not yet a member of the Founders Alliance, apply for membership by following this link: https://lnkd.in/dd6wyQj8 #foundersworldsummit #largescalefounders #founders 📸 Jean Lapin

It's what you don't know that kills deals and harms valuation. What are the disruptive trends you need to know? How do you achieve an optimal outcome? Avoid being a deal disaster - one of the 80% that fail in self-managed M&A efforts. Where are we in the M&A cycle and what's on the horizon? Join me online on July 24th at 10am MDT for our Merge Briefing - a 90-minute #executive seminar and market update for tech M&A. Use code "EXECUTIVE" to waive the registration fee. #economics #investing #innovation #management #technology #startups #business #consultant #leanstartups #bigdata #inspiration #entrepreneurship #founder #CEO #cofounder

The Zenitech team are proud to announce the appointment of Sam Kingston as its new Chief Executive Officer. “I am thrilled to join Zenitech, a company already known for its pioneering approaches and transformative technology solutions,” Kingston commented on his new role. “Looking ahead, my focus will be on deepening our commitment to innovation, client satisfaction and driving forward our diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging initiatives which are crucial for our vibrant community.” With an impressive track record of steering growth and transformation for IT powerhouses like EDS, Oracle and Deutsche Telekom, as well as in the dynamic environments of private equity-backed ventures Ciklum and Mobica, Sam Kingston brings a wealth of international experience and a fresh perspective to Zenitech’s leadership team. Edward Batrouni and Christopher Lacy-Hulbert expressed their unanimous support for Kingston, stating, “Bringing Sam on board aligns with our vision of scaling Zenitech’s impact and value proposition in the technology sector. His proven track record in growing companies towards remarkable growth is exactly what Zenitech needs as we embark on this new chapter, following our successful expansion into Hungary.” Sam Kingston will assume overall leadership, leveraging his operational expertise to accentuate Zenitech’s core technology strengths and drive revenue growth. Under the continued ownership and operational leadership of founders Edward Batrouni and Christopher Lacy-Hulbert, Kingston’s appointment marks a strategic move to bolster Zenitech’s growth trajectory and innovation capacity. When asked, Kingston elaborated on his future plans: “My primary goal is to build upon Zenitech’s strong foundation. We will continue to foster a culture of innovation, invest in our people and expand our global footprint, all while delivering exceptional service to our clients. Together, we will write the next chapter in Zenitech’s story, driving forward with anticipation and ambition.” Find out more: https://lnkd.in/e_76E9ZF #DigitalTransformation #ITModernization #innovation #technology

🚀 Navigating the VC Landscape in 2023: Insights and Achievements! 💰 Diving into the dynamic world of Venture Capital (VC) deals in 2023 – a year marked by an impressive estimated value of €57.1 (Source: Pitchbook). The top 10 deals involved diverse industries, with cleantech emerging as the frontrunner in attracting capital. 🏅 France & Benelux emerged as leaders in regional trends for 2023. In terms of sectors, biotech & pharma demonstrated remarkable resilience, while media and software encountered unique challenges. Particularly noteworthy is the regulatory impact that surfaced, shaping the trajectory of the software sector in 2024 🌍 In the year 2023, BVint provided advanced independent valuations for over 100 early-stage firms, and more than 1,000 startups since 2012, extending its expertise across Europe and worldwide. Our commitment to delivering precise and insightful valuations contributed to the success of emerging businesses on a global scale. 💡 Discover more: https://lnkd.in/d436Ee7e #Sectors #Capital #Global

Meet the Founders Jury for Founder of the Year, Large Size Companies 2024! Bringing together experienced founders from Sweden and Switzerland across various sectors, the Founders Jury is truly extraordinary. Meet our Founders Jury Members: - Magnus Tegborg Founder Alumni (Chair) - Sabina E. von Arx - Zubler, Founder Q.Brands - Martin Gren Founder Axis - Cecilia Ekholm Founder Särnmark Assistans - David Kristensson Founder Northern Offshore Services - Helena Casserlöv-Kvist, Founder Meritmind Founder of the Year Medium Size Companies: This category includes active founders of a private or public limited company with a revenue of approximately +50 million euros and at least 20% ownership in a profitable company, based on the fiscal year 2023. All nominees will be presented, assessed, and finalists selected based on the criteria of the Founders Alliance Index, which takes into account past performance, future potential, and social benefits. Next Steps: The finalists will present themselves and their companies to the Founders Jury. Presenting to a jury of peer founders offers valuable recognition and support to the finalists on their entrepreneurial journey. Explore more about the Founders Awards and previous winners: https://lnkd.in/dGAvXtFf⁠ ⁠ Stay tuned for updates on the awards ceremony at the Founders Awards Gala in Stockholm on September 19, 2024.⁠ ⁠ - If you're a founder looking to connect with like-minded peers secure your ticket here: https://lnkd.in/d2VkgUnR⁠ ⁠ - If you are a Founders Alliance Member, the gala is included in your membership, please register here: https://lnkd.in/dR-mvKDQ⁠ ⁠ FoundersJury #FounderoftheYear #FoundersAwards #FoundersAwardsGala #FoundersAlliance #LargeSizeCompanies Founders Alliance

These are 5 out of a number reasons why you should not miss out on attending the NOAH conference in Zurich at the Hyatt Regency Zurich Airport The Circle & The Circle Convention Center taking place next week. (By the way: That`s how DALL-E sees the NOAH in Zurich. 😉 ) 🇨🇭 Leading companies and investors in attendance 🇨🇭 200 speakers, 20% of whom will be representing Swiss companies 🇨🇭From an investor's point of view, all exciting sectors are covered: 6 growth sectors and 8 sustainability sectors on 2 stages, 49 growth segments and 23 sustainability segments 🇨🇭A network of 500 investor participants. More than $30 billion in capital raised by 200 high-growth companies in the past. Opportunity to raise as much as $12 billion of new capital Please mark in your calendar: December 13-14, 2023. As a proud partner of NOAH Conference we kindly invite you to register here 👉 https://lnkd.in/ewpHTDB Join & put your company in the spotlight that it deserves. #digitalization #leadership #switzerland #entrepreneurs #innovation #sustainability #investors digitalswitzerland Presence Switzerland Lakestar SIX HANDELSZEITUNG BILANZ Wirtschaftsmagazin UVC Partners Zumera b2venture Swisscom HV Capital Google Prewave Walden Catalyst Ventures Moonfare Russell Reynolds Associates Codete Influ2 explorer.land by OpenForests We Don't Have Time Redstone Wingman Ventures Liechtenstein Group Bank of America Deedster innoscripta AG PIABO Terraformation WEKA

💡 Austin Innovation Roundtable Last month, I participated in an engaging roundtable discussion at the Texas Innovation Center, which reminded me of what makes Austin special. Organised by Austin Venture Association together with Linnify, the conversation was moderated by • Thom Singer, CSP 🌟. Present at the event were leaders with varied backgrounds, including corporate executives, industry advisors, investors, and top minds from UT's Engineering and Business Schools. Got to really understand the recent development of the ecosystem when it comes to innovation from some of the most active and impactful members in the community. One of the reasons why Austin has been able to evolve so much has been the city's distinctive culture - 𝗮 𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗯𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆, 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻. This mutual support and joint forces mindset has been essential in shaping its innovation ecosystem. There's definitely a lot more to Austin, and I'm still discovering. But it's amazing to find this type of energy here. 🌍 If you're in Austin on the 6th of November, I recommend you take part in one of its annual flagship events when it comes to innovation - the CEO / C-Suite Summit, organised by Austin Technology Council. It was the first big event that I attended when I initially visited Austin in 2020. And the first time I got to experience the specific energy that this city has to offer. #AustinTX #AustinTech #Linnify #LinnifyEvents #Innovation #Ecosystem David V. • Thom Singer, CSP 🌟 Kevin Koym Vi Nguyen Kyle Lilly Jorge de Cárdenas (William) Russ Finney Jerald W.

Do yourself a favor: don't go to #VivaTech… Unless... You can answer these 3 questions: 1️⃣What is my goal? Being inspired and meeting people is great and shouldn't be overlooked but what are you looking for specifically? Are you here to meet investors? Is there a specific client or potential partner you'd like to meet? How many qualified introductions do you want to bring home? Lead with intention. 2️⃣What do I bring to the table? In order to get, you must give. What can you do to help your future clients or partners to win? Sounds obvious, yet, conferences are full of people who want to "sell their stuff no matter what"... Don't be that guy/gal ;) 3️⃣What's my post-conference plan? Now that you are filled with great vibes and new business ideas, what are you going to do with them? Too often, business cards bite the dust and we fail to follow up on potential great connexions. Make sure to keep in touch with the people you meet and show genuine interest about what they're up and see how you can help them move forward. 🌟Bonus tip: don't underestimate the power of side events. While it's exciting (and a bit tiring) to see thousands of people in couple of days, I find that side events are great opportunities to build more meaningful connections that often lead to future win-win business collabs.   Here are two events you shouldn’t miss: -If you are a women entrepreneur and want to create strategic partnerships while having a great time, join Paulina Rabell and Aurélie Salomon-Jean on Thursday, May 23rd at 7pm at Le Bellune Bar Hotel, 35 Bd Victor Hugo, 75015 Paris for their networking event;   -If you are a startup team and want to meet and build relationships with investors involved in #AIxBio, don’t miss VivaTech side event powered Next Sequence® on Friday, May 24th at 7pm ! Enjoy! 😁 #vivatech #vivatech2024 #vivatechconference  #techconference #elonmusk #AI #innovation Viva Technology #startups #investors #networking Photo credit: IFA Paris —--------------------------------------------------- My name is Jennifer Migan, I am a bilingual public speaking expert, a communication strategist and a former professional tennis player.  Who do I work with: 🇫🇷🇬🇧Executives who would like to enhance their public speaking and leadership skills because they want to take their career to the next level and/or increase their speaking opportunities. 🇫🇷🇬🇧Entrepreneurs who want to master their communication and increase their visibility and business opportunities.