Why VC’s say „YES”: EdTech Hub Ventures

For any startup founder looking for the next stage of growth, understanding why VCs say ‘no’ is as important as why they say ‘yes’. Investors get to see hundreds of pitches every month, but only one or two will get an investment. We decided to go straight to the source and ask our colleagues from VC funds why.

Here is our interview with Agata Staszak from EdTech Hub Ventures fund, who introduced the team and their investment strategy. Along with it, she shared with us what they look for when investing in a startup.

Who are the EdTech Hub Ventures team members?

The EdTech Hub Ventures fund was created on the basis of the knowledge and experience of our five investors and the investment team, which is involved in acquiring attractive companies for the fund’s portfolio.

Our CEO is Ireneusz Tomczak, who has been developing projects related to education and new media for over 10 years. Remigiusz Czerniej as CTO specializes in ICT projects with particular emphasis on software and cyber security. Marcin Pytel is an expert in HR, people management, sales and marketing. In his portfolio so far, you can find the companies like Brainly, DocPlanner and GoldenLine. Jan Wykrytowicz is an expert with several years of experience in building and developing brands on the media market. Marcin Nivette is one of the leaders on the automotive industry scene.

The investment team is managed by Dagmara Strzębicka, who has over ten years of experience in seed investments, which she gained in leading VC funds in Poland. Together with the investment team, she is responsible for acquiring and selecting projects, supervising the investment process and cooperating with portfolio companies.

What do you focus on at EdTech Hub Ventures?

The main area of our interest is the broadly understood edtech sector. In addition, we invest in digital projects based on innovative technologies, such as AI, VR, AR, as well as hardware, from various fields. A key aspect is the strong R&D component of the project.

We focus on the projects that solve real problems, have a well-thought-out business model, and develop innovative technology that builds the unique value of the company.

We’re looking for companies at the pre-seed and seed stage which look for capital for the development of innovative technologies. Our investment ticket is around $250,000 for 20-30% of equity.

What are the existing companies in your portfolio?

So far, our portfolio includes 15 projects in industries such as edtech, medtech, automotive, IT, logistics and fintech.

How do you support your portfolio companies?

In addition to $250,000 of capital for development, we offer managerial support, business consulting and support in obtaining next financing rounds.

How to attract EdTech Hub Ventures’ partners?

When it comes to the team, we like to work with both experienced managers and first-time founders. What is important for us is the commitment to the project, a deep passion for solving a selected problem, and knowledge of the market on which the startup is going to operate.