In today’s dynamic startup ecosystem, it’s more important than ever to keep up with the latest trends and developments in your niche. If you want to become an influential figure in your field and help build new businesses, you need a well-established network of likeminded entrepreneurs, venture capital investors, angel investors, and incubators.
That’s where venture builder programs come in. These exclusive networks provide the perfect environment for entrepreneurs who are looking to pitch their business ideas to a panel of experienced investors who will help them take their startup to the next level.
From that moment on, they will be able to access all the resources they need from within the same network—which means there won’t be any problems finding resources again if they decide to start another company in the future.
In other words, these programs make sure that every entrepreneur that joins is engaged for life, not just for as long as their company does well!
Below, first we explain what venture builder programs are and then list the best venture builder programs in Europe.
What are Venture Builder Programs?
Venture builder programs are the best networking programs for entrepreneurs looking to build their networks and expand their networks.
Through a combination of start-up developments and pooled resources, these organizations systematically create businesses.
Venture builders participate in five areas: they identify business concepts, develop teams, raise expansion capital, assist with venture management, and lastly offer shared services.
A Venture Builder, in contrast to other accelerators and incubators, assigns domestic teams to develop ideas from within their own network.
In this article, you can read more how accelerators work and contribute to your startup growth.
1. Rocket Internet (Germany)
Without a doubt, the most well-known program in Europe and one of the best venture builder programs worldwide is Rocket Internet. They own more than 200 investments and fund entrepreneurs with tested business ideas.
They help entrepreneurs create market-leading businesses by offering them extensive operational support.
According to its CEO, Oliver Samwer “Rocket enables entrepreneurship. We build and invest in great technology companies globally and provide a unique blend of operational support and capital.“
Many successful internet and technology startups are incubated and funded by Rocket Internet. Payflow (payroll on demand), Bluenest (a real estate firm), or Global Savings Group are some of their ongoing endeavors (commerce content platform).
On six continents, Rocket’s active portfolio includes more than 200 businesses. In 2018, more than 42,000 individuals were employed by Rocket’s chosen businesses.
2. The Main Ingredient (Netherlands)
The Main Ingredient is one of the oldest and most established venture builder programs in Europe.
This startup studio, based in Amsterdam, assists you in turning your idea into a profitable business in just 12 weeks. The business, which was founded by Wendy Bogers, Olivier & Quinten Muller, and Jason Mills, has a solid history in design, development, strategy, and investing.
The Main Ingredient now employs 36 technologies on its website. These include of Google Analytics, Viewport Meta, and iPhone/Mobile Compatible.
For instance, they have supported spin-ins, operated in a stage-gate process and in a more traditional governance model, helped build stage-gate procedures, and helped set up enterprises under our BV, as well as as a distinct BV under the wing of an innovation center.
They offer all the building blocks needed to construct a successful firm, including business development, skilled teams, marketable goods, and effective processes.
3. Entrepreneur First (UK)
Entrepreneur First, as one of the best venture builder programs, has created many seed-funded firms from scratch during the past six years.
Depending on where a startup is beginning from, they have several programs. Challenger credit bureau, Credit Kudos and KYC platform Passfort are two of their +100 investments.
The program is designed to help startups expand their businesses and find the best product-market fit. In addition to Singapore, they also have offices and programs in London, Bangalore, Toronto, Paris, and Berlin. More than 3000 business owners and more than 500 startups have benefited from their assistance since 2011.
Additionally, successful business owners receive a $2,500 monthly stipend for the length of the 6-month program.
4. Antai (Spain)
Antai is a company that builds global mobile and web ventures. Antai produces startups and assists them with business planning, market research, financial management, legal advice, and hiring.
They analyze the market in search of companies with a track record of success, and once they find them, they assist them in expanding into other geographies.
To make this possible, they handpick the most qualified professionals, enter into a joint venture with them, and accompany them through a comprehensive service, including business development, business intelligence, financial advice, legal counsel, providing the means, and finding and hiring the required personnel.
More than 300 people work for Antai, as the leading venture builder program in Spain. They are experts in e-commerce, on-demand apps, digital native businesses, vertical brands, marketplaces, and SaaS.
They co-founded Glovo and the used goods marketplace Wallapop (urban delivery).
5. Founders.as (Denmark)
Danish startup studio Founders.as, providing one of the best venture builder programs in the Nordic countries, offers both B2B and B2C services. Their investments range widely. It includes, among other things, an email client platform (Tempo), a neck pain reliever (Reacher), and a banking software for independent contractors (Kontist).
As an Evergreen Fund, they will not use any other funds and that all of their operations will be conducted through Founders A/S, a corporation with an unlimited horizon that is not intended to be dissolved at any moment.
With the aim of reinvesting profits into either new or current enterprises, they work without set deadlines. Exits for our portfolio firms are not sought for unless they make strategic sense.
6. TechnoFounders (France)
The startup studio of Technofounders, which also has an accelerator, is concentrated on using French high-tech laboratories for commercial purposes. Technofounders has been developing industrial deeptech firms with favorable societal and environmental effects since 2014.
Technofounders makes sure that each project is successfully launched toward a widespread industrial deployment by putting each technology through testing, improvement, and proof before it is put on the market.
Technofounders, a company founded by three science and technology enthusiasts and currently employing about 100 entrepreneurs, focuses primarily on three industries: healthcare, agriculture, and green chemistry and new materials.
Their portfolio includes businesses like Neofarm, Spinofrin, and Cerbair (anti-drone defense), among others (micro-farms).
7. Daat Ventures (Poland)
The first recognized venture studio in Poland is Daat Ventures. Startup Studio and venture capital are combined there to create one of the best Venture builder programs in Eastern Europe.
They create, collaborate on, support, and invest in cutting-edge international enterprises. They created AIDC and Opervolt, a building energy system (smart parking system).
The following requirements must be met by founders:
- Radical innovation and scalability;
- Concentration on solutions that have not yet achieved global commercialization;
- Societal impact by the startup idea
For high tech & digital solutions, their industry focus is:
- Professional Services
- Circular Economy
- Energy & Future Mobility
- Robotics
- Food & Agriculture
- Health & Safety
They develop, co-create, incubate, and finance cutting-edge international startups.
8. Mamazen (Italy)
Since it has been operating in 2017, Mamazen has assisted businesses in finding a measurable market, validating it, creating an MVP, and choosing the best founders and processes along the route.
During the thesis development stage of the process, their committed team will begin finding unmet market gaps, aligning, and polishing the venture idea.
To make the idea a reality, they identify the market, hone the product or service offering, and develop a solid, workable plan.
With firms like Homstate (Real-Estate advisory), Morsy (B2B dark kitchen), and Orangogo (customer acquisition and management for Sports Clubs) in its portfolio, Mamazen, a SaaS specialist, specialized in this industry.
9. Next Big Thing (Germany)
IoT and blockchain are the main areas of business development for Next Big Thing AG. They also function as a venture capital firm, incubator, and accelerator.
You can find exceptional benefits and career possibilities at Next Big Thing that support who you are both inside and outside of the workplace.
They provide non-technical founders with full technical support. They can scale up every product development and launch MVPs in less than three months. They use their extensive networks to get the proper people involved in our portfolio companies’ endeavors.
NBT offers financial assistance and mentoring. Assistr (healthcare), Weeve (blockchain technology), and METR are examples of startups (proptech).
10. Founder’s Factory (UK)
The successful founder of Lastminute.com founded Founders Factory, which is a venture studio and accelerator program. The studio’s primary areas of interest are travel, media, beauty, retail, AI, and big data.
They provide pre-seed funding, practical assistance, and access to their business partners, bringing knowledge, intellectual property, and distribution from day one.
They support you as you develop from a concept to a functioning business by helping you secure funding and hiring early employees.
You’ll become a part of their extensive global network of top-tier entrepreneurs and business associates who exchange knowledge and connections.
Conclusion
Venture builder programs are a great way for entrepreneurs to gain access to experienced investors and partners, but only if they’re selected. And that’s where you come in!
These networks are selective and invite only the best pitch submissions on the basis of quality of idea and the strength of your team. If you find a program you like, you can submit a business idea (or your CV) for consideration and wait for the opportunity to pitch your idea to the panel of investors.
These programs will help you do just that, providing you with access to investors, partners, and resources that you wouldn’t otherwise be able to access.
Whether you’re looking to start a new venture or expand an existing one, there’s no better way to find the funding you need than through a venture builder program. They’re not just a helpful resource for entrepreneurs —they’re a crucial part of the ecosystem.
