At the Infobip Shift conference in Zadar, Croatia, investors from South Central Ventures, Tera Ventures, and Portfolion discussed current startup trends. Jure Mikuz of South Central Ventures noted that many founders in Central Europe seek larger investment rounds solely for publicity, a strategy he advises against. He also warned that some startups raise insufficient capital for their long-term goals.
David Clark from Tera Ventures emphasized that founders must clearly define their need for capital, such as for specific hiring plans. He suggested that modern tools allow for effective bootstrapping, noting that venture capital should be treated as fuel for growth rather than a status symbol. Clark also highlighted the growth of the Croatian ecosystem, comparing it to Estonia a decade ago.
Regarding exit strategies, investors criticized the practice of building companies solely for acquisition. Reka Hidas of Portfolion argued that this approach focuses on solving problems for buyers rather than the market. Investors generally prefer startups aiming for global success over those limited to local markets, stressing the need for honest communication about ambitions.
The discussion also covered AI integration, with Florian Binswanger of Vercel advising against superficial chatbot implementations. He recommended that startups embed AI into their core business and utilize model routers to avoid vendor lock-in. Nina Trejos of Stripe added that AI credit usage should be integrated into product strategy early to optimize costs.
