Katja speaks at Founders Day of the Swiss Startup Association

Katja had the pleasure of sharing the stage with Dr. Teddy Amberg of Spicehaus for a lively, open and honest conversation with the topic:

Two Investors, Two Perspectives, Unfiltered Views: What Founders Always Wanted to Know.

Here are the four insights that resonated most with the audience:

Don’t tailor your story to the investor - find the right investor for your story: This is a long-term partnership with shared stakes, not a financing arrangement. Fit matters more than brand name.

Fundraising starts long before you start fundraising: Conviction is built between rounds, not during them. Every team needs a fundraising personality - it’s a business-critical role, not a distraction from product.

The highest valuation is sometimes the worst deal. Valuation is vanity - terms are reality. A good deal must work when it’s sunny and when it’s rainy.

After the deal, the real work begins. Your investor will not build your company: No investor relationship substitutes for execution. Proactively leverage your investor’s network - founders who don’t are leaving value on the table.

A huge thank you to the Swiss Startup Association and Google for hosting such a truly inspiring day.