HTwenty

?? Preparing to raise your first or next round of funding? Here’s some advice to keep in mind: ? 1?? Nail your storytelling. Investors need a compelling narrative that flows well and captures their attention. Make sure your pitch deck isn’t just a checklist of essentials (problem, solution, market size, business model, traction, team) but rather tells a cohesive, engaging story. ? 2?? Plan your timing carefully. Fundraising is a full-time job. Always plan ahead and assume it will take longer than expected. You’ll need to balance investor meetings with running your company, so give yourself a runway cushion to avoid fundraising under pressure. ? These are just some of the insights shared by Investor, Montserrat Calderón, in her latest tips video. ?? ? #FundraisingTips #VentureCapital #StartupFunding #Startups

M&A activity, an important indicator of the state of venture capital, is back on the rise for VC-backed startups after two years of struggles. ? According to Crunchbase, the year 2024 closed with a total of 1,975 M&A deals involving VC-backed startups, marking a seven percent increase from 2023. Notably, Q4 2024 alone saw 537 deals - a 46 percent jump from Q4 2023 and the strongest quarter in nearly two years. ? While the IPO market remains largely frozen, this uptick in M&A shows that exits and liquidity are finally picking up. ? Key takeaways for founders and investors: ? ?? Big buyers are still active. Strategic acquirers and private equity firms continue to seek innovative startups, especially in AI, fintech, and enterprise solutions. ? ?? Valuations are recalibrating. Many deals in 2024 likely happened after startups adjusted expectations post-2021’s overheated market. This is a healthy reset for the ecosystem. ?? ? ?? There's a lot of optimism for 2025. Regulatory shifts and a less risk-averse attitude from buyers could fuel even more M&A activity. ? This is the kind of momentum that drives new investments and new opportunities as investor cash flows back into the market after an exit. ? It’s going to be an interesting year. ? #VentureCapital #MergersAndAcquisitions #StartupExits

AI startup founders, take note: Here’s what venture capitalists (VCs) are looking for in 2025. ?? ? 1?? Task-specific AI software: Founders should focus on specialized models that excel at solving specific enterprise challenges and pain points. ? 2?? Beyond chatbots, build businesses: Startups must deliver more than standard software with AI chatbot integration. The product should be centered around AI and highly scalable. ? 3?? Enterprise resilience: The demand for more reliable digital infrastructure is growing. Observability, reliability, and cybersecurity innovations remain high-priority investment areas. ? ? 4?? AI infrastructure: With the rise of AI agents, VCs are looking for startups focused on enabling enterprise adoption and solving common AI integration challenges. ? ?? Key takeaway for AI founders: It’s not just about hyping up the AI label. It’s about solving real problems. ? #AIStartups #VentureCapital #EnterpriseAI #Resilience #Innovation #HTwenty

Many VCs are rightly less than thrilled with startups that call themselves AI companies, and have a right to be cautious. ?? ? Integrating AI is complex and requires a higher level of scrutiny, particularly with data handling. So it increases risk for investors. ? But here’s the key: AI can absolutely be worth the risk, especially if it's not just an add-on, like a ChatGPT plugin. ? What does good AI look like? You'll see it when AI is integral to the product, improving efficiency, driving innovation, and solving real problems. For AI-driven startups, this means ensuring AI is not just an exciting feature, but that it’s truly advancing the company’s goals. ? Additionally, startups need to demonstrate that they understand the risks—especially around data security—and have protections in place to manage those risks. ? AI can unlock enormous potential, but it must be central to the offering. Done right, AI can help startups move beyond hype to real-world impact. ?? ? #AI #StartupLife #VentureCapital #TechInvesting #AIInnovation #DigitalHealth #MedTech #RiskManagement

As we head into 2025, Latin America’s fintech ecosystem is proving it’s ready for the next big leap, even as U.S. fintech lags. In 2024, LatAm fintech funding volumes surpassed 2023 by 73%, and the quality of startups emerging in the region has increased as well. ? Why now? ? ? Maturing Startups: Companies that raised during the boom of 2021 are hitting critical growth milestones, positioning themselves for global opportunities. ? ? Infrastructure Innovation: The fintech wave is no longer just consumer-focused, but tailored to offer scalable B2B financial platforms and systems. ? ? Untapped Potential: Many financial services that we take for granted elsewhere remain underdeveloped in the region, offering immense room for innovation. ? Challenges remain, including limited exits and the need for more global investors. But for founders, this is a moment to rise and focus on building scalable, infrastructure-driven platforms while leveraging local expertise to solve regional problems. ? #LatAmFintech #Innovation #Startups #VentureCapital

We’re thrilled to introduce Liliana Banguero as the newest addition to the HTwenty team, taking on the role of Backoffice Lead! ???? Liliana is a Certified Public Accountant with over 13 years of experience in accounting, taxation, financial analysis, and financial statement audits. Her expertise spans local and international accounting regulations (IFRS), financial statements preparation, tax management, payroll, and treasury. With a solid background in SAP and accounting tools, Liliana’s ability to optimize accounting processes and work under pressure makes her a perfect fit for our team. Her extensive knowledge and collaborative spirit are sure to make a lasting impact as we continue to grow and succeed! Please join us in welcoming Liliana to the team! We look forward to the incredible contributions she will bring to HTwenty. ?? #Welcome #NewTeamMember #AccountingExpert #BackOfficeLead #TeamGrowth

This Valentine’s Day, we’re celebrating what we love most. ?? ? ? Backing visionary founders with bold ideas and market expertise. ? Tackling real-world challenges through innovation and technology. ? Building cross-border businesses that shape industries and solve issues for specific audiences. ? Every deal we support, every milestone our founders achieve, and every connection we foster reinforces our passion for creating value and driving change. Here’s to doing what you love - and making a difference while you’re at it. ? #VentureCapital #Innovation #Entrepreneurship #CrossBorderBusiness

Since the beginning, we’ve seen Ontop as a powerful answer to challenges facing today’s workforce and employers in Latin America and beyond. ?? ? With the rise of remote work and demand for decentralized payroll options, their innovative approach to providing a digital wallet that is tailored to remote workers in emerging markets has proven essential. ? At HTwenty, we are committed to building partnerships that go beyond funding and helping founders scale strategically and sustainably. OnTop’s growth and success illustrate the importance of a shared vision and a collaborative partnership, and we’re proud to back them as they redefine remote payroll management. ?? CC Julian Torres Gomez ? #VentureCapital #CrossBorderInvesting #PayrollSolutions #Founders #StartUps #LATAM

We're excited to share that our Co-founder Daniel Lloreda will be attending the #FIIPRIORITY Conference in Miami next week! ? This global event, powered by the FII Institute , brings together policymakers, investors, and innovators to shape the future of economic growth and prosperity. Daniel looks forward to engaging with industry leaders and exploring new opportunities that will drive the next wave of innovation. ? ??? Dates: February 19-21, 2025 ?? Location: Miami, Florida ?? Learn more - https://lnkd.in/de5G3N7v ? We’re looking forward to connecting and learning alongside top professionals in the industry! ? #FII #EconomicGrowth #FIIConference #Miami

We like to turn regional expertise into opportunities for founders. ? With deep roots in Colombia, Mexico, and the U.S., we’re particularly positioned to bridge markets. This means helping startups: ? ? Transition or expand operations seamlessly from Latin America to the U.S. ? Leverage top-tier technical talent in LatAm. ? Build strong U.S. sales teams for global expansion. ? Understanding both sides of the border is key to producing meaningful growth. ? #VentureCapital #CrossBorderBusiness #Startups