3 Key Takeaways From The Venture Studio Conference 2023
2.5 hours, 5 speakers, 100+ insights, 600+ attendees, 1000+ connections — these are the indicators of a successful event that really shows the power of Venture Studios as a force in the startup ecosystem.
For those unaware, the Venture Studio Online Conference streamed live on November 8, 2023.
The fabulous line-up of speakers included:
- Renan Devillieres of OSS Ventures
- Elliott Parker of High Alpha
- Quentin Nickmans of Hexa
- Alper Celen of Enhance Ventures
- Rasmus Rothe of Merantix
The event was organized by Studio enthusiast Max Pog who recently published a massive report on the Studio ecosystem following 7 months of research.
Over 1000 people registered and 600+ were in attendance.
I was one of them.
Even as someone who has been in the Studio ecosystem for a long time, I learned so much.
In the spirit of democratizing information and supporting the Studio sphere, I want to share my top 3 key takeaways from the event.
🔑 #1: Bigger, Better, Faster
I have long been a fan and admirer of High Alpha.
Not only are they one of the OG Studios in the space but they are also constantly innovating on the Studio model.
Elliott Parker, CEO of High Alpha, took to the Studio conference stage to break down the intricate details of their various verticals which include a traditional Studio through which dozens of startups have been spun-out, their Capital vertical that functions much as a VC traditional firm, and their Innovation vertical which seeks to partner with organizations, institutions, and corporates to co-create startups.
Emerging Studios are unlikely to be in a position where expansion of this magnitude is realistic but scale-stage Studios should absolutely consider taking a page from High Alpha’s playbook.
As a bonus, I was able to ask Elliott a question!
I inquired about the way High Alpha works with founders, specifically how EIRs are compensated and when they come into the picture. His response was insightful and while I can’t quote it directly I will relay an interpretation:
Founders are brought in when an idea begins to take shape — most ideation is done internally by High Alpha rather than accepting outside ideas from founders. While founders may not be paid a direct stipend early on — the Studio seeks to align incentives with their founders as much and as fast as possible. When a startup launches from the Studio, founders draw a salary and the Studio continues to support with resources and connections.
🔑 #2: Studio Cities
Alper Celen, founder of Enhance Ventures, presented a beautiful snapshot of the growing Studio sphere.
- According to the data, there were less than 50 Studios globally until 2005.
- Just 10 years later, in 2015, there were ~400 Studios active globally.
- Today it’s estimated that there are over 1000 Studios in existence.
“The venture builder movement is accelerating with >60% launched in the last 5 years; growth especially strong in Europe where the studio count has caught up with North America” — Alper Celen, Enhance Ventures
We, as a community, are accelerating quickly from a Studio “village” toward a Studio “city” — and that really excites me.
🔑 #3: Venture Building Models
Renan Devillieres of OSS Ventures was of particular delight as his presentation was both detailed and inspiring. I greatly applaud and appreciate his transparency and willingness to share vital knowledge.
Since 2018, OSS Ventures has partnered with 20+ companies and created 300+ jobs in Europe — these stats are undeniably awesome.
One part of his presentation broke down how OSS Ventures funds its ventures. While the stages in their startup creation process were pretty similar to those of most Studios, their investment model was of interest.
- $500k distributed over 9 months in exchange for 25% equity
- $400k goes to founding team salaries
- $100k goes to ops, build, and GTM activities
In addition to financing, OSS Ventures connects founders with a robust ecosystem of service providers, industrial clients, and capital partners.
This helps their startups move at an accelerated pace and get sh!t done for less. Check out their site for a detailed breakdown of their innovation process including timeline and objectives!
To The Moon 🚀
The sheer size of the conference alone should be enough to convince even the most skeptical that the Studio ecosystem is one to watch.
Beyond that, the captivating presentations of all the speakers and the excited insightful comments buzzing around the chat are clear indicators that something big is happening.
Speaking of big things happening, host Max Pog announced his brand new Peer to Peer community of Studio founders poised to support members through transparency in sharing numbers, documents, & connections.
I know we are all looking forward to the next conference, until then — stay tuned to the Startup Studio newsletter to get the latest stories, events, news, and job postings from across the ecosystem!