Here's one for the optimists 🥂

While we all reflect on the year and make predictions, let me open up about my relentless optimism, almost by default. I truly believe that tech will be the force for good that we’ll rely on and build upon at all times.

For studios like us, this year has marked a true glow-up. The launch of a studio every week, packed studio events, and hyped fans are now a thing. We are told it's the best thing since snap-on wristbands. Even last week, I bumped into an entrepreneur I haven't seen for a while, you guessed it… launching a studio. While this hype cycle will pass, let me entertain you with why we should all be tech and studio optimists, right here.

From our universe 🪐

On the studio side 🌌

• A packed house filled with friends, founders, and investors, buzzing with energy and ideas: That's what Builders Investor House is about. Last time we hosted together with EYnovation. We heard about the challenges of Clockworks and got a pitch from Noon. We had some deep-dive discussions into the growth and challenges of our venture. It led to some spicy debates and intense feedback, just how we like it 🔥 We are already gearing up for the next edition for the end of February. Stay tuned to get more details very soon on our website. Get more insights here.

• Our latest EIR, Fernando Senna, penned down his experiences at Builders so far. It's a real-talk, no-filter look at kickstarting a business from the ground up at a startup studio. So, if you're all about that startup life or just curious about the hustle, you've gotta check out his article. And for the ones feeling the same fire, you know what to do 🙂 Read it here.

• Happy to announce that another EIR will be starting her adventure at Builders very soon. In the new year, Estefania Hernandez will join the universe. Estefania is an entrepreneur who combines tech innovation with social impact. Through her previous startup, Mi Dulce Hogar, Estefania has not only achieved impressive milestones like delivering over 100,000 services but has also been a beacon for social change, providing employment opportunities to over 800 women. We are happy to welcome her very soon. Do you feel the same fire as Estefania? Then make sure to check what it's like to build with us. 

• We believe that studios are now more than ever crucial in shaping our future, and that’s what the Studio Fundraise Map is all about. The SFM is taking the next step in engaging the investor community. Currently, they’re building a platform showcasing a rich dataset of studios investments propositions and insights. The ultimate goal? Allowing investors to start conversations with studios, much like Bumble. Studios regularly update their information so there will be matches when studios truly match their ambitions and goals. Would like more information on the SFM? Have a look here.

At our ventures 🚀

• Noon makes tracking well-being simple and straightforward by interacting with your existing communication platforms. With a single, work-related question per day, employees reflect on their well-being and work preferences easily. Until now, this was possible on Slack only, but very soon it's also possible to integrate Noon with Microsoft Teams making sure Noon is right at where you work. Make sure to stay tuned for the release!

• In order to make your insights even more valuable, Noon also added an eNPS score to the company's dashboard, helping you to understand what affects engagement, performance and wellbeing within your organisation. Each quarter, the relevant ENPs results will be shown on team-level reports and the team dashboard. Make sure to explore what Noon is all about.

What we’re following 👀

• Dive into Gil Dibner's latest from Angular Ventures for a real-deal glimpse into the venture capital world's shake-up. It's honest, raw, and oh-so-relevant. it's a full-blown feast that gets right to the heart of how the big VC players are pivoting in these crazy times. It's all about adapting, surviving, and hey, even thriving when the going gets tough. A perfect match for our 'tech against the odds' spirit. Check it out here.

• Talking about possibilities and optimism: Have a look at this piece of Christopher Janz. He explores the world of generative AI in the SaaS industry. This analysis and mental map explores where the next big breakthroughs might be. Perfect for anyone curious about the next big things in tech. Read it here.

Come build with us 🧑‍💻

If you're a tech expert with a wealth of experience and a desire to shape the startup landscape, we have an exciting opportunity for you. Join us as a Fractional CTO at Builders and play a pivotal role in our thriving innovation ecosystem. In this role, you'll dive into a vibrant environment, collaborating with forward-thinking founders to address pressing real-world challenges. Dive into the details here.

Also, we're looking for a studio storyteller for our Venture Builder Communications role. As the voice behind our innovative startups, you'll craft stories that showcase their unique visions and potential. Your role is to vividly bring these entrepreneurial journeys to life, creating content that connects our ventures with a global audience. 🌉 Ready to be our studio's storytelling maestro? 🎤 Get more information here.

Forward, always,

Michael van Lier
Managing Director at Builders