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HackFwd

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Re: HackFwd

#51

Post by Prezzer »

fedd wrote: post #46
Prezzer wrote: post #34

Hi all, I'm the founder of the first UK company to be invited onto HackFWD and speaking for myself and my two co-founders I can safely say we're absolutely delighted to be on board. Since our first contact with David, the "Talent Geek" we've been treated absolutely fantastically and have been humbled by the level of support received. The join process was very straight forward, fast and informal, which allowed us to r…

looks like HackFwd encourages companies to make posts here

not at all. I'm simply giving credit where it's due.

Re: HackFwd

#52

Post by [deleted] »

atirip wrote: post #42
Prezzer wrote: post #34

Hi all, I'm the founder of the first UK company to be invited onto HackFWD and speaking for myself and my two co-founders I can safely say we're absolutely delighted to be on board. Since our first contact with David, the "Talent Geek" we've been treated absolutely fantastically and have been humbled by the level of support received. The join process was very straight forward, fast and informal, which allowed us to r…

Really? My experience with David, the "Talent Geek" was the exact opposite. I recommend avoiding him when dealing with hackfwd.

[deleted]

Re: HackFwd

#53

Post by alain94040 »

mcxx wrote: post #32
alain94040 wrote: post #25

At least in France, where I help organize the Founder Institute, we have plenty of angels, who will invest as little as 25K€. The difference with the US is that culturally, money and success is not as accepted as in Silicon Valley, so angels tend to hide. They don't put themselves up front and center as much as in Silicon Valley, but they are around to be found.

Will the angles invest pre-seed/seed money? Will they invest in teams not in France?

The ones I know will invest very early, before you have a finished prototype.

Since I was talking about France specifically, they tend to invest in France only (the fancy ones invest in France and US). But I'm sure other European countries have similar angels.

Re: HackFwd

#54

Post by alain94040 »

bobds wrote: post #2

Giving up 30% of your company seems like a lot to me but I'm sure there will be plenty of takers. The maximum funding you can get in return is fairly high (at least compared to YC): 91,000 euros - single founder 141,000 euros - two founders 191,000 euros - three founders

My concern is that the 30% will be rejected by VCs when doing your first round, and will force you to recapitalize to something more reasonable for the founders. At least that's what good VCs in the US would do, but this being Europe, who knows.

Re: HackFwd

#55

Post by ig1 »

pclark wrote: post #6
ig1 wrote: post #5

Not really, HackFwd involves a much large investment/equity stake/time period. It's closer to traditional angel than YC. If you're looking for a European equivalent for YC checkout the following: The Difference Engine, StatupBootcamp and Springboard.

Springboard and The Difference Engine are the same now :) Seedcamp is another.

As far as I'm aware they're both different, Difference Engine founder Jon Bradford is the MD of Springboard, but I believe they're both going to continue independently of each other.

Unless anyones heard differently ?

Re: HackFwd

#56

Post by pclark »

ig1 wrote: post #55
pclark wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Springboard and The Difference Engine are the same now :) Seedcamp is another.

As far as I'm aware they're both different, Difference Engine founder Jon Bradford is the MD of Springboard, but I believe they're both going to continue independently of each other. Unless anyones heard differently ?

Oh, maybe. I assumed he'd just do the Sprinboard one.

Re: HackFwd

#57

Post by mkramlich »

Jun8 wrote: post #48

OK, maybe I'm biased against Europeans, I don't know the landscape, etc. etc. But just compare and contrast their web page with YC's. YC's is succinct, to the point and no-nonsense. It carries the air of someone who doesn't have to prove anything. A look at this website, though turns you off, with the wannabe photos and titles like X Geek. And trying to get 27% by pushing around the tired notion of "Europe is differe…

Actually I'd be impressed if they were just 1x better. But in Europe. That alone would be full of win.

Re: HackFwd

#59

Post by alexro »

andreyf wrote: post #37
stefanobernardi wrote: post #4

Disclaimer: I'm a referrer for HackFwd. I think it's pretty different. - It doesn't have a public application process. You can only be referred by someone in the network. - It doesn't require you to move anywhere. You can work from your home country/city. - It doesn't have a formal 3 month program with mentorship and dinners. It's a 1+ year stunt, with a quarterly weekend retreat where you get to present your achieve…

I think it's pretty different. - It doesn't have a public application process. Why is this a good thing? It doesn't give you $15-20k for 6%, but instead matches your annual salary with caps at 90k, 140k and 190 if you are a 1, 2 or 3 person team respectively. In NYC, I'd expect three competent software engineers to be making ~400k. That's a 50% salary cut (it's livable, but certainly leaves room for competition). In…

It's also an interesting way to discourage single founders and promote 2-3 people team mentality

Re: HackFwd

#60

Post by stefanobernardi »

andreyf wrote: post #37
stefanobernardi wrote: post #4

Disclaimer: I'm a referrer for HackFwd. I think it's pretty different. - It doesn't have a public application process. You can only be referred by someone in the network. - It doesn't require you to move anywhere. You can work from your home country/city. - It doesn't have a formal 3 month program with mentorship and dinners. It's a 1+ year stunt, with a quarterly weekend retreat where you get to present your achieve…

I think it's pretty different. - It doesn't have a public application process. Why is this a good thing? It doesn't give you $15-20k for 6%, but instead matches your annual salary with caps at 90k, 140k and 190 if you are a 1, 2 or 3 person team respectively. In NYC, I'd expect three competent software engineers to be making ~400k. That's a 50% salary cut (it's livable, but certainly leaves room for competition). In…

1) I am stating facts. I said it's different. 2) Europe is not NYC and a 40k salary for a software engineer seems to be fair. Your comment makes no sense at all. They are not funding companies in the States, and are adjusting the salaries based on eu countries. 3) That's quite a mindset you have. And the answer is no. Because if I go alone I get 70% and they still fund me, if I go with another founder I get 35% and if I go with two cofounders I get 23%. Plus would you go through all the hassle you just imagined for 50k more and then let everyone see what kind of person you are? Bah.
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