Capital alone does not determine the success of an investment. What matters is how quickly a business model reaches the right customers. What sets FOSTEC Ventures apart is its privileged access to the network of FOSTEC & Company, a leading strategy consultancy specialising in e-commerce, AI and digitalisation. This access brings advantages in terms of product-market fit, positioning and initial sales contacts.
More than just capital
There are many sources of capital. What accelerates early market entry is less common: access to the right decision-makers, a sound understanding of the market and the first reference customers who make a business model viable. This is precisely where we come in. Our approach is based on two core assets – expertise and our network – and on the capital we use to make both effective.
The key differentiator: the FOSTEC & Company network
FOSTEC & Company has been working for years with leading brand manufacturers and companies across the digital value chain. This has resulted in a network of decision-makers, experts and industry specialists. As the investment arm of the FOSTEC Group, our portfolio companies gain access to this network. Such access cannot be built up overnight and is the key reason why founders choose FOSTEC Ventures.
Where this access makes a difference
The network advantage comes into play in three specific areas:
- Product-market fit: Through FOSTEC & Company’s network and market knowledge, assumptions can be tested against real market needs at an early stage. Founders refine their offering based on the requirements of actual decision-makers, rather than validating it solely on the drawing board.
- Market positioning: The group’s strategic experience helps to clearly position a business model against the competition and to identify the defensible advantage that determines the valuation.
- Initial reference customers and sales approaches: Access to decision-makers shortens the path to the first meetings in B2B and enterprise business. Contacts turn into reference customers, and in B2B, reference customers are the lever for everything that follows.
How founders benefit
For founders, this shortens the time it takes to secure their first paying customers, and their positioning becomes more focused before scarce capital is channelled in the wrong direction. Instead of a contact list, founders gain a partner who opens the right doors and helps them navigate the discussions that follow. The investment thus becomes a collaborative endeavour geared towards the company’s long-term success.
The areas of expertise underpinning this contribution are described in detail, in particular Strategic Market Access & Decision-Maker Network and Go-to-Market & Enterprise Sales. An overview is provided by the core competencies, whilst the investment criteria form the basis of our investment decisions.
