Pitch Events by EquityMatch, where aspiring entrepreneurs come to showcase their innovative ideas. Max the founder and the moderator of the events assists founders in finding their ideal match for startup funding. Fundraising is a challenging journey, and EquityMatch aims to make it easier.

Join the pitch events for engaging discussions every Tuesday and Thursday, streaming live on Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. GMT. Max, our host, reminded us that this platform has hosted more than 500 founders within the last 16 months.

He introduced the new guest-investor panelist Hans Bernhard Meyer and invited him to brief the founders about himself.

Hans, with three decades of experience in the investment industry spanning London and Paris, specializes in corporate finance brokerage, asset management, real-estate investments, and recent ventures into private equity and venture capital. His focus lies in investing in small and medium B2C companies within the luxury and premium business sectors, alongside his partners.

Max introduced the first founder Genia Mineeva, the founder of "BEEN London" based in the UK, is seeking $400,000 in her seed round within the Retail Apparel and Fashion sector
Genia, a former BBC journalist, later served as the communication lead for United Nations campaigns and as the Global Director of Communications for "change.org". Inspired by a documentary highlighting global waste issues, particularly the low recycling rate of 11% out of 22 billion tons generated annually, she pursued further studies at Cambridge.

“BEEN London” is a production line that creates premium accessories entirely from virgin material extracted from waste, such as plastic bottles, linings, discarded carpets, and fishing nets. Recycling these materials results in an 87% reduction in carbon footprint compared to similar products in the market.

Genia noted their extensive media coverage, including recognition by British Vogue as a leading fashion innovator, along with being finalists in several awards.

She also adds that prominent women, including Jessica Alba, patronize these products. Continuing, Genia talks about opening another B2B revenue stream—a consumer company catering to major corporations like DHL, Formula 1, and Netflix London for recycling and reusing various campaign products.

She commends her robust team with experience in relevant fields. The funds are sought to invest in the team to enhance manufacturing capacity, marketing, and improve impact tools.

During Q&A, Hans inquired about profit margins and competition. Genia revealed a 70% margin, discussing potential relocation to Italy to boost margins. Hans expressed concern over potential B2B revenue challenges, fearing buyer demands could erode profits over time.

Genia explained their differentiation strategy amidst competition, emphasizing unique products and a distinctive approach, particularly in luxury items. This distinct positioning provides them with a competitive advantage in the market.

The second pitch was by Kevin Blake, Co-founder & CEO “Tychon” based in Middletown US. In the e-commerce, AdTech and SaaS sector seeking $ 800,000 in pre-seed round.

Kevin says he has 18 years of working experience in the digital space. His passion for addressing customer pain points in their businesses has led him to embark on entrepreneurship with the product "Tychon." The product aims to help Shopify stores increase their sales. 50 cents of every dollar spent on digital advertisement goes wasted. Kevin mentioned that last year alone, the wasted amount in digital ads totalled $622 million a day.
He explained that brands often have to spend three times more to secure customers.

"Tychon" is an AI-integrated platform that embeds relevant products into images of content creators, making them clickable and shoppable. The target audience for the product is small and medium Shopify stores in the food and beverage segment with annual earnings of $1 million. Their revenue target for 2024 is $130 million.
Continuing, Kevin highlighted Startup Accelerator Texas has invested $120,000 in “Tychon,” and the MVP earned around $10,000 in the first quarter. Their partnership with Shopify and three others paves the way for 800 new merchants. He also mentions that the product is live in the Shopify App Store.

Kevin explained that the revenue stream is in three forms. The first - a monthly subscription of $99, the second is 30% of the campaign budget, and the third is a 10% commission on each sale through shoppable images. Over the next 12 months, Kevin expects to acquire 300 brand subscriptions, anticipating a growth of $300,000 in Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR).

The investment of $800,000 is to accelerate product development and expand the team.

Hans’s first question was whether this is supporting social media apps, Kevin replied that this app is more towards websites and blogs. Hans explained that the information presented is very raw and has not sufficiently informed the investors. He also specified the type of information that should be included for investors to properly evaluate the opportunity.

Roi Ramot, CTO “3DSil” is based in Israel. He is seeking $3 million to be invested in the Technology sector.
Roi, with a background in industrial design and software engineering, has spent fifteen years developing medical devices, collaborating closely with his father, who boasts three decades of experience in the field. He underscores the importance of custom-made implants, especially for nipple restoration, within his Silicon 3D printing project, noting the global shift towards personalized solutions over conventional ones.

Enumerating the drawbacks associated with existing devices, Roi introduced "3DSil" as a 3D printer and cable system capable of utilizing all materials certified by the FDA. He further noted that the technology is material-agnostic. The estimated market size is $1.6 billion, with a specific focus on breast augmentation implants.

Roi mentioned that $1 million has already been secured through contributions from founders and a 3D printer manufacturer. Additionally, they have received a grant from the Israel Innovation Authority. The sought-after $3 million funding is intended for various procedures, with a particular emphasis on achieving the milestone of the first human implantation.

Hans questioned whether the product was a 3D printer or the implants themselves, seeking insights into the go-to-market strategy and the company's valuation. Roi clarified that their product is a 3D printer targeting implant manufacturers.

Roi also confirmed that the company has filed six patents in the United States, China, Europe, and Canada. In response to Hans, Roi mentioned that the printer would be priced at $40,000. The target market includes small and medium-sized clients, and for a printer farm, it would necessitate acquiring 600 to 700 units.
Hans generously offered valuable advice to all founders, with a particular emphasis on Roi.

The final pitching was by Helena Gioti the Co-founder of “TICKETSELLER”, based in Athens Greece. Investment seeking in the travel & tourism sector for a sum of €180,000 in pre-series A round.

Helena began by stating that "TICKETSELLER" is the foremost host travel agency in Greece. Their vision is to support all those involved in the travel and tourism industry independently.

Individuals such as undergraduates in the tourism profession, event planners, wedding organizers, and tour guides all aspire to promote travel. However, embarking on a career in the travel industry is challenging due to limited job openings. Additionally, establishing one's own agency proves to be rather difficult due to a lack of resources and the recognition needed.

She emphasized that 41% of agents end up as failures, highlighting the tough reality of the industry.
"TICKETSELLER" serves as a platform that facilitates interactions between independent travel agents and suppliers within the travel industry. It not only provides operational assistance but also offers training in marketing and accounting. Operating on a B2B model, independent travel agents are subject to a membership fee and a commission from each sale. Helena asserts that there is currently no competition for this type of platform in Greece.

The funds Helena is seeking will be allocated to invest in a new website to showcase all available products and to hire an in-house developer. Additionally, she has plans to establish an academy for travel agents, further enhancing the support and training opportunities within the industry.

Hans inquired about the possibility of a foreign investor investing in a Greek company and if there are any limitations. He then questioned the relevance of "TICKETSELLER" in an era where anyone can book their travel tickets online.

In response, Helena explained that when booking online, especially for tickets or hotel rooms, individuals often receive limited support when encountering issues. On the other hand, booking through a travel agent ensures reliable assistance whenever needed.

Hans concurred with Helena's perspective, acknowledging the value of the service provided by "TICKETSELLER" in addressing the support gap in online bookings.

Max invited Helena to start the elevator pitch. To convince the investors within 20 Secs.

Helena said she wants the funds to establish a career academy for travel agents.

Roi said” The technology’s unique and it’s groundbreaking. It’s going to change the industry. It has lot of potential and now it’s the time to enter and become one of our partners. We’re going to launch the product. Get on board. “

Kevin Says “Tychon is the answer to change. We believe we bring about a new interactive experience for consumers something that they can enjoy. Create lasting impressions with brands at the end of the day and reduce the customer acquisition cost and boost Brands. “

Genia on “BEEN London” says “We got amazing customer traction from some of the biggest companies and an amazing team. We have got a good product market fit which is tried and tested. We’re really trying to revolutionize the way products are made. We have proven that it’s possible and we would like to take people on a journey of creating the world without waste”.

Before concluding, Max reminded everyone that the 100th pitch event is approaching, and it will be celebrated. He also encouraged all founders to stay in touch with EquityMatch for any necessary assistance, emphasizing that it is a completely free and complimentary service.

After Hans wished them all the best Max thanked all in attendance and closed the session.