Browse Insight Articles

Meet Ishaan, Vinit, and Jayanth, a team of young founder-operators with strong product depth, building the future of dating in the AI era. People are ready to move beyond algorithms that optimise for attention, and toward systems that optimise for outcomes. We cover our view of the category, why it’s ripe for reinvention, why we backed Wavelength. We also introduce our proprietary market map to frame where innovation is headed.

What early-stage building demanded of founders in 2025.

Many founders get the concept of traction wrong. The problem isn’t how much revenue you have - it’s whether the growth pattern is reliable.

Yes, if and how much you can raise depends on many factors beyond traction such as team background, sector attractiveness, storytelling ability, etc… (See "Ability To Raise Cheat Sheet" for a broader picture). But, once first revenues start to come in, traction becomes invariably a big part of the equation.

‍So how much traction do you need to be able to raise?

The 5 primitives of SaaS — and how AI agents collapse or transform each one.

Co-authored by Anagh Prasad (VP, Accel) & Divita Aggarwal (Antler)

What a truly streaming-first architecture looks like, and the implications for infrastructure, developer workflows, and AI-native applications.

Antler talks to high-performance neuroscientist Dr David Spindler about what it really takes to perform at the highest level, how to establish a winning mindset and how to keep going in the face of adversity.

A persistent grey space exists for today’s systems, which struggle with the simplicity vs customizability tradeoff. We explore why these tradeoffs exist from an architectural perspective, and a look at modern attempts to unlock the frontier of scalable, real-time data.

What does it take to be the world’s best, and to stay there? At Antler’s European Founder Conference, we assembled four elite performers to explore how sustained excellence is built, led, and lived.

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People are ready to move beyond algorithms that optimise for attention and toward systems that optimise for outcomes. This piece covers the current state of the matchmaking market, why it’s ripe for reinvention, and why India is uniquely positioned to lead the shift. Introducing our proprietary market map to frame where innovation is headed.

Built by parents and repeat founders, MyWonder is reimagining out-of-school learn and play - with the world’s first AI-native, screen-free “own” device for kids.

The Ten Gates Framework provides a structured way to test problems for venture-scale potential and make clear calls — Proceed, Iterate, Pivot, or Kill.

The three attributes elite founders have in common, how European innovation is fuelled by global talent, and why turbulent times lead to the biggest breakthroughs.... here are some of the main takeaways from speakers including Anton Osika (Founder of Lovable), Marius Meiners (Founder of Peec AI) and Harry Stebbings (Founder of 20VC).

Antler's 14th residency is revealing a new wave of calculated Australian startups. 70 exceptional founders selected from over 2,000 applicants are tackling fundamental problems in healthcare, space, finance, education, and research with AI as a practical tool, not a trendy vibe-coded gimmick.

From serial entrepreneurs to NVIDIA engineers and exited entrepreneurs, these outlier founders are building the infrastructure and solutions that matter long-term, choosing substance over hype in response to a maturing, more risk-averse investment landscape.

From fraud alerts in banking apps to instant driver matches in ride-sharing, real-time data already powers many of the digital experiences we rely on. But its role in AI is even more transformative, and just beginning.

Meet the portfolio companies featured in our Antler U.S. Fall 2025 Showcase.

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Antler's latest report is one of the largest studies of tech founders in Europe. We’ve analysed more than 3,000 unicorn founders and 60,000 founders at the inception of their journey, uncovering Europe's rapid growth in an AI era of execution.

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AirDodge is making low-altitude airspace safe, scalable and predictable.

A curated snapshot of how India’s Consumer AI landscape is evolving: a simple behavioural lens of how we structure our view of Consumer AI, a Market Map of India’s Consumer AI startups, and areas we're excited about.

At Antler India, we’ve met over 1,000 fintech founders in recent years and backed 20+ breakout bets. We’re now excited about the ways AI will shape the future of fintech — and are especially keen to meet exceptional founders building in the areas we detail below.

Antler ONE will bring together the most ambitious and committed inception-stage founders and teams from across Europe.

A synthesis of over 40 Market Maps across sectors/spaces from leading experts and investors across the world.

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James McClure, General Partner at Antler Australia, explores 100 unique, complex, and untapped AI startup ideas that can’t be vibe-coded in a weekend - spanning sovereign GPUs, low-bandwidth AI, multi-agent systems, neurotech, synthetic audiences, and hypersonic space navigation. These high-barrier opportunities are launchpads for domain experts and builders in deep tech, regulated, scientific, or frontier domains. Read more below and join Antler’s residency to build them now.

The Antler India AI Residency is a high-intensity program designed to back India’s most ambitious AI founders from day zero. It offers fast-track funding decisions (in 4 weeks), our largest investment cheque — ₹4 Cr (~$470K) and access to over $1M in AI-relevant perks and up to $4M in total perks.

Upcoming Cohort: To Be Announced in January 2026

(Powered by Hancock Prospecting)

Learn how to validate a startup idea like a VC-backed founder. This no-fluff guide covers 6 proven customer validation steps - from identifying your ICP to asking for real commitment. Featuring scrappy, creative strategies and stories from real founders in Antler's Australian portfolio who nailed early traction. Perfect for early-stage entrepreneurs, product builders, and aspiring founders looking to avoid the #1 startup killer: building something no one wants.

Jussi Kallasvuo, Partner at Antler in the Nordics, on the key changes to investment terms and the residency setup in the Nordic countries — and other ways Antler adds value to your startup.

Antler talks to athletes and founders about what it really takes to perform at the highest level, how to establish a winning mindset and how to keep going in the face of adversity.

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From tools to teammates: The rise of AI Agents in engineering.

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Antler talks to athletes and founders about what it really takes to perform at the highest level, how to establish a winning mindset and how to keep going in the face of adversity. 

Antler is officially launching our residency in San Francisco starting this Fall. Applications are now open for our inaugural residency in the world’s largest tech ecosystem.

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From AI scribes to backend automation, these are the 6 Australian healthtech trends shaping the future - and where early-stage founders and VCs should focus.

In the competitive world of startups, understanding your market isn’t just important—it’s everything. The gap between a game-changing venture and a struggling business often comes down to knowing your Total Addressable Market (TAM), Serviceable Available Market (SAM), and Serviceable Obtainable Market (SOM). Nail these numbers, and you’ll attract investors, seize opportunities, and carve out your place in the market before the competition does.

Interhuman AI is developing a social intelligence layer that integrates with any existing AI system.

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AI is rapidly changing every aspect of revenue teams. This is not just about automation; it’s about redefining how sales works from the ground up.

Bringing life-saving innovations to patients faster and cheaper 

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Stance Health has raised $1M, led by Antler and General Catalyst, to build a full-stack musculoskeletal health platform.

At our recent Theory of Next event in Ho Chi Minh City, a packed room of founders, operators, and investors came together around one big question: Can Vietnam leapfrog traditional tech hubs—and if so, how?

As Australia heads into its next federal election, AI is more than just a tech trend - it’s a national priority. From sovereign GPU clouds to AI-driven security and edge intelligence, James McClure, Antler in Australia's General Partner, thinks these 10 ideas could strengthen economic resilience, safeguard critical infrastructure, and position Australia as a global leader in AI.

Gowri Shankar, Associate Partner at Antler India, plays a key role in this game-changing report, revealing how India’s domestic software market is poised to surge to $100B by 2035.

Transforming healthcare admin to put patients first

Doing for medical education what Duolingo did for language learning 

Unlocking smarter returns on stablecoins with AI-driven security and scalability

An innovative new approach to combat the growing threat of cyber attacks

Empowering facilities technicians to make repairs up to 80% faster 

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AI is ushering in a new era where messaging, spend and targeting self-optimize across channels — giving rise to an entirely new class of marketing tools.

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Building the operating system for food and drink manufacturers

From AI Assistants to Full Automation: AI is shaping the Future of Fintech

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Southeast Asia represents one of the world's most dynamic and complex markets, with over 700 million people spread across eleven countries, each with distinct regulatory environments, cultural nuances, and varying stages of digital maturity. For founders building in this region, traditional approaches to market sizing often fall short of capturing the true complexity and opportunity of the market. Learn how to size your market accurately in this region with this comprehensive guide to TAM, SAM & SOM calculations.

Strengthen The Co-Founder Bond Through Trust, Transparency, and Shared Vision

In the early stages of a startup, growth is correlated to scaling, rather than perfecting minor details.

Meet the spacetech founder tackling climate change by setting the new global standard for precise and continuous greenhouse gas emissions measurements.

How can the world tackle the increasingly complex problems of our time? With a new global infrastructure backing the most driven founders. Listen to Antler founder and CEO Magnus Grimeland discuss this—and why we're building Antler—on the Capital Allocators podcast.

A brand new year, teeming with possibility. What can founders building from day zero expect in 2024? Antler partners share their on-the-ground expectations for the coming year, including sector trends, big shifts in VC, and the biggest headwinds and tailwinds affecting founders around the world.

Antler's global community grew larger, stronger, and more impactful this year, now including 8,000 founders, 800 advisors, and 249 Antler team members in 27 offices worldwide. Here's how we moved the world forward together in 2023.

As we close the door on 2023, what were the most valuable insights for founders on antler.co? Here is a roundup of five of our most popular articles this year.

In a fundraising environment that has been challenging for startups of all stages, how can you set yourself apart from the pack when approaching investors? Antler partner Tyler Norwood, Antler venture partner Robbie Crabtree, and post-investment platform co-founder Mike Preuss discuss the best ways to become a top-decile startup with investors.

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Meet Manuel Schönfeld, founder and CEO of PowerX, who's helping businesses save energy and money while combatting "the largest threat to our planet since the meteor wiped out dinosaurs.”

Meet Abraham Burak, co-founder of Airalo, who ditched an inefficient legacy system to make connectivity accessible and affordable to millions of world travelers.

Our Window into Progress digital event series continues with "Under the Hood"—a deep dive into the rigor and scale that makes Antler unique as we source and assess tens of thousands of founders across six continents.

Through residencies in Lisbon and Madrid, Antler in Iberia works with founders from day zero of their startup growth journey. After investment from Antler, our portfolio companies work with the Antler team to unlock continued growth and scale. As partners from the earliest stage, we’re proud to reveal our first portfolio companies.
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You'll see a diverse group of founders. There's a software developer who previously worked for NASA, a second-time founder who has previously raised over 200 million USD, and others who are addressing a wide range of issues with their companies. Among them are builders of a goals-based social app and an all-in-one solution for car repair shop management.

The founders are incredibly talented, and we're thrilled to support them.

On the heels of publishing A Window into Progress—a global report that looks inside Antler, the world’s day zero investor—we are excited to present a digital event series offering deeper insights into our portfolio, investment approach, and unique views of the world. Our first event is "The State of Building Today," featuring perspectives on the state of VC and the startup ecosystems in Europe, the US, India, and Brazil.

Against a backdrop of significant economic uncertainties and political challenges, one fact holds true: The dependent relationship between innovation and venture capital (VC)—with the latter financing and enabling the founders who create the biggest and boldest solutions around the globe—fuels the engine of progress. But what will the future of VC look like amidst so much flux?

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As unicorns and later-stage companies are battered by the economic climate, the overall health of the European tech ecosystem looks stronger than ever, with more founders coming from big tech and unicorns to build new startups with significant growth potential. Dive into our report and get to know the new generation of European tech founders.

As we approach the fifth anniversary of our first investments, we are excited to share A Window into Progress, a report that captures the breadth, depth, and impact of Antler’s global community, which continues to grow and strengthen through the downturn.

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Spain and Portugal have implemented fresh laws aiming to foster the expansion of their respective startup ecosystems. These legislations introduce novel approaches toward stock options, provide tax deductions for investors, offer corporate tax incentives, acknowledge crowdfunding as a viable financing option, and grant income tax exemptions.

Meet Carl Prins, co-founder and CEO of Pathzero, on personal quest to help avert the climate crisis through world-class carbon accounting.

Harry Truman once said: “Not all readers are leaders, but all leaders are readers.” The source of myriad mental and physical benefits, it’s no wonder highly successful entrepreneurs and business leaders frequently credit obsessive reading as instrumental to their outperformance. In honor of UNESCO World Book Day, Antler is excited to share books every founder should read in 2023.

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Antler, the world's day zero investor, has launched its first program in Iberia to provide funding, mentorship, and ongoing support to the exceptional founders building companies that will shape the world of tomorrow. The first cohort of Antler’s Iberian residency, which started in January 2023, includes 60 founders from 27 different geographies with a range of backgrounds and experiences.

“People sometimes think the emotional and professional are conflicting, but what we believe is when people love their organization, the emotional value will actually make them productive. It will make them give their full self to the organization and make the organization grow for the long term.” —Sharon Li, co-founder and CEO of CHOYS

Meet Piet Hein van Dam, co-founder of Clear, who is using data—not pills—to help millions of people with type 2 diabetes eliminate the disease within three months.

Despite growing calls to create a more inclusive venture capital ecosystem and remove the barriers to entrepreneurship, only a fraction of funding is raised by founders from underrepresented communities.

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The first step towards change is quantifying the challenge. While in-depth research has been conducted about women founders and founders from ethnic minority backgrounds, data has never existed about tech founders from the LGBTQ+ community—until now.

Meet Tanika McLeod, one of the three co-founders of MinuteSkill, a Toronto-based social micro-learning platform that uses bite-sized content and knowledge-sharing communities to empower the next generation.

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More than 25 operators at leading tech companies share their top predictions for the year ahead.

At Antler, we're proud to back more than 600 companies across six continents doing great things in the world. During this season of giving, we are excited to highlight a selection of Antler portfolio companies whose products and services—from tech-enabled beauty products to luxury fashion mystery boxes—are sure to impress the most discerning trendsetters on your nice list. 

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Welcome to the 12 Days of Antler Gift Giving!

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Meet Yaumi Fauziah Sugiharta, a brand builder and growth marketeer on a mission to make people more comfortable in their own skin through Base, a digitally native personalized skincare company based in Indonesia.

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The Angle is a new content series from Antler, featuring perspectives from our team members on the biggest events and trends impacting founders and early-stage investors today. Every article is that person's unique angle on a hot topic—what they see from their vantage point in one of our 25 offices around the globe—not Antler's stance. In our first edition, Jeff Becker draws lessons from the demise of FTX and turbulent tech moments in recent years. This article first appeared in Jeff's Monday Morning Meeting on Substack.

Meet Jamie Bubb, co-founder of Twirl, who—on the back of defeating Hodgkin’s Lymphoma—built an SaaS-enabled marketplace connecting brands with content creators.

We are living two simultaneous realities: the uncertainty of the current downturn and the unstoppable wave of innovation disrupting every industry. Against this backdrop, Antler's Kevin Brennan shares perspectives on assessing your position in venture capital for the rest of 2022 and into 2023. Might 2023 be the best vintage for the coming decade?

Antler was founded on the belief that people innovating is the key to building a better future. To honor them, we are launching a new content series—”It All Starts with People”—spotlighting the exceptional founders we have the privilege of partnering with around the world. Each story is a window into their passions, motivations, and vision—the reasons they are building and the positive dent they are aiming to make on the world.

In our first spotlight, we sat down with Emilia Theye, the co-founder of clare&me—a mental health app that uses language-based AI to develop an innovative approach to virtual self-help.

Antler founders scale faster and more efficiently, backed by our truly global community that includes industry-leading companies. We are thrilled to collaborate with IBM to give our fintech founders access to world-class technology experts and cloud platforms.

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Why is a cloud strategy so critical for fintechs and why can it spell success or failure for a startup? We sat down with Prakash Pattni, Managing Director—Digital Transformation, IBM Cloud for Financial Services, to learn more.

The Iberian ecosystem is attracting attention in the startup world with a staggering number of unicorns—startup companies with a value of more than $1 billion—and new funds in the past year. The combination of talent, capital, and startup-friendly governance has created a breeding ground for innovation.

Harvard Business School (HBS) recently published a case study about Antler’s fresh approach to early-stage venture capital. Antler Co-Founder Fridtjof Berge shares thoughts on how the case sparks discussion about the best ways to identify and support great people anywhere on earth.

In the past years, podcast listening has become more popular than ever, but with so many out there it can be difficult to know what will be the best podcast for you as an entrepreneur and startup founder.

We have created a list of over 30 podcasts to inspire your listening habits curated by our network - from founders building their business with Antler to our team and advisors. No matter whether you are a first time founder or have done it all before, this list is guaranteed to offer something new.

Looking for even more practical resources for founders? Recently, we also shared our book recommendations for entrepreneurs selected by the Antler founders, advisors, and our team. Check them out!

Looking for book recommendations for entrepreneurs beyond Zero to One, The Lean Startup, and The Hard Thing About Hard Things? We curated a list of 35 books to inspire your reading list for 2022 curated by our network—from founders building their business with Antler to our team and advisors.

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We created this list to help all founders—from first-timers looking for an informative and relevant read to ones who have seen it all but are curious to learn more. Expand your reading list even further by checking out our list of books every founder should read in 2023.

To better understand the complexities of mental health for founders, Antler teamed up with Female Founders, the leading European Eco-System for Entrepreneurial Women, to discuss mental exhaustion and how to prevent it as part of a fireside chat.

I recently had the pleasure of speaking to a group of aspiring angel investors in Australia. The theme of the presentation was about evaluating products. During the discussion, we explored the different ways to assess a startup, ways to evaluate ideas and products, and some resources that can help you along the way.

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Welcome to Antler's circles series, where we bring industry leaders,  founders, and experts working in the same sector together to problem solve,  share emerging trends and technologies. Through this series, Antler will  provide unparalleled access to closed room discussions around the challenges  and opportunities experienced by those innovating at the forefront of the  industry.

In this article, we discuss the things that you should not be doing while dealing with investors.

A typical pre-seed to seed fundraising process consists of the following steps: defining fundraising targets & timing, mapping target investors & fundraising materials, having first intros and coffee meetings, pitching to multiple investors, and finally, negotiating and signing.

When it comes to choosing investors, it depends on the stage of growth you are in, and on how much you want to raise. Find out what are the key considerations and benefits of reaching out to each type of investor.

This article is a 4th part of the "Startup fundraising 101" series - a  resource that has been created in order to help all founders in their fundraising journey. To learn more, read our previous pieces which are linked at the end of this article.

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This fireside chat with Rajesh Lingappa, former CTO and co-founder of RedMart was conducted by Bjorn Lindfors, Technology Partner of Antler Southeast Asia during the Antler Entrepreneurship Hour in June.

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Driven by a new wave of demand for better health tech solutions on both the consumer and medical professional fronts, Health tech has become a topic of renewed interest for investors looking to expand their portfolios. In this series, we discuss the future with Antler partner Kim Oreskovic and two healthcare CEOs on trends and how COVID-19 will affect the space in years to come.

Chris Brooke, CTO at Hopster and Advisor at Antler in London, shared his insights about becoming a CTO during an event we organised in London. Having gone through these stages himself, he explains how the role of the CTO evolves from finding the idea to building a product for the global market.

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With Antler's presence in 8 offices, 4 continents and counting, the team at Antler has been able to gain deep insights about startup ecosystems across the globe applying them through our partners and coaches to make our founders succeed everywhere.

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This is the question that in the last years a lot of people have been wondering, because no matter how we do the math that is not enough. Written by Antti Rantanen, Venture Partner for Antler Netherlands and Head of European Operations at Avanto Ventures.

One of the most common hurdles when setting out to build a new company is figuring out where to even start. It's sometimes overwhelming to frame things when the possibilities are endless. It's easy to get lost or frustrated without a clear framework to guide your thinking. Here, we share an easy-to-use framework to help think about new ideas in a consistent and comprehensible way.

Navigating the complexities of a venture capital (VC) term sheet can be a daunting task for both founders and investors. The document is often filled with industry-specific jargon and intricate legal terms that are crucial in defining the future relationship between the startup and its investors. Understanding these terms is vital, as they dictate key aspects of the partnership, including control, financial returns, and the distribution of power.

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