Demo Day 3 In Review
Last November, we hosted our third Demo Day down at VIPPA in Oslo. This event isn’t a competition; it’s an opportunity for our portfolio companies to showcase and celebrate their tremendous progress and make valuable connections as they advance their companies beyond Katapult. The evening was a hit with strong pitches, incredible food and drinks and a lot of networking.
In the build-up to Demo Day, the Founders practiced their pitches tirelessly. As the saying goes, “practice makes perfect!” It all paid off as these brilliant startup founders, powered by ambition and a desire to change the world, took the stage to pitch about their entrepreneurial journey.
How did they get here?
Kicking off in August, the cohort which comprised of companies from varying industries namely within the fintech, medtech and edtech space, arrived in Oslo with their own goals in mind. They did, however, come with a shared vision; to accelerate the growth of their companies and strengthen their network.
It was remarkable to see how much each team achieved over the course of only twelve weeks. We had the privilege to support, offer guidance, and work alongside these companies while they adopted the necessary components of how to most successfully scale and turn their startups into profit-generating businesses. From learning about the value of user research and unlocking the tech potential in their companies, to breaking down the world of valuations and financial modeling- they eagerly took it all in. One of the highlights about the program was the peer-to-peer feedback and how each company learned from and supported one another. It truly felt like a community.
Drumroll, please … Demo Day has arrived
The companies packed in three months of their hard work within the span of four minutes. With the venue packed, they reminded us that businesses need to be intentionally positive to make a difference.
During a time where disparity and social challenges are on the rise, we need tech for good startups like Esusu, paving a permanent bridge to financial access and security for people from all walks of life. We need ventures like PraxiLabs that enhance STEM education by providing virtual simulations that are accessible, usable, and affordable for educational institutions and students. And we need socially conscious ventures, like Virtue who develop innovative solutions for living well and to help transform the mental well being of our aging populations.
At Katapult, Demo Day marks the end of the accelerator program, but it is really only the beginning of the journey for these companies as they begin to scale-up, expand their team and global footprint and take things to the next level.
Thank you to everyone who attended and met this group incredible people! We are humbled by your support and interest to connect and grow with our companies and hope you will continue to be a part of our community.
For those of you feeling inspired or are interested in your own impact startup, we are always keen to continue the conversation, so get in touch!
