Dealum Blog

Aug 5, 2026 — 6 min read

Bootstrapping a startup in 2026

A couple of years ago we published a guide to bootstrapping. The advice was sound for its moment: money was tight, the funding market had cooled, and the sensible move was to stay lean and stretch every euro. Founders who read it and kept their burn low did fine.

Jul 17, 2026 — 5 min read

The exit is the exception: what 12,000 funding rounds say about startup liquidity

We analysed 12,000+ funding rounds across 180+ angel networks. Only 11.4% of portfolio companies have exited. Here's what the startup exit data shows.

Jun 16, 2026 — 5 min read

Practical tools to resolve conflict effectively

Conflict resolution isn't about compromise — it's about finding a better way. A structured dialogue framework for founder teams and investor relationships.

Jun 8, 2026 — 4 min read

Co-founder mismatch: when conflict becomes a problem and how to solve it

Not every founder conflict is productive. Learn the 3 red flags of co-founder mismatch and what investors can do before disagreements damage the company.

Jun 3, 2026 — 5 min read

Don’t let a good conflict go to waste

Most teams kill conflict to keep the peace. The best ones mine it for ideas. Why productive conflict is a startup's secret advantage.

May 19, 2026 — 4 min read

Why we believe Dealum is the best accelerator management software in 2026

We build Dealum. Here's the case for why we think Dealum is the right choice for most programs in 2026 and where it isn't.

May 13, 2026 — 5 min read

Investment monitoring for angel investors: How to stay close to what's really happening

Our practical guide to portfolio monitoring for angel investors. How Dealum’s Investor Plus helps surface what changed, where to focus, and which founders may need follow-up. Without rebuilding your stack.

Apr 29, 2026 — 4 min read

How AI is reshaping startup fundraising: Insights from two investors

NuFund's Ashok Kamal and ex-Verge HealthTech's Sigvards Krongorns join Dealum's webinar to reveal how investors use AI across sourcing, screening, and evaluation.

Apr 1, 2026 — 4 min read

How NuFund Venture Group migrated from Seraf to Dealum

Switching platforms can feel risky for investor groups. Here’s how NuFund migrated from Seraf to Dealum and consolidated operations without disruption.

Mar 17, 2026 — 3 min read

Managing investor updates with Dealum's new Investor Plus

Investors rely on regular company updates to understand portfolio performance, where they can help, and when to consider follow-on funding. Yet one of the most common frustrations among angels is silence.

Mar 3, 2026 — 2 min read

Dealum partners with ABAN to strengthen angel investing across Africa

Dealum and ABAN join forces to support Africa’s growing angel ecosystem with shared infrastructure designed to improve collaboration and investment workflows.

Feb 26, 2026 — 9 min read

Building the campus innovation flywheel: the story behind ICAN

ICAN is building a global network connecting investors with campus-born startups. Here’s how the model works and why universities are part of the flywheel.

Feb 17, 2026 — 6 min read

How to pitch complex ideas to any investor

Deep-tech and industry-niche founders often lose investors to complexity. Lessons from Startup Day show how to simplify your pitch without losing credibility or depth.

Feb 5, 2026 — 2 min read

Dealum partners with Freshmango to expand equity-free acceleration options for early-stage founders

Early-stage founders want support without giving up ownership. Dealum’s new partnership with Freshmango expands access to equity-free acceleration and learning.

Feb 3, 2026 — 8 min read

How to make your Dealum profile stand out

Investors often decide whether to meet you before a single conversation. Here’s how to make your Dealum profile stand out during that first critical scan.

Jan 20, 2026 — 3 min read

How Daring Capital centralized their deal flow with Dealum

Managing deal flow across multiple tools was slowing Daring Capital down. Here’s how the UK angel group centralized operations and improved investor experience with Dealum.

Jan 6, 2026 — 4 min read

Fundraising Reimagined: How AI Is Reshaping the Early-Stage Capital Landscape

AI is already changing how founders raise capital and how investors decide, but the shift is uneven. Insights from Brigitte Baumann reveal what’s really changing, and what isn’t.

Dec 8, 2025 — 5 min read

How NOT to build your AI agent startup

There's a particular breed of founders who, upon discovering they can connect an LLM to a few APIs and watch it do things vaguely resembling autonomous work, become convinced they've glimpsed the future.

Nov 17, 2025 — 8 min read

SEIS & EIS done right: reducing risk and building trust with Dealum

If you look at the UK startup ecosystem, one might assume that its strength comes from London’s financial scene, world-class universities, or access to the best founders. Even though these things matter, they don’t explain why the UK is the second-largest angel investment market in the world.

Nov 12, 2025 — 4 min read

How founders can work better with their angel investors

Our new team member Victoria shares her experience as an angel-backed founder and the realization of the simple things she could have done differently to improve the success outcomes for all involved.

Nov 3, 2025 — 4 min read

How to tell customer success stories that actually close deals

Most startups have customer wins. Few can tell them in a way that drives new deals and investor confidence. Learn how to craft success stories that let your customers and results prove your impact, without sounding boastful or salesy.

Sep 15, 2025 — 4 min read

Deep tech for dummies

All startups try to solve a problem – anything from incremental inconveniences to global challenges. But there’s a corner of tech that goes deeper than others, suitably called “deep tech”.

Aug 13, 2025 — 3 min read

How to support startups after graduation – and why should accelerators do it

Strong alumni make accelerators stronger. By offering mentorship, funding, and business support after graduation, accelerators create a flywheel of success that boosts their reputation, attracts top startups, and keeps founders engaged long after the program ends.

Jun 17, 2025 — 2 min read

Dealum and TechCon Global partner to streamline early-stage investment and support the startup ecosystem

This collaboration will create a more efficient and impactful matchmaking experience for startups and investors at TechCon Global conferences worldwide.

May 27, 2025 — 3 min read

What drives startup funding? Insights from ACA x Dealum data

Drawing on insights from the Angel Capital Association’s latest analysis based on the data from the Dealum platform, we took a closer look at the signals that matter most in early-stage funding today.

May 20, 2025 — 5 min read

Navigating change in an angel organization: lessons from leaders who’ve done it

In today’s fast-evolving investment landscape, change is not optional, it’s inevitable. On May 6, Dealum hosted a webinar to explore how angel organizations can strategically manage transformation rather than be overwhelmed by it.

May 2, 2025 — 1 min read

Dealum and Peachscore expand partnership to enhance startup credibility and investor insights

The teams will collaborate to bring detailed startup overviews from Peachscore to Dealum, giving investors deeper insights and helping startups strengthen their credibility with potential funders.

Apr 23, 2025 — 4 min read

How to survive a software change

Change brings both challenge and a growth opportunity. Resistance is inevitable, but detailed planning and a proactive mindset will help you succeed.

Mar 18, 2025 — 4 min read

Managing the application pipeline in accelerators: common mistakes, tips & tricks

Managing applications is one of the biggest contributors to the accelerators’ administrative burden. What are accelerators' main challenges, and which tools and strategies can help keep it all under control?

Mar 10, 2025 — 5 min read

Due Diligence – How to stay in the game

For many startups, due diligence is the most nerve-wracking stage of fundraising. But by treating due diligence as an opportunity rather than an obstacle, startups can turn it into a powerful step toward securing investment.

Dec 27, 2024 — 4 min read

The End-of-Year Playbook for startup founders

As the year winds down, it’s time for startups to take a deep breath, regroup, recalibrate, and reimagine the road ahead. Here’s your guide to wrapping up the year with clarity, intention, and maybe even a few laughs.

Dec 19, 2024 — 4 min read

The Best of 2024: Our 7 favorite product updates

The Dealum team is proud to present – the top 7 features that, in our opinion, made a difference. Learn more and find your favourite!

Dec 12, 2024 — 7 min read

A data-driven dive into the global angel ecosystem

Highlights from the webinar where we gathered global experts to share their insights on trends, challenges, and opportunities in the evolving angel investment ecosystem.

Nov 28, 2024 — 4 min read

Equity crowdfunding: a success story of failure?

Equity crowdfunding accounted for an estimated 10% of early-stage investments in 2023. While it isn’t exactly failing, it has faced significant obstacles.

Nov 25, 2024 — 1 min read

Dealum announces partnership with Aquaty to simplify SPV integration for early-stage investments

Dealum partners with Aquaty to deliver a fully integrated experience for early-stage investors and streamline their investment process.

Nov 21, 2024 — 2 min read

Dealum and Peachscore collaborate for a data-driven startup acceleration

Dealum and Peachscore begin a collaboration to assist startups in building a business with a data-driven and equity-free acceleration program.

Nov 11, 2024 — 2 min read

Dealum and BAND partnership: Boosting connectivity across the German angel investor ecosystem

Our partnership with Business Angels Deutschland fosters a strong, interconnected angel investing landscape across Germany and supports both investors and early-stage companies as they navigate the complex world of venture funding.

Oct 23, 2024 — 5 min read

9 practical tips for accelerators from Dealum’s team

Dealum's team talks about their hands-on experience with accelerators and shares practical tips for managing accelerator or incubator programs.

Oct 18, 2024 — 2 min read

Dealum is Tartu’s Startup of the Year

The recognition validates Dealum's mission of improving the early-stage investment landscape and helps us continue innovating and supporting the global startup ecosystem.

Oct 4, 2024 — 3 min read

Navigating early-stage startup funding with Dealum and NuFund experts

In a recent webinar hosted by Dealum in collaboration with NuFund, early-stage investors and seasoned entrepreneurs gathered to share insights into the complexities of startup funding rounds.

Sep 19, 2024 — 6 min read

Case Study: How Charleston Angel Partners made sense of their data

Find out how Dealum has allowed Charleston Angel Partners to collect, discover, and share information, and connect to their members in a new way.

Sep 6, 2024 — 2 min read

Receiving investment through an SPV: key takeaways from webinar

Creating an SPV streamlines the investment process, simplifies cap table management, and benefits both founders and investors. Here are the key takeaways from the Dealum's webinar for founders: 'Receiving investment through an SPV'.

Aug 14, 2024 — 7 min read

Top 5 operational challenges of startup accelerators and how to manage them

Startup accelerators have a unique and complex set of operations, barely noticed or appreciated until things start falling through the cracks. What are the most common operational challenges accelerators face and how to manage them?

Jul 25, 2024 — 2 min read

Fundraising in a turbulent economy: key takeaways from webinar

Securing a startup's funding can be challenging at any time, but even more so today. Here are the key takeaways from the Dealum's webinar for founders: 'Fundraising in a turbulent economy'.

Jul 11, 2024 — 7 min read

Bootstrapping 101: Pros & Cons, Tips & Tricks

The past couple of years have been rough on the startup community. We persist that it’s a better time than ever to be bootstrapping. But how to survive and thrive as a bootstrapped startup? Let’s find out.

Jun 17, 2024 — 2 min read

NuFund Venture Group partners with Dealum to drive growth in angel investing

NuFund Venture Group, a new wave of angel investors with a fund model, and Dealum announce a strategic partnership. This collaboration is set to change the investment experience for investors and startups, driving growth in the early-stage capital ecosystem.

Jun 3, 2024 — 1 min read

Dealum’s new Network feature: sharing deals is easier than ever

We have launched Dealum’s new Network feature – a centralized space, where angel organizations across the platform can easily connect, follow their partners’ updates, and share news or deals.

May 8, 2024 — 4 min read

Case Study: How Keiretsu Forum boosted deal flow transparency

Keiretsu Forum’s North American chapters use Dealum for their deal flow management and syndication to offer their members and companies transparency and a seamless user experience.

Apr 25, 2024 — 9 min read

Fundraising as a startup 101

Fundraising is the number one skill that startup founders need to get their ideas off the ground. This guide will cover the basics of startup fundraising that you can control to help make your fundraising more professional.

Apr 15, 2024 — 3 min read

Case Study: How Maine Angels transformed screening efficiency

Maine Angels share their experience of using Dealum for faster and more convenient screening processes and better access to information.

Mar 28, 2024 — 6 min read

Deal negotiations 101 for angel investors

A successful deal negotiation is crucial in angel investing to start a transparent and fruitful partnership for years to come. Here’s what angel investing deal negotiations usually look like and why they often include a lot of give and take.

Mar 11, 2024 — 4 min read

Economic uncertainty: the tailwind or headwind for the angel community?

How does economic uncertainty affect angel group operations? Is there blood on the streets yet? Let’s take a look at whether the economic downturn and high inflation are good news or bad news for angel investors.

Feb 19, 2024 — 6 min read

How can angel investor groups use social media (the non-cringe way)

Social media can be a valuable tool for angel investor groups to build meaningful connections and foster trust. It requires strategy and takes time, patience, and dedication, but it's worth it!

Feb 14, 2024 — 2 min read

Dealum partners with StartUpNV to help foster Nevada's entrepreneurial ecosystem

Dealum collaborates with StartUpNV to support and enhance impactful programs that educate, cultivate, and attract investment for entrepreneurs and startups in Nevada, USA.

Jan 10, 2024 — 3 min read

Case Study: How sTARTUp Pitching scaled their operations

sTARTUp Day, the biggest business festival in the Baltics, found a powerful ally in Dealum for managing their pitching competition. Before Dealum, their process was a manual endeavour involving tools like Typeform and Excel, which became a challenge as the event grew.

Dec 20, 2023 — 4 min read

Dealum’s Year of 2023

Another year has passed and my, oh, my, does the time pass fast these days! As part of our tradition, it’s time to look back and appreciate where we’re at and how far we’ve come.

Dec 13, 2023 — 5 min read

From seed to harvest: exit strategies for startup founders and angel investors

The world of startups is all about dreams, innovation, and building the future. But let’s not be coy – it is also about returns on investment. Let’s find out, when is a good time to exit, what strategies can be used, and how to know what is the best option.

Dec 7, 2023 — 2 min read

Dealum and ACA strengthen collaboration

Dealum continues its annual partnership with the Angel Capital Association. The collaboration is founded on shared values and complementary missions. Together, we can strengthen the connected investor ecosystem to foster more accessible, meaningful, and successful investments.

Dec 1, 2023 — 3 min read

How angel group members benefit from using Dealum

An angel group must engage and activate its investor members to be successful. Here are the three key benefits for angel group members to use the Dealum platform.

Oct 31, 2023 — 4 min read

Impact investing: how angel investors can drive both profit and positive change

Find out why investing in impact startups is a win-win scenario, allowing you to generate financial returns in a sustainable and regenerative way.

Oct 3, 2023 — 4 min read

Accelerating accelerators: how to reach your accelerator’s full potential with digitalizing and automation

Learn how startup accelerators can harness digitalization and automation to boost efficiency and tackle challenges for sustainable growth.

Aug 21, 2023 — 7 min read

Why we don’t aim to become a unicorn

For decades, the startup community has raced towards bigger. But is bigger always better? Or stronger? We have chosen not to participate in the race. Here's why.

Aug 1, 2023 — 5 min read

The art and science of angel investing: how to diversify your portfolio

Knowing that 90% of startups fail, betting on one horse to become a unicorn is a gamble you don’t want to take. Building a well-diversified portfolio is a continuous process that takes time, effort, constant learning, and adjustment.

Jul 17, 2023 — 4 min read

5 green flags for startup investors

Understanding obvious green and red flags helps you make better-informed decisions and increase your chances of success.

Jun 19, 2023 — 7 min read

7 legal commandments of founding a startup

Founding your own startup is an exciting time, a time full of hopes, dreams, and promises. Who has time for mundane legal technicalities when you’re building the future, right? Wrong!

Jun 12, 2023 — 3 min read

Overcoming bias in angel investing: the untapped potential of minority founders

Minority founders are still heavily underrepresented, despite the numbers proving that diverse startup teams outperform their peers. How can we overcome the bias?

May 31, 2023 — 4 min read

3 major ways COVID-19 has impacted the startup ecosystem

The COVID-19 pandemic has been a game-changer for the startup ecosystem in many ways presenting unprecedented opportunities for startups. We’ll explore the obvious and less obvious ways the pandemic affected the ecosystem.

May 16, 2023 — 1 min read

Dealum and Keiretsu Forum join forces to revolutionize angel investing deal flow and collaboration

Dealum and Keiretsu Forum announce partnership to enhance deal flow and collaboration in the angel investing ecosystem.

May 8, 2023 — 4 min read

Beyond the elevator pitch: how to build genuine relationships in the startup world

Networking is an essential part of the startup world, but it's not just about vain metrics or delivering the perfect elevator pitch. Building genuine relationships is the key to success.

Apr 17, 2023 — 5 min read

Dealum’s Story — building the Tartu startup ecosystem

To celebrate our 6th birthday, Dealum's co-founder Rein speaks about the Tartu startup ecosystem and why he believes it’s the best place for great ideas, successful startups, and Dealum.

Apr 4, 2023 — 5 min read

Sustainable startup or greenwashing? An angel investor’s guide to spot the difference

There is a growing recognition among investors that sustainability is not only good for the environment but also critical for long-term financial success.

Mar 23, 2023 — 1 min read

ACA Insights Blog — The Search: Finding Your Angel Collaboration Platform

ACA has published an insightful interview with Jeffrey Lang, Chairman of Desert Angels. If you're an investor looking to connect with fellow angels or an angel group manager searching for a blueprint for navigating the platform selection process, this interview is a must-read.

Mar 15, 2023 — 4 min read

Tech layoffs explained: is this a correction or a collapse?

There seems to be an unprecedented wave of layoffs ravaging the tech landscape. But are things really as bad as they seem?

Mar 6, 2023 — 6 min read

Self-onboarding to Dealum

Do you need an onboarding upgrade when starting to use Dealum? Here's more information to help you make the decision.

Feb 28, 2023 — 3 min read

Truly invested: 5 ways angel investors can help startups succeed (besides funding)

It’s a good idea for angel investors to take a hands-on approach. Contributing time, expertise, and network is rewarding for both investors and startups.

Feb 7, 2023 — 3 min read

Case study: How Angel Investors Ontario improved deal syndication

Angel Investors Ontario share their experience of using an intermediary shared deal room to help the angel groups under the AIO umbrella to syndicate deals more efficiently.

Feb 1, 2023 — 5 min read

8 red flags in angel investing

As an angel investor, it's important to carefully evaluate any potential investment opportunities before committing your hard-earned money. Fortunately, red flags can help detect potentially risky investments.

Dec 22, 2022 — 4 min read

Dealum’s Year of 2022

Here are the highlights from the past 12 months reflecting on what we have achieved to gain respect for the journey that has led us here.

Dec 18, 2022 — 2 min read

Dealum partners with the ACA

We are excited to become an annual partner of the Angel Capital Association. Together, we are on a mission to fuel the success of the angel investor community.

Dec 8, 2022 — 2 min read

Collecting startup and investor fees with Stripe integration

Collecting the fees as well as tracking the status of each individual member or company is often complicated and error-prone. With our Stripe integration, fee collection can be a pleasant experience for everyone.

Oct 31, 2022 — 4 min read

Activating investors and why it matters

Active members are the cornerstone of a high-performing angel group creating almost an infinite loop of success.

Oct 5, 2022 — 7 min read

How to build a healthy cap table

Here are three main takes on what to keep in mind and which common pitfalls to avoid when shares are being discussed.

Sep 8, 2022 — 8 min read

Angel Investing Future in 2022

The highlight of our anniversary celebrations was the panel discussion about future trends in startup and angel investing together with leading angel investor groups and organisations. Key takeaways from this very insightful session can be found in this post.

Jul 29, 2022 — 7 min read

Tips for a smooth transition to Dealum

Migration to a new platform can feel like a jump into the unknown, but in our experience, it is a straightforward process and well worth the effort to upgrade your tech stack. Read more about our data migration process, tips, and best practices for a successful transition.

Jun 13, 2022 — 8 min read

How to calculate Startup Valuation?

In April, we celebrated Dealum’s fifth anniversary with a series of webinars together with Equidam. Now we have prepared a summary of the core principles and methods of the Startup Valuation based on what was spoken at the webinar.

Apr 28, 2022 — 4 min read

Dealum is 5 - a short history lesson

Now that we are five years old, it’s a good time to look back on the journey that led us here and highlight the people and organisations that have made a dent in our universe. We are forever grateful to each and every one of you for helping us to shape Dealum into who we are today!

Mar 23, 2022 — 2 min read

French Business Angel networks move startup deal flow to Dealum

Dealum is now the investment process management platform for France Angels, one of the leading national networks Federation in Europe for Business Angels and early-stage investors. This is the first nationwide adoption of Dealum, onboarding 64 angel investor groups to the platform.

Oct 21, 2021 — 5 min read

Due Diligence in Angel Investing

Due diligence can sound like an elaborate legal process, but the scope largely depends on the stage of the startup. Evaluating startups is both an art and a science and best results are achieved when combining instincts and experience with the data.

Jul 27, 2021 — 6 min read

Understanding Dealum’s funding round feature

Dealum’s funding feature is one of the most powerful collaboration tools on our platform that has a lot of complexity hidden under the plain-looking surface. Here's how it works.

Jul 1, 2021 — 3 min read

Case study: How Odense Seed and Venture optimised their workflow

As Odense Seed & Venture witnessed an increase in the number of deals received, it became clear that their existing system was creating inefficiencies and was not scalable. As a retrospect, they wish they had joined Dealum sooner.

May 6, 2021 — 6 min read

The fine art of asking for advice (for a startup)

There’s a time in every company’s life when the knowledge and experience within the team just don’t cut it anymore and an external expert is needed. Where to start and what should be kept in mind? How can angels help the process? Here’s our take on the fine art of asking for advice for a startup.

Apr 29, 2021 — 6 min read

How to level up the startup fundraising game

Fundraising is a game of many levels and same as with any other game, you should start at the beginning - from the business angels - to learn the game in order to succeed. But what if the company needs to raise more? Where to find additional funding to close the round? Read more to find out.

Apr 21, 2021 — 5 min read

Your comprehensive guide to Dealum notifications

Notifications are a crucial part of every web application. It’s important that users get relevant updates in a timely manner but at the same time not get flooded with too many of them. We recently improved the settings that allow you to configure notifications in Dealum.

Apr 13, 2021 — 5 min read

The ocean of opportunities of the digital transformation for investor groups

It’s no secret that digital transformation is a hot subject and has been for some time already. Let’s investigate what can digital transformation bring along for an investor group and how to make the most out of this opportunity.

Mar 31, 2021 — 5 min read

How we make angel investing software that users can trust

Privacy and security are the main concerns when talking about the use of online tools to manage an investor group, there is a lot of sensitive and confidential business information involved. We take security very seriously - here’s how we protect your data and what you can do to help.

Mar 24, 2021 — 6 min read

Your daily investor group deal flow dilemma

There is a very specific dilemma investor group managers face in their operations - should they focus on deal flow quality or quantity? Today we discuss the two opposing camps, what are the positives and negatives of both, and what can be done to overcome some of their problems.

Mar 18, 2021 — 4 min read

Getting started with Dealum’s angel investing platform

Now that you’ve decided on the platform you want to use to manage your investor group, it’s time to start thinking about how to set it up. Moving onto a new platform can be tricky - here are some tips on how to make the transition as seamless and easy as possible and an insight into how we do it.

Mar 12, 2021 — 2 min read

Case study: How Keystones refined their toolbox

When Keystones created their angel network 5 years ago, they faced the question most groups do - what is the best tool to support their internal processes and communication with members? Fast forward to 2020 when they discovered Dealum can transform their workflow and make it more efficient.

Feb 17, 2021 — 6 min read

Choosing a deal flow management software for your angel investor group

The process of selecting a platform to manage an investor network can be daunting. It’s crucial that you have a clear understanding of what the group needs in order to futureproof your tools. We’ve put together a comparison of the most common systems available right now.

Feb 10, 2021 — 6 min read

The 4 pillars of investor engagement

Member engagement is a challenge investor group managers often face, online or offline. There is a lot that can be done digitally to create an active virtual community. Continue reading to learn how to create a positively buzzing network.

Feb 2, 2021 — 6 min read

The future of angel investing

Angel investing scene is maturing and attracting the next generation of high-net-worth individuals. Knowledge exchange and cooperation become increasingly more important. What else lies ahead in the angel investing future?

Jan 26, 2021 — 3 min read

How we make pipeline management software that users love

Business software has historically been clunky and corporate-y. SaaS products can be just as complex but need to find a way to seamlessly integrate into the existing processes of the customer. Taking this into account, a good design is no easy feat.

Jan 19, 2021 — 3 min read

13 ways to monetise your investor group

A few subjects in the early-stage investing ecosystem result in a heated discussion and monetising access to seed capital is one of them. Still, angels are a crucial part of the ecosystem and therefore need to be able to feed themselves in order to survive. Here’s our guide to more revenue streams.

Jan 12, 2021 — 3 min read

Business angels and angel investment networks - the cooperative superpower

Angel investing can be a lonely business. Yet there is no other phase in the company’s lifespan when cooperation is as crucial as during the early stages. Don't worry, BANs are here to help!