Sesame Summit 2026 – application open

Ben’s List 40

And to warm you up we’ve selected already 5 articles to help you understand better how communities work and why Web3 is eating the community world.

We also cover other topics with an impressive report on DeepTech trends by The Engine.

There’s also an eyeopening story about a record label that lived for only 30 months and shaped the next 30 years of leadership in the music industry #powermovers

But let’s start with some down to earth business strategy for startup founders and marketers. How do you run successful partnerships?

Entrepreneurship

Hey Startups: It’s Not all About Direct Sales—Your Guide to Partnerships and Channels

“It’s tempting for startups to approach integration and solutions partners with only their own perspective in mind: “We offer an incredible new SaaS solution that disrupts X or enhances Y. Why not use it?” The reality from a partner’s point-of-view is very different.  Channel partners have ingrained processes and solutions. Operating in markets that necessitate growth and retention of business, they repeat known solutions and have trained hundreds or thousands of people on how to sell, integrate, or sell the vision of specific solutions. They’re not going to disrupt a working sales process lightly.”

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Community

DAOs: Absorbing the Internet

DAOs represent a new framework for large-scale human coordination and at the heart of human coordination – decentralized or not – is organizational culture. No different than company culture at an early stage startup or community culture in an undiscovered music scene, culture can be defined as the behaviors, patterns, and values that emerge between groups of individuals…  While every DAO finds its own ways to engender culture with visual, linguistic, and behavioral norms, two traits seem to be particularly commonplace across the DAO landscape: the tendency for constituents to act like owners, and the expectation of radical transparency.”

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How to get paid by DAOs

“DAOs are in need of labor. They need people to work for them in order to achieve their core mission. Whether it’s for a protocol DAO like Yearn and Sushi looking to create a new paradigm in financial technology or Social DAOs like Friends with Benefits and Bankless DAO looking to propagate culture, there’s plenty of ways to contribute and add value. As mentioned, the cool part is you don’t have to work full time. It’s always up to you how much time you want to put in.”

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The 5 Secrets to Community Onboarding: How to Reduce Churn and Create Super Fans

“Walking into a party without your host can feel confusing, alienating, and frustrating. And for your customers, joining a new community without onboarding is just as bad.”

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Community-Led Growth: Introduction and best practices

“By accepting to lose some control over their brand narrative and laying out contribution swimlanes for external users, every company can unlock massive Community-Led Growth opportunities across all areas of their business.”

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Questions To Ask Your Community Members Before Re-Strategizing

“Whatever the reason, the first step I recommend to anyone going through this process is to interview your members. I’ve found that these interviews are the most productive when conducted one-on-one or in a roundtable setting. That’s because it’s a more personal approach than just sending out a survey, and your members will appreciate this level of attention.”

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DeepTech

2021 Tough Tech Landscape

“…the past two years have been defined by a pandemic that has only sharpened our collective sense of urgency to discover and commercialize Tough Tech companies. These years serve as a reminder of why we must continue to create the frameworks to support those who are solving massive problems through the convergence of science, engineering and leadership.” – Katie Rae, CEO & MP @TheEngine

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Pages 8 & 9 of the report

Music

Right Place, Right Time: How SBK Records’ 30 Months of Existence Launched 30 Years of Music Industry Leadership

“People thought we were overconfident to the point of arrogance. We set out to be the best of the best, what we called ‘the SBK Difference.’ We just did everything a little better, spent a little more money on everything from release parties to listening sessions to personal chefs in the office to private jets. For Poe, we rented out a hot-air balloon visible to everyone landing at the local airport in Virginia. We were competing against all the other independent labels at the time – Arista, Motown. Once we hit our stride, we were unstoppable.”

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Fundraising 1 day ago

Despite ongoing conflict, Ukrainian fintech companies continue demonstrating remarkable resilience in securing international investment, challenging preconceptions about wartime entrepreneurship in Europe’s eastern frontier. The latest proof comes from Fintech IT Group, which has successfully raised €16.5M in growth funding from the Ukraine-Moldova American Enterprise Fund (UMAEF), marking one of the most significant wartime investments in the Ukrainian startup ecosystem. This funding round represents more than capital allocation—it signals international confidence in Ukraine’s tech sector durability and the strategic importance of maintaining financial infrastructure during crisis periods. Ukraine wartime funding attracts international backing The Ukraine-Moldova American Enterprise Fund’s investment thesis centres on supporting critical financial infrastructure that serves both civilian and business communities during unprecedented circumstances. UMAEF, backed by the U.S. government, specifically targets companies providing essential services that maintain economic stability in challenging geopolitical environments. “We’re investing in companies that demonstrate not just financial potential, but strategic importance for regional economic resilience,” noted UMAEF representatives familiar with the deal. This approach differs markedly from traditional European venture capital, which typically prioritises pure growth metrics over strategic infrastructure value. The investment reflects broader international recognition that Ukrainian fintech companies have proven their operational capabilities under extreme stress conditions—a unique value proposition in European markets where regulatory compliance and operational resilience increasingly matter to institutional investors. Monobank’s European expansion strategy Fintech IT Group, operating primarily through its flagship Monobank platform, has established itself as Ukraine’s leading digital bank with over 7 million active users. The company’s mobile-first approach and robust API infrastructure have proven particularly valuable during wartime, when traditional banking channels face physical disruption. The €16.5M funding will primarily support technological infrastructure expansion and enhanced security measures, according to company leadership. This includes strengthening cross-border payment capabilities and developing additional financial products tailored for both domestic and international Ukrainian communities. “Our experience maintaining financial services during conflict has given us unique insights into building resilient fintech infrastructure,” explained Monobank leadership. “These capabilities position us well for expansion into other European markets where operational reliability is paramount.” The funding also enables deeper integration with European financial systems, potentially positioning Monobank as a bridge between Ukrainian diaspora communities and their homeland—a strategic advantage as refugee populations establish new lives across European capitals. This investment underscores how wartime innovation often produces solutions with broader European market applications, particularly in financial services where trust and reliability prove more valuable than flashy features. For Ukrainian startups, proving operational excellence under extreme conditions may well become their unique competitive advantage in European expansion.

Fundraising 1 day ago

The UK’s fintech landscape is witnessing a new wave of institutional backing as specialised accelerators emerge to bridge the gap between early-stage innovation and scalable growth. Against this backdrop, Antidote has secured €2.95M (£2.5M) in funding to launch its accelerator programme focused on fintech and Bitcoin-adjacent technologies. The funding signals renewed confidence in the UK’s position as a global fintech hub, despite ongoing regulatory uncertainties around digital assets. Led by Fulgur Ventures, the round reflects the growing appetite among European investors for infrastructure plays that can nurture the next generation of financial technology companies. The timing aligns with increasing institutional adoption of Bitcoin and digital assets across traditional finance, creating demand for specialised support structures. Fintech accelerator funding attracts specialist investors Fulgur Ventures’ decision to lead this round underscores the firm’s thesis around Bitcoin infrastructure and the tools needed to support mainstream adoption. The Venice-based venture capital firm, known for backing Lightning Network infrastructure companies and Bitcoin-native startups, sees Antidote as a strategic platform to identify and develop promising UK fintech talent. “The UK remains one of Europe’s most vibrant fintech ecosystems, but there’s a clear gap in specialised support for Bitcoin and crypto-adjacent innovations,” notes a Fulgur partner familiar with the investment. “Antidote’s approach combines traditional accelerator methodology with deep domain expertise in digital assets.” The investor’s portfolio strategy focuses on companies building critical infrastructure for Bitcoin adoption, from payment rails to custody solutions. Antidote fits this thesis by positioning itself as a talent pipeline for the next wave of Bitcoin-enabled financial services. Bridging traditional fintech with digital asset innovation Antidote’s programme targets the intersection between established fintech verticals and emerging digital asset opportunities. This positioning reflects broader market dynamics where traditional financial services increasingly integrate blockchain-based solutions, creating demand for hybrid expertise. The accelerator plans to support 8-12 startups per cohort, providing €50,000 in initial funding alongside mentorship from industry veterans. The programme specifically targets companies working on payment infrastructure, trading platforms, custody solutions, and compliance technology for digital assets. “We’re seeing exceptional talent in the UK who understand both traditional financial services and the technical nuances of Bitcoin,” explains Antidote’s founding team. “Our role is to provide the runway and expertise needed to turn these insights into scalable businesses.” The funding will support programme operations, mentor network development, and follow-on investment capacity for portfolio companies. Antidote also plans to establish partnerships with major UK financial institutions seeking exposure to digital asset innovation without direct investment risk. This launch reflects the maturation of Europe’s digital asset ecosystem, where specialised support infrastructure is emerging to complement general-purpose accelerators. With regulatory clarity improving across EU markets, accelerators like Antidote are positioning to capture the next wave of fintech innovation at the intersection of traditional finance and digital assets.

Fundraising 1 day ago

Germany’s tax advisory sector faces a looming crisis. With 57% of the country’s tax advisors aged over 50, the profession confronts both a demographic cliff and mounting pressure to digitalise decades-old processes. Into this gap steps AnyTax, which has secured €1 million in pre-seed funding from IBB Ventures to modernise Germany’s tax infrastructure through intelligent automation. The Berlin-based startup’s timing couldn’t be more strategic. As Germany’s Mittelstand grapples with increasingly complex tax regulations whilst traditional advisors edge towards retirement, AnyTax’s platform promises to bridge the growing expertise gap through technology that augments rather than replaces human judgment. German tax modernisation attracts strategic investment IBB Ventures’ investment reflects a broader recognition that Germany’s tax advisory market—worth billions annually—requires urgent technological intervention. The Berlin-based VC, backed by the city’s investment bank, has consistently backed companies addressing structural inefficiencies in German business processes. “The German tax system’s complexity creates both challenges and opportunities,” notes an IBB Ventures spokesperson. “AnyTax’s approach of augmenting advisor capabilities rather than replacing them aligns perfectly with how German professional services are evolving.” The funding round positions AnyTax within a growing cohort of European RegTech companies that specifically address continental European regulatory environments, rather than adapting Anglo-Saxon solutions. This localised approach proves increasingly valuable as EU member states maintain distinct professional service requirements. Addressing Germany’s tax advisor shortage through technology AnyTax’s platform targets the critical bottleneck facing German businesses: accessing quality tax advice amid advisor shortages. The company’s technology enables existing advisors to handle larger caseloads whilst maintaining compliance standards, effectively multiplying capacity within the existing professional framework. The startup’s solution addresses uniquely German challenges, including the complex interplay between federal and state tax obligations that confounds even sophisticated international businesses operating in Europe’s largest economy. By automating routine compliance tasks, AnyTax frees advisors to focus on strategic tax planning—precisely where human expertise adds most value. Founder insights suggest the €1 million will primarily fund platform development and partnerships with established German tax advisory firms, recognising that success requires deep integration with existing professional networks rather than attempting to bypass them entirely. AnyTax’s funding reflects broader momentum in European professional services technology, where regulatory complexity creates sustainable competitive moats for startups that truly understand local market dynamics. As Germany’s tax landscape grows increasingly sophisticated, platforms like AnyTax become essential infrastructure rather than mere efficiency tools.

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