Why is it important to think a few steps ahead and ensure your exclusivity rights on certain words or graphics? When it comes to your brand, a registered trademark is the quickest and most effective way to claim your rights. Trademarks act as a tool to easily enforce your exclusive rights on certain names. It's much easier to take down copycats if you have your trademark, and cheaper than to realize later when another company has the protection.  In this episode Jan addresses: What is a trademark? Which brands are registrable? What benefits can trademark registration have? Why is tradema ..read more

So you've got your startup idea off the ground and have realised you want to work with service providers outside of your home country. But what are the red flags to watch out for in contracts with these businesses?  Annabel spoke to Matej Ftacnik, CEO of Vacuumlabs. A partner of Sparring, Vacuumlabs provide digital design and engineering support particularly to companies in the fintech and blockchain industries. They discuss how you can build trust with new service providers, overcoming cultural barriers and what startups should invest in when growing with global businesses.  They ..read more

How well do you know your customers? Do you only know how many people visit your website, or do you truly understand their behaviour and how it powers your business? In this episode Annabel discusses the competitive advantages of data tracking and data protection with Daniar Rusnak, Co-Founder of DataCop, a growth hacking agency for digital companies. They addressed:  How startups can started with data tracking Data protection basics all founders should know Gatekeeping and how companies will track users  in light of industry changes, such as iOS 14.5 and the end of the third party ..read more

Selling your product online is important to reach a broader market, but what is the process to get there? Annabel spoke to Klara Horton, Founder of Czech Crunch Shine and Head of People and Community at Gather. Besides her role in a startup and running a community, she has recently co-founded an e-shop called Holistic Superfoods. They discuss what Holistic Superfoods stands for and the journey to create an e-shop. Improving diversity in tech startups and the realities of being a women as a founder and in the startup world, is also covered. Along the way, we explain the licenses you may need ..read more

When creating your product you need to consider how you will actually build it. While you can hire an internal team, when you need a niche solution with an experienced team behind it, utilising the collective skill of a software development house can help you reach that goal. But what should you consider when deciding whether to use a software development house? Annabel spoke to Jožo Maruščák, Head of Business Development at Sudolabs.io, a software development house based in Bratislava, and former Founder of case prediction software CourtQuant. They addressed how a startup can work with an ex ..read more

Going from  implementing your idea in a small team to having a global company with several employees, is not a jump to be taken lightly. While many startups believe in scaling fast and sourcing finance quickly, other companies decide to take a more sustainable approach to growth. Annabel spoke to Rasto Ivanic, the CEO of GroupSolver, providing market insights powered by AI. Rasto received funding in Slovakia but the company's growth is not local, successfully taking on the US market.  This episode is split into 3 parts: 1) why finding an investor that understands your mission is cru ..read more

Every story has a beginning and an end. But as a startup, it is easy to get lost in the moment and not plan for the future. Considering the ideal end of your startup, whether it is being acquired by a technology giant, partnering or knowing you are riding a short term wave, is just as important as the day to day operations. To go deeper into the topic, Annabel spoke with Daniel Hastik from Nextech Venture, to uncover mergers, acquisitions, partnerships and exits for startups.  As an experienced Founder himself and now a Technology Scout and Investment Partner, we discuss how to consider t ..read more

Think you are ready for pre-seed or seed funding? While gaining some extra money for your startup can allow expansion of your business, advice, and a potential global stage, there are also other factors to consider. Ensuring you do not give away too much equity, finding an investor that gets  your startup, and not putting your startup in an investor's hands are just some examples. Annabel spoke to Jaroslav Luptak, Investment Manager at Bratislava based Venture Capital, Neulogy Venutres, to share insights on how startups should approach early stage investment.  This episode is split ..read more

While having a concrete problem to solve is primary, it is important to not neglect getting the right team.  The founding members of a team and how the relations between them are governed is important for the success of your startup. This includes ensuring sustainable growth, reaching markets, having appropriate expertise and appealing to investors. Annabel discussed with Startup Wise Guys’ Legal Officer, Anni Säär why team formation is so crucial for a successful startup.   Topics explored include:  Why should you consider your team’s legal relationship from the start?  ..read more

Founders desire to move fast and reach their full potential. However, how can they do that when valuable information necessary for their growth is out of reach?  Legal advice is typically expensive, confusing or even hard to find. However Sparring is looking to change that. In the introduction of Savvy with Sparring, Majo Porvažník and Marek Križka, Co-Founders of Sparring, explain why making legal more accessible for early stage startups is needed.  They introduce: What legal support do founders need?  What legal support is currently available?  What is the Sparring Play ..read more