🚨 Ever had a wild encounter with a venture capitalist? You're not alone! This week, a massive conversation on X has unveiled a treasure trove of VC horror stories shared by founders, revealing everything from bizarre encounters to downright infuriating experiences. These tales not only entertain but also serve as cautionary tales for entrepreneurs navigating the funding landscape. They remind us of the importance of doing thorough research on potential investors before diving in—understanding their past interactions with other founders can save you from major headaches down the line. Have you ever faced a surprising challenge in your funding journey? Share your story below! Read more about these eye-opening experiences here: https://techcrunch.com/2026/06/05/founders-share-vc-horror-stories-and-some-are-naming-names/ #StartupStories #VentureCapital #Entrepreneurship #FundingJourney #LessonsLearned

🚀 Ever thought about how a sticky product could reach the stars? Well, geCKo Materials is doing just that! In this week’s episode of Build Mode, Isabelle Johannessen chats with Capella Kerst, the brilliant founder and CEO of geCKo Materials. From competing on the Startup Battlefield stage to sending their innovative adhesive to the International Space Station, their journey proves that the sky is not the limit, but just the beginning! As someone who's tried to fix everything with duct tape, I can’t help but admire their out-of-this-world solutions! 🌌 What sticky situations could their technology solve next? Learn more in the full article: https://techcrunch.com/2026/04/16/from-the-startup-battlefield-stage-to-the-international-space-station-gecko-materials-built-a-sticky-product/ #Innovation #StartupStories #SpaceTech #GeCKoMaterials #BuildMode

He Almost Didn’t Come Chinonso almost didn’t show up to the last StartupSouth event. He didn’t know anyone. He wasn’t sure if it was “his kind of crowd.” But he came anyway. He left with: ✔️ A new mentor ✔️ A pilot partnership ✔️ An investor lead Sometimes the biggest shifts happen when we just show up. Don’t overthink it. Come and be part of the ecosystem that’s building the future. 🎯 DTS Enugu 2025 🗓 July 25th 📍 Cafe One, CCB Building, around P & T bus stop, Okpara Avenue, Enugu. Register here 👉 https://bit.ly/DTSEnugu2025 #DTSEnugu2025 #StartupStories #JustShowUp #StartupSouth #InnovationEcosystem #Enugu