Bart is the Co-founder and Chief Operating Officer of Gustaf (Previusly Neoscores), a web application that allows musicians to safely download, use and share sheet music. Under his leadership, Neoscores has won the Foxconn Prize at the Startup Nations Summit, selected as one of the European Tech All Stars and is supported by iMinds and Start it @KBC. Neoscores received €2mm in funding in 2015 through Belgian VC’s: Theodorus III, PMV (Cultuurinvest) and SOFI.

1. Tech Startup Day - the road to funding
how neoScores went from 3 guys in a bar to a ‘real’ company and what are lessons learned are

2. What is neoScores
or… what is Gustaf?

3. 3

4. our road to Series A funding
it seems like a road now

5. What we thought we had to do
Being naive doesn’t hurt
5
OWN
25 K
CUSTOMERS
BANK
25 K

6. What we did
The load is long and our legs are weary
6
OWN
25 K
CUSTOMERS
FFF
120 K
SUBSIDY
185 K
SEED FUNDING
120 K
BANK
100 K
VC
1,9 M
CROWD
100 K
+

7. Are we there yet?

8. 8

9. 9

10. So, still into fundraising?
You can leave now if you want.

11. There is only 1 reason to go for VC-funding
all others… go for

12. You are a ‘real’ startup
by the definition of our next president Omar Mohout

13. A startup creates and commercializes a
proprietary product that rapidly scales to
global proportions without linear dependence
on human capital
and you have really no other option to get money on your bank account

14. So, still into fundraising?
You can leave now if you want.

15. Let’s help.
Lessons learned. For what it’s worth. #payitforward

16. Invest in lines, not dots
Mark Suster, VC Upfront Ventures
Tip 1

17. Some VC’s are human too, make friends with
them
Bart Van der Roost, CEO neoScores
Tip 2

18. Be prepared!
Tip 3

19. Tip 3

20. Tip 3

21. Tip 4

22. Follow your market
Europe is the least you can do
Tip 5

23. Get in touch
Look for help
Startups.be, Innovatiecentrum, iMinds, startit@KBC, …
Ask your questions, hunt the VC’s
www.bva.be
www.investeurope.eu
Drop me a line
bart@neoscores.com - @Bart_VdR
NEOSCORES TECH STARTUP DAY
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3

24. And remember...

25. 2
5