Interesting to look back at the successful Cassini Entrepreneur Days in Prague (June 3rd and June 4th). The event was very dynamic with lots of opportunities to engage with the different startups. Overall, there was a list of 85 startups. One way of looking at them is their focus: from positioning + navigation to observation + analysis.
From this perspective it is clear that there is a lot of startup activity in the sector of observation and analysis. This covers the processing of data from satellites and any other airborne platforms and combine this data source with other sources to extract relevant actionable data.
After covering the distribution of startups, we analyzed the dual-use content of the different categories. The analysis is based on the description of the startups as well as a first level analysis of the market. Per category the graph presents the average dual-use % [as compared to the commercial value of the product or service]. No surprise to note the high dual-use % (>50%) for the different drone and drone components (including software) category.
The TD Shepherd team is happy to congratulate the Qualinx B.V. team on successfully raising €20 million from Dutch investors. TD Shepherd has provided strategic support to Qualinx over the years (starting in 2018), witnessing each step of their journey; their growth and success, makes us truly proud of their outstanding achievements.
If there’s one thing we’ve learned about surviving the Valley of Death in deep tech, it’s this: don’t go it alone. This stage is all about leveraging relationships, and corporate partnerships can be your most valuable lifeline. The key is to think beyond customers.
The so-called “Valley of Death” in deep tech isn’t just about running out of cash—it’s about navigating a period where expectations clash with reality. Investors want to see traction, but your tech isn’t market-ready. Customers are intrigued, but they’re not ready to commit. And your R&D costs? They’re still burning through cash like it’s a bonfire.