SeedBlink Blog

Meet Dragoș Popa, Country Manager at Groundfog Romania. With a deep passion for IT and a special attraction to the cloud world, Dragoș brings with him over a decade of industry experience. In addition to his professional role, he sees investing in startups as a valuable learning opportunity. Today, he will share insights from his journey into the tech world.

What does investing mean to you?

For me, investing encompasses three essential dimensions: learning, contribution and benefit. Learning manifests itself in the uniqueness and novelty of each startup, as well as the need to educate myself to gain an in-depth understanding of the field in which it operates and what is involved in funding it. The contribution reflects my enthusiasm to support the development of the ecosystem, while the benefit translates into increased returns and portfolio diversification.

What motivates you to invest in startups?

I am attracted by the opportunity to diversify my portfolio and the chance to invest in a startup before it becomes widely recognized in the market.

How would you describe your investor profile?

I consider myself an early-stage investor, eager to hone and interact with business ideas and technologies that address specific problems, both in my area of expertise and in complementary industries.

When did you start investing in startups and what does your portfolio look like?

I've always been intrigued by the idea of investing in startups. So, I researched this type of investment and looked at the ideas that companies were applying for funding for. Companisto was the startup platform, but I also felt the need to contribute to the local ecosystem. I discovered SeedBlink through a podcast and, I had a feeling I was the last to invest in their first campaign. Since then, my portfolio has evolved, diversifying both in terms of field and funding stage, ranging from pre-seed to Series A.

What are the most important aspects for you when evaluating a startup?

It's a broad topic, but I'll limit myself to three key points that influence my investment decision:

1. The expertise and dynamics of the founding team. I value startups where the founders are deeply committed and have a clear vision, but grounded in reality. I like to see if they've had previous successful funding rounds or successful exits.
2. The problem they address, how they differentiate themselves from the competition and any technological or process barriers they have built.
3. The market they operate in, their target audience and potential for international expansion.

What has been the most significant investment you have made so far?

The investment in personal development has had the biggest impact on me.

Do you have advice for a startup investor at the beginning of their journey?

Do your homework carefully and only invest money that you may not get back or will get back in a very long time. By homework, I mean in addition to analyzing a pitch, creating and refining an investment thesis that encompasses the areas you understand and executing it with patience. Investing in startups is not fire-and-forget. Watch their progress over time, give them help if time and expertise allow, and keep financial reserves for follow-on rounds to preserve the value of your investment.

But for a founder pitching for funding?

Be confident and sincere in the product or service you're pitching. The goal is not to hide the risks, but to find those people who believe in what you're doing and can help you with both finances and their network. While I wish everyone the best for growth, I don't think an overestimation or stated intention to become a unicorn helps. Ultimately, the goal should not be to increase valuation as much as to develop a profitable business.

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SeedBlink is an equity management and tech-specialized venture investment platform that enables European startups and its stakeholders to access, manage, and trade equity alongside established institutional investors. Join the investors community here.