Roei Samuel
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Connecting Innovators and Investors with Roei Samuel Ep 208 - The Global Discussion
Roei Samuel, CEO and Founder of Connectd joins The Global Discussion Host, Simon Hodgkins on this episode. Roei, a seasoned entrepreneur, shared his journey from founding RealSport to creating Connectd, a platform revolutionizing how startups connect with investors and advisors.
From Tech Entrepreneur to Strategic Connector
Roei's entrepreneurial path began with RealSport, a platform that supported content creation in sports and gaming journalism. Under his leadership, RealSport grew to over 9 million monthly users and was eventually acquired by Gfinity in 2018. This success led Roei to the investment world, where he identified a critical gap in startup funding accessibility. In response, he founded Connectd in 2019 to democratize startup access to capital and expertise.
Connectd's Impact
Connectd has already made significant strides, facilitating over 30,000 connections, placing more than 950 advisors, and supporting 1,200 funding rounds. Roei highlighted the story of Limitless Travel, a startup helping differently-abled individuals experience travel. Through Connectd, Limitless Travel raised nearly £800,000 from strategic angel investors, showcasing the platform's ability to make meaningful impacts.
"If we can unlock capital and expertise for businesses like that and help them with the amazing impact they're having, then we're doing something really good," Roei shared.
The Role of Talent and Technology
Roei emphasized that while funding is vital, connecting startups with the right talent is crucial for success. Connectd's global network supports this by integrating AI to manage data and improve investor reporting, ensuring that startups and investors can make informed decisions.
"We are starting to use AI to help businesses with managing their data and understanding where they could improve through the investor reporting environment," Roei explained.
Key Advice for Entrepreneurs
Roei offered valuable advice for aspiring entrepreneurs: fall in love with solving problems and focus on distribution to achieve product-market fit. He stressed that understanding how to reach and monetize customers is just as important as the product itself.
"You have to fall in love with solving problems... that's the job. That's what it is. You got to find your peace there," he advised.
Looking Forward
Roei is focused on expanding Connectd's reach, particularly in the U.S. market. With Connectd recently achieving £7.6 million in Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR), Roei is committed to refining the platform's offerings and supporting startups throughout their growth journey.
Roei Samuel’s Leadership and Current Roles
Beyond his role at Connectd, Roei is actively involved in several other ventures and advisory positions:
Angel Investor: Roei has been investing in early-stage startups since 2018, bringing his expertise to help guide new businesses toward success.
Barclays Independent Advisory Board: Since April 2023, Roei has been a part of the advisory board for the UK Government's Digital Growth Grant, overseen by Barclays.
Board Advisor at ETA Technologies: Roei joined the board in January 2024, providing strategic guidance to this innovative tech company.
Member of the Forbes Business Council: Roei has been contributing his insights to the Forbes Business Council since July 2022.
Trustee at NEC Trust: He has been actively involved in this trust since 2018, focusing on CleanTech, poverty alleviation, and AgriTech projects.
LSE Accelerator Mentor: Since November 2020, Roei has been mentoring startups at the London School of Economics' socially conscious spin-out accelerator, LSE Generate.
Final Thoughts
Roei Samuel's journey illustrates the power of visionary entrepreneurship combined with strategic connections. Through Connectd, he is not only simplifying access to funding and expertise for startups but also fostering an ecosystem where innovative ideas can thrive.
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