Last week, the early-stage B2B SaaS companies in our portfolio gathered for a knowledge-sharing and networking event at the first Vendep Portfolio Retreat. Held at the historic Hirvihaara manor in Mäntsälä, Finland, the 24-hour event focused on fostering collaboration and peer-to-peer learning amongst the founders and key people in our portfolio companies.
At the participants' request, the event format focused on providing practical insights instead of motivational speeches. One of the founders said beforehand that they could attend big SaaS conferences to hear motivational speeches, so the most valuable aspect of this would be learning from real-life cases and stories of other founders.
Our General Partner, Sakari Pihlava, kicked off the "official" part of the event with an overview of what the SaaS market looks like and where we think it will be heading in the near future. After that, we started diving deep into the portfolio companies and their learnings. Perttu Ojansuu from Happeo, Pekka Koskinen from Leadfeeder, and Eugene Kruglov discussed building a company culture where employees are motivated and innovative and the organization performs well. Successes and aha moments were shared, but also the inevitable "in this part, we messed up" stories that are often the most valuable.
We also introduced a format of 5- to 10-minute talks about specific topics and initiatives related to leadership, product, operations, marketing, and fundraising to spark conversations outside the official program and to gain practical takeaways applicable directly to their companies. The conversations were definitely sparked since there was not one quiet second in the room during the breaks.
Once the official part was done, it was time to take charge of our bodies by engaging in physical activity. Finnish spring surprised us with cold weather and rain, so most people decided to participate in an indoor yoga session, while the more adventurous opted for a run. Getting soaked didn't bother, though, since next on the list was a smoke sauna and a cold plunge in the river. The day ended with a delicious dinner and some captivating conversations.
The following morning, the group spread around the manor premises to discuss pre-decided topics in smaller groups. People shared their best practices for sales, product, and operations. The group discussions could've continued for eternity, so when the time was up, many felt like they had just gotten started. Luckily, the discussions can also continue beyond the 24-hour portfolio retreat!
Feedback from the event has been overwhelmingly positive. Founders appreciated connecting with peers, sharing knowledge, and generating new ideas to propel their businesses forward. Founders with small kids especially enjoyed recharging and having a full night's sleep. We're safe to say the event lived up to its name, then.
We're really excited to do this again, and based on the feedback, the portfolio companies are, too!
