Is your next Unicorn founded by a Waiter?

Some of today’s most successful entrepreneurs and CEOs began their careers not in boardrooms or laboratories, but in hotel lobbies, restaurants, and kitchens. What they learned there – the discipline of service, the resilience under pressure, the art of creating memorable client experiences – often becomes a hidden advantage when building and scaling companies in entirely different sectors.

At Kylla, we are often asked what makes one founder stand out over another. Beyond the strength of an idea or the depth of a market, the character of leadership frequently tips the balance. Increasingly, evidence suggests that a background in hospitality – whether managing a five-star hotel, serving in a Michelin-star restaurant, or simply running shifts in a bustling café – can shape leaders who build more customer-centric, resilient, and ultimately successful companies.

What Meta’s Ray-Ban move teaches growth companies to benefit from this bold strategy

What does Meta’s surprise move into Ray-Ban tell us about the future of growth companies? Strategic minority stakes are no longer just the playbook of tech giants – they are becoming a smart way for smaller firms to leapfrog barriers, gain influence, and accelerate scale. The opportunities are big, the risks are real, and the structuring makes all the difference.

Recent news that Meta has taken a strategic stake in EssilorLuxottica, owner of eyewear brands such as Ray-Ban, Chanel, Ralph Lauren, Persol and Oakley, attracted worldwide attention. At first glance, it seems unusual: a technology platform that began with social media, moving into artificial intelligence and wearables, now decides that glasses could be the next frontier. To secure its position, it acquires a shareholding in the market leader.

This type of transaction – where a company invests in a larger, established player to accelerate its strategic goals – is more common among tech giants. Yet, increasingly, scale-ups and growth companies are exploring similar paths. These businesses may not have the balance sheet to buy a multinational outright, but a well-structured minority stake can open doors to resources, distribution, technology, or regulatory access that would otherwise remain out of reach.

Venture Capital’s New Reality: How to secure funding in a tougher VC market

Venture capital has entered a new era. The record highs of 2021 have given way to a more selective, fundamentals-driven environment, where only the best-prepared companies succeed in raising capital. This article explores how shifting IPO markets and investor caution are reshaping the landscape and why downturns may offer hidden opportunities.

The venture capital market has been through a dramatic cycle in recent years. After the record-breaking highs of 2021, global VC investment and IPO activity slowed sharply in 2022 and 2023. Rising interest rates, inflation, and geopolitical uncertainty created a tougher environment for both entrepreneurs and investors. In Europe alone, venture deal value nearly halved in 2023 compared to the previous year, while IPO exits fell by 90%.

This shift has underscored a simple truth: the days of “easy money” and growth-at-all-costs are behind us. Today, investors demand stronger fundamentals, clearer paths to profitability, and credible exit strategies. For companies seeking to raise capital, the bar has been raised significantly.

When David Buys Goliath: Why Bold Entrepreneurs Should Think Bigger

In business, the giants are usually the ones making headlines for acquisitions. Yet history shows that sometimes it is the smaller, more agile players who rewrite the rules by acquiring companies many times their size. These “David vs. Goliath” moments have shaped entire industries, from Vodafone’s audacious takeover of Mannesmann at the turn of the millennium to InBev’s acquisition of Anheuser-Busch, which created the world’s largest brewer.
The recent news of Perplexity AI’s $34.5 billion bid for Google’s Chrome browser is the latest reminder that size alone does not determine who leads the game. Perplexity, valued at a fraction of its target, put forward a vision that captured global attention. The move raised a provocative question: what would it take for a smaller company to acquire a much larger one, and why should entrepreneurs even consider it?

The answer lies in the transformative power of bold moves. For ambitious companies, such acquisitions are not reckless gambles but carefully calculated strategies. Buying a larger rival can instantly create scale, open access to new customers and technologies, and reshape the competitive landscape. It can prevent critical platforms from falling into the hands of competitors and, when managed well, can position the acquirer as an industry leader overnight.

Business Beyond Borders: Daan van Druten’s Journey in Oman & Pakistan

Kylla’s Investment Analyst Daan van Druten recently embarked on a solo business trip that exemplified Kylla’s “Business Beyond Borders” spirit. Over the summer, Daan – aged 24 – travelled from the bustling city of Lahore, Pakistan, to the marble-rich hills of Oman, representing Kylla in monitoring and restructuring international investments. He returned not only with…

ESG – A BENEFIT OR A BURDEN FOR YOUR INVESTMENT STRATEGY?

Environmental Social Governance (ESG) is often portrayed as an inhibitor to profit, but this can be clearly evidenced as a mistaken belief. Certainly, when viewed against a backdrop of quick short-term profits, ESG can appear to be another burdensome demand on corporate executive time. However, implementing effective, robust strategies to satisfy the critical criteria of…

It’s inevitable: ESG and digitalization are inseparable

It doesn’t matter whether we are talking about AI or smart communities, net zero energy or digital movements, flying taxis or reducing carbon emissions, I believe that for the investment community ESG is inseparably intertwined with digitalized solutions. Because while it is crucial to invest in the future of our planet for our children and…

Kylla introduces a stable alternative to private equity funding

Kylla is launching an alternative fundraising and investment vehicle to meet the needs of borrowers and investors who want a different way to do Business Beyond Borders.  Kylla typically focuses on high risk, high return projects, and we have historically focused on private equity investments. However, we understand that this model doesn’t suit all borrowers…