The Morgan Stanley Inclusive Ventures Lab (MSIVL) is an intensive five-month in-house accelerator program designed to help further develop and scale startups, culminating in a showcase presentation and Demo Day to the investor community. Morgan Stanley launched MSIVL, formerly called the Multicultural Innovation Lab, in 2017 to address inequities in funding of startup founders, which our research shows equals over four trillion dollars in unrealized returns. Since inception, the Lab has hosted 92 companies, with a combined valuation of $923MM. Companies have raised $217MM in funding following their participation in the Lab.
MSIVL expanded its operation to cover Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) in 2021 and has since supported 14 companies in the region. Below is a short interview with Natalja Napsep, the COO of Bidrento from Estonia, who was a part of the 2023 cohort.
Q&As with Natalja Napsep, COO of Bidrento
Tell us about the business – what does it do, what does it aim to achieve, where does it operate etc.?
Bidrento is a B2B, end-to-end, flexible rental property management system, and tenant experience app, that automates rental real estate management, boosts occupancy rates, and creates a better living experience for tenants. Bidrento provides landlords and property managers with one powerful solution for their entire portfolio.
Bidrento’s secret sauce is the way it solves many complex problems in rental real estate management with a product that has an easy user experience and at the same time many different options for automating the work of lease and real estate managers which in turn brings tenant experience to a completely new level.
The new European rental property market is defined by cross-border portfolios and Bidrento is designed with that in mind. It has already become the most preferred software for managing rental houses and portfolios in the Baltics and currently we are growing our customer base fast across the CEE region and in parallel getting new customers from Germany and the UK.
How did you first hear about the Morgan Stanley Inclusive Ventures Lab and what made you decide to apply?
I came across it through an email highlighting the opportunity, and the potential synergies and future benefits were the primary factors that drove us to apply as we were at a stage when we were thinking of Bidrento’s European footprint and further expansion across CEE and Europe. We wanted to join a programme that would provide the tools and platform to explore international market opportunities. We have also participated in the Inclusive Ventures Lab's Budapest pitch competition where we could pitch to a diverse panel of both Morgan Stanley senior leaders and representatives from the startup ecosystem with a CEE focus, which was a great experience.
Can you tell us a bit more about what the programme offers and describe your experience?
It is a program that supports overlooked founders, providing them with both funding and hands-on support to foster the growth of their businesses. During the program, we had the opportunity to learn extensively from industry leaders through a variety of sessions with different experts and advisors in various fields. These sessions ranged from design thinking workshops to one-on-one meetings, allowing us to deep dive into different aspects of our business.
What has the impact of going through this programme been for Bidrento?
The program was intense, but the knowledge gained was absolutely worth it. We learned extensively from individuals with diverse backgrounds and expertise. Additionally, we delved into topics that may become more relevant in the future. Going through and contemplating these subjects today provides a solid foundation for the future as we scale the business.
And as a cherry on the pie, you get an office space to use in the heart of London.
What are you most excited about as you look ahead towards the future for Bidrento?
We have a clear vision of how the rental real estate industry could be transformed in a much more effective and more sustainable way, so, you can expect Bidrento to continue evolving and expanding its offerings. New tools, new verticals, new customer segments, and new pricing and sales strategies will be implemented in the near future and we expect to grow fast across the whole of Europe.
As a female founder, what one piece of advice would you give other founders or future founders?
Believe in yourself and try to surround yourself with authentic and supportive people, who also believe in you.
Applications for the next Lab cohort will be open from February 7 - March 15, 2024. The tenth cohort will include up to 25 companies, with emphasis on businesses led by overlooked founders. Morgan Stanley will be holding pitch competitions in select cities in North America and EMEA to identify potential Lab participants over the coming months. The next Lab cohort is scheduled to launch in September.
To learn more about the Inclusive Ventures Lab please visit www.morganstanley.com/msivl
