How many times have you already listened to Mariah Carey this December? Probably more than you wanted to — somewhere in airports between all the year-end travel. And that can only mean one thing: Christmas is officially in the air.
Even though venture capital never really slows down — deals are closing, news funds are fundraising — there’s still room for something warmer: cozy online talks, Secret Santa, thematic team dinners with investors turned DJs and dancers. We’ve collected a few of those stories to bring you a little seasonal joy and inspiration!
Roosh Capital: inspired by Ukrainian traditions
At Roosh Ventures, Christmas is always special because we celebrate it together with the entire Roosh investment group at our annual corporate party.
Every year looks a little different; we’ve done everything from “night at the hotel” dinners to a whole Ukrainian folk-themed evening where everyone showed up in traditional attire or Ukrainian brands.
We always keep a few traditions like Secret Santa or small gifting games like Pass the Parcel. But our favourite tradition is the moment our Principal, Adam Hashchyshyn, steps in as DJ and turns the evening into a disco-house party. Adam loves house and took DJ courses, so it's only natural for him to take over the decks, as we're his biggest fans.
We also stay connected outside of the event itself. Every two weeks, we have a one-hour call that’s purely for talking about life: who ran a marathon, who got a cat, or who moved in with their girlfriend. It’s simple, but it keeps us close. We’ll do the same just before Christmas: a quick catch-up, some small talk, and a moment to check in with each other before the year wraps up. For us, it’s about staying connected as a team that genuinely enjoys spending time together, even when we're working remotely.
Eleven: “Christmas with Purpose”
At Eleven, the end of the year is all about bringing our #Oneof11 community: founders, investors, mentors, and partners, together for the Christmas party. This year, we decided to call it “Christmas with Purpose” and to support talent, creativity, and giving back, says Roberta Tihomirova, Eleven’s Marketing Manager.
The night was opened with thematic cocktails crafted by Hangout, a company born in our university accelerator Elevate, and continued with live music by the high-school band that stole the nation’s heart on “Bulgaria’s Got Talent” last month. And the highlight was our charity auction, featuring historic items from three of our portfolio companies. Every level raised supports a cause close to our hearts, the “Eyes on Four Paws” Foundation, Bulgaria’s only guide dog school for the blind.
Another initiative/tradition we always try to join is the office Christmas charity fair. This year we couldn't make it, but last year we joined with homemade cookies and “startup Christmas cards.”
Internally, we finish the year with our traditional team Christmas lunch. One Bulgarian tradition I absolutely love sharing is the “banitsa with fortunes” or “баничка с късмети”.
Banitsa is a traditional Bulgarian layered pastry made with phyllo dough, eggs, yogurt, and white brined cheese. I like to add a personal touch by hiding handwritten New Year wishes inside. It’s something everyone looks forward to — always sparking laughter, surprise, and a little friendly competition over who gets the “best” luck.
My twist? The wishes come from a charity initiative and are written by kids, which adds an extra layer of meaning, creativity, and joy to the tradition.
Besides the big celebrations, one of the moments that always makes me smile is how naturally our team escapes to the mountains this time of year. Some of us are committed skiers, others prefer winter hikes, but we all share a love of being outdoors. So between the holiday parties, the music, the charity work, and all the festive buzz, those quiet hours in the mountains together feel like our little tradition — grounding, energising, and a reminder of how connected we are as a team.
Tilia Impact Ventures: cozy dinners made from local products and meaningful gifts
At Tilia, each year around Christmas, our entire Tilia family (team members, LPs, and community friends) gathers for a cozy annual dinner that has quickly become one of our favorite traditions.
We always keep the menu vegetarian and love challenging the chef to work with local ingredients. And of course, there are gifts. Everyone receives a little something sweet and a surprise that reflects who we are. Last year, it was Atomic Habits (because who doesn’t appreciate a friendly self-improvement nudge?).
We also had a tradition just for the core Tilia team. Around Christmas, we gathered at one of our team members’ homes, dressed in festive outfits, and shared a table full of homemade food. And some moments linger more than others. Last year, our supporting researcher, Marek, had just become a dad days before the dinner and joined us with his newborn, instantly melting everyone’s hearts. Another was a seemingly classic schnitzel dish that revealed a mushroom filling at the first bite, bringing many surprised smiles.
We also gifted notepads made with seeds that grow into plants once planted. We truly enjoy adding something new or unexpected to these evenings, whether it’s a dish, a place, or a small detail people remember long after. When some founders couldn’t make it in person, we pre-recorded short presentations so they could still share a few words with the community and be part of the evening.
FIRSTPICK: time to slow down among the Baltic woods
There’s a strong tradition of celebrating Christmas and the end of the year in Lithuania, and we’ve always embraced that at FIRSTPICK, shares Andra Bagdonaite, the firm’s Partner. For us, it’s a moment to slow down, reflect on the year behind us, and set intentions for the year ahead — while also simply enjoying each other’s company.
For the past few years, we’ve marked the occasion with a team offsite. We usually rent a cabin in the woods, cook together, go to the sauna, take long walks, and unplug from the usual pace of work. It’s one of our favourite ways to truly bond as a team. One ritual we always keep is that each team member shares a short reflection on the year's key highlights, learnings, and thoughts on our collective goals for the year ahead. It’s a simple exercise, but incredibly grounding and motivating.
Spending time in nature, especially during winter, is very much part of Baltic culture, and our end-of-year offsite reflects that. The combination of a cabin in the woods, sauna sessions, home-cooked meals, and long conversations is something we really cherish — it creates a sense of calm, closeness, and perspective that’s hard to find in everyday work life.
Moments that make me smile are always the simple ones. One that stands out was a couple of years ago, during our Christmas offsite in the woods. In the morning, the whole team sat around the table having breakfast while watching a Christmas movie together. It felt less like a work event and more like a family moment — warm, relaxed, and genuinely joyful.
