Podcasts about seed fund

Ron Levin is the Managing Partner at Alumni Ventures, the most active venture capital firm in the US. Hector spoke to Ron to discuss his journey from entrepreneur to investor and his insights on scaling ventures and building impactful companies.Ron shares his fascinating career story, from organising trading card shows as a teenager to founding the travel-tech unicorn TravelPerk and eventually joining Alumni Ventures, where he leads their dedicated Seed Fund. The conversation dives into:Ron's unique career trajectory, blending tech, travel, and entrepreneurshipFounding TravelPerk and the lessons learned from pivoting earlyAlumni Ventures' innovative model and how they empower founders while co-investingThe importance of serendipity, curiosity, and acting on opportunities in building a careerHis philosophy on investing for impact and solving big societal problemsThis episode is packed with wisdom and actionable advice for founders, investors, and anyone interested in venture capital and entrepreneurship.Don't forget to like, subscribe, and follow The Riding Unicorns podcast on your favourite platform and stay connected with us on social media for more inspiring episodes!

Mike Maples is one of the OG seed investors of the last two decades. As a co-founding Partner at Floodgate, Mike has been on the Forbes Midas List eight times in the last decade. Some of Mike's investments include Twitter, Twitch.tv, Clover Health, Okta, Outreach, Chegg, Demandforce, and Applied Intuition. In Today's Episode with Mike Maples We Discuss: 04:02 Does Seed Even Make Sense as an Asset Class?  05:16 Fund Size and Strategy: How to Do a 10x Fund? 08:12 Follow-On Investments: Are they BS? 16:41 Finding Inefficiencies in the Market 26:31 Exit Strategies and Liquidity Events: When to Sell? 35:14 How Floodgate Lost Billions Missing Airbnb and Pinterest 35:43 3 Frameworks for Evaluating Startups 36:23 Case Studies: Zoom and Okta 43:34 How to Truly Analyse Product-Market Fit 45:22 Challenges with Overfunding Startups 50:02 2024 in Review: Company and Fund of the Year 54:25 Predictions for 2025  

Today we'll find out about a bi-annual technology conference called Pacific Tech 2024. We'll learn how innovative tech companies have and opportunity to connect with potential customers, learn about America's Seed Fund program, and chart a path to commercialization.

David Frankel is the Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Founder Collective, one of the best seed firms of the last decade. David has led rounds in companies such as Suno, Coupang, SeatGeek and PillPack (sold to Amazon for ~$1B). Previously, David was Co-Founder and CEO of Internet Solutions (IS), the largest ISP in Africa, ultimately acquired by NTT Japan. David has been named to the Midas List six times. In 2023, he was #11 and in 2024, he appeared at #15 on the Midas List of the world's best venture capital investors and at #2 on the Midas list of seed investors.  10 Questions With One of the World's Best Seed Investors: 1. Reserves: Why are reserves the hardest part of venture? What have been David's biggest lessons in how to do them well? 2. Why does David believe that pro-rata is the original sin of VC?  3. Has DPI died in 2024? Is PE the salvation for the VC exit market and liquidity? 4. Why does David believe LPs are so pissed of with VCs right now? What will change that? 5. When will IPO markets open? Are M&A markets shut? What would cause them to open? 6. How does David reflect on price today? When will he pay up and break his rules? 7. Biggest lessons for David on knowing when is the right time to sell? Why does David believe you should never sell your winners? What has David sold that he regrets most? 8. What companies returned the most to Founder Collective Funds? Uber? Coupang? Airtable? The Trade Desk? What did he learn from those mega hits? 9. What have been David's biggest losses? How did losing the company change his mindset and approach to investing? 10. What does David believe is the future of venture capital? How can seed funds play in a world of mega multi-stage funds? Who wins? Who loses?      

Stephen Grootes talks to Claudia Manning, SA SME Fund's Investment Principal, about the R300m Seed Fund of Funds, backing over 50 tech startups to drive innovation and transformation in South Africa.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ketso Gordhan – CEO, SA SME Fund SAfm Market Update - Podcasts and live stream

Nosipho Radebe speaks to Claudia Manning, Investment Principal at SA SME FundSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The government of Malaysia has set a target of making Malaysia a regional hub for startups by 2025. As of 2022, there were approximately 3,000 active startups in Malaysia, a stark increase from around 300 in 2013. However, whilst 30% of Malaysian startups have displayed consistent growth and profitability, about 1,800 startups struggle, with a 60% failure rate, especially within the first three years. The failure is majorly attributed to lack of market need affecting 42% or approximately 756 startups. How can universities provide a more robust route to market and accelerate a culture of research incubation and support for entrepreneurs?Featuring Ts. Mohd Roydean Osman (Taylors University) and Simon Bond (University of Bristol) Find out more about the 'Open for Business' podcast series. 

September 22Mother Elizabeth Marie MelchionnaThe Rev. Keith EspositoKimberly Sanchez - Executive Director, Community Home Trust

Armed with an educational background in computer science and biomedical informatics, Amit Garg switched to venture capital after a long, successful career in the corporate world, which included stints at companies like Google and Samsung.And that's just the way he never planned it. That's right, the almost-doctor didn't intend to get into venture capital, and he certainly never planned on starting his own fund. He was drawn in by his innate need to build things, including relationships with people. He partnered up with his officemate from Norwest, Sanjay Rao, and the two started Tau Ventures in 2019, an AI-first, early-stage fund focused on healthcare, enterprise, and automation. Amit tells us about his very targeted approach to investing, which is different from the “spray and pray” method we've seen from friends of the pod and other investors in general. We also get to hear first-hand accounts about the importance of building trust with your investing partners and your founders. Plus, Amit gives us his take on the state of healthcare and AI and why – despite all the challenges – he's hopeful about where it's headed. Amit primarily invests $500K in Seed-stage healthcare, enterprise, and automation startups and occasionally in Series A, B, and C through Tau Ventures. Highlights:Amit turned down a spot in medical school and pivoted his original ambition to become a doctor by first joining Google, pivoting to VC, and then becoming a digital health founder.He got into the corporate side of venture capital after business school, but he never had any interest in starting his own fund. That is until his friend and former officemate convinced him that an AI-first venture fund was a great idea in 2019. Amit explains that the “why” behind his investing does come from a place of self-interest – which is much different than selfish. He feels that when he pursues and realizes his own self-interests, he can help others to the same.Why a founder shut down a company in his portfolio and why Amit decided to back him again basically the next day. How he sees the interplay between angel and institutional investors and why they're both necessary Amit's frustration with healthcare and how it fuels his passion to make it better. Plus, he explains why he keeps his focus on the three legs of the healthcare tripod.  (00:00) - FIFU 11 - Amit (02:30) - Amit's journey into venture (06:08) - Why Amit likes venture capital as someone who wants to make the world better (13:01) - Memorable moments from the first conviction-driven investment: Iterative Health (19:18) - The machine gun vs. the shotgun style of investing (21:05) - Lessons from the worst investment (24:34) - Be careful who you partner with, optimize for good investors (28:22) - What the best investment with a $450M exit taught Amit (32:57) - Investing is about humans believing in humans (35:42) - The state of healthcare and AI today (46:39) - Venture vs. angels in the healthcare space (51:12) - Outcomes in the digital healthcare space are starting to behave like tradtional SAAS software outcomes (58:13) - Lighting round (01:01:51) - Takeaways

Hon. Dr. Bernard Okoe Boye has embarked on a four-day working visit to the Ashanti Region, where he is visiting regional and district health facilities to inspect ongoing projects and engage with staff, gathering firsthand information on the health sector in the region for policy direction

Today, we have Natasha Lytton with us.Natasha is the Director of Brand at Seedcamp, where she runs all things brand, network strategy, and post-investment activities. She creates the infrastructure and runs the team to support the portfolio of the fund that stands for over +460 companies. She loves discovering and helping to build startups that have the potential to radically change the future and who are shaping the world we want to be part of.Seedcamp first launched in 2007 to support European entrepreneurs in truly competing on a global scale. With investments in over 460 companies including publicly listed Romanian-founded, UiPath, Wise, and unicorns Revolut, wefox, and Pleo. Carlos is a published author, fellow podcaster and has been on the Forbes Midas List as one of the most influential VCs in Europe for more or less as long as yours truly has been alive.Go to eu.vc for our core learnings and the full video interview

Are you ready to dive into the world of entrepreneurship and venture capital with an innovative twist? In this episode of The Angel Next Door Podcast, host Marcia Dawood chats with the vibrant Laurel Mintz, the Founder and General Partner of Fabric VC. Laurel's journey from a background in law and marketing to becoming a successful entrepreneur and venture capitalist is a captivating testament to her determination and forward-thinking mindset. Her unique perspective and passion for supporting diversity in venture funding sets the stage for an inspiring and informative conversation that sheds light on the power of women in finance and the future of investment.In this engaging episode, Laurel Mintz shares her personal investor journey and the pivotal moment that led her to start a venture capital firm. She discusses the origins of Fabric VC and the mission behind it, emphasizing the importance of weaving together diverse founders with funding. With a commitment to supporting underrepresented entrepreneurs, Laurel discusses the fabric thread count, a second layer of diligence that focuses on companies needing support from a marketing perspective. Her insightful approach to investing and dedication to empowering women in the financial landscape make this a must-listen episode for anyone interested in the intersection of entrepreneurship, diversity, and venture funding. To get the latest from Laurel Mintz, you can follow her below!LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurel-mintz/https://www.fabricvc.com/ Sign up for Marcia's newsletter to receive tips and the latest on Angel Investing!Website: www.marciadawood.com And don't forget to follow us wherever you are!Apple Podcasts: https://pod.link/1586445642.appleSpotify: https://pod.link/1586445642.spotifyLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/angel-next-door-podcast/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theangelnextdoorpodcast/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@marciadawood

This week, members of the Seed Fund Committee sit down with Mother Elizabeth Marie to discuss the Seed Fund at The Chapel of the Cross.  They share the background of this project and some of their hopes in launching the program.

Gregg Scoresby founded CampusLogic in Phoenix in 2021 to provide software for colleges and universities in the US to make it easier for students to apply for college loans and grants online. Initially self-funded, CampusLogic raised investment and grew faster, becoming a leading provider of software to universities with $50 million in revenue. In 2022, CampusLogic was acquired by Ellucian for an undisclosed amount.  In 2023, Gregg launched PHX Ventures, a $27 million seed-funded supporting early-stage B2B SaaS founders in Phoenix, Arizona. Unlike the traditional VC approach, PHX Ventures supports startups that are growing fast with a capital-efficient approach. PHX Ventures also helps the larger software community in Phoenix with educational events and networks to connect founders, talent, experts, and capital. In this expert episode, Gregg answers common questions about when practical venture funding can be useful for founders and what it means to be capital efficient.  Learn more at practicalfounders.com. 

In this week's episode, we're thrilled to host Alex McIsaac of Northside Ventures. With a diverse background in venture capital, cleantech, and global investing, Alex shares invaluable insights from his tenure as a Partner at Global Founders Capital. We explore why Alex believes it's the right time to launch Northside Ventures and the specific pre-seed market gaps he aims to address.We also delve into the prospects for Canadian AI startups, discussing strategies for outperforming established players and securing Canada's victory in the tech arena.About Alex McIsaac:Alex McIsaac is the Founder and General Partner of Northside Ventures. He has 12 years of experience as both an operator and early-stage investor. Alex led the Canadian practice as a Partner at Global Founders Capital, an international multi-stage venture fund with $3B+ AUM and 15+ offices globally. As a Principal at BDC Capital, the largest venture investor in Canada with $6B+ AUM, Alex helped manage the Seed Fund and Women in Tech fund.Alex spent over six years as a co-founding employee at NRStor, an energy storage-focused cleantech start-up founded in 2012. Blackstone Energy acquired its commercial business in 2018.Alex holds a BScH from Queen's University and an HBA from the Richard Ivey School of Business.In this episode, we discuss:(01:03) McIsaac's VC journey started with a biology background, shifting to business and early-stage cleantech at Northwater Capital(02:01) The transition to building at NRStor, focused on energy storage technology(04:42) International investing and founder importance at BDC and Global Founders Capital(08:48) The founders' role in company success and adapting to market shifts at GFC.(10:27) Founders' adaptability to profitability during market changes(12:19) Why Alex launched Northside Ventures, focusing on early-stage, high-velocity companies without follow-on checks(17:42) Addressing Canadian pre-seed investment gaps(20:32) His interest in sectors like B2B SaaS, AI, FinTech, and cleantech for long-term growth(23:30) Adding value through investor and customer introductions, and key decision advising(26:18) Emphasis on one-to-one founder relationships over formal board seats for flexibility.(27:14) Targeted diverse LPs as a fundraising strategy(31:02) Using networking and events for LP network building(34:59) The importance of a good CRM as a solo GP(37:18) Early success with investments like Terminal, emphasizing founder-market fit(40:16) Optimism about Canadian AI startups(42:41) AI startups with distinct distribution strategies and customer needs addressing(45:36) Goals to make Northside a leading VC firm, contributing to the Canadian tech ecosystemFast Favorites:*

Dieses Jahr enden wir mit einer Sonderfolge in der Rubrik “Investments & Exits”. Die Experten Claudius Jablonka, Founding Partner & General Partner von 10x Founders, Mathias Ockenfels, General Partner bei Speedinvest, Olaf Jacobi, Managing Partner bei Capnamic und Jan Thomas werfen einen Blick auf die Höhepunkte des vergangenen Jahres und wagen einen Ausblick auf das kommende Jahr:Die Experten werfen einen Blick auf das Marktgeschehen und die Finanzierungen:  Zum Beispiel wird die Übernahme von LeanIX durch SAP, Unsicherheiten um das Geschäftsmodell der QuickCommerces und die markante Halbierung der Unicorns seit Ende 2021 besprochen. Die Fokus-Themen erstrecken sich über den Aufstieg von Deep Tech Companies, Investitionen in AI-Infrastruktur für 2024 bis hin zu Specialist Vertical Marketplaces, wie bei Refurbed's 57 Millionen US-Dollar Finanzierung.Im Fokus der Diskussion stehen zudem herausragende Erfolgsgeschichten, darunter die große Finanzierungsrunde von 95 Millionen US-Dollar an GoStudent sowie die Auszeichnung von Speedinvest als Seed Fund des Jahres 2023. Parallel dazu werfen die VC-Experten eine Blick auf die Series A von Kittl, reflektieren den geplatzten Adobe-Figma-Merger und analysieren den bedeutenden Notverkauf von Farfetch an Coupang im Kontext aktueller M&A-Trends.

Bernard Moon has been at the heart of the startup universe globally. He is the co-founder and partner at SparkLabs Group, a network of startup accelerators and venture capital funds known for energizing startup scenes. He's not just playing the game; he's changing it, with investments in over 500 startups worldwide. He's an advisor to renowned academic institutions and a seasoned writer for major technology journals. We talk about his journey, the startup world and expansion into multiple geographies, Saudi Arabia being the latest, what investors look for, AI and product.

Georgia State's award-winning Main Street Entrepreneurs Seed Fund (MSESF) business accelerator program is designed to support underrepresented student, recent alumni and Georgia State community entrepreneurs with seed funding and mentorship to start and grow new ventures. Recha Reid, Assoc. Director ENI / Georgia State's Main Street Entrepreneurs Seed Fund LinkedIn DOWNLOAD HERE MK Khan, MSESF EIR / Georgia State's Main Street Entrepreneurs Seed […]

Georgia State's award-winning Main Street Entrepreneurs Seed Fund (MSESF) business accelerator program is designed to support underrepresented student, recent alumni and Georgia State community entrepreneurs with seed funding and mentorship to start and grow new ventures. Recha Reid, Assoc. Director ENI / Georgia State's Main Street Entrepreneurs Seed Fund LinkedIn DOWNLOAD HERE MK Khan, MSESF EIR / Georgia State's Main Street Entrepreneurs Seed […] The post GSU Main Street Entrepreneurs Seed Fund Demo Day 2023 appeared first on Business RadioX ®.

In this week's episode of the Coin Stories News Block, we cover the major headlines related to Bitcoin and global finance: Bitcoin prices rises to a new 52-week high  WSJ Publishes Fake News on Bitcoin Funding Terrorism  Politicians Pen Letter on Crypto Financing Terrorism FinCEN New Proposal for Reporting Bitcoin Mixers Gemini, Genesis, and DCG Sued by New York Attorney General BlackRock Amends ETF Filing to Seed Fund in Coming Month SEC Commissioner Pierce Verbalizes Support for ETF  Pro-Bitcoin Presidential Candidate Javier Milei Forces Run Off Election Lightning Labs Launches Taproot Assets -- References mentioned in the episode:  WSJ Fake News Article on Bitcoin and Terrorism US Lawmakers Letter to Treasury and White House  Chainalysis Refutes the WSJ's Claims with Data FinCEN's New Proposal on Bitcoin Mixers  Shinobi's Piece in Response to FinCEN Rules  Lyn Alden's Tweet in Response to FinCEN Rules Ansel Lindner's Tweet in Response to FinCEN Rules  NYAG Lawsuit Against Gemini, Genesis, and DCG  BlackRock Amends its Spot Bitcoin ETF Filing  Gen Z Has $7,000 in 401(k) on Average per Fidelity SEC Commissioner Pierce's Interview on CNBC  Lightning Labs Launches Taproot Assets -- Promotional Links: Bitcoin Nashville is July 25-27, 2024: Get 10% off your passes using the code HODL at  https://b.tc/conference Fold is the best Bitcoin rewards debit card and shopping app in the world. Get 10,000 satoshis when you sign up and spend $20 on the card:  https://www.foldapp.com/natalie Coinkite is your go-to tech company for top-notch Bitcoin custody solutions, including the cold card wallet. Get 5% off using my link:  https://store.coinkite.com/promo/COIN...  CrowdHealth offers the Bitcoin community alternative to health insurance. I spent $100 a month on my health care. Sign up at  https://www.joincrowdhealth.com/natalie  The Orange Pill App is building the social layer for Bitcoin:  http://signup.theorangepillapp.com/op.... If you're looking for the highest-quality sustainable pork, steak and seafood products, look no further than Campo Grande. For $20 off use code HODL: https://eatcampogrande.com/HODL -- This podcast is for educational purposes and should not be construed as official investment advice. -- VALUE FOR VALUE — SUPPORT NATALIE'S SHOWS Strike ID https://strike.me/coinstoriesnat/ Cash App $CoinStories   #money #Bitcoin #investing

BROWNSVILLE, Texas - Entrepreneurs in Brownsville no longer have to worry about access to capital being a barrier.That is according to the Brownsville Community Improvement Corporation (BCIC), which runs the StartUp Texas Accelerator and Seed Fund. This program has been investing in Brownsville community small businesses since 2020.This is how the most recent program worked. Local entrepreneurs in the food and service-related industries joined the StartUp Texas Quality of Life cohort in May. The participants completed a ten-week rigorous accelerator program overseen by UT-Rio Grande Valley Entrepreneurship & Commercialization Center. At the end of the course they showcased their business during a Demo Day event, with the chance to win up to $40,000 to assist in scaling their venture.Last week's Demo Day was held, for the first time, at the eBridge Center for Business & Commercialization. It drew a big crowd.How did it go? Brilliantly, according to Cori Peña, president and CEO of BCIC. She posted this review on Facebook:“Thanks, y'all, for supporting startups on the border, by the sea, and beyond!“First and foremost, a massive shout-out to everyone who honored us with their presence at the StartUp Texas Quality of Life Ventures 2023 Demo Day. The energy in a full house is unbeatable, and the entrepreneurs on stage felt the buzz of your excitement and support! “Our hearts are full of gratitude, and it wouldn't have been such a fantastic night without our incredible sponsors, Ruby Red Hospitality and The Mitte Foundation.“Big applause for our winners:  TXQ RUBS - $40,000 in seed funding. F10 Casting - $20,000 in seed funding. La Pale Frozen Fruit Bar -  $10,000 in seed funding.“You've proven that hard work, passion, and innovation are the foundations for success."Here is an audio recording from the recent Demo Day. It features, in order of appearance, Brownsville entrepreneur Steve Perez, BCIC board member Traci Wickett, BCIC's Peña, BCIC director of business development Nathan Burkhart, BCIC director of marketing and communications Nelson I. Amaro, and UTRGV's director of entrepreneurship, innovation and commercialization, Linda Ufland Romo.Editor's Note: Go to the Rio Grande Guardian website to read the full story.To read the new stories and watch the news videos of the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service go to www.riograndeguardian.com.

On this episode of the Startup of the Year Podcast, we hear an interview with Mike Evans that took place at SXSW.    Mike is the Co-Founder of GrubHub, as well as the founder of Fixer, a Chicago-based company building the "right now" handyman service. Mike's latest book venture, "Hangry: A Startup Journey", is an exciting memoir about his co-founding of GrubHub and his journey as an entrepreneur. You can grab yourself a copy today at mikeevans.com   We also want to mention that for the first time since 2019, SBA's America's Seed Fund Road Tour will take to the road for an in-person experience. From July 17-21, the bus will stop in five Midwest states, connecting innovators with the largest source of seed funding in the country.    Each Road Tour stop facilitates programming and One-on-One in-person meetings between innovators and federal agency representatives to help attendees navigate over $4 billion in early-stage funding opportunities through America's Seed Fund. Established will be there, and if you are in the region, we hope you are, too! We encourage you to register to attend and to share this special in-person opportunity with your connections, networks, and ecosystem.     America's Seed Fund Road Tour | Midwest Tour Stops:  Monday, July 17 | Oklahoma City, OK  Tuesday, July 18 | Wichita, KS  Wednesday, July 19 | Kansas City, MO  Thursday, July 20 | Lincoln, NE  Friday, July 21 | Des Moines, IA    For more information, visit https://www.americasseedfund.us/road-tour   We also again shine a spotlight on one of the startups from our community and that company is Atlantic Sea Farms, which is revolutionizing the US seaweed industry while making our customers, our planet, and our coastal economies healthier by creating craveable and innovative products from sustainably farmed sea greens. To learn more, visit  https://atlanticseafarms.com   We invite you all to join our community today to access the support, expert advice, and resources you need to elevate your startup by going to: www.est.us/join       Thank you for listening, and as always, please check out the Established website and subscribe to the newsletter at: www.est.us     Checkout Startup of the Year at: www.startupofyear.com    Subscribe to the Startup of the Year Daily Deal Flow: www.startupofyear.com/daily-dealflow Subscribe to the Startup of the Year podcast: www.podcast.startupofyear.com Subscribe to the Established YouTube Channel: soty.link/ESTYouTube       ***  Startup of the Year helps diverse, emerging startups, founding teams, and entrepreneurs push their company to the next level. We are a competition, a global community, and a resource.     Startup of the Year is also a year-long program that searches the country for a geographically diverse set of startups from all backgrounds and pulls them together to compete for the title of Startup of the Year.       The program includes a number of in-person and virtual events, including our annual South By Southwest startup pitch event and competition. All of which culminate at our annual Startup of the Year Summit, where the Startup of the Year winner is announced, along with an opportunity at a potential investment.      Established is a consultancy focused on helping organizations with innovation, startup, and communication strategies. It is the power behind Startup of the Year. Created by the talent responsible for building the Tech.Co brand (acquired by an international publishing company), we are leveraging decades of experience to help our collaborators best further (or create) their brand & accomplish their most important goals.    Connect with us on Twitter - @EstablishedUs and Facebook - facebook.com/established.us  

Frst, the Paris-based VC firm with no vowel in its name, is in the process of raising its second fund. 

What could the Western states accomplish with $100 million over the next 10 years to make agriculture more sustainable? And hear how one woman’s new business is helping children live their best lives. Guest Host Gabe Ericson talks with Dr. […]

I couldn't help but spend the first few minutes of my conversation with Pejman Nozad fishing for the story of how a rug salesman built one of Silicon Valley's top institutional pre-seed and seed funds. Nozad has such a fascinating and inspirational story; it reflects what is possible when Silicon Valley is at its best. Nozad told me how Sequoia's Doug Leone gave him a shot. “We connected [as] both really good salespeople,” Nozad recalled. “I said Doug, ‘I can help you invest in some amazing founders.'”Leone said he would come to meet with Nozad. “I made my life mission that I'm ready,” Nozad remembers. They hit it off and the deal flow, well, it flowed.Nozad would later introduce Sequoia to Dropbox. Pear VC, which Nozad co-founded with Mar Hershenson, first raised $50 million in 2013. Nozad and I spent much of our conversation talking about the practicalities of a $432 million seed fund.For a firm that invests in pre-seed and seed round startups, the latest fund size is enormous, especially as we've been in a downturn outside of AI.With that fund size, Pear VC will need to find many more winners than in earlier funds to generate high multiples for its limited partners.“I wake up every morning and I think we're going to go out of business by the end of the day,” Nozad said. “So that's the mentality. It doesn't matter if you have $400 million or $4 million or $4 billion. I want to stay on my toes. DoorDash performance, or Guardant Health, that doesn't mean anything about Fund IV.”Find the Podcast Get full access to Newcomer at www.newcomer.co/subscribe

On this episode of the Startup of the Year Podcast, we hear an interview with Hope Shimabuku that took place at SXSW. Hope is the Regional Director of the Texas Regional United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), where she carries out the strategic direction of the Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the USPTO, and is responsible for leading the Texas regional office. Focusing on the region and actively engaging with the community, Hope ensures the USPTO's initiatives and programs are tailored to the region's unique ecosystem of industries and stakeholders.   We also again mention an event that we have coming up on May 15 - 18, 2023. The SBA will host the second America's Seed Fund Week. This series of virtual events connects startups and small businesses working on advanced technologies to the country's largest source of early-stage funding. America's Seed Fund serves as a springboard by providing over $4 billion in funding to early-stage startups and small businesses each year as innovators take their technology from R&D through to commercialization. Check out more about the event and register today at: https://www.americasseedfund.us    Lastly, we again shine a spotlight on one of the startups from our community and that company is Stack Homes, which builds luxury modular dwellings designed for the imaginative and conscious home buyer while responding to the environmental and housing crises. They are sustainable, uniquely stackable, timely and built-to-order. Offering industry-leading designs and customer-centric white glove service throughout the process, Stack Homes is revolutionizing the residential construction industry. To learn more visit https://www.stackhomes.com    We invite you all to join our community today to access the support, expert advice, and resources you need to elevate your startup by going to: www.est.us/join     Thank you for listening, and as always, please check out the Established website and subscribe to the newsletter at: www.est.us   Checkout Startup of the Year at: www.startupofyear.com   Subscribe to the Startup of the Year Daily Deal Flow: www.startupofyear.com/daily-dealflow   Subscribe to the Startup of the Year podcast: www.podcast.startupofyear.com   Subscribe to the Established YouTube Channel: soty.link/ESTYouTube   *** Startup of the Year helps diverse, emerging startups, founding teams, and entrepreneurs push their company to the next level. We are a competition, a global community, and a resource.     Startup of the Year is also a year-long program that searches the country for a geographically diverse set of startups from all backgrounds and pulls them together to compete for the title of Startup of the Year.    The program includes a number of in-person and virtual events, including our annual South By Southwest startup pitch event and competition. All of which culminate at our annual Startup of the Year Summit, where the Startup of the Year winner is announced, along with an opportunity at a potential investment.   Established is a consultancy focused on helping organizations with innovation, startup, and communication strategies. It is the power behind Startup of the Year. Created by the talent responsible for building the Tech.Co brand (acquired by an international publishing company), we are leveraging decades of experience to help our collaborators best further (or create) their brand & accomplish their most important goals. Connect with us on Twitter - @EstablishedUs and Facebook - facebook.com/established.us  

On this episode of the Startup of the Year Podcast, we hear an interview with Kathryn Finney that took place at SXSW. Kathryn is a longtime community contributor and she is the Founder and Managing General Partner of Genius Guild, a Chicago-based venture fund that invests in scalable businesses led by Black founders using innovation to build and promote healthy communities. She had a new book published last summer titled, “Build The Damn Thing: How to Start a Successful Business if You're Not a Rich White Guy,” that made the Wall Street Journal bestsellers list in its first week of release. Check out the book today at: https://a.co/d/6usDLzd  We also again mention an event that we have coming up on May 15 - 18, the SBA will host the second America's Seed Fund Week. This series of virtual events connects startups and small businesses working on advanced technologies to the country's largest source of early-stage funding. America's Seed Fund serves as a springboard by providing over $4 billion in funding to early-stage startups and small businesses each year as innovators take their technology from R&D through to commercialization. Check out more about the event and register today at: https://www.americasseedfund.us  Lastly, we again shine a spotlight on one of the startups from our community and that company is PayBee, which  is an all-in-one fundraising events platform built for nonprofits hosting events in any format. Paybee's event features provide you the ability to streamline your fundraising event planning, executing and follow-up using cutting edge technology tools. Go to https://www.paybee.io to learn more! We invite you all to join our community today to access the support, expert advice, and resources you need to elevate your startup by going to: www.est.us/join   Thank you for listening, and as always, please check out the Established website and subscribe to the newsletter at: www.est.us Checkout Startup of the Year at: www.startupofyear.com Subscribe to the Startup of the Year Daily Deal Flow: www.startupofyear.com/daily-dealflow Subscribe to the Startup of the Year podcast: www.podcast.startupofyear.com Subscribe to the Established YouTube Channel: soty.link/ESTYouTube *** Startup of the Year helps diverse, emerging startups, founding teams, and entrepreneurs push their company to the next level. We are a competition, a global community, and a resource.   Startup of the Year is also a year-long program that searches the country for a geographically diverse set of startups from all backgrounds and pulls them together to compete for the title of Startup of the Year.  The program includes a number of in-person and virtual events, including our annual South By Southwest startup pitch event and competition. All of which culminate at our annual Startup of the Year Summit, where the Startup of the Year winner is announced, along with an opportunity at a potential investment. Established is a consultancy focused on helping organizations with innovation, startup, and communication strategies. It is the power behind Startup of the Year.  Created by the talent responsible for building the Tech.Co brand (acquired by an international publishing company), we are leveraging decades of experience to help our collaborators best further (or create) their brand & accomplish their most important goals.  Connect with us on Twitter - @EstablishedUs and Facebook - facebook.com/established.us

On this episode of #AllShineNoFlash, we're learning how to start planting seeds for success with Julie Harrelson, managing director of Cascade Seed Fund, an early-stage investment fund in the Pacific Northwest. Julie gives us industry tips for growing your roots in entrepreneurship and discusses her hopes for future generations to break the glass ceiling in venture capitalism. 

On this episode of the Startup of the Year Podcast, we hear a panel discussion that took place at the Established Lounge during SXSW with members from our partner for the event, Launch Tennessee.    Specifically, the panel included Charles Layne, who currently serves as the Innovation Manager at Launch Tennessee where he works to facilitate the development of Tennessee technologies through the organization's commercialization programs. Monique Villa was also on the panel and she is the Chief Investment Officer at Launch Tennessee leading capital programs and investments in early-stage companies. Last but not least, Khrys Hatch also participated on the panel. He is a Senior Associate at Launch Tennessee.   We also again mention an event that we have coming up on May 15 - 18, the SBA will host the second America's Seed Fund Week. This series of virtual events connects startups and small businesses working on advanced technologies to the country's largest source of early-stage funding. America's Seed Fund serves as a springboard by providing over $4 billion in funding to early-stage startups and small businesses each year as innovators take their technology from R&D through to commercialization. Check out more about the event and register today at: https://www.americasseedfund.us    Lastly, we again shine a spotlight on one of the startups from our community and that company is Storybook App, which combines guided infant massages, narrated bedtime stories, and relaxing music to help parents get their children to relax and fall asleep. Storybook App has been ranked as the #1 app in parenting in 90 countries with 1.7 million downloads. The app is reducing the average falling asleep time from an average of 50 minutes to an average of 13 minutes, which sounds pretty amazing! Go to https://storybook-app.com to learn more!   We invite you all to join our community today to access the support, expert advice, and resources you need to elevate your startup by going to: www.est.us/join     Thank you for listening, and as always, please check out the Established website and subscribe to the newsletter at: www.est.us   Checkout Startup of the Year at: www.startupofyear.com   Subscribe to the Startup of the Year Daily Deal Flow: www.startupofyear.com/daily-dealflow   Subscribe to the Startup of the Year podcast: www.podcast.startupofyear.com   Subscribe to the Established YouTube Channel: soty.link/ESTYouTube   *** Startup of the Year helps diverse, emerging startups, founding teams, and entrepreneurs push their company to the next level. We are a competition, a global community, and a resource.     Startup of the Year is also a year-long program that searches the country for a geographically diverse set of startups from all backgrounds and pulls them together to compete for the title of Startup of the Year.    The program includes a number of in-person and virtual events, including our annual South By Southwest startup pitch event and competition. All of which culminate at our annual Startup of the Year Summit, where the Startup of the Year winner is announced, along with an opportunity at a potential investment.   Established is a consultancy focused on helping organizations with innovation, startup, and communication strategies. It is the power behind Startup of the Year.  Created by the talent responsible for building the Tech.Co brand (acquired by an international publishing company), we are leveraging decades of experience to help our collaborators best further (or create) their brand & accomplish their most important goals.  Connect with us on Twitter - @EstablishedUs and Facebook - facebook.com/established.us

On this episode of the Startup of the Year Podcast, we hear a panel discussion from SXSW with Jennifer Shieh and Michele Schimpp both from the U.S. Small Business Administration.   Jennifer Shieh is the Director of Ecosystem Development at the SBA, and Michele Schimpp is the Deputy Associate Administrator at the SBA. During the conversation, we discussed America's Seed Fund and SBIR and STTR programs.    We also had some of the leadership from various programs jump up to talk about their programs. The leaders included Jennifer Thabet, the Program Director for Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)'s Small Business Programs Office, Bob Smith from the Navy, and Mary Alice McMorrow representing the Air Force and Space Force.    We also mention an event that we have coming up on May 15 - 18, the SBA will host the second America's Seed Fund Week. This series of virtual events connects startups and small businesses working on advanced technologies to the country's largest source of early-stage funding. America's Seed Fund serves as a springboard by providing over $4 billion in funding to early-stage startups and small businesses each year as innovators take their technology from R&D through to commercialization. Check out more about the event and register today at: https://www.americasseedfund.us    We also have another event happening on April 25th, and we invite the entire Startup of the Year community and extended Established network to attend this event in order to help support a vibrant startup ecosystem and get these great startups the attention they deserve! It's also a great way for other startups to be inspired by different customer acquisition strategies and learn about the types of questions investors will ask you. RSVP today at: est.us/april25   Lastly, we also again shine a spotlight on one of the startups from our community and that company is CROOW, a workflow collaboration platform built to enable clients and creative production teams to streamline processes, centralize assets, and improve communication. Through its priority process and network of studios, CROOW empowers businesses to rapidly concept ideas and then schedule time for filming and postproduction. Go to http://croow.com to learn more!   We invite you all to join our community today to access the support, expert advice, and resources you need to elevate your startup by going to: www.est.us/join     Thank you for listening, and as always, please check out the Established website and subscribe to the newsletter at: www.est.us   Checkout Startup of the Year at: www.startupofyear.com   Subscribe to the Startup of the Year Daily Deal Flow: www.startupofyear.com/daily-dealflow   Subscribe to the Startup of the Year podcast: www.podcast.startupofyear.com   Subscribe to the Established YouTube Channel: soty.link/ESTYouTube   *** Startup of the Year helps diverse, emerging startups, founding teams, and entrepreneurs push their company to the next level. We are a competition, a global community, and a resource.     Startup of the Year is also a year-long program that searches the country for a geographically diverse set of startups from all backgrounds and pulls them together to compete for the title of Startup of the Year.    The program includes a number of in-person and virtual events, including our annual South By Southwest startup pitch event and competition. All of which culminate at our annual Startup of the Year Summit, where the Startup of the Year winner is announced, along with an opportunity at a potential investment.   Established is a consultancy focused on helping organizations with innovation, startup, and communication strategies. It is the power behind Startup of the Year.  Created by the talent responsible for building the Tech.Co brand (acquired by an international publishing company), we are leveraging decades of experience to help our collaborators best further (or create) their brand & accomplish their most important goals.  Connect with us on Twitter - @EstablishedUs and Facebook - facebook.com/established.us  

Rob Lacher founded Visionaries Club in 2019, in just 3 years he has scaled the firm to $600M AUM and backed some of Europe's best including Xentral, Personio, Miro, and Ledgy. Prior to Visionaries, Rob founded the fashion platform AMAZE in 2014 which he sold to Zalando, and founded the European seed and growth stage venture capital fund La Famiglia in 2016. In Today's Episode with Rob Lacher We Discuss: 1.) From Novice Tennis Player to Investing on a Global Stage: When Rob realized beating Federer wasn't an option, how did he make his way into the world of venture capital? When did Rob know he wanted to be a VC? What did Rob learn about himself after leaving La Famiglia? What characteristics make business partners compatible? 2.) The Secret to Building a Fund? Hire People With No Experience: What does Rob think is the hardest element of building a firm? What advice would Rob give to emerging managers when starting their firms? What is the single biggest mistake that Rob sees hiring managers make? Why does Rob prefer to hire people with no VC experience? 3.) The Red Ocean of European Venture: Does Rob think the Series A product in Europe is any good? How would Rob advise founders debating a US multi-stage fund or a European offer? If Rob could choose one European board member, who would it be and why? In Rob's dream, what would the Europe venture ecosystem look like in 2028? How does Rob think Europe's family institutions can become Europe's Google? 4.) Lessons on Investing From a Pro: Where does Rob think VCs, founders, and boards are misaligned?  When Rob invests, how central of a role does price actually pay?  What is Rob's single biggest investing mistake? How did it impact his mindset and approach? What are the three ways reserve management strategy has changed? What does Rob absolutely hate about VC?  

On this episode of the Startup of the Year Podcast, we hear a VC panel discussion from the Established Lounge at SXSW 2023 in Austin, which took place just after the announcement of the Silicon Valley Bank collapse.    The panelists included Erica Duignan Minnihan, who is the Founder and General Partner at Reign Ventures, Maria Pope, who is the Head of Venture Growth and Partnerships at Republic, and Aziz Gilani, who is the Managing Director at Mercury Fund.   Please keep in mind that the conversation took place immediately after the announcement of the end of SVB and since then things have changed significantly as the FDIC stepped in and insured the deposits to help ensure all the startup customers would make payroll, amongst other things.   We also here about our pitch contest that was during SXSW, where ten startups pitched in front of a really amazing group of judges that included: Anita Roberts, who is the Founding Partner at mvmt ventures & Managing Partner @ Silicon Hills Capital Brian Brackeen, who is the General Partner at Lightship Capital  Bryson Hearne, who is the Manager in the Economic Opportunity Practice at Village Capital Candice Matthews Brackeen, who is the CEO at Lightship Foundation Conrad Hollomon, who is the Director of Government Programs at The Engine Darrell Etherington, who is the Managing Editor at TechCrunch Kathleen Hale, who is the Partner at Builders + Backers Capital Khrys Hatch, who is the Senior Associate at Launch Tennessee Martin Ringlein, who is the General Partner at Adventure Fund Michele (Kopp) Konetski, who is the Business Growth Consulting at Konetski Group and The Nour Group Monique Idlett-Mosley, who is the Managing Partner at Reign Venture Capital Trey Bowles, who is the Managing Director at Techstars Wilson Neyland, who is the Credit Card Program Director at Hello Alice   The startups that pitched at the event included:  Accelerate3D Applied Bioplastics BachPlace Chptr  heat it  Included  Legalpreneur  Spontivly  TestedWeb  Veba Baby Corp.    We are proud to announce that the judge voted and the winner  was Included (https://included.ai/)!! Congrats to their co-founder, Laura Close, who gave the winning pitch that focused on customer results and outcomes, which won them a fast-track spot at the Startup of the Year Annual Summit!   We also want to give a quick shout out to some of our sponsors. We couldn't have done it without Launch Tennessee, and BoothEasy! Also, we want to give a special thank you to event partner America's Seed Fund.   We invite you all to join our community today to access the support, expert advice, and resources you need to elevate your startup by going to: www.est.us/join     Thank you for listening, and as always, please check out the Established website and subscribe to the newsletter at: www.est.us   Checkout Startup of the Year at: www.startupofyear.com   Subscribe to the Startup of the Year Daily Deal Flow: www.startupofyear.com/daily-dealflow   Subscribe to the Startup of the Year podcast: www.podcast.startupofyear.com   Subscribe to the Established YouTube Channel: soty.link/ESTYouTube   *** Startup of the Year helps diverse, emerging startups, founding teams, and entrepreneurs push their company to the next level. We are a competition, a global community, and a resource.     Startup of the Year is also a year-long program that searches the country for a geographically diverse set of startups from all backgrounds and pulls them together to compete for the title of Startup of the Year.    The program includes a number of in-person and virtual events, including our annual South By Southwest startup pitch event and competition. All of which culminate at our annual Startup of the Year Summit, where the Startup of the Year winner is announced, along with an opportunity at a potential investment.   Established is a consultancy focused on helping organizations with innovation, startup, and communication strategies. It is the power behind Startup of the Year.  Created by the talent responsible for building the Tech.Co brand (acquired by an international publishing company), we are leveraging decades of experience to help our collaborators best further (or create) their brand & accomplish their most important goals.  Connect with us on Twitter - @EstablishedUs and Facebook - facebook.com/established.us

Jenny Lefcourt of Freestyle VC joins Jason for an insightful conversation. They delve into the mission of All Raise and the importance of diversity in venture capital (2:04). Jenny shares her thoughts on embracing non-consensus bets and her experiences investing in Narvar and Discord (20:04). Additionally, they discuss the value of strategy meetings in comparison to traditional board meetings (59:10). (0:00) Jason kicks off the show (2:04) Co-Founding All Raise: Promoting Diversity in Venture Capital (9:53) Prenuvo - Save $300 on Full Body Scans at http://prenuvo.com/twist (11:23) Biases Towards Certain Business Models (15:05) Identifying and Avoiding Unsuccessful Business Models (18:54) LinkedIn Jobs - Post Your First Job for Free at https://linkedIn.com/angel (20:04) Embracing Non-Consensus Bets (22:53) Jenny's Investment in Narvar (28:16) Understanding the Economics of a Seed Fund (35:14) Comparing Hype: Generative AI versus Web 3.0 (40:47) Miro - Collaborate with Unlimited Team Members for Free at https://miro.com/startups/ (42:28) Insights from Jenny's Investment in Discord (47:05) Attaining Product-Market Fit and Making a Significant Impact (56:56) Exiting Deals: When to Move On (59:10) Strategy Meetings Compared to Board Meetings (1:04:04) Jenny's Ideal Timeline for Committing to Investments FOLLOW Jenny: https://twitter.com/jennylefcourt FOLLOW Jason: https://linktr.ee/calacanis Subscribe to our YouTube to watch all full episodes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkkhmBWfS7pILYIk0izkc3A?sub_confirmation=1 FOUNDERS! Subscribe to the Founder University podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/founder-university/id1648407190

Join us on Wednesday, January 25 @ 6pm EST for an insightful conversation with Writer and Content & Community Leader, Nisha Ramchandani, discussing her article posted with the World Economic Forum on Adaptive Leadership. In a career spanning 15 years, Nisha has diversified from providing communications counsel to also leading content and community (CCC), thereby approaching a brand's identity from a 360 degree perspective. Her experience spans across industries (B2B, consumer and healthcare to a Seed Fund and with an early stage B2B startup). Lastly, in addition to working with large brands, she has also been a content creator with 50+ articles on the ‘future of work', writing for moneycontrol.com, CNBC, Quartz India and more!  Her content ethos: "We live in an age of Twitter threads and borrowed thoughts. Very rarely do we see brands/ individuals wanting to break the norms or come up with anything original. As someone passionate about the written medium, bringing trust and credibility back to information we consume is something I deeply contemplate about". 

Every entrepreneur knows that finding funding is difficult. And sometimes, investors want you to give away tons of equity in exchange for their capital. That's where “America's Seed Fund” or SBIR grants, come in! In this episode, Dr. Robert McClain, Assistant Vice President of Research and Innovation at HSC, explains his findings around the lack of SBIR grants awarded in Tarrant County. He dives into the details around why Tarrant County is not winning more of these awards, and what can be done to change this. He believes that assisting entrepreneurs to tap into these grant awards will catalyze innovation in Fort Worth.

French VC firm Partech has closed another seed fund dedicated to early-stage tech startups — the fund is called Partech Entrepreneur IV.

French VC firm Partech has closed another seed fund dedicated to early-stage tech startups — the fund is called Partech Entrepreneur IV.

Welcome to another episode of the Build In Public Podcast.Today's episode features Yohei Nakajima, an entrepreneur, investor and productivity geek. Yohei is currently a General Partner at Untapped Capital which is a pre-seed/seed VC firm investing in unexpected founders, found off the beaten path, not yet well connected into the global startup ecosystem. In this interview, Yohei shares his insights and perspectives on topics such as:● Yohei's career and his roles at Techstars, Scrum Ventures and now at Untapped● His working thesis and the fund's focus● How he took 1000+ LP meetings to successfully raise money for his fund● Focusing on the power of Outbound as an pre-seed investor and its strategic advantages● What his ‘Mentor Madness' and ‘Hunting Mode' is all about.● Proactive sourcing mentors and how to talk to them● How he looks for companies and employees through different websites effectively● The importance of talking to more people, pitching, and facing the fear of rejection.● His strategy for portfolio construction● His thoughts on “micro-meditation” Build In Public Podcast is an interview show where KP chats with ambitious startup founders, CEOs, and top Internet creators to unpack their stories, insights, and lessons.Thanks for listening! Links:Yohei's website: https://yoheinakajima.com/Yohei's Twitter: https://twitter.com/yoheinakajimaUntapped VC: https://www.untapped.vc/KP's Twitter: https://twitter.com/thisiskp_KP's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/KarthikPuvvadaKP

In Edible-Alpha® podcast #121, Brad talks with Idella Yamben, Ph.D., director of the Center for Technology Commercialization (CTC), which, like FFI, is part of the University of Wisconsin System's Institute for Business & Entrepreneurship. CTC offers a variety of programs and resources to help early-stage technology businesses—including those in the food or agriculture space—develop and conduct research to inform commercialization strategies and access funding to support the work.   Idella insists that research and technology aren't only about next-gen gadgets, machine learning, or university lab studies. CTC mainly works with inventors who have a novel approach to addressing a critical problem. For instance, maybe a farmer thinks of a way to boost crop yields, or a food entrepreneur wants to assess a new manufacturing process. CTC could help them determine how to test their hypotheses, business models, and market viability. “You might not think what you're doing could use technology, be innovation, or require research,” Idella says. “But my team's job is to see if those opportunities are there and help you go after federal funding.” One of CTC's offerings is Ideadvance, which provides companies with seed money to test their business models through the Lean Startup framework. It helps them hone in on their target consumer, path to market, positioning, etc., to give the product, service, or solution the best chance of success. CTC also prepares entrepreneurs to apply for Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs, aka America's Seed Fund. Through this highly competitive program, 11 government agencies, including USDA, offer grants for early-stage R&D. Through all of its programs, CTC helps startups test assumptions, which Idella says is basically the scientific method: “You make a hypothesis, develop an experiment, run it, then iterate.” But to ensure the best outcomes, she says it's important to take a very disciplined approach to determine what that assumption and experiments should be. CTC helps entrepreneurs do that, often in partnership with industry-specific resources such as FFI. A key piece of the Lean Startup model is customer discovery, which involves both listening to potential customers and then running experiments to validate what an entrepreneur thinks they heard. Ideally, the results can provide answers around cost, revenue, or value proposition. Idella says those findings should then be balanced against the team's goals and unique capabilities, which will help differentiate the business proposition. Through this process, entrepreneurs learn to synthesize information and become storytellers, both important skills for seeking any kind of financing. Also through this work, entrepreneurs typically meet a lot of people and learn a ton. By listening well, Idella says they could identify a new angle, a different problem, or an opportunity to pivot. And pivoting early could save a lot of headaches—and money—later on, potentially even preventing a failed business. Brad and Idella cover a whole lot more in this engaging podcast, including the many free tools, resources, and funding sources available to food and farm entrepreneurs.

Georgia State's Main Street Entrepreneurs Seed Fund (MSESF) is a 2-day experience on entrepreneurship and innovation. The 2022 summit was held on Oct. 13-14 in partnership with Zane Venture Fund, an early-stage investor in companies founded by diverse entrepreneurs. MK Khan, MSESF EIR / Georgia State's Main Street Entrepreneurs Seed Fund LinkedIn DOWNLOAD HERE Recha Reid, […] The post GSU Main Street Entrepreneurs Seed Fund Demo Day 2022 appeared first on Business RadioX ®.

Julie Harrelson and Robert Pease are the Managing Directors for Cascade Seed Fund. Founded in 2014 and investing as Cascade Angels Fund across five funds, they became Cascade Seed Fund in 2019 building on more than five years of early stage investing experience. Today Cascade Seed Fund continues to seek out opportunities to work with amazing entrepreneurs in Oregon and throughout the Pacific Northwest.

Derrick Kelsey joins us on the podcast today to discuss angel investing specifically for entrepreneurs from underrepresented populations in the US. We cover the statistics, history, and philosophy behind why this is important, and learn more about how these investments can change the world.   To learn more, check out www.rockiesventurefund.com/rockies-seed-fund-1 Feast Over Famine does not provide legal, tax, accounting or other professional advice. You should consult professional advisors concerning the legal, tax, or accounting consequences of your activities. Feast Over Famine does not consult, advise, or assist with (i) the offer or sale of securities in any capital-raising transaction, or (ii) the direct or indirect promotion or maintenance of a market for any securities. Feast Over Famine does not engage in any activities for which an investment advisor's registration or license is required under the U.S. Investment Advisors Act of 1940, or under any other applicable federal or state law; or for which a “broker's” or “dealer's” registration or license is required under the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or under any other applicable federal or state law.

David Higdon's focus is investment strategy, deal flow, venture portfolio support, fundraising and client relations. He is also the Co-Founder of Qubitekk, the first company to commercialize a new quantum optic-based cybersecurity solution. David served as President of Ellis Energy Investments for 8 years where he guided numerous companies through the investment, growth, and exit process.  David was the Co-Founder and Managing Partner of the Bakersfield Jam, leading the day to day operations from Start-Up to Exit to the Phoenix Suns. Troy Burden sits down with David Higdon Co-Founder and Fund Manager of Kern Venture Group, the first Seed Fund based here in Bakersfield. David explains how they help local entrepreneurs take their ideas and turn them into functioning businesses. They have a large team that is always looking for new visionary ideas that will improve or change industries. If you are interested check out their website below and submit a plan! LEARN MORE ABOUT KERN VENTURE GROUP: Website: www.kernventuregroup.com Phone: 661-343-1840 Instagram: @kernventuregroup Facebook: Kern_Venture_Group LinkedIn: @KernVentureGroup  

Todays guest is Mohan Belani the co-founder of E27.co. E27 is tech publication covering SEA startups. Full conversation includes: Origins of e27 Startups in SEA (Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia & Vietnam) Businesses model of e27 Events business Angel investing and starting seed stage fund YC effect in SEA startups Starting a Seed Fund & many more ----- Past guests of Startup Project podcast include Ali Moiz (stonks.com), Kirby Winfield (Ascend.vc), Eric Bahn (Hustle Fund), and many more. To stay up to date checkout thestartupproject.io & follow us on twitter: @natarajsindam ----- --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/startupproject/message

I was pleased to have Ben Van Roo on the Acquisition Talk podcast to discuss data on the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program and potential reforms. The SBIR program was created in 1982 and is currently funded with 3.2 percent of extramural R&D performed by larger agencies. Coming from a founder and VC perspective, the question Ben asked was whether an emerging tech company should be going after SBIR money. While it is sometimes call "America's Seed Fund," Ben found that some companies will each receive tens of millions in SBIR awards year after year. These firms, sometimes called "SBIR mills," have by-and-large failed to receive significant DoD follow on contracts, indicating a failure to commercialize. The top 25 firms won $1.5 billion in SBIR awards over a six year period, or more than 20 percent of the SBIR total. Overall, Ben finds that perhaps 50-60 percent of all SBIR funding will go to incumbent firms that have sophisticated proposal writing functions. Another 20 to 30 percent of SBIR funding goes towards firms that use third-party consultants to write their proposals. These consulting firms often employ former procurement officials who can help navigate difficult parts like large, open-ended cost volumes. This is where you'll hear "pay to play" in the SBIR world. Ben's rough estimates for these services are $3,000 to $6,000 per month, and there may be different fee structures where the consultants can receive some equity in the company or a fraction of the award if successful. That means between 10 and 30 percent of SBIR funding is up for grabs to emerging tech companies, meaning that their likelihood to win is relatively low. While SBIR may be one of the most accessible programs to get into the defense industry, it is not one designed to transition dual-use tech firms into fielded capabilities. Ben notes that comparatively few firms that received DIU or In-Q-Tel funding also won SBIR awards, perhaps because they were more focused on growth opportunities of companies that are already commercializing (Series B or Series C). This podcast was produced by Eric Lofgren. You can follow me on Twitter @AcqTalk and find more information at https://AcquisitionTalk.com

On this episode of the Somewhat Frank Podcast, Frank Gruber (@FrankGruber), John Guidos (@JohnGuidos), and Jen Consalvo (@Noreaster) chat about America's Seed Fund Week 2022.  America's Seed Fund Week is a free and virtual opportunity for small businesses to learn about non-dilutive funding available through America's Seed Fund that delivers $4 billion annually to small businesses in R&D. Learn more at: www.americasseedfund.us The group also chats about the following topics and articles… Comparing Hubble to James Webb: The Difference in Detail is Astounding - https://petapixel.com/2022/07/11/comparing-hubble-to-james-webb-the-difference-in-detail-is-astounding/ Three Drivers of the Lifeguard Shortage - https://finance.yahoo.com/news/3-drivers-critical-lifeguard-shortage-200905442.html Psychosis, Addiction, Chronic Vomiting: As Weed Becomes More Potent, Teens Are Getting Sick - https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/23/well/mind/teens-thc-canabis.html?referringSource=articleShare Scientists Turn Nuclear Waste Into Diamond Batteries Which Last 1,000's of Years - https://www.thebrighterside.news/post/scientists-turn-nuclear-waste-into-diamond-batteries-which-last-1-000-s-of-years New drug increases the human lifespan by 30%, according to Mayo Clinic -  Senolytic drugs boost key protective protein - Mayo Clinic Press It is summer in Maine and this is one that is close to home…Massive Lobster Found in Maine May be 100 Years Old  - https://weather.com/science/nature/video/massive-lobster-found-near-maine-may-be-100-years-old ……….. As always, thank you for listening and feel free to reach out and let us know what you think at: somewhatfrank@est.us Get updates like this in your inbox before they hit the web by subscribing to the newsletter here: https://frankgruber.me/newsletter/ 

Jenny Lawton is the EVP at Bolster,  an on-demand executive talent marketplace that helps accelerate companies' growth by connecting them with experienced, highly vetted executives for interim, fractional, advisory, project-based, or board roles. Prior to Bolster, Jenny served in a variety of C-Suite roles which include her time as the Chief Strategy Officer and then CEO of MakerBot, the leader in desktop 3D printing technology that was acquired by Stratasys for over $400M. Jenny also served as the COO of LittleBits, the STEM learning division of Sphero (the company behind the adorable droid BB8 that captured our hearts in the latest Star Wars films), and then as COO and CIO, Chief Innovation Officer at Techstars, the global startup accelerator which is near and dear to my heart. It's also worth noting that Jenny was inducted into the Connecticut Women's Hall of Fame in 2014 for her work in business and labor.And in case you haven't picked up on it, Jenny has dedicated herself to empowering others to invent and innovate, whether through creating products for makers, empowering startup entrepreneurs, or connecting companies and executives with great opportunities.Jenny Lawton on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenny-lawton-09278410Bolster: https://bolster.com/Michael Koenig on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/mkoenig514 Episode webpage: https://betweentwocoos.com/jenny-lawtonBetween Two COO's: https://betweentwocoos.com 

Jason Lemkin is the Founder and Managing Partner @ SaaStr, a social community of 500,000+ SaaS founders and a $100M venture fund. In the past, Jason has made investments in the likes of Algolia, Talkdesk, Pipedrive, and RevenueCat to name a few. Prior to SaaStr, Jason was the Co-Founder and CEO @ Echosign, backed by Emergence Capital, Echosign was bought by Adobe and is Adobe Sign as we know it today. In Today's Episode with Jason Lemkin You Will Learn: 1.) Origins into Venture: How Jason made his way into the world of venture having sold EchoSign? What were some of Jason's biggest lessons from his first 4 investments being unicorns? 2.) The Importance of Ownership & Multi-Stage Funds How does Jason assess the importance of ownership today? If companies can be $20BN, does ownership really matter? How does Jason advise founders who have offers from multi-stage funds at seed? Why does taking multi-stage money at seed result in less pressure for founders? Does Jason believe that signaling risk from large funds is real, when investing at seed? 3.) Building Your Sales Team Does the founder have to be the one to create the sales playbook? What are the nuances? Should you hire a Head of Sales or sales reps first? What should you expect from each? What are the one criteria that you must look for when hiring your first sales reps? What are the signals that a sales rep or leader is a 10x hire? What works when hiring sales reps, 80% of the time? 4.) Boards and VC Value Add: Why has Jason changed his mind when it comes to boards? Why are some inefficient and some very efficient? How do the best founders manage their board? How do they bring in their exec team? What is the right documentation to prepare for board meetings? Why does Jason prefer slide decks over Notion and Coda? How can leaders use board meetings to direct and goal set with functional leads? Item's Mentioned In Today's Episode with Jason Lemkin Jason's Most Recent Investment: Owner

On this episode of the Startup of the Year Podcast, we hear an interview that our Team did with author-extraordinaire, Mert Iseri, at our 9th Annual Startup of the Year Summit, which we hosted with Embarc Collective in Tampa, Florida. Mert is from MATH Venture Partners and he talks about how a startup can “Exit Right,” which is also the name of his new book that came out on February 15, 2022. The book helps founders learn the aspects that go into selling their startups and “delivers the hard-earned lessons that lead to successful exits.” You can buy it today at: www.exitrightbook.com. Some of our Team is also headed back to Austin Texas this year for the 13th time for SXSW Interactive! We wanted to highlight one session that will take place on Saturday, March 12th, geared toward startups and investors titled "Startups and Government: Unlocking $4B in Funding." It is a great group talking about America's Seed Fund and how it can be an important part of a startups overall funding strategy. Find more info at the following link: https://schedule.sxsw.com/2022/events/PP116465 We also want to again mention that we live streamed the event, so if you were not able to attend in-person, make sure to watch it on our Youtube channel at: soty.link/ESTYouTube Lastly, we invite you all to join our community today to access the support, expert advice, and resources you need to elevate your startup by going to: est.us/join Thank you for listening, and as always, please check out the Established website and subscribe to the newsletter at www.est.us Checkout Startup of the Year at www.startupofyear.com Subscribe to the Startup of the Year Daily Deal Flow: www.startupofyear.com/daily-dealflow Subscribe to the Startup of the Year podcast: www.podcast.startupofyear.com Subscribe to the Established YouTube Channel: soty.link/ESTYouTube *** Startup of the Year helps diverse, emerging startups, founding teams, and entrepreneurs push their company to the next level. We are a competition, a global community, and a resource. Startup of the Year is also a year-long program that searches the country for a geographically diverse set of startups from all backgrounds and pulls them together to compete for the title of Startup of the Year. The program includes a number of in-person and virtual events, including our annual South By Southwest startup pitch event and competition. All of which culminate at our annual Startup of the Year Summit, where the Startup of the Year winner is announced, along with an opportunity at a potential investment. Established is a consultancy focused on helping organizations with innovation, startup, and communication strategies. It is the power behind Startup of the Year. Created by the talent responsible for building the Tech.Co brand (acquired by an international publishing company), we are leveraging decades of experience to help our collaborators best further (or create) their brand & accomplish their most important goals. Connect with us on Twitter - @EstablishedUs and Facebook - facebook.com/established.us/.