Hustle Fund

Happy Lunar New Year! 🧧 The Year of the Snake is the time to grow, adapt and hustle. Our partner Singapore Global Network (SGN) is helping make it all happen! Get your ssspecial fortune cookie from SGN’s Snake Shifu. Who knows — this might just be your year! Get your cookie: https://lnkd.in/d79xeDMe

Founders, want to save big on taxes? Meet QSBS. Taxes might not be your favorite topic, but saving thousands (or hundreds of thousands), definitely is. Enter QSBS (Qualified Small Business Stock): a tax-saving program designed to help you keep more of your earnings when your startup exits (ex: IPO or acquisition). What is QSBS? QSBS lets U.S. startup shareholders (that's you - founders, investors, and early employees) skip federal taxes on capital gains after an exit event. And it's 100% legal. Do you qualify? • Registered as a U.S. C-corp • Total assets under $50M when shares are issued • Hold shares for at least 5 years before exiting If this sounds like you, please stop reading this and go talk to a tax accountant. They can help you through the nuances of the program. Don't sleep on this. Think urgent AND important. Our GP, Eric Bahn, learned about QSBS too late when he was building his startup. Don’t be like Eric. Save that cash for your next startup, your family, or installing a pool. Check out The Founder Playbook for the full blog post to learn more about QSBS and get those tax savings rolling. Link to the newsletter is in the comments.

It’s official: Everyone and their grandma wants to be an angel investor now. Literally. With 3,400+ VC firms in 2023 in the U.S. (up from 1,300 in 2010), competition is wild, and capital? It's just table stakes. So how do you stand out and win allocation in hot deals? Here’s the Hustle Fund playbook: 1. Be a Media Company Founders are busy, but they make time to scroll LinkedIn and Twitter. Sharing valuable, relatable content builds trust and makes you more than “just another VC.” We’ve taken this approach and its paid off in a major way — our newsletters attract founders, LPs, and build our brand. VCs like a16z and First Round Review have absolutely nailed this game. 2. Be a Community Builder Founders want more than money — they want vibes. Hosting events (we’ve got 50+ planned for 2025) gives founders the chance to really connect with you. Whether it’s startup schools, base camps, or a killer happy hour, community = long-term value. 3. Be an Influencer Yes, you heard us. Social media isn’t just for selfies and memes (though we’re fans of both). Founders find us all the time through our LinkedIn and Twitter accounts. Use it to: • Promote your portfolio. • Amplify founders’ voices. • Share the behind-the-scenes realness. Back in the day, VCs could win deals by showing up with a check and a handshake. Those days are gone. Now, founders want partners who bring more to the table — whether it’s strategic advice, access to game-changing networks, or just being genuinely fun to work with. At Hustle Fund, we think about adding value to our portfolio founders in three ways: 1. Capital (duh) 2. Knowledge (content, insights, expertise) 3. Networks (communities, events, connections) The future of VC is more than just money. No pressure. Check out our Small Bets newsletter for the full blog - link is in the comments!

Yo, founders! We’ve got a big lineup of events happening over the next few weeks. From Batter Up — a high-energy pitch practice session where founders can get real-time feedback — to Founder Friends, an intimate networking event for connecting with like-minded founders, these are events designed to help you grow your business and your community. RSVP for upcoming events: • Founder Friends LA – w/ @elizabethyin + @srinipanguluri. Happening Feb 26, 6-8:30pm • Batter Up Nashville – Feb 18, 5-8pm • Batter Up San Diego  – March 7, 6-9pm • Batter Up Austin, March 11, 6-9pm See the link in the comments to see all the upcoming events and save your spot. (No charge to attend most of these)

Angel Squad Member Xaviera Ho, CFA (MBA Candidate at Stanford GSB) "My passion for impact investing—supporting businesses that contribute positively to society— ultimately led me to join a private investment firm."

Nelson Mullins was a proud sponsor of the recent Hustle Fund Founder Friends Miami event at Northeastern University Miami, bringing together a community of entrepreneurs and investors. The event provided a unique opportunity for startup founders to connect, collaborate, and gain insights from industry experts. Nelson Mullins' Paul Rothstein helped facilitate the event, and Leandro Vivarelli Molina and Caio P. were on hand to engage with founders and support the startup network that Hustle Fund fosters. Northeastern University's Kevin Ruiz provided some opening remarks, and Hustle Fund's Elizabeth Yin and The Pitch's Lisa Muccio shared some of their perspective and knowledge with the group in a Fireside Chat. We look forward to continuing to support the startup community and seeing founders develop their ideas into thriving ventures.

Thoughtful gifting isn’t just a holiday gesture—it’s a business strategy. In the latest episode of #UncappedNotes, Eric Bahn and Janel Spilker dive into the art of strategic gifting. Because personalized gestures aren’t just for besties… they also strengthen business relationships. They cover: - How to choose gifts that leave an impression - documenting client preferences - the surprising impact of a handwritten note The holidays may be over, but this episode is packed with tips that are applicable all year long. 👉 Watch the full episode here: https://lnkd.in/gPYgjPHE 👈

Huge thanks to Hustle Fund for kicking off their first "Founder Friends" event of 2025 at the Northeastern University Miami campus! 🎉 It was an incredible experience, with a packed room learning from Elizabeth Yin, GP of HF, & Lisa Muccio, Co-founder & GP of The Pitch - an amazing podcast that now co-invests in its guests! The founder journey was both dynamic and non-linear, with two key lessons emerging: 1️⃣ When it comes to fundraising, there’s no such thing as being too prepared for a pitch. 2️⃣ Self-belief is essential: "You can’t be what you don’t see." Lastly, a massive shoutout to the entire Northeastern University team for bringing this event to life and creating such a valuable experience for the community. 🚀

✨ From the start, our intention has been to be a resource to our community and a partner to help strenghten and bring together our innovation ecosystem… This past week, we were proud to bring founders, investors, partners and our campus community together to network, learn from and inspire each other as part of Hustle Fund’s Founder Friends series. And to feature Florida-based The Pitch was icing on the cake. In an ecosystem where women are the minority, it was inspiring to hear and learn from Lisa Muccio and Elizabeth Yin! The conversation was authentic, honest and inspiring. Truly an impactful evening we trust will lead to even more collaboration and who knows, may lead to the next #unicorn in our community! The sky is the limit 🚀 Thanks to everyone involved in making this happen and our team - from Seattle to Miami - for proving yet again the power of Northeastern University’s global university system. Northeastern University Miami #entrepreneurship #innovation Pedro C. C. Gomes Kevin Ruiz Ana Capdevielle Juan Gonzalez, Ed.S Adrianna N. Kallia Todd Begoña Rovira Michelle Alvarez Romero Kayla Lavelle Nicholas Crimarco Dominic (Dom) R. Arlene Buchanan, MS.Ed. Brittni Allen, M.A.

Founder Friends at Northeastern University Miami 🌟 Yesterday, we had the privilege of hosting Founder Friends, an inspiring event organized by Hustle Fund, right here at Northeastern University Miami! This incredible gathering brought together founders, entrepreneurs, and innovators to connect, learn, and share experiences. Our vibrant campus was filled with energy as we co-sponsored this event alongside Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough. 🎤 Event Highlights: - A thought-provoking conversation featuring Lisa Muccio, COO and CoFounder of The Pitch, interviewed by Elizabeth Yin, General Partner and Co-Founder of Hustle Fund. - Insightful discussions on building businesses, overcoming challenges, and seizing opportunities in today’s entrepreneurial landscape. - Opportunities to network with a dynamic community of visionaries and game-changers in Miami’s growing innovation ecosystem. A big thank you to everyone who made this event possible! #Entrepreneurship #FounderFriends #NortheasternMiami #Innovation #Networking Kevin Ruiz Pedro C. C. Gomes Maria C. Alonso, NACD.DC