Ashton K.

What's been happening in mental health? ⏺ Vitalic Health raised a $4M seed round for its geriatric behavioural health care platform. ⏺ Kooth Digital Health landed a $1.45 million pilot contract to provide their Soluna platform to over 50,000 students across New Jersey. ⏺ Peer support startup Fello , led by former Uber Eats executive Alyssa Pollack, raised $10.4M for virtual, app-based peer support designed to combat the loneliness epidemic. ⏺ Oceans Healthcare acquired Haven Behavioral Healthcare , expanding to 5 new U.S. states and adding 7 new locations. ⏺ Mabel raised a €600K pre-seed round to help improve women's mental health through microdosing programs and mushroom-based supplements ⏺ Wysa published a paper on the impact of their early stage digital mental health interventions for Singaporeans. ⏺ Applications for the KHP Ventures Mental Health immersion programme close tomorrow (Jan 7th) (All links below) __ If you liked this and want insights on the mental health industry in your inbox every week, subscribe to The Hemingway Report newsletter and follow me Steve Duke 📩 #MentalHealth #BehavioralHealth

100

10 Comments

Summary: Bolt's CEO has threatened legal action against an investment bank involved in their recent fundraising efforts, claiming they signed a binding term sheet for $200 million but did not follow through. Key takeaways: Bolt's CEO believes there was miscommunication at Silverbear Capital, one of their lead investors, leading to confusion about the fundraising deal. A leaked term sheet showed Bolt trying to raise $200 million in equity and $250 million in marketing credits, with a unique pay-to-play structure. The involvement of Silverbear Capital and The London Fund in the deal remains unclear. Counter arguments: Silverbear Capital's partner insists there was no miscommunication and the deal was never discussed or approved. The London Fund has confirmed discussions with Bolt's management but denies any finalized transaction. #venturecapital

2

Excited to partner with Antonio, James, and the XP Health team. The need for vision care and benefits in the United States is substantial. More than 200M U.S. adults (79%) use a form of vision correction. 2 out of every 3 U.S. adults have some type of vision care coverage, even those with 20/20 vision. Vision benefits are considered table stakes for employers, who are generally not likely to sacrifice this coverage even during economic uncertainty. Yet, it dominated by 2-3 outsized legacy vendors and encumbered with horrible customer experience and exorbitant out-of-pocket costs for consumers. XP Health is revolutionizing the experience of eyecare across eye exams and eyewear shipping, through a digitally native product that significantly enhances customer satisfaction through personalized care and reduces out-of-pocket costs. Read the full TechCrunch article: https://lnkd.in/ggVicTHm QED Investors Amias Frank Shruti Adams Laura Ashley Rachel Nigel

57

3 Comments

Today's Boring Biz (#93): Art Transport And Installation Business -$3.5M Ask Price - $800K Cashflow - 4.4x Multiple - New York Note: We do not represent this deal, highlighting for informational purposes only for viewers What does the company do? 1. Art installation, placement and transportation 2. Serves museums, galleries, private collections 3. 40 year old company Investment highlights 1. Established client base in NYC 2. Highly trained staff 3. State-of-the-art installations techniques and devices Investment risks/concerns 1. Owner dependency risk 2. Unknown liabilities and regulations 3. Anyone on staff as true president/ GM #SMB #ETA #finance #Cashflow #investing #search #searchfund #privateequity #microprivateequity #smallbusiness #venturecapital #vc #entrepreneur #business #businessowner #art #transport #installation #newyork Disclaimer: Hypothetical and illustrative only. Please do your own research (DYOR) or work with tax and legal professionals before making a decision. This video are intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or tax advice, nor should be construed as an offer to sell, a solicitation of an offer to buy, or a recommendation for any security by SMB PE LLC or any third party.17m

4

I'm incredibly honored to be featured alongside some amazing peers in TechCrunch's Top VC Investors Under 30 in NYC list! A huge thank you to TechCrunch and Dominic-Madori Davis. This achievement wouldn't have been possible without the support and mentorship I've received. Special shout-out to Serena Dayal. She not only gave me the vocabulary and toolbox with which to explore investing and entrepreneurship, more importantly, she imbued me with confidence: the confidence to send a great cold email, approach someone at a networking event, or apply for a job I never thought I would get. At Chai Ventures, we invest $100-500K in pre-seed and seed-stage companies where women dominate decision-making and spending power. I'm passionate about innovations in consumer technology and goods. Companies like Mimikai, the first in over 25 years to secure a new EPA repellent registration with its exclusive active ingredient, Undecanone, are making groundbreaking strides. Also, Zeen (formerly known as Landing), a platform for visual, shoppable blogs, is redefining how we engage with content and commerce. I'm also dedicated to expanding the definition of women's health to address chronic conditions that disproportionately affect women, such as thyroid disorders, endometriosis, and osteoporosis. I'm optimistic about the transformative impact technology can have in this space. Committed to enhancing transparency in the VC industry, I believe clear funding criteria and open communication can demystify the investment process, making venture capital more accessible to entrepreneurs and aspiring investors. Despite recent challenges, I'm more energized than ever about my career choice. Being a doer means rolling up my sleeves to find impactful solutions and support our portfolio companies through tough decisions. As a connector, I bridge gaps, link founders with key resources, and build networks that generate value. I see myself in venture capital for the long haul. There's no other profession that offers a front-row seat to technological innovation. Supporting visionary founders like Aagya, Aya, Ellie, and Miri is an unparalleled experience. Outside of work, I'm training for my first marathon, playing racquet sports (ping me if you want to attend the next Founder & VC Squash Night hosted by me, Maria, and Theron), needlepointing, spending time with family (especially Soju, my Shiba Inu 🐕), trying new restaurants, and capturing moments with film photography. To founders looking to pitch: I'm incredibly excited by those who turn challenges into opportunities. If you have a strong team, an innovative and scalable product or service, and you're ready to seize a significant market opportunity, let's connect! Thank you to everyone who has supported me on this journey. 🚀 Here's to many more years of innovation, growth, and making a difference! Link to the full TechCrunch piece: https://lnkd.in/eREbag_q

586

142 Comments

One Way Ventures, a Boston-based venture capital firm that only backs companies with at least one immigrant founder, is now raising a $60 million third fund. The planned third fund is roughly the same size of its $57.5 million predecessor, which closed in 2021. #Boston #tech #news #massachusetts #venturecapital #venturefund #startups #fundingalert #immigration #fundingnews

46

Silicon Valley built venture capital. But New York's new guard is reinventing it. Just reviewed TechCrunch's Top New York VCs Under 30 List. The paradigm is shifting from the traditional Sand Hill Road model to something more diverse and dynamic, marked by: +Founders-turned-investors have hands-on startup experience +A deeper focus on overlooked markets and underserved founders +Cross-pollination between tech and NYC's legacy industries +An emphasis on sustainable growth over growth-at-all-costs As this generation steps into decision-making roles, they’re bringing a fresh take on community-driven investing, alternative funding structures, and an emphasis on long-term value creation. Congratulations to all the honorees. Young talent is reshaping VC but remember – great investors come at every age. (Fun fact: the average GP is 43!) Want to meet the next wave of NYC's venture talent? Follow along as TechCrunch updates their Under 30 list: https://bit.ly/4hiw4ef Thoughts on the approach of younger VCs? Would love to hear your perspective. #VentureCapital #StartupNYC #Innovation #TechNews" Data Sources: TechCrunch and SaaStr PS 🔔 Unlock a better way to raise capital with: 💸https://fundingstack.com/ for VCs and investors

52

6 Comments

Top US cities for venture capital raised for Pre-Seed, Seed, Series A and Series B+ from July 2023 to June 2024. Anything surprising here? - How about Philadelphia ranking #4 for Pre-Seed and Seed rounds? - Philly is also on the board at #5 and #7 for Series A and Seriest B+ respectively. - Washington D.C. in the Top 10 for Pre-Seed, Seed and Series B+ - San Diego was #8 in Series A and #5 for Series B+, likely reflecting some activity in the life-sciences / bio-tech sectors there. I always love the data shared in the Carta Data Minute weekly newsletter. The fundraising environment for startups seems to be improving, so it will be interesting to keep an eye on the data as we head into the coming months that are typically the busiest for VC fundraising.

88

17 Comments

The results are in. Emerging managers and especially sub-$25MM funds are out-performing their larger counterparts, even in a sub-optimal market. TVPI metrics for 2017 vintage was 3.8x versus 2.7x for a $100MM+ fund. Even a 2022 vintage is seeing a 1.1x vs a 1x TVPI. I'm personally working with a top-quartile sub $50MM fund that has delivered a 1.6x TVPI from a 2020 vintage with gains of over 100% for it's LPs (and no it's not pre-seed). Another solo-GP has averaged 60x MOIC. Smaller funds are more nimble, have more skin in the game and are quicker to react. Whilst it's predominantly smaller bets at an earlier stage (i.e. more risk), it also means a larger, more diversified portfolio where it only takes 1 to 2 wins to return all the capital to LPs = earlier upside. Add to that a much more favorable cost-structure, it's a relative no-brainer. A bit like startups, this segment is in it's infancy, so I expect we'll see much more data in coming years. (P.S- as I'm seeing some fantastic new operators come to the market, and we still have so much to learn, share and exchange about emerging managers, make sure to sign-up to upcoming newsletter! I'll be sharing much more in-depth insights, fund launches and interviews with GPs and LPs to create a vibrant and meaningful community- link in comments).

9

1 Comment

Got together with some of the best DTC founders / execs in the NYC area last night! Thanks to Kait Stephens & Sarah Davidson putting together a really nice, intimate dinner. Talked about a lot of topics including Retail expansion, content strategy & process improvement. - Retail expansion has become a key growth lever for many DTC businesses and much of the discussion was around best practices when first starting to expand and how to capture in-store interactions / valuable customer data. - Every single brand founder wants more organic, raw Customer Generated Content to drive brand awareness and increase conversion. - Discussed the transition of early day company building with a few employees to rapidly scaling and putting processes in place to ensure success. Slow down to speed up. The last hour was all about DTC companies banding together for many things, but we'll leave it at "sharing best practices". Justin Allen led that and fired me up along with everyone around the table. I really pick and choose which events I go to having 3 kids under 6 at home, but these smaller and more intimate dinners are at the top of my list.

83

7 Comments

Summary: Trucks Venture Capital has announced a new $70 million fund to support early-stage startups in the transportation industry. Led by co-founder Reilly Brennan, the firm plans to invest in a diverse range of companies, including those working on autonomous vehicle tech, electric air taxis, and mobility data platforms. This is the firm's largest fund to date and its investment strategy has evolved to focus on great founders rather than specific sectors or ideas. Key takeaways: Trucks VC has a new $70 million fund to invest in early-stage transportation startups. The firm's investment strategy has shifted to focus on great founders rather than specific sectors or ideas. Previous investments from the new fund include charger installation-as-a-service startup Treehouse and zero-emissions jet aircraft company JetZero. Counter arguments: Some may argue that focusing on great founders rather than specific sectors or ideas may limit the firm's potential for success. The transportation industry is constantly changing and evolving, making it a risky investment for any venture capital firm. #startups #venturecapital #transportation

6

1 Comment

Thanks Chinenye. I couldn't agree with you more. However while we work on this, we also have to be mindful of the fact that bias isn't just the problem in this data rather a combination of poor economy and bias. Of all these regions mentioned, Africa is the least performing market. therefore Davidson, naturally you would expect investors to do less there. They are not charity organisations but a venture set up for outsized returns.Therefore the major issue we should be discussing is, which sectors are receiving this funding in Africa? Are the investments coming to sectors that will lift the other sectors up fundamentally or to sectors that will window dress the issues? or Worst still the ones that will reap-off on the people and distort rather than disrupt the system. (eg Nigeria POS fintech and the real banking system. a discussion for another day). Until strong investments are made in the technology sectors powering manufacturing strong job growth in Africa be it REAL B2B eCommerce not repeating what is already being done, or B2C eCommerce that is truly efficient and cost effective. Equally important is the improvement in the purchasing power of the consumers via credit card system. in as much as Sub-Sahara Africa lacks good credit system that captures the average citizens and residents, B2C will continue to struggle. in as much as our logistics investments are predominantly in the last mile delivery rather than efficient crosborder logistics, both B2B abd B2C eCommerce will struggle to scale efficiently and profitability. So, it's time for the investors to do away with the low hanging fruits and start tackling the real issues that will empower and propel Africa economies. That's where the main bias lies.

4

1 Comment

I'm crowdsourcing a better investor database for Boston area capital because founders and VCs shouldn't have to pay Pitchbook and Crunchbase for a basic directory. A few months ago, I assembled a list of emerging managers in the New England region and was surprised that this hadn't been done before. I've also had founders repeatedly ask me, "Who invests in ____?" and I don't exactly know. I put together an initial list of about 90 firms, angel groups, family offices, and accelerators. While the list isn't perfect, it's a start. If you're a founder, investor, or community member, take a moment to help make this data just 1% better. I'll keep the editing permissions open as long as everyone stays friendly and civil. https://lnkd.in/gFt6bZPp 186 Ventures .406 Ventures 3CC | Third Culture Capital AlleyCorp DeepTech Argon Ventures Athenian VC Baukunst Blindspot Ventures Branch Venture Group Broom Ventures C10 Labs Companyon Ventures Cybernetix Ventures Encoded Ventures Equal Opportunity Ventures First Star Ventures One Way Ventures NextView Ventures Raiz Capital Hyperplane Glasswing Ventures Techstars Boston Accelerator MassChallenge Innospark Ventures New North Ventures Underscore VC York IE

462

105 Comments

Buckley Ventures Set to Raise $250M for Fund IV Buckley Ventures, a bi-coastal investment firm based in San Francisco and New York City, is gearing up to raise $250 million for its fourth fund, according to a recent regulatory filing with the SEC. While fundraising is yet to commence, this new effort underscores the firm’s continued commitment to investing in transformative early-stage companies in the internet, software, and frontier technology sectors. + Firm Overview and Focus: Buckley Ventures is known for its concentrated investment strategy, with over $1 billion in AUM across multiple funds. The firm leverages a vast network of entrepreneurs, executives, engineers, academics, and industry experts to support its portfolio companies with problem-solving and growth initiatives. The firm has a storied history of backing innovative companies. Its portfolio includes notable successes like Rippling, Figma, Applied Intuition, Vercel, Solugen, Boom, and more, spanning a diverse array of industries and technologies. + Leadership: Led by Josh Buckley, an entrepreneur and early-stage investor who brings significant operational and investment expertise to the firm. His entrepreneurial background includes roles as: - Co-founder and CEO of Mino Games (2011-2019). - CEO of Product Hunt (2020-2021). - Chairman of Clearbit (2014-2020). Buckley also holds board positions at several leading companies, including Placer, NexHealth, Fuse, and ClassDojo. LinkedIn lists Jonathan Choi as another team member contributing to the firm's ongoing success. + Portfolio Strategy: Buckley Ventures aims to build long-term partnerships with founders by offering not just financial capital, but also strategic support through its extensive network. This approach has helped the firm identify and scale promising companies across frontier technology and software, including notable emerging fields such as #robotics, space technology, and next-gen #SaaS platforms. + Looking Ahead: Buckley Ventures' Fund IV reflects the firm’s ambition to maintain its leadership in early-stage technology investing. With its track record of successful investments and strong founder relationships, the upcoming $250M fund is poised to expand the firm’s influence and support a new generation of transformative companies. If you are experiencing difficulties in raising fresh capital and would require warm introductions to new LPs, contact G+QUANT     ▶ Please use G+QUANT's link for inquiries and fund decks, or send your inquiry directly to [email protected] #VentureCapital #TechInvesting #EarlyStageStartups #BuckleyVentures #FrontierTech #Innovation #Entrepreneurship #StartupFunding

3

You are missing the point. You will never get funded by a VC. Why? VC firms want: 100X return on Seed investments. 15X return on Series A funding. 5X return on late-stage funding. All in 5 years. Why? 65% of VC backed companies fail to return their original investment. 50% of VC backed companies fail to return ANY invested capital. They go out of business. You need to show your competition is making these returns and why you will be able to. Saying you can or showing projections won't work. REG D or REG A+ offer a better alternative. Contact us today. Discover your options. We advise companies raising $10 million or more and where to find the money. Are you chasing the VC dream?

Today's Boring Business: NYC Bodega & Deli - $500K Cashflow - $2.1M Revenue Ever wanted to own a Bodega in NYC? We found a listing for a 40-year old deli and convenience store located in Manhattan (Chelsea) Would you buy this business? #SMB #ETA #finance #Cashflow #investing #search #searchfund #privateequity #microprivateequity #smallbusiness #venturecapital #vc #entrepreneur Disclaimer: Hypothetical and illustrative only. Please do your own research (DYOR) or work with tax and legal professionals before making a decision. This video are intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or tax advice, nor should be construed as an offer to sell, a solicitation of an offer to buy, or a recommendation for any security by SMB PE LLC or any third party.

4

A great The Angel Nest Podcast episode recorded yesterday with Thomas Wisniewski of newark venture partners! Really insightful conversation around trends in Seed stage investing, how metrics matter in communicating traction, and important aspects of financial modeling for early stage startups. Many thanks for your time Tom and thanks David Hemenway as always for hosting. Look out for the release of the episode soon! #angelinvesting #seedstage #startups #financialmodeling #venturecapital #startups

35

Summary: New York-based startup GovWell is helping local governments streamline and automate tasks, such as building permits and code inspections, through its workflow system. It has raised $4.5 million in funding and aims to become the go-to provider for smaller and medium-sized government agencies. Key takeaways: Founders Troy LeCaire and Ben Cohen were inspired to create GovWell after seeing the stark difference in technology between Cohen's experience working at Uber and faxing building permits for his contractor father. The company's platform allows for customization without the need for expensive bespoke software, making it accessible for smaller government agencies. Despite competition in the government software market, LeCaire sees the potential for growth due to the massive scale of government expenditures and the importance of efficient and effective government services. Counter arguments: Some may argue that the government sector is not a lucrative market for software companies due to strict regulations and lower budgets compared to private companies. The competition in the government software market may pose a challenge for GovWell to become the top provider, as there are established players such as OpenGov with significant funding and acquisition by Cox Enterprises. #venturecapital #fundraising #startups

1