Ben Lack

Data from the International Energy Agency (IEA) illustrates the current "readiness" of #ClimateTechs + their potential impact on carbon reduction. As shown, many techs are at an early stage of being able to have a material impact. Concerningly, some tech funds recently returned capital back to investors recently + closed their funds - citing inability to fund capital intensive techs, found in areas like ClimateTech. This in part may be contributing to the $2 trillion shortfall in ClimateTech, that Deloitte estimates. What this may mean for the future? - The migration of LPs to global, super VC funds within ClimateTech, given the large capital pools needed to fund tech development - Greater specialization from smaller funds, energizing more niche elements of the ClimateTech market - but also altering their / LP's risk profile - A greater role to be played by debt financing in funding growth entities at an earlier stage - impacting cashflow dynamics Will be an interesting space to watch moving forward. We at The Proptech Connection are constantly working with all parts of the Proptech ecosystem. From the leading LPs, funds, techs and adopters in market, providing an independent view. Reach out to us today to find out how we can help. #InvestorTrends #Strategy #Global Ivo van Breukelen Stuart Daun Kiki C. Ethan Ward

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💡 Interesting takeaways (+ my own commentary) from this #SFClimateWeek session on startups engaging with #utilities - Bits (software) and atoms (hardware) will both be required to power #decarbonization and the #energytransition. Enterprise SaaS is a proven business model that needs to complement innovations in deeptech. Start by targeting the customers most open to moving quickly with new approaches - which might be municipal and coop utilities. Referencing those early customers and successful deployments then helps when you start targeting more risk-averse companies, who have higher expectations and potentially more to lose from new technologies. I've seen the latter play out many times in SaaS markets. Successfully penetrating more mainstream (and conservative) segments of a market requires thoughtfully sequencing and orchestrating product development, partnerships & integrations, go-to-market capabilities, and delivery/service capabilities. Would have loved to be at the session to hear firsthand from Adriana Penuela-Useche Louisa White Page Crahan Andrea Sguazzi Giancarlo Savini.

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If anyone is in North County San Diego, on Thursday May 2nd, we will be hosting a tech entrepreneur and investor meet up at 5:30pm. We’ll have a couple speakers, one of which is a fin-tech start-up raising a round, followed up by a presentation on the state of the stock & crypto market. We host these events quarterly and usually get a lot of founders and investors to attend. If anyone is interested, please message me and I can send you the details. LaunchPad San Diego #startups #startupincubator #entrepreneur #investing #crypto #meetup

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Challenges have created opportunities in the solar industry: Ascent OS and its new CEO Kevin Kane have created an operating platform for the solar industry. As solar installers look for efficiencies in project management, roofing companies explore expansion into the solar industry, and lenders look for ways to manage the large number of relationships and projects for solar financing, Ascent OS has entered the market with an elegant solution to streamline operations . . . immediately. Ascent OS is a software platform designed for solar energy companies to manage their operations efficiently. It combines tools for customer relationship management (CRM), project scheduling, and field worker coordination into a single system. The platform helps streamline tasks like tracking projects, scheduling installations, and enabling real-time communication among teams. It also allows field workers to access and update project details on-site through a mobile app, ensuring smooth operations from start to finish. AscentOS is aimed at improving transparency, reducing inefficiencies, and helping solar companies optimize resources while maintaining profit margins. #CompanyToWatch #ChallengeToOpportunity #Solar Bill Kennedy Aaron Mondell Anderson Yatish Mishra Jean M. Rick Spencer Growth Factory

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INTERVIEWS OF 2024 SXSW PITCH WINNERS: Dhavel Patel of Lotus Every March in Austin, 50 of the world's most impactful startups showcase their talents at SXSW Pitch. Today we begin a series of short interviews with some of the category winners from the 2024 event. Founder and CEO Dhaval Patel has been growing Lotus for three years. At this year's SXSW Pitch, his San Jose based startup emerged as the winner of the "Smart Cities, Transportation & Sustainability" category. Patel's short answers to our questions are below. SXSW: What is Lotus?  Patel: A wearable ring that controls objects at home by pointing. See https://www.getlotus.com/ SXSW: What community does Lotus serve? Patel: Folks with limited mobility -- older adults, veteran soldiers, people with disabilities.  SXSW: Who is your all-time favorite entrepreneur? Patel: Warren Buffett. SXSW: Best startup-related advice you have received? Patel: Don't start building first, find the need first. SXSW: Current entrepreneurial trend that excites you the most? Patel: Desire for tech that is intuitive and simple. SXSW: Fail fast or perseverance? Patel: Persevere in failing fast repeatedly. SXSW: Favorite VC? Patel: Andreessen Horowitz. SXSW: Favorite gadget or device? Patel: Apple AirPods. SXSW: Government can best support startups by Patel: Moving faster. SXSW: Most over-hyped technology at present? Patel: AI. SXSW: Most under-hyped technology at present? Patel: Consumer hardware. SXSW: What did you enjoy most about your experience at SXSW? Patel: The people -- each person wanting to make the world a better place. SXSW: What is your best trait as an entrepreneur? Patel: Simplifying complex problems. SXSW: What is your best advice for other startups? Patel: Focus (say "no" to more). Learn more about Dhaval Patel of Lotus plus other 2024 SXSW Pitch winners by listening to the audio of their session at this year's event. See https://lnkd.in/gHtwQB8n Applications for SXSW Pitch 2025 will open in late summer. See https://lnkd.in/gE2hcVPK #sxsw, #sxsw2024, #startups, #founders, Chris Valentine, Dhaval Patel, SXSW, #venturecapital, #entrepreneur, #entrepreneurs, #startup, #founderstories, #sxswpitch, Lotus (Techstars'23), #techstars, #Austin, #ATX, #creativity, #innovation, #hardware, #consumerhardware, #pitch, #accessibility,

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How a 30-something CEO turned Vimeo around to $400M ARR, and how she now plans to scale Tubi 👇🏻 You still may think of Vimeo as the smaller competitor to YouTube — and that’s what it 𝘄𝗮𝘀 for most of that time. But when Anjali Sud took over as CEO, she doubled down on reinventing Vimeo as a 𝘀𝗼𝗳𝘁𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗻𝘆 that serves a B2B market. That market is booming: by the time Anjali left, it was doing around $400 million in Annual Recurring Revenue. That’s a remarkable success story — all because Anjali decided to 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗽 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 with YouTube, Netflix, and other consumer video companies and find a better market to play in. Now, the question is: will she take the same approach in her leadership of Tubi? Some of my favorite quotes from our conversation: 1/ 𝗢𝗻 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆—“The more you can make the goals of your business and your personal goals one and the same, the more you can do. If you put the business first, you can unlock so much opportunity” 2/ 𝗢𝗻 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝗶𝗴 𝘀𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲— “We thought we were inventing the future with video for enterprise. But remember timing is everything. We acquired Livestream experts in livestreaming townhalls and completely bombed on our launch numbers pre-pandemic. But then, in a split second, everything changed” Anjali added that businesses don’t have linear lines of growth, there are moments of failure along the way. 3/ 𝗢𝗻 𝗴𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰 —“We romanticize going public. I know I did, and I’ll always treasure the experience. But I’ll be honest. I think a lot of companies probably go public way too early” Anjali shared how we should reframe going public as a goal in itself. There are alternative ways for capital or liquidity. The trade-offs are real. 4/ 𝗢𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗺𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁—“If you think about entertainment, our job is to entertain. We almost do ourselves a disservice when we think of things like TV, streaming, social media, and gaming. We're all in the attention business. The younger generation is forcing us to break these walls.” Tubi is today the most watched FREE TV and movie streaming service in the U.S., with the world’s largest content library of over 200,000 movies and TV episodes, a growing collection of Originals, and nearly 250 FAST channels. More of this power-packed convo on EPISODE 100 of Billion Dollar Moves Podcast! 𝗟𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗶𝗻 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 #𝗘𝗽𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗱𝗲𝟭𝟬𝟬 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸, 𝗱𝗼 𝗺𝗲 𝗮 𝘀𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝟭𝟬𝟬 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸𝘀 😊 Special thanks to HubSpot podcast network, my sponsors, my production team, all of my guests, and especially you, my community. Here’s to the next 100! #venturecapital #entrepreneurship #leadership #AANHPI #topglobalventurecapitalpodcast

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'Drill, baby, drill' isn't just for oil and gas - it could unlock geothermal energy and geologic hydrogen too. That's the fascinating paradox of climate tech I discussed in a recent TechCrunch feature examining how VCs are viewing the sector's future. The reality is that policy impacts are rarely straightforward - deregulation of drilling and permitting, such as for overhauls in transmission and distribution, could actually accelerate clean energy solutions. Furthermore, the sector has shown remarkable resilience through multiple administrations and market cycles. The core message I shared with Tim De Chant and Rebecca Szkutak rings true: technological advancement and declining cost curves will keep driving solutions forward, regardless of the political situation. The energy landscape continually presents new opportunities at every turn. Worth a read for anyone interested in the exciting future of climatetech investing. https://lnkd.in/gjNdm4DW #ClimateInnovation #VentureCapital #Geothermal #GeologicHydrogen

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Why Buying Your First Business is the hardest & Financing The Fear is Being seen as too risky by lenders and investors. The Solution: Prepare a solid business plan with detailed financial projections. Work with a financial advisor to enhance your credibility. Consider alternative financing options like SBA loans or seller financing.

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Turn one event into 2.8+ million impressions? New case study w/ Vin Matano 🐝 and Demandbase out now! - Follow our DICE framework to maximize your event ROI so you don’t have to roll the dice with in-person content. D-esign I-deate C-apture E-dit - DESIGN your event content plan before the event. Factor the RSVP list, influencer partners, and key marketing messaging before the start time. This will inform the topic selection and shot planning during the event. The more homework you do upfront, the easier it is to hit a home run at the event. IDEATE on content topics and thoroughly prepare. Be intentional and formulate a concrete shooting plan. This can include video topics, storyboarding, branding, and questions for the participants. You want to focus primarily on execution during the event, so it’s key to get the preparation in order. CAPTURE your event in a versatile manner. Now that you have your content plan, you can focus on 1) DOCUMENTING the event and 2) CREATING original content at the event. You want a fair balance of both so you can produce versatile videos (short form, interviews, hype video, recap, long form) with original b-roll. EDIT your raw assets into usable content. Think carefully about how you want to distribute the content. Fast-paced short form is great for organic social while more cinematic shots can serve as promotional reel for future events and sponsor activation. DO NOT post anything raw. Create with audience enjoyment top of mind. - Watch the full video for a detailed breakdown. Hosting an event and interested in turning it into a content factory? Hit up EventShark 🦈

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Last night, while in town for GAI Insights #GenerativeAIWorld, I co-hosted a dinner with long time friend Dave Balter and True Ventures, gathering top minds in AI, VC, and entrepreneurship in Boston. BrandRank.AI CTO Matt Cox (based in Boston w/our tech team) and investor Bill Hildebolt of gen.video joined us. We dove into how AI is revolutionizing productivity across industries. The consensus? AI literacy is becoming as crucial as digital literacy was a decade ago. Our discussion centered around four key themes: - AI'S IMPACT ON BUSINESS: From automating tasks to enhancing decision-making, AI is transforming how companies operate and compete. - HUMAN-AI COLLABORATION: We explored the potential of AI as a creative partner and decision-making tool, and the implications for various industries. (Perfect timing for CincyAI for Humans (CincyAI) one-year anniversary celebration today.) - THE FUTURE OF WORK: We debated which jobs might be displaced, which new roles will emerge, and how to prepare for an AI-driven workforce. - ETHICAL AI AND BRAND PERCEPTION: Our work at BrandRank.AI is showing how AI can reveal uncomfortable truths about brands, raising questions about transparency and authenticity. (Are LLMs are too smart for BS!) What jumped out in the conversation is that AI isn't just a tool – it's becoming a collaborator, creator, and potential competitor. Are we ready for AI in boardrooms, creative processes, and as the primary interface for brand interactions? The entrepreneurial energy was palpable as we explored opportunities in AI-driven health monitoring and human-AI creative collaboration -- this balanced with ethical considerations and the responsibility we bear as leaders in this space. The future of business is AI-collaborative. Are we prepared to be good partners? This discussion echoed the conference's sentiment, bolstered by outstanding presentation by MIT and HBS faculty: we're in an unprecedented moment of disruption. It's not just a technological shift, but a fundamental reimagining of work, creativity, and interaction. (Amazing conference so far Paul Baier, John Sviokla Liz Vanzura) Great time to be an entrepreneur! And the ultimate test for leadership! Thanks Dave, Gus Coldebella and True team for great and timely conversation. Kelly Cohen Hank Hudepohl Carl Fraik Aftab Pureval Kendra Ramirez Christopher Brock Jon Salisbury Helen Todd (Human) Jon Salisbury Jack Wyant MJ Price 🌱Lauren Morgenstein Schiavone Judy Zitnik Christopher Morse Christy Page Jocile Ehrlich Lee Beech Tracey Cooke Sherrie Kinderdine Adriana Altuve Chetan Parekh Diana Takach Jonathan Carson

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Great post by Josh Wagner on the importance of urgency. If you don't want to build a company characterized by urgency and extreme intensity over a long period of time - at least a decade - you would be better off not raising venture capital.

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In this episode of The HIVE Mind Podcast, hosts Mitch Mitchem, CEO, and David Hanscom, CCO, explore how AI can empower entrepreneurs to scale their startups effectively. They dive into some of the best AI tools, like ChatGPT, Claude, Beautiful AI, and Perplexity, that can help entrepreneurs streamline their operations, boost productivity, and focus on what they do best. Mitch and David share their insights and personal experiences, providing practical examples of how AI can level the playing field for small businesses. Whether you’re just starting out or looking for ways to enhance your current operations, this episode will equip you with strategies to supercharge your startup. Prompt of the Day “I’m an entrepreneur with a growing startup in [your industry]. I want to use AI to enhance efficiency and scale my operation. Suggest an integrated plan using AI tools across key areas: content creation, customer engagement, productivity, and data analysis. Include recommendations for specific tools like ChatGPT, Perplexity, or Beautiful AI, and explain how they can be applied to make a tangible impact daily.” Beautiful AI - Beautiful.ai ChatGPT - ChatGPT.com Claude - Claude.ai Perplexity - Perplexity.ai Thanks for watching! If you’re ready to take your skills to the next level, check out HIVE Interactive’s Online Course Series - AI Tools Essentials: An Online Learning Journey from Basics to Advanced Strategies. We cover everything from setting up your AI accounts on popular AI tools, and mastering AI tools to creating real human connections in the digital world. Each module is designed to empower you with practical strategies and insights that you can apply immediately – whether you’re an entrepreneur, in business, HR, or the creative industries, this course has something for you. Join now and let’s unleash your full potential with HIVE Interactive! Learn more and sign up at https://lnkd.in/gx2V5XPk And for all our podcast listeners, remember to use the code HIVEMIND when ordering to receive 20% off the price.

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In this episode of The HIVE Mind Podcast, hosts Mitch Mitchem, CEO, and David Hanscom, CCO, explore how AI can empower entrepreneurs to scale their startups effectively. They dive into some of the best AI tools, like ChatGPT, Claude, Beautiful AI, and Perplexity, that can help entrepreneurs streamline their operations, boost productivity, and focus on what they do best. Mitch and David share their insights and personal experiences, providing practical examples of how AI can level the playing field for small businesses. Whether you’re just starting out or looking for ways to enhance your current operations, this episode will equip you with strategies to supercharge your startup. Prompt of the Day “I’m an entrepreneur with a growing startup in [your industry]. I want to use AI to enhance efficiency and scale my operation. Suggest an integrated plan using AI tools across key areas: content creation, customer engagement, productivity, and data analysis. Include recommendations for specific tools like ChatGPT, Perplexity, or Beautiful AI, and explain how they can be applied to make a tangible impact daily.” Beautiful AI - Beautiful.ai ChatGPT - ChatGPT.com Claude - Claude.ai Perplexity - Perplexity.ai Thanks for watching! If you’re ready to take your skills to the next level, check out HIVE Interactive’s Online Course Series - AI Tools Essentials: An Online Learning Journey from Basics to Advanced Strategies. We cover everything from setting up your AI accounts on popular AI tools, and mastering AI tools to creating real human connections in the digital world. Each module is designed to empower you with practical strategies and insights that you can apply immediately – whether you’re an entrepreneur, in business, HR, or the creative industries, this course has something for you. Join now and let’s unleash your full potential with HIVE Interactive! Learn more and sign up at https://lnkd.in/gx2V5XPk And for all our podcast listeners, remember to use the code HIVEMIND when ordering to receive 20% off the price.

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Having a Cars and Capital event tomorrow in Southern California with Oren Klaff. If you want to join message me. https://lnkd.in/gDQ4D39u Oren Klaff Bridger Pennington #InvestorEvent #FamilyOffice #InvestmentOpportunity #CarlsbadEvent #PrivateEquity #WealthManagement #InvestmentConference #CapitalRaising #NetworkingEvent #IndustryLeaders #FinancialGrowth #InvestorsMeetup #WealthBuilding #BusinessGrowth #InvestmentForum

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Yesterday, I spoke with a friend who’s doing everything right when it comes to climate action. He and his wife drive EVs, have rooftop solar, and completed a home energy audit. Yet, he’s frustrated. The next logical move - switching from natural gas to a heat pump - would increase his energy costs by 30%, even with rebates. It’s a tough reality: the system isn’t always set up to make the sustainable choice the rational one - especially if you're already on the leading edge. But here’s what stood out: He’s already a leader, and now he’s turning his frustration into action. He’s talking to his neighbors to make their neighborhood a "green space", and working with his schools and community centers to do audits and make upgrades that make economic sense. This reminded me that while individual actions matter, collective action and systemic change are what truly move the needle. I’ve written more about this conversation and the lessons it offers. If you’re navigating similar challenges, I’d love to hear your story. Check out the full post here: https://lnkd.in/eawyPdNd #ClimateAction #Sustainability #CleanEnergy

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It’s so obvious what’s happening. Lines companies and regulators need to get out of the way (and react much faster than they are) to let the flow accelerate. https://lnkd.in/g9k-z-v7

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