George Jones

I find it hard to believe that with millions of EVs entering the market and the proliferation of AI compute that PGE is actually going to have excess capacity in 2040 without any additional generation from 3rd parties. I am also curious if there are enough transmission lines and if PGE views that as someone else’s problem. Maybe they are planning on AI and ACTUAL figuring it all out! https://lnkd.in/gybsMmaw

10

5 Comments

Positive news for US manufacturing - TSMC’s Arizona facility is doing better than expected. Bloomberg reports the site is producing chips at 4% higher yields than similar Taiwan facilities. That’s big, especially for those of us who wondered if this complex manufacturing would fly stateside. After a couple of production delays, TSMC just came back and crushed expectations. This extra 4% yield is proof we can make this happen right here in the U.S. This isn’t just a win for TSMC - it’s a win for all of us banking on the CHIPS Act to reshape the global semiconductor map. High yields mean we’re not just manufacturing but doing it with some serious efficiency. And if that doesn’t help build momentum for more US-made chips, I don’t know what will.

222

8 Comments

Introducing the 2024 LA Hard Tech 50! 🚀 The momentum has become unstoppable for the ecosystem of entrepreneurs and engineers building in the hardware industrial ecosystem in Southern California. The story goes back over 100 years to the days of early aviation pioneers Glenn Martin, Allan Lockheed, Jack Northrop, and Howard Hughes, and to the founding of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory just before World War II. The macroeconomic, geopolitical, and technological tailwinds have been brewing for years, and the talent pool that accumulated in the legacy primes and subs became a tinderbox, where SpaceX served as a match and lit the industry on fire. The Algorithm, hardcore work ethic, and sense of responsibility and ownership instilled in SpaceX engineers built a uniquely entrepreneurial culture that is churning out new startup founders, and we’re now seeing second-order centers of excellence like Anduril and Hadrian. New startups are being founded almost every week in LA across space, defense, manufacturing & industrial automation, and energy & critical resources. The list was harder to write this year as the ecosystem has grown. The 2024 LA Hard Tech 50 includes 30 companies that were on last year’s list, and 20 new entrants who made a big impact this year. Nick Kim and I also give shout-outs to 5 key ecosystem builders and 10 exceptional operators in the community. There’s also a link to a more comprehensive Airtable list and a map of the companies. Let us know who we missed!

213

16 Comments

Friends, Q2 was a quarter of progress and learning for us at HawkTower, where we invest in early-stage startups applying breakthrough computing technologies to maximize California's natural resource markets. Our focus is on technology-enabled interventions (e.g., AI-enabled geospatial radars for lithium-ion batteries in the waste stream) for critical, market-level imperatives (e.g., disaster prevention) that can drive rapid commercial adoption (e.g., placed on every recycling truck in the world). Our current investment priorities are: - Agricultural productivity and efficiency - Biomanufacturing - Labor and mobility automation - Waste stream optimization and decarbonization - Disaster prevention and management Here’s a snapshot of what we’ve been up to: Milestones and Investments: - In late April, we officially launched our fund, filing with the SEC. Yay. - By June, we completed our first fund close ahead of schedule, with backing from family offices, foundations, high-net-worth individuals, and organizations aligned with California's future. - Our portfolio now includes three early-stage investments (Farm-ng, Agriful Software, and Nexstera Tech). Strategic Partnerships: - We believe that startups operating closer to their customers and resources, especially in agriculture and biomanufacturing, have a strategic advantage. For instance, the Salinas Valley, a major agricultural hub, is less than an hour from Silicon Valley and serves as a center of thought leadership in the convergence of agriculture and AI (from Western Growers, Taylor Farms, and others). - Similarly, the North San Joaquin Valley is emerging as a biotech and agtech innovation hub, and we are proud to support BEAM Circular, a startup hub for the circular bioeconomy. Key Relationships: - Karen Warner, CEO of BEAM Circular, joined HawkTower as a strategic advisor. - Jackie Cruz, Ed. D. Cruz, Hartnell College’s VP of Advancement, advises on Salinas Valley and workforce development. - Ben Palone from Western Growers, with his technical background in agriculture, became a trusted advisor. - Matthew Hoffman from Driscoll's Global R&D team provides insights on global agriculture, product positioning, and investment strategy. - We collaborated with Monterey Bay DART for workforce development and automation in agtech. - Dominic Milano and the Milano Technical Group from Merced collaborated on key initiatives and advised us on investments. - HawkTower is participating in Santa Cruz Works's accelerator cohort as a mentor and advisor. Thank you Doug Erickson. - We published an overview of entrepreneurship across the UC system with input from across the University of California system. Moving into the fall, we remain deeply committed to supporting founders shaping California's future natural resource markets. Stay tuned and be in touch! : ) Db

95

5 Comments

From 2017 - 2021, I lead growth efforts for Southern California’s largest innovation lab, Toolbox LA. 🚀 It was HQ for MiLA Capital, an early-stage hardware fund investing in tech you can touch. 🤖 I was fortunate to have amazing leaders who believed in my abilities and let me experiment. They also took the time to teach me new concepts about project management and finance. This was critical to our success. Without exceptional leaders, it's really hard to scale anything successfully. I feel so fortunate to have worked for smart, kind, and thoughtful investors who taught me so much. Thank you, Noramay Cadena, Carmen Palafox, and Shaun Arora for all that you've done to help my career. Here are some results I achieved through strategic marketing initiatives around customer acquisition (we had 2 business models: monthly membership fees and event space booking fees) 🚀 Grew memberships and revenue within the 24 months of operation from $4,000 to $35,000 MRR 🚀 Maintained a sales pipeline of over $500k in leads utilizing the HubSpot CRM system 🚀 Leveraged new and emerging industry-related digital channels (Peerspace, LiquidSpace, Croissant) for brand awareness and $150k in lead generation 🚀 Worked with LA Mayor Eric Garcetti’s team to launch Toolbox LA in tandem with LA’s Manufacturing Week, resulting in over 1000+ RSVPs, media coverage, and a continuation of successful government relationships 🚀 Launched First Fridays, a monthly event series showcasing local artisans, small businesses, creatives, and DTC brands There was a lot more we accomplished, but those achievements are the ones I am most proud of. Reflecting on this time, I am incredibly grateful for the ability to experiment. Freedom and trust within an organization are key to sustainable growth. We also had a major advantage in our value proposition: we were the only innovation lab in Southern California with open, community access to a full maker space, wet lab, and coworking amenities. I learned so much about product prototyping from the members and portfolio companies. I wish I could tell you this place still existed, but we were one of the unfortunate consequences of the pandemic. We shut down in January 2021. Now, it serves as home to Machina Labs, which is doing some truly innovative work in AI and manufacturing. I still use the Toolbox LA mantra when tackling hard problems: "Wake up, kick ass, repeat" This is just one chapter in my 16 years of experience in marketing, community building, and partnerships. Would you like to learn more about customer acquisition strategies? The RAR Studio is now accepting applications for Cohort 2 of Founder Bootcamp. You'll get to learn all my tips and tricks. And you'll also get 1:1 strategy sessions each week. Apply now: https://bit.ly/4aRHzF8 Would love to hear from anyone who's building something interesting and chat about growth strategies! #marketing #community #innovation #growth #leadership

67

21 Comments

HawkTower is a new venture capital firm focused on Underleveraged California. Our mission is to foster innovation and commercialization in critical rising and emerging regions of California, a state that still holds untapped potential as the world's fifth-largest economy. A thriving California, one that continues to grow, compete, and innovate on a global scale, is crucial for America's overall prosperity. Today, our website launched. We are also excited to announce additions to the team and advisory, including: Bill Sherrod, EdD, a 29-year Navy veteran and former Strategic Advisor to the President of the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS), has joined HawkTower as a Venture Partner. Bill, who initially joined us as an advisor in February, has quickly become an indispensable part of our team. His extensive experience in dual-use technology, advanced air mobility, and more brings HawkTower a wealth of knowledge and expertise. Vittoria Lecomte is a new Venture Partner. Tori is a former Forbes 30 Under 30 and an investment banker at Barclays in their Technology, Media, and Telecom Group. She was lead analyst on the Fitbit (now part of Google) and GoPro IPOs. Before joining HawkTower, she was the founder and CEO of Sesh which had a successful exit to Caraway. HawkTower is thrilled to announce our strategic partnership with Tesserakt Ventures, an early-stage venture capital firm based in Central California. This collaboration, at a time of critical opportunity for emerging California, will drive cohesion in the marketplace. Daniel Emilio Sabzehzar (Venture Partner) and Phoenix Skeahan (Operating Partner) will join HawkTower, enhancing our sourcing, diligence, and portfolio support capabilities. Lenny Mendonca, a Turlock native, is a new advisor. He served as Governor Newsom's Chief Economic and Business Advisor and is also a Senior Partner Emeritus at McKinsey & Company, where he founded the firm's U.S. state and local public sector consulting practice. Walt Duflock, head of innovation for the Western Growers , is also a new advisor. Walt is a partner at a 5th-generation family farming operation in Monterey County. In addition to 30 years of experience at Silicon Valley tech startups, Walt and his team at WGA are extraordinary thought leaders in the AgTech ecosystem. Our technical advisory capacity is significantly strengthened with the support of Alexander Wolf, Dean of the Baskin School of Engineering at University of California, Santa Cruz, Amy Fleischer, Dean, the College of Engineering California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly), and Rakesh Goel, Dean, School of Engineering, University of California, Merced. HawkTower is confident in the entrepreneurial acumen and potential of each of these universities (as well as NPS, UC Davis, Fresno St., and others). I'm humbled to share these updates with you as we continue to grow our firm out in the open with your input.

122

23 Comments

Excited for DCVC portfolio co Alta Resource Technologies to emerge from stealth! The design space of biology is many orders of magnitude larger than inorganic chemistry, and Alta uses it to massively reduce the cost of extracting rare earth metals. https://lnkd.in/g_q5UwRF

69

1 Comment

🌟Innovative VC Firm Overcomes Exits Drought with Secondary Sales🌟 ⛵Navigating a challenging landscape where exits are scarce, Santa Barbara Venture Partners (SBVP) has pioneered a novel approach to sustain its growth and attract investors for its second fund: secondary sales. Instead of waiting for traditional exits like IPOs or acquisitions, SBVP opted to sell shares of its portfolio companies, demonstrating its ability to generate returns for investors and stand out in a competitive market. 🎤According to Dan Engel, founder and managing partner of SBVP, these secondary transactions have been a game-changer, sparking investor interest and bolstering the firm's credibility. By leveraging its recent successes, including a lucrative stake in sports-betting company DraftKings Inc.' acquisition of digital lottery app Jackpocket, SBVP seized the opportunity to return profits to its limited partners (LPs) and pave the way for its second fund. 💡Engel highlighted the challenges faced by young VC firms in raising subsequent funds, particularly amid a downturn in exit activity and heightened investor scrutiny. With traditional exit routes becoming increasingly elusive, the pressure is on for firms to demonstrate tangible returns and establish a track record of success. ✨"For us, secondary sales have been a game-changer. They've helped us return profits to our LPs and attract investors for our second fund," said Dan Engel. 💰For SBVP, the decision to pursue secondary sales was driven by the need to provide liquidity to LPs and validate its investment thesis in the eyes of prospective investors. By strategically offloading portions of its holdings in high-performing portfolio companies like Bark Technologies and Rad AI, SBVP not only generated substantial returns but also bolstered investor confidence in its ability to deliver results. ⚠Despite the complexities and potential stigma associated with early share sales, Engel emphasized the importance of prioritizing investor returns and seizing opportunities to unlock value for stakeholders. With a focus on profitability and transparency, SBVP remains committed to its mission of delivering sustainable growth and maximizing returns for its LPs. 🔍 "Returning profits to our investors is our top priority. By strategically selling shares, we're proving our commitment to delivering results and driving value for our stakeholders," added Engel. As SBVP continues to explore secondary transactions and expand its investor base, the firm stands as a testament to innovation and resilience in the face of market challenges. 🚀 ✅ Looking to raise capital for your #fund and increase the international pool of your LP #investors?   🤝 Need warm #LP introductions?   📝 Selling #secondaries to increase liquidity?   🧐 Looking for co-investments?   ▶ G+QUANT's link for inquiries and fund decks: https://lnkd.in/gjC_EuTE #VCInnovation #SecondarySalesSuccess #InvestorReturns #ValueCreation 

2

Now is not the time for innovation to take a backseat. Where are the LPs willing to invest despite the dry IPO market? No guts, no glory as my Father used to say. He flew F4s and wrote about it in his book "Rolling Thunder." Now that takes courage, investing in 2024 does not. Do we really want other countries to pull ahead in AI and digital health solutions (especially mental health?!)? NextSense has technology that is literally sitting on a shelf due to the lack of courage from those on Sand Hill, which is because LPs aren't giving them dry powder. What is the technology that is landlocked? It's called Nesos, and you can read about how it helped 25 women achieve 74% therapeutic response to MDD (major depressive disorder) in the Journal of Affective Disorders, Nov 2022, which the FDA granted us a breakthrough designation given treatment (called Standard of Care) usually results in 55% response on the Hamilton D-17. So where might this technology go? Singapore. Why? Because the Sovereign Fund of Singapore is willing to invest in this amazing technology and I'm out of options in the US. If you know an LP (limited partner) who contributes to a VC fund, tell them America needs their investment. This country was built on the backs of ultra-wealthy and these are the times that need those who have the means to step up!

18

3 Comments

Thanks Bernadette, you are so good at explaining in this video what's happening with energy in CA. BTW- Great article in the LA Times and a quote from you in Sammy Roth's article about the tug-a-war between Utilities, IBEW and CALSSA. https://lnkd.in/ggm-XCXr

1

118 VCs (one hundred eighteen!) are gathering in San Diego next week - to meet with 30 SD startups. But it's so MUCH bigger than just those 30 co's. It brings VCs back - when they see quality companies. It helps those who are next-in-line and adjacent. It enables us to send deal flow all year 'round. It attracts talent and other companies. It inspires entrepreneurship. Connect is working for SD. Together, we're building the best damn innovation ecosystem on the planet. Year over year. Five.Ten.Thirty.

263

25 Comments

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

24

1 Comment

⚡ Kicking off 🌎 Earth Day with exciting news as we unveil 8090 Industries' latest investment in Exowatt led by Hannan P. along with Sam Altman Andreessen Horowitz, Atomic, Overmatch Ventures, Protagonist, and many more. As the boom in AI heightens the energy demand for data centers, Exowatt is pioneering a fundamental breakthrough in baseload renewable energy that helps makes $0.01 per kilowatt-hour, 24 hours a day a reality for commercial and industrial use cases. 🏗 How does it work? The Exowatt P3, represents a breakthrough 3-in-1 modular system, a heat collector, a heat battery, and a heat engine capable of providing dispatchable power and heat 24 hours a day. Unlike traditional solar panels that convert sunlight into electricity directly, Exowatt uses a unique approach by storing solar energy in a thermal battery, which can retain this energy for up to 24 hours per day. The Exowatt P3 modules are designed to fit the space of a standard 40-foot shipping container. They can be deployed on small and large commercial and industrial projects, linearly scaling with workload size and infrastructure requirements. Best captured by Founder and CEO Hannan P. himself, an industrialist you're going to want to pay close attention to: “You don’t have to go back to fossil fuels to solve the data-center energy problem…That’s counterproductive and unlike traditional renewable solutions that require significant upfront costs and extended setup times, Exowatt's modular system can be deployed rapidly and cost-effectively – and it's available THIS YEAR. Exowatt is built to respond quickly to the escalating energy demands of the modern world, especially those spurred by the rapid growth of AI." 👀 Who Cares? Exowatt has a backlog of demand for OVER 500 megawatts for data centers across the U.S. and plans to begin deployments later this year. With this $20 million seed funding, Exowatt intends to expand its team and deploy the Exowatt P3 with its first set of data center customers. Stay tuned! Lots to come! cc Kerem Ozmen Wes Mendenhall Filip Vurdelja Haluk Sabanci Dincer Grant Brown Ishan Meswani Garuth A. Andrew Irwin Charles Oppenheimer Fatimah Bello #energyabundance #decarbonization #climatetech

80

2 Comments

Hear Tristan Cool speak on the panel session: Energy Harvesting - Powering the Future of Sensor Networks and Controls at #SensorsConverge!

4

Congratulations to Kern Venture Group portfolio company Cambium on being Named One of the Top 100 Venture Funded, Defense and Dual Use Start-ups by the Silicon Valley Defense Group. This annual ranking and report, sponsored by JPMorganChase's Aerospace & Defense Industry division, is SVDG's annual ranked list of the emerging US techno-security ecosystem of venture-backed companies. The ranking is the product of a proprietary, quantitative formula created by SVDG, in collaboration with Franklin Templeton and Balyasny Asset Management L.P., fortified by conversations with technology leaders across the US Government and allied partner governments, and categorized against the United States Department of Defense's 14 Critical Technology Areas. https://lnkd.in/gbCkssFy

20

2 Comments

TQI Exclusive 📣 Dan Caruso, technology pioneer and Managing Director of Caruso Ventures, believes we’re at a pivotal moment for quantum technologies. With growing investor interest and Colorado’s thriving quantum ecosystem, the timing and location are ideal for breakthroughs. Caruso highlights the convergence of quantum computing and AI as a transformative trend. Quantum is already enhancing AI systems, showing potential for greater efficiency and computation, while AI is aiding quantum advancements like error correction. “We’re starting to see in quantum examples where AI and quantum are going to intersect sooner than I would have guessed,” he says, predicting this synergy will redefine industries like material science, drug discovery, and financial modeling—offering significant advantages to early adopters. https://lnkd.in/eGQnw4-A #QuantumTechnology #Innovation #AI #ecosystem

19

2 Comments

Excited to join industry leaders in LA to explore the future of non-traditional investments. I’ll be speaking at the Private Wealth Southern California Forum, hosted by Markets Group, on 12 November. Together, we’ll discuss how innovations in alternative assets are reshaping the investment landscape. Thank you to Markets Group for providing the platform to explore these transformative developments. #PrivateEquity #Innovation #Technology #Entrepreneurship #VentureCapital #Investing #Finance #Alternatives #Startups #Speaker

35

1 Comment