Gregg Smith

Worth checking out for any companies at the right stage.

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Some VC investors believe that brick and mortar - referring to a physical presence of some kind - should be avoided at all costs. Yet, the track record of clinic and hybrid care businesses in health care indicates otherwise. ==> One Medical (sold for $3.9 billion to Amazon), Oak Street (bought by CVS for $10.6 billion), Lifestance (IPO at $7.5 billion market cap), and PE-backed Premise Health (acquired by OMERS Private Equity for $1.1 billion) If a clinic is indicated as the optimal way to deliver care for that patient population, there are creative ways to build and operate them. Full article below with advice and strategies on how to build and operate hybrid clinics from my teammate Anarghya Vardhana from Maveron, Amir Dan Rubin from OneMedical Group, Steven Eidelman from Modern Animal and more!

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What I learned this week…. As the economy works to eliminate the healthcare cost of poor nutrition, there is no simple set of instructions to follow. There is an abundance of AgTech, FoodTech and HealthTech innovations touching a piece of the bigger equation. But each is driven by divergent signals (GLP-1 vs. sustainable fuels). If this were a large corporation, its R&D group would coordinate the various parts to fit a broader objective. But there is no Bell Labs of longevity or nutrition. The master architect is 350k years of human evolution encrypted in our DNA. Without a large R&D lab or a master plan, it comes down to early adopter customers as our guide. And up to capital providers to see the knowledge arbitrage and invest. We are assembling Food is Health from a pile of Lego blocks. 1) The most legitimate startup investor is a customer. Why don’t we have a tool like PitchBook to find early adopter customers? 2) Nutrient test assays, and many assays, measure a proxy attribute to estimate the target nutrient (i.e. protein). NIR and other spectroscopy are non-destruction and measure a wider array of orthogonal attributes. With the addition of AI, increasing correlations expect an acceleration of valuable insights linking soil, crop genetics, bioavailability, nutrients, health, and longevity. And ultimately, affordable nutrition. 3) Intermittent fasting plus protein pacing (consuming protein at consistent intervals), may boost weight loss and gut health. Perhaps important to GLP-1 treatment and boost to Fairlife Core Power Elite. 4) If we can monitor crops for expression of nutritional qualities (Macro and Micro) during the growing season, we could dynamically modify inputs to modulate nutritional density in season or as a training set for the next season. (John Kempf) 5) Architectural Innovation: Vogue wasn’t replaced by a fashion media company, it was replaced by 10,000 influencers. Salesforce will not be replaced by another CRM. Clayton Christensen and Rebecca Henderson are both right. 6) Taylor Swift’s tour in the US generated $5 billion in consumer spending over 6 months. Who is the Taylor Swift of nutrition? 7) The net demand from the addition of New York to California’s Renewable Diesel standards, by some estimates, would consume the entire US production of soybeans. 8) United Airlines is using the 100k seat back video screens to micro-target consumers with advertising. 9) A plane uses 15%-20% of its fuel during takeoff 10) People who majored in Journalism in the 90’s have seen social media decimate their industry. What college majors will disappear with the Creative Destruction of AI? 11) When playing with Legos, some people follow the instructions precisely, and some do not. I never did. H/T: Erin Martin Ellen Brown Brad Fruth Katie Stebbins More commentary on Creative Destruction: https://lnkd.in/g-vQpF9d

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Great article on the founder-investor relationship—one that’s so critical to the success of any venture. Tough times are inevitable, and the true strength of a founder-investor partnership isn’t measured during the good times, but in how both sides show up when things go wrong. These moments test trust, alignment, and shared resilience. As founders, we’re expected to lead our teams through crises, rally, adapt, and navigate the storm. The best investors also show the same level of leadership and step up during challenging moments, offering guidance, empathy, and actionable solutions. It’s a collaborative effort, and I’ve been fortunate to witness how impactful it can be when investors show true leadership. One way to ensure this is to work with investors who’ve been in your shoes before—there’s nothing quite like operator investors to bring valuable perspective and support when it matters most.

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Building on the success of Rocket Studio with Simon Kirby and Pivotal with Dominic Joseph we decided to merge with Impact Counsel, led by the awesomely talented John D., Erim Jones and Robert Fok earlier this year. We’ve combined our significant and complimentary skills, experience and passion for growing amazing businesses to create a new breed of VC - Creative Capital Ventures Group (CCV). Fund 1 is focused on Sports, Media & Entertainment. Joining us on this exciting journey is media titan Tom Rogers (ex CEO Tivo & CNBC). We have also assembled a mighty team of Venture Partners bringing their expertise into our team, with the legendary Harvey Goldsmith leading our Immersive Entertainment category, and Cam Blackwood (Platinum award winning record producer) and his team at Rezonate heading up Music Rights acquisition. Creative Capital Ventures is designed to disrupt traditional VC models and accelerate the growth of innovative start-ups. We’ve already secured €18 million in commitments and are raising €35 million in total to fuel the next generation of game-changing businesses. What makes CCV different? •⁠ ⁠Founder-Led Expertise: Our team comprises serial entrepreneurs and operators who have built, scaled, and exited successful companies. We know what it takes to drive rapid growth. •⁠ ⁠Speed Scaler: Through our unique venture studio model, we’re not just funding companies—we’re actively accelerating their growth, shrinking the timeline from seed to exit. •⁠ ⁠Industry Focus: CCV focuses on high-growth sectors like Sports, Media, Entertainment, and Lifestyle, with a unique emphasis on IP acquisition to drive returns in stable asset classes. If you're interested in learning more about how CCV is reshaping the venture capital landscape, let’s connect!  More updates to follow! #VentureCapital #Innovation #Entrepreneurship #Startups #ScalingFast #CreativeCapitalVentures https://lnkd.in/eiuWVtvT

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Want to end the week strong? 💪🏻 Thought so! Then take a close look at this kick-ass team with @Josef Bromovsky, Seyfihan Usarer and @Kyle MertensMeyer who are the founders of Algoma. Algoma is on a mission to tackle three of the most pressing challenges in the construction industry: sustainability, productivity, and housing shortages. The built environment accounts for a staggering 40% of global greenhouse gas emissions, and Algoma is determined to change that. With the construction sector seeing just a 1% productivity improvement over the last decade, the global housing crisis continues to worsen. That’s where Algoma steps in. 🌳💻 As a digital architect and engineer, Algoma provides real estate developers with faster, lower-cost, and more sustainable solutions. When developers approach Algoma with empty sites, their technology delivers designs in days, not months!⏱️ In just a few months, Algoma has secured over $600K in contracted revenue and is disrupting the residential construction market with its groundbreaking approach. 💸 Algoma is currently raising a seed round, so reach out if you’re interested. To learn more about their product, visit their website and schedule a demo at: https://www.algoma.co 🏗️ 

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Our partner Eddie Eltoukhy has identified these opportunities in Biotech. Eddie has a PhD in bioengineering from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and over a decade experience as an operator. Reach out to him if you are working on these areas of biotech. Pear VC - Technology-Driven Therapeutic Platforms Companies developing therapeutic assets with a core product engine Proprietary tool, workflow, or samples leading to novel biological data sets Preference for omics platforms or high throughput screening / engineering workflows First-in-class or best-in-class drugs - Next-Generation Therapeutic Modalities Technologies to improve the efficacy, safety, access, or reach of next-gen modalities including the following: Genomic medicines (gene tx & gene editing) Cell therapies Targeted protein degraders Antibody-drug conjugates Radiopharma - Precision Medicine New technologies supporting the discovery of novel biomarkers and the generation of proprietary data sets for applications in: Disease screening Therapy selection Recurrence monitoring - Life Sciences + AI Software Platforms Software & AI-driven platforms to improve all aspects of life sciences R&D, including: Target discovery and validation Drug design and optimization Manufacturing Regulatory Clinical development

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Massachusetts has firmly established itself as a leader in innovation, with three standout sectors fueling its tech-driven economy: biotech, robotics, and cybersecurity. Here’s a look at why the state excels in these fields: 🔬 Biotech: Massachusetts is at the forefront of biotech, thanks to world-class research institutions and a thriving startup ecosystem. With companies like Ginkgo Bioworks, Inc.—Massachusetts continues to shape the future of healthcare, from groundbreaking vaccines to genetic therapies. Robotics: Home to pioneers like Boston Dynamics, Massachusetts has become a hub for robotics innovation. From autonomous robots to robotic prosthetics, the state’s ecosystem supports advancements that push the boundaries of human-machine interaction, transforming sectors from healthcare to logistics. Cybersecurity: Massachusetts is also a leader in cybersecurity, providing critical solutions to protect data and infrastructure in an increasingly digital world. With companies like Rapid7 driving research and product development, Massachusetts is at the heart of cutting-edge cybersecurity innovation. Together, these sectors position Massachusetts as a global tech powerhouse. #MassachusettsInnovation #Biotech #Robotics #Cybersecurity #TechEconomy #InnovationEcosystem #FutureTech #BostonTech

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Can you navigate the highly regulated alcohol industry and still find scalable growth? Noah Sanborn Friedman shows how it’s done. Join me as he shares his top strategies on balancing regulatory challenges and market opportunities. Get the inside scoop on his dos and don’ts that can make or break your venture in the latest from #FundraisingDemsystfied

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Last chance to RSVP for Forum’s Founder-First Investor Breakfast! 🥐 On the morning of Wednesday July 10th, we’ll be celebrating the winner and finalists of the NYC Founder-First Investor Award 🏆 We’ll hear from Nick Adams, Richard Odior, and Lauren Reeves on what it means to be founder-first, get some advice on finding the right investor for your cap table and insights on todays fundraising market. Whether you’re a founder actively fundraising or an early-stage investor, this one’s for you. RSVP using the link in the comments⬇️🔗

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Great time on the Embracing Erosion podcast w/Devon O'Rourke! We talked about: 🚀 How to scale a company from concept to 9-figure exit 🔄 How to break away from the traditional consulting model and apply product approaches ⏩ Why it’s important to iterate quickly and often with messaging 💸📈What signals are important to pay attention to when investing in startups and much more!

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This week Mikal Ventures brings you a 4-week breakdown of the US capital market with an emphasis on the Mikal verticals. Over the 4-week period ending April 15, just over 900 new companies were added, with 94,109 companies included in the US Health Tech, Med Tech, Fin Tech, AI Tech, and Ed Tech verticals. AI Tech again saw the greatest percentage of growth in new companies and transactions, weighing in at over double the vertical averages for the period. The US Fin Tech vertical again led the way in SEC Filings and news articles. Mikal Ventures publishes these stats on a rolling 4-week basis to provide a perspective on how the verticals and new startups move through time. We hope you find them informative and thought-provoking. VC Investors are always adjusting their "Play Book" with a variety of options for investing. Mikal Ventures is one of those alternatives, offering curated solutions to real world problems. Reach out if you have questions on how we can be of assistance and bookmark https://mikalventures.com/ for additional insights and information.

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The global infant formula market is projected to grow to ~$100B by 2030. Since 1980, two brands – Enfamil and Similac – have held 80% market share in the US. When a Cronobacter sakazakii outbreak resulting in several illnesses and two infant deaths was linked to powdered formula in 2022, that began to shift. Supply chain gaps from the pandemic, broken infrastructure, and lack of breastfeeding support led American consumers to view European formula brands as superior. As a result, parents started zooming in on nutritional profiles in American baby formula. Corn syrup, fillers, and palm oil are prominently listed on America’s dominant formula labels – ingredients you wouldn’t find in their European counterparts. For example: • The EFSA sets stringent guidelines for nutrient levels, the inclusion of DHA (an essential omega-3 fatty acid), and strict limits on contaminants such as pesticide residues. • European formulas mimic the nutritional profile of breast milk with lactose as the carbohydrate source, avoiding other sweeteners common in American formulas. • European formulas are largely organic and non-GMO, not yet standard in the US. The challenge? Despite proven benefits, regulatory red tape from the FDA prevents many European brands from entering the US. One way forward? Meet the demands of both European and American nutritional standards. Today, Bobbie is the only company bridging this gap. Coining the term “European-style” formula, Bobbie meets FDA’s regulatory standards while checking the EFSA boxes: • Lactose as the carbohydrate source • Organic and non-GMO • Meets EU standards for DHA The demand for cleaner baby formula ingredients is clear. Of course, there are subjective preferences, accessibility limitations, and cost considerations that ultimately determine what parents buy. But the trend toward “European style,” better-for-you formula is here to stay.

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Happy news from one of our Fund I portfolio companies (which willl hopefully make our investors happy, DPI baby!): https://lnkd.in/e5bPu5qx Personal Thoughts: - My great admiration for the Biocatch team, I've witnessed your achievements and ultimate interim payoff - Bold move from Permira, you got yourselves a strong asset - Constantly reading aggregated data from the VC industry, which is good, but also very misleading. Why? Because as in the economy, even in a bear market, the good and healthy companies will ultimately thrive. Don't rely on aggregated data only

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The consolidation play by Private Equity has both pros and cons, and it cannot be denied that sometimes the consumer may suffer, but the quality of the provision may become higher. It's a trade-off that needs to be managed well in order for it not to become "vampire economics" #PrivateEquity #VentureCapital #ImpactInvesting #Economy #USEconomy #Investing https://lnkd.in/gtdk6d5v

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🚀🎙️ Just Dropped: Dive into the financial allure of veterinary medicine on today's explosive #HelpingHealthcareScale episode with Dzmitry Miranovich! 💼🐾 🔥 Ever wondered why savvy investors are flocking to the vet industry? Dzmitry breaks it down with raw, real insights about the money moves behind vet med. From impressive EBITDA margins to robust growth rates and the undeniable love Americans have for their pets – this sector's not just about puppy love, it’s a financial powerhouse! 💸 With cash transactions dominating and minimal insurance headaches, Dzmitry explains why this industry remains resilient through economic ups and downs, providing a stable, lucrative platform for investors and entrepreneurs alike. 👊 Tune in as Dzmitry and Dr. Bill Wagner peel back the curtain on the business dynamics of vet medicine. Whether you’re an investor looking for your next big move or simply curious about the behind-the-scenes of vet practices, this episode packs a punch! 🔗 Ready to get schooled in vet economics? Tap in NOW! https://vist.ly/zcu3 📢 Share, comment, and join the dialogue. Let's unlock the business beast in vet med together! 💪 #VetInvest #BusinessInsights #EntrepreneurSpirit

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A prospective $3.1 billion U.S. IPO in a market with very few listed early childhood education firms. This rare public listing highlights the growing global trend of scaling early childhood education companies, as private equity and large operators seek consolidation for operational efficiencies. With increased focus on education investments, this IPO could pave the way for more large-scale moves in the sector. #Education #EarlyYears #Earlychildhoodeducation #Childcare #Nurseries #Preschools #Edtech #K12Education #PrivateEquity #VentureCapital #ImpactInvesting https://lnkd.in/dTu3DyPS

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Acquisitions come in two flavors: Friendly and not-so-friendly. When it comes to #M&A, the real work begins when most people believe the deal is "done." #privateequity #valuecreation https://ow.ly/OJhJ50RWrvY

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Movac KiwiNet Deep Tech is difficult because you do not comprehend 95% of the universe using the Standard Model of Particle physics. Either learn that measurement is flawed due to human bias or experience and unbiased state through transcendence experiences corresponding to Christ consciousness. The physics of life is based on LENR and not the Standard Model of Particle physics. Unfortunately, scientific research has been captured by the materialism perspective. This is mutually exclusive to the light observed in consciousness. Physics of life. Deep Tech https://lnkd.in/gKqC3PAR Gateway into the aromatic ring Faraday cage system. Time to see the light 😁.

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