Jesse Guglielmo

The #VentureStudio community is thriving and when two leaders from different studios get together it is always going to be a great conversation. This podcast is huge as two brilliant Venture Studio leaders Barry O'Reilly from Nobody Studios and Ben Yoskovitz from Highline Beta join to unpack the innovative world of venture studios and uncover the strategies that make startups thrive. In this episode, you will learn: 📈 The fundamentals of creating and scaling a venture studio 🛠️ Strategies for innovating with accelerators, incubators, and venture capital 💡 How to apply Lean Startup principles to build products people actually want 🤝 The importance of collaboration between founders, corporate partners, and investors 🔄 Insights into the specialization and future trends of venture studios Take a listen and learn from two masters.

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One of the best podcasts that you will hear. Eric Weinstein, an accomplished business / hedge fund manager and just amazing thinker holds a master class in how to reason through a set of complex conversations. Some context here: Terrence Howard (yes the actor) came on Joe Rogan a little while ago, and did some very elaborate 'matching'. He very much comes across as a visionary, self-taught, self-reasoned through many complex ideas, bringing it all together with a vast web of historic scientific knowledge. Terrance launches into a set of core assumptions within the sciences, mathematics, physics and related topics. He tumbles through multitude of ideas from frequency, to energy, to wave theory, all very difficult to follow... but extremely compelling. Encyclopaedic knowledge, but a flow that is so rapid, and often superficial. For many casual 'scientists' and social media followers, it was like a red flag to a bull: and confirmed a narrative that 'they' (the scientific, trusted community) is lying to us, that they are not telling us something. That 'their' assumptions are wrong, but that there is a cartel of universities and institutions that is protecting it, and protecting their dominion over the sciences. This fed into Joe's common narrative that the modern scientific understanding of the world is incomplete and lacking: but more importantly that the institutions who guard this knowledge are themselves filled with political bias, making them fallible, and ultimate not trusted as much as they should be. (A lot of 'they' say this, or that.. not sure who 'they' are, except that they only have bad characteristics.) Enter Eric Weinstein, an accomplished thinker and just a superb communicator, takes Terrance through his own maze of ideas, and links between ideas, one at a time, carefully dissection the arguments. He leads this 'visionary' through his errors and discoveries,'What Terrance is doing here is... ' and sometimes he points out errors in reasoning, sometimes provides clarification, sometimes asks for clarification, but is always respectful, always careful, always thoughtful. He gives Terrance a lot of credit for his thinking, but also shapes and moulds it carefully. "You have a lot of desire to understand what it means. But before you think about it, you have to ask what it is" He delivers a masterclass in how to handle this kind of back-of-the-envelope science, that is so prominent in social media now. Terrance is in awe of him, as was I. This is where you see just an amazing capability of the human mind to reason through multiple avenues (often strange manifestation, with partial truths, and incomplete relationships), to question, to reason, to give room for each other in a very humane way. One of the best displays of human capability: both academic and the best humane characteristics, I have ever seen. #joerogan #podcasts #reasoning #human #conversation #rogan #weinstein #terrancehoward Eric Weinstein Joe Rogan

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Today's Boring Biz (# 98): Pirate Ship Party Boat Tour - $4.0M Revenue - $3.5M Cashflow - $2.9M Ask Price - 0.8x Multiple - Baja California (Mexico) Note: We do not represent this deal, highlighting for informational purposes only for viewers What does the company do? 1. Pirate ship party tours 2. Themed entertainment experiences 3. Alcohol + merchandise sales Investment highlights 1. Exclusive liquor license to sell off dock 2. Equipment: 2x large ships + 1x speed boat 3. Seller ran similar business 1990 - 2013, longtime operator Investment risks/concerns 1. Owner dependency risk 2. Vulnerability to Mexico tourism laws 3. Owner health issues/ fire sale #SMB #ETA #finance #Cashflow #investing #search #searchfund #privateequity #microprivateequity #smallbusiness #venturecapital #vc #entrepreneur #business #businessowner #pirate #ship #party #boat #mexico 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.

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🌐 What’s the next big opportunity for Web3 creators? Here’s what I learned from the Meridian Conference with Stellar Development Foundation in London. After attending, I’ve been thinking a lot about how the Stellar Network could reshape content creation in Web3. Here are my initial takeaways: 1️⃣ Creators Should Focus on Emerging Tech: Investors are actively looking for creators to help bring visibility to innovative Web3 products. 2️⃣ A Content Creator Marketplace: Stellar presents a unique opportunity to build a marketplace for creators, directly on the blockchain. 3️⃣ Investing in Creators: There’s a growing intersection between creators and developers—investors want to back creators who can showcase and build on top of cool products. It’s clear there’s massive potential here for both creators and investors to collaborate and drive forward this space. 🚀 How do you see Web3 transforming the creator economy? Let’s connect and share ideas! 👇🏽 #Web3 #StellarNetwork #ContentCreators #EmergingTech #InvestInCreators #50MMCollective #BlockchainCommunity #MeridianConference P.S. What’s the most exciting Web3 trend you’re following right now? 💬

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Three companies in Pixel Prodigies portfolio recently raised angel investment funds, and a fourth is in the process of raising $2 Million USD in venture capital. A question that comes up again and again is, "What is your Go-to-Market strategy?" Obviously, as Pixel handles marketing for our portfolio clients, me or someone from my team have to be present at investor meetings to help our portfolio clients answer this dreaded question. This is what your answer needs to include, so investors feel confident in your business: 1. Unique Value Proposition (UVP) 2. Target Audience 3. Marketing Channels 4. Sales Strategy 5. Customer Support and Retention 6. Performance Monitoring Below is the template I use to answer this question: Hey <InvestorName>, so our go-to-market strategy is centered around following components: Our unique value proposition is that [insert unique aspect or technology here]. Our primary customers are [describe target audience]. We will utilize key marketing channels such as [list marketing channels like content marketing, SEO, social media,Google Ads, Reddit Ads, Meta Ads, email campaigns]. Our approach involves [describe sales strategy from awareness to conversion]. We emphasize customer satisfaction by [explain steps for customer support and retention]. Success will be measured through [mention key performance indicators (KPIs)] and our strategy will be adjusted based on these metrics. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hope you guys found this helpful and let me know what you think #investing #investment #raisingfunds #capitalraise #startups #gotomarket

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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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New pod! Recorded an awesome IRL session with Michael True, co-founder of Prescient AI on the latest Turning Pro Podcast. 🔥 In March, Prescient announced its $10M Series A — backed by an incredible investor roster, including Headline and CEAS Investments, plus support from previous backers Blumberg Capital and Focal VC. In this episode, Ben Sharf and I sat down with Mike to talk through: - Key takeaways from raising venture (and how to run a process) - Prioritizing customer obsession from day one at Prescient - The outsized ROI of persistence and long-term thinking - Key lessons learned from setbacks along the way Link in the comments! Big ups to ShipPlug for joining us this season.

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Excited to participate in the $0.8mn pre-seed of N3MUS led by Moonbeam Network alongside Arrington Capital, Frens Syndicate x VC DAO, Techstars, @PAKA fund, @Metazero Capital, Beamswap, Genesis Capital LLC, BlackDragon, X21 Digital, Gemhead Capital Inc and renowned angels from TrustSwap, Seedify among others N3MUS is a #Web3 #gaming ecosystem designed to seamlessly integrate blockchain into mainstream gaming. By enabling cross-chain interactions across multiple networks and fostering cross-community gaming experiences, N3MUS is pushing the boundaries of Web3 gaming. This is made possible through its three main products: 1. N3MUS ID: A Web3 account-abstracted wallet tailored for gaming studios. 2. N3MUS Tournaments: A competitive platform where players can enter skill-based events, climb leaderboards, and earn rewards and 3. Game Hub: A central library where players can explore and engage with a broad selection of games Through simple onboarding, instant rewards, and cross-community features, N3MUS makes #Web3 gaming more accessible and engaging for players and developers alike More here: FinSME: https://lnkd.in/d5KK4YZk EIN News: https://lnkd.in/d3XJMCwQ

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Just want to give a shoutout to OpenVC. It's been a great resource, I've used it off and on for a few months, and today decided to get the yearly pass. It allows you to search VCs and submit your deck, with tracking and analytics. So you can see every slide a VC looks at on your deck, and when they back out. Helps for deck fine-tuning. It also allows VC's to tell you why they passed if they did. I've also gotten some followup meetings on ZOOM. It's just a great resource that doesn't cost thousands of dollars a month like most others. Also, had some tech support issues as well (my fault) and they were handled within half an hour. Thanks Stephane Nasser for such a great tool for entrepreneuers.

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Unlock Early-Stage Startup Opportunities with Nobody Studios 🚀 Family offices often look for unique opportunities to diversify their portfolios and access high-growth potential investments. But early-stage startups? They can be risky, time-consuming, and hard to navigate. That’s where we come in. At Nobody Studios, we provide a streamlined pathway for family offices to gain exposure to early-stage startups, but with a twist: 1️⃣ Curated Deal Flow Our venture studio model allows us to develop, validate, and scale startups from scratch. Family offices get access to a hand-picked selection of high-potential companies backed by our proven frameworks and methodologies. 2️⃣ De-risked Investments By co-investing alongside a community of experienced angels, VCs, and our internal team, we mitigate risk while enhancing upside potential. Our collaborative approach means you’re not going at it alone. 3️⃣ Active Participation Unlike passive investments, we provide family offices the opportunity to get involved at the ground level, offering mentorship, strategic guidance, and expertise to help shape the growth trajectory of our startups. 4️⃣ Portfolio Diversification Tap into diverse sectors—tech, FinTech, healthcare, and beyond. With Nobody Studios, you’re not just investing in a startup; you're investing in an ecosystem of innovation. Interested in exploring how your family office can be part of the next wave of disruptive startups? Let’s connect and discuss how you can get started with Nobody Studios. 🌐 🔔 Follow me for more insights on building and investing in early-stage startups! #venturecapital #familyoffices #investing #startups

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💰Contour Venture Partners Raises $42M for Fifth Fund 💼 Introduction: Contour Venture Partners, a New York-based seed investor known for early investments in companies like Datadog and Movable Ink, has raised $42 million for its fifth fund. The firm is targeting $90 million for this flagship fund and has been actively fundraising since May 2023. 💡Key Points: - **Fundraising Progress**: The firm closed on $42 million from 64 backers, aiming for a total of $90 million. It had previously raised $20 million as part of a parallel fund. - **Market Context**: Fundraising has been challenging for venture funds recently, with overall venture fundraising down more than 50% last year compared to 2022’s record-breaking numbers. 📝Investment Strategy: - **Check Sizes and Focus**: Contour writes checks between $500,000 and $1.5 million, primarily leading rounds in seed and early-stage companies. It focuses on sectors like SaaS, digital media, and financial services, with a preference for companies based in New York or the Northeast. - **Track Record**: Despite not having a massive war chest, Contour has a strong investment track record. Notable successes include:  - Datadog: Early investment in 2011, which IPO'd in 2019 with a $7.8 billion valuation.  - OnDeck: Invested in 2006, went public in 2014 with a $1.3 billion valuation.  -Pendo: Active portfolio company, raised over $460 million, valued at $2.6 billion.  - Movable Ink: Content personalization startup, raised nearly $100 million, valued at $1.3 billion. 👩‍👩‍👧‍👦Firm Background: - **Founders and Leadership**: Contour was founded in 2005 by Matt G. and Bob Greene, who continue to lead the firm. - **Capital Raised**: Over its nearly 20-year history, the firm has raised more than $370 million across four flagship funds and three opportunity funds. 🕯Conclusion: Contour Venture Partners continues to make significant strides with its fifth fund, demonstrating resilience and strategic prowess in a challenging fundraising environment reported TechCrunch. ✅ Looking to raise capital for your #VCfund and increase the international pool of your LP #investors?   🤝 Need warm #LP introductions?   📝 Selling #secondaries to increase liquidity?   🧐 Looking for co-investments (Series A/Series B)?   ▶ G+QUANT's link for inquiries and fund decks: https://lnkd.in/gjC_EuTE #VentureCapital #ContourVenturePartners #StartupFunding #Datadog #MovableInk #InvestmentStrategy #SeedFunding #TechInvesting

🥁 Drum-rolls Please🥁 Introducing our first shiny new Micro-SaaS from Raissd Labs ✨ 𝗔𝗹𝗹 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗙𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗿𝗮𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 ✨ 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗔𝗹𝗹 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗙𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗿𝗮𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 (𝗔𝗧𝗙)? ATF, is an all-in-one fundraising tool to, 🥸 Identify the right investors in less than 5 mins 📈 Get pitch ready in less than 30 mins 😎 Capture investor attention and make impactful first impressions 💸 Get funding ready with comprehensive guidance and resources. ⚡ Boost your fundraising chances by 10X Sounds too good to be true? Why don’t you try it for yourself? 𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗕𝗲𝘁𝗮 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗧𝗙 𝘁𝗼𝗼𝗹! 𝗪𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘀𝗽𝗼𝘁𝘀! Here is a secret 🤫- All our Beta users get 6 months of free access to the ATF tool Join our waitlist now! Link in the first comment #Fundraising #StartupIndia #Entrepreneurship #EarlyStageStartups #StartupFunding#Waitlist #ProductLaunch #EarlyAccess

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I enjoyed going on Nick Telson-Sillett’s podcast, Pitch Deck by Forward Pursuit. Nick is a serial founder and investor (founded and exited DesignMyNight) so knows both sides of the table which always makes for an enriching chat. Some things we discussed: - The perceived power dynamic between VCs and founders can hinder productive conversations. - A compelling product demo can significantly influence investor interest. - Founders must focus on solving real customer problems to succeed. - Hiring standards are crucial for building a successful startup team. - Behavioural roadblocks can prevent the adoption of new solutions. - Validation from potential customers is key for pre-revenue startups. - The early-stage funding landscape has become more efficient and selective. - Pace of execution is a critical factor in attracting investment.

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Boldstart Ventures Raises $250M for Fund VII boldstart ventures, based in Miami, US, has successfully closed $250 million for its seventh fund, Boldstart Ventures VII L.P., with support from 68 investors. Led by Founder and General Partner Ed Sim and GP Eliot Durbin, Boldstart invests early in enterprise tech founders, often collaborating with them before incorporation. The firm specializes in "inception rounds," providing initial checks between $500k and $5 million and maintaining ample capital for follow-on investments. Boldstart’s portfolio includes leading enterprise-focused startups such as Snyk, Blockdaemon, Kustomer, BigID, and Superhuman. 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 to [email protected] #VentureCapital #BoldstartVentures #EnterpriseTech #EarlyStageFunding #InceptionRounds #EnterpriseStartups #MiamiTech

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