Laura Forth

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

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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

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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

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When we asked CPG founders who they wanted at Founderland... Their answer was clear: People who can help them grow their business & achieve their goals. Specifically: - The top retailers - The most founder-friendly investors, and - Other founders they can learn from and share with This conversation that I'm hosting at Founderland is a perfect representation of this group, plus one BIG bonus. We're also including Joel Toledano and ChargeUp.ai which is one of my favorite tech companies that is supporting consumer brands today. They automate the retail deduction and chargeback process for brands, saving them an insane amount of time and money. Such a cool co. Excited to teach, share and connect...and get some deals done, while of course having lots of fun. Joel Toledano Jen Zeszut Kim Coffin Deb Conklin

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🚀 Exciting news! Episode 8 of "Funded, Now What?" podcast is out! 🎙️ I'm joined by Sam Obletz, founder of Claim, joins me to share how his social shopping app secured $4 million in funding. Here we discuss leveraging the Power of College Athletes for Influencer Marketing Success Tune in now for more invaluable insights! 🔊 Episode Link: https://lnkd.in/deVCRatK Enjoy. Share. DM me with feedback. #startupsuccess #startups #founder #fundraising #funding #seedstage #startupfounder #startupmarketing #podcast #business 

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What role do you think public-private partnerships should play in fostering a resilient startup ecosystem? Our latest report spotlights how strategic state-backed VC can leverage significant private investment -> we drove $1.1 BILLION to be exact. I continue to be incredibly bullish on the intersection of public and private capital driving innovation. #venturecapital #kauffmanfellows #innovationecosystem

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Last week, I had the pleasure of moderating a discussion on navigating FOAK in climate tech at the Greentown Labs Summit in Boston (which had >600 people!!). Here’s a quick rundown of what was shared by Katherine St. James of Spring Lane Capital, Paris Smalls, PhD of Eden GeoPower, and Hannah Friedman of Planeteer Capital: 🌱 What is the definition of FOAK? We discussed how the term can be controversial - it's almost too general because it doesn't identify what kind of "First" FOAK refers to - first team project? First geography? First of a technology in a sector? First time for the integration of a system? It's also too specific because it has the word "first" in it, which can be anathema to later stage / project finance investors. 💰 Partnerships for Funding FOAK Projects We discussed how important it is to build a blended capital stack & use off-balance sheet capital for a project so you're not using the most expensive equity dollars to fund an infrastructure project with low-ish IRR. We also talked through being creative about using corporate partners to provide in-kind services or ink some agreement (at least an LOI) to attract this funding. 🏛 Role of Government We talked about how government capital is seen by investors & how it can be catalytic for FOAK. Government capital can provide validation that a startup has passed a rigorous diligence process by a third party - and incentives like grants or credits can help improve returns for the first project- but it's important to be doing this in conjunction with getting customer validation and to be able to present line of sight to competitive economics without concessionary capital. 👥 Advice for FOAK startups The panelists offered some very specific pieces of advice for startups going through FOAK: how to get creative with things like revenue sharing agreements or convertible notes, getting smart with project development early on (like with DeveloperU), being careful about using FOAK too liberally with certain investor groups, getting the right commercialization / FOAK talent in and around you early Huge thanks to the panelists and the team at Greentown Labs (Jill Kirkpatrick, Julia Travaglini, Aisling Carlson, etc you rocked it!!) for hosting this discussion on bridging the FOAK gap. Also immensely enjoyed the rest of the agenda. Check out the full recap & videos here: https://lnkd.in/d9ApYe9Y #ClimateTech #FOAK #ClimateFinance #ProjectDevelopment #GreenTech #CleanEnergy

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Led by Anduril, defense tech funding sets a new record this year | TechCrunch https://buff.ly/4129kts Anduril, a leader in defense technology, has driven defense tech funding to an unprecedented high this year. Investments in this sector have surged, reflecting a growing interest in advanced military solutions and cutting-edge innovations. This milestone underscores the increasing importance of tech-driven defense initiatives in modern security strategies. As global tensions rise, there's a notable shift towards integrating AI, robotics, and autonomous systems into defense operations. The record-breaking funding highlights the critical role technology plays in national and international security landscapes. #DefenseTech #InnovationInSecurity

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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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The Seraphim Space Accelerator Investor Showcase platform is live! ⚡ 📺 Don’t miss the opportunity to view pitches from the Mission 14 cohort companies, access direct introductions to their teams, explore the new Insights Service, and learn more about applications for Mission 15. → Register here: https://lnkd.in/enXc27Py 💧 Acquora: Tackling the $1 trillion water management market with sustainable solutions for global access. 🌱 Artemis Earth: Scaling biodiversity monitoring with satellites to support ESG goals and sustainable decisions. 📡 Constellation Technologies & Operations: Revolutionising telecom with a satellite broadband constellation for affordable, sustainable internet. 🤖 ROVIAL Space: Advancing orbital assembly and repair with AI-driven robotics. 🌍 FlyPix.AI: Providing Earth insights through satellite and drone imagery via an AI-powered SaaS platform. 🛰️ Planetary Systems AI: Using AI, digital twins, and machine learning to optimise decision-making in planetary operations. 🌐 SARsatX: Delivering customisable, near-real-time Earth observation insights through an integrated SAR-optical satellite network. 🔧 FORG3D: Transforming metal manufacturing with 3D printed forgings for Earth and space applications. 🔋 SPACELIS (NATO DIANA): Innovating ultra-light flexible solar cells for sustainable energy in space exploration. 📶 Tiami Networks: Creating secure, 5G-enabled systems with ISAC capabilities for critical data and communications. Huge thank you to our Accelerator partners for their continuous support throughout the program: European Space Agency - ESA, UK Space Agency, Dentons, Airbus, JSAT INTERNATIONAL, INC., Telespazio, Thales Alenia Space, Leidos, NEC Corporation, Department for Business and Trade Rob Desborough, Alexander Holt, Ellie Gyaurova, Alessandro Braglia, Aida Khalil #SeraphimSpace #SSA #SpaceEconomy #SpaceTech #SSAM14 #InvestInSpace #InvestorShowcase

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🗽 NABIS OFFICIALLY IN NEW YORK In good ol' cannabis fashion, after (just a few) twists and turns, I'm proud to officially unveil our work in the New York cannabis market. Servicing nearly 100% of the state's licensed retailers with well over a dozen of NY's best-selling brands, we're just getting started in this burgeoning market. 🙏 GRATEFULNESS (Just in time for Thanksgiving 🦃): Shoutout to a few key team members who demonstrated resourcefulness and resilience in making our bicoastal expansion a reality: Maury Matos, Aaron Markowitz, Chris Gaw, Matthew Stumpf, Jennifer Seo & Will Brophy. Special thanks to our partners at ayrloom (Mack Hueber, Eddie Brennan, Bryanna Cortese, Viraj Mehta & Nick Spidalieri) who were early believers of the platform in New York. 👫 COME JOIN US: If you're a BRAND or RETAILER looking to work with us in New York, please reach out to [email protected] to learn more. We'll give you the latest info about our services, latest product releases, and more to help you succeed and get ahead in New York. This is one of the best brand-building regions in the world. Here's some facts: New York is the 4th most populous state in the US. NYC is home to nearly 10M people (not counting the 60M tourists that visit each year). That is more than double the second largest city in the US, Los Angeles, and triple the third largest city, Chicago. If you're looking for CAREER OPPORTUNITIES and are passionate about cannabis and technology, come join us (https://lnkd.in/gFgyVMg)! We're solving the most challenging problems (technological, operational, cultural, economical, and regulatory) to continue to scale the cannabis industry as the largest cannabis wholesaler, shipping approximately 1 in 20 legal cannabis products across America. https://lnkd.in/d-Dc5DpC

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HUGE opportunity

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Calling all #Founders: Venture Capital Association of Alberta (VCAA)’s Deal Flow Calls represent a great opportunity for #PreSeed to #SeriesA companies to gain exposure to some of the countries most active Venture Capital #investors. If your company is raising equity capital, I strongly encourage you to check out the link below!

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Adam Keating discussing how AI is going to change manufacturing and how CoLab Software is helping them make that transition with ReviewAI

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It was terrific having Andrew Bluestein & Ashley Hartman from Bluestein Ventures on The Consumer VC to discuss the future of food. We discuss: • The shift from family office investing to venture capital • Key differences in investing between inventory-heavy businesses and tech-driven companies • Is the Foxtrot model scalable and a fit for venture capital backing? • Reinventing retail: What’s the future of convenience stores? • The evolving landscape of plant-based meat and the next wave in food tech • Emerging trends in the digitization of the food industry and beyond Link to full episode in the comments 👇 #CPG #food #venturecapital #consumervc #podcast #brands

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Summary: Defense tech startups have raised almost $3 billion in funding so far in 2024, surpassing the previous record of $2.6 billion in 2022. The increase in funding is driven by a few large rounds and the growth of the European defense tech scene. Key takeaways: Defense tech funding has reached a new high in 2024, surpassing the previous record from 2022. The increase in funding is driven by a few large rounds, including a $1.5 billion Series F raised by weapons manufacturer Anduril. The European defense tech scene has also seen significant growth, with large rounds raised by companies like Helsing and an increase in new venture firms. Counter arguments: Some may argue that the increase in funding for defense tech startups is concerning, as it suggests a growing need for new technologies in the face of an increasingly dangerous world. Others may argue that this trend could lead to a proliferation of companies focused on developing weapons and surveillance tech, rather than addressing underlying issues that contribute to global conflicts. #defensetech #startups #venturecapital #fundraising

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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

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🌟I had a talk with my fellow #nurse innovator at HLTH USA event. He told me that he was going to win this event, and that's exactly what he did!!!🏆 I am immensely happy for him and celebrate his success.🎊👏 If you are in a #hospital or clinical setting you need Hilario Castillo innovation in your life. His innovative syringe cuts down needle stick by 100% and save your medical facility millions of dollars in needle wasting, plus increase patient comfort. When #nurses innovate we solve real problems!!💎 #nurseonlinkedin #healthcareonlinkedin #healthtech #startup #biotech

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