(Michael) Sebastian Metti

Open-source models can be a strong lever for increasing gross margins at AI companies, especially those that have hefty cost structures (e.g., enterprise sales orgs that require significant customer success or implementation resources, as well forward-deployed AI services models common in healthcare and life sciences). One of many reasons to maintain a modular and flexible stack with minimal dependencies when building an AI company. More on the importance of flexibility in the AI stack: https://lnkd.in/eA2XATRk h/t Delip Rao #ai #artificialintelligence #generativeai #healthcare

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I want to share a great interview on the Real Vision platform. Their Global Macro series allows laymen such as myself to quickly grasp how macro factors are driving underlying market sentiment. What really stood out for me was part of the conversation around populism, its impact on markets and how that should drive investment principles over the next decade. Populism is contextualized as a political and economic movement driven by widespread public dissatisfaction with the status quo, particularly among the middle and lower classes. This dissatisfaction has been building over decades, driven by rising inequality, stagnant wages, and a perception that the economic system disproportionately benefits the wealthy elite. This in turn has led to significant shifts in the political landscape, with both the right and the left adopting more populist policies. This alignment of both sides towards populist economic policies reflects a broader shift in political dynamics. This aligned political outlook has driven expansive fiscal policies, such as increased government spending and stimulus measures. It also points to a rise in protectionism and de-globalization as populist governments seek to prioritize domestic industries and jobs over global trade. This spending can drive inflation, especially when combined with supply chain constraints and labor shortages. The argument presented is that while these policies might provide short-term relief to the middle and lower classes, they do not address the root causes of inequality and may lead to further economic imbalances. And here's the kicker...….. Historical Parallel: 1968-1982 was another era marked by high inflation, political unrest, and economic volatility, during which time real returns on equities and bonds were significantly negative. Are we in a similar period, where populist policies could lead to long-term market underperformance, particularly for traditional 60/40 portfolios? But then how do we account for S&P being up 21% in 2024? The thesis here revolves around how populist policies tend to lead to increased fiscal and monetary stimulus during election years. It cites historical data showing that, despite overall poor market performance during populist cycles, election years often see strong market returns due to government efforts to stimulate the economy and secure votes. This creates a short-term bullish environment within a broader bearish cycle. These bouts of populist policies rarely die out quickly and the expectation is that we are somewhere in year 4 of a decade long cycle. And my key take away - rely less on passive investments and start to focus increasingly on active investment strategies and, in my personal opinion, bitcoin!! Perhaps think of cycling out some part of the portfolio from ETFs and Mutual Funds into actively managed mandates?? Have a great week ahead. #GlobalMacro #MarketSentiment #Populism #WealthManagement #MonetaryPolicy

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💡Benchmarks in the investment industry serve as a standard for measuring the performance of securities, mutual funds, or investment managers. They provide a reference point for analyzing allocation, risk, and return of a portfolio, enabling investors to make informed decisions. Thanks Peter Walker for keeping us all informed!! Can’t wait for this!! Follow and get on the waitlist for this one! #benchmarks #fundraising #Capitalraise #founders #womenshealth #femhealth #medtech #wellness

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𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀’ 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝗿𝗲𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝗱𝗲 𝗟𝗮𝗻𝗴𝘂𝗮𝗴𝗲 🕵️‍♂️ Ever felt like investors speak their own secret language? You’re not alone. Burak, a seasoned VC, shares his candid take on the jargon-filled world of venture capital. To bridge this gap, Burak has created a list he calls The Investors' Secret Code Language—a handy resource for decoding those tricky conversations. If you’ve ever been baffled by VC lingo, this document is a must-read. Big thanks to Burak Buyukdemir for putting this together! 🙌 Check it out below. 👇

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Can you guess the best performing market for Endeavor Catalyst in our 12-year history, where we have invested in over 30+ countries? 💥 Would you believe it's #Türkiye -- with a nearly 11x cash-on-cash return! Most folks are surprised by this, but having spent 15+ years working with Turkish founders, I am not surprised one bit. Turkish founders are bold, ambitious, and resilient. They are truly some of the best in the world. Our first 6 investments in Türkiye a decade ago produced 5 exits, including incredible outcomes with Peak, Yemeksepeti, Airties, Foriba and iyzico. Since then, we've been proud to invest in companies like Insider., Picus Security, Marti Technologies (NYSE: MRT), Firefly, Dgpays, Akinon and others. The list goes on. Next week - on November 19th - I will join our friends at GTEN to talk about "The Rise of Emerging Markets and Positioning Turkish Entrepreneurs for Success." I will share some "secrets" that a small group of us in the global VC community know well: that investing in Turkish entrepreneurs - building both inside and outside of Türkiye - represents one of the very best risk-adjusted returns out there. Shout out to a few others who know this well: great angels like Melih Odemis, Erdem Yurdanur, Nevzat Aydin, Firat Isbecer and Magdalena Yesil; as well as VCs like Ali & Numan @ 212; Dilek @ ScaleX Ventures; Cem @ Bek Ventures; Cenk @ Revo Capital and Firat @ Hummingbird Ventures. (Not to mention my awesome teammates Pete Benedetto @ Endeavor Catalyst and Asli Kurul Turkmen and her team @ Endeavor Türkiye). 💡 Intrigued? Want to learn more? Tune in on Tuesday Nov 19th! 🔗 Link in the comments.

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💡 Here is a thought to chew on... I attended IstanbulTechWeek today and as you might already guessed the focus was on AI. Naturally, the topic of how AI helps VCs in decision-making was right up my alley. The discussions revolved around AI's significant contributions to decision-making, predictive analysis, portfolio management, and identifying new ventures, among other areas. But it got me thinking: Could AI lead to the development of new investment vehicles or transition the whole VC system as traditional VCs begin to fade? Or sorry - if and will they ever fade 🧠 No surprise that VCs have taken a hit this year, with a global recession. Several issues have surfaced within the system: LPs found themselves disappointed as funds began to exit (x's became why's), "super founders" are now only in HBR articles' failure sections responding to how they've not been through DD processes, and investors started seeking more liquid options.. With all these question marks threatening the ecosystem, will AI deliver a new avenue for investing in new tech? 🤖 Seems unlikely that VCs will be replaced fully. For sure AI will continue to enhance investment processes, as human judgement and intuition and ethics remain irreplacable. But yet, it makes me ponder the future of venture capitalism and the role AI will play in its foundation—perhaps that’s the key question. I’m #qurios to hear your thoughts #AI #VC #investment

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Venture Capital in Healthcare : Catalyzing Medical Breakthroughs Venture capital plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of medicine, acting as a crucial catalyst for innovation and advancement in healthcare. As a physician deeply involved in the VC world, I've witnessed firsthand how strategic investments are driving forward remarkable medical breakthroughs that promise to revolutionize patient care. So, why is VC Essential in Healthcare? Funding Innovation: Many groundbreaking ideas in medicine require substantial financial backing to move from concept to clinic. Venture capital provides the necessary resources to support early-stage innovations that might otherwise struggle to find funding through traditional channels. Speeding Up Development: VC investment can significantly accelerate the development process of new medical technologies and pharmaceuticals. By providing capital, expertise, and resources, VC helps companies navigate complex regulatory paths and reach the market faster than they could on their own. Bridging the Gap: There is often a 'valley of death' in medical innovation, where projects fail to move from research to development due to lack of funding. VC bridges this gap, turning viable research into actionable, market-ready solutions. The influence of venture capital on healthcare extends beyond just financial investment. It fosters a dynamic ecosystem where: Innovative Approaches are nurtured, enabling technologies like AI, precision medicine, and telehealth to flourish, each opening new avenues for enhancing patient care. Entrepreneurial Spirit thrives, encouraging medical professionals and researchers to develop and pitch new solutions that address unmet needs. Strategic Partnerships between startups and established healthcare entities are formed, integrating fresh ideas into mainstream medical practice. Looking Ahead 👇 As we look to the future, the synergy between venture capital and healthcare holds immense potential. With continued VC support, the next decade could see monumental advancements in how we diagnose, treat, and manage diseases, making previously unthinkable levels of patient care a reality. Let's discuss how we can further harness the power of VC to transform healthcare landscapes and improve patient outcomes globally. #HealthcareVC #MedicalInnovation #FutureOfMedicine ----- Click the link in my bio to join 2,000+ healthtech experts and thought leaders.

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Key takeaways from VC Goat - Vinod Khosla podcast. - The firm cares more about working on interesting problems with large technical solutions rather than just maximizing IRR. The team is there because they believe in the mission. - Khosla assumes they've lost the money the day they invest, and then maximizes for the upside opportunity. He calls it "option value investing" rather than IRR investing. - Khosla has contrarian bets in AI (neuro-symbolic computing, probabilistic approaches), biotech, robotics, crypto, and more. - He believes aviation fuels, fusion energy, new transit systems, and other contrarian areas ignored by most investors will be huge opportunities. - Most large innovations come from outsiders, not industry insiders. Khosla looks for founders who can learn a business rapidly rather than have deep domain expertise. The Future Impact of AI - AI will be deflationary and increase productivity growth to 4% annually vs the typical 2% forecast. This will cause great abundance but also increasing income inequality. - Bipedal robots will take over most manufacturing and manual labor jobs within 20-25 years. This will free humans to be more creative and pursue their passions. - Education will shift from job training to creativity. Uniquely human elements like taste and curation will be most valued in an AI-enabled world. https://lnkd.in/gqBsmbks

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Thrilled to announce the MVP launch of Nephrolytics in our first customer: A revolutionary AI-powered platform designed to tackle some of the most pressing challenges in nephrology. Our flagship AI-Agents, Saya™ and Lumi™, are set to redefine how nephrology professionals deliver care, improve outcomes, and manage financial performance. Addressing Physician Burnout: A National Crisis. Physician burnout has reached alarming levels: • 63% of physicians report feeling burned out, according to the AMA, with administrative burdens being a top driver. (American Medical Association, 2024) • Burnout is estimated to cost the U.S. healthcare system $4.6 billion annually in lost productivity, reduced clinical hours, and turnover. (Annals of Internal Medicine, 2023) How Generative AI Agents Can Help: AI has proven to be a game-changer in addressing these challenges: • Automating routine documentation tasks can save physicians up to 2.5 hours per day, giving them more time for patient care. • Real-time decision support improves diagnostic accuracy, reduces errors, and supports clinicians in managing complex patient cases more effectively. • AI tools like ours can cut down administrative overhead by 40%, allowing #nephrologists to focus on what matters most: their patients. Nephrology: A Specialty at a Crossroads The nephrology field faces unique challenges: • The disease burden of chronic kidney disease (CKD) continues to grow, affecting 37 million Americans. • 45% of nephrology fellowship positions remain unfilled, highlighting the critical shortage of specialists needed to manage this growing patient population. Improving Clinical Outcomes with AI Our tools empower nephrologists to enhance patient outcomes while optimizing workflows: • Saya™, the clinician’s co-pilot, provides real-time insights and risk stratification, enabling earlier interventions and improved patient care. • Lumi™ delivers predictive analytics and actionable financial insights, ensuring practices thrive while maintaining clinical excellence. • AI-powered predictive models can reduce hospital readmissions for kidney-related conditions by up to 30%, directly improving patient health and lowering costs. Join Us in Transforming Kidney Care At Nephrolytics, we believe that technology should empower healthcare providers, not burden them. Our AI-driven solutions are built to: • Combat burnout and improve provider satisfaction. • Enhance decision-making and clinical efficiency. • Address specialist shortages in nephrology and beyond. We invite healthcare executives, C-Suite leaders, and venture capitalists to explore Nephrolytics and join us in shaping the future of kidney care. Together, we can elevate patient outcomes and redefine what’s possible in nephrology. Visit our site to learn more and schedule a demo. Or reach out to our leadership Tina Gill Naeem Rahim Alice Wei, M.D. Ali Nadeem Hasan Ayub Jennie (Chaves) Atkinson

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There is so much hype around AI today, it is refreshing to see examples where the technology is making a tangible real-world impact. Healthcare is one such area, where early signs are very promising. AI is helping in areas ranging from reducing errors in breast cancer screening to greatly expanding access to radiology services within emerging economies. Check out this must-listen conversation below with the CEOs of Celesta Capital companies Whiterabbit.ai and 5C Network to hear more about this exciting area of practical AI advancement.

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I’m optimistic about the potential of generative AI to reduce provider burnout and improve provider-patient interactions. However, that optimism is tempered by the data that indicates the technology is not quite ready yet. Bright Ventures is interested in digital health founders who understand the realities of provider-patient interactions, and the role technology can play in strengthening clinical outcomes. Which founders and teams are getting this right? Tag them in the comments below.

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PE - PE Portfolio & the Value in AI BCG on "Where’s the Value in AI?": > AI Adoption Challenges: 4% of companies are at the forefront, consistently driving substantial value with AI, scaling and realizing returns on AI investments - these are the market leaders in using AI > Value in Core Processes: market leaders achieve 62% of AI-generated value in core functions, including operations (23%), sales/marketing (20%), and R&D (13%). This focus yields a 50% revenue growth advantage and 60% higher shareholder returns over less mature companies. > Strategic Differences Among Leaders: Leading companies focus on: 1. Prioritizing AI in core functions and support 2. Driving AI initiatives aimed at revenue growth and cost reduction 3. Investing heavily in a few, high-impact AI projects with the potential to scale > Important - GTM Benefits: sales/marketing gains from AI are significant ins sectors like software, media, and telecom > AI Playbook for Success: 1. Set a bold strategic commitment from the top 2. Maximize the potential value of AI with initiatives that include streamlining everyday business processes, transforming entire business functions, and developing new offerings 3. Implement one to three high-value, easy-to-implement initiatives to fund the journey 4. Ensure that the minimal viable infrastructure required for these initiatives exists 5. Perform an AI maturity assessment to baseline current critical capability gaps versus peers 6. Ensure that implementation governance focuses on people and processes over technology and algorithms 7. Set up guardrails to deploy AI responsibly --- Source: BCG, "Where is the Value in AI?", https://buff.ly/4fifzNC ------------------ #pe #privateequity #ai #ceo #cro #saas #gtm #growth #middlemarket #boardofdirectors #board #revenue #revenuegrowth #investing #investment #finance #business

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🚀 Meet Our Advisors! We are excited to highlight that Neil Littman, Founding Partner of Bioverge Ventures and Partner of Riverine Ventures, as one of the esteemed advisors in our #H7 accelerator program. 👉 We are open for application for the 2024 Cohort of H7 Healthcare Accelerator, powered by H7 BioCapital. Early Bird Applications are open until 💥 July 20th 💥! 🦄 Apply for the Program: https://shorturl.at/TfJdB 🦄 Apply to Become Advisor: https://lnkd.in/eSbGpX28  📅 Early Bird Deadline: July 20th, 2024 🎯 About H7 Accelerator Program: https://lnkd.in/g3ycA8eE ------- 🎯Get to know our top-tier accelerator advisor - Neil Littman "Neil Littman, M.S. is Founder & CEO of Bioverge Ventures, a venture capital firm exclusively dedicated to investing in #earlystage, #cuttingedge #healthcare companies. Bioverge’s investment thesis is focused on companies spanning the intersection of health + tech that are utilizing advances in technology to modernize healthcare, from bench-to-bedside." "Previously, Neil was Vice President of Business Development at Notable Labs, an oncology startup and Bioverge portfolio company, where he led the development of global corporate partnerships and contributed to the strategic vision of Notable as part of the Senior Leadership Team. Neil oversaw business development at Notable through the successful completion of the company’s $40 million Series B and was instrumental in negotiating multiple terms sheets to in-license clinical stage oncology assets." 🌷Apply now to learn invaluable insights from Neil Littman get connected with our 100+ industrial leading experts, pitch to top #investors, and scale your #startup! 🥳 Once you're selected for #H7 accelerator cohort, you'll be part of the #H7 community for life. Expand your business and expand your network with access to a talented group of founders, investors, mentors, and industry leaders. #accelerator #venturecapital #fundraising #healthcare #lifesciences #biotech #drugdevelopment #artificialintelligence #medicaldevices #hospitals #clinicaltrials #oncology #research #startup #founders #precisionmedicine #commercialization #sales

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🌟 𝗩𝗖 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 𝗘𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗙𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 🌟 Preparation can make all the difference in a venture capital interview. Here’s a guide to nail it: 📝 Prepare Your Answers: Common questions include your company’s mission, market size, and competitors. 📊 Highlight Metrics: Share key metrics like user growth and revenue to demonstrate traction and success. ⭐ Express Future Vision: Outline your short-term and long-term goals for your company’s growth. Equipped with detailed responses, you can approach your VC interview with confidence. #StartupPreparation #EntrepreneurAdvice #VCSuccess

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Forget about flashy revenue projections or $100B market size, it’s all about the go to market strategy. Early stage healthcare investors need to understand how a company navigates the 0 to 1 phase of the commercialization journey. Otherwise, 0% of a $100B market...is still worth zero dollars. Here are some questions we at The Healthcare Syndicate like to ask founders: (h/t to Omar M. Khateeb for the excellent video on early market adopters) 1️⃣ Capturing 1% of the market? Why not 15%? Capturing 15% of the market, not just 1%, is critical for crossing the chasm from early adopters to the mainstream. Investors should evaluate the founder's ambition to capture a significant part of the market, and ask how they plan to get from early adopters --> mass market. 2️⃣ How will you [the founder] lead sales? In the early stages, emotional appeal and vision drive sales to market innovators. A corporate sales hire might scale later, but a founder’s passion resonates best with first movers. 3️⃣ Are you leveraging your early adopters properly? Innovators are essential for early traction, but they’re not the best advocates for the mainstream market. Startups must nurture innovators into credible key opinion leaders (KOLs) to gain mass-market acceptance. For more insights, check out the full article here: https://lnkd.in/gyfzfxjv #healthcareinnovation #venturecapital #angelinvesting

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I recently had the honor of being featured on The Deal Scout. In this insightful 7-minute interview with Joshua Wilson, I shared early secrets and best practices from 35+ years in the Venture Capital industry that are essential to navigating the VC landscape and establishing a foothold in this dynamic field. You can listen to the interview on Joshua Wilson's post here 👇 #GPN #GuyPaulNohra #VentureCapital #Entrepreneur #Leadership #Philanthropy

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One of my proudest moments as an investor occurred today as Alaffia Health announced its series A because it shows how the Aperture® Venture Capital vision of multi-level, multi-generational #impactinvesting is succeeding in the marketplace. Here’s the model in its most basic form : ✅As diverse fund managers with meaningful capital to allocate, we are changing the VC landscape every day just by doing our day jobs. ✅As Black/Brown investors with ~40 years experience collectively, Aperture GPs have access to talent /excellence that others do not, so our portfolio *organically* is more inclusive by race, gender and geography even while optimizing for financial outcomes (all about the alpha). ✅Our most successful portco’s are using financial #innovation to solve market problems that impact underrepresented demographics and underserved communities. Alaffia Health is a shining example of the impact portion of our overall fund thesis, and we couldn’t be prouder of TJ Ademiluyi and Adun Akanni, MPH, PMP - the dynamic brother-sister founder duo whose vision we have steadfastly supported on their journey. Congratulations to TJ and Adun from William Crowder and myself, as well as the whole Aperture team- Marjorie King Philip McKenzie Yves Louis-Jacques Tanvi Lal Michelle Dhansinghani Lisha Bell Katie Kelly Amy Chung Cindy Chong, CFA Brian Fernandes-Halloran Monroe France Jayden Pantel Darren Herman Evan Wladis Neal Triplett Thomas Scriven Peter Ammon Irina Bit-Babik Tim Milanich Rob Rahbari

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So great to speak to Mohammed Islam on The Mo Show podcast last week! Watch the full episode here!

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Jack Welch was infamous for fire-selling GE assets to meet earnings targets. It worked for a while—until it didn’t. Here’s the surprising part: Many venture capital funds operate in a similar way. VCs promise specific terms to their LPs, usually tied to a fund’s duration. As that timeline ticks down, every fall like clockwork, these “industry leaders” start assessing which companies they can sell to generate some form of liquidity for their investors. Why? Because they need a track record to pitch their second or third fund. But here’s the catch: The VCs control the terms of the deal, which means founders and other investors are often forced to go along with sales they might not agree with. Even worse, some VCs refuse to sell at all—not because it’s in the best interest of the company, but because they want to keep collecting fees. This misalignment of interests causes friction, especially for newer families and investors entering the VC space. This is why we don’t invest in companies that have a larger institutional lead LP, particularly from Sand Hill Road, involved in these deals. The lesson here is simple: Caveat emptor. If you’re investing in VC funds, ask hard questions: • What’s their track record of aligning with founders and LPs? • Are their liquidity events driven by strategy—or desperation? • How transparent are they about deal terms and fund goals? For founders, it’s just as critical. Understanding your VC’s motivations isn’t just good practice—it can determine the future of your company. At the end of the day, the best partners—whether investors or VCs—focus on long-term alignment, not short-term optics. Choose wisely. What’s been your experience with fund dynamics as an LP or a Founder? 

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