Pamela Thomas-Graham

For your weekend reflection: The generosity of advice deepens relationships. In a fantastic podcast episode, Jennifer Prosek delves into key insights essential for private investors and leaders alike: 1. The necessity of consumer branding for private investors. 2. The significance of crafting a unique narrative. 3. The empowerment that comes from bringing people together. 4. The rising trend of branding within private markets. 5. The democratization of access to alternative investments. 6. How to maximize relationships at conferences. 7. Leadership strategies to inspire and motivate talent. 8. The importance of thought leadership on LinkedIn Narratives are powerful in driving connections, for innovators and investors, everywhere.

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It was great to be back on #NYSEFloorTalk with Judy Khan Shaw to discuss Impel’s vision for the automotive industry, and how our recent acquisition of Outsell brings us closer than ever to making that a reality. As Impel’s universal AI platform expands to every channel and touchpoint of the customer lifecycle, the opportunities to drive greater value for consumers, auto retailers, and OEMs alike are immense. We’ve only scratched the surface of what’s possible.

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This San Franciscan has landed in the Big Apple for #NYTechWeek! Here’s why it was important to me to be out here this week and I view NYC as a sister city. ((scroll down for 2 events The Council is hosting today!)) 🏭🏥 Reminder: The Council Fund invests at Pre-seed in Software’s Third Act, the transformation of the essential economy. Our investments span healthcare and industrial sectors like manufacturing, logistics, construction. 🐂 I’m eternally bullish on NY & SF and hate how many pit the two cities against each other. The reality is that a lot of capital and talent flow back and forth between the cities. They need each other to thrive! 🗽🌁 Cities like NY & SF attract young and mid-career talent because of their population density, transient nature, beauty, and reputations as cities where someone new on the scene can make a name for themselves. For the areas we invest in, I’m *specifically* excited about NY because of: 🏗️ Closer proximity to industrial hubs which are scattered across the Midwest / Rust Belt 🏛️ Closer proximity to DC where a lot of regulation around VC, startups, healthcare, onshoring initiatives, and industrial sectors takes place 💰 Many of the large financial institutions that are backing hard tech focused funds and major healthcare initiatives are also headquartered here in NYC 🎯 We’ve got several startups here who are hitting it out of the park, like Dirac and Siena. This has further validated my belief in this ecosystem to support young companies! Today we are kicking off with 2 events on Day 1 of #NYTechWeek 👉 AI Demo Day: The Council, Next Wave NYC, Lynx Collective, Flybridge will host 8 founders and 200+ investors and founders for a pitch competition this evening! Luma: https://lnkd.in/gbdYiJMw 🔜 Can still join the waitlist! Small & Big VCs in Hard Tech: The Council joined General Catalyst, Lux Capital, Iron Prairie Ventures, AlleyCorp, House Of Ventures, Steel Atlas for 2 back to back panels on industrial innovation & collaboration across the capital stack Luma: https://lnkd.in/gj6D4-Au ⏰ Event has passed

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This week on Future Back Drinking, host Dr. Athina Kanioura dives into what human-centered AI looks like in action! She’s joined by Panos Madamopoulos-Moraris, the first Managing Director for Industry Programs and Partnerships at the Stanford Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence (HAI) for a fascinating conversation about the future of AI. Together, they explore how strategic collaborations are fueling innovation and how AI can amplify human ingenuity to benefit us all. It’s an inspiring episode that showcases the importance of keeping people at the heart of tech innovation. Brought to you by PepsiCo and TIME, tune in on your favorite platform below! #FutureBackDrinking Listen on Spotify: https://lnkd.in/eXe-Uvgz Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://lnkd.in/eHdaN87Q

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Discussion topics I’m most excited about at the upcoming Dealmakers Summit in NYC on 17-18 June 🛀**Bodycare and men’s grooming** have shown steady growth and are full of innovative entrants that could be poised for the next round of exciting exits…I’ll be on the panel with Rebecca Zhou, CEO at Soft Services, Rom Ginzburg, CEO at Maelys and Ashleigh Barker, Head of Beusty at Lincoln International. ♾️**Longevity brands** - consumer interest and investment activity in wellness and a focus on less superficial benefits has been growing steadily for years. What is a longevity brand and are they they a gold mine of financial potential? 🛍️**The retail landscape** - has transformed the past three years alongside rising DTC costs. What and who is the future looking like? 👧🏼👵🏾**Alpha to boomers** - Gen Alpha may be the buzziest cohort of consumers, but in reality, each generation drives the industry forward in varying ways. A holistic look at what the opportunities are in each generation and the value each of these groups specifically brings to beauty and value creation. Beyond this, it’s the best event to genuinely connect with friends + make new in the beauty space, bc if you know him Nader Naeymi-Rad knows how to throw a party. As such, it always sells out, link to final remaining tickets in comments below 👇 Beauty Independent | Nader Naeymi-Rad | Claire McCormack | Paris Farsad-Roche | Taylor Bryant

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At BBG Ventures we continue to think about changing demographic shifts and the groups of overlooked Americans at the centre of those shifts. We ask: what are the opportunities to build something valuable for those groups across the biggest areas of the economy to drive prosperity, growth and wellbeing for all Americans, not just some. Future of Work and underserved workers is an arena we've long dug into. This summer, my partner Susan Lyne and investor Carol Magalhães Isaacs, CFA went deeper on Boomers - by 2030, Boomers will outnumber under 18s - living longer, working longer, spending longer - what will their Third Act be? How might AI supercharge their productivity? Check out their post below and share your thoughts with us. Longevity and Prosperity > Death and Decay. If you're building at the intersection of Aging x Work reach out!

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Today, Two Chairs announces $72M of new funding to continue building a world where everyone has access to exceptional mental health care. Since late 2017, when Maveron led the Two Chairs Series A, the need for mental health services has grown considerably as our society has become lonelier and more isolated than ever. At the same time, our culture’s willingness to openly acknowledge these challenges is greater than ever. Sadly, the rapid growth of Two Chairs affirms the fact that our society is in desperate need of better mental health support. Two Chairs has built a business that believes clinical quality is the defining characteristic of success. Alex Katz has always emphasized the paramountcy of measurement-based clinical outcomes, which the team works tirelessly to achieve. In the process, Two Chairs has illustrated that embracing the ‘move fast and break things’ mentality doesn’t always work. Instead, Two Chairs opted for a different approach: they went slow to go fast. They built a proprietary algorithm that matches patients with the perfect therapist at the onset and hired a team of W2 clinicians oriented toward providing the highest quality care available. Even as the Two Chairs team has grown, their culture has remained small. This has enabled more intimate relationships within the team and between clients and clinicians. Reflecting on this milestone brings me back to the founding of Maveron and the values we hold dear. In 1998, my friend Howard Schultz and I founded Maveron to help entrepreneurs build companies that improve the lives of everyday people—their employees and their customers. There is perhaps no better example of this than Two Chairs. *** Thank you to TechCrunch's Marina Temkin, CFA for the great write-up. https://tcrn.ch/4aMt7yG

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Another week, 2 more off the record discussions with GP's and LP's. Despite very different groups of attendees at each event, there is convergence around a few themes at the invite only - CRE Exec Lunch I hosted in SF and the IREI Editorial Board meeting in Half Moon Bay: - You can't paint the markets with a broad brush right now. Specifically around return profiles. The only thing people seem to be able agree on is there is "core" and "non-core" - Fundraising is taking longer. According to the IREI.Q data the average fundraising period has gone from 16 months to 30 months (so you know your not alone) - The big "mega funds" like Blackstone and others are sucking up the little capital that is available and everyone else if fighting for scraps and it's a slog. LP's seem to prefer to consolidate relationships and given the limited capital being returned to LP's, reinvesting is not as easy. - While the capital is not freely flowing there LP's with dry powder. But they are being patient. Most think we have hit bottom or close to it. - Office is not investable right now... BUT... many think it's going to be the best performing asset when we look back in 5-10 years. The irony is that the $ won't realize it, until it's too late. Oh.. and not all office should be viewed as the same. If there are any contrarian LP's reading this, DM and I can connect you with some great sharp shooters on the office side. - Banks don't want to take back assets (office) putting many asset owners who are looking to hand back the keys in a pickle. This is creating an over hang that is not representing the actual distress in the markets. - Valuations are a major point of consternation. Specifically the trade-off between taking the write down and impairing performance vs. holding values higher knowing that they are unrealistic and needing to explain that to investors. This is always a fund debate and a by product of the US valuation systems where a few external appraisers that are involved in the majority of the major funds like ODCE. There were many more insights and stories shared but those shall remain strictly in confidence. The market is changing and those that will win are those that can evolve, not fight the change and see opportunity where others do not. Oh yeah... and if you think you may want to raise non institutional capital one day.. now is a good time to start thinking about it and in addition to your track-record your brand matters... a lot

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Our #SXSW panel audience Q&A went on for so long they had to kick us out of the room! Thanks to Michael Kron, Casey Flint and Richard Cooney for a great discussion on what we all look for in founder characteristics. Investing in early stage companies is less about the product, which we know can and will pivot and change, and more about the founder (team) and the market opportunity. I loved the discussion on the confusing combination of paradoxical characteristics. For e.g. Startup founders should be bold risk-takers, but they should also avoid the cowboy mentality by backing their decisions with solid data and analysis. Would love to hear your thoughts on what makes a great founder! Sprint Ventures #founderdna

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Although female founders are typically in the minority compared to male founders, we do our best to include them for MELT in NY! Allow me to introduce some remarkable and innovative female founders 🙋‍♀️ ☞ Co-Founder & CEO @ Blanka Stage: Seed Blanka is a platform that automates the process of launching a branded beauty line. With high-quality products manufactured in North America and with no minimums or upfront costs, our technology unifies the process of launching a brand - from product selection through order fulfillment. ☞ Founder & CEO @ FemiSpace Co. Stage: Pre-seed AI doctors for women’s health. ☞ CEO / Founder @ Parrot Finance Stage: Seed Copy trading platform. ☞ Founder and CEO @ InstantReplay Stage: Pre-seed The in-store “cookies” for retail. ☞ Founding Product Manager @ Stealth Stage: Seed Payment management with AI. ☞ Founder @ Copy trading consumer investing platform Stage: Seed Copy trading consumer investing platform. ☞ CEO/Founder @ Bonde Stage: Seed Member-only platform to support the advancement of professional women. ☞ Co-founder @ usebeams com Stage: Seed The next-gen productivity and automation platform for meaningful insights and seamless workflows. ☞ CEO/Founder @ LinSha Techworks Stage: Pre-seed We are improving the speed and safety of flanged pipeline maintenance by bolting/unbolting flanges autonomously. ☞ Co-founder @ Poldit Stage: Pre-seed Poldit is a community for sharing knowledge through interactive livestreams and Q&A, aimed at fostering human connections and reducing misinformation. ☞ CEO @ NaviGuide Stage: Pre-seed Equitable AI guidance counselor. ☞ CEO & Founder @ Transformers Academy Stage: Pre-seed AI-Driven LMS that transforms BORING manuals into ready-to-study employee or client courses in minutes. ☞ Co-founder @ Index Network Stage: Pre-seed Index allows you to create truly personalized and autonomous discovery experiences across the web. ☞ Founder and CEO @ TAMMIRA, INC. Stage: Pre-seed An evidence-based livestreamed health, wellness & beauty programming for kids & young women. ☞ Founder and CEO @ Bridgit Health Stage: Pre-seed Centralized AI-enabled social worker platform for hospitals to reduce delay of discharge. ☞ Chief of Staff (Founding Team) @ Mattermore Stage: Pre-seed Mattermore empowers managers with AI, automating 1:1 call data to boost performance, save time, and reduce stress, productivity loss, and turnover. 【💎 VIP Sponsored by】 ​Bradley Kam ​・Founded 2 companies Unstoppable Domains & Talkable ・Raised over $70M ・Unstoppable Domains recently raised $65M in a Series A round led by Pantera Capital, reaching a $1B valuation. Aquibur Rahman ​Founder of Mailmodo, has received funding from Sequoia and is an alum of Y Combinator S21 ​Nathan Stevenson ​CEO and Founder of ForwardLane Inc. has been featured by Forbes, the World Economic Forum, and American Banker Event link 👉 https://lu.ma/ldbfgkez

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From Inventing the Swipe to Shaping the New Future of Connection, Christopher Gulczynski. I had the incredible opportunity to sit down with the co-founder of Tinder and co-creator of Bumble—the visionary who brought the "swipe" to the world. 🚀 In our latest episode, we journeyed back to the early days when a simple idea transformed how millions romantically connect. We discussed: - The Genesis of Tinder & the Swipe: The story behind one of the most iconic features in mobile app history. - The Societal Impact of Dating Apps: How technology shapes our connections and the unintended consequences that come with it. - Building Bumble: Addressing societal challenges and empowering women to make the first move. - The Evolution of Connection: The recent shift from online to IRL experiences and what that means for the future. - What's Next: A sneak peek into what Chris is building now—something that could redefine how we connect. We also touch on algorithmic fairness, ethics, and diversity/inclusion. If you're interested in the past, present, and future of how humans connect - not to mention all the eye-opening facts and insightful tips - this is a conversation you won't want to miss. Thanks for making this happen Amrapali Gan https://lnkd.in/eD7nWPdy

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Markets talk. We listen. We've from heard from capital allocators (#VC, #PrivateEquity, #FamilyOffices....even #VentureStudios, #Incubators and #Accelerators) that due diligence is a bottleneck to deal flow. It's time-consuming, expensive and often, subjective. We've launched #VentureIQ by the 9point8 Collective to directly address this problem. VentureIQ is an AI-enabled diligence solution that provides rapid scale diligence reports with exceptional fidelity and demonstrable cost efficiency - all within a single business day. We're in our soft launch, now. So, if you want to gain back valuable time and expose the long tail of deal flow diligence, shoot me a DM or visit VentureIQ.ai.

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This article really resonated with me, especially the section below about founders knowing their numbers. What skill set should a founder starting a brand today have?  Drew F.: "Now, more than ever, you have to know your numbers. You have to be able to describe your unit economics, not only certainly to any prospective investor, but also to yourself because the odds that you’re going to get any capital are near zero. If you don’t know your unit economics and cash flow, you won’t have a business. The founder that knows their numbers and how to scale the business in a healthy and efficient way is the founder that will prevail." Scaling a beauty brand has never been easy, but it has gotten increasingly more difficult over the past few years. Capital efficiency and a focus on margins and profitability have also become more important for investors seeking to deploy in the category. True Beauty Ventures Cristina Nuñez Rachel Brown Beauty Independent #beautyinvesting https://lnkd.in/egBiFhPC

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We just released June's Workforce Wrap Up! Take a read if you’re interested in learning more about 👇 📉 The latest data on employment and layoffs 💸 Changes in consumer spending and how major retailers and businesses are responding 📊 The CBO’s new economic outlook through 2034 🌍 What the “new normal” for global economies are expected to look like and what we can do to adjust 👷‍♀️ Trends for union certification 👀 And which frontline job saw the slowest wage gains in the last few years?

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I just wrapped up a panel with the Marketing Leadership affinity group within the How Women Invest community with my hero Auntie Nancy Hayes, aka the Yoda of board membership, angel investing, and general badassery. We talked about different ways to serve on boards, a role in which experienced Marketers seem to be often underrepresented. Why? If I had to guess, I'd say: 1 - Most heads of marketing are women 2 - marketing is undervalued, especially under sales/revenue experience 3—Compound the first two with the messages you tell yourself about your own worthiness, and suddenly, you're a great marketer for everyone else but yourself. ___________ For those who are interested in getting closer or into the board room, there are so many ways to start/get experience: 1—Board Observer (one of my current board roles)—you represent the investor but have no votes. It is unpaid, but/and hugely essential to act as a bridge of visibility and communication between the fund you've invested with and the company in which the fund has invested. My role brings value to both sides with much less bias than the other VC board seats. 2—Corporate board director—There is much governance but not much influence on the product, as the company usually has big enough teams for that. There is a lot of hiring/firing CEOs (read: drama), which can still be fun, especially for those fresh-popcorn-in-my-bag swag kinda folks (both grossly generalizing and way understating this role's fiduciary importance, but you get the idea). 3—Independent board director—this is another of my favorite places to sit. It is much like the Board observer role but with voting rights and equity (although not always, as these terms are negotiated and influenced by the shareholding board seats). You are NOT representing a VC fund (typically), but you might have subject matter expertise in the product or are a generalist boss gal like myself and bring a sense of neutrality and balance to the board. 4—Advisor. Advisors are similar to IBD in terms of influence and type of advice but are not part of the board or its meetings. This role is usually paid in some combination of equity and cash. It's another of my faves. (Are you seeing the trend here?) We have not even touched non-profit boards (where I got my start and am currently sitting on my sixth), but we will save it for next time as it's a whole 'nother Oprah. If you want to learn more, How Women Lead is hosting its 5th annual #getonboard week, starting October 21. Hybrid virtual and in-person. Check it out: https://lnkd.in/diizwv8j #womeninleadership #boardofdirectors #howwomenlead #governance #boarddiversity #corporategovernance #boardservice #businessleadership #leadership Julie Candelon Susan Greenwood Schroeder Mikayla Ludwig

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UTA.VC, a venture arm formed in partnership between the United Talent Agency and Investcorp in 2022, has paused investments altogether, two people with direct knowledge of the matter told Kate at the Information in a nice scoop. And Sam Wick, a UTA.VC managing director who joined the agency in 2016, has left, the people added to Kate. UTA.VC’s portfolio includes influencer marketing company Bounty and Breef, which connects brands with creative agencies. UTA has invested in Cameo, MasterClass and Patreon, the piece notes as part of a wider review into the creator economy and its struggles. Interestingly, however, there's more activity seemingly in the ads-for-equity tool that allows perhaps more traditional media groups to tap the creative startups and help them without traditional VC money as Diana Florescu has tracked - Vinay Solanki at Channel 4 Ventures and the good folks at DMGT and a host of other CVCs and VCs like Niko and Dennis at GMP have made hay in this field. H/T James and Maija as GCV explores this further

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If Ilya Sutskever suggests that LLM scaling has kind of plateaued, it's a perspective worth taking seriously. Many entrepreneurs will waste years by overestimating the capabilities of LLMs without truly understanding their current limitations.

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What's the fast river in alts? Listen to the latest Alt Goes Mainstream podcast with Mercer's Gregg Sommer & CAIS' Neil Blundell to hear how they are helping advisors approach private markets. Gregg, Neil, and I had a fascinating discussion about how the wealth channel can approach alternatives and how they can think about both diligence and customization. We covered: * The case for alternatives. * How advisors currently approach alternatives and how they can think about it differently going forward. * How to think about portfolio construction that includes alternatives. * How alts can help advisors differentiate their practice and attract clients. * Following the fast river in a career and why alternatives are “the fast river.” * The meaning of “structure over strategy.” * The rise in popularity of evergreen funds. Thanks Gregg and Neil for sharing your thoughts and expertise on private markets. Thanks to our sponsor, Ultimus Fund Solutions, for making this episode possible. https://lnkd.in/eBtyw6Fm

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Check out @newtoventure podcast by Taiki Chung. Taiki's podcast New to Venture is the best first step for VC newbies and wannabes - thrilled to speak about the important of relationships and karma. https://lnkd.in/eyPdzRjy 

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