Peter Renton

Not all of the investments that Kindred Capital VC makes can be a 13 year sourcing process.... but... this is one of those very fortunate moments in which a relationship that started over a decade ago in the Bay Area where the brilliant A-H. Hleileh and I overlapped has now turned into an incredibly exciting opportunity for Kindred to lead his and Ron Holifield's first institutional round at Civic Marketplace. We believe: 1. Local government procurement is one of the most underserved areas in technology today, and has failed to keep pace with the private sector. They deserve better. 2. This is a huge opportunity, with US local governments spending alone amounting to over $1.5 trillion in annual spend, which is only going in one direction... 3. As the brilliant Kip Harkness shared with me in our diligence phase, "this industry moves at the speed of trust." And this is a unique founding team with A-H. Hleileh and Ron Holifield at the helm who bring together two critical ingredients: 1) decades of trust-building within this domain, and 2) a team who can build beautiful and scalable technology platforms. Onwards!! 🚀

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The best things Founders can receive from investors (apart from term sheets) is feedback! At Funden, about 50% of pass notes come with some sort of feedback thats actionable and helpful to the Founder. Here’s an example of a pass note from earlier this month: “We focus on having live, paying enterprise customers with a repeatable, scalable sales process and line-of-sight to series-A financial metrics" Boom! That kind of transparency is unprecedented in the venture world. This type of feedback says, "Hey we're excited about the industry and product, but we need to just see a little more proof of concept on the business before we can dive deeper". Now, this founder has someone they can reach back out to, who is going to be familiar with them, and the Founder will now be right in their investable sweet spot! Another one we got recently was a few investors are telling the same founder, independently of one another, that their round size was far too big for their level of traction. Hearing the same type of feedback as to why they're passing in such a short period of time has a real and meaningful impact on how founders are structuring their raise. And we're happy to help them. https://lnkd.in/gZ_tVkTB ---------------------- Funden is the #1 fundraising platform connecting founders to capital. Founders use our tools and strategic guidance for quicker, more effective fundraises. Investors use us to receive curated, quality deal flow and broadcast co-investment opportunities to our audience of 1000+ global VCs, family funds, angel networks, syndicates, and more.

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True partnerships are transformative catalysts for change. They transcend mere funding, embracing deep listening, dynamic collaboration, and vibrant community-building. Recent experiences at the MARGULF FOUNDATION Grantee Convening, Culture Shifting Summit, EdLoC, and Google Impact Summit have reignited my passion for reimagining how funders can evolve to genuinely empower social impact leaders. In my latest Camelback Ventures blog, I dive into the heart of this crucial conversation: ➡️ How can we build partnerships that fuel innovation? ➡️ What does holistic support for entrepreneurs of color and women really look like? ➡️ How might we create an ecosystem where visionary ideas thrive? Join me in exploring how we can reshape the landscape of social impact. Together, we can craft a future where diverse voices lead the charge in solving our most pressing challenges. Read the full article and let's continue this vital dialogue. How are you reimagining partnerships in your work? 🔗 https://lnkd.in/eW7UrGXu #SocialImpact #EquitablePartnerships #InnovationInFunding #DiversityInEntrepreneurship #SystemicChange

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We (Climate VC) need to stop making excuses for the growth trajectories of our companies There’s a reason why Matthew Stotts and I chose the venture capital asset class to focus on - it has to GROW fast. And there are a lot of fast-growing, money-making opportunity areas with huge problems that could benefit from highly motivated well-funded and skilled teams looking to build a large company. If you need to make an excuse or caveat for any of the statements in the previous paragraph, you’re in the wrong asset class The good thing about VC is it grows fast and BIG. The clock is ticking on our biggest problem areas - let’s get to work!

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Exciting news! We just sent out the inaugural newsletter for Future Frontier Capital, our pre-seed venture fund backing frontier tech startups. As I hit "send," I realized how launching FFC parallels the path of the founders we support. Starting FFC has required the same passion, perseverance, and self-belief that drive entrepreneurs. Just like a startup, getting a VC fund off the ground demands relentless hustle—building the brand, perfecting the pitch, and networking tirelessly. There are constant challenges that test your resolve and endless hours of unglamorous work behind the scenes. And perhaps most daunting - the self-doubt, wondering if you're crazy for attempting something so bold. Pushing through that negative self-talk requires unshakable faith in your mission. Raising this VC fund reminds me of starting our IP strategy and patent analytics firm two decades ago. It’s a powerful reminder of the perseverance, creativity, and resilience needed to turn an ambitious idea into reality. This experience makes us more empathetic partners, ready to support the founders we back. Our work is just beginning, and this inaugural newsletter underscores our commitment to supporting frontier tech startups every step of the way. #startups #VentureCapital #EmergingManagers #Entrepreneurship #InnovationMindSet

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One thing I constantly feel like I'm saying is that the Southeast is growing and you can feel the momentum here within the early-stage tech community. But it's one thing to talk about the ecosystem - it's another thing when there's data backing it up. Last week, Embarc Collective and Build In SE dropped the Southeast Capital Landscape 2024 Report, and wow... We're seeing 38% growth in new VC firms creating a presence in the Southeast over the past 3 years. But what really gets me excited? Seeing the Startup Flywheel in Motion: Mandiant's acquisition (now part of Google Cloud) led to a new cyber-security VC firm, and Red Hat alumni co-founded unicorn Pendo. io. This isn't just growth. It's transformation. It's reinvestment. It's the Southeast tech scene leveling up. Check out the full report: https://lnkd.in/e4D6gXyJ

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Prime Coalition has long taken a different tack to climate finance compared to its for-profit brethren. It makes the usual venture-style investments in startups through Azolla Ventures and also helps philanthropists direct their money to climate-related projects that it deems high impact. Trellis Climate follows the latter model with a focus on middle stages, where capital has grown scarce. #climatetech #climateVC #climatefinance

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#Fundraising Q&A 44-17 Hi! Chief Fundraising Officers and industry key players! Today, we're excited to introduce Fundraising Depot, powered by (Fun)raising BE SMARTER THAN YOU VENTURE CAPITALIST. Q1 💡 What is Fundraising Depot? Fundraising Depot is a comprehensive digital library providing all the resources and tools necessary to develop a startup and prepare for successful fundraising. Q2 💡 What do I get with my access? For a one-time payment of $69, you'll receive lifetime access to our library, updated weekly with expert articles, tips, and best practices in venture capital and fundraising. Q3 💡 Are there templates available? Yes! Fundraising Depot offers many templates, including Term Sheets, investment contracts, Financial plans, cap tables, Pitch Decks, Messaging templates, and more. Our step-by-step guides and expert hacks will help you navigate the fundraising process without drama or pain. Q4 💡 Are there lists of investors available? You'll find an extensive collection of global VC and angel investor lists, carefully curated from reputable sources. We're aware of “search fatigue” and are on a mission to fix it. 👀 Our tool is even more incredible than the Harry Potter Hermione Granger Bag. 💪 Find the full access link in the first comment of this post 👇 #Startup #founders #Fundraising #VC #VentureCapital #Entrepreneurship

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HUGE opportunity

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If just 30% of all female accredited investors invested $10,000 this year, we could move $10 billion to female founded businesses. At Golden Hour Ventures, in partnership with Annie Evans of Dream Ventures , we're building a movement to turn this potential into reality. The time to mobilize and vote with our dollars is now. Here's how you can help. Women- We need your voice. Your insights are crucial to creating change. Would you please take 10 minutes to complete our survey to share how you currently invest and how you'd like to invest? P.S. Taking this survey isn’t just a step toward a more equitable world—it’s also an opportunity to win amazing swag from KILLER brands, plus Amex and Sephora gift cards. Take the survey first, get a shareable link, and share with your network for extra entries into our giveaway. https://lnkd.in/e7K_xbNQ

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Want to build wealth faster? Skip startups. Buy Boring Old Businesses. Here’s why: 1. They’re already making money. 2. They come with customers, systems, and momentum. 3. They’re undervalued – 2.5x profits is standard. 4. SBA loans or seller financing make them accessible. 5. Easy profit boosters: raise prices or add new products. 6. They’re easier to scale than startups. Startups fail 65% of the time within the first 5 years. But "boring" businesses? They’re built to last. Don’t build from scratch. Buy something proven. If you could buy a "boring" business, what type of business would you buy?

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An important discussion that I see first hand in both my very deep tech focused investing industry in venture capital and as an ethnic minority. The anti-woke discussion MUST not derail critical corporate DEI initiatives but the lesson is we need to more than box tick. Fabric Ventures Money20/20

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Big Opportunities for Emerging Venture Funds The venture capital world is changing fast. Emerging fund managers face tough competition, opening up some great opportunities. Highlights: - More Competition: With over 10,000 funds, emerging managers must stand out. - Smart Strategies: Many are cutting their fund targets and teaming up with big firms to stay in the game. - Niche Focus: Specializing in specific sectors can give emerging funds a big advantage. - Strong Networks: Building relationships with larger VCs is crucial for finding great deals and growing. Even with the challenges, emerging managers can thrive by being innovative and leveraging their unique strengths. This could reshape the venture capital scene for the better. #VentureCapital #EmergingFunds #Investment #Startups #Entrepreneurship #Funding #Opportunity

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Summary: The article discusses the rise of open source startups and the challenges between philanthropy and profit. With the support of OSS Capital, many open source startups have successfully raised funding and gained growth. Key takeaways: Open source companies can be successful in generating sustainable revenue outcomes while maintaining philanthropic values. OSS Capital has invested in around 80 open source startups, with notable exits such as Remix and partnerships with established companies like Automattic and Insight Partners. OSS Capital promotes the belief that capitalism is the ultimate manifestation of philanthropy and is well-suited for accelerating open source innovation. Counter arguments: Some may argue that the pursuit of profit goes against the ethos of open source and could lead to the commercialization and privatization of open-source projects. Others may argue that not all open-source startups are successful and that relying on capitalism as the primary funding source could limit innovative ideas and diverse perspectives. #venturecapital #vc #venturecapital #opensource

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"Nine things startups need to know about the 2024-25 federal budget" In this SmartCompany article, Tegan Jones highlights a number of items of interest for the startup and tech sectors contained in the recent federal budget: https://zurl.co/PH52

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Drop In Venture Funding To Black-Founded Startups Greatly Outpaces Market Decline Chris MetinkoGené Teare February 27, 2024 Venture funding to Black-founded U.S. startups last year totaled only $705 million — marking the first time since 2016 that the figure failed to even reach $1 billion, Crunchbase data shows. The decline in capital to Black-founded companies greatly outpaces the overall decline in startup funding. While total venture dollars in the U.S. fell 37% last year, funding to Black-founded startups dropped a staggering 71%, according to Crunchbase data. Last year’s total investment in Black-founded startups in the U.S. marks the lowest amount since such startups raised only $582 million in 2016. The drop in total dollars also meant Black-founded startups received their lowest share in the venture market since at least 2016, per Crunchbase. Black-founded startups received less than 0.5% of the $140.4 billion in venture funding all U.S.-based startups received last year. In 2021, Black-founded startups received 1.4% of all U.S. venture funding. In 2022, it was 1.1%.

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Fundraising decks are important but only within the context of a well-orchestrated fundraising process. A deck itself is unlikely to directly lead to a term sheet. Rather, it is important to understand how you want to use the deck (or any collateral for that matter) as part of your fundraise process. For example: - Is it to secure the first meeting with a VC? A teaser deck is important. But so is the email snippet and warm referral! - Is it part of a deeper-dive session about your business? Excellent. Is it a deeper dive on product or GTM? And, is the next step a track to a partnership meeting? - Is it a diligence deck? Excellent. Is it more about showcasing the financial plan and key levers? ... what is the ONE thing you want this deck to help you achieve? More tips on fundraising your early-stage round here: https://lnkd.in/gvWYaCwk #startups #venture #fundraising

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