Ken Sobajima

The landscape of venture capital is evolving, with women playing a pivotal role in shaping its future. According to recent data from PitchBook, women founders and co-founders secured nearly one-quarter (22.8%) of all VC money in 2023, up from 18.7% in 2022. This reflects a growing recognition of the value women bring to the investment world and an increasing focus on funding startups that prioritize social impact, sustainability, and diversity. The VC ecosystem has seen a major pullback since it peaked in 2021, but female founders have shown tremendous resilience amid market turbulence. Female founders made significant strides in 2023 by securing a record-high proportion of VC capital in the US and near-record levels in Europe. However, there continues to be a wide gap between investment in female-founding teams and male-founding teams. I am incredibly honored to be moderating this discussion - Women Influencing the Future of Investment- with an esteemed panel of investors and former entrepreneurs including SC Moatti, Anshu Agarwal, Eileen Tanghal, and Divya Sudhakar ,who have made significant contributions to the industry.

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Only one day left to register for the #GlobalStartupSymposium. You don't want to miss out on connecting with more than 170 investors and 150 founders ready to present. And the great speakers and panelists providing educational webinars and panel discussions hosted by Quan Nguyen | NGUYEN TARBET IP Law and others. Last day to register, but the event is next weeks with a full agenda geared towards facilitating interaction between startups and investors in addition to providing invaluable educational opportunities. The 4-day conference, Dec 9, 10, 11, & 12 is Pismo Ventures' 12th consecutive event for startups at the stages of Pre-Seed, Seed, and Series A - Life Science (Day 1), AI/ML (Day 2), DeepTech (Day 3), etc. (Day 4). The symposium offers a unique opportunity to connect startup founders with investors worldwide. Register Now and take advantage of a 50% discount code: SPO50GSS24 https://lnkd.in/g6nZegSz Thank you to all of our sponsors and partners for making this event happen. TCA Venture Group Orange County | TechCon SoCal | PeopleConnect Staffing | Orange County OC Startup Council | Keiretsu Forum | Berkeley Angel Network | New Mexico Angels, Inc. | Gao Family Office LLC | Ashton Capital | LabX Ventures®| Cross Ocean USSS Fund I (A) Del Feeder LP | Pasadena Angels | CarbonN Venture Partners | The Healthcare Syndicate | Medina Ventures | Rhapsody Venture Partners | MAKR Venture Fund | Indigenous VC | 7BC Venture Capital | Kamay Ventures | Breakform Ventures | VU Venture Partners | E12 Ventures | Venture Diplomat | Fundie Ventures | BDev Ventures | Techstars | Anza Capital | Allstate Strategic Ventures | Binary Crypto | Breakform Ventures | 37 Angels | NuFund Venture Group | TCA Venture Group | MEDA Ventures | TiE SoCal Angels | TiE Dallas Angels #Entrepreneurship #Startups #Founders #Angels #Investors #VentureCapital #TechLeadership #CommunityBuilder #FamilyOffices #PitchEvent #InvestorConference #StartupConference #PitchCompetition #Connect #Partners #Disrupt #Innovate #LifeScience #AI #ML #DeepTech #ClimateTech #Cybersecurity #Web3 #Blockchain #InnovativeLeadership #Networking #BusinessGrowth #Partner #BookAppointment #BookMeetings #Chat #Opportunities #DealFlow

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🌟Innovative VC Firm Overcomes Exits Drought with Secondary Sales🌟 ⛵Navigating a challenging landscape where exits are scarce, Santa Barbara Venture Partners (SBVP) has pioneered a novel approach to sustain its growth and attract investors for its second fund: secondary sales. Instead of waiting for traditional exits like IPOs or acquisitions, SBVP opted to sell shares of its portfolio companies, demonstrating its ability to generate returns for investors and stand out in a competitive market. 🎤According to Dan Engel, founder and managing partner of SBVP, these secondary transactions have been a game-changer, sparking investor interest and bolstering the firm's credibility. By leveraging its recent successes, including a lucrative stake in sports-betting company DraftKings Inc.' acquisition of digital lottery app Jackpocket, SBVP seized the opportunity to return profits to its limited partners (LPs) and pave the way for its second fund. 💡Engel highlighted the challenges faced by young VC firms in raising subsequent funds, particularly amid a downturn in exit activity and heightened investor scrutiny. With traditional exit routes becoming increasingly elusive, the pressure is on for firms to demonstrate tangible returns and establish a track record of success. ✨"For us, secondary sales have been a game-changer. They've helped us return profits to our LPs and attract investors for our second fund," said Dan Engel. 💰For SBVP, the decision to pursue secondary sales was driven by the need to provide liquidity to LPs and validate its investment thesis in the eyes of prospective investors. By strategically offloading portions of its holdings in high-performing portfolio companies like Bark Technologies and Rad AI, SBVP not only generated substantial returns but also bolstered investor confidence in its ability to deliver results. ⚠Despite the complexities and potential stigma associated with early share sales, Engel emphasized the importance of prioritizing investor returns and seizing opportunities to unlock value for stakeholders. With a focus on profitability and transparency, SBVP remains committed to its mission of delivering sustainable growth and maximizing returns for its LPs. 🔍 "Returning profits to our investors is our top priority. By strategically selling shares, we're proving our commitment to delivering results and driving value for our stakeholders," added Engel. As SBVP continues to explore secondary transactions and expand its investor base, the firm stands as a testament to innovation and resilience in the face of market challenges. 🚀 ✅ Looking to raise capital for your #fund and increase the international pool of your LP #investors?   🤝 Need warm #LP introductions?   📝 Selling #secondaries to increase liquidity?   🧐 Looking for co-investments?   ▶ G+QUANT's link for inquiries and fund decks: https://lnkd.in/gjC_EuTE #VCInnovation #SecondarySalesSuccess #InvestorReturns #ValueCreation 

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David Yi (Ethos VC) a.k.a "The VC who hates most VCs" on his Personal Journey and Perspective on Growth:  "As an eight-time founder with two exits, I've seen the landscape from multiple angles. It's not about being a hero but about building a team, learning, and evolving. Whether it's in education or tech, the journey is about adapting and finding your path, not just in Korea but globally." https://lnkd.in/gVduV3MQ #startupswithseoul Chang (CK) Kim

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On May 2, 2024 REFASHIOND Ventures: The Industrial Transformation Fund convened people from around the world for Supply Chain & Industrial Transformation: The Next Generation (Silicon Valley 2024) at the JP Morgan Chase Palo Alto Technology Center in Palo Alto, CA. I kicked-off the event with a short explanation of why Lisa Morales-Hellebo and I are building the fund and its sister organizations to harness Community, Capital, and Catalysts. Our Thesis: REFASHIOND Ventures: The Industrial Transformation Fund invests in early stage startups refashioning legacy industries through Data & AI, Advanced Materials, Advanced Manufacturing, & Next Generation Supply Chains; Defensible through economic moats. Join us. #IndustrialTransformation #SupplyChains #VentureCapital #Startups #Technology #Innovation NB: Before you scream at me for talking about the fund in public; This is a 506(c) Fund. #SCITSV2024

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I find it hard to believe that with millions of EVs entering the market and the proliferation of AI compute that PGE is actually going to have excess capacity in 2040 without any additional generation from 3rd parties. I am also curious if there are enough transmission lines and if PGE views that as someone else’s problem. Maybe they are planning on AI and ACTUAL figuring it all out! https://lnkd.in/gybsMmaw

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Check out our Mangusta Capital Vertical AI breakdown below!

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DePIN & RWAs dominance isn't as far off as most people think. Across every innovative cycle, three fundamental pillars emerge: foundational technology development, proliferation of infrastructure, and a surge in application development. As we venture into the third cycle, DePIN and RWA protocols are poised to become market leaders paralleling the dominance witnessed by infrastructure projects from 2015 to 2024.

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When capital meets ideas, innovation accelerates. No bigger opportunity lies today outside the crypto and AI supercycle. A compass to navigate the acceleration in Web3 and AI: now released is our updated Web x AI Market Map 2024. Crypto is funding the ideas ( both fun and innovative ) in AI, in a crowdsourced and community aligned approach.

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DeepTech startups worldwide (excluding the US and China) face a common challenge: their local markets are too small to build a unicorn. As a result, founders must focus on expanding into international markets. In addition to this, such startups often encounter other obstacles, including long development timelines, complex value chains, limited social and physical infrastructure, and high capital requirements. Today, I'd like to share an article on global expansion for DeepTech. I hope you find it helpful. https://lnkd.in/dbm2xiQX

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Worth reading: Situationsl Awareness by Leopold Aschenbrenner PDF : https://lnkd.in/gkxQ3yMD Web site: https://lnkd.in/gyJUCBhb Interesting perspective, time of course will tell.

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Seattle to compete against San Francisco as a #startup hub? I came across this overview of the startup/tech ecosystem in Seattle by Peter Mueller of Breakwater. Based on it, the conversation sheds light on the journey toward building a more mature, supportive, and interconnected environment for startups in the Pacific Northwest🌐 Peter's insights offer a roadmap for Seattle and startup ecosystems globally, emphasizing community, innovation, and resilience. What are your thoughts on building a mature startup ecosystem in your city? How do you see these insights applying to your local context? #StartupEcosystem #Innovation #SeattleStartups

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Please check our latest press release. RAIVEN CAPITAL has sharpened our thesis regarding #AI as we move forward with our second global fund. Supreet Singh Manchanda

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✨ Breaking: Artesian Venture Partners Announces New Fund.- Artesian (Alternative Investments) Artesian Venture Partners, a partner of the WAVC initiative, focuses on venture capital investments in early-stage startups across various sectors, including health sciences and renewable energy. https://lnkd.in/dvfKFtkf Please share to let other #Founders know For the ❤️ of Startups #Fusion42 #Startups #Venturecapital

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Excited to join the panel discussion next week on the future of smart cities! We'll be exploring how technology, entrepreneurship, and investment are shaping the cities of tomorrow. Don't miss this opportunity to learn about the latest trends and innovations driving the smart city revolution. Sign up now to reserve your spot! #smartcities #venturecapital #Frontiertechnology #entrepreneurship #urbaninnovation

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Coming soon on Aug 1: "Transformation to a Fresh Tomorrow." This is theme of our 3rd Annual Web3 Investor Day, as we welcome the innovators and investors convening in Chicago for these discussions around the next generation Internet. Our theme reflects the optimism, determination and commitment investors and innovators have solidified off the depths of the bear markets to drive success in the bull markets. Broader investor optimism suggests that fresh institutional funds into Web3 across both tokens and equity may endure.  Across adoption metrics, customer interest and developer activity, Web3 seems to have normalized. It’s refreshing to see the transformation and next evolution of Web3 and it’s refreshing to meet many of you on August 1.  And yet, even with the improved optimism from last year, there still remain open questions in the development and adoption of our next generation Internet:  1. the balance of speculative versus productive investor capital in this current cycle 2. the productive role of liquid trading capital in fostering Web3 innovation 3. the attractiveness of venture investments in follow on financings 4. the role of policy and regulation that may enhance innovation 5. the continued developer activity to improve the underlying infrastructure 6. other Web3 recovery characteristics in target customer use cases. We remain committed to navigating regulatory shifts, fostering investor optimism, and building the customer use cases for Web3.  Physical spaces enhance our innovation conversations.  In person relationships foster our collaboration.  Relationships drive breakthrough innovations.  Reach out to Rizza Torres at Decasonic if you would like to join us! #web3investorday #web3 #venturecapital

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