Tali Miller

Summary: Harlem Capital, a venture capital firm focused on backing diverse founders, is raising its largest fund to date of $150 million. This would be its third fund and is a testament to the industry's continued support for diverse communities. Key takeaways: Harlem Capital was founded in 2015 with the goal of supporting diverse founders. The firm has $174 million in assets under management and has made investments in over 80 companies. The successful raising of the $150 million fund would be a show of success for both Harlem Capital and the industry's continued focus on diversity and inclusion. #venturecapital #vc #venture #diversity #dei

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A new era of deep tech has emerged. First time funds will raise “unheard of” amounts of capital to fuel next gen deep tech startups - producing outsized, superior returns for LP’s compared to the rest. Prudent investors will act on this data and shift investment strategy as LP’s or risk being left behind savvy wealth managers and CIO’s / FO’s who saw this trend begin 4 years ago.

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Kettleborough VC has been active for ~6 years, invested in ~30 companies, gone through ~80 funding rounds, witnessed ~12 exits including ~4 instances of partial principal erosion, seen ~4 seed to $100M journeys, tracking ~29% XIRR across the portfolio. A couple of IPOs from the portfolio surely seem very much in line ahead.

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As startups face higher interest rates and fundraising hurdles, venture debt remains a flexible, non-dilutive option for maintaining growth momentum. PitchBook’s Q3 2024 Venture Monitor shows that venture debt continues to play a vital role for startups navigating today’s challenging market conditions. Deal activity in venture debt is on track for a stronger performance this year, with total deal value reaching $34.7 billion so far. Late-stage and venture-growth companies account for nearly 75% of all debt raised, but we continue to see a need for the strategic use of debt by capital-intensive ventures at all stages. Download the full report from PitchBook here: https://lnkd.in/g-bEHTqC

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Final call! PEERLESS applications close Friday, December 6th! We’re searching nationwide for early-stage tech founders bold enough to build businesses no one else can.The journey culminates in a $1M pitch competition at Google’s NYC headquarters, but it’s so much more than that. All applicants gain access to exclusive programming, including fireside chats with founders who’ve scaled to the very top. Submit your application now to secure your spot in these extraordinary conversations... 🔥 Wendy Tsu, Founder of Branch Care - Breaking into uncharted markets. 🔥 Lisa Lewin, Partner at Primary, Ex CEO General Assembly - The power of inspirational leadership to motivate and guide your team. 🔥 Jeffrey De Flavio, MD, Founder of 10+ healthcare companies - Accelerating growth with high-impact GTM strategies. 🔥 Norma Chu, Founder of DayDayCook - Concept to IPO from one of the 40 women to achieve it. 🔥 Cesar Herrera, Founder of Yuvo Health - The art of building an influential network from scratch.  🔥 Gil Addo, Founder of RubiconMD - Navigating different acquisition pathways. Thank you to our lead partners: J.P. Morgan, Google, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP, and Citrin Cooperman, as well as our vast group of supports: Primary Venture Partners, Flybridge, Harlem Capital, L'ATTITUDE VENTURES, VamosVentures, Level Up Ventures, 645 Ventures, HearstLab, Tech:NYC, Amazon Web Services (AWS), and New York City Economic Development Corporation.

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Did you know that YC founders get a secret weapon… and it’s not what you think. “Bookface” is YC’s internal social network. It was needed because YC had funded larger batches and the hardest part of a community is knowing who is in it and who you can trust and ask for help. On the platform, founders share real methods and advice that would break if it were shared widely It’s secret knowledge shared with a trust-first community - answering 80% of the questions a founder can have about building and selling a product, be it to clients, candidates or investors. Before the platform, if you had a B2B startup, you had to reach out cold to potential customers. Now there are over 1000 YC companies you can sell your service to and all of their contact information is in Bookface. As a result, YC alumni companies are often over 50% of your new sales during YC. It’s superpowers like this that make YC deals so attractive compared to the norm. You are investing in a founder with a 10x network already!

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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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Summary: Industry Ventures has raised a $900 million early-stage hybrid fund for investing in emerging managers and directly backing growth-stage companies. This is their seventh hybrid fund and is larger than their previous one. The fund will be split between backing VC funds, direct investments, and acquiring stakes from emerging managers. Key takeaways: Smaller, newer funds are finding it more difficult to raise capital, but this fund from Industry Ventures offers hope for emerging managers. The fund will be split between various investments, including backing VC funds and buying secondary interests. Industry Ventures may have an advantage due to their ability to invest in both emerging and more established managers. Counter arguments: Some may argue that it is still difficult for emerging managers to raise funds. The success of Industry Ventures may not be indicative of the overall climate for emerging managers. #venturecapital #venture #startups #fundraising

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🗽🌳 Exciting News for NYC Tech Community! 🚀 Join us for an invigorating Venture Walk & Talk, proudly part of NY Tech Week! Scheduled for June 4th from 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM at the scenic Maine Monument in Central Park, this unique event is hosted by Founders Committee Ventures. 🌟 Why Join Us? Imagine a relaxed stroll through the beautiful pathways of Central Park, where you can disconnect from the digital world and engage with NYC’s finest founders, angel investors, and venture capitalists. This is more than just a walk; it’s an opportunity to forge meaningful connections, share innovative ideas, and enjoy the great outdoors—all within the heart of Manhattan. ✨ Event Highlights: - Network with industry leaders and peers - Brainstorm new ideas in a refreshing setting - Enjoy the vibrant atmosphere of Central Park Whether you’re looking to collaborate on new projects, explore potential investments, or simply enjoy a break from the office routine, the Venture Walk & Talk is the perfect occasion. 👉 Registration is open but spots are limited and approval is required. Don’t miss out on this chance to be part of something special during #TechWeek. Lace up your walking shoes, grab a coffee, and let’s make strides together in the tech ecosystem! 🔗 https://lu.ma/wj9o67iy See you there for a breath of fresh innovation! #NYTechWeek #TechNetworking #StartupLife #VentureCapital

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Summary: The article discusses NASA's mission to Mars to collect rocks, the growing opportunity for startups in the space industry, latest venture capital news, and a breakdown of a16z's $7.2 billion worth of new funds. Key takeaways: NASA's mission to Mars to collect rocks was expected to cost $11 billion and take a long time, but with open input from startups, the cost and timeline may improve. Startups are increasingly interested in the space industry, as shown by Two Chairs' Series C funding and Quilt's recent fundraising for heat pump work. a16z's recent announcement of $7.2 billion worth of new funds indicates their continued success and shows they are unaffected by the current venture slowdown. Counter arguments: Some may argue that the cost and timeline for NASA's mission to Mars is not feasible, even with support from startups. While a growth in startups in the space industry is promising, there is still a long way to go before it becomes a major player in the startup world. #venturecapital #vc #venture #startups

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Fin Capital’s Fintech CEO Pulse Report is out! We surveyed over 50 CEOs and C-suite leaders of private companies from our portfolio and the broader fintech industry during June and July 2024 to get a quick pulse on what’s top of mind for fintech’s leaders. Here are some key takeaways: Optimism in the Air: More than 60% of CEOs reported being bullish or highly bullish on the fintech industry for the second half of 2024. Regulatory Changes on the Horizon: CEOs identified Cryptocurrency, Open Banking, and Buy Now Pay Later as the top three sectors likely to see increased regulation by the end of 2024. CEOs Want Business Development Support: Beyond capital and fundraising, business development support emerged as the top area where CEOs seek investor assistance.For more insights, including comments from my colleagues Ren Riley, Logan Allin, Matthew D. Mann, CFA, and Stephanie Perez, check out the full report here: https://lnkd.in/euHK8-9B

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I love YC Demo Day season. It’s an insane concentration of driven founders building something they deeply believe in at the frontier of tech. I know it's more trendy for VCs to complain about YC. But I believe Garry Tan when he says 5-10% of companies become worth a billion dollars. Maven’s hit rate from YC is even higher: 16% have had $B+ exits, and we’re trending toward a 40% graduation rate from Seed to Unicorn with investments we’ve made alongside YC. Since Maven’s founding in 2013, we’ve funded 12 YC startups out of the 66 companies we’ve invested in. Here are a few: Cruise: acquired by GM for $1B+ Embark: $4B SPAC, acquired by Applied Intuition Chariot: acquired by Ford before Series A May Mobility: raised $300M+ in follow on funding, including from Toyota Carrot Fertility: raised $100M+ in follow on funding, including from CRV and USVP Daybreak Health: Series A from Lightspeed, Series B from USV Moment Robotics: acquired by Cruise founder Kyle Vogt’s new company, The Bot Co (Maven is an investor) Our strategy differs from other YC investors. Many funds build a YC “index fund”, investing in many startups per batch. It’s not a bad move. But we focus on concentration, meeting all the companies in our thesis area and investing in one or two. Gratefully, I think every company from the list above can point to Maven as one of their most trusted partners that made a difference: intros to customers, closing follow-on funding from top VCs, connecting key hires, and offering genuine care and advice in both the best and toughest of moments. What are we looking for in a YC investment? 1) Team - a technical product team with startup DNA and hustle that can achieve a bold vision. Brilliant, determined founders no one would bet against who are ambitious enough to build an iconic company. 2) Vision worth fighting for - what are you bringing into the world that is worth all the time, effort and money required for success? Why aren’t existing solutions good enough? Are we proud to help bring this idea to the world? 3) Massive market - because of the valuation premium YC demands, even a $B outcome may not return today’s average Seed fund. Honestly, that math sucks. In order to pay the premium, we have to believe that if we’re right, we’ll be wildly successful. 4) Consumer trend - Maven invests in tech companies addressing emerging consumer trends. Even if some investments are B2B or B2B2C, they are always grounded in a consumer insight: autonomous vehicles in 2014, fertility care in 2017, mental health in 2020. Today, we’re looking at consumer applications of AI and frontier consumer health. Many successful companies we fund are outside of YC as well – like Zoom, Hello Heart, Epic!, Class, Wildtype. So we match YC’s Unicorn % across the rest of our portfolio, too 💪 YC founders in consumer tech and digital health: if you want to build an iconic company that delivers a positive impact for millions of consumers - I can’t wait to talk to you!

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Looking to launch your company in the Big Apple? 🍎🚀 We've curated a comprehensive list of the top startup accelerators and incubators in New York City. These programs are crucial for early-stage ventures, offering: ◼ Funding: From seed investments to connecting you with VCs ◼ Mentorship: Guidance from seasoned entrepreneurs and industry experts ◼ Resources: Access to co-working spaces, legal services, and more ◼ Networks: Introductions to potential customers, partners, and investors ◼ Education: Workshops and seminars on critical business topics Explore here: https://lnkd.in/gqNatE8p Forum Ventures Big Idea Ventures GENIUS NY Luminate Accelerator XRC Ventures Echoing Green ICONYC labs Entrepreneurs Roundtable Accelerator 43North Lair East Labs URBAN-X Blueprint Health LLC Squared Circles Waldencast Food Future Co | Scale-up Accelerator Virtual Force Inc. Cornell eLab Accelerator Dreamit Ventures FinTech Innovation Lab Starta VC Almaworks Accelerator VentureOut The Tech Garden at CenterState CEO Prospect Innovation #nycstartups #entrepreneurshipresources #innovation #startupaccelerators #startupincubators

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Silicon Valley built venture capital. But New York's new guard is reinventing it. Just reviewed TechCrunch's Top New York VCs Under 30 List. The paradigm is shifting from the traditional Sand Hill Road model to something more diverse and dynamic, marked by: +Founders-turned-investors have hands-on startup experience +A deeper focus on overlooked markets and underserved founders +Cross-pollination between tech and NYC's legacy industries +An emphasis on sustainable growth over growth-at-all-costs As this generation steps into decision-making roles, they’re bringing a fresh take on community-driven investing, alternative funding structures, and an emphasis on long-term value creation. Congratulations to all the honorees. Young talent is reshaping VC but remember – great investors come at every age. (Fun fact: the average GP is 43!) Want to meet the next wave of NYC's venture talent? Follow along as TechCrunch updates their Under 30 list: https://bit.ly/4hiw4ef Thoughts on the approach of younger VCs? Would love to hear your perspective. #VentureCapital #StartupNYC #Innovation #TechNews" Data Sources: TechCrunch and SaaStr PS 🔔 Unlock a better way to raise capital with: 💸https://fundingstack.com/ for VCs and investors

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Lume (YC W23), co-founded by Nebyou Zewde, Robert Ross, and Nicolas Machado, has raised $4.2M in a Seed round led by General Catalyst, with participation from Khosla Ventures, Floodgate, Y Combinator, and Soma Capital. Lume (YC W23)’s AI-powered platform automates data mapping and integration, helping companies in industries like e-commerce, insurance, and finance streamline onboarding, data normalization, and complex data workflows. By leveraging large language models, Lume enables faster, more efficient data mapping and management across unique systems. The new funding will allow Lume to make strategic hires in AI research and data infrastructure to handle the growing data needs of its customers and tackle the industry’s long-standing challenges in data integration. Collin Montag Puneet Kumar Brad Flora Quentin Clark Max Rimpel Vinod Khosla Mike Maples, Jr Nikhita Jaaswal Fouad Farhat Sabrina Hahn Devvret Rishi Sam Stone Ana Clara Martins Sigalit Perelson Scharfstein John Bautista

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Super helpful #Startup #Equity Calculator to determine the equity for early hires, thanks to Pear VC head of talent Matt Birnbaum! Thanks for sharing Pejman! 🙏🏼 You can read more here How to structure startup equity for early hires: https://lnkd.in/ggmpT5-Y Google Doc: https://lnkd.in/gjsvths6

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After the first deep dive discussion w/ founders I often hear a comment "I wish I had heard about this alternative [to all-in must-become-a-unicorn] way to build a startup earlier as I have wasted years in pursuing the wrong thing". Our mission is that no founder would ever need to say that again as it is such a waste. Us preaching the gospel 1:1 just doesn't scale, hence we use mass media to multiply our efforts - that's how Gorillacast came to be. The 1st episode is out, featuring yours truly. "How can you know what food you like unless you taste everything" said a chef. How can founders make informed choices about the best strategy for them to follow unless they know of all alternatives? This might not be of interest to you but pls spread the word so that the founders who should hear it can find it. I have a dream!

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