Amanda Kahlow

That's why it's often very difficult to recognize new leaders – their ideas go beyond the conventional frameworks we're accustomed to. Keep your mind open. Don't let yesterday's templates define your future. #Leadership, #Innovation, #OpenMind, #FutureThinking, #venturethinking,   https://lnkd.in/eASPGsuu

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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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We're launching the inaugural edition of Beyond Benchmarks, a deep dive into the metrics and trends observed across the early-stage enterprise cloud market. This is the first look at some of the business data around GenAI in SaaS. Some initial observations: 1) 60% of SaaS companies have already integrated GenAI into their offerings (60% of these as part of their current product and 40% as a new product), and an additional 20% are planning to do so this year. Almost half aren't monetizing these features. Those that are are primarily experimenting with both usage-based and flat fee pricing models. 2) Most companies are utilizing OpenAI as their primary LLM, but many are experimenting with multiple models - and we are noticing an early trend towards intelligently routing GenAI inference requests to different models based on cost, performance, and security. 3) Though we are in the initial innings of GenAI, we are seeing some positive signals - companies that implemented GenAI had 7% higher NDR than those that did not. Still early days, but we'll be doing this benchmarking report regularly to track and share how things progress in this new era. Link to report in comments.

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From the "Big Easy" to the "Big Heatsy"--New Orleans Has Highest Percentage Growth in Heat Waves--According to a report by Climate Central, New Orleans, long known as the "Big Easy" for it's laid-back lifestyle, is now becoming the "Big Heatsy", with the highest percentage growth in heat waves over the past 62 years. Part of the reasoning for this rapid increase is the city's topography, most of which is below sea level, allowing heat to "sit" over the city. Many think New Orleans is on or near the Gulf Coast, when in fact it is approximately 80 miles north, so the famous Gulf breeze is not common. Added to that, it is surrounded by water, adding its' extremely high humidity to the mix. The majority of the 21 deaths in the city following Hurricane Ida in 2021 were due to heat-related illness. So this is real. As the great host of a show on climate, Bloomberg's Kal Penn, says, it's "Getting Warmer."

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As we get prepared for our Angel Conference program, we run workshops to help get things lined up for the right conversations between investors and early pre-seed startups. We have a deadline coming up on August 27th for startups. One of the places that we see companies having a bit of trouble is on the customer discovery side of things. So we have a couple of workshops on that early customer discovery and associated efforts to get traction early before your MVP. As Angel Investors, we need to think with a portfolio mindset instead of investing in one or two companies to "see how it goes". We have a panel of SAC alumni talking about their perspectives on their portfolio of companies. We also know that startups don't practice pitching enough. So we we have workshops for improving pitches before people pitch for real. You can see the upcoming workshops here: AI+Lean  Building automated content experiments for customer discovery Tuesday, August 6, 2024 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM PDT https://lnkd.in/gJMiyQZC Building Your Angel Investment Portfolio Tuesday, August 6, 2024 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM PDT https://lnkd.in/gD9ATSyG Pitch Deconstruction and Review Thursday, August 8, 2024 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM PDT https://lnkd.in/g-RRajrX Finding your first paying customers Tuesday, August 13, 2024 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM PDT https://lnkd.in/gN-DaRJ8 Angel Investing and Taxes Thursday, August 15, 2024 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM PDT https://lnkd.in/gjs9cQfy Solving Real Problems: The Key to Market Success Tuesday, August 20, 2024 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM PDT https://lnkd.in/gYkJFD-X Structuring a Pitch Deck That Engages Investors Thursday, August 22, 2024 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM PDT https://lnkd.in/geyYR4wB Seattle Angel Conference (SAC 26) Application Deadline Tuesday, August 27, 2024 9:00 PM to 9:05 PM PDT  (But REALLY … Apply early)  https://lnkd.in/gM_fSmbZ  Companies need to apply here - https://lnkd.in/gWbtkAaf Please let the folks around you know about these workshops.

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Reaching the $1 million revenue milestone is a notable achievement, yet it's a goal that remains elusive for many. While the number of women-owned businesses is increasing, fewer women-led ventures cross this financial threshold compared to their male counterparts. Why is this? And more importantly, what can we do to shift this trend? The challenges are multifaceted: limited access to capital, undervaluation of services, the double burden of balancing business with personal responsibilities, and fewer networking opportunities. However, each of these barriers can be addressed with strategic actions. Consider investing in financial education to strengthen your business’s financial foundation. Embrace value-based pricing to reflect the true worth of your offerings. Delegate and build a supportive team, and actively seek out networking and mentorship opportunities. It’s also crucial to embrace risk and focus on scalability to drive growth. Breaking through the $1 million barrier is challenging but achievable. By tackling these obstacles head-on and adopting growth-focused strategies, we can redefine success and pave the way for more women entrepreneurs to reach and surpass this milestone. #WomenInBusiness #Entrepreneurship #BusinessGrowth #FinancialSuccess

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Join me Thursday, May 9 at 9amET, and Microsoft for Startups company founders, Stead Burwell, Lana Feng, Ph.D. Andrew Gostine, MD, MBA and Ankur Teredesai for a lively, *real-world* conversation about applying #AI to improve #healthcare. In addition to hearing these leading #innovators discuss the challenges, value, and future of AI, you'll learn how: 💲 Outbound AI uses AI to improve #RevenueCycleManagement 💊 Huma.AI uses #GenAI to provide meaningful and actionable #insights for #lifesciences companies 🛌Artisight uses #AI and #cognitiveservices to streamline #patientcare and #safety 😷 CueZen uses #AI and #GenAI for hyper-personalized management of #chronicconditions 👉 Registration is below. Stelios Hatzakis Tony Kountz Derek Haynes Bethany Cordes Tom Davis Ted Roduner Microsoft for Healthcare

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If you are someone who enjoys reading history and getting into the details of latest AI advancements equally, you will enjoy this long read on the impact of LLM advancements on the global world through the lens of changing multilingual communication. Rahul Sanghi of the Tigerfeathers and O'Shaughnessy Ventures has crafted a finely written essay here starting from the age of discovery 1.0, beginning here in the Iberian Peninsula led by the Spaniards and Portugese, to the advent of a potential age of discovery 2.0 that we may encounter in near future fuelled by the large language models and their multilingual capabilities. If you are a multilingual speaker, speaking a few international languages, this will certainly resonate with you and reinforce the brighter side of the opportunities the current generative AI boom could open up and transform the global nature of our world in the coming years. #Artificialintelligence #GenAI #history #LLMs #languages https://lnkd.in/dPEJxPVe

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Team San Diego! I though you may find this as surprising as I did...we are not alone. Read this quick article from Jon Prentice's (Silicon Valley Bank) interview with with James Newell (Voyager Capital), published in GeekWire on Seattle's innovation ecosystem....they lament the SAME issues as we do in San Diego: * Lack of angel investors, (Especially, it calls out, given the local giant tech co's) * "We need low-conviction check writers." * Lack of "cachet associated with being an angel investor" - We have similar efforts (as described in the article) to drum up angel activity: NuFund Venture Group and, Interlock Capital (read the article and you'll see why the Interlock effort is tops as relates to "paying back into the ecosystem") Connect.org strives to 'connect' innovative companies with investors of all types (angel, VC, PE...) - just see "Innovation Day". Their Springboard program provides another great way for experienced entrepreneurs to give back through mentorship...as for the companies going through Springboard: "Ask for advice, and you often get $$" Your thoughts on the article or San Diego innovation ecosystem? https://lnkd.in/gfwq6mfq

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An interesting article below, that demonstrates out how San Diego is punching above its weight.  And how Connect's strategy and execution over time, contintues to be central to that success. The article describes the current state of the market in Seattle.  (And i love Seattle.) It's a market that we tend to track with relative to venture fundings.  They used to kick our butts, we outraised them each of the last three years.  This despite the fact they have 3x as many funds there, and 9x the amount of resident capital there. (per pitchbook) Some key takeaways:  * They continue to compare themselves to SIlicon Valley. Instead, we leverage our proximity. *They whine there's not enough local investors (see note above - they have more than us). We bring over 200 VCs to SD annually! * They say founders are not connected with one another. We bring CEOs together regularly, in a variety of ways - private dinners and through our Springboard program. * They say they need to elevate their image on a national & international stage. Why we created and continue to build Five.Ten.Thirty (aka Inno Day).  * And the last paragraph - they need to concentrate on making their region a great place to live. Our mantra: "It's about Better, not Bigger." (See XEO, TL Fund). THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR SUPPORT. WE ARE ON A MISSION TOGETHER!!!  (Comments, whining, suggestions on SD always welcome.) https://lnkd.in/g6Rq_f2Y

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Exactly. Starting lean is the best way to start growing.

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Yesterday, I spoke with a friend who’s doing everything right when it comes to climate action. He and his wife drive EVs, have rooftop solar, and completed a home energy audit. Yet, he’s frustrated. The next logical move - switching from natural gas to a heat pump - would increase his energy costs by 30%, even with rebates. It’s a tough reality: the system isn’t always set up to make the sustainable choice the rational one - especially if you're already on the leading edge. But here’s what stood out: He’s already a leader, and now he’s turning his frustration into action. He’s talking to his neighbors to make their neighborhood a "green space", and working with his schools and community centers to do audits and make upgrades that make economic sense. This reminded me that while individual actions matter, collective action and systemic change are what truly move the needle. I’ve written more about this conversation and the lessons it offers. If you’re navigating similar challenges, I’d love to hear your story. Check out the full post here: https://lnkd.in/eawyPdNd #ClimateAction #Sustainability #CleanEnergy

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Two weeks ago I spent 3 days with brilliant human beings discussing the state of AI investment with other angel syndicate leads, angel investors and VCs at Hustle Fund's #camphustle in Los Gatos. It was brilliant. Truly awesome to learn so much from insanely accomplished investors. But was so clear to me again is that the US and the UK are two countries divided by separate languages of ambition. Aspiration and ambition underlined by the cluster effect of successful exits, incredible talent and venture capital driven by operators and founders rather than accountants. But one reason why the US often trumps (pun not intended) the UK is they learn from failure. Run a startup that didn't reach the dizzying heights of venture-scale returns? Learn, reset and go again. What they certainly do not do is look at failure with glee and an "I told you so" attitude. Which is what I sense when I read most of the narrative around the failure of Cazoo. Alex Chesterman swung and missed. The business was flawed, unit economics didn't add up and in reality - there was very little innovation outside the vertical alignment of a well-understood business. But when we look down upon what he tried to do and 💩 💩 it all we're doing is making it harder for someone else to be equally as ambitious. Focus on what went wrong. Focus on the fundamental underlying business models that drive efficient use of capital and the push for profitability. But let's celebrate people shooting their shot and not celebrate the failures.

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Hold on to your bootstraps, entrepreneurs ✋🏼Your friendly neighborhood Idea Incubator (a.k.a. TRAIN EM) is hatched and ready to launch 🚀 That's right, We are open for business! Feast your eyes on our services page, a buffet of delicious tech goodies🧑🏼‍💻:We're talking sizzling SaaS, GenAI, mobile apps that dodge the crash landing🛬☝🏻, web experiences smoother than silk 🧈and cloud applications that, well, exist in the cloud 🌩️ (shocking, I know). So ditch the ramen diet and let's turn your million-dollar idea into a reality... even if it's just a really good app for identifying pigeons wearing hats.🗿 Reach out today! #OpenForBusiness #NapkinToNextBigThing (Probably not a fidget spinner again, please.)

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Siran Cao from Mirza came in to University of Washington Bothell 470 (Business policy and strategy....it's fun to be teaching something in my day job) Setting a company strategy when there is a policy gap  🚀 Leverage expertise – Startups thrive when founders bring in experts and diverse perspectives rather than going it alone. Back decisions with data  🚀Tackle real problems – Sometimes this happens because of a market failure. Affordable childcare is a major issue in the U.S. Companies can benefit by providing childcare as an employee benefit  🚀Combine learning + Strategy – It’s okay to ask for help in areas you lack expertise. Combining learning with strategy with the right team will create impact #BusinessStrategy #BusinessPolicy #Leadership #Childcare #Startup

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Amazing news for all startup founders out there! If you're struggling to validate your idea, build your MVP, or get traction early on, this opportunity is for you. Pre-seed accelerators can provide the capital and support needed to get your product to market, and Tré Baker has shared an amazing opportunity to access these resources. As a fellow early-stage founder, I know how difficult it can be to secure funding, which is the stage where many startups unfortunately fail. By providing underrepresented founders with the resources they need, these accelerators can help ensure higher returns for everyone involved. Don't miss out on this chance to take your startup to the next level! #startupfounders #preseedaccelerators #earlystagefounders #funding #resources

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New Episode: Let's take a look into the nuts and bolts of VC and what it takes to be an effective manager... I chat with Marlon C. Nichols (Managing General Partner, MaC Venture Capital), a Kauffman Fellows BoD member, and one of the Pitchbook's "25 VCs to Watch". (link below) We discuss topics such as: - Marlon's journey from early operator in enterprise software to VC founder - Venture capital as a path to diversity and strategic engagement - Mac Ventures investment thesis and strategies - Advice for new GPs - Strategies for First-Time fund managers targeting LPs - Strategies for startups targeting successful exits - Evaluating seed stage investments - Venture capital’s shift to sustainable investment strategies - The impact of AI on business Apple Podcasts: https://lnkd.in/g-JVnxFQ Spotify: https://lnkd.in/gWeqVkqX

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🎙️ Throwback Episode Alert: Driving Innovation: Conversations with Glass-Media Co-Founders Daniel Black and Ilan Cane Join us for a deep dive into innovation on 'Think Big with Dan and Qasim' where we had a captivating conversation with Daniel Black and Ilan Cane, Co-Founders of Glass-Media Explore the journey of driving innovation as they share insights, challenges, and triumphs from their entrepreneurial experience.

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