Brian Nichols

🎙️ Want to raise venture capital and scale your startup? 🚀  I’ve chatted with C-levels, VPs and investors of top companies like Google, Meta, Microsoft, Pepsi, Instagram, Reddit, LinkedIn and more—and now, I’m sharing their strategies in my new Maven course! 💡 Here’s what you’ll learn: 🔑 How to pitch and fundraise like a pro 🤝 Build strong relationships with top VCs 🎯 Perfect your pitch to attract talent and capital 📚 "If you're serious about raising money and growing your business, this is the edge you need! Join me on Maven—let’s make it happen. ✨ Seats are limited—use this code to sign up today! 🚀 https://lnkd.in/g3ASpERZ 👉 #StartupTips #VentureCapital #FounderLife #Fundraising #LearnWithMe #MavenCourse #ViralTips

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Wonder will happen to human creativity & media industries with the rise of web3 & AI? 👇🏼 Tonight at 530p we have another Emerging LA happy hour in Santa Monica. There are 99 guests are signed up, and only 11 slots left! SIGN UP HERE: https://lnkd.in/gcR8dKHY This happy hour will be part of our 'Future Frontiers' series, with a panel discussion on the latest developments in emerging technologies and how it will impact the creative industries. These trends matter as it relates to content generation, creators, IP, royalties & rights, and ownership. Emerging tech such as crypto & generative AI is already bringing disruptive innovation to media, and that is why everyone in Hollywood is keeping a close eye on it! The speakers for our panel discussion are leaders at top firms, funds & startups in this field and come from Xsolla , Hashed , Spaceport.xyz , and Republic Crypto. Come listen to them speak and bring your questions for our AMA with the audience! Thanks in advance to our panelists:​​​ • Michael Dershewitz ​(COO/Head of Corp Dev at Xsolla) • Jun Park (Sr. Investor at Hashed) • Le Zhang (Founder/CEO at Spaceport) • Maria Chak (Head of BD at Republic Crypto) These are areas that we pay close attention to at Sunset Ventures, and it can be tough to keep up with the latest developments. So I am excited to learn from this group discussion! A big shout-out to my co-host for the evening Timothy K. as we represent Wharton Digital Assets Club in SoCal and the support from the Lightspeed Faction VC + Orange DAO + AI LA teams!! 🙏🏼 The mission of these events always remains the same, we want you to 1. Deepen connections with good people in LA tech community 2. Learn actionable insights as a builder or investor 3. Leave more inspired than you arrived as you continue your journey -- Hurry and sign up now if you would like to come. If you know someone in your network would find this community & discussion useful... Then please repost & tag! ♻️

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𝟯𝟬𝟬+ 𝗩𝗖 𝗤𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗽 𝗙𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 Preparing for venture capital meetings is critical for startup success. Here are 6 key areas from 300+ VC Questions for Startup Founders that you need to master to impress investors: 1️⃣ Fundraising Strategy: Be clear about your round size, allocation of funds, and KPIs. Investors will ask why you need the funds, your expectations on valuation, and how far you are in discussions with other investors. 2️⃣ Team and Founders: Highlight your team’s strengths and time commitment. Expect questions about your experience, organizational culture, and how you motivate your team. 3️⃣ Market and Competition: Demonstrate market knowledge by explaining your TAM, SAM, and SOM. Investors will probe your competitive landscape and what makes your solution stand out. 4️⃣ Financial Metrics: Be ready to discuss revenue, customer acquisition costs (CAC), churn rates, and cash burn. Clear financial insights will build investor confidence. 5️⃣ Product and Technology: Provide details about your product, its development roadmap, and how it addresses customer needs. Be prepared for technical questions on scalability and integrations. 6️⃣ Exit Strategy: Outline potential buyers and timelines for exit scenarios. Investors need a clear path to return on investment. ----- Follow All Chance Hub to learn from more innovative insights.

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𝟯𝟬𝟬+ 𝗩𝗖 𝗤𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗽 𝗙𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 Preparing for venture capital meetings is critical for startup success. Here are 6 key areas from 300+ VC Questions for Startup Founders that you need to master to impress investors: 1️⃣ Fundraising Strategy: Be clear about your round size, allocation of funds, and KPIs. Investors will ask why you need the funds, your expectations on valuation, and how far you are in discussions with other investors. 2️⃣ Team and Founders: Highlight your team’s strengths and time commitment. Expect questions about your experience, organizational culture, and how you motivate your team. 3️⃣ Market and Competition: Demonstrate market knowledge by explaining your TAM, SAM, and SOM. Investors will probe your competitive landscape and what makes your solution stand out. 4️⃣ Financial Metrics: Be ready to discuss revenue, customer acquisition costs (CAC), churn rates, and cash burn. Clear financial insights will build investor confidence. 5️⃣ Product and Technology: Provide details about your product, its development roadmap, and how it addresses customer needs. Be prepared for technical questions on scalability and integrations. 6️⃣ Exit Strategy: Outline potential buyers and timelines for exit scenarios. Investors need a clear path to return on investment. Sourced via Alejandro Cremades. #venturecapital #VC #fundraising #founders #funding #startups #startupfounders

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Every quarter, California is home to more startup fundraising activity than any other state in the U.S. But in Q1 2024, the startup industry's traditional home was even more dominant than usual. Startups based in California raised 59.25% of all capital on Carta during Q1 among states where at least 10 deals took place. Compare that to a year ago: In Q1 2023, California startups raised 37.9% of all funding. Over the full course of 2023, the state's share of the fundraising pie was 40.41%. In total, startups from the Golden State raised $9 billion in Q1, up from $7 billion the prior quarter and the highest quarterly total since Q3 2022, when overall cash raised across the whole U.S. was significantly higher ($22.9 billion, compared to $16.3 billion in Q1 2024). This wasn't a matter of funding from other states receding while California held steady. The California funding scene seems to be surging, aided by the ongoing AI gold rush underway in and around the Bay Area. Some other highlights from the Q1 map of VC funding: -Massachusetts had the second highest share of capital raised in the quarter of any state, with 11.25%. New York was third, at 11.05%. -It was a tepid quarter in Texas: Startups in the state raised just 2.32% of all capital among states with at least 10 deals, down from 6.45% over the course of 2023. -The whole South region raised 12% of U.S. venture funding in Q1 2024, down from 23% compared to Q1 2023. -Colorado was another western state with a big Q1. The state's startups raised 3.64% of funding last quarter, up from about 2% last year and the fourth-highest Q1 share of any state. I'll drop a link in the comments below to my full story on how the Q1 map of funding shook out.

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🌟 Exciting Updates in Startup Funding This Week: 💰 InvestorHub Secures $9M in Extended Series A Funding 💰 iLAuNCH Trailblazer Offers $100,000 Grants 💰 Slice Raises $7.5M in Seed Round 💰 Sindy Labs Joins UC Berkeley SkyDeck Accelerator with $300,000 Funding Read more about these innovative ventures making waves in the startup world 👇 -------------------------- Stay ahead in the startup world! Join our free daily newsletter for more funding updates and entrepreneurial insights: 📩📩 https://buff.ly/3QlzuB6 📩📩 -------------------------- #StartupFunding #StartupNews #Innovation #Entrepreneurship #FundingNews

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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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Did you know Airbnb’s founders sold cereal boxes to keep their dream alive? 🏠✨ Less than 1% of startups secure venture capital, but those who do can skyrocket to success. Ensure your pitch is sharp, your numbers are solid, and your vision compelling. Ready to find the right investor / partner for your startup journey? 🌟 #StartupFunding #VentureCapital #EntrepreneurLife #AirbnbSuccess #InvestorPitch #BusinessGrowth #FundingStrategies #Startups #EntrepreneurJourney

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Please be upfront in your pitch deck! “100% growth” sounds great—until I realize you went from $500 to $1,000. Or “100% increase” when it’s in EGP with no devaluation context. There’s a fine line between showcasing what’s good about your company and straight up lacking any real transparency. Honesty builds trust, and trust is what keeps partnerships strong. Let’s stick to real numbers and meaningful progress.

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The best founders can turn off emotions when making complex decisions. If you can hone this skill, you should.

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🌱 Seed & Pre-Seed Venture Benchmarks: Navigating SAFE and Priced Rounds 👉  Startups often navigate through different types of fundraising rounds—SAFE and Priced. The mix can lead to confusion in terms of valuation, dilution, and capital raised. Recent data from Carta highlights some clear differences between these rounds, and here’s what you need to know. ✅ Key Takeaways: 👉 Gap in Valuation: SAFE rounds at Seed stage reach a median valuation of $18M, while Priced Seed rounds come in at $13.7M. Why the gap? SAFE rounds often offer faster, simpler deals but can sometimes lead to a higher cap, potentially setting higher valuation expectations for future rounds. 👉 Dilution Differences: Dilution ranges vary significantly, with SAFE Seed rounds ranging from 17%-20% compared to 20.7% for Priced Seed rounds. Lower dilution in SAFE rounds may attract founders looking to retain control, but it’s essential to balance this against potential investor expectations down the line. 👉 Post-Seed Bridge Round Gaps: At the bridge round, the SAFE vs. Priced valuation gap is even wider, with SAFE Bridge rounds at $21M vs. Priced at $17M. Actionable Insights for Founders & Investors: 📣  For Founders: Consider your long-term strategy. SAFE rounds can help you raise quickly without setting a fixed valuation, but Priced rounds might offer more predictability as you move forward. 📣  For Investors: Be mindful of these valuation gaps. Higher SAFE valuations can affect future funding dynamics, especially when transitioning into Priced rounds. 💡  Conclusion: Understanding these nuances can guide better decision-making and align growth expectations. For more startup data and insights, explore . @Carta’s resources. 📊 -------------- ✅ 👉 Fundraising? Try KAARIA 🚀 Industry-leading valuation methodologies. 🚀 Reliable market data with PitchBook 🚀 Simple & transparent startup valuation 🚀 Accessible for founders and investors 🚀 Free Trial available here: https://lnkd.in/gvwD7SrF #valuations #startups #fundraising #founders #Startup #innovation #entrepreneurship #kaaria #sustainability #kaariastartupvaluation #investing #networking #venturecapital #kaariagetfunded #exits #valuations #startups #fundraising #founders #Startup #innovation #entrepreneurship #kaaria #sustainability #kaariastartupvaluation #investing #networking #venturecapital #kaariagetfunded #exits #StartupFunding #VentureCapital #SAFEvsPricedRounds #Valuation #Dilution #Startups ---------- Thanks Credit & Kudos to Peter Walker over at Carta

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What type of startup investing excites you? A) A disruptive one with plenty of room to grow? B) One targeting a technology or industry niche? C) Those with early exits that grab headlines? With venture studios, you don't have to choose.

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When you choose reinvestment over taking profits, you're setting the stage for long-term wealth. Compound interest isn't just a financial term; it’s a strategy for anyone serious about wealth building. Compounding transforms growth from incremental to exponential. Every reinvested dollar works harder, creating a cycle that turns today's profits into tomorrow's capital. It’s not a quick path, but it’s the one that lasts. If your goal is sustainable wealth, let compound interest do the heavy lifting. #CompoundInterest #WealthBuildingStrategy #LongTermGrowth #ReinvestProfits #FinancialDiscipline

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About to go live... Startup Studio portfolio VC fund. $8.5 mil. with room to oversubscribe. All deals warehoused and ready to allocate. Built in equity on day 1. Low 1 time management fee. $35k minimum investment. 506c so accredited investors only. GP's are personally invested. Multi tiered exit strategy in place. Liquidity options available at year 2. *** This presentation of Sidecar Portfolio Fund (the “Company”) is for information only and shall not constitute an offer to buy, sell, issue or subscribe for, or the solicitation of an offer to buy, sell or issue, or subscribe for any securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.***

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🚀 Exciting Opportunity for Aspiring Entrepreneurs! 🚀 The Berkeley Haas Launch Accelerator is now open for applications for the Fall Cohort. This is your chance to take your startup to the next level! 🎯 To apply, your team must have at least one UC faculty, student, or alum (full degree programs only). Whether you're in the early stages or looking to scale, the Launch Accelerator provides the support you need to turn your vision into reality. 🛠️ If you're passionate about innovation and ready to make an impact, I highly encourage you to apply! This could be your opportunity to gain invaluable insights and accelerate your entrepreneurial journey. #Entrepreneurship #BerkeleyHaas #Startups #Accelerator #Innovation #ApplyNow #FutureLeaders #UCBerkeley

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Hardware drives the return for VC in AI.

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Excited to host a 30-minute panel at Andreessen Horowitz Tech Week in SF on Wednesday, October 9. If you're a founder or sales leader at a high-growth startup who predominantly sells into the enterprise, you won't want to miss this discussion. Our expert panelists will share invaluable insights on: - Breaking through to key decision-makers - Structuring an efficient sales process - Proven techniques for closing high-value deals

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Don't build in the dark! Validating your product early on is critical -- Road-To-Capital Understand how venture capital investors think and act from a 3x founder and 20x+ early-stage investor 💡

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🚨 HUGE ANNOUNCEMENT! 🚨 Silicon Slopes Summit is Utah’s original and longest-running grassroots startup and tech event. It provides entrepreneurs, startups, and leaders the resources and community they need to succeed. With the pandemic behind us, we’re excited to bring Silicon Slopes Summit back to its original January dates in conjunction with the Sundance Film Festival. That said, before we go any further, we have some incredible news: Silicon Slopes Summit is free for all Utahns for the first time ever! For those looking for an upgraded experience, we offer VIP tickets for just $95. That’s hundreds of dollars less than a standard ticket in years past. Thanks to our partners, sponsors, and government leaders, Silicon Slopes Summit is the most accessible tech and startup event in the world. Summit will be hosted in multiple locations throughout the week in both Utah and Salt Lake Valley. There will also be a Startup Alley at Summit this year where startups and entrepreneurs can meet with investors from around the world to pitch their ideas, receive feedback, and promote what they’re building. Of course, we’ll be bringing in world-class leaders and speakers, as we have in the past, but we’ll also be hosting specific tracks and bringing attendees together for curated networking in a way never done before. You don’t want to miss this year’s summit! To register, buy VIP tickets, learn about sponsorship, and apply for your startup to be part of Startup Alley, go to siliconslopes.com/summit.

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