Brian Rosenzweig

Great time on the Embracing Erosion podcast w/Devon O'Rourke! We talked about: 🚀 How to scale a company from concept to 9-figure exit 🔄 How to break away from the traditional consulting model and apply product approaches ⏩ Why it’s important to iterate quickly and often with messaging 💸📈What signals are important to pay attention to when investing in startups and much more!

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One month left to apply!!!! Apply to NETI's Climate Tech Bootcamp Cohort 3.0, a pre-accelerator program powered by Riffle Ventures, Climate Tech Bootcamp, OHUB and Greater New Orleans, Inc. – GNO, Inc. part of H2TheFuture, a Build Back Better Regional Challenge of The Economic Development Administration. This bootcamp is a 10-week pre-accelerator program for climate tech and new energy entrepreneurs in the United States that have an interest in building in or expanding to South Louisiana. ‍ Five (5) founders from the program will pitch for a $100,000 (US) investment on the terms of their current round. Application is in the comments and here's a quick overview as well: - 📆 When: September 3 - October 31, 2024 - ⏰ Deadline to Apply: August 27, 2024 - 💻 Location: Virtual - 🆓 Cost: Free. The $5,000 per person fee is waived thanks to GNO, Inc. and The Economic Development Administration's Build Back Better Regional Challenge. - 💰 Funding: Up to $100,000 US (equity investment) in current round to the top startup selected at the end of the cohort. - 🈺 Cohort Size: 25-30 entrepreneurs - 🌍 Cohort Geography: United States - 📈 Stage: We welcome applicants from multiple stages, though having a minimum viable product is ideal.

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Juniper Square recently released their look back at the state of venture in Q2 2024, and the data is interesting. 👉 The liquidity drought continues to stifle fundraising, with $37.4B committed to 255 funds YTD. 👉 In the current climate, established managers are securing 77% of fund value YTD, the highest concentration in the last decade.  👉 Over 63% of capital raised in 2024 so far is in funds of $500M+, the second-highest percentage in the last decade. 👉 Q2 reflects an uptick in US venture deal momentum, with quarterly deal count climbing to the highest level since Q2 2022. 👉 Q2 data shows a third consecutive upward quarter in both exit value and the total number of exits.  👉 Q2 hit a 9-quarter high in total number of exits, and the total exit value recorded was the second-best quarter since Q1 2022. The data shows that the landscape is especially competitive for emerging managers. When it comes to generating returns though, a fresh perspective can help find the most interesting deals. I wrote a bit about this last week, if you’re curious to dig into stats on unicorns at the seed stage, and the funds they’re raising from. You can check out the full report from Juniper Square here: https://lnkd.in/eN6VnY-k #emergingmanagers #stateofvc

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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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Another Important article by Zachery Eanes in Axios Hey #RealEstate developers, MAYBE you should be investing into / sponsoring the #startup ecosystem to help more #Entrepreneurs get to scale so they need more LAB space. Yes we are the ones who make the introductions of the Entrepreneurs to the #investors to move the company forward. Give and TAKE https://lnkd.in/e6hDmTPj #Biotech #LifeSciences #NorthCarolina

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RVP Mythbuster: A common misconception is that Revelry Venture Partners only invests in New Orleans & Louisiana. Wrong! We hang our hat in New Orleans proudly, and LOVE supporting our local ecosystem, but our mandate is to invest in and with our national network of excellent founders and VC partners. Fund I deal breakdown below (as of Q2'24). This mix will be updated as we continue to deploy this and subsequent funds.

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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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Join me as I share the secrets to gaining Angel Investment (being ESIC is one) and help you land your pitch and get your message across. I'm joined by experienced founders who can share their experiences and help you develop your own (survive the) Chasm Plan.

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I recently had an enlightening conversation with Alex Pattis, general partner of Riverside Ventures and author of the #1 VC syndicate newsletter, "Last Money In." Alex's journey from sales director to launching a syndicate that has completed over 300 deals is truly remarkable. He's deployed over $70 million in capital and built a network of thousands of LPs along the way. During our chat, Alex clarified the intricacies of syndicates, explaining how they differ from traditional venture funds and the unique value they bring to both founders and investors. Syndicates offer a flexible, deal-by-deal approach for LPs, allowing them to cherry-pick investments. Alex highlighted that having a tier-one VC co-investor can significantly boost LP interest in a syndicate deal. Transparency and managing expectations are crucial when working with founders, according to Alex. He also shared insights on how Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) can be a strategic tool for founders to consolidate smaller investors. These structures offer a way to simplify cap tables while still accessing a broader investor base. Alex offered his perspective on the current syndicate market, noting the increasing interest in growth-stage and pre-IPO deals due to shorter paths to liquidity. This trend reflects a shift in investor priorities and the evolving landscape of venture capital. Whether you're a founder looking to understand syndicates or an aspiring investor curious about this unique approach to venture capital, Alex's insights are invaluable. Check out Episode 48 of Fundraising Demystified to learn from Alex's experience and gain a deeper understanding of the syndicate ecosystem!

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Join me on September 5th for a LinkedIn Live event organized by InnoLead, where we’ll dive into debates with Alex Slawsby (CGO at Innolead), Scott Kirsner (CEO at Innolead), Jon Corshen (Co-Founder at Pilot 44) and Elliott Parker (CEO at High Alpha Innovation) around corporate venture building. We’ll tackle questions like: • Should companies stop building new ventures internally? • Do ventures need more than just corporate funding to succeed? • Are there opportunities corporate ventures see that startups miss? • Will AI dominate corporate venture building by next year? • Why do so many corporate ventures fail to scale? • Why do ventures need more startup talent than corporate “lifers”? 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: https://lnkd.in/gZPw82x4

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Hear experienced Crowdfunding experts , hosted by David D. Postolski, Esq., share there experiences. If you are looking for alternative ways to fund your business? This event will be your guide to understanding the dynamic world of crowdfunding and equity crowd financing. Register at https://lnkd.in/dmUZB2fA #startups #entrepreneurs #innovators

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The healthcare landscape is rapidly evolving, driven by advancements in technology and a deeper understanding of patient care. I had the pleasure of speaking with Ambar Bhattacharyya, Co-Managing Partner at Maverick Ventures, on the latest episode of The Full Ratchet. Ambar has partnered with numerous billion-dollar companies like hims & hers, Cityblock Health, Devoted Health, and ConcertAI. His unique journey from rural America to becoming a prominent figure in venture capital offers invaluable insights into the future of healthcare and technology. We discuss his investment strategy at Maverick Ventures, the megatrends shaping healthcare, the impact of AI on the industry, and the importance of integrated care. Ambar also shares his thoughts on the challenges and opportunities in healthcare investment, offering a comprehensive view of what lies ahead. Check out TFR Episode 438 to catch our conversation. You'll be glad you listened. Link to the full episode is in the comment section below.

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🧬 This week's Austin Bio & Health Roundup features nearly $200M in funding & new capital, M&A, more infrastructure coming, & hopefully an opening of the Texas Bio & Health IPO window🧬 💰 Funding Function Health has closed its Series A, securing $53M in total funding. Function’s platform offers 100+ tests for $499 per year, focusing on prevention and empowerment. The round was led by a16z Bio + Health and includes several celebrity investors. Congrats to Mark Hyman, MD, Pranitha Patil, Jonathan Swerdlin, Mike Nemke, Seth Weisfeld, and Dan Swerdlin. Sensi.AI raised a $31M Series B led by Insight Partners and Zeev Ventures to enhance its 24/7 monitoring technology for seniors and home care. Way to go Romi Gubes and the entire team! Ironspring Ventures raised $100M for their second fund, focusing on “manufacturing, construction, transportation, and energy.” Exciting times for Ty Findley, Adam Bridgman, Peter J. Holt, and the expanding Ironspring team! Now, why include this in a Bio & Health newsletter? I believe there will be a value migration from drugs, devices, and diagnostics to the bio innovation tech stack itself. One key area of that stack is biomanufacturing. As new modalities like cell and gene therapy rise, the challenge of scaling these therapies presents a significant opportunity for innovation. While as far as I know Ironspring hasn't invested in this subsector yet, I look forward to seeing what they do with Fund 2. 🤝 M&A and Partnerships Significo, a software development that builds healthcare apps and solutions, acquired Bunch, an AI leadership coach app. Congrats to Rick McCartney and team! 🚀Launches, Expansions, and Milestones BrainCheck, a cognitive assessment software platform, announced their adoption by the Physicians Hearing Network (PHN), bringing insights to 270 members across 12 states.  Keep up the momentum Kim Rodriguez and team! 🏗️ Infrastructure Texas State University is partnering with Concept Companies to build a life sciences incubator at their round rock campus. The incubator will have labs, offices, admin support, and collaboration spaces. The teams hope to complete construction by the end of 2025. DES Architects + Engineers opened a new office in Austin, aiming to bring their expertise to the city’s burgeoning life science market. Welcome Kevin D. Norman, Tracy Wong, and the rest of the DES team! 🚩 Texas Bio Triangle Fort Worth-based biopharma company Actuate Therapeutics, Inc. is preparing for an IPO, targeting a raise of about $50M. What’s Next? #AustinNext #LifeSciences #Healthcare #Biotechnology

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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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One of our main goals at Novel is to help tech founders access the capital they need to scale their businesses sustainably.    That’s why we’re excited to be teaming up with Husch Blackwell to co-host Venture Connect, an exclusive part of Startland News’s Startup Crawl that brings together VC investors and founders for a night of networking, connections, and drinks on the house!    It’ll all be going down right here in Kansas City on June 14, so RVSP today.    Just click the link in the comments below. Can’t wait!   #VentureConnect #StartupCrawl #Startland #StartlandStartupCrawl #TechFounders #VC #VentureCapital #networking #startups #entrepreneurship #tech #KCTech #KansasCity 

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Energized after participating in the "AI Innovation Panel: Funding AI Powered Startups" at Columbus AI Week 2024 alongside brilliant minds in the AI and venture capital space. The discussion reinforced key insights on commercializing AI technologies that we've seen drive success in our portfolio companies at HauerX Holdings. 10 key commercialization insights for AI startups: 1. Laser focus on solving real business problems: Successful AI startups address specific, high-value pain points for enterprises. It's not just about having the most advanced AI, but delivering tangible, measurable value that's significantly better than incumbent solutions. 2. Proof of concept to proof of value: Move quickly from demonstrating technical capabilities to showing business impact. Quantify the ROI your solution provides to early adopters. As you build, focus on key metrics that demonstrate traction: number of customers, strategic logic in your GTM strategy, referenceability, revenue, and NRR. 3. Vertical or value chain-level AI vs. one-off GenAI LLM wrappers: Develop proprietary IP, a unique edge, or a differentiated, valuable solution that goes beyond simple AI implementations. 4. Clear go-to-market channel: Avoid selling into fragmented, undefined value chains. Establish a focused, efficient path to your target customers. 5. Execute extremely fast with compounded learning: Rapid iteration and learning from each customer experience is crucial in the fast-paced AI landscape. 6. Target a niche in a big, growing market: Find your specific place in an expansive, evolving sector. 7. Land and expand strategy: Start with a focused use case that delivers quick wins, then expand to adjacent problems within the organization. This builds trust and opens doors for wider adoption. Make sure your pricing and product strategy enables early trials but also flexes to enable and capture value from significant enterprise traction. 8. Co-innovation with customers: Engage closely with early customers to refine your product. Their feedback and use cases are invaluable for product development and future sales. 9. Clear, value-based messaging: Articulate your value proposition in terms of business outcomes, not technical features. Speak the language of your target buyers. 10. Navigate adoption challenges: Factors like AI awareness and readiness within enterprises, threat of lost jobs, lack of understanding, and stakeholder misalignment can decrease deal conversion. Control what you can by building a larger, strategic pipeline of opportunities and hack your way into trust and respect through strategies like channel partnerships. Grateful for the insights shared by my fellow panelists Sarah Lerner-Mantel and Tyler Mantel (Roll Tack Ventures), Navin Goyal MD (LOUD Capital), and our moderator Brett Renzenbrink. Congrats to the Enterprise Technology Association and Nexigen teams Summer Crenshaw, Zachary Huhn, and Jon Salisbury for another successful AI Week!

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I'm excited to speak at Propy's Web3 & Property Rights Summit on November 7-8 at the Miami Beach Convention Center. I have few guest passes for entrepreneurs innovating in the RWA space - message me for details! Or use my code JALAK20 for 20% off tickets. #Propy #Web3 #RealEstate #MiamiSummit #BlockchainRealEstate #RWA #crypto #blockchain

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Some great new additions to Wing Venture Capital's Founder Docs project today! These are from the one-and-only Christopher Lynch, a veteran serial entrepreneur, currently CEO of AtScale, previously with Vertica, DataRobot, Accomplice VC, Acopia (where we worked together in the 2000's), Arrowpoint (where we first met in the 90's) and many other great ventures. I've worked with Chris in multiple companies across multiple decades. Anyone who knows him knows he tells it like it is (even when it may be hard to say it or hard to hear it!), which I have infinite respect for. In his Founder Docs, Chris talks about: - The dangers of overcapitalizing your startup - What it means to be a "transparent founder" - The power of long-term, authentic relationships in an entrepreneurial career Read Chris's stuff and you will come away wiser!

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