Chris Erwin

It looks like Yardi will bail out WeWork and not Adam Neuner, which would have been a disaster for WeWork and the coworking industry. Sharing the same back-end technology as WeWork might open new opportunities for coworking operators that use Yardi KUBE, and help a new flow of enterprise users coming our way. The new WeWork will emerge out of Chapter 11 healthy, with a strong brand, an executive team with a much higher level of integrity than in the past, but also as a considerably smaller player with only 175 locations or so in the US. To be able to respond to distributed requirements from enterprise accounts and compete with IWG, WeWork will desperately need to partner with multiple coworking operators like Pacific Workplaces, and we will welcome their interest. Conversely, we can benefit from the Wework corporate account capabilities that remain strong, and the Yardi technology infrastructure that could enable the integration of a large ubiquitous network of coworking spaces accessible to Enterprise accounts via seamless and secure access. This could be an exciting new beginning for Wework and many independent operators like Pacific Workplaces. https://lnkd.in/gAXNKKm3 #Wework #Yardi #Coworking #flexoffice #hybridwork Jamie Russo Giovanni Palavicini Andrea Pirrotti-Dranchak (MBA) Kane Willmott scott chambers Mara Hauser Jackie Latragna, MBA Liz Elam Flip Howard Paula Mercer Didier Coppi Michelle Stiegler Amy Fuller Rob Teel Jason R. Anderson    

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Matterport is being acquired by CoStar Group for $5.50 per share, half in cash and half in CoStar shares. "Matterport’s stock was trading below $2 per share before the transaction was disclosed." I'm very happy for the Matterport founders Matt Bell and David Gausebeck who were pioneers in 3D reality capture and SLAM. Simon Heinen and me started working on SLAM and 3D reconstruction at the same time. Also, NavVis got started at the same time btw. Back in the days, the goal was to create great Augemented Riality experiences, but all three teams landed in construction and real estate where we could create cash flow. NanVis and Matterport went down the road to use the Kinect scanners, Simon and I believed in mobile devices aka smartphones. The rest is history... Back to the business side of things. Matterport was at around the IPO day at nearly $25 and later got up to over $27. All the people who bought at that time are loosing out big time. BIG TIME. I guess mostly retail investors or your pension fund. I bought some Matterport sahres around $5.80 and some for $4.20 over all that was the range I thought the real value was. I had hoped they would get some innovation going or build something new. But in the past years nothing big happened. Not sure where all the money went... Anyway, Matterport is a great start-up story with I guess many pivots and ups and downs. I'm very much looking forward to seeing what CoStar Group will do with the company. It could be great, when they focus with product management on their strength and core market: real estate. here is a link if you want to read more: https://lnkd.in/dWY78mHM #realitycapture #3D #slam #augmentedreality #contech FARO Building Insights aka HoloBuilder

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In 2013, Lori Torres felt an undeniable spark when she conceived the idea for Parcel Pending, a smart locker solution designed to tackle the package crisis in apartment buildings. Despite being the primary breadwinner in her family with a thriving real estate career, she took a monumental risk. She left her secure job, sold the family’s cherished home, and even persuaded her mother to risk her property for a loan. Within a year of these sacrifices, Lori had developed her first smart lockers. Her innovation soon caught on, with her lockers becoming a key solution for property management companies and residents. By the end of 2014, Lori’s commitment had not only secured her first major order but also attracted investors, setting the stage for tremendous growth. Within six years, Parcel Pending was sold for $100 million, turning her mother’s loan into a $1 million return and ensuring her family's future. Lori’s story highlights a key lesson for anyone seeking investors: truly committing to your vision can make a world of difference. By investing your own resources and security, you show investors just how dedicated you are to your idea. When you put everything on the line, it not only proves your commitment but also makes a strong case to potential backers. If you’re all in, it’s far easier to convince others to believe in your dream, and it could be the turning point in making it a reality. Are you prepared to go all in on your entrepreneurial dreams? Grab a copy of my book, “Thinking Bigger”, at the link below to read my personal experience chasing my dream and the advice I would share to anyone starting today. https://lnkd.in/dZpQYX6D #Entrepreneurship #WomenInBusiness #Startups #Investment #ThinkBigger

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I enjoyed going on Nick Telson-Sillett’s podcast, Pitch Deck by Forward Pursuit. Nick is a serial founder and investor (founded and exited DesignMyNight) so knows both sides of the table which always makes for an enriching chat. Some things we discussed: - The perceived power dynamic between VCs and founders can hinder productive conversations. - A compelling product demo can significantly influence investor interest. - Founders must focus on solving real customer problems to succeed. - Hiring standards are crucial for building a successful startup team. - Behavioural roadblocks can prevent the adoption of new solutions. - Validation from potential customers is key for pre-revenue startups. - The early-stage funding landscape has become more efficient and selective. - Pace of execution is a critical factor in attracting investment.

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How could I call myself a hip Seattle investor if I didn't talk about Venture Capital? 😎 But, it turns out... My wheelhouse is more rent-growth, Cap rates, and cash-on-cash return. ...Less LLMs and AI start ups. Thankfully—Kirby Winfield and Jen Haller are goods friends of Pilot Capital. Their VC firm Ascend is hosting: → "VC for the Rest of Us," a panel discussion about the mechanics of becoming a limited partner in a Venture Capital fund. Pre-seed, Seed, Series A, Series B... → What's it actually like to invest in Venture Capital? Learn the nuts & bolts of VC investing—July 30th at 2pm PST. Sign up link in comments. -- #seattle #investors #venturecapital #ai

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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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This is great to see. Fifth Dimension AI were our first Case Study on the #GenerativeAIforRealEstatePeople course. It was so clear how strong their pitch was and the size of the opportunity awaiting them. And to date they have executed with aplomb. Generative AI has extraordinary potential within real estate. Once you break the industry down into actual ‘tasks to be done’ you can see use cases galore. And with immediate utility. Sure Predictive AI also has a strong place, but the lack of high quality actionable data is such that rollout is hard. Those who can make things happen are very well placed but as an industry we can get 10X, 100X more out of Gen AI TODAY than we can with Predictive AI. Cohort 7 will start in November. And onwards and upwards Fifth Dimension AI !

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The brains behind Ari, Max Bryan, will be live tomorrow at 3pm CT with the one and only Sydney Webber to discuss AI, the technology involved, and what it means for multifamily today. Register to tune in! #conversationalAI #multifamily

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The state of venture capital is wild right now. We are witnessing a surge of innovation across the spectrum: - Funds merging - VC doing PE - PE doing VC - Secondary funds - Buyout funds - Spin-out funds - Debt funds - Continuation funds - Infrastructure funds - GP turnover - Hard Tech surging - Family Office uptick

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Another edition of VCs Doing Work: Slauson & Co. 🎉Congrats to raising $100M for your second fund continuing your mission to make a difference!🎉 Wait... What and who is Slauson and Co? Slauson & Co. is a Los Angeles-based venture capital firm focused on early-stage technology investments, founded by Austin Clements and Ajay Relan. The firm's mission centers on economic inclusion and democratizing access to entrepreneurship for underrepresented founders. Slauson & Co. primarily invests in: Preseed and seed SMB Tech (tools supporting small and medium businesses) Consumer technology The firm typically writes checks between $500,000 and $2 million, aiming to lead most rounds. Since its launch in 2020, Slauson & Co. has made significant strides: Raised a $75 million Fund I, exceeding its initial $50 million target Backed 38 companies, with a majority led by people of color and at least half by women Recently closed a $100 million Fund II, demonstrating continued investor interest in their inclusive approach The firm has garnered support from prominent investors and organizations, including: PayPal Ron Conway (veteran technology investor) Ashton Kutcher will.i.am True Capital Management Alpaca VC Slauson & Co. is just getting started! If you think you have a startup that fits their thesis and stage, reach out! #diversity #inclusion #venturecapital #consumer #smb Brittany Crockett #longla #losangeles #celebration #vcsdoingwork

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👀 Founders who are the right fight for the Community VC forums and Iceberg 👀 The most successful founders—the top 0.1%—achieve remarkable outcomes by systematically building vast networks of investors and supporters, leveraging them for capital, promotion, and critical resources. Companies like Zeroco (raising $5m in 7 hours from 3082 supporters) and Superhuman (raising $75m off the back of a 50k person waitlist) are prime examples. However, most founders: 👉 Lack the experience, network, or structured approach to replicate this success 👉 Spend 10+ hours a week chasing support (emailing, booking meetings, having pointless conversations) with little predictability or payoff 👉 Leave untapped value on the table with their investors and advocates That’s why we’ve built Community VC as a growth engine and Iceberg, a supporter CRM designed to replicate Zeroco and Superhumans’ success by helping founders attract, nurture, and activate their first 10, 100, and 1,000 supporters. In the past 6 months we have supported 30+ companies in building their supporter base to close capital for less than 3 hours per week (compared to 10 normally) and we’re still improving. We have 100 founders working with us and 500 on our waitlist. Every week we are receiving 10+ new sign ups, with zero marketing spend so far. A recent example of ROI on 10 nurtured supporters through our ecosystem by a founder: ✅ 3 months ✅ 15 hours total spent nurturing ✅ 50 referred deals ✅ $24,500 revenue 💯 That’s $326 per hour per advocate nurtured in revenue 💯 Plus investment of $25,000 Imagine if a founder who was gearing up for a raise of any type had an army of 100 or 1000 people who could be activated at an even better ROI with an automated, personalised system... How? 👉Founders uncover investors through their own network, via Community VC and other channels by distributing their Iceberg profile links 👉The link collects supporter data and adds them to the systematised Supporter CRM 👉The founders are prompted with evolving best practice investor comms to nurture and engage the supporters for help and capital Not only are founders attracting more supporters than they ever were, they are closing capital faster and with more aligned people with Community VC and Iceberg. 🕐Why now? The future of outsized returns will come by supporting small teams who can achieve huge amounts in extremely niche sectors, with much less funding. They will achieve this through leveraging AI and leveraging their community.

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Happy Halloween! 🎃 Let’s talk about something I’m going to call the Poltergeist Paradox of Venture Capital. #VCbros love to wax lyrical on platforms like this and Elon’s addulation aggregator regurgiating “thought leadership” about how founders should behave or what the keys to building a successful startup are, but in honor of one of the all-time great thrillers: The Sixth Sense. Let’s try to see this from a different perspective. I’m going to try, with the limited space here to give you my three worst offenses that are far too common: 📖 “You have to tell a great story” I don’t think this is incorrect, but you’d be amazed how excrutiatungly awful many in the industry are at this skill. Last week, I attended a great reverse pitch event where 12 Hong Kong VCs pitched their firms to startups. Of the 12, only 2 told anything close to a story, 1 other was pretty entertaining but the other 9 were downright painful. 💡”Ideas are worthless, execution is everything.” Another vapid use of phraseology that is so tediously common. Again, this statement is not incorrect but I am not exaggerating when I say I have had no less than 30 VCbros say this to me, only to immediately start hitting me with a barrage of ideas for our startup…I asked if you can introduce me to investors that we might be a good fit for, execute on that. Don’t give me the ideas you’ve come up with in the past 5 minutes for a problem my founder and I have been working on for a collective 5 years. 👻 In keeping with the Halloween theme: Ghosting - As a founder this is the absolute worst. I don’t believe that investors should be bound to respond to every cold message they get. However, if you have asked a startup to do any amount of work for you, a proposal, or to prepare DD documents. You owe them the basic courtesy of a response, especially if the answer is no. I don’t speak for all startup founders but for me… A “no” answer is 1000x better than no answer. Especially, when the founder makes several measured attempts to follow up. So what the hell is the Poltergeist Paradox? It has been my experience, from both sides of the table, that far too many in the current VC industry may be dealing with same problem that our boy Bruce here (stay strong BW) did in this iconic film. Being so unaware of situations that they think they are the teacher instead of realizing the truth: we all have something to learn from one another. And much like the writer/director of this film, many have peaked way too early!

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There's a big opportunity for proptech startups to disrupt incumbents by reconceptualizing the concept of ownership, financing, or property rights. I don't think there's as big of an opportunity around search, as data and search becomes increasingly commoditized. Incumbent businesses are built on solutions that have diminishing value, in a world where the concepts of property rights and ownership are fundamentally changing in the consumer's mind. Fifth Wall portfolio companies Pacaso and our latest announced investment in Fractional are both good examples of this reconceptualization. To that end, I'd like to again congratulate Stella Han, Carlos Alfredo Treviño Pérez, and the rest of the Fractional team on their $15 million Series A, led by Fifth Wall. #proptech #realestate

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A quick sanity-check to separate the two: do all the studio shareholders have the same expectations when it comes to liquidity and returns timeline? If yes: the studio is company-creating in harmony with its startup cofounders and follow-on investors. If no: decisions go from positive-sum to zero-sum and value creation suffers.

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The venture studio sector has been EXPLODING, and like many new categories, best practices and standard operating procedures are hard to come by. We're teaming up to change that. 👇 After analyzing 500+ studios globally, we've systematically catalogued where studios go astray: ▪️Their systematic approach breaks with every new venture ▪️Their IP is world-class but commercialization is amateur ▪️The deeper they dig, the more complex the studio gets ▪️Their passion is building companies - not operations - but operations are the bottleneck This is why we've combined forces. A combined team of 9point8 Collective and Venture Studio Associates. There are a LOT of venture studio challenges. And we are better at solving them together. Together, we bring: ▪️16+ studios launched & advised ▪️1,200+ studio professional network ▪️Battle-tested design & operational frameworks We've already solved this for: ▪️Multiple tech transfer studios scaling IP commercialization ▪️A studio of studios (launched 5 studios, 11+ companies) ▪️A cash-flow focused studio (3 ventures, 2 profitable) ▪️Health & MedTech Studios navigating regulation ▪️Studio building for VC, PE, & Debt Financing Ready to unlock your studio's real value? Comment below, DM me "98VSA" , or email us at [email protected] for a private consultation on: ▪️Studio design, build, and launch ▪️Management and scaling ▪️Operational excellence Accepting 3 new clients for January 2025. ♻️ Share this with a studio builder who needs to see it #venturestudios #startupstudios #companycreators

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Having a Cars and Capital event tomorrow in Southern California with Oren Klaff. If you want to join message me. https://lnkd.in/gDQ4D39u Oren Klaff Bridger Pennington #InvestorEvent #FamilyOffice #InvestmentOpportunity #CarlsbadEvent #PrivateEquity #WealthManagement #InvestmentConference #CapitalRaising #NetworkingEvent #IndustryLeaders #FinancialGrowth #InvestorsMeetup #WealthBuilding #BusinessGrowth #InvestmentForum

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As a bootstrapped proptech company, curiosity is what drives us. We're always asking "what if?". But it's hard as we're driving change and innovation in a conservative traditional industry. So we're continuously instilling in both our employees and clients: curiosity (learn to look). So they become serious (look to learn). It's a continuous never-ending cycle of etc, etc, etc: education, training and consulting. So if you're serious about making a difference, stay curious!

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Many of you who are raising capital in the multifamily space could use this right now: When raising capital, you need to be confident enough to reach out to investors and provide value that benefits both of you. Join Tate Siemer and me to learn how to identify, attract, and retain your investors effectively and efficiently. What You’ll Learn From This Episode: - Investing in multifamily as a distressed credit - Developing ways to raise capital - Understanding investor avatars, their needs and wants, and more https://lnkd.in/eW5fUdpu #CapitalRaising #MultifamilyInvesting #RealEstateInvesting #InvestorRelations #RealEstateDevelopment #InvestmentStrategies #CommercialRealEstate #WealthBuilding

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