Dane Holewinski

🌟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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Blind optimism vs. pragmatism, the psychological patterns that lead to failure, the future of "moats" in the age of AI, and images of me apparently staring wistfully into space.... Thanks Brian Ondrako for a great podcast!

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Why founders believe they have an 82% chance of success when the reality is closer to 10%. And why being in that 10% means resisting the standard playbooks. That and more in my conversation with Brian Ondrako of the Just Get Started podcast. Check it out and ping me with questions or ideas! 

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I’m delighted to showcase a special guest blog from my Stanford colleague, Dr. Frederik G. Pferdt. Frederik is Google’s original Chief Innovation Evangelist, and just published his first book, “What’s Next Is Now.” *** Let’s face it: our minds are wired to crave certainty about the future. We scour the news, analyze trends, and even check our horoscopes—all in search of a glimpse into what’s coming next. But here’s the thing: that relentless hunt for predictions is a mistake! Why? Because the future isn’t something that happens to you. It’s something you actively shape. By obsessing over predictions, we become passive observers, waiting for the future to unfold. But what if we flipped the script? What if we stopped worrying about what might happen and started creating the future we want? I’m a future optimist because I believe in embracing the opportunities ahead rather than fearing uncertainty. The choices you make today are the building blocks of your future. The more intentional and varied your choices, the more opportunities you create for yourself. On the flip side, if you avoid stepping outside your comfort zone, someone else ends up making choices for you. Ever wonder how people find themselves in unfulfilling careers? It’s often because they stopped making intentional choices that could have led them down a different path. They become passengers in a car driven by fate, luck, or happenstance. But here’s the good news: You don’t have to be a passenger. You can be the driver. Imagination is your most powerful tool. By engaging with the possibilities of each moment, you start to see a different landscape for your future. (More insights at the link in comments below!)

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Unpopular opinion: Raising too much capital is more dangerous than not raising enough. I recently had the chance to chat with Matt Watson on the Startup Hustle podcast about why raising should support your strategy, not the other way around. Too often, founders orchestrate their strategy to hit metrics that will help them raise another round, which is the tail wagging the dog.  We discussed how to avoid the risks of raising too early, launching too early, scaling too early, and other harbingers of startup failure. Check it out here: https://lnkd.in/g3JkcBHi #StartupHustle #Startups #Entrepreneurship #Leadership #VC #Capital

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If you’re interested in strategies for scaling start-ups, this episode is for you.

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🌱 User-led growth is the heartbeat of Intersect. 🌱 As founders, we sometimes dive so deeply into the details that we miss the big picture—or as they say, "we can’t see the forest for the trees." But our Intersect Connect users are a constant reminder of where we’re headed and the value we're building together. I was perfectly content with our previous Client Portfolio page, but Rozann van Mieghem & Derik Combrink both highlighted the importance of not only being able to see the CIPC Annual Return status for each client. Instead, they wanted the functionality to plan their workflow with the CIPC due dates in mind. What a "duh" moment for me as the founder! 🤦‍♂️ Of course, it makes perfect sense, and I would want the same in my practice! So, we implemented the changes... 📹 This feature update is a testament to the incredible impact our users have on Intersect’s evolution and now helps Accounting By Nature & Tru Accounting stay on top of their CIPC workflows more proactively. ✅ It’s a reminder that building a product isn't just about the vision at the top — it’s about listening and adapting to those who use it daily.💡 #UserLedGrowth #CustomerFeedback #IntersectConnect #Innovation

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🔑 Maintaining Momentum in Fundraising: 3 Strategies for Success Fundraising is easy when you're consistently hearing "yes" and have plenty of momentum. But what happens when you're starting from scratch or your pipeline is running dry? In my latest video, I share 3 strategies to help you build and maintain momentum: 1. Find the easy yeses 2. Update the maybes 3. Ramp up outreach

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Building early stage startup momentum? Make sure your speed-to-help is measured in minutes. In today’s environment, you can’t wait days for help. You have to get unstuck fast. With timely advice, execution quickens. Thats the power of a safe-space community that’s built on ‘giving’. It’s our foundational value. You should give what we are building a try.  Zero risk.   DM me to learn more. We’re happy to tee up a call. Happy Wednesday, ya’ll. ———— Please consider ♻️ with founders in your network. As early stage founders, we at times, are a problem away from sinking or propelling forward.

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"One of our investors had this phrase: Investors have deep pockets, but short arms." David Snider, CEO and Founder of Harness, talks about inspiring vs. planning on Tech Scenes Unplugged. #venturebacked #vcbacked #venturecapital #leadership #ceo #founder #operatingsystem #peakOS #foundermode

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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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Consumer incentives and motivations are multi-faceted and complex. I find qualitative marketing frameworks for segmenting users by readiness to purchase and “persona” to be distracting and unproductive -- and, at worst, providing a thin veneer of rigor that gives a marketing team license to spend money with no accountability. In my view, the best approach to optimizing marketing spend for commercial outcomes is to anchor robust and exhaustive advertising experimentation with a reliable, quantitatively sound measurement framework that focuses on incrementality.

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Here’s an interesting read/concept to consider from TechCrunch! AI-powered chatbots like ChatGPT are incredible innovations that are worth being excited about — but it’s important to also remember that we haven’t perfected these platforms yet. When it comes to chatbot technology and inclusivity, there are still multiple obvious shortcomings. #ChatGPT and other AI tools of the same vein currently struggle to read cultural nuance, and the algorithms that power these services mostly approach things from a Eurocentric/Western lens. Basically, one of the most popular and widespread AI platforms we have today was not built with the perspectives of #POC #BIPOC in mind. As a result, we’re starting to see alternative chatbots/modifications of ChatGPT in an attempt to create #PersonalizedAI such as John Pasmore’s Latimer.AI, an AI language model that tailors its answers to the experiences of Black and brown people. See also Erin Reddick’s beta ChatBlackGPT, which adjusts the harsher language and rhetoric regarding Black historical events, was trained by Black authors, writings, and philosophers. So, do you think #culturallyspecific AI models are a good solution? Or eventually, should broader companies that own ChatGPT/chatbots have a responibility to make them as inclusive as possible? Could that even be achieved with the structural racism and persistent inequalities that prevail in the tech ecosystem today? I want your takes.

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Great insights from Garrett Viggers cofounder of venture studio Zoë Foundry why many exited-founders are diving into the studio model to build companies at high velocity and frequency — well worth a listen to our podcast 🎧 #venturecapital #venturestudio

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I'm excited to announce that Mindset Care, the platform designed to simplify the application process for Social Security Disability benefits for individuals with mental illnesses and their caregivers, has raised $13 million. Science led the latest funding round and has backed the company since it launched from Science Inc.’s startup studio. We are thrilled to have Wellington Management (Van Jones, Jackson Cummings), Tubbs Ventures, Enable Ventures (Regina "Gina" Kline, Margaret Knowles), XYZ, and LivEdge Capital on board to enable Mindset to meet the growing demand for disability assistance. 17 million Americans live with a serious mental illness and qualify for disability benefits. Yet, it is estimated that about 65% of initial disability applications are denied, often due to errors or incomplete information​. This financing will enable Mindset Care to expand into partnerships with community and large-scale organizations, including local mental health nonprofits, government agencies, and homeless shelters. It has been a privilege to work with Darren Webb, Mindset’s co-founder and CEO, and see his passion and commitment to supporting people struggling with their mental health and their caregivers firsthand. Mindset Care’s community outreach teams work directly in homeless shelters, corrections facilities, veteran organizations, food drives, and rehab facilities to find and assist eligible applicants. Mindset’s platform utilizes AI to handle operational tasks, streamlining and automating the prequalification of prospective claimants and reducing the time required from weeks to less than an hour. At Science, we remain steadfast in our dedication to supporting companies as they strive to build a brighter tomorrow for society. Organizations like Mindset Care are deploying innovative solutions to some of the world’s greatest challenges, and we are honored to be part of their journey. We congratulate the entire Mindset Care team for their dedication and upward momentum. We are thrilled to continue working alongside Mindset Care and uplifting their critical role in addressing America’s mental health crisis. *Fun fact: I connected with Enable Ventures thru the Columbia Business School alum network. Grateful for their support. Link to announcement in comments below. #venturecapital #mentalhealth #digitalhealth #disabilityawareness

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💡 Buy vs. Build: The Tech Dilemma Every Founder Faces In my latest episode with Phillip McGlade, the CEO of Thérapie Clinic & Thérapie Fertility, we dove into a lesson every entrepreneur needs to hear: Phillip once decided to build a custom tech system for his business. The result? It didn’t work. His takeaway? 👉 Sometimes, it’s better (and cheaper) to buy proven solutions than to reinvent the wheel. "Stick to your zone of genius. Focus on what you do best and let the experts handle the rest." This one decision can save you time, money, and a whole lot of headaches. 🎧 Hear Phillip’s full story and learn why he now chooses to buy tech, not build - linked in comments below. #Founders #Entrepreneurship #TechStrategy #LessonsLearned

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To celebrate Cal.com, Inc.'s newest launch on @ProductHunt today, I sat with Peer Richelsen to discuss how building Platform and Atoms is a full-circle moment + more 🚀 In this ep, we covered:  ✊🏻 Open vs. Closed and why OSS will win 💡 The importance of IP in a post-AI world 🔥 How premium products can be built using OSS 🤑 How to approach enterprise sales as a 1x founder 🙏🏼 The impact of Y Combinator on Peer as a founder PS: I'm a tiny investor in Cal.com and a big believer in Peer and the team! If you are into OSS, support the launch here: https://lnkd.in/e_CaE_KQ Links to the ep 👇🏼 🔗 Apple Podcasts: https://lnkd.in/eBUv5E9q 🔗 Spotify: https://lnkd.in/epngcvFU ❤️ Sponsor Corner ❤️ Big shoutout to acquire.com for making this episode happen! Acquire is the best online marketplace (I can vouch for this) to buy/sell startups, and I know many founders who have sold their businesses there. If you're looking to wind down your business and cash in some of your founder chips, check them out - https://lnkd.in/gM5VZBFC Andrew Gazdecki and the team are always on the hunt to find ways to help more founders through Acquire 🫡 Lastly, if you are a listener and have been enjoying the episodes, please take a minute to drop your rating on the podcast: https://lnkd.in/eaaw-tJk I appreciate you for giving your attention and time 🙏🏼

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