David Williams

BIG ANNOUNCEMENT from the #Dirt #King Cliff Fetner. Extremely proud of my father for his continued devotion and dedication to helping aspiring entrepreneurs in the #ConstructionTech ecosystem. I especially agree with his thesis regarding a HUGE gap in the market for #international #ConTech startups seeking GTM advice and networks to successfully launch in the US. Check out Cliff's medium post and tag #founders & #CEOs who you think would benefit from engaging with him. #ConTech #Founders #GTM

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Thrilled to double down on Bhanu and Layer2 Financial. Their growth is eye-popping and they have integrated stablecoin/fiat technology together in a way that's actually useful. Their APIs are - by far - the most mature in a rapidly emerging SWIFT-killers market. What's not in the press release is maybe the most impressive: - 2022/2023 banking/crypto crises (through no fault of their own) set the difficulty to "hard mode". They lost revenue, customers, upstream partners. Many founders would have wilted or quit. - They buckled down, stayed lean, built incredible product redundancies, and made some killer hires. - The new product foundation enabled them to grow 10x in 9 months. They are now processing *billions* in $ volume (which directly translates to ARR). Truly a case of a great team first surviving and now thriving in a rapidly expanding market.

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Today’s Startup Solution is all about private company shareholder voting rights -- when and how they can be set and why they should matter so much to you, in The Case of the Shareholder Shenanigans: https://lnkd.in/gTpG79y4

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Pear VC Startup Equity Calculator for Early Hires Pear VC head of talent Matt Birnbaum created this calculator to determine the equity for early hires. You can read more here How to structure startup equity for early hires https://lnkd.in/ggmpT5-Y https://lnkd.in/gjsvths6

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VC Market Update: Riding Out the Post-Boom Bumps. 2021's high-flying valuations and growth have given way to a more complex reality. With longer private timelines, tough exit markets, and capital tightness, startups face unique challenges—but also fresh opportunities. For those navigating today’s VC landscape, strategic planning is key. Whether it's balancing growth with capital efficiency or exploring secondaries smartly, there’s a path forward. And with boosts from AI and future rate cuts, brighter days could be ahead!

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As the Shasta Ventures approval deadline approaches, we're presented with a unique opportunity to observe the complexities and inherent conflicts in GP-led secondary transactions. This scenario sheds light on the considerable leverage GPs hold within the private equity infrastructure. According to the article, proposed continuation fund requires LPs to approve the transaction if they wish to roll their interests into the new structure—a stipulation that could be seen as putting undue pressure on LPs. This raises critical questions about the balance of power in private equity deals and the alignment of interests between GPs and LPs. What are your thoughts? Is it appropriate for GPs to demand such conditions for LPs to participate in a continuation fund? How do you see this impacting the broader private equity landscape and the perception of GP-led secondary transactions? Looking forward to hearing your insights and perspectives on this pivotal issue. #PrivateEquity #VentureCapital #InvestmentTrends #ShastaVentures #GPledSecondaries

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One of the highest compliments we can give a founder is calling them a “heat-seeking missile.” It means they’ll find their way to market no matter the obstacles. Broadlume’s founders, Todd Saunders and Dan Pratt, embody that spirit. Today’s announcement of their acquisition by Cyncly validates it—but honestly, anyone who met them early on could have seen it coming. I had the privilege of being their first institutional investor and joining their board nearly a decade ago, back when they were called AdHawk. Inspired by their Google ad sales days, Todd and Dan set out to help SMBs make smarter ad buys—a classic case of turning their job into a product. That product worked, scaling AdHawk to $1M+ in revenue with a diverse customer base. We were so impressed we invited them to present at our LP meeting in 2018. They showed up, delivered—and dropped a bombshell: they were pivoting. Flooring installers, a surprisingly large portion of their customers, presented an even bigger opportunity. Todd and Dan focused exclusively on this vertical, becoming the “Hubspot for Hardwood Flooring.” They off-boarded non-flooring clients, lost some revenue, but quickly snowballed back by doubling down on their ideal customer profile. From there, they didn’t just grow; they rolled up the industry. With $60M from PSG, they acquired companies, technology, customers, and decades of flooring expertise. M&A is a tightrope for startups, but Todd and Dan balanced it masterfully, building a powerhouse in an overlooked industry. Today’s acquisition is the culmination of their relentless drive. I couldn’t be prouder to have been their first institutional check. Of course, this wasn’t a straight line—no startup journey is. Broadlume faced struggles, like every company does. But Todd and Dan’s resilience exemplifies why I love this job. Entrepreneurship isn’t just a career; it’s a personality trait. It’s rare, and when you find it, it’s worth betting on. I may never write another check for a startup that sells vinyl tiles, but betting on people like Todd and Dan? I’ll do that every time.

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It's been a while since I posted a new episode of the VC Evolve Podcast, but here we go, with the wonderful VC (& professional basketball player), Aboudi Al-Qattan of DASH Ventures! Highlights: --- 🏀 Aboudi's unique background as a professional basketball player adds a dynamic perspective to venture capital. 🌍 Dash Ventures focuses on startups with global potential, emphasizing long-term sustainability. 📈 The evergreen investment model allows for patient capital and flexibility in supporting portfolio companies. 💡 The importance of collaboration among VCs in the MENA region to build a thriving ecosystem. 🔄 Learning from failures is essential for improving the quality of startups in the region. 🚀 Growth funds are crucial for helping companies transition from early-stage to public markets. 📚 Continuous education and adapting strategies from developed markets can guide MENA’s VC ecosystem. --- Available on: Youtube: https://lnkd.in/gYef3Bsw Spotify: https://lnkd.in/gsRuq8rA Apple: https://lnkd.in/gDCxgM8T Amazon: https://lnkd.in/gEwjH-z4 --- https://lnkd.in/gmav8s9h

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ATTN SF STARTUP and VC FRIENDS -- we have your hookup for a great networking event TOMORROW, Wednesday April 17 at Nixon Peabody's (amazing) offices in 1 Embarcadero Center. Hosted by Lior Zorea of Nixon Peabody, the panel includes Roger Lang of Smart Society Ventures, Clayton Bryan of 500 Global, Gady Nemirovsky of Inspiration Ventures, Peter Walker of Carta, and Chris Abato of Woodside Capital. Thanks Tord Olav Dønnum for the connect. Peter Walker from Carta will provide a “State of the Union” and then topics will include: +Startup formation trends +What key factors and metrics are investors looking at in 2024? +What tech verticals are “hot” (other than AI)? +What is the funding and M&A outlook for 2024? Registration link in the first comment 👇 See you there! #startups #venturecapital #entrepreneurship #siliconvalley

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🚀We are pleased to have Elliot Chun Chun an experienced investor and partner at Architect Partners joining the judging panel for the Ga^3in Web3 Pitch Competition & VC Networking on November 19th in #NYC at Future of Future of Digital Assets Powered By Benzinga 🌍✨ 🌟Elliot Chun is a Partner at Architect Partners LLC, where he focuses on early-stage investments in Web3 and blockchain technology. With a strong background in venture capital and entrepreneurship, Elliot has played a key role in supporting startups as they navigate the challenges of the tech landscape. Having worked in several entrepreneurial ventures and investment roles, Elliot specializes in identifying high-potential Web3 companies and helping them scale. His approach combines a strategic mindset with a hands-on focus on the growth of innovative businesses. 💡Elliot’s extensive experience in Web3 investments and his track record of supporting startups make him an invaluable judge for entrepreneurs looking to grow and scale in the blockchain space. 🎤 Don’t miss your chance to present your startup to Elliot and other top-tier investors! 🔗 Register through our Luma in comments. #PitchCompetition #ArchitectPartners #Web3 #Blockchain #VentureCapital #Ga3inVentures #Innovation #Entrepreneurship

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Thank you very much Bogdan Nicoară for the insights from your life as a founder - very important information for all those who want to achieve great things in these challenging times. As an Angel Network, we are particularly pleased when founders not only understand the value of the Smart Money concept, but also proactively utilise all the opportunities it offers. This only works with transparency and open communication with investors who have something to contribute. All in all - Bright Spaces and Danube Angels are an ideal match and we look forward to our journey together. To all #investors: we are launching our syndicate for investment in Bright Spaces today and are looking for angel investors in all EU countries and the UK with relevant expertise and contacts in the commercial property sector. If you are interested in finding out more, please comment or DM. #SmartMoney #RealEstate #Digitalization #Romania #AngelInvestment

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We love seeing founders be able to keep their equity and take advantage of non-dilutive funding sources⚒️. We're excited to collaborate with Stacy Chin, PhD leader of KeepYourEquity.co, who has secured over $15M in SBIR/STTR grants for startups across various sectors. She's written a guest blog post sharing her insights on navigating the competitive landscape of grant funding 💰. Some highlights: ❇️ Understanding SBIR/STTR: A lifeline for startups, offering up to $2 million in non-dilutive funding! ⏺️ Learning how to overcome hurdles and capitalize on the golden opportunity. ❇️ Gaining essential tips on outlining your go-to-market strategy, choosing the right program, and preparing thoroughly. ⏺️ Benefiting from Stacy Chin's 10+ years of grant writing experience and her extensive track record in securing funding for startups. Read More in the blog post linked in the comment below 👇🏾 #SBIR #STTR #GrantFunding #StartupSuccess #SmallBusiness #KeepYourEquityCo #ShayCPA #cpafirm #techaccountants #startupaccountants #techstartup #techcompany #nondilutivefunding

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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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What's the fast river in alts? Listen to the latest Alt Goes Mainstream podcast with Mercer's Gregg Sommer & CAIS' Neil Blundell to hear how they are helping advisors approach private markets. Gregg, Neil, and I had a fascinating discussion about how the wealth channel can approach alternatives and how they can think about both diligence and customization. We covered: * The case for alternatives. * How advisors currently approach alternatives and how they can think about it differently going forward. * How to think about portfolio construction that includes alternatives. * How alts can help advisors differentiate their practice and attract clients. * Following the fast river in a career and why alternatives are “the fast river.” * The meaning of “structure over strategy.” * The rise in popularity of evergreen funds. Thanks Gregg and Neil for sharing your thoughts and expertise on private markets. Thanks to our sponsor, Ultimus Fund Solutions, for making this episode possible. https://lnkd.in/eBtyw6Fm

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Huge thanks to Paayal Zaveri for covering the launch of Patron Fund II in Bloomberg and to Edward Ludlow and Caroline Hyde for having me on to chat about our new fund on Bloomberg Television this morning. Re-posting the note shared by my co-founder Brian Cho this morning: We’re excited to announce Patron Fund II, a $100M seed-stage fund dedicated to supporting founders building for the next generation of consumers. This new fund is shaped by our experience as early builders and investors at Andreessen Horowitz, Riot Games, and Discord, along with insights from the past three years since launching our first fund. Our journey has made it clear that tomorrow’s most transformative companies will serve the hundreds of millions growing up on platforms like Roblox and Discord. Games have always been at the forefront of consumer tech adoption, and we’re dedicated to supporting visionary founders who use this gaming lens to build venture-scale businesses across all verticals. The name "Patron" reflects the kind of firm we strive to be—one that offers unwavering support to founders. With our experience scaling category-defining companies, we bring unique expertise in designing products that engage people for thousands of hours, while guiding founders through every step of their journey. We exclusively lead seed rounds to stay deeply involved from the start through to scale. As patrons, we empower builders to create something lasting. If you’re a founder who shares this vision, we’d love to connect. Amber Atherton, Brian Cho & Jason Yeh

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🎉 Exciting News! NuFund Venture Group is now a proud partner of AARP's AgeTech Collaborative™ from AARP . 🚀 Here’s why this matters: 🌟 Growth Opportunity: The AgeTech sector is booming! With the global population aging rapidly, the market could reach $2 trillion by 2050. 🏠 Living Independently: AgeTech helps seniors live comfortably at home longer. NuFund is excited to support startups making this a reality. 🤝 Strong Partnership: AARP drives incredible AgeTech advancements. Together, we aim to empower older adults and innovate aging. 🌐 Investing in the Future: With $8.3 trillion generated annually by the 50+ demographic, AgeTech presents a compelling investment landscape. NuFund is thrilled to join forces with AARP, fostering startup innovation in a sector poised for exponential growth. #AgeTech #Innovation #AgeTechInvesting #HealthTechStartups #LongevityEconomy #preseedinvesting #seedfunding

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Bright Machines hit a new milestone today with its $126M Series C funding led by investment from funds and accounts managed by BlackRock, participation from Eclipse, NVIDIA, Microsoft, Jabil, and Shinhan Securities Co. and venture debt secured by J.P. Morgan. We’re excited to work together with our investors and partners to further advance the future of software-defined electronics manufacturing, bringing AI intelligence to the factory and increasing assembly flexibility. Six years since the company’s inception, it is even more urgent to solve the issue of manufacturing automation. Electronics manufacturing is still outdated and manual, with isolated, inefficient processes that drive up costs. With over $8T in manufacturing waste annually, our network of partners, investors, and employees are driven to revolutionize automation for manufacturing. You can read more about the news and Bright Machines upcoming plans here: https://bit.ly/4cyKF1X Congratulations Bright Machines — this accomplishment is a tribute to the hard work and dedication of the entire team. Let’s keep building!

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Congratulations to Sean (Xiang) Ren, Tyler Z. and Sahara AI team for a successful Series A fundraising. SCB 10X is excited to participate in this strategic funding round, co-led by Pantera Capital and Polychain Capital, along with Samsung Next, Matrix Partners, Nomad Capital, Tangent Ventures and others. Founded in 2023, Sahara AI is developing a decentralized AI platform that offers high performance, provenance, data privacy and security. The network allows both individuals and businesses to deploy proprietary data and build personalized AI models. Additionally, it leverages blockchain technology to enable incentive distribution to data and model contributors, creating a collaborative ecosystem for AI development. SCB 10X is looking forward to working with Sahara AI team for a future of open and inclusive AI. https://lnkd.in/g5jqCm7p #artificialintelligence #generativeai #ai #startups #vc

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