Damián Scavo

Interesting post by Howard (Lee) Mosbacker IV, PhD on changing VC thinking in non Silicon Valley ecosystems. And yes, things have got to change. Howard argues that we need an active secondary market for VC positions at Series A rather than wait for those companies to become Decacorns. I completely agree... to an extent. Those secondary markets already exist, however. They are called stock markets. Hear me out. The VC world is so obsessed with Decacorn NASDAQ listings, that they've forgotten what built our industry. CISCO, Nvidia, AMD, Adobe, Amazon, Intel, all IPOd at sub $500m valuations. Companies are now being advised to wait until they have $500 Million in ARR before listing. This is madness. To be fair, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission rules and our litigious culture make a US IPO at a sub $1B valuation extremely difficult. Costs in the US are too high. Other global stock markets don't have that problem. For instance, on the LSEG (London Stock Exchange Group) AIM market companies regularly IPO doing $10-20m in ARR growing 30% a year. IPO costs are 30% vs US costs, the US has more class action shareholder lawsuits in a year than the LSEG (London Stock Exchange Group) has had in a decade. IN 2021, the LSEG (London Stock Exchange Group) had ~160 IPOs with an _average_ valuation of $100million. There's similar great small cap programs at the ASX, TSX Group and Euronext. The problem isn't the lack of a secondary market. The problem is that US VC's and board members don't look beyond the US to IPO. Maybe we should think outside of the box on this a little. BTW, I buy post Series B secondaries at Practical Venture Capital, and project manage small cap IPOs as a side hustle. You know... BYOL ( Bring Your Own Liquidity ) What would your fund's returns look like if you could get liquid at Series B?

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🚀 Ready to launch your VC fund? VC Lab Cohort 17 has a new AI-powered mission control, LP mixers, new tracks, and more. Learn how we can help... 🛠️ AI-Powered Launch Suite + Decile Base: Your AI co-pilot + Smart LP targeting & network analysis + AI-powered thesis builder + Personalized outreach tools 🤝 Enhanced Support + Regional Demo Days + Global GP-LP mixers + Premium mentoring + Institutional-grade resources 🌌 Specialized Tracks + Space Technology + Later-Stage (Series A/B) + Family Office Funds + Enhanced Emerging Manager Program 👉 Perfect Timing + Exceptional deals at reasonable valuations + Billions in LP capital seeking emerging managers + Unique window as established firms face challenges The Early Admissions Deadline for Cohort 17 is Monday, November 18th. Join the 50+% of new VC firms we've launched in the last two years. 🚀

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🚀 Why Deep Tech Startups Need to Master Storytelling 🚀 If you're building a deep tech product or conducting scientific research, you might wonder — why is it so important to focus on your story? In our book "Innovate, Fund, Thrive", published by Taylor & Francis Group, Jean-François Denault and I emphasize storytelling as the central link between the pillars of a successful company: Customers, Capital, Talent, and Employees. And here's why that matters: 🔬 Simplify the Complex Your cutting-edge tech or research is brilliant—but it can be complex. A clear narrative breaks down these complexities, making your innovation accessible to investors, customers, and partners. 💡 Connect on an Emotional Level Data informs, but stories inspire. Investors, talent, and clients want to feel connected to your why—the deeper mission behind your product or service. ✨ Stand Out in a Crowded Market In the competitive world of startups, your story is what sets you apart. It’s how you show your uniqueness, your passion, and your vision for the future. 🤝 Build Trust and Credibility A well-crafted narrative shows that you understand your market and your solution’s potential impact. This builds the confidence investors need to back your journey. 🎯 Attract Talent and Customers The best people and customers aren’t just drawn to innovative products—they’re drawn to inspiring missions. Share your vision and you'll bring in those who believe in it, too. So, whether you're seeking funding, hiring top talent, or attracting customers, mastering storytelling is key. Let your story build the bridge between your innovation and the people you need to succeed. 🌉 📖https://lnkd.in/ec5V6xbz 📚https://lnkd.in/eksmdXG4 #startups #storytelling #deeptech #innovation #leadership #investors #entrepreneurship #fundraising #InnovatFundThrive Harvard University London Business School Stanford University Graduate School of Business University of Oxford University of Pennsylvania University of Cambridge Università Bocconi National University of Singapore HEC Paris University of California, Berkeley Nanyang Technological University Singapore New York University Copenhagen Business School Northwestern University - Kellogg School of Management Universitat Ramon Llull Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad University of Toronto Imperial College London ESSEC Business School UCLA McGill University ESCP Business School ETH Zürich emlyon business school IAE Paris - Sorbonne Business School William Sahlman Josh Lerner Noam Wasserman Steve Blank Kathleen Eisenhardt Tom Byers Bill Aulet Fiona Murray Scott Stern Ethan Mollick Karl Ulrich Howard Stevenson Henning Piezunka

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I have to repost. First because performance metrics of #VC funds are finally gaining the importance they deserve, secondly because they’re quite misunderstood, and thirdly it explains what matters to LPs in a market where liquidity is king. ✖️ #TVPI is very important at the earlier stages of a fund- measuring the total value of an investment relative to the funds committed and compounding both realized and unrealized returns (NAV+distributions/paid-in capital). It is the metric that captures potential upside. ✖️ #DPI is the metric that matters when a fund reaches maturity. Unlike TVPI, DPI focuses on realized gains and cash distributions to LPs (distributions/paid-in capital). In a market like today where liquidity is king, DPI holds more weight.

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On the surface, tech transfer operations (e.g. the process of transferring research and IP into commercialized opportunities) and early-stage startups may seem quite different. But when we at 9point8 Collective dug a little deeper, there was tons of overlap which speaks to the essence of zero-to-one development: 1️⃣ Innovation Focus: both tech transfer and early-stage startups aim to commercialize new technologies or solutions that can address real-world problems or create new opportunities. There is no blueprint to follow. 2️⃣ Intellectual Property: tech transfer ventures usually come with robust IP portfolios, including patents and trade secrets, and early-stage startups often focus on developing and protecting their IP to create a competitive advantage. Leverage IP as an asset is a key part of the strategy. 3️⃣ Market Potential: both tech transfer and early-stage startups target markets with high growth potential. They often aim to disrupt existing industries or create entirely new market segments, so targeting the right markets is essential. 4️⃣ Risk Profile: both types of ventures carry extreme risk and ambiguity due to the uncertainties associated with bringing new technologies or business models to market. With all this overlap, we innovated different versions of our diligence and assessment tool #VentureIQ to focus on tech transfer. Instead of a pitch deck as the raw inputs, we used patent filings instead. We wanted to see if our tech could generate credible insight on how raw technologies can be commercialized. The results have been pretty solid so far. From a single patent filing, we can extract technology readiness levels, target markets, competitors and benchmarks with similar technology, and even sources of public and private funding. From what our design partners have validated for us, these are monumental leaps in the development process -- saving thousands of dollars and weeks of time -- all done with #AI. Know of an interesting #techtransfer use case? Send me a DM so we can chat about it!

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𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝟎 𝐓𝐨𝐩 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐩𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡 𝐢𝐧 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒 🚀🚀🚀 | Via StartUs Insights | Updated May 2024 | @VINCI_Digital 🔹Through the use of advanced trackers, these startups are furthering the technology of solar panels and enhancing the capture and use of solar energy. 🔹Reusable rocket technologies are simplifying space exploration in the aerospace industry and allowing for more sustainability and cost-efficiency. Startups producing kits for retrofitting electric vehicles (EVs) are helping the automobile industry. 🔹Startups using artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning techniques accelerate the development of drugs. Conversely, self-healing concrete, a cutting-edge building material, is enhancing the resilience of infrastructure. 🔹Startups that specialize in precision irrigation are streamlining sustainable farming methods by optimizing the use of agricultural water through sensor technologies and data analytics. 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐨𝐩 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐩𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐰𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡 𝐢𝐧 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒 >>> SolarGik – Solar Panel Trackers >>> RSI Europe – Remote Initiation Systems >>> Pythom Space – Sustainable Space Exploration >>> Captain's Eye – AI-powered Maritime Security >>> HGenium – Green Hydrogen Production >>> Just Electric – Micromobility EV Retrofitting Kits >>> Titanium Textiles AG – Elastic Titanium Mesh Implants >>> OXCCU TECH LTD – Clean Jet Fuel & Bioplastic >>> DMAT – Low Carbon & Self-healing Concrete >>> Element Zero – Zero Carbon Mineral Processing >>> Levigate Alloys – Metal Powder Manufacturing >>> Seabex – Precision Irrigation >>> Trackcol – Real-Time Supply Chain Monitoring >>> Defendis – AI-powered Cyber Threat Intelligence >>> Canurta Therapeutics – Rapid Botanical Drug Discovery >>> Kwenta – Group & Multicard Payments >>> Fishway – Lab-grown Fish >>> Adaptyv Bio – AI-based Protein Engineering >>> FlexSea – Seaweed-based Biopolymer Packaging >>> bcdemocracy – Blockchain-based Recordkeeping Source: https://bit.ly/3JVdKbM Book an appointment with🔹Fabio Bottacci, founder and CEO @VINCI Digital | IIoT + AI / GenAI Strategic Advisory 🚀 >>> https://lnkd.in/drDAMwaX ---------------------------------------------- #iot #ai #genai #startups #energytech #spacetech #biotech #construtech #agtech

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I find it hard to believe that with millions of EVs entering the market and the proliferation of AI compute that PGE is actually going to have excess capacity in 2040 without any additional generation from 3rd parties. I am also curious if there are enough transmission lines and if PGE views that as someone else’s problem. Maybe they are planning on AI and ACTUAL figuring it all out! https://lnkd.in/gybsMmaw

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Great startups deserve great platforms! High Tables by ah! Ventures connects VCs, Family Offices, and UHNIs to fund innovators like you 💯. Ready to take your venture to the next level? Reach out through the link in our bio to learn more! #ahventures #startup #funding #venturecapital #hightables #ahventures #investment #entrepreneur #success #innovation #business

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The Vogtle Units 3 & 4 are the latest two nuclear reactors getting into operation in the US. The two reactors combined have 2.2 GW of output. Both took around 15 years to build and more than 20 years since project initiation. There is no clear line of sight on when the next one will come online. Meanwhile in the past 20 years, US has added more than 140 GW of solar and in the past 5 years alone around 20 GW of batteries. Technology aside, we need to look at what get deployed. It is apparent that solar + batteries are the way to go.

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 Elon Musk's AI startup, xAI, is looking to raise $6 billion in #funding, supported by prominent venture capital firms including Andreessen Horowitz, Lightspeed Venture Partners, Sequoia Capital and Tribe Capital, with this funding round valuing #xAI at $18 billion.  xAI, founded in March 2023, aims to develop advanced #AI technologies with a focus on understanding the universe. This new #fundraising effort underscores the significant interest and confidence in xAI's ambitious goals and potential impact on the AI industry. The AI sector has been attracting significant #investments, with $19.15 billion raised in the first quarter of this year, highlighting the competitive landscape of AI development. #artificialintelligence #venturecapital #elonmusk https://lnkd.in/d4P_7QBZ

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"Rebellion looks beyond conventional AI systems." This is a well-written article by Venture Capital Journal (by David Bogoslaw) about our Rebellion Ventures announcement last week. It reviews artificial super capability (ASC) and our debut fund focused on autonomous operations and AI agents, leveraging a community of 70+ unicorn founders, operators, and industry experts in AI and automation. Check out VCJ's article below - worth taking a look. https://lnkd.in/g6HDmZ8P

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🎉 Congratulations the Team! 🎉 Our product, YouKnowMeBest Social, has been recognized in a cutting-edge study from TU Vienna on Social-Aware Fashion Recommendation Systems (SAFRS) lead by Julia Neidhardt’s team, Head of the CD Lab for Recommender Systems. This research highlights the power of #usercentric and #socialaware recommendations, and I couldn’t be prouder of our team for leading the way in innovation. 💪 Here’s to more groundbreaking achievements ahead! 🚀 YouKnowMeBest. Real-life shopping experience online!  youknowme.best #ecommerce #onlineshopping #aiforgood #digitalhumanism #recommendersystems #innovation #digitaltransformation #InnovaticGroup #YouKnowMeBest #SocialShopping #chatgpt #gpt4

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The known knowns and known unknowns about AI relative to the unknown unknowns provide sufficient certainty of economic value creation for founders to build generational companies. We know scaling laws will hold for a bit longer and that model inference is depreciating at a rapid clip. We don't know where breakthroughs will come from once we hit a data wall in 2028, but we know 'unhobbling' latent model capabilities would already drive significant economic value. The range of possible futures we can backcast from, therefore, is already vast. https://lnkd.in/ekaeMX69

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💡 Watch this video, in which the importance of shareholder voting in tackling the climate crisis is perfectly articulated by Mark van Baal from Follow This | Shareholders change the world.

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Interesting post, Frank Rotman . I'd argue that rather than try to use your markups as traction for raising funds 2, 3 and 4 , emerging managers should consider helping their startups get earlier liquidity via suggesting listing on growth exchanges like the Toronto Stock Exchange, the LSEG (London Stock Exchange Group) or the ASX . DPI > IRR or TVPI when it comes to LPs. A VC that returns >2x in 7 years to LPs is going to have a much easier time raising the next fund than a fund with an IRR or TVPI of whatever. The entire vc industry has drank the kool aid that companies should be doing >$300m in ARR before listing. The LP community needs / wants liquidity before the 12 to 14 years its currently taking to IPO in the US, however. Startups can list on the above exchanges doing $20m in revenue with 30% YoY growth, they don't have to deal with Sarb Ox compliance and follow on raises are orders of magnitude easier for a listed company. Why? There's so many more public market investors than private market investors. The only other option for Emerging managers to stand out is by getting DPI via selling secondaries to a fund like Practical Venture Capital Chris Mayo, CFA Neil Shah Delilah Panio Amit Verma Dave McClure Aman Verjee, CFA Karin Tenenboim

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The AI hype bubble is deflating. Now comes the hard part. https://buff.ly/4d04mAZ by @GerritD from hype to cash flow, big techs incumbents and legion of startups are trying to find ways to make money with “generative” AI magic… no sexy part! #rafAIgual #GenAI #bubble #startups

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