Geoff McQueen

💡 Are vertical AI startups the future of industry-specific SaaS? SignalFire's latest blog outlines a compelling case for how AI-enabled vertical SaaS solutions could transform industries, tapping into a $6 trillion market opportunity. By applying seven innovative frameworks, startups can address unique, industry-specific challenges like handling unstructured data, achieving data defensibility, and automating workflows. One standout approach is the “networked SaaS” model, where diverse stakeholders—from end-users to insurers—can connect on a single platform, driving efficiency and deep integration. Curious about these frameworks and examples of companies pioneering this space? Dive into the full article! 📈👇

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We are running a pilot with Catalyst AIC (Supported by AIM, NITI Aayog) 🥳 This morning we onboarded the founders from AIC's Summer Cohort 2024 for a 100-day pilot program with PredictGrowth. 🚀 Complimenting AIC's great mentorship program, these founders will leverage our Business Planning software to apply their incubation learnings and save significant time by utilizing our well-defined frameworks. ✅ Instead of navigating scattered resources, they'll have everything in one place, helping them accelerate their journey from idea to execution. Over the past quarter, we've been busy scouting close collaborations with industry leaders and top incubation centers across India and refining our business planning tool to unlock its full potential. This is not just about nurturing startups; it's a golden opportunity for all of us at PredictGrowth to gather invaluable feedback on our platform directly from our core ICPs. Their hands-on experience will provide us with deep insights, helping us fine-tune our offering to meet the evolving needs of early-stage founders. Special shoutout to Dilnawaz Khan for making this happen! Excited to share more of what's been happening at Predict Growth in the coming days! PredictGrowth Catalyst AIC (Supported by AIM, NITI Aayog) Deepanshu Khandelwal Saaniya Afreen ⚡Moses J⚡ Vamshi Magam Harsh Baid

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Great article from PitchBook on why domain expertise amongst VCs matters. TL;DR -- in verticals like healthcare, having investors with high amount of domain expertise can result in up to 40% higher odds of achieving an IPO, 20% higher chance of being acquired and 30% higher chance of an overall successful exit. Importantly, the marginal value of having investors with domain expertise varies by sector and stage, and is not uniform, so your mileage may vary, and generalist investors still have a very important role to play in the venture ecosystem. https://lnkd.in/dXpi8gzm Curious to hear from founders: Do you have examples of seeing specialist investors be helpful in unique ways that you can share? Or alternatively, do you have an experience with a generalist investor who has been more helpful than the specialists?

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Infrastructure Support networks Never just one person Make mine a team Here’s a thought👇🏼 Stories have hero’s and villains, which both tend to focus on individuals. The founders story tends to be told in the singular. It’s what catches the eye and makes for better copy. Overcoming adversity tends to the plucky individual. But that’s not quite true is it? It’s good for storytelling and setting out the narrative but real life isn’t like that. It’s usually a pairs trade. Think Warren Buffett and Charlie Munger, think Morecambe and Wise, think Wozniak and Jobs, think Robert Miller and Chuck Feeney, think Laurel and Hardy. Why include comics in a list of uber-successful business leaders? Because the comics understand the mechanics at work here. The foil, the stooge, setting up the punch line and the delivery. Guess what in the field of business that is necessary too. Business is a team sport whatever the headline. Successful teams do need a centre pin as their leader to achieve success. Someone who takes the lead. But as the old wry comment reminds us leadership is easy but it’s no good if no one follows. Leaders need their teams to believe in the plan laid out before them. One of the advantages of the venture studio model is that it ensures that there is a team that are proven collaborators. This mitigates the risks in launching a new business. This is a strong hand in the world of early stage businesses. ThinkLikeAClient #GrumpyOptimist #TechStartUps #VentureStudios #Entrepreneur Footnote: all my content is written daily by me with no additives or tricks. If it interests you please tag the 🔔 in my profile to get it delivered straight to you. Otherwise if you search #GrumpyOptimist you’ll find my library of past posts. Never recycled, always fresh.

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Fundraising in 2024 is challenging, and it can be attributed to the circumstances of 2023. 2023 has set the stage for many of the setbacks founders experience in this year’s fundraising environment. Find out in our 2023 deep dive why: 1. Many founders found fundraising in 2023 to be exceptionally challenging. 2. 2024 is not any better (and what you can do about it) 3. Facts: Valuations and round sizes for the first 6 months of 2024. 4. Later-stage valuations finally impact early-stage ventures. All and more on that tomorrow - you don’t want to miss that. If you want to join us, subscribe here: https://buff.ly/3VPoIoF

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The best things Founders can receive from investors (apart from term sheets) is feedback! At Funden, about 50% of pass notes come with some sort of feedback thats actionable and helpful to the Founder. Here’s an example of a pass note from earlier this month: “We focus on having live, paying enterprise customers with a repeatable, scalable sales process and line-of-sight to series-A financial metrics" Boom! That kind of transparency is unprecedented in the venture world. This type of feedback says, "Hey we're excited about the industry and product, but we need to just see a little more proof of concept on the business before we can dive deeper". Now, this founder has someone they can reach back out to, who is going to be familiar with them, and the Founder will now be right in their investable sweet spot! Another one we got recently was a few investors are telling the same founder, independently of one another, that their round size was far too big for their level of traction. Hearing the same type of feedback as to why they're passing in such a short period of time has a real and meaningful impact on how founders are structuring their raise. And we're happy to help them. https://lnkd.in/gZ_tVkTB ---------------------- Funden is the #1 fundraising platform connecting founders to capital. Founders use our tools and strategic guidance for quicker, more effective fundraises. Investors use us to receive curated, quality deal flow and broadcast co-investment opportunities to our audience of 1000+ global VCs, family funds, angel networks, syndicates, and more.

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I first met Mike Maples, Jr in 2010, when Founders Network was just an idea. Over the years, Mike and his team at Floodgate (special shoutout to Arjun Chopra) have been great mentors, sharing their insights and guiding our founders. Most recently, their advice played a pivotal role in helping us launch Founders Network Fund. Today, Mike shared the key ideas with FN'ers from his new book Pattern Breakers (https://a.co/d/buKBd5O ), which explores the insights he’s gained from backing companies like Twitter, Twitch, and Okta -- and which put him on the Forbes Midas List 8x. This is the most important book on startups in the last ten years, according to Steve Blank. My notes on the key concepts of his talk: 1) Inflections – "not a trend but a change event that represents a turning point in our ability to provide empowerment." e.g. The GPS chip in iPhone 4s 2) Insights – "a non-consensus and right insight about the future that's powerful and non obvious and leverages inflections." e.g. Lyft = GPS + strangers driving you 3) Founder future fit – "Living in the future before other people live in the future and then try to build what's missing in the future." If you're a founder, check out the book. Grateful for the impact Mike and Arjun continue to have on both me and the Founders Network community!

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Wondering about the Nebraska ecosystem resources. See the attached chart below…and more to come!

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Proud to have supported Wander in securing their recent $1M extension seed round! 🚀 This achievement underscores a crucial lesson in startup growth: success in follow-on funding rounds demands strategic thinking and unwavering dedication to hitting key milestones. Wander's team, led by the visionary AJ Brau, has exemplified this perfectly. Their journey from concept to a global, AI-enhanced interactive mapping platform is a testament to the power of customer-centric innovation and persistent execution. It's been a privilege to guide them through our Value Creation program, helping translate potential into a robust, actionable strategy. To aspiring entrepreneurs: remember, each funding round presents unique challenges. While initial rounds often focus on your idea, vision, and promises, follow-on rounds require solid achievements and compelling arguments supporting your actual execution. Key points to consider: 1. Expect your initial plan to evolve; investors understand that perfect 1:1 execution is rare. 2. Be prepared to showcase your decision-making process and how you've adapted to challenges. 3. Governance and operational mechanics will be scrutinized more closely in later rounds. 4. Focus on creating tangible value, hitting your targets, and effectively communicating your progress and learnings. Remember, each round is an opportunity to prove your ability to execute and adapt. The capital will follow well-executed strategies and demonstrated results. Congratulations to AJ and the entire Wander team! Your hard work is paying off, and I'm excited to see where this new funding takes you. Read more about Wander's journey and innovative approach here: https://lnkd.in/dE-9n8_2 #StartupSuccess #VentureCapital #TravelTech #Innovation #ValueCreation #Utah #Advisor

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Insights from the Fundraising Poll Recently, I conducted a poll to understand your preferences for fundraising events in this digital age. The results are in, and they provide some valuable insights: Webinar: 22% Virtual Pitch: 0% Online 1:1 Meeting: 11% In Person Group Event: 67% It’s clear that despite the rise of digital tools and platforms, many of you still prefer the traditional, in-person group events for fundraising. This preference highlights the value of personal interaction and the dynamic environment that in-person events can offer. However, webinars and online 1:1 meetings are also popular choices, reflecting the flexibility and convenience they provide. While virtual pitches didn’t receive any votes this time, it’s still an emerging format that might gain traction as we continue to explore different approaches. At Aegis Capital Partners, we’re committed to adapting to your preferences and ensuring our fundraising efforts align with what works best for our community. Whether it’s through engaging in-person events or leveraging digital platforms, we’re here to create meaningful connections and successful outcomes. Thank you to everyone who participated in the poll. Your input is invaluable as we move forward in the evolving landscape of fundraising.

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When deciding between SAFEs and priced equity, think about your startup’s current stage and future plans. SAFEs can offer flexibility for various funding amounts, making them a solid choice for different stages. Review your goals and funding needs to decide which option aligns best with your startup’s direction. #FundingOptions #StartupGrowth

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Must read for founders who are planning to raise funds for their startups.. This E-books cover all the activities a founder need to be prepared for before and after raising funds from Investors. Check out comment section to get access to the same..

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Catch up on Adam Robinson's journey on The Force & Friction Podcast as he discusses scaling a SaaS company from $20M towards $50M ARR. Watch the full episode here: https://bit.ly/3YzjaBH "It’s a game of different rules at each stage". #ForceAndFrictionPodcast #RevOpsLife #GTM #SaaS #B2BGrowth #EntrepreneurJourney #ScalingUp

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HUGE opportunity

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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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Seeing the incredible Scale fundraising announcement today (major congrats to the Scale team!!), I think back to many of the common VC/expert objections in the early days of the company (~2017)... * Amazon Mechanical Turk will dominate the data labelling market. * There are many other existing startups who have been around for much longer. * It's a services business, not a product business. * Data for AI isn't a big market. * Self-driving / synthetic data will be solved in a year, and then there is no market. * First-time founder. Many people were shocked that I picked working at Scale over other options for these reasons! Interesting how many parallels you can perhaps draw to some startups today - important to keep an open mind.

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This is a very interesting investment. While East Ventures is generally known to be sector agnostic and have a broad and diversified portfolio, investing in a seemingly non-tech and low-multiple sector is not a very VC-like behavior. Perhaps there is more to Har Har Chicken than just a food and retail play. The team is a strong one though, with the right elements of experience to bring this to scale. If we can have the likes of KFC or NeNe Chicken, why can't we have our own? But more importantly, this is another data point that VCs are trading high-risk growth for more stability and profitability. Given the need for VCs to play within the Power Law and generate returns within the fund cycle, Har Har Chicken needs to scale at least a 100x over the next few years to be worthy to sit in East Ventures' US$550m fund dedicated to Indonesia and South-east Asia. #venturebuilding #venturecapital ==================== Powering venture growth 💥 - Building 💯 SEA-founded ventures through Krux Asia, SEA's leading venture studio by SEA operators

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AI Podcast today with the brilliant Serena Yu. We will discuss how the past Internet, Mobile, and Cloud revolutions are shaping this AI era. And how AI will accelerate and transform every aspect of our lives in the coming year, decade, century 😎. Got questions? Please post below. #AIDecade #InvestorDecade

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I had a lot of fun recording a podcast episode with Shiva Singh Sangwan. We discussed the evolution of Humba Ventures & Susa Ventures; tips for raising and building a fund; how to improve investment sourcing & picking; the role of luck in investing, and so on. https://lnkd.in/eiqsStej

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