Heidi Krauel Patel

Participating in Cohort 14 of the VC Lab has been an energizing experience so far. I am learning so much about the ins and outs of being an emerging fund manager and how to succeed in this space. Today they hosted a panel for Women in VC that provided some real world advice from some fantastic panelists. The curriculum is rigorous for sure, but rewarding. If you are curious about why this is such an exciting area check out this article. #venturecapital #vc #investing https://lnkd.in/gMMM_mwp

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Over the years, we at GFR Fund have solidified our investment thesis, which is that we invest in "emerging digitally native communities." These communities can be built around games, social media, and any consumer applications. Now, founders have many easy-to-use tools to build user communities, such as Discord, X/twitter, Instagram, etc, and we believe the founders should start building communities even before they launch a product. The communities can help founders: - reach PMF faster - acquire users cheaper - retain and engage users longer - build better UX/UI, and - hire early employees Below, you can see how RTFKT and Omeda Studios built the community and then worked with them to create a product the users really wanted. We would love to talk to the founders who think the community is essential in building a product!

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Is something changing in climate tech in Africa? 👇 ⚡ Historically, over the past 5+ years, Energy (mainly solar energy) has always been the main sub-sector within climate tech startups funding in Africa. Think companies like Sun King, Bboxx, d.light. These typically represented 60%-75% of all the climate tech funding any given year. However, since the beginning of the year, this ratio has dropped to around 40% on the back of other climate tech sub-sectors growing: 🌾 Agriculture: large deals this year included Apollo Agriculture, Complete Farmer, Tomato Jos 🛵 Mobility: with deals this year like Roam, BasiGo or Dodai 📲 Fintech: a good example here is the recent PULA deal Definitely an encouraging trend we are closing following at Catalyst Fund with already 19 deals (...and I hear a 20th one could be announced very shortly 😉) in Africa across no less than 9 different sub-sectors within Climate Tech! ...and we want to back even more startups in this critical sector, so don't hesitate to drop me an email with your pitch deck: [email protected] 📧

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We updated our LinkedIn company page! You can read how Rapid Ventures partners with #startups, #marketadopters, #investors and other #stakeholders in the #climatetech #ecosystem to accelerate #decarbonization and catalyze economic and #workforcedevelopment.

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Lets start the conversation

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I've participated in 100+ conversations with venture fund LPs this year. The most frequently discussed topics include: Team dynamics Sourcing differentiation Decision-making and selection process Portfolio support Sector thesis Track record Model and deployment strategy Network Long-term vision Timing (why now) References Fund infrastructure and reporting

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Founders I work with will hear me beat this drum over and over again - don't rely on LTV:CAC, it's not actually helpful in practice because it shows a point in time. Instead, we must orient our thinking around tracking performance over time - hence using a CCAC analysis instead (Cohort CAC). Best learning cycles don't come from a point in time but looking at what happens over time ie. analyze your monthly cohorts (that's 12 learning cycles a year!). Longer article about this in the comments #metrics #metrics #metrics

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✨ Breaking: BFM Fund Announces New Fund.- BFM Fund A seed-stage fund focusing on founders who are Black, Indigenous, and people of color, promoting diversity in venture capital. https://www.bfm.fund Please share to let other #Founders know For the ❤️ of Startups #Fusion42 #Startups#Venturecapital

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Five years ago, my partner Nisha Dua and I left corporate life and formed BBG Ventures, convinced that a rising generation of founders from diverse communities and backgrounds were poised to build transformative companies in a rapidly changing America. Today we’re announcing a new $60M early-stage fund to continue that work, and releasing the research that informed our investment thesis: The Mind of Polycultural America: A Look at Identity, Priorities and Behaviors (https://lnkd.in/eGzP3f2r) We’ve always looked around corners to identify shifts in behavior and attitudes. But several years ago, Nisha began describing the changing face of the country as the American Polyculture; and last year we set out to better understand it. That research – a survey of 2000+ people, large enough to be statistically relevant across race, gender, age, income, political party, and geography – reveals a number of surprising insights. Americans today define their identities based on a unique perception of their place in the world, which will demand more nuance and personalization in the platforms and products we bring to market; but we have surprisingly common priorities, needs and concerns across nearly every age group, race and gender. The research also confirmed our belief that a diverse cross-section of founders who understand first-hand the challenges and opportunities in our polycultural future will have a competitive advantage in arenas that still need transformation: health, education, financial security, workforce support and climate safety. Thrilled to be on this journey with my partner of more than decade, Nisha Dua, plus the stellar BBGV team: Claire Biernacki, Carol Magalhães Isaacs, Drew Silverman Fennessy, Addison B. Marsh, Jr. If you know a founder transforming the way we live in one of these categories, send them our way. Thanks Leena Rao for the coverage on Business Insider! https://lnkd.in/eRb5Vv3R

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Prime Coalition has long taken a different tack to climate finance compared to its for-profit brethren. It makes the usual venture-style investments in startups through Azolla Ventures and also helps philanthropists direct their money to climate-related projects that it deems high impact. Trellis Climate follows the latter model with a focus on middle stages, where capital has grown scarce. #climatetech #climateVC #climatefinance

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Not all of the investments that Kindred Capital VC makes can be a 13 year sourcing process.... but... this is one of those very fortunate moments in which a relationship that started over a decade ago in the Bay Area where the brilliant A-H. Hleileh and I overlapped has now turned into an incredibly exciting opportunity for Kindred to lead his and Ron Holifield's first institutional round at Civic Marketplace. We believe: 1. Local government procurement is one of the most underserved areas in technology today, and has failed to keep pace with the private sector. They deserve better. 2. This is a huge opportunity, with US local governments spending alone amounting to over $1.5 trillion in annual spend, which is only going in one direction... 3. As the brilliant Kip Harkness shared with me in our diligence phase, "this industry moves at the speed of trust." And this is a unique founding team with A-H. Hleileh and Ron Holifield at the helm who bring together two critical ingredients: 1) decades of trust-building within this domain, and 2) a team who can build beautiful and scalable technology platforms. Onwards!! 🚀

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I GIVE BLCK because the future deserves a surge of Black Wealth Transfer events, the future requires Black Fund Managers, and the future needs Black Founders supported by Black investors. We’re raising $100k to keep BLCK VC going. Chip in to something that is shifting the odds in our favor with capital management. #BVI #BVIMAFIA #BVI2 #GIVEBLCK

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💰Equity ownership is a critical factor for startups in attracting investors and fostering growth, especially during early-stage fundraising. 💬 As Adrian Ntwatwa, co-host of the Full Scale Podcast, emphasizes, it’s all about “the promise.” In the tech world, early-stage investments can yield significant returns, with data showing that startups receiving seed funding have a significantly higher chance of scaling successfully. 🔔𝐓𝐮𝐫𝐧 𝐨𝐧 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬! 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐒𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐞 𝐏𝐨𝐝𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐨𝐧 𝐓𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝟏𝟑𝐭𝐡 𝐀𝐮𝐠𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒, 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐞𝐩𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐝𝐞 𝐚𝐭 𝟏𝟎:𝟎𝟎 𝐚𝐦. 🎙️The new season delves deep into these insights, offering invaluable advice for entrepreneurs and investors alike. ✅Subscribe to our podcast and tune in to our upcoming episodes where we explore more about equity ownership, fundraising strategies, and the latest trends in the startup ecosystem. 🔗Stay ahead in the game… subscribe to The Full Scale Podcast on all our platforms! #Startups #EquityOwnership #Fundraising #Entrepreneurship #FullScalePodcast

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Calling Founders: My friends Khari Austin-Rawls and Sydney Robertson over at Harvard Business School just opened applications for the Black New Venture Competition (BNVC)! BNVC is dedicated to connecting promising early-stage Black founders with the resources needed to transform their ventures into thriving businesses. Winners will receive over $200K in non-dilutive funding, along with access to an incredible network of mentors and investors.   Applications close on Monday, November 11th, 2024, at 11:59 PM ET.   Who Should Apply? They encourage applications from Black founders or startups with Black co-founders whose ventures:   - Have a proven minimum viable product (MVP) - Are in the early stages (Pre-seed – Seed) - Have been operating for less than 5 years - Have raised less than $500K in funding - Have not previously received funding from competition sponsors   What Winners Receive:   1. Community & Engagement: Access to a strong network of BNVC alumni, along with tactical resources to drive startup success. 2. Access to Investors: Private networking events with angel investors and VC sponsors. 3. VC Mentorship & HBS Resources: New this year! Semifinalists will receive mentorship from venture capitalists and educational programming from HBS faculty.   Learn more and start your application at  https://lnkd.in/eQ5RWwDN  

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Throughout the year, Buyouts gathers intel about the most talked about emerging funds in the market from our networks of LPs and fundraisers. Emerging managers, including first-timers, remain of interest even in the tough fundraising markets. In a Probitas Partners survey last year, 75% of 69 institutional investor respondents said they were interested in exploring new firm spin-outs. Only 2% of respondents had no interest in first-time funds. The updated list includes around 45 names of funds in market that have gotten the attention of investors, including Otro Capital, Iron Path Capital, 5th Line Capital Century House Partners, Dynasty Equity, Citation Capital, Broad Sky Partners, Allied Industrial Partners, and Highland Rim Capital. #Venturecapitalists #Emergingfunds #EmergingManagers #Limitedpartners #Generalpartners #Investments #fundraising #Newfunds #Buyouts #LPs #GPs #VCs #Funds

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Social value: A revival in philanthropy? 🤔 Great speaking on a panel at the Footprint+ conference to discuss & debate how we can better connect developers with VISABLE social impact! A few key themes that came from the convo: 📈How do we actually measure social value? The ‘E’ in ESG has a more defined measurement but what about the ‘S’? If we can’t fully measure it, we can’t track it. Thoughts? 🎯 How do we better facilitate direct tie ups between developers and local charities? (Southwark charities is a stellar example of this) 💡How do we look at social impact and business performance as not mutually exclusive? We’re seeing more and more signs that a business that stands for something and gives back can actually enhance its bottom line. Thanks to my fellow panelist’s for a great session! Chris Bowie-Hill @Chris Wilson of Southwark Charities and @Juraj Marko of JTRE #proptech #ESG #impact #hospitality #realestate #footprint

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On this week’s episode of Silicon Valley Impact, we have four remarkable women discussing Femtech, startups, leadership, and forging strategic alliances. Joining us in the studio are Mariane Bekker, Nola E. Masterson, Ariel Watson, and Shagun Maheshwari. Nola is the lead investor of the Portfolia Femtech Fund and a seasoned board member for public, nonprofits companies. With 25+ years of experience, she has served on audit, compensation, and nominating/governance committees, playing a pivotal role in guiding companies through IPOs and startup growth. As Co-chair Emeritus of the Women Corporate Directors Northern California Chapter, Nola has global experience as an investor, entrepreneur, and executive in sales and marketing for scientific products, ranging from diagnostics to genetic analysis tools. Known for her ability to simplify complex scientific concepts for investors and analysts, she brings deep insights into synthetic biology and human nature, paired with a strong sense of market trends and social needs. Shagun is the Founder and CEO of Papaya, a company dedicated to women's health and sustainability. A mechanical engineer from Duke University, Shagun has a passion for solving complex problems. Before launching Papaya, she worked at Applied Materials in semiconductor manufacturing, Mojo Vision in AR contact lens development, and a stealth-mode biotech startup focused on wearable biomarker monitoring. Ariel is the Founder & CEO of Red Tent PMDD, and a passionate advocate for mental health. She is dedicated to designing digital products that prioritize user well-being while balancing business goals. Currently, Ariel is developing the first fully comprehensive management tool for PMDD, a hormonal mood disorder affecting over 60 million women, which often takes up to 12 years to diagnose due to limited research. Her mission is to empower women by shortening diagnosis timelines, improving PMDD management, closing the gender research gap, and providing valuable data to support further research.. This and much more on Silicon Valley Impact, KPCR 92.9FM in Los Gatos; and 101.9FM in Santa Cruz Tuesdays at 3pm! Not in the South Bay or Santa Cruz, you can listen online at: https://kpcr.org/ Follow us on Spotify and listen to all our episodes at: https://lnkd.in/gAi9hz-U Disclaimer: The opinions expressed by the host and guests on Silicon Valley Impact are for entertainment purposes only and should not be considered financial advice or solicitation. Listeners are encouraged to consult with a professional before making any financial or business decisions. Katherine Sakovich Saki Oshima Eva Galant Faz Bashi Hadas Ziso Piotr Zając Svetlana Kazantseva Silvia Damen, MBA Malgorzata Jaremko, PhD, FACMG, FACB, MBA, MSc, Eng Robin Farmanfarmaian Ira Evdokimova Kristen Carbone Hayley McLaughlin Bridgette L. Smith 🦋 Jennifer Ames Hoskins

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🌡 "Children born in North Africa and West Africa in 2020, under a 1.5°C warming scenario, will be exposed to 4–6 times more heatwaves in their lifetimes compared to people born in 1960" Global Center on Adaptation This is a growing threat for the continent, and the opportunity for startup founders to tackle a massive problem that requires a mix of "tech and touch". ❄ For instance, the air conditioner is almost 100 years old, but it hasn't evolved much. It works pretty much the same way, it's often unaffordable and by the way, it represents around 10% of the global electricity consumption. And while there are about 1.5B AC units worldwide, it's expected to be 3x more by 2050! If you are a startup founder building a solution in Africa aimed at making people more resilient to heatwaves, we at Catalyst Fund would love to talk to you and possibly fund you. Just drop me a note with your pitch deck 👉 [email protected]

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In a recent episode of H/L Ventures' For Starters, we pointed out that 70% of unicorns have at least one founder from an underrepresented group. As we said then, it highlights how having diverse viewpoints involved can spark innovation and growth. Despite this, new research shows a major funding gap for diverse women and minorities. Racially diverse, all-female startup founding teams with minorities spent the longest time fundraising in 2023 at an average of 25 weeks, a 67% increase from 2022. By comparison, all-male teams secured more funding and at a faster pace. What can be done to address this gap? #Investing #Diversity #Startups

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