Jamie Bianchini

🌟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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So, my last post about tools and vendors blew up! The CMO of Gusto reacted and commented (kudos to the big companies that care about small businesses) and the post itself skyrocketed to 10k+ views. Just last week a fellow UCLA Anderson School of Management alumna randomly asked about platforms/systems business owners use. So, I thought it's about time to do a Part 2. Here we go: 1. KnowBe4 - great platform for security training at scale. Phishing tests, educational videos, reporting, etc. A bit weird pricing model when you use multiple products from them. For example, you need to align billing cycles and can't just add a solution off-cycle. 2. Mentimeter - a tiny tool we use at Distillery for company-wide quarterly All-Hands. Excels in collecting on-the-fly feedback on the presentation, gathering questions, and live reactions. Great example of the right tool for the job. 3. 1Password - simply saves time during rotations and increases security. Tell me if you NEVER reused your password? (and be honest about it :) ) 4. TargetRecruit - replacing the outgoing Bullhorn. I'm not saying anything bad about the latter, but our source of truth is Salesforce (aka necessary evil), and TargetRecruit is simply better integrated. 5.-ish One question - if your team uses LinkedIn Recruiter - how happy are your recruiters? Are we in the monopoly market with no available alternative?

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September is a crazy month for #climatetech #FOAK themed events. Some I'd like to shout out from the first half: ✅ A FOAK-themed dinner Tim Franklin-Hensler, Charlie Nelson, Dev Motiram, and I hosted, sponsored by Jordan Kellerman (Peachtree Group) and Robert Sarfatis (Polsinelli) during the inaugural #HoustonClimateWeek ✅ A FOAK panel at the Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship's Energy Tech Venture Forum, also during HCW, moderated by Tim Franklin-Hensler with panelists Charlie Nelson, Laureen Meroueh, PhD, Mac Hatch, and Janice Tran. Topics included adapting rapidly to delays in timing, managing cost runovers, balancing the myriad of KPIs for FOAK, learning to be smarter about how to talk to customers, and how market uncertainty can dramatically affect FOAK projects ✅ A 4-hour "pilotathon" hosted by the Energy Tech Nexus, where different startups got to pitch their pilots. SUCH a good idea, Jason Ethier, Nada Ahmed, Juliana Garaizar, and the rest of the ETN team! ✅ A FOAK panel during Decarb Connect's TechInvest that I got to moderate with panelists Claude Vachet, Jeff Johnson, Francis O'Sullivan, and David Yeh. Topics included using corporate and DOE dollars in FOAK deals, encouraging communication between different investor classes, the 10,000 hours of experience needed to be a good developer, educating companies on project development, and the need for everyone across the climate universe to stretch their roles & take a bit more risk ✅ A generally FOAK-themed set of talks at Decarb TechInvest, expertly curated by Alex Cameron and her team, which included (among others): - a fascinating fireside chat with Rob Day and Matt Lucas moderated by Wim Reyntiens that touched on how critical it is to have accurate cost forecasting, how ROFRs can block additional access to capital, evaluating offtake risk beyond just the ideal, the folly of up rounds for the sake of up rounds, and why one shouldn't obsess over scale up factors and number of operating hours - a talk by Chris Creed that outlined the LPO's strategy around FOAK deployment loans - a FOAK success panel moderated by Kerri Fox that included Leah Ellis, Martin Keighley, and Shreya Dave, which talked about using a carbon price to incentivize corporate action, choosing the right cooperative FOAK partner, creating new offtake agreements in markets that haven't had traditional offtake (like cement<>concrete or CDR), and using job growth to incentivize growth vs. decarbonization. AND ⭐TOMORROW⭐ is the second annual Cleantech Day at Denver Startup Week hosted by Colorado Cleantech. I'm moderating a panel on FOAK successes in Colorado with Eric Davis, Johanna O., Carling Spelhaug, and Kimberly Purdy. Shoutout to Ken Carlson, Laura Hickernell, Joseph P., and Jack Fritzinger for their help & hard work. REGISTER BELOW!!

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How Hawaiian Farms Helped A Protein Bar Company Grow Revenue. Brad Charron, the CEO of Aloha protein products, faced a big problem: How could he develop a new, unique product for his protein bar company that stood out in the crowded market? He wanted to create something that was not only delicious but also sustainable and ethically sourced. His journey for inspiration led him to Hawaii, where he wanted to use the rich, volcanic soil to grow ingredients for his company’s new product. Finding the right ingredients and suppliers was not easy. Did you know that there’s a lot of phony business out there? Brad quickly learned that to succeed in Hawaii, he needed to build trust with local farmers. It took time and effort to prove Aloha’s commitment to sustainability and ethical sourcing. The solution was found in the fertile lands of Hawaii. Brad partnered with local farmers to create the Kona bar, using 100% Kona coffee, coconuts, and macadamia nuts. The most unique ingredient is Ponova oil, made from pongamia trees. This oil is a game-changer, as it’s deforestation-free and improves the product's taste and texture. By focusing on sustainability, Brad's company created a unique product that resonated with customers and boosted sales. My Big Takeaway: What can CEOs learn from Brad’s experience? Having a solid sales system and strategy is crucial. Building relationships with suppliers and committing to sustainability can differentiate your product and increase revenue. The importance of ethical sourcing and sustainability cannot be ignored in today’s market. A strong sales system that values these principles will not only help you grow your business but also make a positive impact on the world. Stay Hungry. Stay Humble. Che Brown www.CEOSalesHuddle.com Connect with me: @IamCheBrown #CEOSalesHuddle #CEOSalesDashboard #CEOMasteryNetwork

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An interesting article below, that demonstrates out how San Diego is punching above its weight.  And how Connect's strategy and execution over time, contintues to be central to that success. The article describes the current state of the market in Seattle.  (And i love Seattle.) It's a market that we tend to track with relative to venture fundings.  They used to kick our butts, we outraised them each of the last three years.  This despite the fact they have 3x as many funds there, and 9x the amount of resident capital there. (per pitchbook) Some key takeaways:  * They continue to compare themselves to SIlicon Valley. Instead, we leverage our proximity. *They whine there's not enough local investors (see note above - they have more than us). We bring over 200 VCs to SD annually! * They say founders are not connected with one another. We bring CEOs together regularly, in a variety of ways - private dinners and through our Springboard program. * They say they need to elevate their image on a national & international stage. Why we created and continue to build Five.Ten.Thirty (aka Inno Day).  * And the last paragraph - they need to concentrate on making their region a great place to live. Our mantra: "It's about Better, not Bigger." (See XEO, TL Fund). THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR SUPPORT. WE ARE ON A MISSION TOGETHER!!!  (Comments, whining, suggestions on SD always welcome.) https://lnkd.in/g6Rq_f2Y

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118 VCs (one hundred eighteen!) are gathering in San Diego next week - to meet with 30 SD startups. But it's so MUCH bigger than just those 30 co's. It brings VCs back - when they see quality companies. It helps those who are next-in-line and adjacent. It enables us to send deal flow all year 'round. It attracts talent and other companies. It inspires entrepreneurship. Connect is working for SD. Together, we're building the best damn innovation ecosystem on the planet. Year over year. Five.Ten.Thirty.

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In a startup's early days, founders often skip detailed compensation planning, instead choosing round numbers and moving on. This is an admirable sentiment. But over the long term, founder compensation design can matter a lot to the company, so it's worth taking some time to think this through. Here are some benchmarks and suggestions for founder compensation across: 1. Salary 2. Equity Split 3. Vesting https://lnkd.in/gcDXehXx

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Today's Boring Biz (#92): Outdoor Adventures Business - $1.7M Revenue - $588K Cashflow - Nevada Note: We do not represent this deal, highlighting for informational purposes only for viewers What does the company do? 1. Outdoor Adventures 2. Rafting + Kayaking Rentals 3. Guided River + Hiking tours Investment highlights 1. Includes FF&E valued at $445K 2. Less 1 Hour From Las Vegas 3. Profitable business Investment risks/concerns 1. Seasonal fluctuations in tour demand 2. Local competitive landscape 3. Regulatory + permit regulations #SMB #ETA #finance #Cashflow #investing #search #searchfund #privateequity #microprivateequity #smallbusiness #venturecapital #vc #entrepreneur #business #businessowner #outdoor #adventures #kayaking #rafting #nevada Disclaimer: Hypothetical and illustrative only. Please do your own research (DYOR) or work with tax and legal professionals before making a decision. This video are intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or tax advice, nor should be construed as an offer to sell, a solicitation of an offer to buy, or a recommendation for any security by SMB PE LLC or any third party.

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Boulder, CO has a thriving startup community, with thousands of founders, CEOs, engineers, VCs, and more. Every year, they get together for a huge (free!) week of community and events. It's f'ing unbelievable. One of my biggest takeaways was this... Everyone was dealing with imposter syndrome. And almost nobody wants to talk about it. At every level of business there’s always someone who’s doing better… There’s always someone who’s got more revenue and more profit… There’s always someone who has something you want… And you currently aren’t at that level yet. Which - at worst - paralyzes you because of all the work you see in front of you… Or - at best - inspires you so much that you have no choice but to put in the work to get to the next level. Or more realistic… It’s an emotional roller coaster between those two extremes. Which keeps you moving, while also making you question if you should burn it down some days. I’ve done a TON of mindset work… It’s possible to take these big mental and emotional issues like imposter syndrome, and massively decrease (sometimes eliminating) their impact on you. But even then… When I put myself in a new environment, rubbing shoulders with $100m (or more) entrepreneurs and investors… OUCH - it flares up again, my skin flushes, I feel the adrenaline/cortisol mix moving blood to my extremities in a fight/flight response. Which then makes me feel like more of an imposter... Because “I’m supposed to be the mindset guy who doesn’t deal with this kind of issue, aren’t I?! I must be a fraud! I hope nobody finds out!” If we can come to terms with this fact (again, I know you’ve heard this before)… That every new level has a new set of mindset problems, and business problems… That very new level will demand so much more of you… That every new level will cause you to feel imposter syndrome again… Then we can allow ourselves to be scared shitless sometimes. It’s what you do next that matters most.

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Are you struggling to scale your startup or engage your team effectively? Today, I’m releasing an insightful conversation with StartUpNV VP Madeline Feldman. StartupNV is Nevada's State-wide Business Incubator and StartUp Accelerator, and you won’t want to miss all the nuggets she shares in this discussion from our September Tech Alley livestream. Madeline shares how founders at StartupNV scale their ventures with data-driven methods and strong leadership that helps them scale strategically. We also dive into StartupNV’s AngelNV program, which equips entrepreneurs and leaders to become savvy investors while fueling Nevada’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. Key Highlights: - How to accelerate your business growth with effective training. - The role of strategic thinking and leadership for entrepreneurs. - Creating a more engaged and productive team through enhanced employee experience. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to learn from one of the Nevada’s startup community’s top leaders! Watch the whole conversation on YouTube and subscribe for more leadership insights and actionable strategies. Let’s transform how you lead and scale your business! https://lnkd.in/gm7ZAEkP Comment below: What’s the biggest challenge you’re facing in growing and scaling your business right now? Let’s chat! Onward and Upward! #LeadershipDevelopment #VegasTech #StartupSuccess #StrategicThinking #Entrepreneurship

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Love these high-level takeaways from my due diligence discussion with Cherub today! So many actionable insights for both founders and investors.

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We recently had an opportunity to gather with finance leaders based in Utah, all the way from public company CFOs to finance leaders of fast growing Series A-stage startups. It was a great discussion with a great group. A couple things stood out for me from the discussion: 🤖 A handful of these leaders mentioned that they are starting to see some tangible productivity gains from the AI in their organizations, mainly around developer productivity and getting more done with less. It still felt early, but interesting to hear anecdotes of the promise of AI being realized. ✂️ On behalf of our portfolio companies, we asked what it takes takes to sell software into their organizations given the current economic environment. Their feedback confirmed a lot of what we were hearing from our B2B portfolio companies: ▪️They are looking to consolidate vendors, it's very unlikely (if not impossible) they would approve a net new vendor unless it is replacing another tool/service they can cut from the budget ▪️ROI is extremely important. They are looking for tangible evidence that the tool will drive revenue and/or reduce costs. ▪️The mentality of "everyone gets a seat" is over. They are looking for justification for why certain teams and individuals should get a license. ▪️ They are approving every purchase. Just assume the CFO is a part of the buying committee even if it isn't obvious. Bring the CFO in early to the buying process and arm the internal champion with the ROI case along the way. Really grateful for this group for gathering and sharing their insights!

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As I have more conversations with donors, I don’t always get the exact question but I know people want to hear: What’s the WHY? WHY should I donate to Fifth Star Funds? Why should we invest in your fund? Why should we invest in your company? Why should we buy your product? Why YOU to execute this vision? It’s the question we all have to face. The WHY…. Having the correct answers to these questions when speaking to donors, investors, or LPs is quintessential to receiving funding or not. I am working on making the value proposition as clear and simple as possible each meeting. What is Your Why? #Why #fundraising #philanthropy #venturecapital #lp #donors #valueprop

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📘 Endorsed by Verne Harnish, Founder of Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO) and Author of Scaling Up! I’m honored to share that my new book, Pathways to Private Equity Partnerships, has received a powerful endorsement from none other than Verne Harnish: "If you’re looking for an insider perspective of the dealmaking process and the role of corporate executives in driving successful transactions, I recommend Pathways to Private Equity Partnerships. Patrick Ropella’s new book explains the ‘must haves’ of these deals and offers a strategic approach to drive successful equity investments. Whether you’re an investor who wants to recruit great leaders from the corporate world or an executive looking to partner with a PE firm, you can learn the fastest pathway to success through the lens of Patrick’s extensive career as a super-connector advising senior leaders, companies, and PE firms." Pathways to Private Equity Partnerships is your guide to: ✅ Understanding the key ingredients for successful PE deals ✅ Learning how corporate executives can thrive in the PE world ✅ Uncovering strategies to unlock high-growth opportunities Whether you're an investor, executive, or simply curious about navigating Private Equity, this book offers actionable insights to help you achieve your goals. 📖 Ready to learn more? Order your copy today and take the first step toward mastering the PE partnership journey. https://lnkd.in/g8wt9YGU #PrivateEquity #Leadership #Entrepreneurship #ScalingUp #ExecutiveLeadership #CareerGrowth

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A highlight from the Small Business Expo in SF yesterday: use the "present, past, future" framework when networking to guide your conversation. Present: What are you responsible for in X role today? Past: What inspired you to launch Y company? Future: What are you hoping to accomplish this quarter? I've never seen a conference host a panel on networking for introverts. Given how full the room was, I thought it was a great way to break the ice for many of the small business owners in the room.

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✨ Elevating Consciousness, One Leader at a Time ✨ 🧠 Mental health investors, entrepreneurs, advisors, and advocates: As a proud board member of the California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS), I’m deeply committed to educating current healers and future leaders to create more compassionate, inclusive, and impactful communities. I’m delighted to spotlight an inspiring interview with Kini Chang, LMFT, Chair of the Community Mental Health Program at CIIS. In this piece, Kini highlights the transformative potential of community mental health (CMH) and the vital role it plays in addressing mental health challenges in marginalized communities. Did you know? Community mental health services have been a cornerstone of equitable care since the Community Mental Health Act of 1963. From that shift away from institutionalization to today’s integrated approaches, CMH graduates are now stepping into leadership roles in community-based organizations, bridging gaps in care with empathy and expertise. Mental health is a critical frontier, with 1 in 5 adults in the U.S. experiencing mental illness annually. In a world grappling with rapid societal change, lingering pandemic effects, and a growing mental health crisis, leaders like Kini—and the students she mentors—are essential to shaping a better future. 🔗 Curious to learn more about how CIIS is preparing professionals to drive this change? Check out the full article featuring Kini’s insights—click the link in the comments below! 👏 Well done to S Brock Blomberg Chip B. Goldstein, EdD and the team. #MentalHealth #Leadership #CommunityWellness #CIIS #EducationForImpact #PsychologyMatters #ElevateConsciousness

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Spend five minutes on LinkedIn or Luma or Meetup and you will observe a dramatic growth in new events supporting the region's ever-expanding community of startup founder. At the Venture Mechanics Startup Incubator / Accelerator we alone hold over 200 events a year for early stage founders and investors. Quite candidly, many of the new events that we see popping up like weeds in Seattle are redundant and basic, if they were ever anything more than just another networking event in the guise of a hot topic. A lot of them are just "me too" events, that don't bring anything truly fresh and innovative to the venture community. It's not uncommon to see six or more events and rooftop parties in downtown Seattle in a single night, and we frequently hear from founders that they have no idea which ones they should attend; frustrated that many that they have attended turned out to be of little intrinsic value in return for the time and parking hassles. So with that backdrop, I'm thrilled to share the news of a new group that actually is truly fresh and exciting, that's bringing something completely different to our ecosystem. Court Lorenzini, founder of DocuSign (a $13B enterprise today) is one of the most successful tech founders in Seattle history, and now a prolific venture investor who also believes in giving back. He has created this new organization, FounderNexus, an invitation-only membership organization that serves the community of venture-scale founders. Launching initially in Seattle, the organization has global growth ambitions. Participants are expected to fill out an application and screening test to assure a top quality experience. The more previous startups under your belt, the better. I'm also thrilled to announce that Court will be the keynote speaker at our upcoming Venture Saturday event on September 7th (https://lnkd.in/gGc7GgGa). If you want to learn more about FounderNEXUS from Court himself, be sure not to miss his address at 10am on the 7th. For now, check out the FounderNexus website.

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I have a podcast. If you’re into that sort of thing. It’s not good. But it is consistent. Every week. Wherever you listen to podcasts that are actually good. #podcast #pdx #portland #startups https://lnkd.in/g3gAhurv

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