Nathan Beckord

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!

1

1 Comment

Sonoma, Ca - Women in CVC Summit! 65 women in CVC gathered together for real, honest conversations about the challenges and complexities in CVC investing versus traditional venture capital. CVCs face challenges such as aligning the interests and expectations of the corporation and the startup, managing the relationship and communication between the two parties, and balancing the trade-offs between strategic and financial returns. But what's truly inspiring is the impact women are having in this space! Female-founded companies exit faster but make up a smaller share of total exit activity. CVCs participated in 17.5% of all female-founder deals in 2023, while more CVC firms have majority female checkwriter representation. Furthermore, female founders closed a record of 22.8% of total VC funds in 2023. We are thrilled to support this vibrant community of women alongside our friends and partners, Counterpart Ventures. Tanvi Narain and Abbie Wolf, congrats on curating such an impactful event. Special thanks to Annemarie Donegan from PitchBook for the data and research she shared with the group. The phenomenal lineup of speakers from corporate and traditional venture capital funds included: ​Amy Daniels Burr, President, JetBlue Ventures Danielle D'Agostaro, Partner, WVV Capital Vivien Ho, Partner, Pear VC Betty Lee (Lee) Bryant, Principal, Woven Capital, Toyota's Growth Fund Savannah Greene, Principal, Workday Ventures Heather Reginelli, Ventures Manager, State Farm Ventures Marie-Christine Razaire, Principal, Northwestern Mutual Future Ventures Beth Devin, Scout, Investor & Advisor, HearstLab Priya Saiprasad, Co-Founder and General Partner, Touring Capital Agustina Sartori, Founding Managing Director, Prisma Ventures #WomeninBuisness #VentureCapital #CVC #CorporateVentureCapital #WomeninLeadership TriNet Abbie Wolf Tanvi Narain Patrick Eggen David Haraburda Kim Thomas Matt Mahoney Samantha Santaniello-Lawrence

80

5 Comments

I’m thrilled to be announcing that Notion Capital is leading the $15m Series A investment in Cogna today. In the industry, we like to think that software has been eating the world. But when you look at the data a better description would be more of a nibble. Depending on what source you look at the software industry represents between 5-8% of global GDP. Contrast that with the services industry that represents between 60-70% of GDP and worth around $25 trillion on a global basis. Most services have been out of reach for the software industry. They have either been too complex or too specialized for off the shelf software to access in any economically viable way. But that’s beginnning to change with GenAI leading to the emergence of ‘service as a software.’ Cogna is at the forefront of this opportunity - building precision software at scale and delivering huge productivity gains for traditional industries. We know Ben Peters & Lars Mennen well having backed their previous company Five AI that was acquired by Bosch in 2022. And we’re very excited to be backing them again together with Hoxton Ventures & Chalfen Ventures Read my full blog post on why we invested here. Radu Bozga Ben Peters Lars Mennen Bryan G. Mike Chalfen Hussein Kanji Kirsten Connell https://lnkd.in/eh8mhcJb

201

13 Comments

Meet MobilityVC. Back when we started this organization, the transportation landscape looked a tad bit different. But as we grew, and got to better know our LPs, portfolio companies, and the ecosystem at large, we saw they kept coming back for advice on growth, or market analysis, or access to new forms of capital. And so we’ve spent the past few years building out a truly tremendous team that can solve complex problems in the worlds of mobility, automotive and energy. That’s why I’m pleased to reintroduce this amazing organization as MobilityVC, which better captures our expanded capabilities and commitments to our partners. We offer advisory services to private and publicly traded companies – providing targeted transaction support for direct investments, acquisitions, technology licensing and product commercialization. This includes sourcing, due diligence, negotiation, integration and fundraising support. We’ve been successfully running a corporate venture capital program – sources startups, performs diligence and runs POCs on behalf of major OEMs. We have grown our funding capabilities to include SPVs & growth stage capital –  supporting companies as they scale, by establishing dedicated investment vehicles, allowing our LPs additional choice and transparency in their investments. And of course we still proudly invest in early stage investments – MobilityFund II is actively deploying capital into disruptive, seed and pre-seed investments across the mobility and automotive landscape, having just reached its second close milestone thanks to new partners like Jæger Group. I’ve got much more to share on this in the coming weeks and months, but I’m also eager to speak with you on a one-to-one basis. If you’ve got a thorny problem in the world of mobility, we’d love to explore how we can solve it together and accelerate your growth.

138

8 Comments

What does the future hold? 🤔 According to top VC Vinod Khosla, it's looking optimistic! In a recent article, Vinod Khosla at Khosla Ventures shared his views on our plausible futures in 2035-2049, and it's a nice counterbalance against the too-pessimistic doom thinking out there. ⚡ Khosla believes that entrepreneurs, with passion for a vision, invent the future they want. And if we allow it to happen, abundant, awesome, technology-based, “possible tomorrows” are likely ⚡ ----------------------- Are you interested in building the future with/ for your company? Take the first step here 📆 https://lnkd.in/e6kjakzF Let's make the future happen! 🚀 #Future #Venturing #Innovation #Entrepreneurship #Technology #Possibilities

12

3 Comments

🛰 The Seraphim Space Index Q1 2024 is live 🛰 🌌 Since 2017, we have been producing the Seraphim Space quarterly VC investment Index , which allows us to share our unique access to knowledge and data about investing in space technology. This data is now available in an easy-to-use interactive format, allowing you to look back and track growth and trends from 2017 to today. View dashboard: https://lnkd.in/exvPuBkY Some highlights from the last quarter: 🤑 In Q1 2024, the space sector maintained its upward trajectory, with a notable $2.4 billion invested, marking a steady increase from Q4 2023’s $2.1 billion. This is part of a larger trend of $7.2 billion invested over the trailing twelve months to Q1 2024, compared to $6.6 billion in the preceding period. 🌕 Lunar Landers: Three attempts were made, with two successful landings! JAXA: Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's SLIM made Japan the fifth country to land on the moon. NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration's CLPS-funded missions by Astrobotic and Intuitive Machines. Despite some tipping over post-landing, these missions mark significant progress. 🚀 SpaceX Starship Launch: March's launch showcased remarkable progress. With all 33 Raptor engines firing, "hot staging" completed, and the upper stage reaching suborbital orbit, SpaceX and NASA hailed it a success. Though the landing burn was unsuccessful, it is paving the way for future achievements. 📡 Direct-to-Cell: SpaceX initiated text messaging via Starlink satellites in January, but expansion faces challenges due to FCC spectrum denial. Meanwhile, AST received a strategic investment, and Skylo raised $37m, demonstrating growing interest in broadband coverage. 🛰️ Varda Earth Return: Varda Space Industries's successful capsule return in February, in collaboration with Rocket Lab, marked a significant milestone. Additionally, Varda's space crystallisation results of Ritanovir hold promise for drug research. 🇨🇳 China's Rising Influence: China's space endeavours continue to expand, with notable advancements in both public and private sectors. Landspace's successful rocket return and Shanghai Spacecom's massive funding highlight China's growing significance. 🛡️ Starshield: SpaceX's $1.8bn contract with the NRO for Earth Observation satellites signifies a shift in focus towards EO capabilities, leveraging the Starlink platform for enhanced satellite capabilities. 🛰️ SPAC Troubles: Astra and Momentus face financial challenges, with Astra opting for a private takeover. Terran Orbital Corporation received a take-private offer from a major shareholder, Lockheed Martin. Momentus warned shareholders it was running out of money but subsequently announced a registered direct offering (RDO) of $4m from an institutional investor.

10

3 Comments

Avoiding bloody water (lots of competition) might be the most high leverage way to engineer success…here’s our blue ocean strategy: Avoid venture backed players (who can spend on unsustainable growth practices) by targeting niche industry verticals Avoid private equity buyers (who drive up valuations via auctions) by staying under $3M ARR What else can be layered in to avoid other dimensions of competition? #microsaas #saasgrowth #acquisitionentrepreneur

7

2 Comments

It was an honour to unveil Molten Ventures’ short film, 2054, at the London Stock Exchange this morning as Molten Ventures’ new CEO.   This film, created using 14 separate generative AI applications, formed the core of the theme for this year’s CEO summit: “what if you succeed?”. A question which we should ask ourselves every day – and urge every entrepreneur and investor to do the same.   By diving thirty years ahead into a fictional future, we can get a glimpse of what may be possible if the capital, support, expertise and energy is injected into businesses and ideas at the right time. Something that we’ve been doing at Molten Ventures for many years.   We have already built a portfolio of Europe’s most forward-thinking companies who have developed technology that changes lives, now.   You can find out more about the story behind the film, including films made by our portfolio companies here: https://lnkd.in/ezNbeEPu

67

6 Comments

You can now see news on when a fund has raised on shipshape.vc. Something we have been really excited about for a while. This helps you see: 💰 is a fund likely to have dry powder ⏳️ where a fund is likely to be in their deployment lifecycle* 🕳 whether their absence of deployment (investment) activity might be due to not having raised a fund recently 📰 check the original news source When you add this to existing features like seeing recent deployments, and where we have seen evidence the fund can lead rounds, we think this can save a lot of time in investor discovery/research. Caveats: * this won't apply/help with evergreen funds like Augmentum Fintech - who have a different structure (thanks Georgie Hazell Kivell for the early note on this) - our data coverage is improving but not perfect. The absence of evidence should not be interpreted as evidence of absence - but you can check the evidence we have from the original source. thoughts/feedback welcomed as always #capitalraising #startups #fundraising #founders #venturecapital #investors #vc #vcfunding #technology #startup #tech

56

9 Comments

Just finished reading "The Next Giant Leap" by Space Capital - a pioneering VC investing in the emerging Space Economy. The report speaks to how SpaceX’s Starship is more than just the most powerful rocket ever built—it is poised to reshape the global space economy in profound ways. With its immense payload capacity, reusable design, and lower cost per launch, Starship will unlock entirely new industries and transform existing business models. But how should industries and businesses evolve to align with this paradigm shift? 📈 Rethinking Business Strategies & Supply Chains - For businesses, Starship represents an era of mass-production over precision engineering. This means moving away from the focus on mass efficiency toward cost-effective, redundant, and scalable production. - In terms of supply chains, this opens opportunities for new players in manufacturing, materials, and space components. The demand for off-the-shelf parts and non-aerospace suppliers will rise dramatically. 💡 New Use Cases & Opportunities   The opportunities Starship unlocks go beyond launching satellites. - In-space manufacturing of high-value products like pharmaceuticals and advanced materials that cannot be created on Earth. - Mega-constellations of satellites for global broadband, expanding on what Starlink has already begun. - In-orbit assembly and servicing, allowing for larger space structures like telescopes or even habitats to be built in orbit, radically reducing costs. - Lunar infrastructure and resource extraction will become more viable, paving the way for sustainable human presence on the Moon and, eventually, Mars. 📊 What Should Businesses Do Now?   1. Embrace Redundancy & Scale – Instead of focusing on one-off, high-cost solutions, businesses should embrace redundancy and mass production.    2. Simplify Design – With Starship’s payload capacity, there is less pressure to optimize for mass efficiency. Simplified, scalable designs will allow for faster production and iteration cycles, akin to how SpaceX rapidly tests and evolves Starship itself. 3. Develop Strategic Partnerships – Collaborating with forward-thinking space startups, suppliers, and even non-aerospace sectors will be essential to capitalize on the opportunities Starship provides. 🌌 A New Era of Innovation   Starship will democratize access to space, lowering the barriers for businesses to create and scale. The next decade will witness breakthroughs in scientific exploration, energy production, and in-space transportation that we can only begin to imagine today. #SpaceEconomy #Starship #Innovation #SupplyChain #Manufacturing #SpaceTech #Entrepreneurship #FutureOfSpace https://lnkd.in/gNdbwXdq

8

2 Comments

Autonomous Vehicle (AV) funding is surging, according to PitchBook with Q2 2024 seeing $2.9 billion invested in AV startups - the highest since Q3 2021. While self-driving cars grab headlines, innovative startups are finding unique applications beyond passenger vehicles. Key developments: - Supply chain optimization: Outrider is revolutionizing yard operations with autonomous electric vehicles, addressing a $60 billion market. - Specialized transport: Pyka's autonomous planes for cargo and Gatik's local distribution trucks are gaining traction. - Safety & efficiency: Evitado Technologies automates airside operations, mitigating airport collision risks. Of course, more established companies such as Lyft & Uber are working on AV rideshare integration via partnerships with Waymo, BYD, Zoox, and others. The AV sector is focusing on gradual integration and specific use cases. While concerns about job displacement exist, proponents argue that automation could shift human capital to higher-value roles. What those roles are remains to be seen. As the AV landscape evolves, it's clear that the future of transportation extends far beyond just self-driving cars on city streets. Check out the full article by Nadine Manske here: https://lnkd.in/g3HJXZHc? And access the PitchBook Mobility Tech Report here: https://lnkd.in/g4_xP5pr #VentureCapital #AutonomousDriving #FrontierTech #FutureMobility

13

2 Comments

Founder mode? "Dangerous"! Fund raising? "Waste of time"! OKRs? "BS"! Plaid's CEO and co-founder Zachary Perret shares some unconventional opinions in this episode of The Twenty Minute VC with Harry Stebbings. Here are our main takeaways 👇 ✉️ Subscribe to our newsletter for more podcast insights! (links in comments) #entrepreneurship #startups #business #founders

17

1 Comment

To all #founders and #entrepreneurs out there, our intro meetings are conversational and easy going. Feel free to message me to setup a call. Learn what Pioneera Ventures can do for you!

22

Flying feels routine after decades, but here’s what keeps it meaningful. For me, flying an airplane is kind of like driving a car. It’s a tool to get to and from work, especially in fighter aviation where the mission is paramount. The real enjoyment, though, comes from how flying closes the gap between places and helps create memorable experiences. After decades of flying, it’s still something I enjoy. Over time, even the most extraordinary skills can start to feel routine. But what matters is how those skills open up freedom and opportunities. Flying may feel like second nature now, but the value isn’t in the act itself, it’s in the experiences, connections, and memories it allows me to create. That’s what keeps it meaningful, no matter how many times I’ve done it.

5

Earlier this year, we surveyed our fellow Los Angeles-based GPs to get a pulse check on the LA venture ecosystem. Here’s what we found: 💗 Deal flow is healthy, and most LA venture investors (68%) are seeing the same or more deal flow YoY. ✈ LA investors are spending time in a variety of markets, with NYC, Austin, and SF following closely on LA’s heels. 🔍 Innovation is concentrated in AI and machine learning, space, and commerce. 💸 Funding is happening, but it’s barbell-shaped, with deals concentrated at the early and late stages. Funding post-Series A has been challenging. 🚩 LA is differentiated, but not without its challenges. Key difficulties include not attracting enough AI talent (despite having the largest number of engineers graduating from our region over any other in the United States); talent relocated to more tax-friendly or less expensive locations; and the great SoCal / NoCal divide 🙏 Thank you to all our many respondents! I’m so glad to be part of a venture ecosystem that includes great minds like Anna Barber, Brent Murri, W. Christine Choi, Sarah Tomolonius, Rob Smith, Win Chevapravatdumrong, John Tabis, Jill Royster, Jesse Draper, Ashley Balla, Britt Danneman, Tram Lai, Carmen Palafox, Elaine Russell, Deborah Benton Amanda Schutzbank, Brian Lee, Petra Griffith, Minnie Ingersoll, Shamin Walsh, Gabe Greenbaum...wow, this list could go on forever...plus too many other exceptional humans to name. You know who you are! Explore our findings more deeply with our survey dashboard: https://bit.ly/3JsaLaB

84

5 Comments

Excited to lead a $5M Seed in Daytona, building powerful and flexible development environments for individuals (open-source, https://lnkd.in/gy_u7j-m) and enterprise teams. Establishing a uniform computing environment is challenging, everything from missing or invalid env variables to inconsistent database states to 3rd party integration can break your development environment. Tack on multiple projects per developer and many developers per org, the problem becomes a nightmare for the developer and internal platform team tasked with fixing it. Daytona enables devs to spin up an env in the cloud while using their favorite IDEs (VS Code, JetBrian) on their local machine. Companies can also host the development env however they like: public cloud, private cloud or on-prem. Leading tech companies like Meta, GitHub and Spotify have moved to cloud development environments, and we believe Daytona can democratize the practice for individuals and teams. We are thrilled to jump on this journey with cofounders Ivan Burazin, Vedran Jukic, Goran Draganić. They have been tireless advocates for developer experience, dating 10+ years ago to their prior startup Codeanywhere, one of the first web IDEs. Check out our blog and interview with the founders to learn more, they’re hiring! https://lnkd.in/gpn36TXt #DeveloperTools #OpenSource #DevExperience

37

1 Comment

Valuation Pitfalls in Early-Stage Funding: How to Avoid Overpaying in Preseed, Seed, And Series A Rounds by Frederik Today for Startup Stash https://lnkd.in/dHu_cvAx #valuation #pitfalls #earlystage #funding

2