Stéphane E. Fouché, CSPO/CSM

🚀 AlleyCorp Closes $250M Fund to Fuel Tech Innovation in NYC and Beyond🗽 🌟 Founded by NYC internet entrepreneur Kevin Ryan, AlleyCorp incubates and invests in transformative companies across diverse verticals including Diversified Technology, Healthcare, Robotics, and Impact. 💡💰 🤝 The fund, backed by a select group of LPs, supports AlleyCorp's mission to originate ideas, hire teams, provide initial funding, and maintain integral leadership throughout the company’s lifecycle. 🌱🔍 💼 With about 20–30 new investments and 5–8 incubations per year, AlleyCorp has a track record of nurturing early-stage tech pioneers. 📈🌐 🦄 Notable investments include MongoDB (NASDAQ: MDB), Business Insider, Gilt Groupe, Zola, and Nomad Health, shaping the landscape of tech innovation in NYC. 🌆🌟 🔬 AlleyCorp also announces the incubation of Radical AI, pioneering AI-driven materials design, and Conduce Health, revolutionizing access to personalized healthcare specialists. 💻🏥 ✅ 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 #VentureCapital #TechInnovation #NYCTech #StartupInvestment #Incubation #AlleyCorp #ImpactInvesting #HealthTech #AI #Robotics #DiversifiedTechnology #InvestmentStrategy

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🌟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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🚀 The latest cheat sheet for hacking your Techstars Miami application for fall 2024 just dropped! In the comments, I put the link to Google Docs that you can duplicate and share with your co-founders and mentors before you submit it on May 22! #techstars #givefirst #miamitechmonth #miamitech

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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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Amazing news for all startup founders out there! If you're struggling to validate your idea, build your MVP, or get traction early on, this opportunity is for you. Pre-seed accelerators can provide the capital and support needed to get your product to market, and Tré Baker has shared an amazing opportunity to access these resources. As a fellow early-stage founder, I know how difficult it can be to secure funding, which is the stage where many startups unfortunately fail. By providing underrepresented founders with the resources they need, these accelerators can help ensure higher returns for everyone involved. Don't miss out on this chance to take your startup to the next level! #startupfounders #preseedaccelerators #earlystagefounders #funding #resources

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#AfroTech is here - check out Robert Franklin III on this dynamic panel on what you need to know now about crypto and digital assets. Would be a great topic to sponsor!

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Over the past year, AI has already become far more than a business tool; in the coming years, it has the potential to touch so many aspects of society. What does a responsible AI future look like for a city as distinct as New Orleans? I dive into this question, drawing on new data from local startups, in my latest piece on the Startup NOLA blog: "Like the startups that shaped the early internet, today’s AI ventures wield tools that aren’t inherently good or evil, but their use will have moral consequences. AI’s potential to impact both business and society means we all – not just technologists – should approach these innovations thoughtfully. We must move beyond asking 'Could we?' to consider 'Should we?' and, vitally, 'How should we?' As New Orleans adopts (and adapts to) AI, it’s crucial to weigh both economic benefits and broader societal implications. The business community of New Orleans is now contending with AI in ways that will have lasting consequences. As we do so, we should balance opportunities and challenges while leveraging the strengths of our unique ecosystem. By focusing on practical, industry-specific AI applications and fostering collaboration, we can forge our own path. Our determination and creativity position us to adapt and thrive, maintaining our distinctive culture and character, while capitalizing on new technologies to benefit our businesses and community in the years ahead."

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Thanks for another informative post, Daniel. Urgent Action Needed: Please add your your name to this letter before 5pm ET Today! 🔗https://lnkd.in/grrzAeWG With the dramatic decline in funding to Black founders and outright racist-sexist attacks on Black women funders in the recent Supreme Court Fearless Fund decision, I join you in urging signature of The Center for American Entrepreneurship & Engine | Advocacy & Foundation’s letter urging US Congress to pass: The Community Development Investment Tax Credit Act to boost investment in Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs). "The legislation would create a new tax credit for private sector investors that make equity or equity equivalent investments in, or that provide long-term patient capital (i.e., loans with a minimum term of at least 10 years) to CDFIs." Expanding American Entrepreneurship Act: "The legislation would raise the cap on funds organized under a 2018 sub-category of section 3(c)(1) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 from $10 million to $50 million, and double the number of permitted investors from 250 to 500. Together, these changes will enable emerging fundmanagers to raise larger funds." Time to move from being shell shocked to concerted community action that truly advances equitable capital access for all US Americans. Black Philanthropy Month The WISE Fund

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🥚 Some facets of life require delicate handling. 🪺 Fragility is a facet of some of the most precious and valued treasures in life: 👦 Relationships can be fragile. Business deals can be fragile. Feelings can be fragile. 🌞 Sometimes what is required is a light touch and kind consideration. 💭 Are there facets of our lives where we can be a bit more ginger in our approach?

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A blistering funding run has me revisiting a question I posed after Q3's VC funding data came out. Was Austin's modest $1.6B in H1 2024 signaling a slowdown or was Q3's $1B surge the real indicator? November's explosive activity gives us our answer: 💥Tricentis: $1.33B raise ($4.5B valuation) New 🦄 💥FireFly Aerospace: $175M ($2B valuation) 💥Ladder: $105M 💥Halcyon AI: $100M ($1B valuation) New 🦄 With these mega-rounds, Q4 is already approaching $2B with several weeks remaining. I am hearing about more significant rounds in the pipeline, though I don’t know whether they will announce in Dec or early '25. What a difference a quarter makes! Austin sits at ~$4B YTD, knocking at the door of 2023's $4.2B. The first half numbers now look more like timing quirks than a true slowdown. Our sector diversity (seen here in AI, Space, Bio & Health and Cybersecurity) reinforces what Peter Walker's analysis shows below; Austin's strength comes from our broad foundation & tech convergence. As Peter notes in his original post, "Austin is good in many areas, great in few." I see this as a strength, not a weakness (not implying that he was making this implication either). With ATX consistently ranking somewhere between 5th-7th in funding, and having strong momentum metrics, we have a bright future ahead. What's Next?

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🚀 Navigating the Future: Challenges & Opportunities for Emerging VCs 🚀 🤦‍♂️"Despite strong performance, the future of this space favors larger firms than mine," remarks Jai Malik, founder of Countdown Capital, reflecting on the tumultuous start to 2024. Emerging managers face a daunting landscape, with market forces and LP dynamics shaping their fate. 📉"In 2023, debut US VC funds raised 72% of what was raised in 2022," observes Ali Hamed, Co-founder of CoVenture and Crossbeam Venture Partners VC, highlighting a nuanced picture amidst adversity. Yet, the path to success remains uncertain, with LP appetite shifting towards established players. 💡"The fundraising picture for first-time fund managers isn't all bleak," acknowledges Aakar Vachhani, Partner at Fairview Capital, noting exceptions like CalSTRS' partnership with Sapphire Ventures. However, concerns over underperformance persist, casting a shadow over emerging managers' prospects. The fund count for both emerging and overall VCs dropped off by more than 60%, according to PitchBook data. 🚩In this LP "pick 'n' mix" scenario, LPs wield significant influence over fund terms and allocations, demanding transparency and favorable terms. As GPs navigate fundraising complexities, strategies like extensions, side letters, and secondary stake sales become commonplace. However, the specter of total shutdowns looms, a fate avoided by many but feared by all. “I just got an email this morning from a GP wanting to extend their fundraise for another six months,” said Vachhani, adding that the firm had already secured several prominent LPs and needed more time only to wrap up its raise. 🌪Amidst uncertainty, emerging VCs must navigate a changing landscape, adapting strategies to secure funding and ensure longevity. While challenges abound, opportunities for growth and innovation persist, offering hope for those willing to evolve with the times. As the VC ecosystem continues to evolve, only time will tell which emerging managers will emerge as the industry's future leaders. 🌱 “I’d be surprised if there were tons more OpenView announcements,” Hamed said. “Most people are pretty good at finding very quiet ways to be unsuccessful and very loud ways to be successful.” ✅ 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   #VentureCapital #EmergingManagers #LPInvestment #Fundraising #VCPerformance #InvestmentStrategy #MarketTrends #VCShutdowns #StartupInvesting #GrowthStrategies #FutureLeadership

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For all you aspiring serial entrepreneurs out there... Starting your next successful business doesn't have to be as hard as your first. Check out my latest article in Forbes for some actionable tips to improve the chances your next venture takes off.

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Episode #9: Jim Kolchin, Founder of iWallet 🎙️ Hi friends, this is Victor from R136 Ventures! In episode #9 of our "Ventures from Valley" podcast series, I was joined by Jim Kolchin (https://lnkd.in/dsqaxJyA), founder of iWallet (https://iwallet.com/). https://lnkd.in/ddmQxhZ5 From a Soviet childhood to Silicon Valley, Jim’s entrepreneurial journey is as fascinating as it is informative. He shares his path from building hardware, scaling a bootstrapped SaaS empire, and pivoting toward sustainable business growth – all without outside funding. Listen on Spotify, YouTube or Apple Podcasts In this episode, they discussed: - Building on a Budget: The path to bootstrapping iWallet to multimillion-dollar revenue - The Power of Pivoting: Why Jim moved away from hardware and what he learned about scalability and margins. - Staying Default Alive: Jim’s thoughts on scaling sustainably and keeping options open - Attracting the Right Investors: Tips on selecting investors who bring more than just capital - If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe. For more relevant VC content from "the Valley", follow us on X and LinkedIn. Stay tuned!

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Which MBA Programs Produce the Most Unicorn Founders? 🦄 A study by Ilya Strebulaev at Stanford University Graduate School of Business dives into the data, ranking the top 14 MBA programs by the number of unicorn founders per 1000 alumni. My alma mater University of Notre Dame - Mendoza College of Business did not make the list and I'm working on that. Did your alma mater make the cut? Do you think the school or the netWORK matters more for startup success? Which MBA program do you think is the place for aspiring unicorn founders? Happy Investing and Happy Thanksgiving! Angeles Investors IrishAngels Angel Capital Association LBAN/Latino Business Action Network #UnicornFounders #MBA #Entrepreneurship #Innovation #BusinessSchools

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💰Contour Venture Partners Raises $42M for Fifth Fund 💼 Introduction: Contour Venture Partners, a New York-based seed investor known for early investments in companies like Datadog and Movable Ink, has raised $42 million for its fifth fund. The firm is targeting $90 million for this flagship fund and has been actively fundraising since May 2023. 💡Key Points: - **Fundraising Progress**: The firm closed on $42 million from 64 backers, aiming for a total of $90 million. It had previously raised $20 million as part of a parallel fund. - **Market Context**: Fundraising has been challenging for venture funds recently, with overall venture fundraising down more than 50% last year compared to 2022’s record-breaking numbers. 📝Investment Strategy: - **Check Sizes and Focus**: Contour writes checks between $500,000 and $1.5 million, primarily leading rounds in seed and early-stage companies. It focuses on sectors like SaaS, digital media, and financial services, with a preference for companies based in New York or the Northeast. - **Track Record**: Despite not having a massive war chest, Contour has a strong investment track record. Notable successes include:  - Datadog: Early investment in 2011, which IPO'd in 2019 with a $7.8 billion valuation.  - OnDeck: Invested in 2006, went public in 2014 with a $1.3 billion valuation.  -Pendo: Active portfolio company, raised over $460 million, valued at $2.6 billion.  - Movable Ink: Content personalization startup, raised nearly $100 million, valued at $1.3 billion. 👩‍👩‍👧‍👦Firm Background: - **Founders and Leadership**: Contour was founded in 2005 by Matt G. and Bob Greene, who continue to lead the firm. - **Capital Raised**: Over its nearly 20-year history, the firm has raised more than $370 million across four flagship funds and three opportunity funds. 🕯Conclusion: Contour Venture Partners continues to make significant strides with its fifth fund, demonstrating resilience and strategic prowess in a challenging fundraising environment reported TechCrunch. ✅ Looking to raise capital for your #VCfund and increase the international pool of your LP #investors?   🤝 Need warm #LP introductions?   📝 Selling #secondaries to increase liquidity?   🧐 Looking for co-investments (Series A/Series B)?   ▶ G+QUANT's link for inquiries and fund decks: https://lnkd.in/gjC_EuTE #VentureCapital #ContourVenturePartners #StartupFunding #Datadog #MovableInk #InvestmentStrategy #SeedFunding #TechInvesting

Calling all entrepreneurs and early-stage ventures seeking capital: There's no better gathering in the mid-Atlantic region for connecting to resources of all kinds, especially investors, than the oldest event in the U.S. that introduces entrepreneurs to capital markets operators and their influencers. It's the 28th annual Angel Venture Fair held at the historic Union League in Center City Philadelphia, taking place this year on Friday, December 13. The event is also the largest gathering of its kind for the mid-Atlantic region. Meet angel investors, family office principals, corporate VC's, early-stage VC's, entrepreneurs and a host of the best trusted advisory professionals working in the innovation economy (like us, Strategic Impact Partners!). To apply as an entrepreneur or register to attend, go here: https://rb.gy/ofddng. #vc #venturecapital #angels #angelinvestors #innovation #innovationeconomy #phillyinnovation #angelventurefair

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