Dei'Marlon “D” Scisney ☁️ MS, PMP’s Post

To help bridge the information gap between founders & investors, Nick Khormaei & I built a comprehensive map of the Seattle venture ecosystem. Check out the slide deck below for a breakdown and reach out to us if you'd like to see our full data-set!

Pulling Back The Curtain: An In-depth Look at the Seattle Funding Ecosystem Investors often leave things intentionally broad or even opaque when describing the types of companies they invest in. It makes sense -- no one wants to miss out on a great opportunity by fencing themselves in. But for founders, this can make it very difficult to find the right investor(s) for their business. To help, we at YoungTech Seattle have put together this comprehensive map of the Seattle funding ecosystem using portfolio track records and direct conversations with GP's & port-co founders. This project will give founders a clearer view of where Seattle investors are actually placing their bets and help them connect with the right firms more efficiently. Click through the deck to see a breakdown by industry sector & investment stage for all 58 firms we covered. If you'd like any additional information about the firms we covered, or to check out our full data-set, please reach out to us directly. Caveats: - We have only included firms either based in Seattle or with a dedicated office here. Firms with only a single partner based here were not included. - Many of the firms were placed in their respective industry sectors for simplicity, and have more complex theses captured in our full dataset. Some firms appear in more than one industry sector to represent this. Jacob Laes | Nick Khormaei

I recently met a family office ("FO") considering making a future investment in 640 Oxford that conducted an ingenious diligence exercise on myself... This FO shared a deck of a seed-stage company looking to raise $3M and asked if I could meet the founders the following week in-person at a NYC office. When I arrived, the FO was in the room and asked me to conduct a typical diligence meeting which they would observe. After the meeting, I met separately with the family office and we deep-dived on why I asked certain questions, what excites me, and what gives me pause about the business. This led to such an intellectual conversation that I found gave this FO real insights into crucial skills that GPs need to have: (1) Founder relateability - ability to establish a connection and rapport with founders in a first meeting. (2) Technical, business, and GTM understanding - ask questions that highlight where the founding team was strongest / weakest (3) Preparedness - doing my homework and have a basic understanding of the industry We'll see how this all plays out but this tactical and hands-on approach was refreshing and I think great if adopted more broadly by LPs.

Yesterday I saw a post from M Coyle from Hotbed about what #investors discuss behind the scenes. How they judge #founders, pitch decks, and pitches beyond just the numbers. This includes biases—things like typos, design, and specific images or words. We all have biases, and investors are no exception since they are also human. I noticed this firsthand at our first London’s Largest Demo Day in April. I saw discrepancies in ratings: some investors rated companies highly across metrics like team, innovation, and market potential, while others rated the same companies poorly. For our first conference, we didn’t have enough investor partners to provide a balanced assessment. But this time, things are different😜 We now have 60 investor partners! Each applicant will be rated by at least 3 investors, with about 30% being reviewed by 5 or more. To ensure fairness, we assign each investor a specific set of startups to review. This helps mitigate biases, though we know they can’t be completely eliminated. As we continue to grow and involve more investors, our assessments will become even more accurate and fair. Now investors have 2 weeks to rate the 500 applications. Applicants will also need to complete a psychometric test with ETA Technologies in the coming days. By mid-September, we will announce the Top 100 startups that will pitch on the day! Stay tuned! Don’t miss out on the early bird discount for the Demo Day, which expires on August 31st. Secure your tickets now!

Valuing Pre-revenue Companies: Understanding how to value a pre-revenue company can be challenging, but it's a critical factor for both investors and founders. Here are key insights: 1) Valuation Divergence: Investors often see less return on investment compared to the company’s market valuation due to dilution and other factors. 2) Investor ROI Expectations: Angels often seek a 5x to 10x ROI over 4 to 8 years, targeting rapid growth startups that can scale. 3) Negotiating Valuation: Clear communication between investors and entrepreneurs is essential to prevent disputes over valuation terms. 4) Key Considerations: Factors like investor board seats, liquidation preferences, and anti-dilution clauses can significantly impact valuation negotiations. PS. check out 🔔 for a winning pitch deck the template created by Silicon Valley legend, Peter Thiel https://lnkd.in/ejp-Bhnu

✍️ From our latest LP update: On the value of being a generalist investor Brightspark has found success by embracing a generalist approach to investing. We don’t limit ourselves to a specific industry and instead, are focused on exceptional teams at a pre-Series A stage - in any tech vertical. Here’s a few reasons why it works: Agility & Flexibility: We can pivot quickly, calculate our timing, and seize opportunities across various sectors. Risk Diversification: Diversifying investments across industries mitigates sector-specific risks. Finding outliers: Our broad focus enables us to tap into diverse networks. The next Hopper might be somewhere you don’t expect! We have investments in Agtech, Privacy, Climate, Travel, Enterprise B2B - with a common thread of exceptional entrepreneurs. Our next fund, BCOF II, is a continuation of this focus. If you’re a founder building something exciting, or an accredited investor/family office looking to invest in diversified tech, reach out to learn more: https://lnkd.in/gThy6bf5

🔍💼✨ Just like a real-estate expert meticulously examines every nook and cranny of a house, private equity firms delve into every aspect of small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) to gauge their true value. But there's a twist in the tale of valuation - the spotlight is on technology. 🚀 Introducing "Tech Equity" - a game-changer in the world of SMB valuation! Coined to capture the essence of a company's technology portfolio, Tech Equity is what sets a business apart in today's competitive landscape. It's not just about having technology; it's about wielding it to outperform rivals and drive value creation. 💡📈 Divided into Alpha and Beta components, Tech Equity is the new frontier for private equity firms looking to elevate their investment strategy. Want to know what makes Alpha and Beta tick? Curious about how technology can transform SMB valuation and unlock new levels of growth? 🌟 Dive into our latest article for an in-depth exploration of Tech Equity and why it's a critical tool in the private equity arsenal. A must-read for every private equity investor and business leader aiming for the top! 📊🔝 🔗 https://smpl.is/8yug4

Embarking on a UK start-up is like navigating a labyrinth, each financial decision shapes the path. Our savvy team can map your success. Visit our site for direction. #StartupLabyrinth #FinancialNavigator🧭 👉🏻 michaelfiliou.com

Niilo P. has unveiled a new feature for Inven that revolutionizes how users can access and analyze aggregate data from venture capitalists, private equity firms, and corporates. This tool is particularly invaluable for those looking to understand investment patterns and preferences by examining historical transactions across various company sizes. It offers key insights into the types and sizes of deals that have previously succeeded, thereby empowering users to more effectively target potential investors who align with proven investment behaviors. For anyone refining their investment or acquisition strategies, this feature provides a substantial edge by clarifying market trends and investor tendencies. If you’re preparing for a funding round or aiming to attract strategic investments, consider how leveraging this data could refine your strategic approach. Would you find this type of aggregated deal data useful in your strategic planning? If you’re interested, definitely connect with Inven for early access to amazing features! #InvestmentTrends #StartupFunding #DataDrivenDecisions

There's been a saturation of dialogue around the venture market at so many industry events that I attend, specifically in the Middle East. What about the other options available to founders and tech companies? To learn more, register for the Tech M&A Monthly Webcast: 2024 Private Equity Panel this Friday, 9 February at 10:00 AM GMT https://lnkd.in/dknetu-j 2024 is off to a roaring start with an impressive number of M&A transactions completed in the first month of the year. Are you getting calls from buyers interested in your company? Are Private Equity firms calling you? Friday’s guest panel of Private Equity leaders will share which tech trends they are most excited about this year. Webcast Agenda:  - Private Equity Guests: Riverside, Mainsail, Brydon Group, GSV and PSG  - Corum’s Monthly M&A Research Report – 6 sectors and 29 subsectors  - Private Equity Acquisitions – 2023 in Review  - Buyers Corner: Search Funds and Tech M&A Opportunity Fit Looking forward to seeing you online.