Kiel Chesley’s Post

Super fun way to start the morning at the Everywhere Ventures #NYTechWeek pre-seed founder breakfast bringing together some of the best early stage builders in the ecosystem. Always a joy to team up with Tai Hutchinson, Richard Kerby and Scott Hartley - who are long time supporters of NYC tech. A few themes we heard from the founders: ✔ Fundraising benchmarks are a moving target and that makes runway and planning tough. ✔ Stacking Safes and cap table mess keeps on getting messier with VCs less inclined to actually price rounds. ✔ Hiring is getting slightly easier as early employees have reset expectations on comp and equity. ✔ NYC is still super expensive and the city / institutions can be doing more! #LongNYCTech

Last night at a VC dinner, I noticed an interesting shift—almost every LA-based investor mentioned flying to SF at least every other week. SF has had its ups and downs. During the pandemic, it became a bit of a punchline on Twitter, with people questioning whether it could ever reclaim its tech dominance. But in 2024, I am noticing that the city is the innovation hub of the West Coast. It continues to have an amazing network of start-ups and founders who are ready to put in the work. While LA is a great place to live and has an amazing quality of life, SF is still at the center of tech. And for many of us in venture, staying connected to that means regular trips to the Bay Area. One of my goals this year is to build a stronger presence in SF, aiming to be there at least once a month—maybe even every other week. Are others noticing SF’s resurgence? How often do you find yourself heading north? #VentureCapital #SanFrancisco #TechEcosystem #Innovation #LA

Great to attend the #ReversePitch event in Leeds last night as part of UK Tech Week, where three investors from YFM Equity Partners, Par Equity and Lifted Ventures pitched to a room of fundraising tech founders. A few discussion points that stood out: 1) Human Dynamics: The importance of aligning angel investors/VCs with founders, balancing personal interactions with both the trend towards 'platformification', and the need to respect the time of founders. 2) Female Founders: The need to boost investment in female-led startups, who often exit faster and undervalue their expertise, affecting funding opportunities. 3) Regional Disparities: The challenges faced by Northern England founders in securing equity funding from angels and VCs compared to their London counterparts. Thanks to KPMG for hosting and to all of the speakers. 

🌟 While many organizations are shifting from foundational start-ups to investor and tech funding—which is awesome—it's crucial to remember the importance of building a solid foundation first. How do we get Black businesses investor-ready without mastering the basics? 🔑 Let's start at the beginning: small business start-ups, mom and pop shops, hair and beauty businesses, and home-based businesses. I will remain in my lane, dedicated to helping these ventures thrive from the ground up.

Custom Tap Caps for Blackhorn Ventures: Transforming Connections We are proud to unveil a custom Tap Cap crafted for Blackhorn Ventures, a company leading the charge in transforming how we build, power, and move our world. This NFC-enabled Tap Cap celebrates Blackhorn Ventures' mission to decarbonize the industrial economy and empower the workforce. With a simple tap, it connects you to their innovative work addressing critical global challenges while unlocking tremendous economic opportunities. This collaboration reflects the synergy between Tap Caps and Blackhorn Ventures: bridging the gap between the physical and digital worlds while creating tools for meaningful connection and change. Whether it’s corporate swag, event giveaways, or simply a unique way to share your mission, Tap Caps make it easy to connect and inspire. Ready to bring your company’s story to life with a custom Tap Cap? Let’s transform the way people connect, one cap at a time. Order your Tap Caps at: www.BottleCapsAreCool.com #TapCapsConnect #DecarbonizingTheFuture #SustainableInnovation #BlackhornVentures #MeaningfulConnections #nfc #nfctech #nfctechnology #marketing #digitalmarketing #digitalportal #networking #networkingevent #corporateswag #uniquegifts #Finance #financial #investment #socialimpact

Mentors talk about getting "plugged in" to innovation ecosystems. Market maps like this are a cheat code. Here are 5 simple steps to leverage ecosystem maps and get plugged in: 1. Follow the groups on LinkedIn and engage with their content 2. Subscribe to their newsletters 3. Attend the in-person (and virtual) events whenever you can 4. Meet the people that run the groups, tell them where you need help 5. Ask how you can engage with relevant mentors in their network Getting plugged in takes time. Visual maps likes this streamline the process. Thanks for sharing and great work! High Street Equity Partners

Building a successful startup requires a strong foundation of equity splits and team recruitment. A well-structured equity split ensures fairness and alignment among co-founders, while a talented and motivated team is essential for driving growth and innovation. Learn more about navigating equity splits 👇

With J.D. Vance’s selection as Vice President, a former venture capitalist is stepping into a top political role for the first time. What could his Silicon Valley startup experience mean for federal policies and small businesses under a Trump/Vance administration? Dive into our top insights on the potential changes and impacts. https://lnkd.in/gYaAB4ay #JDVance #VentureCapital #FederalPolicies #SmallBusiness #TrumpAdministration #PoliticalImpact #SiliconValley #StartupExperience #PolicyChanges #BusinessInsights #PoliticalNews #EconomicPolicy #InnovationInPolitics #BusinessGrowth #CapitalImpact

Kenneth is one of the best devtools investors I know. If you're building for devs and raising a round Kenneth should be at the very top of your list of people to talk to