Misfit Ventures’ Post

🚀 Black Investors Changing the VC Landscape Series: Part 20 - Brian Hollins, Aaron Samuels, Collide Capital 🌟 Introducing Brian Hollins and Aaron Samuels, the dynamic duo behind Collide Capital , driving change in venture capital by investing in underrepresented startups. Notable Investments: Slang.ai , Spill , Rheaply . Investment Focus: Pre-seed to Series A startups in enterprise SaaS, fintech infrastructure, supply chain and logistics, and Gen Z future of work. Why They're on This List: Brian Hollins and Aaron Samuels bring a wealth of experience and a shared passion for supporting underrepresented founders to the forefront of venture capital. Hollins, a former software investor at Goldman Sachs and founding board member of BLCK VC , joined forces with Samuels, the cofounder of Blavity Inc. and AFROTECH , to launch Collide Capital. Their journey began in 2016 when they recognized the significant barriers faced by overlooked founders, including limited access to capital and investor networks. Motivated to make a difference, they established Collide Capital, starting with a $1.3 million proof of concept fund before raising an impressive $66 million oversubscribed first fund in 2022. Collide Capital is not just an investment firm; it's a catalyst for change in the VC landscape. Samuels and Hollins are committed to redirecting resources and opportunities towards deserving founders, paving the way for a more inclusive and equitable future in venture capital. ✨Connect with them🚀 - Brian Hollins - Aaron Samuels Stay tuned for more inspiring profiles of Black investors leading the charge in our daily series! Share your thoughts and other impactful investors in the comments below. Oren Simanian Tam Sul #BlackInvestors #VentureCapital #DiversityInTech #startup #investor #Entrepreneurship #CollideCapital

🌟 Black Investors Changing the VC Landscape Series: Part 31 - Marlon Nichols, MaC Venture Capital 🚀 Introducing Marlon Nichols, the driving force behind MaC Venture Capital , reshaping venture capital by investing in seed-stage startups across industries. Notable Investments: Blavity Inc. , FaZe Clan , Gimlet Media , LIT Videobooks , Mansa , MongoDB , Pipe , Purestream Services , Ryff , SoLo Funds , Spill , Thrive Market , Wonderschool Investment Focus: Seed-stage startups across various industries. Why He's on the List: Marlon Nichols' journey from a seed-stage startup operator to a venture capitalist reflects his passion for innovation and entrepreneurship. After experiencing the limitations of corporate mandates, Nichols sought to have a greater impact by founding MaC Venture Capital. With a focus on the seed stage and a meritocratic investment mandate, Nichols believes in supporting the best teams solving massive challenges, regardless of their background. Through MaC Venture Capital, he aims to empower underrepresented founders and drive superior returns by investing in diverse and innovative startups. Nichols' commitment to fostering diversity and excellence in the startup ecosystem is evident in MaC Venture Capital's portfolio and approach to investing. ✨Connect with him Marlon C. Nichols Stay tuned for more inspiring profiles of Black investors leading the charge in our daily series! Share your thoughts and other impactful investors in the comments below. Tam Sul Oren Simanian #BlackInvestors #VentureCapital #DiversityInTech #startup #investor #Entrepreneurship #MaCVentureCapital

For most startups, their growth strategy depends upon their ability to raise money. SKU's mentor community includes mentors who can help founders with their fundraising strategy. Spring '24 mentor Karen Howland has been a wonderful addition to SKU. She joined Rose Park Advisors as a Managing Director in 2023 through an acquisition of CircleUp Growth Partners. At CircleUp, and now at Rose Park Consumer, she led the investment team focused on investing in early-stage consumer product brands. She works closely with her portfolio companies, advising on a variety of things including, capital structure, business trends, and key growth drivers. Before joining CircleUp, she spent over 15 years at top-tier international investment firms, including Citadel, Barclays Capital PLC, and UBS where she held positions in the Investment Banking and Equity Research divisions, focusing on the consumer and retail sectors in New York, London and San Francisco. Karen was also the founding member of hedge fund TWO OCEAN CAPITAL LP, which later merged into Citadel. SKU is currently interviewing potential mentors for the Fall '24 Track. If you are interested in learning more, please fill out the SKU Mentor Interest Form: https://lnkd.in/grvpPD8e If you are a founder who is interested in being mentored by a team of CPG superstars, we are accepting applications for Fall '24 Track until May 31. Apply here: https://lnkd.in/gizfPVVd Meghan Shookman Katie DeVito Elise Jacobs Blanck Bruce Hinson Abby June Richards, CPA-TX Scott Sanders Matthew LoLordo MS / SSGB Kristi Bridges Cassandra Hume Kelsi Petersen #foodservice #foodservicechannel #salesstrategy #channelstrategy #accelerator #cpgaccelerator #cpg #consumerpackagedgoods #micheladas #micheladamix #startup #cpgstartup #startups #mentoring #mentors #mentorshipmatters

We’re Building the Future of Dining—Together At Yhangry, excellence is our cornerstone. Today, we’re thrilled to share two incredible milestones: 1️⃣ We closed a $1M angel round—privately—in just under two weeks. 2️⃣ Our crowdfunding campaign is live, and you’re invited to join us on the same terms as our angel investors. This campaign isn’t just about raising funds; it’s about empowering you, our community, to become co-owners and share in Yhangry’s success. When you invest, you’re joining an elite group of angel investors, including: ✨ Y Combinator– the world’s leading startup incubator. ✨ Martin Mignot (Partner, Index Ventures). ✨ Michael Seibel (Ex-YC President, Twitch Founder). ✨ Tamara Lohan MBE (Founder, Mr & Mrs Smith). ✨ Christian Mischler (Founder, GuestReady). ✨ Eileen Burbidge (Passion Capital, early Monzo investor). We’re also proud graduates of Y Combinator, the accelerator behind global powerhouses like Airbnb, Stripe, and Dropbox. Why Yhangry? We’re taking on a $100B industry, transforming dining and hospitality by delivering premium guest experiences at home and in short-term rentals. Our vision is clear: create a category-defining brand that changes lives. This is more than an investment—it’s a movement. Be part of a future where dining is more personal, memorable, and accessible. 👉 Join us today: https://lnkd.in/dHxVAVV5 #Yhangry #Crowdfunding #StartupSuccess #AngelInvestors #YCAlumni

🌟 Black Investors Changing the VC Landscape Series: Part 25 - Paul Judge, Open Opportunity Fund 🚀 Introducing Paul Judge, the driving force behind the Open Opportunity Fund, reshaping the venture capital landscape with a focus on stage-agnostic startups in fintech, health tech, and edtech. Notable Investments: Lumu Technologies , Eight Sleep , Vitable , QuickNode ⚡ Investment Focus: Stage-agnostic startups in fintech, health tech, and edtech spaces. Why He's on the List: Paul Judge, alongside former SoftBank executive Marcelo Claure, acquired the $100 million fund from SoftBank last year. Originally known as the Opportunity Fund and now renamed the Open Opportunity Fund , it was established in June 2020 in response to initiatives addressing racial equity following George Floyd's murder. Dedicated to investing in Black and Latinx founders, the fund has been highly successful under Judge's leadership. Judge's entrepreneurial journey includes co-founding three startups: Purewire, Inc. , Luma Home Inc. , and Pindrop , before transitioning into venture capital. He also initiated TechSquare Labs and Panoramic Ventures, demonstrating his commitment to fostering innovation and supporting underrepresented founders.With plans to raise $200 million for a second fund, Paul Judge continues to drive change in the VC landscape, empowering diverse entrepreneurs and catalyzing growth in underrepresented communities. ✨Connect with him: Paul Judge Open Opportunity Fund Stay tuned for more inspiring profiles of Black investors leading the charge in our daily series! Share your thoughts and other impactful investors in the comments below. Oren Simanian Tam Sul #BlackInvestors #VentureCapital #DiversityInTech #startup #investor #Entrepreneurship

🔥 From Grand Slams to Grand Ventures! 🔥 Meet Serena Williams, a name synonymous with tennis greatness, now making waves in the world of venture capitalism. As the founder of Serena Ventures, she’s not just serving aces on the court, but also in the boardroom. 🎾💼 Serena Ventures, founded in 2014, is a venture capital firm that champions diverse and creative founders who are changing the world with their ideas and products. The firm seeks to invest in a wide array of industries, from e-commerce to fintech, health, sports & wellness, web3, education technology, enterprise, social, and climate technology sectors. Serena’s journey into venture capitalism was inspired by a stark revelation. At a JP Morgan Chase Conference, she learned that only 2.4% of all venture capital funding went to women-led startups. She also learnt about the huge disparity between white men and people of color in venture capital firms across the globe. This prompted her to effect change in the venture capital investing landscape. Serena Ventures has since grown impressively, boasting over 50 portfolio companies with a $33 billion market cap. What’s more, 60 percent of these are diverse founder investments. Serena Ventures primarily invests in women, people of color, and underrepresented groups who have founded a startup. From the 85 companies Serena Ventures has invested in, 79% are underrepresented founders, 54% are women, 47% are Black, and 11% are Latino. However, the path to success wasn’t without its challenges. Serena faced unique hurdles as a Black woman in a predominantly white male sport and industry. Investors notoriously doubt female founders, typically focusing investment analysis on the potential risks and losses of female-founded startups. Black founders contend with systemic inequity at each step of their journey. Despite these obstacles, Serena has persevered, breaking barriers and championing inclusion, on and off the court. In recent news, Serena Williams has been making headlines for her new docuseries, where she talks about why she wanted one person in particular to remember her name. Serena Williams is a true pioneer, shattering glass ceilings and paving the way for future generations. She’s not just a game-changer; she’s a world-changer. 🌍💪 Shine a light with us! Follow for Black women making a difference. #BlackWomenInBusiness #BreakingGlassCeilings

Senior Spotlight: Jack Marks Today, we highlight Jack, our former Managing Director, former Director of Talent and a graduating senior. As Jack prepares to embark on his post-graduation journey, we reflect on his lasting impact to the RedHawk Ventures community. Following graduation, Jack will assume the role of SHINE Marketing Associate at Deloitte, bringing his passion and expertise to Chicago, IL. Reflecting on his journey at RedHawk Ventures, Jack recounts a favorite memory:  “The inaugural RedHawk 50 was an unbelievable experience. Seeing so many exceptional Miamian founders under one roof, being able to speak in front of them all, and seeing multiple RedHawk Ventures portfolio companies honored was something I'll never forget” For Jack, RedHawk Ventures was crucial in shaping his time at Miami and beyond, as well as providing an avenue to demonstrate and develop his leadership skills. In his own words: “RedHawk Ventures was my guiding pillar throughout my time at Miami. Having joined as a sophomore, I knew I was interested in entrepreneurship, but didn't know where to go from there. This organization opened my eyes to the robust venture capital landscape, and instilled in me a deep passion for technology commercialization and business innovation. Additionally, I learned how to be a leader. I served in two executive leadership positions (Managing Director and Director of Talent), which enabled me to place my own mark on the fund, and I can confidently say that I was able to contribute to RedHawk Ventures in a way that makes me excited about its trajectory beyond my time within it” Furthermore, Jack highlights the unique opportunities RedHawk Ventures offers and how they have impacted his thoughts about his future: “Because of RedHawk Ventures, I've gotten hands-on experience working in VC, as I've engaged directly with early-stage founders, managed the investment pipeline, revamped our portfolio management processes, established strategic partnerships, and overall, sharpened my investment acumen. Because of the fund, I hope to one day become a tech investor and back the next generation of category-defining companies” Join us in congratulating and wishing Jack the best of luck on his future endeavors! #redhawkventures #entrepreneurship #miamioh

Energized from a fantastic Venture Atlanta Conference and in ✨awe ✨of the incredible Atlanta startup ecosystem on full display! I had the privilege of speaking with a wide range of founders and investors on common trends and issues that I see in early stage startups. Here’s what I gathered: 💵 ✂️ Most founders are TOO slow to cut cash burn when faced with the reality of their cash runway. Founders will often delay 1-2 quarters before taking action to tighten the belt and the cuts are not deep or fast enough— a costly mistake. The result? Sub-optimal timing for fundraise, weaker negotiating position on terms, or worse 😬. I can’t agree more! As a fractional CFO, my first objective is to get the founder a clear view of runway— rose colored glasses OFF. 🌉 “BRIDGE” doesn’t have to be a dirty word! With the bar for Series A KPIs rising consistently since 2021, we are seeing the number of pre-Series A rounds jump along with the diversity in labels (“Seed 2.0”, “Seed Plus”, “Seed Extension,” “Bridge,” etc). When I polled investors on their appetite for a bridge round on an existing portco, it seemed to be less about the title of the round and more about the narrative and trajectory: WHY does the founder need these funds? Do we feel strongly this founder can land a solid Series A next year and this round is truly a bridge to that point? What is the compelling story behind use of funds and how is this different from the last raise? ⚡️ The best founders of early stage companies understand what the brilliant Leura Craig of Outlander VC calls “ruthless prioritization.” Choose ONE “North Star” ⭐️ metric for the company to ruthlessly focus all efforts upon. If you’re not growing that metric, you’re failing. Let me know in the comments if you agree/disagree or have more perspective! 👀

A huge shoutout to all the prize winners of the 2024 Black Ambition Prize Competition 👏 Want to learn more about the ventures that received investments last Friday, in New York? 💵 Check out the websites of all the Health, Tech, Media & Entertainment, CPG, and AI Ventures in the comments below ⬇️ 🚀. #investment #startups #black #hispanic

🌟 Black Investors Changing the VC Landscape Series: Part 40 - Lo Toney, Plexo Capital 🚀 Introducing Lo Toney, the visionary behind Plexo Capital , revolutionizing venture capital with a focus on diversity and inclusion. Notable Investments: Blavity Inc. , Mayvenn , StyleSeat , Wonderschool , Wrapbook Investment Focus: Plexo Capital invests in venture-capital funds and makes direct investments in select startups, prioritizing diversity across industries. Why He's on the List: Lo Toney recognized the untapped potential in startups led by women and people of color during his tenure at Comcast Ventures and GV (Google Ventures) . Determined to address this disparity, Toney launched Plexo Capital with a groundbreaking thesis: by building a network of diverse fund managers and institutional partners, they could drive superior fund returns. Since its inception in 2018 as a spinout from GV, Plexo Capital has been a catalyst for change in the venture capital landscape. With a $42.5 million fund, Plexo has established partnerships with prominent firms led by diverse bakgrounds, including MaC Venture Capital, Female Founders Fund , and Equal Ventures . In addition to backing these firms, Plexo Capital makes direct investments in startups alongside them, championing founders from underrepresented backgrounds. Through initiatives like GPx, a mentorship program for new fund managers, Plexo is nurturing the next generation of diverse investors. Lo Toney's leadership at Plexo Capital is driving tangible progress towards a more inclusive and equitable venture ecosystem, unlocking opportunities for diverse founders and investors alike. ✨Connect with Lo Toney and Plexo Capital to learn more about their transformative approach to venture capital. Stay tuned for more inspiring profiles of Black investors leading the charge in our daily series! Share your thoughts and other impactful investors in the comments below. #BlackInvestors #VentureCapital #DiversityInTech #startup #investor #Entrepreneurship