Walt Duflock’s Post

HawkTower is a new venture capital firm focused on Underleveraged California. Our mission is to foster innovation and commercialization in critical rising and emerging regions of California, a state that still holds untapped potential as the world's fifth-largest economy. A thriving California, one that continues to grow, compete, and innovate on a global scale, is crucial for America's overall prosperity. Today, our website launched. We are also excited to announce additions to the team and advisory, including: Bill Sherrod, EdD, a 29-year Navy veteran and former Strategic Advisor to the President of the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS), has joined HawkTower as a Venture Partner. Bill, who initially joined us as an advisor in February, has quickly become an indispensable part of our team. His extensive experience in dual-use technology, advanced air mobility, and more brings HawkTower a wealth of knowledge and expertise. Vittoria Lecomte is a new Venture Partner. Tori is a former Forbes 30 Under 30 and an investment banker at Barclays in their Technology, Media, and Telecom Group. She was lead analyst on the Fitbit (now part of Google) and GoPro IPOs. Before joining HawkTower, she was the founder and CEO of Sesh which had a successful exit to Caraway. HawkTower is thrilled to announce our strategic partnership with Tesserakt Ventures, an early-stage venture capital firm based in Central California. This collaboration, at a time of critical opportunity for emerging California, will drive cohesion in the marketplace. Daniel Emilio Sabzehzar (Venture Partner) and Phoenix Skeahan (Operating Partner) will join HawkTower, enhancing our sourcing, diligence, and portfolio support capabilities. Lenny Mendonca, a Turlock native, is a new advisor. He served as Governor Newsom's Chief Economic and Business Advisor and is also a Senior Partner Emeritus at McKinsey & Company, where he founded the firm's U.S. state and local public sector consulting practice. Walt Duflock, head of innovation for the Western Growers , is also a new advisor. Walt is a partner at a 5th-generation family farming operation in Monterey County. In addition to 30 years of experience at Silicon Valley tech startups, Walt and his team at WGA are extraordinary thought leaders in the AgTech ecosystem. Our technical advisory capacity is significantly strengthened with the support of Alexander Wolf, Dean of the Baskin School of Engineering at University of California, Santa Cruz, Amy Fleischer, Dean, the College of Engineering California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly), and Rakesh Goel, Dean, School of Engineering, University of California, Merced. HawkTower is confident in the entrepreneurial acumen and potential of each of these universities (as well as NPS, UC Davis, Fresno St., and others). I'm humbled to share these updates with you as we continue to grow our firm out in the open with your input.

Whether you're in the ideation phase, building your MVP, or ready to take your startup to the next level, understanding the landscape of seed-stage investors can make all the difference. So, we've researched and compiled a list of venture capital firms that are not just investing in startups but are truly dedicated to nurturing early-stage ventures. Gain valuable insights into their investment philosophies, focus areas, and successful portfolio companies: https://lnkd.in/gf-c7YqX Accel Kleiner Perkins Chloe Capital Sequoia Capital Andreessen Horowitz First Round Capital Y Combinator 01 Ventures GV (Google Ventures) Menlo Ventures Cowboy Ventures FJ Labs Dreamit Ventures New Enterprise Associates (NEA) Spark Capital #venturecapital #investors #startupfunding #entrepreneurship #innovation #vcfunding #growth #seedstage

Are you curious about the evolution of Venture Capital in the European market? Get ready to dive into insights like never before as we explore the future of VC with none other than STAR Ventures - a venture capital firm with a ravishing track record of nurturing over 180 category-leading technology companies since 1992! Our discourse offers an in-depth view through the lens of Star Ventures, acknowledged for creating value across a broad sector of emerging, early-stage and mid-stage companies. The brain behind this success, Founder Meir Barel, shares his own journey in shaping this powerhouse. Whether you're in Finance, Financial Services or Venture Capital, this close look at the crucial shifts and trends is bound to illuminate your perspective about the ever-changing landscape of VC. Dive in: https://lnkd.in/eVGqtEmX #VentureCapital #EuropeanMarket #Finance #StartUp #FutureTrends

We thank all entrepreneurs, investors, and partners for participating in Airbus Ventures' journey. This is an important milestone but it is just a beginning. We are looking forward to talking with and investing in superior startups! #venturecapital #globalinvestor #deeptech #frontiertech #newfund

TechCrunch just published an insightful article on the venture capital industry, featuring interviews with Jeff Clavier and Andy McLoughlin from Uncork Capital. Here are some key takeaways that caught my attention: - Massive Growth: In 2004, venture firms invested around $20 billion in startups. By 2021, that figure had skyrocketed to an astonishing $350 billion. - Shrinking Seed Funds: Andy McLoughlin predicts a reduction in active seed funds in North America from 2,500 today to 1,500, citing a lack of market liquidity: "Until we start seeing real cash coming back – beyond the highlights here and there – it’s just going to be hard." - AI Investments: Despite the current surge in venture capital funding for AI, this trend does not necessarily support sustainable growth for these businesses. Long-term success requires companies to be large and profitable, but many enterprise AI budgets remain limited. I can't help but wonder if we'll see similar trends in the German and European venture capital scene. What will be the lasting impact of the 2021 venture capital boom? 🧐 Gründerszene, Startup Insider, Startup-Verband - are you looking into this?

💡 Spotlight on Michigan’s Most Active Venture Capital Investors 💡 Michigan’s venture capital ecosystem is thriving, powering innovation across healthcare, technology, and consumer services. With vibrant startup hubs in Detroit, Ann Arbor, and Grand Rapids, the state has become a launchpad for game-changing ideas and disruptive businesses. 🚀 Here’s a look at the top VC firms shaping Michigan’s entrepreneurial landscape: ✅ Annox Capital – Led by Bob Mylod ✅ Arboretum Ventures – Jan Garfinkle, Thomas Shehab, MD, MMM, Dan Kidle, and Tim Petersen ✅ Augment Ventures – Sonali Vijayavargiya ✅ Banana Capital – Turner Novak ✅ Beringea – Charlie Rothstein, Michael Gross, William Blake III ✅ BioStar Capital – Louis A Cannon, MD, FACA, FACC, FACP, FSCAI ✅ eLab Ventures – Paul Cuthbert-Brown, Doug Neal, Bob Stefanski ✅ Fontinalis Partners – Chris Cheever, Laura Petterle, Chris Stallman, CFA ✅ GM Ventures – Zach Kirkman, Anirvan Coomer ✅ Grand Ventures – Tim Streit ✅ Huron River Ventures – Ryan Waddington ✅ ID Ventures – Martin Dober, Patti Glaza, Lee Rawlings ✅ Ludlow Ventures – Jonathon Triest ✅ Plymouth Growth – Jeff Barry ✅ Red Cedar Ventures – David Washburn ✅ RPM Ventures – Adam Boyden, Tony Grover, Marc Weiser 🌟 Why Michigan Matters These firms are not just funding startups—they’re fueling growth, creating jobs, and transforming industries. Their contributions make Michigan a powerful player in the national VC ecosystem. If you’re an entrepreneur or innovator, Michigan is the place to watch—and grow! Let’s keep building the future, one investment at a time. 💼🌱 #VentureCapital #MichiganStartups #InnovationEcosystem #GrowthMindset

Venture capital funding not only provides the financial backing necessary to grow but also offers a wealth of expertise, mentorship, and access to a broad network of industry professionals. This combination can be a game-changer, helping startups to navigate the complexities of the market, refine their business models, and achieve sustainable growth. From early-stage investors to established players, we've curated a list of the top venture capital firms that every ambitious founder should know. Explore our picks here: https://lnkd.in/g-WHG2ea Sequoia Capital Andreessen Horowitz Accel Kleiner Perkins Bessemer Venture Partners Intel Capital New Enterprise Associates (NEA) Khosla Ventures Benchmark Canaan RRE Ventures TCV Founders Fund Index Ventures Sweater GGV Capital U.S. Menlo Ventures Greylock IVP Mindset Ventures Lightspeed *Disclaimer: With so many VC firms around the world, we aren’t able to cover them all. Furthermore, the firms we feature are not officially ranked and are listed in no particular order. #venturecapital #investors #vcfunding #venturecapitalists #startupfunding #entrepreneurship

Who's backing tomorrow's tech giants? Our team has researched the current landscape of early-stage funding, highlighting the venture capital firms that are driving innovation across various sectors. From established Silicon Valley powerhouses to emerging players in global tech hubs, we've covered a diverse range of firms shaping the future of startups. Explore the VCs here: https://lnkd.in/gvu6iAgT Thrive Capital Ribbit Capital Benchmark Third Rock Ventures Exor N.V. Accel Two River Caffeinated Capital Techstars Plug and Play Tech Center 500 Startups SV Angel Right Side Capital Management SOSV New Enterprise Associates (NEA) Index VenturesSequoia Capital Kleiner Perkins General Catalyst Battery Ventures Khosla Ventures Menlo Ventures Greylock Norwest Venture Partners First Round Capital Bain Capital Ventures Lightspeed Founders Fund #venturecapital #entrepreneurship #tech #investors #earlystagestartups #innovation #vcfunding

Raising venture capital? Staying informed is key. Here's a snapshot of the latest developments on VC Funds that just closed raising: - BNP Paribas' Solar Impulse Venture Fund has secured €150M to invest in sustainable technologies. This fund, managed by BNP Paribas Asset Management in partnership with Bertrand Piccard’s Solar Impulse Foundation, focuses on sectors critical to ecological transition such as energy, sustainable agriculture, and smart cities. It aims to make 15-20 investments in high-potential startups across Europe and North America - Founderful Fund successfully closed a $140M Fund II, seeking to tap into opportunities within the Swiss tech ecosystem. Backed by institutional investors and successful founders, this fund has already invested in 15 companies, including those innovating in alternative silicon chips and lithium-ion battery technology. - Bek Ventures launched with a robust $250M fund aimed at supporting early-stage tech startups, particularly in Central and Eastern Europe. Known for its selective investment strategy and long-term support, Bek Ventures focuses on nurturing technical talent from this region - Maki.vc raised €100M to back bold Nordic founders who are reshaping industries, and betting on the potential of the Nordic region. Helsinki-based firm is investing in deep tech and brand-driven startups, with a strong emphasis on environmental and social objectives. Whether you're seeking investment or looking to expand your network, staying updated is key. You can follow my Substack / me for more updates on developments across VC & DeepTech🚀 #VentureCapital #StartupFunding #LP #TechEcosystem #EmergingFunds

They sure don’t make opportunity funds like they used to. Propelled by the venture boom of 2020 and 2021, nine-figure vehicles used to double down on star portfolio companies became du jour. A combination of low rates and ample limited partner dry powder overheated startup valuations like a dry cycle on a top-of-the-line Maytag. Companies with unproven—perhaps even improbable—business plans raked in cash faster than they knew what to do with it. Freeflow Ventures’ $15 million opportunity fund is a smaller take on the opportunistic raises of the last venture cycle. Learn more here 👉 https://lnkd.in/gu3GzJX4