🚀👨🏾‍💻Faraz Khan

Last month, Uncork Capital celebrated its 20th anniversary with a jubilant gathering attended by 420 guests, marking two decades of success in the venture capital realm. Over the years, the firm, alongside industry peers like First Round Capital and Felicis, has witnessed remarkable growth, now managing billions of dollars in assets. This expansion reflects the flourishing landscape of venture capital, with the industry experiencing exponential growth in investment. Moreover, positive shifts in VC norms, such as the evolving attitudes towards board seats, underscore a commitment to providing tailored support to startups, enhancing their growth prospects. Amidst discussions surrounding sectors like AI, optimism prevails, emphasizing a steadfast dedication to investing in innovative ventures with lasting impact. Read More Here: https://lnkd.in/efN6-Spd Branded Hospitality Ventures Jeff Clavier Susan Liu Ashley Cravens Tripp Jones Sarah Du Andy McLoughlin Amy Saper #innovation #technology #management #venturecapital #startup

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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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Check out the latest issue of my investor-focused newsletter Not From Concentrate!

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Coming soon on Aug 1: "Transformation to a Fresh Tomorrow." This is theme of our 3rd Annual Web3 Investor Day, as we welcome the innovators and investors convening in Chicago for these discussions around the next generation Internet. Our theme reflects the optimism, determination and commitment investors and innovators have solidified off the depths of the bear markets to drive success in the bull markets. Broader investor optimism suggests that fresh institutional funds into Web3 across both tokens and equity may endure.  Across adoption metrics, customer interest and developer activity, Web3 seems to have normalized. It’s refreshing to see the transformation and next evolution of Web3 and it’s refreshing to meet many of you on August 1.  And yet, even with the improved optimism from last year, there still remain open questions in the development and adoption of our next generation Internet:  1. the balance of speculative versus productive investor capital in this current cycle 2. the productive role of liquid trading capital in fostering Web3 innovation 3. the attractiveness of venture investments in follow on financings 4. the role of policy and regulation that may enhance innovation 5. the continued developer activity to improve the underlying infrastructure 6. other Web3 recovery characteristics in target customer use cases. We remain committed to navigating regulatory shifts, fostering investor optimism, and building the customer use cases for Web3.  Physical spaces enhance our innovation conversations.  In person relationships foster our collaboration.  Relationships drive breakthrough innovations.  Reach out to Rizza Torres at Decasonic if you would like to join us! #web3investorday #web3 #venturecapital

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Will autonomous vehicles pick up speed off-road? Overland AI and Potential are pursuing, military, mining, and other off-road applications. These use cases are more compelling because they represent large markets, they are not as regulated as passenger transport roads, and they can address labor shortages. As Alexei Andreev of Autotech Ventures added, "And if you remove people, you immediately get a reduction in your insurance premiums." I would expect to more autonomous investments like these. #logistics #supplychain #autonomous #investments https://lnkd.in/ePERXSea

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The practical application of AI to help manufacturers eliminate unplanned downtime is key to our current and future offering. We do not label ourselves as purely an AI company, as that is one component of our value delivery, but I can say we have a world class team of AI Engineers building incredible tech alongside a team of world class Condition Monitoring Engineers. I am bullish and excited to see how Central Ohio emerges as a global AI hub with Intel as an anchor. cc: Brian Graham, Seyed Mohammad Parvasi, Ph.D., Jaidev Krishnan, Matt Longhouse, Chris Berry

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🚀 Exciting insights from Tim Draper and Saeed Amidi on investing in startups and fostering an innovative culture! 💡 In a recent interview, these legendary investors shared their wisdom on what they look for in startups and how they help them thrive. Here are some key takeaways: 🔑 Tim Draper emphasized the importance of a strong team and a big market opportunity. He believes that a great team can pivot and adapt to find success, even if their initial idea isn't perfect. 🔑 Saeed Amidi highlighted the value of a founder's passion and resilience. He looks for entrepreneurs who are deeply committed to their vision and can weather the ups and downs of startup life. 💡 Both investors agreed that creating an innovative culture is crucial for startups. This means fostering an environment where employees feel empowered to take risks, experiment, and learn from failures. 🤝 Draper and Amidi also stressed the importance of mentorship and support for startups. They believe that investors should be more than just sources of capital – they should be partners who provide guidance, connections, and resources to help startups succeed. 🌟 congrats to class of 2024 🌟 #afforai #plugandplay #innovation #startup

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Most startups fail because they can't secure funding. As the Managing Partner at VentureCop, I've facilitated introductions and accelerated fundraising for startups and investors. I've consulted at Equivator®, focusing on private equity investments in tech ventures, and contributed to deploying $415mm into 80 tech companies as a Strategic Advisor at Ligo Partners Family Office. I'm getting a lot of DMs from founders seeking guidance on raising funds and building strategic partnerships. So, I've opened up 5 exclusive 1:1 mentorship slots on @Intro. What can we cover together? ✔️ How to raise funds ✔️ Guidance on strategic partnerships ✔️ Tips on mergers and acquisitions ✔️ Best practices for investor relations ✔️ Advice on tech venture investments Honored to be on Intro alongside world-class experts like Linh Peters (former CMO at Walgreens & Calvin Klein), Sardor Umrdinov (founder of Home Alliance, bootstrapped to $100M), and Laura Nguyen (Executive Career Break Coach. Clients: Fortune 500 companies). Comment “interested” and secure your spot now: intro.co/waqaskhann #mentorship #fundraising #investments #venturecapitalists #Familyoffices #hedgefunds #M&A #investorelations #startups #founders #VCs #GPs #seedround #seriesA #earlystage #angelinvesting #meeting

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The healthcare landscape is rapidly evolving, driven by advancements in technology and a deeper understanding of patient care. I had the pleasure of speaking with Ambar Bhattacharyya, Co-Managing Partner at Maverick Ventures, on the latest episode of The Full Ratchet. Ambar has partnered with numerous billion-dollar companies like hims & hers, Cityblock Health, Devoted Health, and ConcertAI. His unique journey from rural America to becoming a prominent figure in venture capital offers invaluable insights into the future of healthcare and technology. We discuss his investment strategy at Maverick Ventures, the megatrends shaping healthcare, the impact of AI on the industry, and the importance of integrated care. Ambar also shares his thoughts on the challenges and opportunities in healthcare investment, offering a comprehensive view of what lies ahead. Check out TFR Episode 438 to catch our conversation. You'll be glad you listened.

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This week Mikal Ventures brings you a 4-week breakdown of the US capital market with an emphasis on the Mikal verticals. Over the 4-week period ending June 10, just over 590 new companies were added, resulting in 95,661 companies included in the US Health Tech, Med Tech, Fin Tech, AI Tech, and Ed Tech verticals. AI Tech maintained its most active status, seeing the greatest percentage of growth in both new companies and transactions. The US Fin Tech vertical led the way in SEC Filings and news articles. Mikal Ventures publishes these stats to provide a perspective on how the verticals and new startups move through time. We hope you find them informative and thought-provoking. VC Investors are always adjusting their "Play Book" with a variety of options for investing. Mikal Ventures is one of those alternatives, offering curated solutions to real world problems. Reach out if you have questions on how we can be of assistance and bookmark https://mikalventures.com/ for additional insights and information.

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ATTN SF STARTUP and VC FRIENDS -- we have your hookup for a great networking event TOMORROW, Wednesday April 17 at Nixon Peabody's (amazing) offices in 1 Embarcadero Center. Hosted by Lior Zorea of Nixon Peabody, the panel includes Roger Lang of Smart Society Ventures, Clayton Bryan of 500 Global, Gady Nemirovsky of Inspiration Ventures, Peter Walker of Carta, and Chris Abato of Woodside Capital. Thanks Tord Olav Dønnum for the connect. Peter Walker from Carta will provide a “State of the Union” and then topics will include: +Startup formation trends +What key factors and metrics are investors looking at in 2024? +What tech verticals are “hot” (other than AI)? +What is the funding and M&A outlook for 2024? Registration link in the first comment 👇 See you there! #startups #venturecapital #entrepreneurship #siliconvalley

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Serial Claremont entrepreneur and VC Shahram Seyedin-Noor shares the lessons he's learned from years of founding, operating, exiting, and investing in startups and founders. It’s a Claremont world out there. 👇

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Excited to be working with William Ashford as he builds Truestate. So far some of the biggest winners in the AI hype cycle have been overpaid consultants. But the excitement from the AI hype train is quickly being replaced by frustration as corporations struggle to deploy new AI technologies safely and reliably - even with an army of these consultants. Fortunately AI can also help solve this problem, as it will increasingly be used to automate away the role of these expensive consultants. This is what Will and the TrueState team are building with their first product: an integrated library of AI components that can automate the work of building AI solutions that would take consultants six to 12 months to do. Check them out below.

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An interesting article below, that demonstrates out how San Diego is punching above its weight.  And how Connect's strategy and execution over time, contintues to be central to that success. The article describes the current state of the market in Seattle.  (And i love Seattle.) It's a market that we tend to track with relative to venture fundings.  They used to kick our butts, we outraised them each of the last three years.  This despite the fact they have 3x as many funds there, and 9x the amount of resident capital there. (per pitchbook) Some key takeaways:  * They continue to compare themselves to SIlicon Valley. Instead, we leverage our proximity. *They whine there's not enough local investors (see note above - they have more than us). We bring over 200 VCs to SD annually! * They say founders are not connected with one another. We bring CEOs together regularly, in a variety of ways - private dinners and through our Springboard program. * They say they need to elevate their image on a national & international stage. Why we created and continue to build Five.Ten.Thirty (aka Inno Day).  * And the last paragraph - they need to concentrate on making their region a great place to live. Our mantra: "It's about Better, not Bigger." (See XEO, TL Fund). THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR SUPPORT. WE ARE ON A MISSION TOGETHER!!!  (Comments, whining, suggestions on SD always welcome.) https://lnkd.in/g6Rq_f2Y

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Incredibly excited to announce Equal Ventures investment into Texture Texture provides the critical data and API infrastructure for one of the most significant digital transformations the world will undertake, turning the grid into the internet The growth of distributed energy resources (DERs) represents a tremendous shift in how the gird operates, moving from an industrial assembly line of power to one where consumers and producers interact with each other in real time. The growth of DERs is outpacing that of users on the internet in the early days. Unlike humans, DERs are getting smarter, cheaper and are not bound to population constraints. This is THE internet moment for energy Were quickly moving to a future where billions of energy devices will be coordinating in real-time. Unlike in other industries, energy companies lack centralized data and API infrastructure for collecting, managing and acting upon this flood of information. Texture (according to TechCrunch) is building the “go to platform for the energy transition” Helmed by Sanjiv Sanghavi, Nicholas Alan Brown and Victor Quinn, the Texture team has achieved dizzying progress over the last year, building the widest network of device integrations available and computing capability that was previously unattainable. By unifying customers under a single network, texture is enabling and amplifying the a new digital future for DERs. Congrats to the team on the latest milestone of raising a dramatically oversubscribed $7.5m seed round from Equal Ventures Lerer Hippeau Abstract Ventures Day One Ventures and climate pioneers like Kiran Bhatraju Michael Ruehlman Christopher Kemper

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At AV, we are harnessing the power of female founders with our Women's Fund. <br /> <br /> As VCs, it's our mission to seek out and invest in promising startups that embrace unique ideas and innovative solutions. Read about the staggering size of the Sheconomy, the benefits of investing in women, and explore some of the amazing startups women are creating. https://buff.ly/4cxHmZQ

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This week Mikal Ventures brings you a 4-week breakdown of the US capital market with an emphasis on the Mikal verticals. Over the 4-week period ending July 8, 728 new companies were added, resulting in just under 96,400 companies included in the US Health Tech, Med Tech, Fin Tech, AI Tech, and Ed Tech verticals. AI Tech maintained its most active status, seeing the greatest percentage of growth in new companies, transactions and news articles. The US Fin Tech vertical led the way in SEC Filings. Mikal Ventures publishes these stats to provide a perspective on how the verticals and new startups move through time. We hope you find them informative and thought-provoking. VC Investors are always adjusting their "Play Book" with a variety of options for investing. Mikal Ventures is one of those alternatives, offering curated solutions to real world problems. Reach out if you have questions on how we can be of assistance and bookmark https://mikalventures.com/ for additional insights and information.

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Female founders listen in, some great advice from my good friend Vera Kretschmar on all things business and startup related, lots to learn here. Mindset matters most and positive thinking through the tough times is what can get you through to the other side, whatever your otherside is Check it out on the latest Infinity and Beyond podcast below $IXS IX Swap

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