Harlem Capital

A game-changing acquisition for global compensation —Assemble 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 Deel! 🙌 We’re thrilled to see Enrique J Esclusa, Lisa Wallace and the entire team push the boundaries of compensation management. Proud to support them as they scale Assemble’s fair, equitable and seamless solution within the Deel ecosystem & beyond.

𝐃𝐈𝐒𝐑𝐔𝐏𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐈𝐍𝐂𝐔𝐌𝐁𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐒 ⛓️ In markets ruled by software giants, how do startups carve out the space to win? It’s an existential question 🚀 This blog dives deep into incumbent disruption—how smaller, agile startups challenge established players that struggle to innovate quickly. Take, for example: ✨ Shopify: Focused on simplicity & partnerships to compete with larger ecommerce players during the e-commerce boom. ✨ Snowflake: Cloud-native architecture and a strong value proposition helped them beat incumbents like AWS in data warehousing. ✨ Canva: A freemium model, user-friendly design, and digital content boom created massive adoption. ✨ Figma: Real-time collaboration and a shift to web-based design tools made Figma a market leader, forcing legacy players to adapt. Startups like these are reimagining industries through: 💡 User-first innovation 📈 Market timing and adaptability 🤝 Strong community and ecosystems Want to see more insights and lessons from these disruptors? Read the full report here: https://lnkd.in/ewr6MPW2

Last night, we hosted our Black Male Unicorn Dinner at Tatiana’s, led by NYC’s top Black chef. It was an unforgettable evening that left me inspired. Of the ~20 Black men who’ve raised $100M+ in VC, we were honored to have 4 in the room — plus our special guest, Colin Kaepernick, a unicorn in his own right. Collectively, they’ve raised $800M+ and successfully exited 3 companies These extraordinary men remind me of the power we have to create our own tables and build opportunities that uplift our community. Conversations like these are essential to foster collaboration and amplify our collective impact. Harlem Capital Ryan Williams Songe LaRon Stacy Spikes Paul Judge Brandon Bryant Jarrid Tingle Randall Clark

Harlem Capital’s annual ✨ Welcome to Basel ✨ event was a sparkling success! We love kicking off the epic week in Miami alongside founders, investors & our partners. It's special to be at the intersection of capital & creativity! 🎨 Special thanks to our partner Amazon Web Services (AWS) for dreaming up the evening with us. #artbasel #artweek #miami

Applications are still open for the Spring 2025 Factor Fellowship by Primary VC! This program helps ambitious early-career professionals break into startups and VCs with hands-on learning, top-tier connections, & operator role prep. 📍NYC | March–July 2025. You can also join an info session to learn more about the program: Thursday, Dec. 5: 6p | Primary VC (Flatiron) | Register here: https://lu.ma/sbgjpvsl Friday, Dec. 6: 12p | Zoom (Virtual) | Register here: https://lu.ma/f6wavrqb Apply here: https://lnkd.in/eMVpWpnd

𝐇𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐬𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠! 🦃 This week, we at Harlem Capital are taking time to reflect on the bountiful community we’re a part of. We’re deeply grateful to our founders, partners, and families for being on this wild ride with us.

𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸𝘀𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲 & 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵!🍁 Here's the latest at HCP: ✨ Empowering women in AI w/ Sapienne 📈 Scaling Vertical SaaS startups 🎤 SEEN Summit: Diversity in tech 🎉 Gabby on Crain’s 40U40 Explore this month’s updates: https://lnkd.in/g-Hw7xDH

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗕𝟮𝗕 𝗦𝗮𝗮𝗦 𝗶𝘀 𝗔𝗜-𝗲𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗱 🚀 From operational efficiency to personalized customer experiences, startups and investors are leveraging AI to drive growth and innovation. Our latest deep dive explores these transformations and highlights the founders leading the charge. ✨ 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝗔𝗜 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝗻 𝗕𝟮𝗕 𝗦𝗮𝗮𝗦? 1️⃣ It drives operational efficiency & cost savings. 2️⃣ It enhances customer experiences through personalization. 3️⃣ It enables smarter, data-driven insights. 4️⃣ It creates a competitive edge through innovation. 𝗛𝗮𝗿𝗹𝗲𝗺 𝗖𝗮𝗽𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁: 4Degrees - Ablorde Ashigbi AllieHealth - Jessie Lucci TrashLab - Neil Chaudhary Stuf Storage - Katharine Lau TestParty - Michael Bervell & Jason Tan Kipsi - Claire Tsukuda We share our full insights in the report: https://lnkd.in/eHztz-7q 📖 Read the blog: https://lnkd.in/eu98T6VA

We’re often asked how to break into VC. So much so that we created a syllabus as an essential manual for anyone looking to learn the ins and outs of the venture ecosystem, and where you might fit into it. 𝗧𝘄𝗼 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝘁-𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼𝗽𝗶𝗰𝘀? 𝗞𝗣𝗜𝘀 & 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘁 𝗘𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗰𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁 𝗦𝗶𝘇𝗶𝗻𝗴. 1. KPIs are more than just metrics—they’re the compass guiding a company’s progress toward its goals. But how do you define the right KPIs, and how do you measure them effectively? KPIs differ across industries and models—think financial, sales, or project metrics. Tracking these metrics rigorously: ✅ Shows what’s working ✅ Flags growth opportunities ✅ Keeps your team aligned on success Success starts with what you measure! 2. Market Sizing isn’t just about big numbers—it’s a strategic tool. 🛠 Why it matters: Defines total revenue opportunity (TAM) Helps assess PMF and short-term profitability (SOM) Guides you and investors on potential returns It's how startups frame their big-picture vision! 📖 Dive in: https://lnkd.in/gfUxHgns

Gabby Cazeau, Partner at Harlem Capital, recently joined the Lynx Collective to share key insights with founders on building lasting VC relationships:  🌱 It’s a marathon, not a sprint—building trust and relationships takes time.  📬 Tailored updates matter—avoid sending generic investor blasts! 💬 Clear & consistent communication is crucial to gaining trust. 🤝 Seek investors who will stand by you in both tough & successful times. Watch the full discussion here: https://lnkd.in/dVAhYNPQ