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As startups grow, so do the challenges—and sometimes, it’s hard to know who to turn to for the right support. Kip Knight breaks down the distinct roles of these critical advisors and when to engage each: 🔑 Executive Coach: Focused on unlocking personal and leadership potential through one-on-one guidance, self-awareness, and skill-building. Coaches are your go-to for professional development and accelerated leadership growth. 🧠 Mentor: Sharing wisdom gained through experience, mentors provide career guidance, category insights, and long-term support. The right mentor can offer invaluable advice for tough decisions and personal growth. 💡 Consultant: Armed with specialized expertise, consultants are problem-solvers who deliver data-driven strategies to tackle specific business challenges and improve performance. Kip highlights the importance of how startups can leverage the right advisor at the right time. As he says, “Don’t hire a plumber when you need an electrician!” 📖 Read Kip’s insights to learn how these roles can help take your startup team to the next level of success.

AI continues to dominate the funding landscape, with startups raising over $87 billion in 2024—far surpassing 2023's $56 billion. As AI remains the crown jewel of venture capital, commanding unmatched attention and investment, valuations remain high. Don Butler notes, “In a lot of cases you are seeing more reasonable valuations from startups—except for AI.” What’s your take on AI’s staying power?

After a slow 2024, optimism is building for a market reset. AI-driven innovation, easing regulations, and renewed M&A interest could spark much-needed momentum. As Don Butler put it, “We are seeing a lot more corporate and private equity interest in the market now. There certainly seems to be more of a ‘risk-on’ attitude.” It seems a more favorable macroeconomic outlook is upon us! 

We’re thrilled to announce that Nima Wedlake has won an Inman Best of Proptech Award in the Venture Capital category! This award celebrates the most groundbreaking solutions and leaders shaping the real estate industry. We are honored to celebrate his recognition alongside industry leaders. #InmanBestofProptechAwards #InmanAwards

ServiceTitan has officially filed for #IPO, marking a major milestone for the company. Their S-1 filing highlights impressive growth, strong retention, and exciting AI-driven innovation in a $1.5T market. Nima Wedlake breaks down the key takeaways from their S-1 in his latest blog, covering:  👉 The financials: Revenue, growth rates, and profitability trends  👉 The path forward: AI adoption, customer acquisition, and scalability  👉 M&A strategy: How 10+ acquisitions built their robust platform Ready to dive into the details? Read the full breakdown here:

🚨 Final Call: Participate in the Thomvest x Keyway AI Adoption Survey! 🚨 Are you a real estate investor? We're looking to gather valuable insights into the adoption of AI in the real estate industry—from receptiveness and trust to concerns and desired outcomes of applied AI. Take just 5-10 minutes to share your perspective. Your input will remain confidential and will directly shape our upcoming report on AI trends in real estate. As a thank you, all participants will receive a complimentary copy of the report.

Don’t miss out on connecting with Umesh Padval during an upcoming Funding Fridays session. Whether you're exploring funding or seeking guidance on scaling, these 1:1 meetings are a great way to gain insights and support on your entrepreneurial journey. Register to take part!

Is your startup’s board optimized for growth or cluttered with complications? Building the right board is a strategic move that can make or break a startup’s trajectory. Kip Knight took a closer look at the benefits and challenges of adding board observers (non-voting members) into the mix: The Upside of Board Observers: 🌐 Expertise & Network: Observers can bring unique industry insights and open doors to new sales leads and investors. 🎓 Development Path: Observers offer up-and-coming leaders a chance to learn and contribute, setting the stage for a future board role. The Risks to Consider: 🔒 Confidentiality Risks: More people with access to sensitive info increases security risks. 🗣 Over-Influence: Without voting power, observers can still sway decisions—sometimes more than intended. Be strategic. Sometimes an advisor or consultant can add just as much value without impacting board dynamics. 🔗 Read the full blog for deeper insights on when board observers might be right for you:

In a recent conversation with Riddhi Kanetkar, Business Insider, Umesh Padval shared his perspective on a shift in VC — investing in competing companies within the same space, particularly in large language models (LLMs) like OpenAI, Anthropic, and Cohere. 💡 Here are a few key takeaways: ► Commitment to Thesis: At Thomvest, we believe in thesis-driven investing, identifying the strongest companies in a given sector and dedicating 100% support to their success. Investing across competing startups doesn’t align with this approach, as it can dilute commitment. ► Confidentiality Concerns: With multiple investments in the same space, there’s a real risk of confidential information being shared unintentionally. While firewalls are promised, they can be challenging to maintain in practice. ► Strategics vs. VCs: Historically, strategic investors have often invested in multiple companies within a single sector, as seen with NVIDIA and Salesforce, but for VCs, focus and dedication remain essential to long-term partnerships. As the AI landscape evolves, it’s critical for VCs to consider both the ethics and value-add of their role in supporting transformative tech.