Audacious Investor™️’s Post

🌟 Leading the Way in Pre-Seed Investing: Wonder Ventures Secures $102M🚀 Dustin Rosen, managing partner at Wonder Ventures, pioneers early-stage support for innovative startups in Los Angeles and Southern California. With a decade-long presence in the pre-seed investment scene, Wonder Ventures boasts a portfolio including unicorns like Honey and Whatnot, alongside notable investments in Clutter, Modern Animal, and Tala. 🦄💼 Rosen's vision to fill the gap in early-stage funding led to the establishment of Wonder Ventures, propelling Los Angeles' tech ecosystem forward. Recognizing the challenge for startups to secure initial capital, Rosen aimed to bridge this gap, providing crucial support at the inception stage. Now, with $102 million in commitments across two funds, Wonder Ventures continues its mission to empower early founders and catalyze innovation. 💰✨ Supported by over 60 limited partners, including early employees and executives from Snap Inc., Honey, and ZipRecruiter, Wonder Ventures prioritizes founders' needs, offering hands-on support from ideation to execution. Rosen emphasizes the firm's commitment to backing exceptional founders in untapped markets, distinguishing Wonder Ventures in the competitive VC landscape. 🌱💡 As the firm ventures into later-stage opportunities, Rosen remains steadfast in his focus on nurturing portfolio companies for long-term success. With Fund II already yielding significant returns, Wonder Ventures stands as a beacon of support for startups navigating the path to Series A and beyond. Rosen's approach centers on identifying promising founders with unique perspectives and domain expertise, positioning Wonder Ventures as a trusted partner for early-stage entrepreneurs. 📈💼 ✅ Looking to raise capital for your #fund and increase the international pool of #investors?   📝 Selling #secondaries to increase liquidity?   ▶ For inquiries and pitch decks please use this link https://lnkd.in/gjC_EuTE #VentureCapital #StartupFunding #Entrepreneurship #Innovation #TechStartups #VCInvesting #WonderVentures #LosAngelesTech #PreSeedInvesting #EarlyStageInvesting #FutureOfTech #EmpoweringFounders #SupportingInnovation

🚀 Los Angeles is bustling with opportunities for budding entrepreneurs. Here's a list of angel investors known for their significant contributions to the startup ecosystem: - Clark Landry 💼 - An entrepreneur turned investor with a focus on software businesses and over 120 investments, including significant exits like The Trade Desk and EdgeCast Networks. - Jim Brandt 🌐 - Active with Tech Coast Angels, focusing on software and life sciences. His investments include standout exits like Procore Technologies. - Rosie O'Neill 🍭 - Founder of Sugarfina USA LLC, now an angel investor with a broad interest, backing over 50 startups such as Abbot's Butcher and Thrive Market. - Mark Mullen 🔥 - Founder of Bonfire Ventures 🔥 with a track record in tech startups like ChowNow and AdStage, a TapClicks Company. - Richard Wolpert (He/Him) 📈 - Venture partner at Acrew Capital, with a history of funding successful startups like Carta and NestEgg. - Matthew Mazzeo 🌟 - General Partner at Coatue Management, involved in funding high-profile startups like Airtable and Loom. - Anthony Saleh 🎬 - General Partner at WndrCo, with investments in notable startups like Robinhood and OpenSea. - Tom McInerney 🌍 - Known for funding companies like Notion and Segment, he invests across various industries. - Ashton Kutcher 🎥 - Famous actor and successful investor with Sound Ventures, backing major companies like Airbnb and Uber. Whether you're at the seed stage or looking to scale, these investors offer not only capital but also invaluable guidance and access to extensive networks. Full article here: https://lnkd.in/dyWyxiYU #AngelInvestors #InvestInLA #TechStartups #innovation #startups

🕚Here’s a flashback to an exciting and bold VC fund launch from 2023. 💸 In Q4 2023 Sweden based venture capital firm Luminar Ventures closed its second fund of SEK 715m (c. $65m) backed by the European Investment Fund (EIF), Saminvest AB and several private investors. 🌍 #Nordics 💡 Sector-agnostic approach; however, distinctively leaning toward three key areas: #ArtificialIntelligence, #sustainability and #Fintech. Cheque sizes range from $500,000 to $2 million. They plans to invest in 20+ founding teams over the next 2-3 years. 📈 Fund II has partnered with eight start-ups, including xNomad, Run, Hypertype and Yazen Health in #Sweden; Vibrant.io and Muninn in #Denmark; Aviant in #Norway; and Rocky Road Inc in #Iceland. The first fund backed 27 start-ups incl. Mindler, Insurely, Normative.io, Greenely, Mynt, and Carla. 💭 “Even though we are in challenging times, we see this as a golden opportunity to invest in and support those entrepreneurs who dare to defy convention and drive innovation. History has shown that adversity often breeds greatness." - Louise Hagen, partner at Luminar Ventures. 🗞️Nurçin Metingil ArcticStartup https://lnkd.in/dU4CPe8A 👏 For the #AudaciousInvestors unleashing innovation and empowering tomorrow🚀 Jacob Key I Magnus Bergman I Irene Ardenstedt I Louise Hagen I Reid Jackson I Daniel Karsberg I Eira Tobrand I Erwan Derlyn I Thomas Wester I Fabrice Boullé I Team Luminar Ventures … #venturecapital #vc #funds #startups #entrepreneurs #funding #tech #ai #entrepreneurship #technology #innovation #sweden #europe #venture

𝐓𝐡𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡 𝐓𝐢𝐩:  𝘉𝘪𝘨 𝘍𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘐𝘨𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘴 𝘌𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘺-𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘎𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘵𝘩 🌱 ℍ𝕒𝕡𝕡𝕪 𝟜𝕥𝕙 𝕠𝕗 𝕁𝕦𝕝𝕪! While everyone's enjoying some well-deserved time off, let's dive into some interesting news from the venture capital world. There's been a lot of talk lately about how only big VC firms are raking in the dough, leaving smaller players out in the cold. But a recent fundraise by Industry Ventures suggests there's still hope for emerging managers. Industry Ventures just closed a whopping $900 million fund focused on early-stage companies. Here's the breakdown: 🔹 𝟒𝟎% will go towards backing promising VC funds (good news for those smaller players!) 🔸 𝟒𝟎%will be used for direct investments in high-growth startups alongside their VC partners. 🔹 The remaining 𝟐𝟎% is for acquiring stakes in emerging investment firms from other investors looking to cash out. This is a big deal because it shows there's capital available for smaller VCs and the exciting startups they support. 𝐒𝐨, 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐠𝐠𝐥𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐛𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐧? Industry Ventures seems to think so. They say most of the VC firms they back are raising funds, maybe a bit slower than usual, but with even larger amounts than before. 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐞'𝐬 𝐚 𝐭𝐰𝐢𝐬𝐭: Industry Ventures defines "emerging managers" a bit differently. They're not just looking at brand new firms. They're happy to partner with established VCs with funds under $250 million that focus on early-stage startups. This opens doors for a wider range of experienced investors. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐲? There's still plenty of opportunity in the VC world, even for those who aren't household names. This fundraise is a positive sign for the future of innovation and early-stage growth. Do you think Industry Ventures' approach is a good model? Let's discuss! Don't miss out on future posts. Subscribe for weekly updates. #VC #venture #IndexVentures #startups #funding #founders #startups #technews

🚀 Exciting News Alert! 🚀 We're excited to announce a new partnership with Zühlke Ventures, the venture capital arm of the Swiss-based Zühlke Group, driving innovation in HealthTech. 🌟💡 About Zühlke Ventures Zühlke Ventures supports high-tech start-ups in the Health Tech industry from early stage to exit. They finance ideas that hit the nerve of the market. Their goals are to recognize potential, get involved early, limit threats, and accept reasonable risks. The many assets Zühlke Ventures provides include sound financing, a wealth of management and technology experience, and a strong network. Their dedication to transforming visionary ideas into successful ventures perfectly aligns with Vestberry's mission to empower forward-thinking organizations on their journey to success. 💼✨ Zühlke Ventures excels in fostering an entrepreneurial mindset, bridging the gap between technology and business, and providing comprehensive support to startups. With a rich heritage in engineering, they have a proven track record of nurturing groundbreaking innovations and advancing a sustainable future. 🌱🔬 Collaboration with Purpose By implementing Vestberry's state-of-the-art portfolio intelligence software, Zühlke Ventures aims to: ➡️ Replace their existing Excel-based solution ➡️ Streamline their reporting process to reduce effort and increase accuracy Additionally, Vestberry will help to: ✔ Achieve efficient fund management for better resource allocation and improved decision-making ✔ Optimize investment performance tracking, enabling informed strategic decisions and maximized value creation ✔ Gain deeper insights into their portfolio companies while collecting financial KPIs and ESG metrics 🖥️📈 We are excited to collaborate with Zühlke Ventures and support their vision of driving innovation and technological advancements. Together, we look forward to making a positive impact and shaping the future of HealthTech! 🔬 Vestberry supports VC investors like Zühlke Ventures on their journey to success. Join us in embracing data-driven decision-making in venture capital. #Innovation #VentureCapital #Sustainability #TechFuture #Vestberry #ZuehlkeVentures #Entrepreneurship #portfoliomonitoring #datadrivenVC #BusinessTransformation

🚀 Los Angeles is bustling with opportunities for budding entrepreneurs. Here's a list of angel investors known for their significant contributions to the startup ecosystem: - Clark Landry 💼 - An entrepreneur turned investor with a focus on software businesses and over 120 investments, including significant exits like The Trade Desk and EdgeCast Networks. - Jim Brandt 🌐 - Active with Tech Coast Angels, focusing on software and life sciences. His investments include standout exits like Procore Technologies. - Rosie O'Neill 🍭 - Founder of Sugarfina USA LLC, now an angel investor with a broad interest, backing over 50 startups such as Abbot's Butcher and Thrive Market. - Mark Mullen 🔥 - Founder of Bonfire Ventures 🔥 with a track record in tech startups like ChowNow and AdStage, a TapClicks Company. - Richard Wolpert (He/Him) 📈 - Venture partner at Acrew Capital, with a history of funding successful startups like Carta and NestEgg. - Matthew Mazzeo 🌟 - General Partner at Coatue Management, involved in funding high-profile startups like Airtable and Loom. - Anthony Saleh 🎬 - General Partner at WndrCo, with investments in notable startups like Robinhood and OpenSea. - Tom McInerney 🌍 - Known for funding companies like Notion and Segment, he invests across various industries. - Ashton Kutcher 🎥 - Famous actor and successful investor with Sound Ventures, backing major companies like Airbnb and Uber. Whether you're at the seed stage or looking to scale, these investors offer not only capital but also invaluable guidance and access to extensive networks. Full article here: https://lnkd.in/dyWyxiYU #AngelInvestors #InvestInLA #TechStartups #innovation #startups #ventures

🕚Here a flashback to an exciting and bold VC fund launch from 2023. 💸’In October 2023 Paris-based Id4 ventures secured €16M for its new fund backed by prominent global family offices.’ 🌍European startups. 💡 ‘Supporting founders developing global companies in technologies such as #climatetech #healthtech, computer vision, and #AI. The fund aims to provide initial investments ranging from €200K to €500K at the pre-seed and seed stages.’ 💭 “At Id4 Ventures, we are committed to supporting the European early-stage ecosystem via three key verticals; our direct investment fund, our early-stage centric fund-of-funds, and co-investment vehicles exclusively available to our investors.” - Herve Cuviliez, co-founder of Id4 Ventures. 📈’Founded in 2017, the firm has a portfolio comprising of more than 50 startups and over 20 funds, with more than €100M invested into the early-stage European ecosystem.’ 🗞️Vishal Singh Silicon Canals - European Technology News https://lnkd.in/eTeYpvip 👏 For the #AudaciousInvestors unleashing innovation and empowering tomorrow🚀 Maya Ghayad I Herve Cuviliez I Ivan Petrovic I Raymond Cheaib, I Emmanuelle TKACZ I Team Id4 ventures … #venturecapital #vc #funds #startups #entrepreneurs #funding #tech #entrepreneurship #technology #innovation #paris #europe

Are you trying to stand out in the marketplace? When starting a new business, there is genuine merit in being cheaper, faster or first. It’s a proven path to breaking into a market. At least until someone else comes in even cheaper, faster, or better. So it isn't enough to be different, you need to be distinct. ---o--- Thanks to all of you who read my interview in The Business Manual on the $5bn valuation of GCash because they invited me do this follow up article. If you haven't yet, read all about it in the Articles section of my website. https://lnkd.in/gpZnh9RD

What is a ‘VC Backable’ Venture? In the venture capital (VC) world, over 90% of startups fail. So, if you are Startup Founder, then ask yourself, “Why would anyone invest in my company, considering startups are among one of the highest risk areas? Why would my company outperform others that will most likely fail?” As it’s known, founders rely on VCs for crucial support beyond just funding. They seek expertise, guidance, and networking opportunities to navigate the complexities of scaling their business. Founders value long-term partnerships with VCs who are committed to the success and growth of the company following it to the very end, while providing ongoing support and strategic insight throughout its journey. At Nottingham Unlimited Ventures and InnovateNOW Venture Studio, our team has over 23 years of hands-on experience as innovators, spanning from the inception of over 41 global patents to the successful launch and acquisition of numerous startup companies. We leverage this wealth of expertise to discern promising investment prospects and foster fruitful collaborations with our partners. Ultimately, since we’ve “been there,” we are able to take a different approach. We have a long-term mindset and align with Fund Managers and Founders that are aligned with our mission around emerging technology that drives impact, while promoting social good. Reverting back to the original question, if you are a Startup Founder, are you ‘VC Backable’? #StartupSuccess #VentureCapital #EntrepreneurialJourney 🌟 #TipTuesday #ThoughtfulTuesday Alison Nottingham Bill Nottingham

It’s not news that the last 12+ months have been difficult for venture capital, especially for GPs looking to raise funds. @PitchBook found that U.S. venture capital firms raised $67 billion in 2023, marking a 60% drop year-over-year and a six-year low. But the story that’s getting overlooked in that is how many entrepreneurs are also struggling. Because, coming out of nearly a decade of easy money and rapid valuation growth to one where raising even a small seed round is difficult and is stressing many founders. As @Catalina Daniels and @James Sherman recently wrote in @Harvard Business Review: “Startup founders are facing a brutal environment. While never easy to secure, venture funding is more scarce, valuations are down, exit options are dwindling, and shutdowns, fire sales, and hard pivots are happening everywhere. Even VC firms are laying off employees — something that was practically unheard of until now.” Ouch. Their recommendations, which I agree with, are to focus on: Ideation and ignition: Create a great product and prove product / market fit on a budget. Fundraising: Raise what you can when you can, but don’t rely on it when possible. Uncontrollables: Always plan for the unknown, because it usually happens. https://buff.ly/3ucUUZl @Yu Galaxy