Astrid Soto

Mauloa invests in companies in a very different way by not using debt, not taking control and aligning the economic interest of all stakeholders. Mauloa is a catalyst for positive capitalism and the enormous benefits it creates by improving the lives of all stakeholders, not capitalism run amuck as this article highlights. https://lnkd.in/erg8BYtX

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Boards of Directors – How Relevant To The Business Is The Board? In 2014, activist investor Starboard Value successfully replaced all 12 directors on the board of Darden Restaurants. The following shows the Darden incumbent board at the time of Starboard's proxy fight, Starboard’s value creation plan initiatives, the Starboard director nominees and the before and after performance (revenue, EBITDA, EBITDA margin and stock price). Note especially the direct relevance of each Starboard nominee to the industry or some aspect of the value creation plan. How often do you see this level of relevance on public company boards?

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Sonoma, Ca - Women in CVC Summit! 65 women in CVC gathered together for real, honest conversations about the challenges and complexities in CVC investing versus traditional venture capital. CVCs face challenges such as aligning the interests and expectations of the corporation and the startup, managing the relationship and communication between the two parties, and balancing the trade-offs between strategic and financial returns. But what's truly inspiring is the impact women are having in this space! Female-founded companies exit faster but make up a smaller share of total exit activity. CVCs participated in 17.5% of all female-founder deals in 2023, while more CVC firms have majority female checkwriter representation. Furthermore, female founders closed a record of 22.8% of total VC funds in 2023. We are thrilled to support this vibrant community of women alongside our friends and partners, Counterpart Ventures. Tanvi Narain and Abbie Wolf, congrats on curating such an impactful event. Special thanks to Annemarie Donegan from PitchBook for the data and research she shared with the group. The phenomenal lineup of speakers from corporate and traditional venture capital funds included: ​Amy Daniels Burr, President, JetBlue Ventures Danielle D'Agostaro, Partner, WVV Capital Vivien Ho, Partner, Pear VC Betty Lee (Lee) Bryant, Principal, Woven Capital, Toyota's Growth Fund Savannah Greene, Principal, Workday Ventures Heather Reginelli, Ventures Manager, State Farm Ventures Marie-Christine Razaire, Principal, Northwestern Mutual Future Ventures Beth Devin, Scout, Investor & Advisor, HearstLab Priya Saiprasad, Co-Founder and General Partner, Touring Capital Agustina Sartori, Founding Managing Director, Prisma Ventures #WomeninBuisness #VentureCapital #CVC #CorporateVentureCapital #WomeninLeadership TriNet Abbie Wolf Tanvi Narain Patrick Eggen David Haraburda Kim Thomas Matt Mahoney Samantha Santaniello-Lawrence

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Wing Venture Capital's Founder Docs project is a unique collection of startup wisdom, by founders, for founders. The authors of the docs are talented founders themselves, sharing their experience on the topics they are most passionate about. I'd like to highlight the contributions of Edo Liberty, founder / CEO of Pinecone. Edo writes about the special opportunities for the scientist / founder (and he is one of the best of this breed!), as well as some of the risks and challenges they face. I got a lot out of reading Edo's stuff and I suspect you will too! https://lnkd.in/g_wyRMiE

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🌟💰 Cendana & Kline Hill Launch $105M Fund for Secondary Stakes in Seed VC Funds💰🌟 📢Cendana Capital, a fund of funds that invests in dozens of seed-stage venture firms, and Kline Hill Partners, a firm focused on buying small previously owned private assets, are announcing a new $105 million Kline Hill Cendana Partners fund, which is well above the $75 million target, reported TechCrunch. 🔊“Over the past 2 years, we’ve been hearing from our portfolio funds, ‘We have a family office that wants to sell their $2 million commitment. Would you be interested in buying it?'” said Michael Kim, founder and managing director of Cendana Capital. "As we navigate the evolving VC landscape, this fund offers a unique opportunity to buy stakes in seed-stage VC funds and startups at relative bargains," shares Michael Kim. 💡💸 Led by Kim and Chris Bull, CFA of Kline Hill Partners, this joint venture combines expertise and relationships to navigate the secondary market with precision. "Our goal is to capitalize on the current buyer's market in venture capital," says Bull. 🌐🤝 "With traditional secondary investors eyeing the venture space, the competition is fierce. However, our focus on seed-stage firms sets us apart," explains Kim. 📈💼 Cendana’s relationships with its portfolio funds, including Lerer Hippeau, Forerunner Ventures and Bowery Capital, are helping it take the lead on sourcing secondary deals. Cash-hungry venture investors, whether VCs themselves or their LPs, are increasingly looking to sell their illiquid positions to secondary buyers.  As they embark on this venture, the firms are poised to make a significant impact on the VC ecosystem, providing much-needed liquidity and unlocking new opportunities for growth. "The future looks bright for Cendana and Kline Hill's joint endeavor," concludes Bull. 🌟💰 With the demand for liquidity in the VC space at an all-time high, Cendana and Kline Hill's initiative couldn't come at a better time. By facilitating secondary transactions in seed-stage funds, they're not only providing relief to cash-hungry investors but also fueling innovation and growth in the startup ecosystem. 🌱💡 As the venture capital landscape continues to evolve, partnerships like these will play a crucial role in ensuring the health and sustainability of the industry. With their proven track record and strategic approach, Cendana and Kline Hill are well-positioned to lead the way forward. 🚀🌐 ✅ 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 #VentureCapital #SecondaryMarket #SeedFunding #Innovation #StartupInvesting #Entrepreneurship #CendanaCapital #KlineHillPartners #VCInvestment #SeedStage #LiquidityOpportunity #FutureofVC #InnovativePartnerships

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https://lnkd.in/gZeefZhX Private equity funds gathered $176.7 billion in the first quarter of 2024, a drop of roughly 10 percent from the $195.5 billion recorded in the same period last year, according to preliminary findings from PEI data. Interest rate uncertainty continues to weigh on buyout and exit activity, while record dry powder for the asset class remains stacked for 2024, the data found.

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At Fortune’s Brainstorm Tech conference, an engaging discussion shed light on the evolving venture capital (VC) landscape. One of the key takeaways was the underscore of vibrant growth of the VC sector, with the number of firms soaring from 6,000 in 2013 to about 60,000 today. This surge in competition is driving VCs to innovate and refine their fundraising strategies, creating a dynamic environment for investment opportunities. Additionally, the session touched on how family offices provide flexible capital for smaller investments while emphasizing the thorough scrutiny required for larger funds. An emphasis on candid conversations among VCs and limited partners highlighted a commitment to fostering a more collaborative and forward-thinking investment community. Read More Here: https://lnkd.in/gHjJbtr3 Fortune Allie Garfinkle Branded Hospitality Ventures Hospitality Headline Newsletter #VentureCapital #Investment #hospitality #community Clara Shih Paulo Rosado #BrainstormTech Christine Moseley Rick Rose

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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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We updated our LinkedIn company page! You can read how Rapid Ventures partners with #startups, #marketadopters, #investors and other #stakeholders in the #climatetech #ecosystem to accelerate #decarbonization and catalyze economic and #workforcedevelopment.

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🚀 Excited to speak today at #SuperReturn Berlin - the "State of the Union: How can PE firms find new routes to value creation to thrive in the next wave?" panel!   I joined an esteemed panel: - James Zenni – ZCG - Hazeem Ben Gasem – Invest Corp - Michael Bruun – Goldman Sachs Moderated by Rachel Barton - Accenture   We've dived deep into: 1. How PE firms are re-imagining business strategies and operating models in a more mature and competitive landscape. 2. Whether private markets are still poised to outperform other asset classes. 3. How GPs will update their investment and value-creation playbooks.   ### My Main Thesis: 🔹 **Operators for Operators**: We excel in scaling tech teams from 10 to 100 to 1000 engineers and overcoming technological and operational challenges.   🔹 **Building Regional Hubs**: In a deglobalizing world, we help companies establish regional presences. Our UAE operations are becoming a bridge between large Middle Eastern companies and innovative startups from the Valley and Israel.   🔹 **Adopting Gen AI**: Startups are now categorized as Gen AI natives or non-natives. Those not adopting Gen AI swiftly will struggle to survive. The fastest adopters of Gen AI will gain a new competitive edge akin to the early adoption of personal computers and the internet.   🔹 **Talent Transformation**: The definition of talent is evolving. Gen AI will radically alter how we work and will demand new skills. Quick learners who adapt will benefit the most from Gen AI, which will revolutionize operations, business processes, and organizational behaviors.   🔹 **Data-Driven Future**: In the Gen AI era, all companies will become data companies. Service and product personalization will reach new heights.   🔹 **Future of Companies**: Technology will drive the next wave of value creation across all business verticals. By 2050, at least 50% of the Fortune 20 list will comprise companies that don't exist today.   Looking forward to discussing further these transformative trends and sharing insights on how to leverage Gen AI and technology to drive the next wave of value creation! 🌟   #R136 Ventures #PrivateEquity #Investment #ValueCreation #GenAI #TechTransformation #FutureOfBusiness #UAE #Innovation #Leadership

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I’m thrilled to share one of the most exciting updates since our official launch in 2015. We are unveiling the Keymaker Alliance, an innovative new 501(c)(3) that stands to revolutionize the way Backstage Capital operates, supports founders, and shapes the next generation of investors. The Keymaker Alliance allows us to receive non-profit funding from individuals, foundations, corporations, and donor-advised funds. This means we can now use these funds to support high-impact investments and donations, providing immense value not only to Backstage Capital but also to the founders we serve and our community of investors. Specifically, the Keymaker Alliance enables us to: · *Invest in more pioneering startups* that drive social, economic, and environmental change. · *Expand our operations* to support more entrepreneurs and amplify our impact. · *Invest in other funds* with aligned missions, creating a multiplier effect in the ecosystem. · *Provide grants and debt funding* to ventures and initiatives that align with Backstage's values and goals. For our current investors, this initiative has the potential to significantly raise our assets under management (AUM), enabling us to pour more resources into our existing portfolio while seeking out new opportunistic plays. Our recent investments in innovative companies like ChatGPT, BoldHue, and AudioMob are prime examples of the opportunities we can seize because of our nearly decade-long journey and trailblazer status. I'll soon reveal more details about how a large portion of these donated funds will be used to create essentially an "evergreen" funding pool, allowing us to continuously support new ventures and drive sustainable growth, which is something I've wanted Backstage to be able to do for years! This initiative is not only exciting and compelling but also truly disruptive. It positions us to create a lasting, positive impact on the venture capital ecosystem, democratizing access to funding and fostering an environment where diverse and underrepresented founders can thrive. If you would like to contribute to this transformative journey (with a tax-deductible donation), please visit this site: https://lnkd.in/g7yheVvp Grants or distributions accepted from:  Individuals • Corporations • Donor-Advised Funds • Foundations Retirement Accounts • Charitable Trusts Donate any asset with established or appraisable value, such as:  Stocks • Bonds • Real Estate • Collectibles • Art  Cryptocurrency • Privately Held Business Interests Press requests: ARLAN@BackstageCapital.com

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TRADING SUITS FOR STARTUPS: Relentless Reinvention & Daring to Diverge with Mimi Lam is LIVE! Mimi cut her teeth in the Venture Capital and Investment Banking space before wading into not only the startup world but the nascent Cannabis space, where she co-founded Superette and its iconic ‘retro bodega’ brand; becoming a pioneer of the emerging Canadian recreational retail market. Excited by things that are different and undefined, and in search of opportunities where she can push the envelope to reach new heights, Mimi loves supporting founders and leaders as an advisor, private investor and she recently launched The Founder’s Edition to share learnings and stories from remarkable individuals who are shaping the world in their own way and shine a light on the messy, unexpected, and inspiring realities of entrepreneurship. Mimi and I, are both on a mission to pull back the curtain and support entrepreneurs in their journeys, so this episode really dived into the nitty gritty of entrepreneurship that is rarely talked about. In this episode, we discuss: 🌱 The WILD WEST that is the cannabis industry 🌱 Deciding to diverge by taking a brand risk when everyone was 'playing it safe' 🌱 The competitive advantage of not taking yourself too seriously 🌱 Being intentionally multi-dimensional and re-inventive in both business and life 🌱 Overcoming analysis paralysis, how to get past the idea stage 🌱 Stepping away from the company you built 🌱 How founder burnout and passion interplay 🌱 Creating a platform for real stories while battling perfectionism And SOOO MUCH MORE.... Listen on your fave platforms: YT link https://bit.ly/3xP7Oi8 Spotify https://spoti.fi/3Ygg0D1 Apple https://apple.co/3zwRyme You can reach Mimi and check out The Founders Edition: Mimi: https://lnkd.in/eKaC3ep5 The Founders Edition: https://lnkd.in/e3DUcWPs Mimi & Mason Cinematic Content Creation: https://lnkd.in/eJZsNA4p --- If you’re new here, I’m Alex, Strategic Advisor to Leaders Building Incredible Companies. If you're a business leader or executive team ready to take your leadership to the next level book a free Builders Business Booster call where you’ll receive a Strategic Leadership Audit and 3 concrete focus areas to mature and grow your business. Book here: https://lnkd.in/eyAXP3jq Want to stay in the know…? Join The Builders Club to stay up to date on upcoming events, get valuable insights and tools (No Spam, I promise!) Curious to learn more? Here are the best places to start My website https://alexsnider.com/  LinkedIn https://lnkd.in/euA4KhSq  Instagram https://lnkd.in/dsfqzDHq Don’t forget to Subscribe to the podcast on your fave platform: https://lnkd.in/duK7BZ6T

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Red eye flights are cool, three learnings from the VC Platform Global Summit, and a special curtain call. I had the opportunity to spend the last few days with 500+ #VCPlatform professionals from around the globe. Sandwiched between my son’s basketball tournament (GO GOLD!), a red-eye to Miami, and my daughter’s 4th grade play, the VC Platform Global Community Annual Summit is an event I look forward to every single year. The growth of this community is something that is so special to have witnessed since I joined in 2017. We’ve gone from a small handful of people in a single conference room to a multi-track event touching all aspects of Platform. I walk away feeling as though I learn as much as I share. And while these lessons aren’t specifically Platform specific, they are things that I walked away with in order to be a better manager (and human being)! Here are some of the highlights: ❤️ Lesson 1: Take a moment to be empathetic: Up until this very moment, everybody has a unique journey to where they are in life. No two people see things the exact same way. This fact impacts how they perceive everything in front of them. What is logical to you could be unfathomable to someone else. Take a moment to try to understand what could be unfathomable to you, but is a valid and very real perspective for them. This is applicable in both my professional and personal lives. (A million thanks Julie for helping me remember this.) 🤫 Lesson 2: Thriving as an introvert: In what is seemingly an industry built for extroverts, finding your own way to thrive is nobody’s job but your own. Unbeknownst to me, Dominic and I have taken similar approaches to finding ways to thrive by applying data to our work. What I do with Scale Studio and Go-to-Market scaling, he does with Talent. (Introverts Unite!) 🤝 Lesson 3: Genuine relationships matter: It’s really easy to scan a QR code and connect with someone on LinkedIn, but those aren’t the relationships that truly matter. Sharing the struggle of being a parent, tips on visiting Disney, and talking about a shared passion for fitness are what makes us who we are and open up the doors to build trust and openness in a professional context. Creating these genuine relationships, and continually working on them, have helped me create the network that I come to rely on everyday. (Thanks to my dinner mates Allen, Huff, Stephen, Saydeah, Carolina, Julie, Jindra) Special thanks to the rest of the board at VC Platform (Joshua, Keji, Annie, Cory, Arabella, Brianna, Casey, Cliff, Elyse, Erica, Samantha) for putting this amazing event together. And yes, I made it back for the performance.

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Limited Partners (LPs) are holding on to their dollars in Q1 2024 which is impacting the new fund investments, a mere fraction of 2022 commitments. "For LPs, distributions are what matter, and our data shows how low those realized returns have dropped during the market slowdown. One of the data points that really sticks out this Q1 report is that just $9.3 billion of new fund commitments were closed, or rather, 5.0% of the 2022 annual high. With little capital to recycle into the market, LPs have come under further pressure in navigating their exposure to venture. Though the IPOs of Reddit and Astera Labs grabbed the spotlight during the quarter, total exit value reached just $18.4 billion, dampening the outlook of an increase to distribution rates just yet." Pitchbook #venturecapital #limitedpartners #ipos #venturefunds #familyoffices #FOFs #FOs

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His career started when someone said to him, “well, have you thought about venture capital? We don’t think that you’d be any good at it.” The rest is history. Today’s Alt Goes Mainstream episode features one of the legends of the venture capital industry. Peter Barris joined New Enterprise Associates (NEA) in 1992 after a storied operating career as President and COO at Legent Corporation and an executive at GE Information Services. He served as Managing General Partner and Chairman of NEA from 1999 to March 2024. Under Peter's leadership, NEA saw tremendous success, growing into one of the world's largest venture capital firms and raising the largest-ever venture capital fund a number of times. Today, NEA's AUM stands over $25B. Peter was responsible for investing in a number of foundational and industry-transforming technology companies, including Salesforce, UUNET, Groupon, WebMD, Workday, CareerBuilder, Tempus AI, and more. We had a fascinating discussion about the early days of venture capital and how the industry has evolved. We covered: * The inside story of how almost every other Partner said no but Peter's investment turned out to be a 75x return. * What's the “best characteristic and the death characteristic” of an entrepreneur? * In today's hypercompetitive market do VCs have enough time to make good decisions? * Why the world of venture capital is about influence. * What does it mean to earn an entrepreneur’s trust as a VC? * Why VCs with operating backgrounds can bring unique value to startups. * How NEA came up with the term "Venture Growth Equity." * How can a VC tell that a founder is good at experimentation and that they have the good judgment? * Why specialization and domain expertise are prerequisites in today’s venture industry. Thanks to Ultimus Fund Solutions for sponsoring this episode of the Alt Goes Mainstream podcast. Thanks Peter for coming on the show. It was an honor and a pleasure to hear your views on the evolution of an industry and for you to share your wisdom and experiences. https://lnkd.in/eEJGEFWe

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I really enjoyed recording this episode of The Digital Industrial Podcast with Ty Findley. We talked about common misconceptions for deep tech, the "Why Now" for the category, and differences between investor diligence for deep tech and traditional tech. https://lnkd.in/eKtwjauu

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In the latest episode of the New Light Ventures podcast, I had an insightful conversation with Charles Hudson, Managing Partner and Founder of Precursor Ventures, a pioneering early-stage VC firm. Under Charles' leadership, Precursor has raised four funds totaling over $200M and invested in 400+ companies. 🌟 3 Key Takeaways: 1. Invest Before Product-Market Fit - Precursor focuses on the pre-seed stage, writing $250-500K checks into companies before they have traction. Charles believes this is where he makes the best investment decisions. 2. Founders Don't Need Pedigree - Precursor looks for promising founders even if they lack brand-name credentials. "If you weren't somebody with these known pedigree signals and you didn't have traction, I felt like there wasn't really anybody looking out for you." 3. Picking Well Solves Problems - Charles emphasizes the importance of selection in VC. "If you're good at picking, it solves a lot of problems...when you choose well, you get to work with great people who are very capable and they will problem solve well on their own." "I hope that when I'm done investing many years from now, people look back and say, wow, Precursor, it's in its own lane. They did something different." For aspiring VC managers, founders, and anyone curious about the evolving VC landscape, this episode provides valuable wisdom from a pioneering investor carving his own path. 🎧 Listen to the full episode now - link in comments!

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I’m a strong believer in the idea that leading is largely about building empathy. The job isn’t just helping others understand the mission - it’s helping them complete the mission and building alignment through personal context. To take it a step further, you can’t be empathetic if you aren’t curious. Curiosity drives us to ask deeper questions - those questions build empathy and, then, we become more aligned.

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The SomosVC 2023 Annual Report is out! Key findings of the report include: 👉 79% of venture funds over $100 in AUM have no Latino/a investment professionals at all. 👉 Latino/a's represent only 1.6% of all investment professionals at funds over $100M in AUM 💪 Latino/a led firms are more likely to invest in diverse founders - 48% of portfolio company founders identify as underrepresented people of color. 💪 Latino/a-led firms in the SomosVC community have played a pivotal role in job creation, with investments leading to an estimated 51,612 new jobs. Learn more about the report in this Axios piece! https://lnkd.in/e4d58sNd

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