Ellen Wilcox

Fundraising decks are important but only within the context of a well-orchestrated fundraising process. A deck itself is unlikely to directly lead to a term sheet. Rather, it is important to understand how you want to use the deck (or any collateral for that matter) as part of your fundraise process. For example: - Is it to secure the first meeting with a VC? A teaser deck is important. But so is the email snippet and warm referral! - Is it part of a deeper-dive session about your business? Excellent. Is it a deeper dive on product or GTM? And, is the next step a track to a partnership meeting? - Is it a diligence deck? Excellent. Is it more about showcasing the financial plan and key levers? ... what is the ONE thing you want this deck to help you achieve? More tips on fundraising your early-stage round here: https://lnkd.in/gvWYaCwk #startups #venture #fundraising

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Today marks the 2-year anniversary of Hola Metaverso's first event in Los Angeles in 2022. It was a lot of hard work to pull that off, but we did it because it was important to create a space for Latin@s and other marginalized communities to learn, build, and connect. 10 Event Experiences in 17 Months 5 International Cities April 2022 - September 2023 April 2022 — Hola Metaverso, Los Angeles June 2022 — Web3 Workshop, Los Angeles August 2022 — Hola Metaverso, Bogotá September 2022 — Líderes y Creadores, Ciudad de México November 2022 — Líderes y Creadores, Medellín January 2023 — Wallet Workshop, Los Angeles March 2023 — Leaders & Builders at Razorfish, Los Angeles April 2023 — WebSh3, New York June 2023 — Developer DAO, Coinbase, and Razorfish, Los Angeles September 2023 — FUTURISTA, Medellín / Universidad de Medellín Thanks to Hola Metaverso Founder Oszie Tarula for his commitment to the mission and for inviting me along on this journey. Thanks to every person and organization that has supported our mission by supporting our experiences. We have a great opportunity to create the future we imagined. The iterations before this weren't built by us, and we were never taken into consideration. If you want to not just talk about but be about it and want to support bringing education, resources, and access to all, reach out so we can build. We've achieved a lot in the past two years, but there's still important work ahead. Let's continue building together towards a more inclusive future. Check out the short reel to see a sample of our experiences. Are you in it? Let us know. #HolaMetaverso #LatinxInTech #DiversityandInclusion #TechEvents #web3 #DiversityInTech #emergingtech

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Getting to invest in visionary education founders is an incredible privilege. But it's also a massive responsibility. Alberto Arenaza and I got accepted into the VC Lab program for emerging fund managers through our work at Transcend Network Fund, and the program starts with a pledge and a reflection that we wanted to share here. The pledge is to accept the Mensarius Oath (similar to the Hippocratic Oath in the medical profession, but for investors), which outlines a set of values for ethical investing in venture. So let's start with that. "I support the the Mensarius Oath for ethical investing" Now, the reflection: how does this apply to our sector and our investments? Investing in education and the future of work requires thinking long and hard about the vision that every founder sets as they build their products: who does the product serve? How does it serve them? How will the founder ensure that their product continues to have a positive impact on users as they grow? We invest so early (80% of the time we are first-check investors), it's impossible to predict the future. But we try to pay attention to the little things, and identify pattern that we can use in our investing and founder support. We may not get it right all the time, and we can't yet back every company we love (give us a few years 😬) , but we want to make sure we are contributing to a better education and work system through our work. And that's our pledge! Excited to continue our work with Transcend Fund through VC Lab and beyond 🙌

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🗓FREE EVENT: We're excited to host Nijia Zhou, the Climate Principal from Whole Foods Market - Amazon for this week's climate career event at Voiz Academy! We will be delving into crucial topics such as emissions reduction, supplier collaboration, nature, and more. 🌱 Gain valuable insights on engaging suppliers, measuring impact, and shaping the future of climate initiatives in grocery retail. Don't miss this opportunity to learn from Nijia's expertise and explore career pathways in corporate sustainability. 🌎 💼 The registration link is in the comments. Come join us for the discussion! If you like these events, follow Voiz Academy to join more and Anita Kelava for updates on our podcast. #corporatesustainability #supplychain #foodretail

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Personal share - I got to go to Sonoma for the first time this week! Just got back from the inaugural Recast Capital Summit led by co-founders Sara Zulkosky and Courtney Russell McCrea. (Thank you Aurelia Flores VIPC | Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation for making this possible.) Met thoughtful #LPs looking for fresh strategies, and enjoyed time with the emerging generation of alpha-generators, like my Kauffman Fellows Class 23 friends Noramay Cadena, Jenny Fielding, Gale Wilkinson, and Jason Torres--and Recast cohort friends Shalanda Armstrong and Lister Delgado. While catching up with VC friends is inspiring, and having off-the-record conversations is helpful in the futurescape of #VC reality, the one thing I want to celebrate here is 🌹Sara. 🌹 Sara Zulkosky and I met in the Kauffman Fellows program. We were in the same class. I was learning to raise my first institutional fund--and she was with Greenspring just before they were snapped up by StepStone Group. She listened so deeply and advised so gently . . . I will never forget her passion for the alpha only available in emerging managers--and her empathy for the path of breaking into venture. When I cried, basically she cried too. Her wise words were ones I held on to tightly as I went through that first raise. It seems like yesterday. But just a few years later--today--I'm making investments out of my ✨ ⭐ 2nd⭐ ✨institutional fund at Valor VC. And Sara founded a platform with Courtney for top emerging managers and the LPs who seek them to change the game, not just the score. It's working. As a fundpreneur, each day can be a bit of a climb, but some days, you look back on the mountain range you've scaled and the view is breathtaking. That's the vibe I'm going into the weekend with. There's a whole continental divide of experience informing Recast Capital's approach to apha. Worth a follow if you invest in fund managers!

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I meet so many talented, smart women with great ideas...but who are afraid to take the plunge into entrepreneurship. That's why it's great to see initiatives like this community for aspiring founders from Anais Cisneros and the team at Amela. The program is for you if you have an idea or not, or if you're just starting to build something. The membership gives access to educational resources, masterminds, benefits, and an active community that will help you on your journey 😉 (Disclosure: I'm a proud investor in Amela since the beginning 💜 ) 📌 More information here: https://tally.so/r/3qdpv8 📅 Next intake: June 4 #AspiringFounders #Entrepreneurship

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NY friends! Please come see me at Tech Day on my panel discussing the future of the NY tech ecosystem and what I hope to bring to it!

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Climate People's first-ever Climate Career Boot Camp is happening next Wednesday, and it's designed for those serious about making a difference in climate tech. This fast-paced, 4-hour workshop is your one-stop shop for: - Finding your climate niche - Accessing the hidden job market (yes, it exists!) - Crafting applications that get noticed by climate-focused hiring managers - Building a network of contacts who can open doors for you This is the inside scoop, straight from the source. I talk to hiring managers in this space daily, and this is the information that will make a real difference in your job search. We're committed to making this accessible to everyone, so we've kept the price at $125. Don't miss out on this opportunity to gain a competitive edge. Spaces are limited, so grab yours here: https://buff.ly/3z9hG6C Send Natalie or me a DM if you have questions!

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Prime Coalition has long taken a different tack to climate finance compared to its for-profit brethren. It makes the usual venture-style investments in startups through Azolla Ventures and also helps philanthropists direct their money to climate-related projects that it deems high impact. Trellis Climate follows the latter model with a focus on middle stages, where capital has grown scarce. #climatetech #climateVC #climatefinance

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Fireside Chat with Paul English & Dmitry Koltunov Grateful to be apart of #SLP2024 & the fantastic fireside chat with startup veterans Paul English & Dmitry Koltunov; here are some highlights: 🔸Be a Master #Listener & #Storyteller: Listen, get infront of customers & inspire your teams. 🔸First #Sales hires Rock: They wear many hats, constantly learning, and have a crucial role in shaping the product #vision & pipeline. 🔸Customer Obsession is Key: Build strong relationships & Make your initial clients deliriously happy for future #growth. 🔸Embrace Feedback & Iterate: Listen to customer needs and adapt quickly. 🔸Leadership by Generosity: Don't take credit - unless it’s for good hiring - Empower your team and celebrate their achievements. 🪬#greenflag: Paul, with his impressive track record (5 companies, 4 nonprofits!), prioritizes #balance. Mornings are free, and family time remains a top priority. A true #inspiration for building success while maintaining a fulfilling life! #leadership #sales #startup #worklifebalance Startup Leadership Program NYC Startup Leadership Program #tech #innovation

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At UME we get to work with amazing hearts and minds, like the co-leaders of Stanford Impact Labs. Check out this article sharing six on-the-ground lessons in co-leadership from the amazing Misan Rewane and Jeremy Weinstein. https://lnkd.in/gP4ZvSVm And kudos to our coaches Jee Chang and Madeleine Lowenthal! Your ability to help leaders navigate through both longstanding and emerging power dynamics is inspiring.

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So proud of the number of ways we’ve been able to partner with Dream.org, including through the Climate Tech launchpad. Learn more below, and apply or spread the word!

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Social value: A revival in philanthropy? 🤔 Great speaking on a panel at the Footprint+ conference to discuss & debate how we can better connect developers with VISABLE social impact! A few key themes that came from the convo: 📈How do we actually measure social value? The ‘E’ in ESG has a more defined measurement but what about the ‘S’? If we can’t fully measure it, we can’t track it. Thoughts? 🎯 How do we better facilitate direct tie ups between developers and local charities? (Southwark charities is a stellar example of this) 💡How do we look at social impact and business performance as not mutually exclusive? We’re seeing more and more signs that a business that stands for something and gives back can actually enhance its bottom line. Thanks to my fellow panelist’s for a great session! Chris Bowie-Hill @Chris Wilson of Southwark Charities and @Juraj Marko of JTRE #proptech #ESG #impact #hospitality #realestate #footprint

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Summary: The article discusses the challenges faced by climate tech startups as they transition from the lab to commercial outfit. These companies, which work on hardware and infrastructure projects for climate solutions, struggle to raise necessary funds and often face difficulties in scaling up production. Key takeaways: The transition from early-stage startup to commercial operation is difficult, especially for hardware and infrastructure projects in the climate tech industry. The lack of financing options and specialized expertise for these types of projects creates a "commercial valley of death" that many companies struggle to overcome. Startups often fall into the trap of trying to expand their business too quickly, losing sight of their core value proposition and failing to ensure proper execution. Counter arguments: Some may argue that this "first of a kind" problem is not unique to the climate tech industry and can be seen in other industries as well. Others may argue that with the increasing focus on climate change and need for sustainable solutions, more funding and support will become available for these startups. #venturecapital #vc #startups

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Startup Community Leaders & Facilitators; Tune in later today to listen to John Hill's power of the network talk... so many actionable tips to help you leverage your own network.

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I'll be heading to Boston with Karen Heredia soon to lead a Harvard Innovation Lab roundtable for female founders. Our theme is "scaling healthy culture." If you're a founder or organization leader, I want to know: What do you wish you'd known when you were just starting out? #femalefounders #workplaceculture #startupculture #consciousfounders

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We announced the NYU Tandon Future Labs Catalyst NYC 2024 cohort! 15 pre-seed startups will join the program after intensive 2 weeks of interviewing over 50 companies. A few things that I've learned during the interviewing process: 👉 In-person makes the difference - we conducted most of the interviews in person. Seeing the team dynamic, being able to show the space, and having those small talks that will not always happen on Zoom, really makes the difference.  👉 Is it all about money? As I don’t think that money should be the first motivation to build a startup, not caring about money is a red flag. Building a successful for-profit company that will financially benefit the founders should be a goal to be motivated by.  👉 It takes a village - I appreciate founders who know the limitations of their skills, know what help they need, and appreciate learning about help that they don’t know that they need. I can not wait to start the program and work with so many great founders!

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What are Nature-Based Restorative Solutions? Nature-based restorative solutions are strategic initiatives that leverage natural processes to address environmental, social, and economic challenges. At FloCard, we're actively engaged in these solutions through dynamic partnerships and innovative technologies that ensure effectiveness and sustainability. One of our notable collaborations is with the SERVE Council, a tech-enabled, ESG-driven organization dedicated to environmental conservation and promoting sustainable livelihoods. Raosaheb Samrat, Yuvraj Seth and his team at grassroots have pledged for #BetterPlanetTogether Together, we are working on several impactful projects: 1. Serve Trees Project: This initiative combines digital and blockchain technology to enhance tree plantations' monitoring and transparency. By facilitating real-time data access, we ensure that every tree planted is accounted for, contributing to more significant environmental recovery and community trust. 2. From Seeds of Hope to Fruits of Opportunity: In partnership with SERVE Council, FloCard supports the free tree-sapling program, empowering rural communities through sustainable tree farming. This program distributes high-value species suitable for local climates and markets, provides comprehensive training on sustainable planting and care, and connects participants with market opportunities. This approach not only combats biodiversity loss but also boosts local economies by creating stable, sustainable livelihoods. 3. SERVE Livelihood - Micro Entrepreneurship Development & Livelihood Enterprises Development: Our joint efforts extend to fostering micro-entrepreneurship, providing tools and training that enable community members to start and sustain their green businesses. This initiative supports economic empowerment and sustainable development in tandem with environmental conservation. 4. Distance Learning Innovators Alliance: This alliance, supported by FloCard and SERVE Council, bridges distance learning and innovation, offering a platform for remote learners to connect, collaborate, and grow their entrepreneurial ventures. It’s an ecosystem designed to foster networking and development among those who might otherwise lack access to traditional educational resources. Through these initiatives, FloCard is a participant and a driver of nature-based solutions, ensuring that every project is impactful, sustainable, and aligned with our commitment to advancing corporate sustainability and empowering communities. Join us in protecting biodiversity and nurturing a green economy. Follow https://lnkd.in/dKJ8aBQS

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I have had the privilege of knowing some of the world's most prominent philanthropists and foundations, learning firsthand the critical role we can play in driving systemic change. Our approach to grant-making and philanthropic strategies goes beyond mere charity; it harnesses the power to create substantial impact. With our Fashion Climate Fund, we are mobilizing essential resources to steer the market toward a future where all products and business models positively impact people and the planet. When we first set out to scale solutions at Aii, we recognized the necessity of catalytic funding to prepare proven solutions for broader implementation. We also acknowledged the importance of identifying and evaluating potential solutions using a data-driven, science-based approach. Moving from pilot projects to large-scale implementation requires significant resources. This is the mission of the Fashion Climate Fund. Our goal is to deploy $250 million by 2030 in catalytic capital, which we aim to leverage to drive a total of $2 billion toward supporting producers (i.e., suppliers) in their decarbonization efforts. This strategy not only future-proofs their businesses but also contributes to global climate action targets. DM me to learn more about becoming a LEAD PARTNER! Join the leadership. Apparel Impact Institute. The Schmidt Family Foundation The 11th Hour Project The DOEN Foundation The Rockefeller Foundation PVH FOUNDATION INC TARGET FOUNDATION HSBC lululemon H&M Group Laudes Foundation Roy A. Hunt Foundation

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