Jason Jacobson

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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Darden Restaurants recently reported its quarterly results, showcasing resilience amidst a challenging environment. While Olive Garden faced a decline in same-store sales for the second consecutive quarter, Darden's overall performance remained steady, with earnings per share surpassing expectations at $2.65 and revenue reaching $2.96 billion. Looking forward to fiscal 2025, Darden projects a promising outlook with expected earnings per share between $9.40 and $9.60 and anticipated net sales of $11.8 billion to $11.9 billion. The company's LongHorn Steakhouse segment notably reported a 4% increase in same-store sales, underscoring Darden's effective management and operational strength. With plans to invest $550 million to $600 million in capital expenditures, Darden is poised to enhance its offerings and maintain its competitive edge in the market. Read More Here: https://lnkd.in/eFgDC97p #hospitality #restaurants #technology #innovation Branded Hospitality Ventures Angelo Fama Jr. John Espy Dave George Daryl L. Cunningham Lisa McDowell Robert Anderson Ali Charri

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To all #founders and #entrepreneurs out there, our intro meetings are conversational and easy going. Feel free to message me to setup a call. Learn what Pioneera Ventures can do for you!

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I recently had the pleasure of speaking with and learning from several software execs from our portfolio companies and industry experts during Thoma Bravo's AI Summit in Miami. It was great to share our insights into trends and practices we see in our portfolio and how we manage opportunities and risks. At TB, we have a long history of guiding enterprise software companies through digital transformation, and we’re already navigating the transition driven by generative AI. Our focus is on managing this new innovation by absorbing the technology to bring meaningful benefits to our portfolio companies and indirectly to their customers. And it’s evolving fast! We see our portfolio companies today using gen AI in generally three ways: first, to create new products and provide customers with incremental use cases. Second, to defend against cyber attacks that have become much more sophisticated by bad actors. And third, as an enabler of talent to make business operations run more efficient and productive. In our view, AI presents a significant growth opportunity, but we also believe that to really maximize that potential, companies should carefully evaluate the risks and be thoughtful about governance, trust, security and data privacy. AI is poised to accelerate innovation and it’s hard to predict the full, transformative potential of AI, but we are confident that some of the advantages of incumbent knowledge and data will be key to unlocking its value.

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Thanks to Kanhai Kapadia for hosting me on the Hindsight podcast. It was a lot of fun talking about the importance of data in helping brands manage profitability and also how both Consumer Brands and SaaS companies are transitioning to this post-zirp environment #dtc #analytics

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Per PitchBook, PE managers' returns to LPs are still in decline. The data speaks for itself. Clearly the past few years have seen a significant decline in realizations. However, one of the biggest mistakes continually made in investing is to take recent data and simply extrapolate it into the future. The article makes the statement: "The decline is a sign that PE realizations have yet to bottom out, as GPs navigate unfavorable market conditions for exiting their often long-held investments." I wouldn't be so sure. The data might actually be pointing out that the decline has bottomed out - and we simply have not yet recognized it. The investing markets are a pendulum, constantly swinging back and forth between wide open capital markets and markets closed tight. We have been in a closed market for some time now. Don't be too surprised if what we are experiencing now is the early innings to a thaw. Only time will tell... Endeavor Colorado #privateequity #venturecapital #innovation #entrepreneurship #founders #startups #investing https://lnkd.in/gCCWN9_D

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Last week, mid-market companies were trading hands faster than picks at the NFL draft. 10 notable MM PE deals from the past week: ➡️ Incline Equity Partners invested in VMG Health, a TX-based compliance, strategy, and transaction advisory firm serving the healthcare industry. ➡️ Serent Capital acquired Medical Informatics Engineering, Inc., a provider of healthcare IT software for the occupational health market. ➡️ Celebrity Coaches, LLC, a TN-based portfolio company of Allied Industrial Partners, acquired Moonstruck Leasing, an entertainment coach leasing company. ➡️ Granite Creek Capital Partners, L.L.C. in partnership with Boathouse Capital, invested in DCG, a full-service strategic comms firm serving federal government clients. ➡️ Apax Digital invested in IANS, a MA-based provider of research and advisory services for the infosec market. ➡️ The Stephens Group, LLC partnered with VisionSafe Corporation - EVAS, a HI-based provider of aircraft cockpit smoke displacement systems. ➡️ Gamut Capital Management is set to acquire DEX Imaging, a provider of managed print services across industries. ➡️ Century Park Capital Partners acquired Total Access Elevator, a CA-based provider of commercial elevator modernization, maintenance, and repair services. ➡️  Shoreline Equity Partners invested in Prime Meats LLC, a GA-based processor and distributor of proteins. ➡️ Family office CC Industries acquires Foremark Performance Chemicals, a producer of formaldehyde and derivatives for the petrochemicals industries. #PrivateEquity #MergersandAcquisitions #Acquisitions #PE #Acquisitions

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The healthcare landscape is rapidly evolving, driven by advancements in technology and a deeper understanding of patient care. I had the pleasure of speaking with Ambar Bhattacharyya, Co-Managing Partner at Maverick Ventures, on the latest episode of The Full Ratchet. Ambar has partnered with numerous billion-dollar companies like hims & hers, Cityblock Health, Devoted Health, and ConcertAI. His unique journey from rural America to becoming a prominent figure in venture capital offers invaluable insights into the future of healthcare and technology. We discuss his investment strategy at Maverick Ventures, the megatrends shaping healthcare, the impact of AI on the industry, and the importance of integrated care. Ambar also shares his thoughts on the challenges and opportunities in healthcare investment, offering a comprehensive view of what lies ahead. Check out TFR Episode 438 to catch our conversation. You'll be glad you listened.

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As lenders to late and growth-stage companies, we're often asked: “What exactly do you look for in potential borrowers?" In my 30 years of experience working in the venture ecosystem, I’ve seen what qualifies some businesses to get the financing they need. Here is what we typically look for: ✔ Proven Business Model: Those with validated product-market fit, recurring revenue streams, and predictable cash flow are typically less risky and more likely to succeed in repaying their debt obligations. ✔ Stable and Diverse Customer Base: Borrowers with a stable and diverse customer base demonstrate a reduction in concentration risk and lower dependency on a single revenue source. ✔ Strong Management Team: At Runway, we look for entrepreneurs with a track record of success, industry expertise, and a clear ability to execute a business plan. A strong management team signals confidence to the lender that the business will be able to navigate challenges and drive business growth. ✔ Capital Efficiency: Startups that have effectively managed their capital resources, are clear on how the funding will be used, have minimized burn rate, and achieved meaningful milestones are strong candidates to utilize debt financing. ✔ Equity Backing: Previous equity financing by an established VC can provide additional validation of a company’s business model, market opportunity, and growth prospects. ✔ Exit Strategy: Those with a clear path to profitability and viable exit (such as through an initial public offering or strategic acquisition) provide assurance that the debt will be repaid in a timely manner. If you’re thinking about how to grow your business, and exploring debt as an option, keep this in mind!

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Last week I had the pleasure of being on The Exit, which is hosted by Steve McGarry and presented by Flippa.com. In this episode, I talk about my exits from MeMD and NextCare. At the end of the episode, I discuss how I time my ventures and how I live life as a serial entrepreneur. #businessexit #exitstrategy #entrepreneur #businesstips #healthcareleadership

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A few Friday thoughts... After several days in Chicago surrounded by 200+ LPs at the ILPA Members' Conference covering everything from AI to NAV facilities, I'm headed into the weekend energized by what's to come. That may come at a surprise after the week we've had as an industry. The decision from the U.S. Fifth Circuit on the SEC's Private Fund Advisers rules was handed down just moments before we kicked off ILPA’s AGM on Wednesday. All along, ILPA has viewed the PFA as addressing areas that pose risks to both LPs and the industry around transparency, governance and alignment of interest. It was disappointing—albeit not a shock—to see the PFA vacated. But ILPA is choosing to turn our energy to the compelling opportunity before us as an industry. Together, we can chart the path for how we'll work better together, on our own terms. Particularly around transparency. Just days prior to the ruling, we had debuted the next evolution of ILPA reporting templates on fees and expenses and performance for industry feedback. The templates were developed by a broad industry coalition over a three-month period, partly to comply with the PFA quarterly statements rule implementation deadline, but largely because this work needed to be done. We've temporarily paused the comment period. Now we have the benefit of more time to ensure that these minimum reporting standards have cross-industry buy-in to ensure wide support and adoption. Will you join us in this effort, in paving the way forward as an industry? https://lnkd.in/e-6hspU4

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Join us tomorrow for a panel discussion on the complex relationship many FirstGens have to money and how that affects founders, investors, operators and others. See you tomorrow! https://lu.ma/9rixyzgs

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This week Mikal Ventures brings you a 4-week breakdown of the US capital market with an emphasis on the Mikal verticals. Over the 4-week period ending April 15, just over 900 new companies were added, with 94,109 companies included in the US Health Tech, Med Tech, Fin Tech, AI Tech, and Ed Tech verticals. AI Tech again saw the greatest percentage of growth in new companies and transactions, weighing in at over double the vertical averages for the period. The US Fin Tech vertical again led the way in SEC Filings and news articles. Mikal Ventures publishes these stats on a rolling 4-week basis to provide a perspective on how the verticals and new startups move through time. We hope you find them informative and thought-provoking. VC Investors are always adjusting their "Play Book" with a variety of options for investing. Mikal Ventures is one of those alternatives, offering curated solutions to real world problems. Reach out if you have questions on how we can be of assistance and bookmark https://mikalventures.com/ for additional insights and information.

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This week Mikal Ventures brings you a 4-week breakdown of the non-US capital market with an emphasis on the Mikal verticals. Over the 4-week period ending May 29, a total of 1,545 new companies were added, with 101,688 companies included in the non-US Health Tech, Med Tech, Fin Tech, AI Tech, and Ed Tech verticals. The non-US AI Tech saw the greatest percentage growth in new companies for the period, weighing in at a notable 27%, nearly two times the overall vertical average of 15%. The non-US Heath Tech vertical led the group in transactions. Non-US Med Tech vertical lead in both SEC Filings and news articles. Mikal Ventures publishes these stats on a rolling 4-week basis to provide a perspective on how the verticals and new startups move through time. We hope you find them informative and thought-provoking. VC Investors are always adjusting their "Play Book" with a variety of options for investing. Mikal Ventures is one of those alternatives, offering curated solutions to real world problems. Reach out if you have questions on how we can be of assistance and bookmark https://mikalventures.com/ for additional insights and information.

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🌟 Looking to secure first-round funding? Check out these essential tips to perfect your pitch from the team at Ascend Venture Capital. From finding the right investor to crafting a compelling story and nailing down financial details, these insights will help you stand out and succeed in your fundraising efforts 🚀 #StartupFunding #InvestorPitch #VentureCapital

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Today, Last Money In Media is excited to share a guest post from one of our colleagues Phil Nadel, who leads Forefront Venture Partners. Phil wrote a piece title "The Misaligned Syndicate Incentive Structure" to provide a viewpoint on syndicates doing high volume deals versus those that are more concentrated. (link to full post in comments) Forefront Venture Partners formed one of the first syndicates about 12 years ago. They have invested in more than 200 rounds in over 100 companies since then. Additionally, they started a rolling fund about 3 years ago. Given Phil’s experience across models (SPVs/Funds) and having seen the evolution of the syndicate ecosystem over the last decade, Phil has offered to share his unique perspective with Last Money In Media readers in our article published today. In this Last Money In Media article, Phil discusses: - His POV on the incentive structure in the SPV ecosystem - The landscape shift to some higher volume syndicate GPs - Why Rolling Funds may be a better alternative for some LPs - And more The full article is in the comments for further reading. Powered by Sydecar, Last Money In Media is the most actionable venture capital newsletter. Written by Zachary Ginsburg and Alex Pattis who have deployed > $200M across 700+ SPVs.

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Abby Levy talks about venture's role in US healthcare and what we can expect to see as technology impacts the space on TFR. Check out the rest of the conversation with Abby & Alan Patricof of Primetime Partners on Episode 433.

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