Malcolm Lewis

Founder-Turned-VC Investor Raised $150 Million for Her New Fund💰 Masha Bucher, ex-entrepreneur and founder of Day One Ventures, has raised $150M for her new VC fund. Founded in 2018, Day One Ventures focuses on early-stage startups, offering initial investments ranging from $1M to $2M. Notable companies in the firm’s portfolio include Worldcoin, legal services company DoNotPay Inc., and AI assistant You.com. 📝Diverse Investments and Real-World Impact Day One Ventures supports startups across various industries, with Bucher particularly drawn to founders tackling real-world challenges. “From profound wealth disparities to the urgent threat of climate change and the growing sense of social isolation, tech founders will be our lifeline toward a more abundant, diverse, and sustainable future,” Bucher stated regarding the new fund. 🏆The firm’s track record is impressive, with six of its investments achieving billion-dollar valuations and 22 companies either being sold or going public. This success highlights Day One's knack for identifying high-potential startups. 🎯PR Expertise and Strategic Growth Before transitioning to VC, Bucher founded a PR firm that managed communications for numerous tech companies. She has leveraged her PR expertise to coach startups on media strategies. “If you look at any business problem you want to solve and any business goal you want to solve, 90% of the business problems are communications problems,” Bucher explained on Bloomberg Television. “I think this is something we train founders on and something that we help them to do.” 📈Growth of Day One Ventures The new fund is Day One’s third and largest to date. Fund I, closed in 2019, was nearly $20 million, while the second fund in 2020 totaled $52.5 million. This latest fundraising effort saw contributions from US and European institutional LPs, as well as 14 of Bucher’s own portfolio company founders.💰 “When you are building a firm with value add and staying close to founders, you can attract a lot of capital from your own network,” Bucher said. Notably, she made a concerted effort to include female investors, securing backing from 9 female LPs. Significant in the male-dominated VC industry, where female founders received just 2% of the total capital invested in US startups in 2023, according to PitchBook.🤷‍♀️ 🤝New Investments and Future Focus Day One has already made 5 investments from its Fund III: Cradle, an AI startup focused on human longevity; Rainmaker, a Los Angeles-based company working on cloud-seeding technology; Affiniti; Astroforge; and Layer N.  🚀🌍 ✅ Looking to raise capital for your #VCfund and increase the international pool of your LPs?   🤝 Need warm #LP introductions?   📝 Selling #secondaries to increase liquidity?   🧐 Looking for co-investments (Series A/Series B)?   ▶ G+QUANT's link for inquiries and fund decks: https://lnkd.in/gjC_EuTE #VentureCapital #TechInvesting #FemaleFounders #StartupFunding #Innovation

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🌟Innovative VC Firm Overcomes Exits Drought with Secondary Sales🌟 ⛵Navigating a challenging landscape where exits are scarce, Santa Barbara Venture Partners (SBVP) has pioneered a novel approach to sustain its growth and attract investors for its second fund: secondary sales. Instead of waiting for traditional exits like IPOs or acquisitions, SBVP opted to sell shares of its portfolio companies, demonstrating its ability to generate returns for investors and stand out in a competitive market. 🎤According to Dan Engel, founder and managing partner of SBVP, these secondary transactions have been a game-changer, sparking investor interest and bolstering the firm's credibility. By leveraging its recent successes, including a lucrative stake in sports-betting company DraftKings Inc.' acquisition of digital lottery app Jackpocket, SBVP seized the opportunity to return profits to its limited partners (LPs) and pave the way for its second fund. 💡Engel highlighted the challenges faced by young VC firms in raising subsequent funds, particularly amid a downturn in exit activity and heightened investor scrutiny. With traditional exit routes becoming increasingly elusive, the pressure is on for firms to demonstrate tangible returns and establish a track record of success. ✨"For us, secondary sales have been a game-changer. They've helped us return profits to our LPs and attract investors for our second fund," said Dan Engel. 💰For SBVP, the decision to pursue secondary sales was driven by the need to provide liquidity to LPs and validate its investment thesis in the eyes of prospective investors. By strategically offloading portions of its holdings in high-performing portfolio companies like Bark Technologies and Rad AI, SBVP not only generated substantial returns but also bolstered investor confidence in its ability to deliver results. ⚠Despite the complexities and potential stigma associated with early share sales, Engel emphasized the importance of prioritizing investor returns and seizing opportunities to unlock value for stakeholders. With a focus on profitability and transparency, SBVP remains committed to its mission of delivering sustainable growth and maximizing returns for its LPs. 🔍 "Returning profits to our investors is our top priority. By strategically selling shares, we're proving our commitment to delivering results and driving value for our stakeholders," added Engel. As SBVP continues to explore secondary transactions and expand its investor base, the firm stands as a testament to innovation and resilience in the face of market challenges. 🚀 ✅ 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 #VCInnovation #SecondarySalesSuccess #InvestorReturns #ValueCreation 

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💡Benchmarks in the investment industry serve as a standard for measuring the performance of securities, mutual funds, or investment managers. They provide a reference point for analyzing allocation, risk, and return of a portfolio, enabling investors to make informed decisions. Thanks Peter Walker for keeping us all informed!! Can’t wait for this!! Follow and get on the waitlist for this one! #benchmarks #fundraising #Capitalraise #founders #womenshealth #femhealth #medtech #wellness

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Having a Cars and Capital event tomorrow in Southern California with Oren Klaff. If you want to join message me. https://lnkd.in/gDQ4D39u Oren Klaff Bridger Pennington #InvestorEvent #FamilyOffice #InvestmentOpportunity #CarlsbadEvent #PrivateEquity #WealthManagement #InvestmentConference #CapitalRaising #NetworkingEvent #IndustryLeaders #FinancialGrowth #InvestorsMeetup #WealthBuilding #BusinessGrowth #InvestmentForum

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Ditch your employer and go start a competitor, because the FTC just banned noncompetes nationwide and invalidated existing ones for everyone except senior execs. California already refused to enforce non-competes, which many think contributes to the rich startup ecosystem here. Now the question is whether employers become more cagey about widely sharing strategy internally. It also puts even more pressure on companies to retain talent with great employee experience. Now constant re-orgs, office politics, and annoying work-from-home policies could instantly give competitors a boost or spawn new rivals

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California's economic strength has many roots, but one key factor is its stance against non-compete agreements. With very few exceptions, it has been unlawful for employers to enforce non-competes in California since 1872. Last week, the FTC banned non-competes nationally. While a lot of business leaders are freaking out, I'd like to welcome you all to the party -- even if you did get dragged here against your will and show up 152 years later. From a moral standpoint, banning non-competes nationally is obviously the right thing to do. Employees have families and financial needs. Limiting their career mobility through non-competes is rapacious corporate behavior. It's time to move away from a system that mimics indentured servitude and embrace one that empowers workers. But it's not just about fairness. There's a strong economic argument, too. Non-compete agreements stifle innovation and economic throughput, particularly in the knowledge economy. A free flow of talent fosters a more dynamic and productive market for all participants. But look, I get why so many business leaders are panicked. It's painful to invest time and energy in training an employee only to see them poached by a competitor. There is no way around that – but the solution is not to use your asymmetrical power as employer to force your employees to continue working for you or else go hungry. The solution is to create a compelling work environment -- one with strong compensation and intellectual nourishment and professional development for all your employees. It's not neuroscience. When employees feel like they're getting a great deal where they're at, they'll stay. And the ones who leave for a few extra nickels weren't long-term contributors who were going to move the needle for your business in any case. Learn. Do better. And always remember that the free market can only truly work when it flows in all directions. Ending non-compete agreements is a step towards a more vibrant and equitable economy for all. #management #talentacquisition #entrepreneurship

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Exciting news for startups! California accounts for about 50% of all venture investments. The not-so-secret reason is that non-competes are illegal in California, so engineers at FAANGs can build competitors without fear. Today, the US Federal Trade Commission declared non-compete agreements illegal nationwide. This means that engineers at big tech companies can now leave and build their own companies without fear of violating a non-competes (legacy agreements for executives are still enforceable - talk to your lawyer), this is a step in the right direction for fostering innovation and competition across the country. A variety of big-business groups have vowed to sue to bring non-competes back, but at least for now, they're gone! #startups #innovation #competition #noncompete Official Announcement: https://lnkd.in/gRXUpgDy Impending lawsuit: https://lnkd.in/gqSiVuTd

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PE professionals surveyed (2022) attribute >50% of investment returns to the quality of leadership. (Credit: Teneo) Read: ● MOST All PE folks understand the strong link between leadership and performance. And... ◕ SOME PE folks are intentional & disciplined about hiring and selecting leadership. Yet... ◔ FEW PE folks are actually investing in developing leaders. I'm working on something to bridge that gap, and help PEGs unlock more "leadership alpha." Details in the comments ⤵️

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21 Ways to Kill Your Company Day 9: Poor Fundraising Strategy This means two things - be realistic about the benchmarks you need to unlock your next raise and then raise enough money to hit those milestones. Be great (and realistic) with financial planning. Don't forget those extra five months you typically need to raise. #21waystokillyourcompany #fundraising #venturecapital

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The #1 Factor to Determine Max Valuation in Micro SaaS...is debt financing. Here's why, plus a free valuation calculator... Most buyers in the $500,000 to $2 million valuation range use SBA loans, which come with specific requirements. The SBA requires a Debt Service Coverage Ratio (DSCR) of 1.25, meaning the company needs $1.25 of income for every $1 of debt payments. In simpler terms, the key question is: Can the business afford itself? Does the Micro SaaS firm generate enough income to cover the loan needed to buy the business? As the valuation rises, so do the loan and debt payments. At some point, the valuation requires a loan that breaks the DSCR requirements. The upper limit of a Micro SaaS valuation is ultimately determined by the maximum loan a buyer can secure based on the company's income. Here's a simple calculator to illustrate this concept, helping us all determine valuation more accurately based on the real world 👇 #microsaas #acquisitionentrepreneur #saasgrowth

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Tough to bring out the best in PE portfolio companies without bringing out the best in their leaders, eh? Most PE folks will nod in agreement. But tell me: What are you doing to equip, empower, and develop port-co leaders? And is it enough to give your firm an edge in this hyper-competitive PE market? If the answer is anything short of an emphatic "yes," check out the leadership accelerator we're working on. Details in the comments ⤵️

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Movac KiwiNet Deep Tech is difficult because you do not comprehend 95% of the universe using the Standard Model of Particle physics. Either learn that measurement is flawed due to human bias or experience and unbiased state through transcendence experiences corresponding to Christ consciousness. The physics of life is based on LENR and not the Standard Model of Particle physics. Unfortunately, scientific research has been captured by the materialism perspective. This is mutually exclusive to the light observed in consciousness. Physics of life. Deep Tech https://lnkd.in/gKqC3PAR Gateway into the aromatic ring Faraday cage system. Time to see the light 😁.

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The brutal truth: You're not ready to pitch investors (yet). I’ve spoken with countless investors and founders who’ve succeeded (and failed) in securing funding. Here’s what they told me: 1. Know Your Numbers Your financials are the backbone of your pitch. Understand them thoroughly. Traded volume. Total value locked. Daily active users. Community size. Revenue. Investors want to see that you’re not just passionate but also financially literate. 2. Master Your Story A great story can really make you stand out. It’s not just about what you do, but why you do it. • Highlight your mission and vision • Showcase your unique value proposition (UVP) Your story should make investors feel your passion and see the potential. 3. Build Credibility Investors need to trust you before they trust your business. Showcase your team’s expertise and highlight previous successes. 4. Understand Your Market You need to be an expert on the landscape you’re playing in. • Who are your competitors? • What is your target market? • What trends are shaping the industry? Show investors you know your stuff. 5. Be Clear on the Ask Know exactly what you need and why you need it. • How much funding are you seeking? • How will you use the funds? • What are your projected outcomes? A clear, specific ask shows you’ve done your homework. 6. Be Prepared Investors will probe for weaknesses. Be ready. Research typical questions and practice your answers. 7. Show Traction Through Your Community Investors want to see momentum. Show them member growth and engagement numbers. Demonstrating traction shows that your project has potential and is on an upward trajectory. 8. Build Relationships Before You Need Them Networking is crucial. Build relationships with investors early. • Attend industry events • Join startup communities • Seek out mentors Relationships can often be the deciding factor in securing investment. Pitching investors isn't just about having a great idea. It’s about demonstrating that you’re the right person to turn that idea into a thriving business. Take the time to prepare, refine your pitch, and build relationships. The hard work will pay off. — Enjoy this? ♻️ Repost it to your network and follow Ashur Homa for more.

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An interesting article below, that demonstrates out how San Diego is punching above its weight.  And how Connect's strategy and execution over time, contintues to be central to that success. The article describes the current state of the market in Seattle.  (And i love Seattle.) It's a market that we tend to track with relative to venture fundings.  They used to kick our butts, we outraised them each of the last three years.  This despite the fact they have 3x as many funds there, and 9x the amount of resident capital there. (per pitchbook) Some key takeaways:  * They continue to compare themselves to SIlicon Valley. Instead, we leverage our proximity. *They whine there's not enough local investors (see note above - they have more than us). We bring over 200 VCs to SD annually! * They say founders are not connected with one another. We bring CEOs together regularly, in a variety of ways - private dinners and through our Springboard program. * They say they need to elevate their image on a national & international stage. Why we created and continue to build Five.Ten.Thirty (aka Inno Day).  * And the last paragraph - they need to concentrate on making their region a great place to live. Our mantra: "It's about Better, not Bigger." (See XEO, TL Fund). THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR SUPPORT. WE ARE ON A MISSION TOGETHER!!!  (Comments, whining, suggestions on SD always welcome.) https://lnkd.in/g6Rq_f2Y

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Entrepreneurship is hard. The underlying statistics speak for themselves. We've worked with hundreds of entrepreneurs & startups over the years and while you could pull a number of conclusions amongst that population that speak to the drivers of some of those statistics, one that we see time and time again is the lack of some sort of financial model in place, some sort of financial plan that can help define how the decisions of today affect your cash flow reality of tomorrow. That said, we at Inflammo have created a financial model template for you the entrepreneur - one that is simple enough for even the most financial unsavvy of you all to navigate while sophisticated enough to impress your next investor. Entrepreneurship is hard. Don't let a lack of knowing your numbers make it even harder. Feel free to leave a comment below or shoot us a note at hello@inflammo.co with any comments or questions. #entrepreneurship #cheerstothejourney https://lnkd.in/e78XM757

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Too often we see business owners focus on scaling their revenue without thinking about what they need to support that. If you are looking to scale your business, check out our latest blog where we walk through key points to scaling successfully.

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Episode #102 Fireside with a VC speaking with Tige Savage who cofounded Revolution with Steve Case, founder of AOL – America Online, one of the biggest internet companies in history reaching a peak market cap of $200bn dominating email, internet connectivity, online news, and chat. Tige discusses all things venture capital with a wealth of multi-decade experience covering a wide area of topics on how to run a high-performing VC fund year over year and best practices on investing, governance, legals, portfolio construction, sectors, overall strategy, and today’s exit market. Discussing the organization of Revolution with 1) Revolution Rise of the Rest – their $150m pre-seed fund, 2) Revolution Ventures – the $150m VC fund Tige manages with a concentrated 15 portfolio companies per fund, and 3) Revolution Growth which continues to invest in Series B and beyond. Discussed the pioneering thesis of investing across the US rather than being concentrated in the Silicon Valley, New York, Boston, or other highly evolved tech corridors and why Washington DC matters. Find the full episode on YouTube: https://lnkd.in/gyB-yjvG. Find this and all full episodes for Fireside with a VC on your favorite podcast platform here: https://lnkd.in/gtzuxjJh. https://revolution.com/ https://lnkd.in/gyCbq7jy https://www.7bc.vc/ https://lnkd.in/gFa_AAZ7 Join our Newsletter - Fireside with a VC: https://subscribe.7bc.vc. Join the conversation, leave comments, and tell us what you think about these topics and this episode.

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If you plan on raising money (especially in this economy), having revenue isn't enough. At some point -- especially if you want to raise money--you've got to look at the "quality" of your revenue. This framework applies to ALL business, not just high growth startups... high quality rev = - My revenue is consistent and predictable - I have good margins - I'm being paid my happy/loyal customers low value rev = -I rely on 1-2 large customers <---its a great win at first...but quickly becomes a source of stress. -Transactions are sporadic and/or late -I give a lot of discounts/have lots of "sales" to inspire transactions TO BE CLEAR: In the early days, we're all chasing sells/revenue to demonstrate desirability (aka people want what I've built) #AsYouShould. Get those early customers by any means necessary to validate desirability BUT pick a moment in time to do a revenue post-mortem with your team and get real about its quality. The linked article in the comments is an oldie, but a goodie....I first found it during my time leading a startup (i think i first saw Keyona Meeks share it) when I was trying to understand revenue and anxious about the quality. I highly recommend for ALL entrepreneurs. cc: Prosper HealthTech Accelerator A vision of Prosper Powered by gener8tor

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People buy software for 2 main reasons: 1. Increase Revenue 2. Reduce Cost You can hear more form Tomasz Tunguz of Theory Ventures on this week's episode of TFR.

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