Mallun Yen

Severe mental illness remains one of the most underserved areas in mental health, possibly because it is difficult to address with the type of virtual, easy-to-scale models that VCs love to back. We're so excited that Sonia Priscilla García and Stas Sokolin at Amae Health have been able to break the mold, bringing better in-person solutions for patients and families dealing with SMI, and attracting strong venture partners to do so cc: Lisa Jacobs Blau, Alison Ryu, Claire Akkan Quiet Capital, Healthier Capital, Jan Ellison Baszucki, Karin Kissane, Mike Volpi

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Today marks a groundbreaking moment for BLCK VC and our fellow collaborators—Diversity VC, All Raise, 2Gether-International, SomosVC, StartOut, and VetsinTech—as we proudly announce the launch of the Diversity Data Alliance. This important alliance underscores our unwavering commitment to nurturing a venture capital and entrepreneurial ecosystem abundant in equity and inclusiveness. By standardizing and linking our data, we empower ourselves with the essential tools to track deeper trends that have, until now, eluded us to identify and fill funding gaps for historically excluded investors, founders, and operators. We can’t change what we do not measure, and now with the Diversity Data Alliance, we're now equipped to do both. Join us in this mission. Learn more and get involved: https://lnkd.in/eEZKdrac #DiversityDataAlliance #BLCKVC #VentureCapital #MeasureToChange

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Introducing Stephan Little, a pioneer in entrepreneurship, investment, and mergers and acquisitions, who will be joining the AI Panel at the California Investment Forum in Anaheim, CA, on May 8-11. Steve's journey as a serial entrepreneur began at a young age, and he has since scaled six startups to private nine-figure acquisitions and raised over $2 billion in startup and growth funding for businesses across various industries. As the founder and managing director of Zero Limits Ventures and Zero Limits Capital, Steve has become renowned for generating accelerated value growth and delivering extraordinary acquisition value multiples for his portfolio companies and clients. With a keen eye for unique opportunities and a track record of identifying untapped potential, Steve has mastered the art of spotting valuation growth where others may not. In this introduction video, Steve highlighted the transformative power of AI in three distinct areas. Firstly, he touched on the creation and development of AI and generative tools, which are reshaping industries. Secondly, he delved into AI's practical applications within enterprises, emphasizing how integrating AI can dramatically enhance productivity and growth, ultimately increasing value for entrepreneurs. The third area Steve discussed was the middle ground of AI implementation, which presents an exciting opportunity for companies lacking in-house expertise. This gap in the market suggests a burgeoning demand for external AI knowledge and solutions, which can rapidly propel a company forward. AI is accelerating at an extraordinary pace and significantly impacting market dynamics. As an "older statesman" in the tech world, Steve expressed his excitement about being part of this "big bubble" of innovation. Join us at the California Investment Forum to hear Steve's insights and expertise on AI deployment, bridging the gap between generic AI models and task-specific enterprise applications. Learn how we can harness the power of AI to drive competitiveness, efficiency, and growth, improve productivity, and enhance business values in the next decade. Don't miss this opportunity to learn from one of the industry's most respected visionaries and game-changers. #AI #CIF Daniel Sieu Darlene Bryant (Chiu)

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My cofounder Violet Abtahi will be speaking at Digital Assets Week in San Francisco tomorrow. Join this session if you’re interested in the next generation of capital market infra, tokenization, private and public blockchains! #digitalassetsweek

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I hope you'll join me on June 13th where I’ll be presenting on the topic of “How to Change No to Yes in Contract Negotiations” for the @ContractNerds community. This is a topic that I love, and I'm excited to discuss it with my terrific co-panelists.   What you'll learn: ✔️ Winning strategies to change a “no” to a “yes” during a complex or urgent negotiation, particularly where you don’t have as much leverage as your counterpart. ✔️ Strategic tactics to successfully respond to refusals to negotiate such as “we don’t accept any redlines” or “we cannot agree to that change.” ✔️ How to customize your negotiation strategy based on demographics, technology, benchmarking data, and other real-life variances. ✔️ Plus, panelists will answer questions submitted in the registration form so if you have a specific negotiation question, please be sure to include it in the form below! REGISTER HERE: https://lnkd.in/eV7i9b94

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I’m thoughtful about the impact that the dissolution of OpenAI’s risk and ethics team led by Ilya Sutskever and Jan Leike might have on the direction of the company’s tech & product development. And - this strengthens my resolve to earn a Masters of Data Science & AI degree over the next 18 months, weighted toward the deeply important conversation around building tech within a framework of ethics, equity and risk mitigation. We must find an equilibrium that balances the raw speed of AI innovation with intentionality. Can’t wait to get started! OpenAI #ai #BuildWithIntention #venturestudios #vc

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Super helpful article and accompanying doc with a #Startup #Equity Calculator to determine the equity for early hires, thanks to Pear VC head of talent Matt Birnbaum! Thanks for sharing Pejman Nozad! 🙏🏼 You can read more here How to structure startup equity for early hires: https://lnkd.in/ggmpT5-Y Google Doc: https://lnkd.in/gjsvths6

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We'll be hosting Scaling for Fulfillment: Tools to Avoid Burnout + Enjoy the Journey on June 4 during NY #TechWeek with tools from coaches Megan Hellerer and Dr. Barbara San-Roman for founders. Read more + sign up for the waitlist: https://lu.ma/d5kjoawr Hosted by current and exited founders with a hypothesis that balance (vs. overwork / hustle) will lead to better outcomes for our companies, ourselves, our teams, and our investors. At this limited capacity, speaker panel event, you will learn actionable tips and strategies to build without burnout from the career coach for Underfulfilled Overachievers, including AOC, and author of the forthcoming book, Directional Living: A Transformational Guide to Fulfillment in Work and Life, Megan Hellerer. Learn what works (and doesn’t) from exited and current founder Ali Kriegsman (Scent Lab, fmr Bulletin, Author How to Build a Goddammn Empire + New Motives Substack), founder Ann Wehren (IN-SEAM), and two time exited founder and Techstars MD Jordan Fliegel (Techstars NYC and Techstars Sports Accelerator) who will share their tactics (or how they avoid the pitfalls of hustle culture) to build differently and stay the course to massive outcomes. We have a responsibility to ourselves, our teams, and our investors to avoid burnout and enjoy the journey – in this session you will learn how to create sustainable work habits and environments for you + your teams. Learn how to: Focus your attention Say No Slow down to speed up Work with sprint seasons Avoid the perfectionism trap Deprogram from hustle culture Work at the intersection of success and fulfillment Limited capacity, guests subject to approval. Founders and builders will be prioritized. This event is a part of NY #TechWeek - a week of events hosted by VCs and startups to bring together the tech ecosystem a16z Tech Week www.tech-week.com

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In full disclosure, I am a TV Mesh success story. I spoke at the FDA both in 2011 and 2019 on behalf of the women we serve behind APOPS curtain who had mesh success, but of course we also have women in our space who experienced complications. Their needs were and are important to acknowledge. I remain a firm believer in the value of all tools in the toolbox to address individual women's needs in the most appropriate way. Mesh anxiety remains embedded in women's brains due to the abundance of one-sided media exposure in the past. There is zero doubt there were issues to address re who should be inserting what into women's bodies, product quality and efficacy issues, and evaluation to advance best practice. Timeliness is a big deal when it comes to health. Journalists didn't talk to those of us who were success stories back then. They still don't. As in all things health, patient voice matters. We have women in APOPS space sharing their success stories daily. We also have women who remain terrified of mesh. The mesh terrain has shifted. The voices have not. I am always happy to see fresh evaluation of mesh products as the playing field continues to evolve including both synthetic and bio products. This study out of Australia, a country still reverberating complications there, is worth a read. https://lnkd.in/gnehMYju #APOPS #womenshealthempowerment #EveryVoiceMatters #BelowtheWaist #TheBiggestSecretinWomensHealth

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Awesome article in WIRED from Steven Levy on White House Office of Science and Technology Policy Director Arati Prabhakar In this piece, she dives deep into the advancements in technology, including the transformative potential of AI. Her expertise and vision for leveraging technology to address some of the world’s most pressing challenges are truly inspiring. A must-read for anyone interested in the future of tech and innovation! “It costs a lot to build these leading-edge models. The question is, how do we have governance of advanced AI and how do we make sure we can use it for public purposes? The government has got to do more. We need help from Congress. But we also have to chart a different kind of relationship with industry than we’ve had in the past.” (AI)exciting times ahead! Check out the full article here: https://lnkd.in/e7QNrvDk

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In light of the recent U.S. Court of Appeals decision blocking the Fearless Fund from exclusively awarding grants to Black women entrepreneurs, I am filled with frustration and anger. This ruling feels like a personal attack on every Black woman who dares to dream of business success. It’s a crushing reminder of the systemic barriers we face daily in our quest for equity in the business world and beyond. The Fearless Fund is more than a grant program; it’s a lifeline, a beacon of hope, and a source of empowerment for Black women striving to shatter glass ceilings. This decision doesn't just cut off funding—it sends a disheartening message that our unique struggles aren’t acknowledged and that efforts to correct historical wrongs can be halted with the stroke of a pen. This ruling is a stark reminder that our fight for equity in the economy is far from over. It’s not just about one grant program; it’s about the broader struggle for capital, recognition and justice for Black women everywhere. We are constantly battling for a seat at the table, for the opportunity to prove our worth, and for the chance to show what we can achieve when given a fair opportunity. And even when we decide to build our own tables because we aren’t welcome at others, we’re reminded that the laws in this country cannot fail those they were never built to protect. Black women get just 0.34% of venture capital funding and the vast majority goes to white men. They don't want us to have anything, even if it's us investing in each other. This is why Level exists. We are here to stand in the gap, to support Black women with everything we’ve got. We know that investing in Black women is not just about money; it’s about support, advocacy, and being in a community where we can show up as more of our authentic selves. Level is unique because it’s built on the belief that when Black women rise, we all rise. I refuse to let this ruling silence our dreams and aspirations. Instead, it fuels my fire to fight harder, to stand taller, and to push for a world where Black women are seen, heard, and valued. We will not be deterred. We will continue to invest in, uplift and empower each other because our success is vital to the success of our entire community. Our journey is not easy, but it is essential. Nothing bad happens when Black women have more money and more autonomy over our lives. Let us live. #SupportBlackWomen #EquityMatters #DiversityAndInclusion #FearlessFund #LevelLeaders

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I had the pleasure of being on a panel with Isabelle Hau of the Stanford Accelerator for Learning at the Care Summit last month, and I can't stop thinking about this fascinating research she presented. RAPID, as they call it, launched in April 2020 to understand and address the experiences and challenges that caregivers of young children were facing during the COVID-19 pandemic. For example, they have found that 71% of child care providers feel burned out "often" or "always" and that 1 in 3 are experiencing material hardship. While these kinds of statistics don't come as a surprise to anyone paying attention to the headlines or their own community's experiences, it is so helpful to have it concretized in this actionable way. They have continued to field monthly national surveys after the most acute moment of the pandemic in order to provide timely, actionable data to advocates, researchers, practitioners, and policymakers. If you play any of those roles, or are just a parent wondering—what the heck just happened?!—you will find their beautifully designed site fascinating. https://lnkd.in/gdvCeUmP

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I am beyond disappointed with today’s ruling by the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in the American Alliance for Equal Rights’ (AAER) versus Fearless federal court case. The court's decision against Fearless Fund and the Fearless Foundation is a setback for women of color and all marginalized communities. While I have never been involved in the Fearless Foundation, when I co-founded Fearless Fund in 2019, I did so with immense pride. Helping to build the first venture capital firm founded by women of color for women of color was both hard work and “heart work” for me. And, while I am no longer affiliated with the Fearless Fund’s operations, I will continue to cheer the firm’s ongoing efforts to fight for those whom the system seems determined to keep down. As a Black woman who has had to fight tooth and nail for her own success, my message is this👇🏽 We CANNOT wait for some higher court or political body to grant us a path to economic freedom. If we must attain that ourselves with both hands tied behind our back, then that is what we will do. Because when you’ve built a life that neither Ed Blum or his anti-DEI agenda can disrupt, that’s the real flex. That's the American Dream. Despite today’s ruling, I am focused now more than ever on helping others achieve that dream. And though it may require new ways of thinking, doing, and being, failure is not an option. Because only when we are challenged and empowered to realize our full potential are we truly FREE. #OfficialStatement #EconomicFreedom #InclusiveCapitalism #FinancialIndependence #Diversity #Equity #Inclusion

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On the latest Vital Signs, Nikhil Krishnan and I had a ton of fun chatting with Dr. Atul Butte. Dr. Butte is a professor at UCSF, Chief Data Scientist of the UC Health System, and a co-founder of numerous healthcare startups. In our conversation, Dr. Butte shared his takes on healthcare AI opportunities, challenges, hype, and more. A few highlights: ⚡LLM use cases, data, and growth LLMs are already helping to solve the “drudgery” aspects of medicine, such as automatically drafting SOAP notes and patient messages. Dr. Butte is excited about future applications of LLMs that can help with the “cognitive” aspects: with difficult medical problems an LLM might be able to stitch together disparate pieces of information to generate a potentially novel solution. He also highlights that prompt engineering will become the next “coding language” as so much of leveraging LLMs is knowing how to ask them the right questions. Additionally, Dr. Butte discusses how since 2016, UCSF has been working to deidentify its patient notes so that it can query them to answer clinical questions and ultimately enhance patient care. ⚡The need for patient-facing AI As patients are increasingly able to access their own personal health data in nicely structured formats (e.g., EHRs, wearables), they desperately need more tools to help them interpret and make decisions using that data. Dr. Butte understands that these patient-facing solutions are challenging to get funded but he emphasizes that patients need to receive the benefits of AI sooner. ⚡Evaluating healthcare AI solutions In order to evaluate AI solutions, we often put human specialists – such as medical professionals – on the same tasks. Understanding that specialists often disagree with each other, a significant challenge arises in figuring out how we can evaluate AI considering we can’t just “average” all the specialist opinions. Dr. Butte points out that there still remains a massive gap in AI evaluation tools. Additionally, there are so many organizations that want to have a say in how healthcare AI is regulated that the landscape is uncertain. An awesome conversation with an expert on all things AI meets healthcare. Listen to the full episode below: Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3Wr3643 Apple: https://apple.co/4acwgan

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proven yet again in a #UBI test in #Seattle: “In city after city and cohort after cohort — old, young, single parents, ex-convicts — universal basic income has improved health outcomes, raised employment, and bolstered childcare opportunities (and recipients have had consistently better outcomes than control groups).” politician’s across the spectrum and across time have been advocates; hopefully the rest will catch on to the economic success that happens to also be compassionate vs simply ignore this because it is. especially as the #gap continues to widen. #leadering #playbig #healthyeconomics #communities #bettereconomics #mentalhealth #economichealth #incomeinequality #equality #digitaltransformaton

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