Monica Hernandez

Suppose you are a VC, Early investor, or CIO trying to keep your eye on the industry trends. In that case, you’ve probably heard already about hallucinations, context shifts, and accuracy measurement problems in LLMs. These scary concepts kill motivation to invest in LLM-based projects and build RnD departments. Are they really so scary? Yes, but just for now, you have a good strategy to cope with them. Is this strategy already known? Yes, old but still one of the most effective approaches- knowledge graphs in combination with fresh new RAGs will allow you to keep your models free of hallucinations, stable in accuracy, and easily adaptable for context change. Btw, do you know that knowledge graphs are seeing as one of the most impactful AI enables during this year?🙌🏻 How big companies like Deutsche Telekom and Microsoft are seeing the future of LLMs adoption you can find here https://lnkd.in/d4B3t56z

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On May 2, 2024 REFASHIOND Ventures: The Industrial Transformation Fund convened people from around the world for Supply Chain & Industrial Transformation: The Next Generation (Silicon Valley 2024) at the JP Morgan Chase Palo Alto Technology Center in Palo Alto, CA. Lisa Morales-Hellebo and I want to extend our deep gratitude and appreciation to Melanie Hilton, Michelle Covey, Jess Urriola, Amy Reiter, and Vivian Tai from GS1 US for sponsoring that event, and our other event on May 3 in San Francisco. In this clip from Thursday, May 2, Melanie, Senior Vice President, Community Engagement at GS1 US tells our guests about GS1 US and welcomes them to the gathering. Our Investment Thesis: REFASHIOND Ventures: The Industrial Transformation Fund invests in early stage startups refashioning legacy industries through Data & AI, Advanced Materials, Advanced Manufacturing, & Next Generation Supply Chains; Defensible through economic moats. About GS1 US; GS1 US® helps companies power their supply chains to deliver safe, consistent, authentic, and trusted experiences. Best known as the recognized source for UPC barcodes, GS1 is a not-for-profit, global data standards organization that creates the common language that helps companies and their trading partners identify, capture, and share trusted data that links their physical and digital supply chains. Millions of businesses around the world power commerce with GS1 Standards. More than 300,000 members across 25 industries turn to GS1 US® for help with improving operations, addressing today’s industry challenges and changing market conditions, and positioning their businesses for tomorrow by leveraging GS1 Standards. #SCITSV2024

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💡 The Enterprise AI Leaders Panel started by digging into different use cases with AI! Gerson Rodriguez (AI Director at Oracle | Netsuite ) mentions that at Oracle, their focus on innovation is guided by four key pillars. Our AI capabilities are designed to help you: 1. Acquire more customers. 2. Develop superior products or services. 3. Hire top talent. 4. Run your operations efficiently and transparently. Private organizations use Oracle products and services to achieve these goals. Government organizations leverage our offerings to enhance public service delivery. He also highlights that Oracle is deeply committed to developing guided systems that help customers use our products with ease, simplifying their tasks and enhancing their job performance. Bhaskar Gangipamula (President and Chairman at Quadrant Technologies) goes on to ask the panelist to talk about the efficiency factor and job loss associated with using AI Matteo Colombo (U.S. Practice leader for KPMG Lighthouse) goes on to answer, stating: AI will increase efficiency across most industries and sectors, exerting pressure on the workforce. A McKinsey study indicates that very few jobs will remain unaffected by AI. However, alongside efficiency, AI must also drive organizational growth. For instance, Amazon has automated extensively but continues to hire due to its growth. AI should contribute to both efficiency and growth, which will stem from changes in the organization's operating model and evolving demand. He digs into specifics at KPMG US mentioning the following: Integrating AI into your organization involves three phases: 1. Use generative AI out of the box. 2. Customize AI to be contextually relevant for your business. 3. Transform your operating model to leverage AI for greater effectiveness in current services. KPMG is transitioning from the first to the second phase and was the first of the Big Four to provide OpenAI to its professionals about a year ago. Then Dragos Margineantu (A.I. Chief Technologist at Boeing and Senior Technical Fellow) goes on to have one of the quotes of the night saying: Our goal isn't to replace humans, but to automate routine tasks. Boeing exemplifies this approach, ensuring humans remain integral to the process. He goes on to say that we often overlook that engineering these AI systems must also account for real-world anomalies and missing data. In high-risk applications with no existing data, we must design systems to collect it. There were so many amazing talking points, but I will leave you all to reflect on these listed here. Hope to see everyone at our future events!

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A lot of investors have been asking me what the major industries are in the Venture Miami Built in Miami Startup Program. Here's the industry breakdown across 214 new South Florida startups. TLDR: The South Florida startups are pretty diverse across industries. Here's the largest categories in order: - 16.2% AI & Machine Learning - 14.2% EdTech - 12.2% Healthcare - 8.5% Marketing & Sales Tech - 8.1% FinTech - 7.4% Sustainability - 6.1% Travel & Hospitality - 6.1% E-Commerce The smallest category: Cybersecurity at 1.2% There's an additional 50 startups that didn't complete the survey in time but we'll get that info updated by Demo Day June 20th. #BuiltinMiami

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Our latest podcast episode just dropped! Our guest, Ignacio Carcavallo, Ventures Coach, Advisor, and Mentor, shared his coaching journey with us on this week's Founder's Journey Podcast's episode! Take a quick look at what Ignacio shares with us; -> You need a mentor. He explains that, in the beginning, as a startup founder, it's essential to have someone to talk to. Keep in mind that no matter how intelligent or skilled at executing you are, many of your decisions lack experience. -> Of course, you can't do it all yourself Ignacio describes how if you want to create a sustainable company that thrives over time, you need to cooperate. Why face everything solo? Build a team. -> You go to the doctor! You break a bone in half; you have a fracture. Would you say, "Today I'm going to walk slowly, and then I'm going to put on a bandage"? No! You go to the doctor! Ignacio used this example to discuss how he resolved his online branding crisis. How? Easy. He found a professional mentor, the best in personal branding, and started learning from him. -> Mitigating anxiety As a founder, talking to someone who has had this experience before, coaches, or consultants, will reduce your stress and anxiety. It is important to feel supported and to feel like you have a safety net. -> Back in time Ignacio also reminded us about his journey's challenges to success. "If I could only coach myself 10 or 15 years ago, my life would have been so much different!" - he reminisces. Keep listening to Ignacio's points in this week's editions of the Founder's Journey Podcast's 👋 Listen to the full episode today and Subscribe to never miss an episode. ♻️ Repost this to inspire your network 👉 Join the Founder's Collective Newsletter https://bit.ly/49NZKei

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Join us as Brian Evergreen, author of "Autonomous Transformation: Creating a More Human Future in the Era of AI," shares invaluable insights on leveraging AI to drive innovation while prioritizing human needs and values. Discover practical frameworks and methodologies for responsible AI implementation. Tune in for a conversation that will revolutionize your perspective on technology and humanity! Here are some things we got into: 👉Brian dives deep into his book Autonomous Transformation 👉Brian talks about his chess background and the lessons he learned from it 👉Learning critical and creative thinking skills through chess 👉What makes chess different from other games 👉The impact of autonomous AI on professional services 👉The benefits of having a more human-centered approach to technology And other topics…

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Creating an environment where individuals feel empowered to innovate is key to driving organizational success. I recently had the pleasure of discussing this topic with two absolute legends: Teresa Amabile, a pioneering creativity researcher from Harvard Business School and Diego Rodriguez, an innovation strategist (with too many credits to his name to even mention!!!). We dove deep into the nuances of fostering creativity within teams and organizations. Teresa shared fascinating insights from her research, highlighting the importance of intrinsic motivation and the role of everyday work experiences in fueling creativity. Diego brought his wealth of experience in design thinking and innovation, emphasizing the need for a culture that values experimentation and learning from failure. Reflecting on our conversation, I'm reminded of the power of creating spaces where individuals feel encouraged to take risks, share ideas, and collaborate openly. It's not just about having the right processes in place; it's about nurturing a culture that celebrates creativity and embraces diversity of thought. What are your thoughts on fostering creativity in the workplace? Share your insights in the comments below! And if you want to dive deeper into our discussion, check out the full podcast episode by clicking the link in the comments.

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A about trends and the Future Health lab from 4PM Ventures For at least 2-3 years, at my speeches at conferences on the topic of Healthtech, I have been telling that the future in medicine lies with platforms. Here are some cases: 1. Application of AI in medicine. First came startups who said: I recognize pneumonia, other tuberculosis, third lung cancer, etc. Clinics looked at all this and told them: it doesn't matter to us that you know how to recognize, a patient came to us, took an MRI (MR spectroscopy scans) or X-ray diagnostic, and we must reliably describe his state of health, and recognize real problems in his health. After that, startups appeared, which began to combine and make an interface between different startups in order to drive the picture to the largest number of nosologies. Other startups have begun mergers and acquisitions to create such platforms. You know the examples yourself, they are easy to google. 2. A more difficult task is faced by those who make medical devices. It is more difficult there: firstly, you need a "smart" medical card where to add the data. Secondly, integration with industry call centers, because clinics do not have their own, but you need to have a service for prompt response to incidents, and also do not forget about technical support (it is expensive to deploy it for one device) and much more. And so, after several attempts and experiments to enter the topic of collecting platforms from various startups, the 4PM Ventures team and I are launching the Future Health Lab, where one of the tasks we will try to create platforms. If your startup is in one of the laboratory segments, an investor and the topic of Healthtech platforms is close to you, or you are a representative of a corporation in the healthcare system, submit an application to the laboratory or write to your personal. #4PM; #4PMVentures; #health; #healthtech; #vc; #venturebuilder; #medicine; #innovation; #healthcare; #digitalhealth; #healthtech; #platforms; #healthdata; #homecare; #medicaldevices; #rehabtech

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🚀 "Corporate Venture Capital: Navigating the New Normal" 📈 🌟"More than 70 new CVC units started in 2023, and the number of corporate venture capital organizations grew 10x over the last decade," shares Sneha Sanghrajka Shah, EVP at SEI, highlighting the rapid expansion of corporate venture capital (CVC). 📈From unexpected players like Anheuser-Busch, General Motors, to tech giants, CVCs are reshaping the startup ecosystem, with as many as 2,000 active units worldwide—a tenfold increase over the last decade. 🌪Yet, as Patrick Eggen, founding partner at Counterpart Ventures, points out, the CVC terrain isn't without its challenges. While AI investments surge, CVCs face a mixed environment, with some scaling back while others forge ahead. "As interest rates remain high and economic volatility persists, a corporate parent supporting a CVC right now might be hesitant to experiment or take risks," says Eggen.🔮 🎯However, seasoned investors like Matt Sueoka of Amex Ventures remain optimistic, foreseeing continued growth and evolution in the sector. In a landscape marked by change and opportunity, CVCs are poised to play a pivotal role in driving innovation and shaping the future of entrepreneurship. 💼🚀 ��� 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 #CorporateVentureCapital #Innovation #StartupEcosystem #AIInvestments #BusinessStrategy 🌍💡

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I appreciate the wisdom that exists in the VC community much more than I did before. So many lessons and themes that have been proven out. Concepts that, as a first time tech-founder, I was naive to. It is difficult to figure out ideal pricing models. Many large companies are on their 4th, 5th, or even 6th versions of their pricing models. One concept attached to this is that you don't want to discourage or tax expansion in an account. First time founders focus on technology, second time founders focus on distribution. It is important to focus on verticals to simplify your GTM efforts on the sales side, even if your product supports multiple verticals. So many other lessons in that experience with my dear friend, David Gonzo Gonzalez. I'm so grateful for the blood/sweat/tears we both endured during the Zeff.ai days. #startup #founders #VCs Check out full podcast episode here: https://lnkd.in/gHhtavWz

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Are you a start-up founder looking for your first VC money and a ton of guidance from GTM experts to get your revenue engine going? See below to apply to Stage2's Catalyst program - applications are open now. The insights you'll get from GTM experts will be transformative.

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-Founders should avoid overuse of revenue multiple: what it really means in startups’ valuation- Traditional valuation methods rely on a company's financial statements. If founders use revenue multiples in dealing with potential investors, they should understand the basics of valuation. Otherwise, it might appear as a lack of common sense. Here's a breakdown of the basic approaches and why revenue multiple was invented. https://lnkd.in/gbYqTpAC #Hypergrowth #Valuation #HITSERIESCAPITAL #TANAAKK

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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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I have disappointment. Firstly, this is not a defense (or lack) of Techstars' leadership, or the direction it's taking, or some of the accounts in this article. Many of you know I've been involved on the edges of Techstars for 10+ years in various program-based activities. I'm not here to comment on the specifics (I know very little). What I do want to comment on is something very salient in this article, and in accounts of too many women CEOs. In EVERY case where current leadership was reported on by name, they were ALL women. The current Techstars leadership team is not made up of all women, FYI. And in EVERY case, that woman was highlighted as being not competent for her role at the time when she started. In ALL BUT ONE case where the insider (employee or former employee) was either named or was referenced using gender pronouns, they were all men (disclaimer below). Let me rephrase: Every leader being negatively reported on here by interviewees is a woman, all were openly questioned by almost an entirely male employee base being interviewed as not being fit for their job from the get go. Right out of the gate. And here we are, with an internal account that then piles on failed partnerships and employee turnover without attribution to cause, leaving readers, if we aren't careful, to attribute that to the leadership in question. Disclaimer: Some of the specific accounts in here aren't what I'd call savory (e.g. the individual account from the former executive assistant of the SVP was the only identifiable woman in the interview set. Her claims shouldn't be ignored and are valid), and again, I'm not here to defend (or not) the specifics. But it's CRUCIAL to understand these dynamics when we read stories like this, especially about competency. And also? This entire story failed to highlight the pretty darn basic process happening here, a process that every actor, journalist, and reader in this space understands extremely clearly: You have a system that has been built over the two decades that's just plain no longer a startup. It needs to take a new form, often needs new leadership, and new leaders come in with a shake up. People who've been in the system will be uncomfortable, pissed off, in disagreement. They might even leave or get fired. They're probably going to lose some of the power they so enjoyed. THIS IS NORMAL. The reporting even suggests that the CEO's appointment came at a time of tumult, that it needed "rescuing" (a time when so many women CEOs are asked to come in - clean up!). It also suggests that power was changing, "fiefdoms" may not look the same. But how flipping normal is this, how less dramatic so much of this story actually is this? No, we have a picture of the incompetency of a group of women execs who messed everything up. We need to do better. It's 2024. https://lnkd.in/gmHhGGM7

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INTJ Fund approaches community building with a very different perspective than other organizations. Learn how a community focused on INTJ and ENTJ women leads to collective exponential value. What? INTJ Fund is building a community that seeks to maximize mental health, intellectual curiosity, fun and finances of community members while minimizing downside volatility. This is our definition of a valuable community. Not just financial returns. Who? The core of my community is INTJ + ENTJ and/or Enneagram 3 women with an interest in business, psychology and emerging technology that are interested in continuous growth. This is the core of the community. Everything we do will cater to them. If you don't like these types of people, this isn't the community for you. Why? Most folks in venture view community as a power law identification strategy focused on identifying a fund returner. If this fails, the community dies with it. INTJ Fund is concurrently pursuing a community exponential growth strategy focused on consistent, compounding and cascading value as it relates to mental health, intellectual curiosity, fun and finances. This is the part that is unique. Infinite scaling with no end. If this is aligned with you path, contact me at kenneth@intj.fund with more information about who you are and what you are interested in. Happy to bet on: - Return to work place moms - Early career professionals - People in career transitions / layoffs I take a very long-term approach to the right people - read the article below to learn how I think and who I prioritize. https://lnkd.in/gGqx56xD #emergingtechnology #deeptech #venturecapital #intj #intjwomen #entj #entjwomen #intjfund

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Interesting look at timing for funding companies from start up to series D thanks to data from Carta. The trend of going longer between rounds is certainly in play as companies struggle to meet the evolving proof points that each stage requires. Key takeaway - it always takes longer than you anticipate.

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On May 2, 2024 REFASHIOND Ventures: The Industrial Transformation Fund convened people from around the world for Supply Chain & Industrial Transformation: The Next Generation 2024 at the JP Morgan Chase Palo Alto Technology Center in Palo Alto, CA. Lisa Morales-Hellebo and I want to extend our deep gratitude and appreciation to everyone who joined us for the event, and especially to; Melanie Hilton, Michelle Covey, Jess Urriola, Amy Reiter, and Vivian Tai from GS1 US for sponsoring that event, and our other event on May 3 in San Francisco. Kristopher Duarte, Executive Director, JPMorgan Chase & Co., and his colleagues for hosting us, and working with us to create a top notch experience that we have been told far exceeded the expectations of the people who attended. Kris moderated a dynamic panel discussion that was followed by a very robust Q&A session with the audience. Our Panelists; Daniela Caserotto-Leibert, US Head of Ecosystem, Cathay Innovation, Mario Veraldo, Founder & CEO, MTM Logix - Former Head of Maersk for Mexico and LatAm, and Claudia Pellerano, President of the Free Trade Zone Association of the Americas (AFZA) & Chairwoman of the Board, Las Americas Industrial Free Zone, DR. The panel discussion centered on: Lessons Learned in Corporate Venture Capital and Corporate Innovation, and; Emerging Trends in Supply Chain Logistics between LatAm and North America. Our Startup Showcase Presenters - * indicates a startup in the REFASHIOND Ventures portfolio; Moin I., Shipday (Local Commerce)* Will Drewery, Diagon (Sourcing & Procurement for Manufacturing)* Constanza Gomez, Sortile (Trustless Fibers)* Jens Tellefsen, GeoFlow (Industrial Knowledge Graphs)* Hari Menon, Firstsfift.ai (Autonomous Supply Chain Planning)* Karyl Fowler, Transmute (Supply Chain Interoperability)* Matias Troccoli, GYBE (Tech for Frontline Workers)* Willson Deng, Arcstone (Manufacturing Execution & Supply Chain Visibility)* Michael Young, Photon Commerce (AI for Payments Data) Michelle Peters, Supplino (Expert Marketplaces) Karthik Balakrishnan, Actual (Capital Planning for Sustainability) Gentry Lane, Nemesis Global (RADAR for the Cyber Domain)* Pilar V. Ceron, CEO of Xtrategy US who organized the delegation of corporate executives and government officials from across Latin America and Spain in collaboration with the Free Trade Zone Association of the Americas for giving us the opportunity to explore the role technology and innovation in Supply Chain & Industrial Transformation can play as an engine for economic development across the Americas over the 2 days we spent together. Jessica Straus Fuchs, Christa Mekki, and the rest of the team at the Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center in San Francisco where we held our Executive Salon on the State of Textiles and Apparel Supply Chains in the United States on Friday, May 3. And last but not least; Thanks to Sam Graydon for the video and photography. Here’s a brief snippet from the May 2 event. #SCITSV2024

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CoCreator accepted by Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub Miami FL – June 7, 2024 – CoCreator, a pioneering AI-powered business mentorship platform launched in early 2024, announced today it has joined the prestigious Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub. This program empowers startups revolutionizing industries with cutting-edge technologies. Empowering Entrepreneurs with AI. CoCreator empowers entrepreneurs with the guidance and support of a 24/7 AI business co-pilot. Through AI financial analysis, personalized business advice, and a library of educational content, CoCreator bridges the mentorship gap for entrepreneurs. Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub: A Boost for CoCreator's Mission "At CoCreator, we're passionate about pushing the boundaries of what's possible. This acceptance by Microsoft represents a significant leap forward in our journey, and I'm thrilled to see the impact it will have for our users." - Heradio Luces, CEO. "With Microsoft's support, we can empower even more entrepreneurs on their journeys to success." Unlocking the Potential of AI for Business Growth "We're constantly exploring new ways to leverage technology at CoCreator. This announcement is just the beginning of what's to come for CoCreator, and I'm excited for the future." - Ramya Jayaraman CTO, CoCreator. By joining the Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub, CoCreator gains access to a comprehensive suite of tools and resources designed to accelerate its growth and development, including: Essential Tools and Technology Development and Collaboration: GitHub Actions, Microsoft Teams Security: Microsoft Sentinel Business Intelligence: Power BI Scalable Cloud Infrastructure: Azure App Service, Azure Functions, Azure Container Instances (ACI) AI Services: Azure Cognitive Services, Azure Machine Learning Expanded Ecosystem Financial Management: Stripe for secure payment processing Project Management: Mercury for streamlined financial management and Miro for visual collaboration Talent Acquisition: Toptal for connecting with top freelance talent Networking and Recruiting: LinkedIn for professional networking and recruitment Deal Management: Ansarada for secure and efficient deal execution Financial Planning and Forecasting: Forecastr for financial modeling and forecasting Business Consulting: EB Howard Consulting for strategic business consulting services Unparalleled AI Expertise Access to industry-leading technology, including the latest GPUs for efficient AI processing Technical guidance from Microsoft's AI specialists Opportunities to Collaborate Connections with industry leaders, allowing CoCreator to collaborate with other AI-focused companies and experts to accelerate development and broaden its reach. Ramya Jayaraman

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