Nate Rosen

🌱 Scaling Your Startup with Insight and Innovation 🌱 Attention startups and small business owners! 🚀 Are you keeping tabs on the pace of technology and innovation in your industry? If not, you might be missing out on transformative opportunities and growth strategies. A recent development in the plant-based food tech sector demonstrates how incorporating advanced technology can propel a business into new markets and opportunities. 📈 Case Study: Tender Food Inc. 📈 - Innovation: Using fiber-spinning techniques, similar to how cotton candy is made, to create realistic plant-based meats. - Growth: Secured a prominent contract and expanded into multiple venues, demonstrating practical market adoption. - Investment: Recently bolstered by an $11M funding round to increase product development and scale operations. 👁️ Why It Matters 👁️ This narrative isn’t just about a company growing; it's a playbook on how adapting new technologies can meet escalating market demands efficiently. Startups, especially in tech, can glean that: - Innovating processes can carve out significant competitive edges. - Early and strategic investments in technology can lead to rapid scale and adoption. - Diverse product applications can open multiple revenue streams. For deeper insights into how Tender Food Inc. is leveraging technological innovation to disrupt the food industry, their full journey is detailed at https://lnkd.in/eE2vPC9f. #TechInnovation #Startups #GrowthStrategy This post was generated by an AI. Please contact us for more information.

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🚨 NEW! Fundraising Playbook: 10 Steps to Fundraising Success In partnership with our friends at Forecastr, we are excited to share a new FREE resource for founders who are looking to step up their fundraising game. The 10 steps outlined in this Fundraising Playbook will guide you through the entire process, from building an investor pipeline to crafting your pitch and closing the deal. These are the same steps Forecastr has successfully implemented to raise 4 consecutive oversubscribed funding rounds, even through some of the most challenging fundraising conditions ever. These tried and true fundraising tips and strategies have also been implemented by numerous clients that Forecastr works with to successfully raise capital from investors. To receive a FREE copy simply reply "FNF" in the comments.

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Climate tech investment is off to a strong start in 2024, according to a new report from PitchBook. As reported by Tim De Chant at TechCrunch, Ascend Elements’ latest funding round was one of the largest of Q1 2024. It takes a lot of money to build an EV battery materials infrastructure in the United States and begin making #decarbonized cathode precursor (pCAM) in North America. Thanks to our investors and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), we’re just months away from producing pCAM at a massive, 1 million-square-foot commercial-scale facility in Kentucky. https://lnkd.in/gxy8RMVx

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Looking to launch your company in the Big Apple? 🍎🚀 We've curated a comprehensive list of the top startup accelerators and incubators in New York City. These programs are crucial for early-stage ventures, offering: ◼ Funding: From seed investments to connecting you with VCs ◼ Mentorship: Guidance from seasoned entrepreneurs and industry experts ◼ Resources: Access to co-working spaces, legal services, and more ◼ Networks: Introductions to potential customers, partners, and investors ◼ Education: Workshops and seminars on critical business topics Explore here: https://lnkd.in/gqNatE8p Forum Ventures Big Idea Ventures GENIUS NY Luminate Accelerator XRC Ventures Echoing Green ICONYC labs Entrepreneurs Roundtable Accelerator 43North Lair East Labs URBAN-X Blueprint Health LLC Squared Circles Waldencast Food Future Co | Scale-up Accelerator Virtual Force Inc. Cornell eLab Accelerator Dreamit Ventures FinTech Innovation Lab Starta VC Almaworks Accelerator VentureOut The Tech Garden at CenterState CEO Prospect Innovation #nycstartups #entrepreneurshipresources #innovation #startupaccelerators #startupincubators

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Wondering why TV ad dollars are going to creators and influencers now? Simple. Creators = the new TV👇 Can 100% confirm Curastory Ad Reads since our recent NMSDC certification has been receiving incremental media buying and planning spend this year that used to be reserved for local/national TV and radio spend categories. The big media agencies of record are going as far to begin creating entirely new spend categories called "creator media" for ad reads replacing the spots and dots, liners, and embeds from the TV and radio days. Called this trend in 2019 crazily quitting ESPN to build the first programmatic media buying platform for creator ad reads for long-form and short-form video. And y'all ESPN lovveedddd spots and dots for every Progressive ad embed at the top of SportsCenter. Fighting like hell being bounced around from influencer budgets to programmatic budgets, but we've finally carved out space and a moat. Honestly shoutout to our investors Techstars R/GA Elysian Park Ventures Lorine Pendleton W Fund Innovation Global Capital Mindspring Capital TRUE Cresset I Sports + Entertainment and so many more for playing the long game with us 🚀 Always a huge fan of Kaya Yurieff and Jasmine Enberg 💡

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📣 Attention founders! We're thrilled to share that registrations are now LIVE for VC Open Office Hours happening June 4-7 during TechWeek! Sign-up here: https://lnkd.in/e9fesX-Q Dozens of NYC investors are offering 20-minute meetings with founders with no strings attached. Simply enter your startup's sector and the sign-up page will serve you any VCs with matching interests. You can secure up to four meetings directly on the platform without ever needing a warm intro. Feedback from founders on our last round of these: - "Had some really great meetings, would definitely do again!" - "Very effective way of meeting investors and getting direct feedback. " - "The 4 calls I had were some of the most relevant people I have met." This initiative is made possible thanks to our partners at Withum and Johnson & Oshan Law. J&O Law has interviewed leading VCs in New York to gather insights on optimizing meetings with them, check out the trailer below and all the full interviews on our site. https://lnkd.in/e9fesX-Q #nyctech #nycstartupcommunity #vcopenofficehours Charlie O'Donnell

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The big challenge facing many #DTC startups right now is thinking through what #financing sources they want to tap to fund initiatives like retail expansion and new product lines. Many are trying to rely on both equity and credit. In this piece by Anna Hensel, we speak to Michael Duda of Bullish, and Ben Brachot of Dwight Funding.

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After speaking to 50+ DTC CMO's this spring (North America) here are some points of reflection... 🧠 - Investing more in creative is considered but increasing the volume & testing cycle needs to come at a reduced cost-per-asset to help bottom-line survive. - Many teams are focusing on creative output (volume), experimenting with content driven by AI is often mentioned but rarely successful, yet. - Most teams aren't operating with enough urgency in their DNA, this impacts their creative testing cycle over-time A LOT. - Most teams still rely on slow-moving agencies, freelancers OR overworked in-house staff. - As creative is the ''new'' targeting (kind of old now), creative teams move with sensitivity and feel more stressed than ever to impact marketing results for the worse. Let me know your thoughts

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How can we scale the creator economy to benefit both brands and creators? 💪 Join Kostas I. M., VP of Growth at Emotive, our co-founder Zachary Wise, and Flagship's Head of Brand Growth, Parker Burr as they delve into Flagship, a groundbreaking platform that's making big waves for both brands and creators. In this episode, they explore innovative ways to access the creator economy. They discuss the challenges and victories of developing tech that links brands with influential creators, and the future trends in digital marketing that could redefine how eCommerce businesses grow. Catch all the details by listening to the full episode here: https://lnkd.in/gncTbdfp . . . . BTW, here's a sneak peek ⬇️ . . . . . #Emotive #EmotivePodcast #EmotiveSMS #SMSMarketing #TextMarketing #DigitalMarketing #Lifecycle #DTC #Ecom #Ecommerce #Marketing #MarketingTips #GrowthMarketing #Shopify #InfluencerMarketing

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Did you miss last week's Compound Conversation — Everything you need to know about QSBS? Our team discussed: → The ins and outs of equity and QSBS → Strategies to implement as your equity grows → Real life examples from Reddit, Stripe and Figma → How to use our dashboard to model your options You can now watch the recording on-demand: https://lnkd.in/e2w7GkAG

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🚀 Big news! We’ve teamed up with Bags to launch a financing database tailored for the Startup CPG community. Access to financing is vital for brand growth, from marketing to inventory. That’s why we’ve partnered with Bags, a financial growth platform dedicated to helping CPG brands like yours manage finances and secure funding from equitable lenders. We’ve done the hard work, researching their loan types and minimums, all included in this easy-to-use spreadsheet. Here’s what you can do with the database: ↗️ Filter by Loan Type: Find the most relevant financing option for your needs, whether it’s factoring, inventory financing, or something else. ↗️ Quick & Easy Research: Scan lender descriptions and minimum requirements to find the perfect fit. ↗️ Verified Partners: BAGS has verified select lenders within the database, offering extra peace of mind. ↗️ Connect with Lenders: Want to explore multiple options? Bags can connect you directly with several lenders at once. With Bags you won’t waste time on endless searches and applications. Book a free call with their team, and they’ll guide you to the best options for your needs. Plus, they handle all your financial documentation, bookkeeping, and accounting to unlock more capital for your business. https://lnkd.in/ewNMd__5 You can find the link to access the Financing Database in the #announcements channel in our Slack! If you're already a member, just check your inbox! . . . #cpg #startups #finance #businessfinancing

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The past, present and future of influencer marketing, according to Taylor Lorenz who spoke Sprout Social, Inc. 's "Under the Brand-fluence" digital event, aligned to their 2024 Influencer Marketing Report. A few highlights below: 🧾 On consumer trust: -Almost half of consumers make purchases AT LEAST 1x A MONTH because of influencer posts, and 86% make purchases at least once a year. -Another half of all consumers trust influencers just as much as they did six months ago, while close to 30% trust them more, according to the Influencer Marketing Report. ⚡️️ On Gen Z: -More than half of Gen Z report they would become influencers if given the opportunity. 💸 On Pay Transparency: -“There will probably never be standardized rates for the industry. That’s like asking for all ads to cost the same. But pay transparency should be the norm. Remember that any piece of communication you share (contracts, proposals, etc.) can end up going viral on social media. Expect your interactions to be screenshotted out of context and shared online.” 🤖 On AI: -While data from Sprout’s Influencer Marketing Report points to 37% of all consumers being more interested in brands that work with AI influencers, Lorenz speculates this is a passing fad. She explains, “We already have faceless influencers. They’ve been around for a long time. What people want online is reliability—AI influencers don’t engender trust. Humans do.” -“What AI does very effectively is lower the barrier to content creation so influencers can create better content with less effort. The tools are getting more accessible every year. More and more high quality content is going to continue to shift the landscape because of that,” says Lorenz. https://lnkd.in/gQREruaD #creatoreconomy #Influencermarketing #creators #Influencers

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Big news for Innovatemap in NYC! 🗽 We’re thrilled to announce our partnership and the official launch of Startup:NYC, a community built by Tech:NYC to support the most promising founders building companies in New York City. We’re excited to join forces with tech leaders and some of New York’s most active VCs to offer critical resources for emerging and underrepresented founders in the city. Founders, interested in joining the #StartupNYC community (and spending time with Ashley King & Meghan Pfeifer Corsello)? Learn more and apply here: startups.technyc.org

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Are you a New York startup looking to lift off? Check out this "NYC Early-Stage VC Firms" database, a must-have for every local innovator! This exclusive resource features: 🎯 Fund Names and their Focus Areas — Know where their interests lie! 📍 Location Details — Find VCs in your neighborhood. 📝 Descriptions — Dive deep into what each fund stands for. 📞 Best Contacts — Direct lines to key decision-makers. 🌟 What They're Excited About — Align your pitch to their interests. 🎯 Sweet Spot — Understand their criteria for investment readiness. Whether you’re seeking guidance, partnerships, or investment, this database opens the door to possibilities in the heart of NYC. 💼 To get access to this resource, simply comment "NYC Launchpad" below and start connecting with top-tier investors tailored to your growth stage and industry! #NYCStartups #VentureCapital #StartupFunding #InnovationHub #NYCLaunchpad #sviyp #siliconvalleyinyourpocket

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🚀 Disrupting AI: A Shift Towards Cultural Nuance 🚀 In the rapidly evolving landscape of artificial intelligence, a significant shift is occurring, spearheaded by ingenious Black founders. Their groundbreaking work is setting new trajectories in AI development by focusing on one critical aspect: cultural nuance. 👉 Significant Challenges with Current AI Models: - Traditional AI tools like ChatGPT display a troubling limitation — they often lack cultural sensitivity and understanding, primarily reflecting a Eurocentric bias. This not only alienates vast segments of the global population but also diminishes the potential utility of AI across various cultural contexts. 🌍 Innovative Solutions by Black Founders: - Entrepreneurs like John Pasmore and companies such as Latimer.AI and ChatBlackGPT are at the forefront, crafting tailored AI models. These models are designed specifically to address the needs and reflect the rich cultural heritage of Black and brown communities. - This focus is not just about inclusivity but also about enhancing the relevance and accuracy of AI responses to culturally specific queries. 📈 Implications for Startups and Small Businesses: - Embracing culturally aware AI tools can open up new avenues for businesses, enabling them to connect more deeply with diverse audiences and markets. - Such AI advancements encourage a more inclusive approach to technological development, fostering innovation that respects and integrates a wider range of human experiences. 🔗 Consider the broader implications of culturally tailored AI on your business strategy and how it might transform engagements with your diverse customer base. 🔍 Dive deeper into the discussion here: https://lnkd.in/dM6KBwzu #AIInnovation #TechDiversity #StartupStrategy This post was generated by an AI. Please contact us for more information.

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🚀 New Podcast Episode Alert! 🚀 Ever wonder how small e-commerce businesses tackle financing and growth challenges? Join us on The Liquid Lunch Project Podcast as we chat with Eric Youngstrom, founder of Onramp. Here's a sneak peek at what we're covering: 📊 Data-driven lending with Onramp 💰 Overcoming cash flow issues ✔️ Hiring the right talent 💸 Accurate cost estimation ⚖️ Balancing market feedback with strategic decisions Whether you're an e-commerce veteran or just starting out, this episode is packed with valuable tips that'll help you take things to the next level. Tune in now and learn how to power up your business! 💡📦 🎧 Listen to Ep 162 on our website (🔗 link in comments), or check us out on Spotify, Apple, Substack, YouTube, or your favorite podcast platform. #Podcast #Ecommerce #SmallBusiness #Entrepreneurship #Financing

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🕚Here’s a flashback to an exciting and bold VC fund launch from 2023. 💸 ‘In Q4 2023 Gujarat, India based micro venture capital firm IVY Growth Associates ("Ivy") launched a $30 million VC fund. IVY Growth Fund will be backed by family offices, UHNIs, and global professional investors. 🌍 Focused on #Asia and the #MiddleEast 💡 Deploying capital over a period of 3-5 years into revenue and traction-based start-ups at the #preseriesA stage and beyond. Focus areas including #sustainability, #agritech, #healthcare, #deeptech, #Web3, and #AI. The VC also plans to collaborate with funds based in the Middle East, Singapore, Japan, the UK, and the US to help more Indian start-ups get access to global markets and capital. 📈 ‘Ivy Growth Associates has invested in 70+ start-ups, including Zypp Electric, Bullspree, EMotorad, Bebe Burp, amongst others.' 💭 “We are excited to support the growth of promising start-ups and contribute toward the global economy." - Prateek Tosniwal Co-founder of Ivy Growth Associates 🗞️ YourStory https://lnkd.in/egVVveZk 👏 For the #AudaciousInvestors unleashing innovation and empowering tomorrow🚀 Rachit Poddar I Prateek Tosniwal I Sharad Todi I Mehul Shah I Palak Gupta I Ankit Sanan I Shreya Raithatha I Team Ivy … #venturecapital #vc #funds #startups #entrepreneurs #funding #tech #india #entrepreneurship #technology #innovation #venture #fund

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