Peter Njongwe

👋 Kaan, what do you look for in founders? A questions I've been asked quite some times, and I think this great post says it all 👀⤵️ All credits to Nakul Mandan from Audacious Ventures and I would say a great read for founders (and investors). #founders  #investors #changethewaywework  #thefutureofworkisnow #firstdegree

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This should be a helpful reference for marketplace founders that might be on the fence about applying to Y Combinator. Aziz Alghunaim shares how he's not only benefited from it once, but now twice as a second-time marketplace founder building Nash. My quick takeaway from it is to apply.

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How Dr Umair Khan PhD and I raised USD$425K in pre seeds for Sahl AI. (2/3 of the funds were raised from angel investors and operators.) If you would have told the Ammar few years back that you'd be able to close $425,000 in investments with only an idea, story and an LOI, I wouldn't have believed you. The following tactics helped with our fund raising: → Tell a simple and clear story → Practice your story → Land the investors together → Don't react to valuations, let the market decide → Keep the frame in your control → Incentivise existing investors for referrals → Don't waste time with people who won't invest → Close quickly Simple checklist that worked for us. (Note: the above won't work if you don't have the fundamentals down: a high quality team, clear strategy, and a solid understanding of the market.) Will this checklist work for future fund raises? We are planning a fund raise in 3-months, so we'll see 😀. If you are interested to learn what we are building at Sahl AI, and how we are simplifying healthcare, let's talk.

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I still watch most of Y Combinator's videos in my pastime. Most people who have done YC or follow YC closely have heard that a lot of the advice they give is “common sense” or “simple advice”. It’s totally true - there’s no magical advice out there - and I realize the only thing that makes a difference is executing on the simple advice. For me I’ve noticed that it helps when I hear the same things over and over again, from different mediums, until I internalize it. Over the past weekend I was listening to YC’s new video on doing things that don’t scale. That it’s important to optimize for learning when you’re doing the 0 to 1 and eventually you earn the right to deal with scalability issues and tech debt. It’s funny to think back on some of the things we were doing that don’t scale: 👉 We had to share a Google sheet with our first few customers so they could list out all the tables they wanted us to sync.  👉 We then had a UI where customers could add tables, but all it did was send us a Slack message to actually kick that off in the backend. For the most part we did this fast enough so it would seem automated. What’s some really simple advice you’ve received that you value a lot? #ycombinator

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Through mentoring HealthTech startups, I've witnessed telemedicine powered by GenAI has garnered a more positive response from healthcare providers than AI alone. Here are AI use cases in telemedicine 👇 - 𝐑𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠: AI, particularly machine learning, analyzes vital signs from devices like blood pressure cuffs and heart monitors to detect abnormalities. - 𝐏𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐠𝐧𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐲𝐬𝐢𝐬: AI utilizes patient data and historical information to enhance diagnostic accuracy and interpret medical images effectively. - 𝐓𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐬: AI tailors personalized medical interventions by analyzing individual patient profiles. - 𝐏𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭: AI-powered tools like chatbots streamline services such as appointment scheduling, providing information, and managing intake processes. - 𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐜 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭: AI aids in monitoring patients, offering feedback, and alerting to early signs of disease progression. The increasing prevalence of such solutions signifies their potential to address the challenge of medical personnel shortages and facilitate remote care. The increasing prevalence of such solutions signifies their potential to address the challenge of medical personnel shortages and facilitate remote care. This innovative combination has the capacity to revolutionize healthcare delivery, making proactive and comprehensive care more accessible. #HealthTech #Telemedicine #GenAI #RemoteCare #VirtualCare #AIinHealthcare

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Fundraising for your SaaS startup? Memorize these benchmarks: 1. CAC Payback: 0-6 months 2. OpEx Efficiency: 1.5X+ 3. Net Revenue Retention: 120%+ 4. Time to Cash Out: 24+ months 5. Revenue Growth: 125%+ 6. Logo Retention: 95%+ These are the BEST benchmarks. Anything less is just... less. Investors have their benchmarks. You need to have yours too. Aim high. Grow fast. Retain customers. Be efficient. Then fundraise like a boss. 😎 The metrics tell your story. Make it a bestseller. 📈 — 📌 If you liked this (and want to support my work): - Like - Repost And follow me (Chris Tottman) for more B2B tips. Thank you! #BrainDumps 🧠 💩 // Brain Dump #52

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K Health, a provider of AI-powered primary care services, has successfully secured $50 million in a new funding round. This latest investment has elevated the company's valuation to $900 million, marking a significant milestone in its growth trajectory. The funding is earmarked for two primary objectives: expanding K Health's presence in the United States market and enhancing its artificial intelligence capabilities. ➜ Check the news at: https://lnkd.in/ddz79ab4 ➜ Vendorvise's official Instagram: https://lnkd.in/ebK2KQ2C ➜ Vendorvise's Linktree: https://lnkd.in/dQdbMdth 🤖 If you enjoy reading my posts about AI and tech news, hit the like button and share with your friends to support my content! #ai #artificialintelligence #ainews #aipowered #news #blog #khealth #50million #funding #investment #valuation #900million #healthcare #services #generativeai #aitech #tech #technology #content #socialmedia #future #new #business #techtrends #innovation #launch #success #markets #marketing #people #industry

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Between April 2023 and March 2024, the top category in seed rounds in both capital raised and valuation was (gasp!) HR. Despite the typical skepticism around HR tech, data from 1,271 priced seed rounds show that HR startups outpaced other industries with the highest median pre-money valuation and the highest median cash raised. This trend contradicts some investors' perceptions and highlights the growing importance of human resources technology and its potential to drive significant value and attract substantial investment. h/t Peter Walker and the always insightful Carta data.

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Science-backed products will reshape wellness. Osman Khan of Squared Circles is revolutionizing how consumer health brands are built and scaled. On the Fitt Insider Podcast, we discussed the venture studio’s $40M funding round, AI-powered ideation, and the playbook for launching successful companies. We also cover: Conscious Maximalism A growing demographic of 43M Americans seeks long-term optimization without sacrificing indulgence. Science as the Differentiator Leveraging novel IP and unique ingredients allows brands to deliver superior products in a crowded market. Data-Driven Conviction Using large sample sizes, clear thresholds, and multiple data points ensures ideas have market potential before launch. Iterative Testing Leveraging AI tools allows for faster iteration and testing of concepts, brands, and marketing materials before significant investment. Future Focus  Niche microbiomes, destigmatizing men's health, and "picks and shovels" for the GLP-1 wave represent major opportunities for innovation. 🎧 Listen to the full conversation https://lnkd.in/emPeiXNP 💪 Presented by EGYM

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Solve for information asymmetries! Architecture & Civil Engineering - Layout interpretation ~other industries: Healthcare - <Prescription> interpretation Financial Products - <Subject to market risks documentation> interpretation Loans - <Fine print> interpretation There’s going to be a slew of startups commercialising this year with a value prop of simplification using AI

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Thrilled to share that I have been shortlisted for the The VC Fellowship! This opportunity aligns perfectly with my passion for innovation and supporting visionary entrepreneurs. Excited to contribute to the startup ecosystem and learn from the best in venture capital. #VCFellowship #Entrepreneurship #Innovation #PassionForGrowth 🚀

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Differences between Startups and Small Businesses (SMBs): Startups are like Free Radicals ⚡ 1. Highly unstable and Temporary in nature  🕒 Like Free Radicals, startups are in a temporary, highly dynamic state. 2. Highly reactive 🔄 Implement rapid changes such as layoffs ✂️ to reduce costs, like how free radicals undergo quick reactions to stabilize. 3. Short-Term Focus 📈: Startups often focus on rapid growth and immediate survival, which leads to frequent changes in strategy and structure. SMBs are like Benzene 🧘‍♂️ 1. Stable and Permanent🏅 Like benzene rings, they are designed for long-term stability and operate in a steady state. 2. Low Reactivity 🛠️ SMBs are very very less reactive to changes like restructuring and layoffs✂️. 3. Sustainable Structure 🤝 Maintain a stable and sustainable structure over time. SMBs typically value employee loyalty 🌟 and strive to avoid layoffs ✂️. Kaisa laga Free radical aur Benzene ki kahani ? Comment karke boliyega 😊 .

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I am torn by this as well. When I see a new platform shift, I see the opportunity for a shift that benefits the end user. The ultimate end user in healthcare is the patient. In the current model, the structure is to chase revenue by driving it up or maximizing profit. The AI platform shift, targeting low-hanging fruit like administrative efficiencies, follows this path. It's reminiscent of the famous quote: "We wanted flying cars, but we got 140 characters." The same thing is happening all over again, without truly challenging the status quo. Maybe AI can help people get less sick, prevent disease, and navigate spending less money in the first place. But in the current model, it's difficult to get penetration. Ultimately, everyone needs short-term metrics and traction to raise another round of funds. I am not criticizing those who play this game. I respect them for playing it well. However, they shouldn't position themselves as lowering costs for patients by decreasing administrative costs. The trickle-down effect simply doesn’t work.

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The startup funding landscape took a surprising turn in the first quarter of 2024 plunging to its second-lowest point since the beginning of 2018. 📉 This was according to an analysis of Crunchbase data. 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹 𝗩𝗖 𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴: → Global venture funding reached $66 bn in Q1, 2024. → Funding is up 6% quarter over quarter →  However, overall, it's still down 20% year over year → AI and Healthcare captured the most funding, $11.4 bn and $15.7 bn respectively The Crunchbase data also revealed some interesting trends in the 𝗴𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹 𝗜𝗣𝗢 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁: → The IPO market is showing signs of recovery → However, it is too early to make a definitive statement → Astera Labs' shares grew 72% on their first day → Reddit, Inc. also saw a 48% gain by end-of-day trading Overall, the Q1 numbers are a mixed bag but definitely interesting. 𝗤𝟭 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗱 𝗮 𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝗩𝗖 𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴. The bar for entry into VC funding has risen, requiring startups to demonstrate more traction and scalability. The IPO market shows signs of recovery with significant first-day gains but remains unpredictable. I feel that there is a potential that the market will recover, but it’s too soon to make a call. Which way do you see this trend going in the 2nd Quarter? I’d love to hear your views in the comments!

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In your startup’s early stages, feeling extremely optimistic about future success is expected. But according to Wilbur Labs, 27% of startups fail because they built a product the market didn’t buy. Stress-testing your assumptions against the market through a structured 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁 𝗩𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 approach is priority #1 before or at the MVP stage. 👇 ✅ A good market validation process will tell you if your target market is willing to pay for your product or service (maybe even how much 💲) ❌ A destructive market validation process contains vanity metrics and false positives. Here are four ways to validate your startup idea against the market 👇 → Customer Development  Engage with potential customers for feedback. Once you identify your target audience, prepare questions and conduct interviews to gather as much feedback as possible.     → Pre-sales  Try selling your product or service before it’s fully developed. Set up an attractive landing page and offer pre-sale prices to measure market demand.       → Waitlists Set up a landing page for sign-ups and promote for early access. Once you’re ready to launch, you’ll have an existing customer base to reach out to. → Wizard of Oz Gather customer feedback and market demand through a mockup of your product—there is no need to wait for complete development to gather customer insights. The faster you validate your idea against the market, the more signs of market pull you’ll likely feel when you officially launch an MVP. If you feel stuck here, send me a DM! I’m open to connecting with other founders to provide actionable advice based on my experience founding, scaling, and exiting my previous startup. 📈 #startups #founders #mvp #entrepreneurs #venturecapital

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Startups don’t just “run out of money.” They wait too long to discover and validate real problems or unmet needs. Problems get rationalized until it’s too late. Funding creates a false sense of security, exacerbating this issue. Founders need to get back to basic business building. Focus on achieving product-market revenue fit, and less on raising capital too early. Talk to customers, invalidate hypotheses and assumptions, iterate, and address problems early. Stay focused and be in the trenches. 💡 #Startup #Entrepreneurship

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These Startups Are Hiring Now! 🚀 They have fewer than 50 employees and have recently raised their seed from top-tier VC firms like Sequoia Capital, Index Ventures, & Founders Fund. Join one of these up-and-coming startups: 1. Daydream - AI powered shopping (US remote) 2. Daytona - Dev environment manager (remote) 3. Ario - AI assistant for parents (remote) 4. enso - AI bots marketplace (Tel Aviv) 5. Cartwheel - Generative animation (remote) 6. Tracebit - Cloud threat detection (London) 7. Accend (YC S23) - Compliance (Bay Area) 8. Command Zero - Investigation (Remote) 9. Browserbase - Browser automation (Bay Area) 10. Granza Bio (YC W24) - Therapeutic (UK) 11. Sentient - AGI research (Remote) 12. Lekko - Config for developers (Bay Area) 13. Redactive - Virtual AI engineer (Australia) 14. Wordsmith AI - Workspace lawyers (UK) 15. Substrate - API for modular AI (New York) 16. AnchorZero - Founder Roth IRAs (New York) 17. PointFive - Cloud optimization (Tel Aviv) 18. SLAY - Social gaming (Berlin) 19. bem - AI data interface (Bay Area) 20. DeepJudge - AI legal search (Zurich) 21. CuspAI - Next generation materials (UK) 22. Greptile - AI coding tool (Bay Area) 23. ElectronX - Energy exchange (New York) 24. Day.ai - AI-native CRM (US) It's a tough job market out there right now. Ben Lang dropped this amazing list for folks looking to join an up-and-coming startup. This is a great place to start. #startups #careers #hiring _____ Enjoy this? Follow Kevin Jurovich for daily startup & VC insights and the occasional meme. ✌️

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Founders, don’t make this common mistake early on (#4 in series): Rely too heavily on referrals without any process. Every founder knows referrals are the holy grail of hiring. Who doesn’t want a warm intro to a strong candidate that comes vouched for? So founders ask their team for referrals anytime a new role opens up. Maybe they’ll get a few leads. But without structure, referrals stall: • Current employees get distracted by their day-to-day. • They forget to tap their networks. • High-quality references dry up quick. Your new goal: Systematize referrals. • Set aside dedicated time every quarter to re-engage your team on referrals. Remind them of open roles and relevant skill sets you seek. • Provide clear guidelines on who and how to refer. For example, share ideal candidate criteria and specifics on where they should introduce you. • Incentivize referrals with gift cards or team rewards. And track submissions to notify when a referee gets hired. Putting a structured referral program in place reduces ad-hoc asks and motivates your team to proactively tap their trusted contacts. You’ll see candidate quality and hiring velocity increase overnight. P.S. This is post #4 in my series uncovering common founder hiring mistakes that burn cash. Follow me to catch the rest of the series.

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Launch YC is one of the coolest pages on Y Combinator's website 💚 There, you will see some of the coolest startup ideas, built by world-class founders - many of whom I'm glad to be friends with. Every YC startup gets a chance to launch their startup there and have YC show it to the world. Launch YC's launches also get sent to thousands of people who subscribe to their newsletter - that way, early adopters can get a step ahead of their competitors by using innovative tools built by YC founders. Today was our turn: we just launched Briefer (YC S23) through Launch YC! If you haven't yet given us an upvote, this is your chance. Link in the comments 👇

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