Bridge Venture Fund

Recent data indicates that Gen Z and others are increasingly prioritizing spending on experiences and travel over material goods. As Ken Baldwin put it best, "a guided trip for the angler in your life is a gift they'll truly enjoy. It sure beats a necktie". We were recently featured in Sports Illustrated’s “Fishing on SI.” Check out the full article to learn more about gifting a fly fishing trip, and keep all our amazing AnyCreek Guide Partners in mind as you shop for the holiday season! https://bit.ly/3Czdn6k #AnyCreek #StartUp #Outdoors #OutdoorTech #Travel #Holiday #HolidayGifts #Gifts #SportsIllustrated #SportsIllustratedFishing #GiftGuide #Experiences Sports Illustrated Benjamin Lazarov Thomas Freund Zachary Clinchy Katie Wilson

In an industry filled with constant publication of grand successes, I always find it grounding to meet offline with other GPs - emerging and established alike. Thank you to Brendon Schmidt, Mark Fernandes, Tim Guleri, Ben Y., Shashank Saxena, Vignesh Ravikumar and the whole SIERRA Ventures team for including me in this wonderful event! Special shout out to Anne Gherini for tolerating me and Jackson Bubala for 18 holes.

??Congrats to Priori CEO & Co-Founder Basha Rubin on being named to Crain's New York Business 40 Under 40 list for 2024! Basha started Priori in 2013 with a vision for a transparent marketplace for legal services and under her leadership we're now one of the fastest-growing private companies in the U.S. Her passion for the legaltech industry and the NYC startup community is unmatched and her recognition by Crain's is well deserved. Thanks to Crain's and thank you to Basha for your pioneering leadership. We can't wait to see what's next! Read her profile: https://hubs.li/Q02WPTfG0

Almost exactly 6-months shy of my 40th birthday, I made it on the Crain's 40 Under 40 for New York Business list. When I started Priori, I was 26, had just graduated from law school, and had an idea I was wildly confident would transform the legal industry. 13 years, 6 offices, 3 fundraising rounds, 2 children later, Priori is stronger than ever and is transforming the legal industry (but it is far from transformed). My co-founder Mirra and I are as fired up as ever about what we're building and watch this space, we have a lot of exciting announcements coming soon. I have been thinking though... can we start celebrating the entrepreneurs over 40 (or even 30)? It's inspiring when people have early successes, but having been an entrepreneur at both 26 and 39, I can say, at least for me, the latter is a lot more challenging, even though I'm a lot better at it. In generalities, as people age, we have more obligations that take up time and money (children, homes, aging parents, etc). Were I not already an entrepreneur, it would take a lot more for me to leap now than it did 13 years ago. And -- those entrepreneurs might be able to be able to use their experience to make better, more efficient decisions and positively impact the world around them. I hope to see more 40 over 40 / 50 over 50 / 60 over 60 lists, too. (Paywalled link in comments)

ICYM our Q3 newsletter last month. Check out all the latest on our portfolio and the happenings at Bridge Venture Fund here. https://lnkd.in/giPCyGyp Highlights include: ?? ConverseNow.AI acquires Valyant AI ?? AnyCreek featured in TechCrunch piece on innovation in outdoor experiences ?? Bevz's Jason Vego featured on CPG Launch Leaders ?? Trajektory's Alex Kerr makes Leaders in Sport Under 40 List ? Priori makes Inc. Magazine 5000 List for second consecutive year ?? Caraway Home launches cast iron

Bridge Investments Partner Mike Suchsland shares his unique insights on how AI is reshaping the business of law.

I talk a lot about gratitude as I have much to be grateful for in both my personal and professional life. When I learned about being selected to the Leaders in Sport Under 40 Class of 2024 with what we have built at Trajektory ?? , I felt an incredible amount of appreciation. The reality of receiving something as special and as incredible as this is that no one does it by themselves. The recognition is a reflection of the amazing team effort that is only achieved by the countless partners, advisors, and colleagues that have worked tirelessly the last several years to build the Trajektory platform. It has been a monumental effort and shared commitment to transforming an industry together, and a very special experience for me to work with such an unbelievable team I’m deeply honored, and extremely grateful to Leaders in Sport for this tremendous acknowledgement. Congratulations to the phenomenal individuals selected in the Class of 2024. I feel great gratitude and fortune for being able to work with good humans on a daily basis, and for having wonderful friends and family in my life. Thank you to the family, friends, mentors, advisors, colleagues, and investors that have put up with this quirky nerd. You know who you are.

When we talk about end markets underserved by technology at Bridge Investments, this is exactly what we mean. COVID --> increased consumer interest --> increased consumer expectations --> influx of technology. We're excited to be investing in outdoor sports and recreation with companies like alder and AnyCreek and excited to see Benjamin Lazarov featured prominently in this article! cc: Mikayla A. Wujec, Naomi Blackman https://lnkd.in/gUfaYBGS

We are THRILLED to announce that Simple Mills has been recognized as one of Inc.'s Best Workplaces for 2024! We believe in creating a positive impact on people and the planet, both professionally and personally. Our mission-driven culture focuses on holistic growth, deepening connections, and enhancing well-being through a variety of programs: - People & Planet Retreats that unite our team with nature - Quarterly engagement sessions on regenerative agriculture and nutrition - Earth Month programming and farm visits - Live Full Fridays, closing our offices at 1pm every week to focus on our WANT-to-do lists Our team is the driving force behind our culture, which is why we are so invested in our talent! If you are interested in joining our journey, please check out our careers page. https://lnkd.in/gZUuECj

Building for the long road ahead I was very excited to connect with Brian Berger, founder of Mack Weldon to discuss his personal journey building the brand, the challenges faced along the way, and valuable insights for aspiring entrepreneurs. Brian and I started in the apparel business around the same time and it was amazing to pick his brain on what he has learnt along the way and advices he has for the new generation of entrepreneurs. Brian’s journey began with a deep-rooted interest in technology and internet-based businesses. After spending years working with tech and media companies, Brian felt the urge to create something more tangible and consumer-centric. This urge ultimately led him to explore ideas in the apparel industry, particularly in the underwear space. Brian had a clear vision of creating better basics but lacked the experience in apparel manufacturing. Through a fortuitous connection, he met a consultant was eager to innovate in the basics category. This collaboration provided the expertise required to get Mack Weldon off the ground. Reflecting on his journey, Brian shared insights on the importance of balanced leadership, perhaps erring on the side of conservative financial decisions while maintaining the brand's creative excellence. Brian's key advice for aspiring entrepreneurs is to understand that building a business requires endurance, pragmatic decision-making, and an adaptable strategy. He stressed the importance of creating a sustainable business model capable of weathering market challenges. In his own words..."You need to build up the muscles, train for endurance, and make tough decisions. Longevity comes from not cutting corners and enduring the tough times." Links in comments: