Level Up Ventures

One of the biggest mistakes founders make when choosing an investor? Not checking references. We know founders often focus on: ? Valuation ? Check size But not enough on who they’re actually bringing onto their cap table. Before accepting our investment, one of our portfolio CEOs didn’t just take our word for it—they reached out to our portfolio founders directly on LinkedIn. No intros. No filters. Just raw, unfiltered feedback. ?? Smart move. The best investors don’t just provide capital. They: ?? Show up when things get hard—offering real support, not just words. ?? Roll up their sleeves and help solve real problems—whether it’s refining go-to-market strategy, tackling hiring challenges, or troubleshooting product-market fit. ?? Make the right introductions at the right time—because warm intros alone don’t build companies; execution does. My advice to founders: Talk to the founders in an investor’s portfolio who are thriving—but don’t stop there. The most revealing insights come from those who faced real challenges—especially founders whose companies had to pivot, struggled to raise, or ultimately shut down. They’ll have the clearest view of whether their investors truly showed up when it mattered. #VentureCapital #FounderSupport #EarlyStageVC #InvestorDueDiligence #NotAllCapitalIsEqual

At?Level Up Ventures, we don’t just connect the dots, we make the introductions! Our carefully curated network of?investors is designed to help diverse, early-stage startups find the right partners?at the click of a button. ???Are you a founder??If you're actively fundraising and want to be featured in our monthly deal flow database,?submit your startup today?and get in front of top investors actively seeking new opportunities. Join the deal flow?– [https://lnkd.in/eR9DAMNN] ???Are you an investor??Gain access to a pipeline of diverse-led startups, filter by industry and stage, and request introductions seamlessly.?Drop a comment below?to request access! Let’s build the future, one connection at a time. ?? #startups #venturecapital #investors #fundraising #LevelUpVentures #Hearst

Please join us in congratulating?Katherine Rodriguez?as she steps into her new role as?Community Relationships & Engagement Sr. Manager at LBAN/Latino Business Action Network !??? Katherine played a key role in shaping the?Level Up Ventures?ecosystem, and we’re excited to see her continue driving impact by supporting Latino entrepreneurs in her new?role at LBAN. Want to learn more about LBAN’s mission and connect with Katherine??Join her at #SOLESummit, where founders, investors, and leaders come together to empower Latino businesses! ???Register here:?[bit.ly/SOLE2025] #StrongerTogether #LevelUpVentures #LatinoEntrepreneurs #SOLESummit #LBANstrong

?? Think you’ve got your startup’s legal basics covered? Think again! ?? On February 20th at 5:00 PM ET, join us for a free session with top startup lawyers who will debunk legal misconceptions and help you avoid costly missteps. ?? Featuring expert insights from: ? Paige M. Bolinger (Partner, Croke Fairchild Duarte & Beres) ? Joshua Eisenson (Partner, Goodwin) ? Devon Barnett (Associate, Cooley) ? Valerie E. Wood (Associate, Gunderson Dettmer) What you don’t know CAN hurt your startup. This is your chance to get actionable legal insights from top firms—at no cost to founders. ?? Register now to secure your spot! https://lu.ma/rnz70fhi #startups #founders #legaladvice #venturecapital #LevelUpVentures

?? We’re Hiring! ?? Telly (powered by ConnectCareHero) is growing, and we’re looking for a motivated Sales Professional to join our team! If you’re passionate about making a difference and excited about helping us connect older adults 55+ to enriching experiences, we’d love to hear from you. ?? Role: Senior Lead Sales Professional ?? Details: Base with commission $ ?? Requirement: sales experience in skilled nursing, memory care, assisted living, independent, community health centers, and adult day centers ?? Start Date: February 2025 ?? Apply and learn more: Send your resume or inquiries to [email protected] Join us in driving engagement and making an impact! Let’s grow together. #Hiring #SalesRole #ConnectCareHero #JoinOurTeam Tagging for reach: New Age Capital , Level Up Ventures, Google for Startups, Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, American Heart Association Ventures, P33 Chicago, TechRise Chicago, UNO Maverick Venture Fund, Chingona Ventures, January Ventures, Ziegler Maxsip Telecom, Hearst Health, Hearst, Inicio, FounderFamilia, Goodie Nation, Techstars, Google Health, McKnight's Long-Term Care News, Dan Hermann

Our portfolio company, LoanWell, is looking for a Small Business Lending Relationship Manager to join their growing team! LoanWell is on a mission to power equitable access to capital by providing lending infrastructure for community lenders and CDFIs. This is an exciting opportunity to collaborate with a smart, mission-driven team that’s passionate about financial inclusion and innovation. Know someone who’s excited about making an impact at the intersection of technology and finance? Tag them below and/or share this opportunity with your network! ?? Learn more and apply below. #JobOpportunity #Hiring #LoanWell #StartupCareers #FinancialInclusion

Calling All New York State Founders: Looking to grow your startup in New York State? Our friends at Upstate Venture Connect (UVC) are here to help. UVC is a non-profit organization founded by entrepreneurs, for entrepreneurs. They support founders like you through curated 1:1 connections, strategic introductions, and events designed to fuel your journey. Interested in tapping into this incredible resource? ?Take a moment to fill out the brief form below to get connected.

Excited to share that I’ll be speaking on a panel alongside incredible VC colleagues Kange Kaneene, Kofi Ampadu, LaToya Wilson, and Andres Barreto, who bring a wealth of insight and experience to the conversation. We’ll be discussing how to gain traction and achieve product-market fit at the House of Scale 2025 in New York City on Wednesday, January 15th! ?? This event brings together a dynamic mix of founders, investors, and industry leaders to explore what it takes to scale ventures in today’s ever-changing landscape. Details and registration: https://lnkd.in/eQj3azk7 #VentureCapital #Startups #HouseOfScale2025 #DiversityInTech #Innovation

What an incredible evening at AFROTECH! To close out what was an inspiring week, Level Up Ventures teamed up with South Loop Ventures and Gunderson Dettmer to host a networking mixer that celebrated the talent, drive, and vision of those leading the charge in the shifting age of tech and venture capital. The room was filled with brilliant minds exchanging ideas, building connections, and paving the way for the next wave of progress in our industries. This event was a true reflection of what happens when we come together with purpose and passion. A heartfelt thank-you to everyone who joined us and made the night so special. Here’s to more moments that spark collaboration and fuel growth! #Afrotech #NetworkingMixer #VentureCapital #LevelUpVentures #Hearst

? Founders, are you ready to elevate your pitch? Last week, I teamed up with Level Up Ventures Venture Partners Kange Kaneene and Gary Stewart to host?Pitch Perfect: Mastering the Startup Pitch—a master class for early-stage founders. We explored what it takes to craft a standout pitch and build meaningful connections with investors. Here’s what we covered: - Approaching your pitch with an investor’s mindset - Demystifying venture math and funding dynamics - Navigating the “Valley of Death” - Tailoring your pitch for different funding rounds - Avoiding common pitching pitfalls ?? Watch the full session here: https://bit.ly/4eRvodF ?? Know a founder who could use these insights? Tag them below! P.S. If you’re a Black and/or Latino founder in the U.S. or Canada with a seed stage tech startup and some product-market fit—and looking for a $300K–$500K check—Level Up Ventures would love to hear from you. No warm intros needed—visit our site for full criteria and to submit your startup. #StartupSuccess #VentureCapital #LevelUpVentures #FounderTips