Mercury

Big Announcement! I’ve officially made the move to Austin to continue growing Mercury’s footprint in this incredible city. Houston has been so good to me over the past 15 years (go Rice Owls!), and while it’s bittersweet to leave, I’m genuinely thrilled to embark on this next chapter—both professionally and personally. Professionally: I’m eager to deeply connect with Austin’s vibrant tech ecosystem and support building the next generation of innovative startups right here in Texas. My passion lies in cultivating authentic relationships with visionary founders, dynamic co-investors, and dedicated ecosystem partners. I’d greatly appreciate any introductions or insights as I settle into the community! Personally: We couldn’t be happier to welcome our second baby boy as an official Austinite this June! His big brother, Sasha, is already thriving amidst Austin’s nature and wonderful community, and we’re excited to grow roots in this amazing city. Finally, a heartfelt shoutout to Jason Scharf for the warm welcome through our recent conversation on the Austin Next podcast. As I shared on the pod, Mercury’s vision for Austin is simple yet powerful: “We are so excited to just hang out and see everybody, meet entrepreneurs, hopefully build a big fintech community here as time goes on…The more VC firms that are here, the better. The more entrepreneurs that are getting funding here, the better.” Austin friends, old and new—let’s connect! Aileen Allen Aziz Gilani Lisa Roberts Jackie Pfister Maryann Menzies Alspaugh Juliette Richert Tatiana Fofanova, Ph.D. Ali Motroni Lindsay Lightman Alex Houghtalin Kathleen Rodgers Angela Pierce

What are Texas-based VCs investing in? Join Blair Garrou, Craig Cummings, Conrad Shang, and Han Shen tomorrow, Tuesday, 3/25, for an insightful Software Day panel at the Ion Houston. Sign up here to attend: https://lnkd.in/gMgYVBUa And join us after the panel for a happy hour sponsored by Gunderson Dettmer to connect with fellow entrepreneurs, investors, and industry experts. Moonshots Capital Ensemble VC iFly.vc

We’re honored to be named one of America’s Best Startup Employers by Forbes—for the 3rd year in a row! ?? A huge thank you to our incredible team for making Cart.com a great place to work. See the full list here: https://lnkd.in/g_gRJVNC #AmericasBestStartupEmployers #ForbesList #BestStartup #Forbes

We’re honored to be named one of America’s Best Startup Employers by Forbes—for the 3rd year in a row! ?? A huge thank you to our incredible team for making Cart.com a great place to work. See the full list here: https://lnkd.in/g_gRJVNC #AmericasBestStartupEmployers #ForbesList #BestStartup #Forbes

Really looking forward to the?Digital Asset Summit 2025?in NYC, March 18-20. Let me know if you’ll be there and let's connect!

With Apple’s announcement of a 250,000-square-foot AI manufacturing facility in Houston, the city is solidifying its role as a hub for AI and cutting-edge innovation. ? Join Blair Garrou, Brian Richards (Head of Innovation, Americas, Accenture), Mitra Miller (VP, Houston Angel Network), and Remington Tonar (Co-founder, Cart.com) as they discuss Houston’s growing impact on technology. ? ??? The event is hosted by Greater Houston Partnership on March 19—don’t miss it!

Congrats to Mercury portfolio company ArborXR for its newly announced MDM deal with Meta!

ArborXR is now an Official MDM Partner for Meta Horizon managed services. We know that changes to enterprise XR can be challenging, and we’re here to help businesses navigate them smoothly. As an official MDM partner for Meta Horizon managed services (formerly Meta Quest for Business), ArborXR is committed to making XR device management as seamless and flexible as possible. With ArborXR + Meta, businesses can: ? Easily enroll Meta Quest devices without personal Meta accounts, developer mode, or USB cables ? Remotely manage devices, deploy content, and streamline XR operations ? Maintain security and control with enterprise-grade management tools We understand that new requirements for Horizon managed services come with cost considerations and migration challenges. Our goal is to provide the tools and support businesses need to scale XR with confidence. Current customers can get more information here: https://lnkd.in/gMchSSd6 Read the official press release: https://hubs.li/Q038sc2q0

See you at #sxsw? Let's talk AI, blockchain, crypto, fintech, and more at my Mentor Session on March 7th! Join me by registering here: https://lnkd.in/e6h4XAXX

This article struck a real chord with me, as I've recently seen skills and expectations soar on both sides of the tech hiring equation. Meet Andrew Yeung, who's achieved career success at Google and Meta despite struggling in school, not feeling super charismatic, and not launching into the job market with great connections. Andrew explains in his article (link in comments) how he transformed his professional approach with lessons from The Third Door by Alex Banayan. Andrew found creative ways to secure highly-coveted tech jobs, and I’ve noted (and reworded) three specific skills from the article that I think are absolutely essential to achieving outsized success in tech. I've also added a 4th focused on AI that aligns with our perspectives at Mercury. ? Get S#!T Done: Execute faster, better, and more efficiently than most! Is your effective productivity consistent, predictable, and efficient? ? Selling, Influence, and Relationship Development: Relationships, NOT Money are the Currency of Life! ? (Servant) Leadership: Some confuse leadership with getting people to do what you want, but real leaders eat last and build loyalty by developing multiple layers of capacity through Servant Leadership! ? AI will let you fly: Companies are focused on integrating AI into their internal processes and product offerings. Are you well-versed in AI? Have you tried out the different AI platforms relevant to your job? With the AI movement only about a year old there is still an opportunity to differentiate yourself with a firm understanding and strategy for using AI, and this will set you apart. What does this all mean? While we’d all probably agree that achieving success in anything requires a combination of having the right mindset, gaining access to and aligning resources, and having the perseverance just not to quit, at the end of the day, AI's ability to?balance the scales?means you’re now measured more and more by your ability to get things done (execution), sell your ideas/beliefs (relationship development), and build capacity (leadership). These aren't the only components to achieve success, but they might be the most important along the path to professional success.