NuFund Venture Group

NuFund in Austin: Startups, Investors & Cocktails! The NuFund crew met up with the intrepid investors from #Antler in Austin to jumpstart a new adventure with some amazing startups! Loved the energy, enthusiasm, and warmth we received from everyone in Austin! Had amazing set of meetups, panel discussions, founder mixers, and met with some very passionate founders and few with absolutely amazing funding strategy (you know who you are!). Many thanks to Prerna Sharma, James Burkett for being amazing hosts. Great meeting and making connections with some incredible people, Tom Barone, Nick Talwar, Sharmin Ali, Jade Wang, Pooja Y. Patel and so many others. NuFund Venture Group Antler Serhat Pala Guy Reams Andrew A. Schafer Caitlin Wege

?? Six of us flew into Austin last week from San Diego NuFund Venture Group Caitlin Wege, Andrew A. Schafer , Guy Reams , Akash Pai , Millard Chan, and myself for our first set of Austin Cluster events. Our Austin-based NuFunders, John, Amy Wages, and?James Burkett , were waiting for?us on the ground. It didn’t take long before the conversations started; the ideas flowed. ?? Why Austin? We’ve been asked this a lot lately. The answer is layered: ? It’s the collaborative spirit of the community. ? It’s how founders love where they live—and build accordingly. ? It’s the mix of industries—AI, healthtech, hardware, SaaS, and climate—and how they feed off each other. ? And yes, it’s the growth you can see and feel, from the skyline to the sidewalk. ?? A huge thank you: – Antler, (Tyler Norwood, Prerna Sharma, Caroline (Healey) McCracken , Rick Boone) for opening their space and their community to us. Their cohort of founders and portfolio companies reminded us that vision and humility can absolutely coexist. The energy in that mixer was grounded, intentional, and collaborative in the best sense of the word. – Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP (Andy Smetana) , for graciously hosting our NuFund meeting This was our first-ever simultaneous monthly member meeting in two cities (San Diego & Austin). It was a demonstration of how the NuFund Venture Group model can scale across geographies without losing its soul. ?? At our mixer on Thursday, we met founders solving real problems, not just chasing trends. We reconnected with old friends (Kevin Bondzio, Cristina Imperial Carl, Jason Scharf) —and met new ones (Sharmin Ali, Tom Barone, Nick Talwar, Brian Modoff, Tyler McClintock, MD, MBA, MPA, Sridhar Rajagopal, Tae Hyun Hwang, Jade Wang ...) who make Austin feel even more like a natural fit for NuFund. ?We even hopped in a Waymo—just to see if the future had caught up yet. Turns out, it hasn’t. People are still 30% faster in Austin’s construction zones. ?? Then came Péché (https://lnkd.in/ghR7wM_n) Tucked into downtown Austin, it’s the kind of place where time slows down a little. The kind of place where the owner Rob Pate asks you three questions, and somehow pours you the perfect drink. Mine was a cocktail named The Boucheron—a reimagined Bijou, where Grand Marnier stands in for Chartreuse. Softer, citrusy, layered. “This one,” he said, “should make you pause with each sip.” It did. And that’s exactly what this trip felt like. Not rushed. Not transactional. Just the kind of layered, thoughtful experience that reminds you what real community-building looks like. ?? What’s next? This wasn’t a one-off. It was the first brick in a bridge. There’s momentum here. There’s mutual respect. And there’s real opportunity to shape something durable between Austin & San Diego To our fellow NuFunders: If this post gave you a little FOMO—that’s a good thing. Come on the next one. We’re just getting started.

?? See how NuFund is re-shaping early-stage investing with a novel founder-fair, fund-first model, and keep following NuFund Highlights for more of the latest?news from our members, partners and portfolio companies ?? ??A New Investment Category | Serhat Pala breaks down why NuFund isn’t a VC fund or an angel group—but a new model entirely: the Venture Group. Built for today’s landscape, not yesterday’s. ?? The Expert Myth (TEDx) | Victoria Lakers challenges traditional thinking in her TEDx talk—arguing that soft skills and adaptability are key in today’s fast-changing, AI-driven world. ?Investor Energy in Austin | Sharmin Ali recaps an inspiring evening with Antler & NuFund investors—great conversations, sharp insights, and a growing ecosystem and target market for both NuFund and Antler in Austin, TX. ?? Sustainable Innovation | NuFund portfolio company, Algenesis Labs, publishes a breakthrough in green chemistry: plant-based, biodegradable polyurethane foam without compromising performance. ?? ?Follow NuFund Highlights to stay in the loop!

An incredible evening at La Condesa with Antler and NuFund Venture Group investors—great conversations, sharp insights, and a deep dive into the latest investment trends in the U.S. The energy was electric, the discussions were game-changing, and the vibes at this semi-boho, semi-Mexican spot made it all the more memorable! I met some very talented, experienced and perceptive like-minded folks. Thank you Jade Wang and Prerna Sharma for inviting me to this sumptuous dinner. I’ve made a new friend in Prerna now and we are going to plan a ton of events together in the upcoming days. Also a huge shoutout to incredible folks: Rick Boone: I want the link to buy the protein water please ???? you’re such a fitness inspiration. Serhat Pala: Other than sharing Turkish names, I love how energetic and perky you are. Thank you for being there Caitlin Wege powerhouse woman with such sharp and unique thoughts. More power to you! Andrew A. Schafer the most fun loving angel investor ever! I’m going to see you soon buddy ?? Millard Chan what a mindblowing background! We need to meet up in NYC and talk more about Columbia and your keynotes! Super stoked to have met you! Guy Reams ?? to Temecula and San Diego is the best place all year round! Akash Pai Great to meet you and I’m looking forward to connecting with you soon and talk more about my podcast and all things startups?? Nick Talwar the first person I spoke with last night was you! Thank you for a great conversation and for sharing your story ?? Tom Barone great to meet with you buddy. We need to catch up and talk more ????

Just landed in Austin ?? and can already feel the energy — because this week, we’re making a little NuFund Venture Group history. ?? For the first time ever, our General Monthly Member Meeting (GMM) will be held simultaneously in two cities—San Diego HQ and a brand-new Austin satellite. It’s not just logistics—it’s systems evolution in motion. In San Diego, we’ll kick things off with ?? bagels + banter. Here in Austin, we’re gathering a sharp crew of NuFund members, guest investors, and prospective members for a day of connection and collaboration. Then we wrap it up with something special: ?? A Founder & Investor Mixer we’re co-hosting with Antler—one of our favorite co-investors and a global early-stage powerhouse. ?? Why are we doing this? Because the Venture Group model works best when community, capital, and collaboration scale together. What is a Venture Group Model? Read here: (https://lnkd.in/gFNMJKz2) This isn’t just about meetings in a room or on a Zoom screen and pitch decks. It’s about real conversations in real rooms (this time, two of them). Massive thanks to the NuFund members flying out from San Diego to help make this moment real: ?? Caitlin Wege, Millard Chan, Andrew A. Schafer, Guy Reams, Akash Pai Looking forward to reconnecting with our awesome Austin-based NuFund crew and welcoming some future members into the mix. If you're in Austin—or know someone who should be—send them this invite to the March 27th Mixer: ?? https://lnkd.in/gHeGf8eD

NuFund Venture Group will be represented at the 3rd a2 National Symposium (https://lnkd.in/g_e9qvTv) on April 4, 2025, at The Harvard Club (Boston, MA), with our Board Member Denise Saltojanes participating in the “Funders & Dealmakers” session. This event brings together AI, tech, and aging innovators, including 130+ startups and academic awardees, investors, and thought leaders passionate about the future of aging tech. As the first and most active Venture Group model, NuFund is thrilled to explore groundbreaking Agetech innovations and connect with visionary founders and investors. If you are an Agetech startup looking for funding or an investor seeking high-impact opportunities, this is the event to be at! ?? Date: April 4, 2025 ?? Location: The Harvard Club, Boston, MA Join NuFund and other agetech innovation participants to be part of the conversation shaping the future of agetech! Ashok Kamal, Yasmin Zahra Shah #NuFund #Agetech #VentureGroup #AI #TechForAging #StartupFunding #Boston #Innovation #InvestmentOpportunities #SeedStage https://lnkd.in/g_e9qvTv

?? Want to see how NuFund is shaping the future of venture, AI, and agetech? Follow NuFund Highlights for the latest??? ?? Shaping the Future of Agetech | On April 4, Board Member Denise Saltojanes joins the “Funders & Dealmakers” panel at the a2 National Symposium at The Harvard Club (Boston). 130+ startups, investors, and thought leaders will explore the future of aging tech. ?? Smart Alternatives | Priscilla Luckhurst MSF, MBA shares how to manage risk and maximize returns with alternative investments like angel, VC, and real estate. ?? AI Workshop Series | Ohad Tzur highlights a must-watch 6-part AI workshop led by Pankaj Kedia — cutting through the noise with deep insight. ?? Mosquito-Free Developments | Pooja Y. Patel of Synvect is helping real estate developers turn tough locations into high-value properties with a CRISPR-based mosquito control solution. ?? Follow NuFund Highlights to stay in the loop!

NuFund Venture Group will be represented at the 3rd a2 National Symposium (https://lnkd.in/g_e9qvTv) on April 4, 2025, at The Harvard Club (Boston, MA), with our Board Member Denise Saltojanes participating in the “Funders & Dealmakers” session. This event brings together AI, tech, and aging innovators, including 130+ startups and academic awardees, investors, and thought leaders passionate about the future of aging tech. As the first and most active Venture Group model, NuFund is thrilled to explore groundbreaking Agetech innovations and connect with visionary founders and investors. If you are an Agetech startup looking for funding or an investor seeking high-impact opportunities, this is the event to be at! ?? Date: April 4, 2025 ?? Location: The Harvard Club, Boston, MA Join NuFund and other agetech innovation participants to be part of the conversation shaping the future of agetech! Ashok Kamal, Yasmin Zahra Shah #NuFund #Agetech #VentureGroup #AI #TechForAging #StartupFunding #Boston #Innovation #InvestmentOpportunities #SeedStage https://lnkd.in/g_e9qvTv

NuFund’s latest newsletter highlights our growing presence in Austin, TX (one of NuFund’s first Cluster markets) including SDSW, inspiring member stories and breakthroughs from portfolio companies Mercato and Synvect improving human health!

The Inaugural TiE Tectonic Shifts AI Conference Saturday, March 29 Sunny San Diego Countdown is ON: 15 Days To Go !!! You don’t want to miss THIS AI Event. - Blockbuster speaker line-up - Diligently curated audience - AI2025 Innovation Awards - Sumptuous Indian food - Musical performance - Plus a few surprises Prominent speakers from Avasant, Illumina, Intel Corporation, Meta, NVIDIA, Siemens Healthineers, Truvian, UC San Diego, Viasat and many others. Sponsored by Adeia, ATS Wealth Management, Avasant, CIPRA.ai, Dell Technologies, Knobbe Martens, and Tata Consultancy Services. Tickets are flying like hot cakes. Grab one at the link before it is too late. Are you in? ?? #AIDecade #InvestorDecade #EntrepreneurDecade Jai Bhagat, Vinay Bhagat, Naresh Soni, Ram Patrachari, Venu Prabaker, Amaresh Gangal, Nataraj Pagadala, Ph.D