Q1 Velocity Venture Capital的动态

Something we think underrepresented founders would benefit from using are fractional services. In the initial stages of your company lifecycle, you are more likely to be bootstrapping if you're an underrepresented founder. The current climate in the UK, where interest rates are high, has helped to make the probability of attracting funding more difficult for underrepresented founders. So when you're working on a tight budget, fractional services from CEOs, CFOs, CTOs, COOs, CMOs, could be an alternative way to get the support your startup needs, at a fraction of the cost without breaking the bank. It's a great way to ensure that you build your startup holistically from the ground up. This is very important, as the innovative product and service you are building needs to be supported with the correct internal systems and processes, which will help you to scale creating internal value for you and external value for the customer. At SimpleInsight, we believe that holistic planning now will save you money and pain in the long run. #Femalefounder #LGBTQ+founder #Blackfounder #Underrepresentedfounder #Fractionalsupport

Something we think underrepresented founders would benefit from using are fractional services. In the initial stages of your company lifecycle, you are more likely to be bootstrapping if you're an underrepresented founder. The current climate in the UK, where interest rates are high, has helped to make the probability of attracting funding more difficult for underrepresented founders. So when you're working on a tight budget, fractional services from CEOs, CFOs, CTOs, COOs, CMOs, could be an alternative way to get the support your startup needs, at a fraction of the cost without breaking the bank. It's a great way to ensure that you build your startup holistically from the ground up. This is very important, as the innovative product and service you are building needs to be supported with the correct internal systems and processes, which will help you to scale creating internal value for you and external value for the customer. At SimpleInsight, we believe that holistic planning now will save you money and pain in the long run. #Femalefounder #LGBTQ+founder #Blackfounder #Underrepresentedfounder #Fractionalsupport

Thrilled to share that PopViewers is embarking on an incredible journey as we join the esteemed 13th StartOut Growth Lab Accelerator program, powered by the support of JPMorgan Chase & Co. ?? This opportunity marks a significant milestone in our company's growth, and I couldn't be more enthusiastic about the prospects ahead. Collaborating alongside visionary founders within the program is not just an honor, but a chance to learn, innovate, and drive our mission forward. In a landscape where LGBTQ+ founders are too often overlooked, we're determined to rewrite the script. The statistics speak volumes—less than one percent of startup funding was directed towards LGBTQ+ founders in 2023. But this year, we're committed to rewriting that narrative and championing diversity and inclusion in entrepreneurship. Together, let's break barriers, shatter stereotypes, and pave the way for a more equitable future in the startup ecosystem. ?? #DiversityInTech #StartupSuccess #innovationinprogress https://lnkd.in/eDTQf_BD

?? How would you run your fundraise process if you weren’t approaching it from a scarcity mindset? Whether it is the dearth of capital for female, BIPOC, or LGBTQ+ founders – the stats are daunting. However, if we focus in on these stats too long, you may be disempowered or dissuaded from building + raising funding. For founders heading into the Series A or B stage there is a novel approach to addressing investor concerns proactively that I’m finding the best founders lean into time and time again – WHY NOT INVEST? Once your pitch is polished and refined, double down on sending a clear signal about who and what you are ? and who and what you are not ?? with a WHY NOT INVEST section. This level of conviction and transparency will no doubt make you stand out from the crowd. For some founders, we work a “why not invest” section into the overall flow of their main deck, in other cases it makes more sense as an appendix slide(s) to pull up when an investor brings up a certain risk area or doubt about the business model/pricing/industry or other key elements. The founder has the backup slide(s) ready to pull up and show how they are mitigating said risk(s), this not only demonstrates proactivity and preparedness, it also illustrates an ability to put oneself in the shoe’s of their investors and mitigate their concerns. You also show confidence and conviction by addressing potential investor concerns head on, rather than trying to bury them or wait for them to come up. ? Click through the slides below for more tips on how to proactively and effectively address investor concerns during the fundraising process. ?? Through our Pitch Perspective series,?Nicole Cathcart and I are dedicated to empowering founders of all backgrounds to raise capital efficiently, so they can get back to the business of building. ?? Check out our previous posts if you're preparing to fundraise - a few recent topics we covered include: evaluating product market fit, building your financial projections and strengthening investor trust, and the macroeconomic backdrop as it relates to fundraising. #fundraisingsuccess #startupfunding #entrepreneurship #founderjourney #femalefounders #investorrelations

Last week was another strong one in terms of funding announcements. Here are some investors who participated: ? Ballistic Ventures - “your first partner when you go to save the digital world.” ? Identity Ventures - “We invest in LGBTQ+ founders.” ? Neotribe Ventures - “We seek to nurture the rebel” ? O'Shaughnessy Ventures - “Unleash Your Infinite Potential” 5 more on today's list: https://lnkd.in/gT72fd3G #fundraising #startups #founders #investors #venturecapital

This week is Lesbian Visibility Week and it's a great time to celebrate our diverse community. As someone who came out 18 years ago, I've had the privilege of working with incredible organizations to further diversity work. In the tech world, I've contributed my time to Lesbians Who Tech & Allies and Venture Out Partnership. These organizations focus on expanding access and opportunities for LGBTQ people. Did you know that LGBTQ+ founders have created 36% more jobs, 114% more patents and 44% more exits than the average founder? Yet, these founders have raised less than 1% of startup funding. This is why organizations like Venture Out Partnership are so vital to our community. To learn more about our newest org gaining traction and insights into what I am working on, check out the article on Venture Out: https://lnkd.in/gPKVP6bG Let's continue to work towards an intersectional world where we all have the opportunity to actualize our full potential. #Lesbianvisibilityweek #Lesbiansintech @LGBTleaders

identity.vc I Backing LGBTQ+ Entrepreneurs achieved a first milestone of $15 million for its $50 million target fund #IdentityVC, a Berlin-based #VC firm, is bringing vital capital and community support to Europe’s LGBTQ+ startup scene. Founded by?Til Klein ????? ?????and?Jochen Beutgen, Identity.vc is on a mission to empower early-stage companies with LGBTQ+ founders or executives. In 2023, Til Klein and Jochen Beutgen launched?Identity.vc?with a vision to create a dedicated venture firm for the European LGBTQ+ startup community. They are currently raising a €50 million debut fund and have closed €15 million so far. The firm invests in early-stage companies, writing checks ranging from €250,000 to €1.5 million from pre-seed to Series A stages. They also brought on?Mari Luukkainen?as a principal, leveraging her extensive operating and investing experience to strengthen their team. The fund has garnered positive feedback from limited partners (LPs) seeking diversification. Notable investments include support from prominent European investors, and the strategy aligns with a Morgan Stanley survey indicating that 45% of U.S. investors are looking to back LGBTQ+ founders. Identity.vc is sector-agnostic and invests in Europe and beyond. Their portfolio already includes innovative companies like?eco.mio, a software plugin for managing business travel’s environmental impact, and?Paxton AI, an AI legal tech firm. The firm emphasizes the importance of creating a trusted relationship between LGBTQ+ founders and their investors, ensuring founders can be their authentic selves. Identity.vc is also focused on building a robust community. They have launched a Slack channel with 300 members and held events in Madrid, Amsterdam, and Paris, creating spaces for LGBTQ+ founders and investors to connect and support each other. These initiatives help drive deal flow and provide startups with access to additional sources of capital. The article on TechCrunch in the first comment. Want to stay up to date with the market? Here my newsletter: - Linkedin: https://lnkd.in/d4h8zqKA? - Substack: https://lnkd.in/dzfGJzmW

At the age of 34, Lolita Taub had earned a bachelor’s degree, an MBA, and amassed over a decade of experience in the tech industry. This included notable roles in venture funds committed to investing in underrepresented communities, namely women, people of color, and the LGBTQ+ community. Her journey from adversity to achievement serves as a testament to her unwavering commitment to success against all odds. Venture Capital Journey: Lolita Taub’s venture capital journey is a testament to her passion for supporting underserved communities. With over $70 million in sales and a portfolio boasting 90+ investments, Taub’s impact extends far beyond traditional investment metrics. Her tenure as an angel investor, Scout at Lightspeed Venture Partners, and VC at Backstage Capital and The Community Fund underscores her dedication to championing diversity and inclusion in the startup landscape. Taub’s investment philosophy is grounded in the belief that community-driven companies have the power to effect positive change. By leveraging her extensive network and expertise, she seeks out early-stage startups poised to make a meaningful impact on society. From fintech to healthcare, Taub’s investment thesis is guided by a commitment to fostering innovation and social responsibility. Entrepreneurship and Community Building: Beyond her role as a venture capitalist, Lolita Taub is a staunch advocate for entrepreneurship and community building. As a co-founder of proprietary matching tools such as the Startup-Investor Matching Tool and the GP-LP Matching Tool, she has revolutionized the way founders and funders connect. #lgbtq #pride #pride2024 #venturecapitalist #speakersinc #techinnovation #hispanicspeakers

We couldn’t be more proud to have Ben Stokes and Patrick Driscoll as part of the #VCI family. The co-GPs of Chasing Rainbows – an early-stage venture fund focused on investing in LGBTQ+ founded companies – are alums of 2023 VCI Fellowship Cohort III and are filling a critical, yet underserved, need in the investment industry. Their unique experiences and perspectives, and the work they are doing through Chasing Rainbows, are vital to de-homogenizing the venture space and making the alternative investment industry a more colorful, representative, and profitable place. Learn more about their important work here - https://lnkd.in/dGS_4VFc #diversityandinclusion #impactinvesting #esg #fundmanagers #venturecapital #DiversityInVC?#ImpactinAction #emergingmanagers #alternateinvestments #vc #pe #dei

Today's thank you goes out to Joe Kunkel, longtime Lighthouse Labs Board Member. Joe has years of experience working with, mentoring, and investing in startups, and our founders have had two great sessions focused on fundraising with him. Joe is a great example of someone who is invested - literally and figuratively! - in our area's innovation ecosystem. Want to join him as a mentor for Lighthouse founders? We'd love to have you! It's easy and rewarding to become a mentor.... * Apply to be a mentor and share with us the ways you can help our founders * Decide how much you want to be involved - offer an hour or two during the cohort, act as a subject matter expert on call, or even become a Lead Mentor * Attend Lighthouse events to meet more founders, alumni, and other mentors, making those key connections * Have fun supporting entrepreneurs and the startup community! You don't have to be an entrepreneur yourself or an expert in working with startups, just an expert at what you do. The involvement and time commitment is what you want it to be. We are looking for people across industries and specialties, and we are particularly looking for more female and more diverse mentors to mirror the 60%+ Lighthouse founders who come from groups of underrepresented entrepreneurs (women, people of color, LGBTQ+, people with a disability, veterans, immigrants, and rural residents). If you or someone you know is interested in mentoring with Lighthouse Labs, please apply here (it takes less than 5 minutes!): https://buff.ly/3XjORfQ or at the link in our bio! #MentorshipMatters #LighthouseLabsRVA #RVA #LighthouseLabsSpring 2024 #LighthouseLabsMentorship