Upfront Capital: Navigating Challenges and Forging Ahead

In the bustling landscape of business ventures, Upfront Capital , based in the Baltimore, MD Area, confronts the reality that the East Coast may not be the ideal breeding ground for the support it needs. It’s been this way since the last big entertainment industry boom that left the DMV segmented - sharing the spoils with a few. Leaving the remaining hopeful investors broke, jaded, and disinterested - especially those in Baltimore.?

Undeterred, the company's founders Anthony Caesar and Alairé Jameson remain resolute in the pursuit of suitable capital partners. An unwavering commitment is evident in the endeavors of February, dedicated to identifying potential collaborators who can help further our mission.?

That being said we’ve found a few folks along the way who’ve been extremely helpful like; Drew Huddleston , Tami LaTrell , John "Pinky" Jansen , Joseph A. Parker (music business not music industry.) , Joe Maruschak , David Wysoki , Marjie Cota , David Fritz , David Van Wie , Thomas Dorwart and Shearman & Sterling LLP . Thank you for all you’ve done to help support our mission so far - this journey that we’re on is far from over, we haven’t given up yet (and we never will!)

What’s going on with Upfront Capital??

Amid personal endeavors, Upfront Capital is steadily making waves, completed the development of the app, a technological feat poised to revolutionize the music industry for Android and iPhone users alike; marking a significant milestone.?

Yet, a formidable obstacle stands in our path — the formidable task of securing $5-15 million for a comprehensive launch. This financial challenge is compounded by a compliance issue and the stark reality faced by #minority founders navigating the entrepreneurial landscape without significant backing.

To be honest - we’ve done the work since 2020 to know that what we are doing sounds impossible; however, when it works it will make Upfront the first billion-dollar company to create a sustainable infrastructure for rights holders/creatives all across the globe. The significance of this endeavor is underscored by the company's commitment to catalyzing intellectual property investments, a potential game-changer for the music, film, and gaming industries.

What can we do without the money to get things rolling??

In the absence of immediate capital, Upfront Capital strategizes to broker or wholesale music rights and intellectual property deals. We currently review publishing, sync, mechanical, merchandise, film, and performance deals regularly but can’t acquire them without any capital equivalent ($$$) equal to the catalog value committed in the bank. Our quest for high-net-worth individuals and catalog/rights partners willing to creatively finance or partner on these opportunities is ongoing.?

You wouldn’t believe how hard it is to find individuals interested in ever-appreciating financial assets. The challenge lies not in the scarcity of opportunities but in the capital needed to bring them into the fold of the platform. We’ve always been open to partnering with rights holders who have some type of ownership over the rights they manage/create - if this sounds like you or someone you know, don’t hesitate to reach out to learn more about how to work with us.?

What can others do to help us at this point??

Share this with Rights Holders or Investors you may know in your network looking to get exposure to alternative assets that are ever-appreciating. Let them know we can catalyze their investment exponentially - and only need a conversation to tell them all about it.?

Working with Upfront Capital provides those interested with exposure to alternative assets not tied to the economic cycle. A simple conversation, with the founders, can be eye-opening for investors looking for a way to generate liquidity coupled with exponential investment growth (through the fractionalization and monetization of IP) - a fact that remains obscured without widespread awareness.

What if you don’t know any investors??

For those without direct access to investors, the plea is extended to music enthusiasts, musicians, retail investors, or anyone willing to engage. A social media like, share, or follow may seem trivial but carries the weight of shedding light on the transformative impact Upfront Capital seeks to instigate within the #music ecosystem.

Have you tried raising Venture Capital??

We’ve tried raising through traditional avenues, built our team, established crucial partnerships, managed to get a Friends and Family Round of around $40k, pitched to venture capitalists, and undergone the rigors of board meetings to include in-depth due diligence reviews.?

Imagine working on your pitch deck improvements- to hear and only discuss comments on multiple occasions like,? “You’re building a west coast company on the east coast why don’t you just go to SiLiCoN vAlLeY?” Are we crazy for trying to build here in Maryland? Let us know ppl - What’s wrong with the DMV/East Coast?

The harsh reality of the game we are playing is a game where? VCs and music industry veterans/executives finance unqualified competitors, gate-keep, and make promises that often amount to little. We’ve even had those around us in our ecosystem who’ve said they could help us raise, get support, invest, provide feedback, etc. but again couldn’t produce anything but empty promises.

Didn’t I mention the VC game is rigged??

Founders listen up, it’s not about what you know…. It’s about who you know. I don’t think I can stress this enough. You could have experienced your problem firsthand and have all the necessary answers to the problem, resonate with the target audience, and still not get funded. The reason why? Depending on the individual/organization. You may never know - it could be because you aren’t connected to the fund of funds managing director, or maybe you’re a minority, a woman, poor, a child, etc.

In our journey, we've encountered challenges with accelerators such as Techstars and VC funds targeting minorities, finding their terms and positioning overly aggressive. These experiences have prompted a thorough reassessment of our strategies, leading us to reconsider the viability of bootstrapping.

As a mentor within the Techstars and Baltimore area network, I've witnessed numerous founders grappling with similar issues. This collective sentiment has spurred us to revisit our approach to addressing liquidity concerns in our sector, but this time, on our own terms. In essence, we're considering the self-reliant path of bootstrapping once more to safeguard our interests.

Venture capitalists often shift expectations or offer vague promises, yet none have proven truly beneficial thus far. Surprisingly, even alumni founders from University of Maryland Baltimore County struggle to receive meaningful feedback from our local entrepreneurial community here in Baltimore regarding our deal. (Not entirely unexpected, considering the intricate backstory!) LOL.

It's disheartening, given the reputation of institutions like USM Maryland Momentum Fund , Launch Fund, or TEDCO , as the cornerstone of support for entrepreneurs emerging from the USM. However, in our case, this expectation doesn't align with reality; the noticeable absence of interest, support, feedback, and attention is undeniable. Frankly, we're not inclined to subject ourselves to such treatment. Nevertheless, I'm sharing our experience in the hope that it sheds light on the journey for others navigating similar paths.

If you’ve made it this far what should you do:?

Persist until you connect with those who resonate with your vision. Persevere, and success will follow. Your dreams are worth pursuing relentlessly. If you find value in what we share, a simple like and any form of support would mean the world. Your backing won't be overlooked; I'm committed to making the most of it.

We've noticed a trend: as we advance, some individuals in key roles withdraw or offer excuses instead of taking meaningful action to propel us forward. This is the current reality we've faced time and time again in the last couple of years, despite our dedicated efforts thus far. We remain hopeful for a shift in this pattern as we press on towards our goals.

For us the pursuit of transformative change within the music industry persists, fueled by undying resilience, determination, and an unyielding commitment to rewriting the narrative of our trajectory.?

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Till next time y’all. Stay safe out there!

-Lairé?