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New Valley Labs

New Valley Labs

Technology, Information and Media

Cleveland, Ohio 380 followers

Where Founders Bloom

About us

New Valley Labs is a founder-focused startup studio based in Northeast Ohio. We aim to serve the underserved—those in the early startup stage needing more resources, and diverse, underrepresented founders.

Industry
Technology, Information and Media
Company size
2-10 employees
Headquarters
Cleveland, Ohio
Type
Privately Held
Founded
2023

Locations

Employees at New Valley Labs

Updates

  • New Valley Labs reposted this

    View profile for Ben Stokes

    Founding Partner + Board Co-Chair + 40 under 40 Rising Star Venture Capital 2023

    Chasing Rainbows Fund I, is officially closing capital commitments this Wednesday - March 5, 2025. If you are there wondering why am I publicly announcing this? I am doing so, because honestly, I want you to understand what I'm going through, as I close off this venture fund. I started Chasing Rainbows, because I saw an opportunity for an LGBTQ+ focused VC fund. As an investor, things like education background (be that college attended or graduation from specific VC accelerators), gender and even racial identities are often used to form an investment thesis. However, there have been limited examples of any VC fund specifically focusing LGTBQ+ founders. On top of differentiation (something important when competing for deal-flow and cap table access), I saw this as an opportunity for equality. Time and time again I was hearing from LGTBQ+ identifying founders they were being openly discriminated against by VC for being themselves. Don't get me wrong - not all founders are investible. But let me ask you, if an investor (both VC and angels) chooses not to invest in a founder because of their personal religious or political beliefs - are they really trying to get the best returns? This becomes particularly apparent when founders are asked to remove any evidence of their LGBTQ+ identity (such as scrubbing their social media and never mentioning their family/partners etc) in order to receive investment. How do I know this sort of investor behaviour exists? Not only have I've heard stories from countless founders, I've also experienced it myself, first hand. When numerous data sources (Proud Ventures, StartOut, Pitchbook, Crunchbase etc) have reported LGBTQ+ founder performance metrics against their peers - the results show they outperform. Yet capital deployed into these founders is not equally distributed due to not meeting 'thesis requirements'. Founders who operate on have limited budgets - are resourceful. But in order to scale access - accessing capital is required. Chasing Rainbows offered founders an opportunity to receive a small check from a VC fund who looked beyond their LGBTQ+ identity. What those small checks led to, was an opportunity to then be seen by the wider VC market. Beyond capital, founders are supported with practical advice focus on what makes them investible by other VCs. This is our real value-add; and has been validated by the fact established VCs have converted 7 of the 16 portfolio companies from SAFE to priced equity. I'm doing one last public call out for any potential investors (or donations if investing isn't an option). This is not me begging for you to invest in my fund. This is a statement that due to the current conservative government limitings our our ability to operate future funds are not possible. But more importantly, they are erasing the identity of those we invest in, which includes myself. If you want to learn more, please email me: ben@chasingrainbows.vc or call this number: +1 415 465 0233.

  • New Valley Labs reposted this

    View profile for Cate Luzio
    Cate Luzio Cate Luzio is an Influencer

    Founder and CEO, Luminary | Former Banking Executive | Inc. Female Founder 100 | Business Leader | High Performance Team Builder | Authentic Storyteller | Board Director

    Nike hasn’t done a Super Bowl ad in 27 years. And last weekend, when they finally did, they made it about women in sports. That alone is remarkable. I absolutely loved the ad. It was bold, empowering, and unapologetic in its message: People will tell you no. Do it anyway. And yet, there was backlash. Some said it promoted hustle culture. Others said it implied that women still aren’t there yet. Some took the opportunity to criticize Nike as a company and their own policies towards women. But here’s the thing—it’s an ad, potentially seen by 127 million viewers (according to Reuters), and it’s helping to drive the conversation about women - how we thrive without others holding us back, how we push forward regardless of what is being thrown at us, and how we bet on ourselves, and how we're winning. The ad didn’t say winning is everything. It didn’t say win at all costs. It said: You’ll be told you can’t. Go prove them wrong. It said: You’re going to face adversity. Keep going. It said: When your back is against the wall, you come out swinging. It said: Believe in and bet on yourself. And isn’t that the message we need right now? Women’s sports are finally getting the attention they deserve. Women leaders are breaking barriers. Women are winning. Yet, obstacles remain. That’s why this ad resonates so deeply. Whether you’re a collegiate athlete focused on going pro, a founder hearing all kinds of no's but still building your company, or a woman in the workplace fighting to be heard—the message is the same: Just do it. It’s telling you to go after what you want, despite what people/society/culture might tell you. Get that promotion, start a company, go out for the soccer team, take extended parental leave to be with your children, train for the Olympics, advocate for that promotion. It’s telling you despite the noise, you can win. And you define your rules. By the way, what’s wrong with ambition? With setting a massive goal and going after it? When I started Luminary, countless people told me I wouldn’t succeed. But I did it anyway. It's not the first time I've heard some version of this message throughout my life. I’m proud of my ambition, my drive, my hustle, my relentless focus. My version of winning may look different from yours, and how I go after it, but that doesn’t make it less relevant. At the end of the day, everyone wants to be encouraged. We want to feel empowered, to be able to go after that dream, whatever it is, and I think it's a really important message, especially right now, especially for women.  No matter what your goals are, it’s ok to aim high. You can’t win (they say), so prove them wrong. WIN.  Meanwhile, did you know that 69% of women in leadership played competitive sports? 85% say those skills helped them succeed in their professional careers. I’m one of them. I credit much of my success to playing sports (thanks, Dad)! So, what did you think of the spot? #genderequity #payparity #leadership #careeradvice

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  • New Valley Labs reposted this

    View profile for Jim Tenzillo

    Investing in, and helping, tenacious entrepreneurs grow and scale

    Attn: Michigan Founders in the Outdoor Industry - The Outdoor Innovation Pitch Competition will return to Marquette in February! The grand prize is a $50,000 investment from the Michigan Outdoor Innovation Fund MI-based startups that are in the outdoor industry can apply to pitch their business idea to a panel of judges during Peak25, Friday, February 21, 2025 in Marquette. Applications are due January 31, 2025. https://shorturl.at/9ZU1v #pitchcompetition #peak25 #outdoorrecreation #outdoorinnovation #michiganbusiness #michiganpitchcompetition

  • Kimberly Langdon M.D. is doing amazing work in women's health at Coologics - check out her new publishing!

  • New Valley Labs reposted this

    View profile for Mandy Potter

    Co-founder & Managing Partner at Misfit Ventures

    Finding the right words has been difficult…how do we express the fear and sadness so many of us are feeling right now? For those who don’t know, Misfit Ventures is built by a team that embodies diversity in every sense. We are queer, women, trans, non-binary, disabled, immigrants, neurodivergent, and people of colour. Some of us have left countries where being ourselves wasn’t safe, seeking a new life in Canada. We check every so-called “diversity box,” which we’ve always known is our strength but the emotions are real, and they are raw. In recent weeks, the U.S. has witnessed a series of policy changes that significantly impact the LGBTQ+ community. Notably, the removal of LGBTQ+ and HIV resources from federal websites, the suspension of gender marker changes on passports, and the prohibition of gender-affirming care for minors have raised concerns about the erosion of hard-won rights and protections. At Misfit Ventures, we recognize the profound implications of these developments. As Canada's first, and North America’s largest LGBTQ+ focused VC fund, our mission is to support and empower founders who are often overlooked, particularly in times when their rights are under threat. The recent U.S. policy shifts underscore the importance of our work: Visibility and Representation: In an era where LGBTQ+ identities are being marginalized, supporting LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs ensures that diverse voices continue to be heard and valued. Economic Empowerment: By investing in LGBTQ+ founders, we help build economic resilience within the community, fostering innovation and job creation. Queer founders are proven to be more successful - so let's support that with capital to help them grow. Advocacy Through Success: Successful LGBTQ+ led businesses challenge stereotypes and demonstrate the community's invaluable contributions to society. Now, more than ever, it's crucial to stand with LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs. By providing the necessary resources and support, we can counteract regressive policies and promote a more inclusive future. We invite investors, allies, and advocates to join us in this mission. The next Misfit Ventures event will be in late March in Vancouver and we will come together to discuss how we can help marginalized founders and showcase how great they truly are. Details coming soon. Douglas Lui, CPA, CA Sam Naylor ⚧ Sami Saad Naoufel Testaouni #vc #founders #queer #entrepreneur #startup

  • New Valley Labs reposted this

    View profile for Ally West

    Trans Founder | LGBTQ+| Entrepreneur | CEO | CTO | Solution Architect

    Something from my heart to all of yours My community is rare—not because we don’t exist, but because most are afraid to try. Our numbers grow, just like the statistics changed when people stopped believing left-handed kids were the devil and forced them to be right-handed. Even though we are one of the smallest populations, we seem to be the biggest topic. I’m televised as a pervert and a pedophile, scheming my way into bathrooms. I’m mentally ill because I have delusions of being something that’s impossible for me to be. I’m destroying women’s sports even though there are fewer than 10 trans athletes competing in college sports, and even fewer at the professional level. I’m sneaking kids into back-alley hospitals for mutilating surgeries that somehow only take an afternoon to recover from. Every day, I feel your stares—some glares, some filled with disgust. I plan my bathroom routes, sometimes holding it until it hurts and leaving events just to use the bathroom at home. I’ve lost 70% of my strength, yet I still get nervous when I’m asked to join in. When I go out to bars, I rarely leave without being cornered, groped, grabbed, or made into a fetish. I don’t smile or make eye contact with children, even when they call out to their moms that they think my hair or shoes are cool. All the villainy I’m accused of is exactly how the world treats me. But I still dress how I want. I still smile as I press a bandage over my fresh injection, proud of myself for beating my fear of needles once again—dreading the next one seven days later. I still try to smile and befriend everyone I see. I still try to give my heart to the world. I’m a person. I’m human. I’m Ally, and I’m a trans woman. Think about what you share. What you write. The information you spread. I’ll fight until I can’t, but our lives are in your hands. Empathy and kindness are free. Our differences are what make us great. Be better. Be different.

  • New Valley Labs reposted this

    View profile for Zap ⚡️

    Investing in Nashville startups

    Writing this to hopefully save someone from the suffering down the line: Cofounders should be on a vesting schedule for their equity. Ideally a 5-year vesting schedule with a 1-year cliff. I get it, when starting a company, splitting equity right away seems natural and fair. But company building is a marathon, not a sprint, and the hard truth is that cofounders don't always stick around. It's gut-wrenching when I see a cofounder quit, keep their equity out of spite, and the other cofounder has to suffer because of this tiny oversight in the beginning. Vesting ensures that everyone stays aligned for the long haul. It incentivizes cofounders to stick through the challenges and rewards those who contribute to the company’s success *over time.* Committing to a vesting schedule is a clear way of saying, “I’m in this for the long term.” Typical employees have 4, but I think the responsibilities and potential pay-off of a cofounder warrants 5 years. And the probability of a founder break up is highest in the first year, which is why you need a 1 year cliff. Let me know if you've seen folks handle vesting differently and have any advice.

  • New Valley Labs reposted this

    View profile for Ally West

    Trans Founder | LGBTQ+| Entrepreneur | CEO | CTO | Solution Architect

    Looking to volunteer my time for panels, talks, and workshops. I’m a trans entrepreneur, CTO, and advocate for inclusivity in tech. With over 13 years of startup experience, I’ve built companies, scaled teams, and pushed for a world where more underrepresented founders have a seat at the table. I’d love to share my story and expertise on topics like: - Building inclusive ecosystems for founders - Lessons from being a trans woman in the C-suite - Innovation in tech - Creating space for marginalized voices - VC If you’re hosting an event or know of panels that could use my perspective, reach out. #SpeakingOpportunities #TechLeadership #LGBTQInTech #TransRights #StartupLife

  • 🌟 Calling all social entrepreneurs! 🌟 The 6th Annual Catalyst Competition by CTIA Wireless Foundation is offering over $200,000 in grants to early-stage innovators using mobile-first solutions to tackle community challenges. 🚀 What’s in it for you? - $100,000 first-place award + grants for up to six finalists - Professionally produced video for the top three winners - Opportunities to speak at industry events with leaders, officials, and policymakers 👩💻 Who should apply? - Early-stage social entrepreneurs with mobile-first solutions beyond ideation - Founders with lived experience addressing issues impacting marginalized communities - Applicants with experience in incubators, accelerators, or mentorship programs - People of color, women, and veterans are strongly encouraged to apply 📅 Deadline: March 4, 2025, at 11:59 PM ET 📣 Learn more: Join the 45-minute webinar on January 28, 2025, at 12 PM ET to hear about Catalyst and get your questions answered. 👉 Apply now or share this opportunity with someone who might be interested: https://lnkd.in/ea8Mrndf #SocialImpact #Innovation #WirelessTechnology

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