Red Beard Ventures

Opportunity Alert! Red Beard Ventures is hiring a venture analyst to join our team. If you're a hustler, passionate about a decentralized future, and knowledgeable about the technologies that enable that world, apply on this form! https://lnkd.in/e6W3QRwD

What an incredible day 🥒 🎾 I just wrapped up an amazing Pickleball event during TECH WEEK by a16z, bringing together such an inspiring group of founders and investors for Red Beard Ventures and The Cap Table. The energy was unbeatable—great conversations, some friendly competition, and plenty of new connections! I do these events because I have seen the value that one conversation can have on your business, career, or your life. Huge thank you to our sponsors who made this all possible: ✨ Escalon Services, LLC ✨ Justworks ✨ Weinberger & Logan PC These events aren’t just about the game; they’re about building relationships, sharing ideas, and finding new ways to collaborate in the startup ecosystem. Thanks so much PhotoSesh - On Demand Content Creators for capturing the event! Looking forward to hosting many more events like this! Thanks to everyone who came out and made it a success! 🚀 #LATechWeek #Startups #Investors #Pickleball #Networking Ibrahim Hafeez, Fernando Gouveia, Jason Goldberg, Aidan Gold, Dina Khattab, Jonathan Chang, Revan Lazarus, Aditya Bahl, Rachael Nomburg, PHR, Randall Hall, Bobby Weinberger, Ed Prado, Charlie Hanna, Ben Winston, Ala' Albatayneh, Johnny Reinsch, Keegan Rosenberger, Brian Horner, Adam Stansell, Lindsay Goeddel, and more! ____ Enjoy this? Follow Elana Gold for venture capital, angel investing, startup insights, and maybe an invite to my next pickleball event!

What an incredible day 🥒 🎾 I just wrapped up an amazing Pickleball event during TECH WEEK by a16z, bringing together such an inspiring group of founders and investors for Red Beard Ventures and The Cap Table. The energy was unbeatable—great conversations, some friendly competition, and plenty of new connections! I do these events because I have seen the value that one conversation can have on your business, career, or your life. Huge thank you to our sponsors who made this all possible: ✨ Escalon Services, LLC ✨ Justworks ✨ Weinberger & Logan PC These events aren’t just about the game; they’re about building relationships, sharing ideas, and finding new ways to collaborate in the startup ecosystem. Thanks so much PhotoSesh - On Demand Content Creators for capturing the event! Looking forward to hosting many more events like this! Thanks to everyone who came out and made it a success! 🚀 #LATechWeek #Startups #Investors #Pickleball #Networking Ibrahim Hafeez, Fernando Gouveia, Jason Goldberg, Aidan Gold, Dina Khattab, Jonathan Chang, Revan Lazarus, Aditya Bahl, Rachael Nomburg, PHR, Randall Hall, Bobby Weinberger, Ed Prado, Charlie Hanna, Ben Winston, Ala' Albatayneh, Johnny Reinsch, Keegan Rosenberger, Brian Horner, Adam Stansell, Lindsay Goeddel, and more! ____ Enjoy this? Follow Elana Gold for venture capital, angel investing, startup insights, and maybe an invite to my next pickleball event!

Ever thought about getting into venture capital but assumed you’d need deep pockets to do it? What if I told you that’s not the case? 💡 Through syndicates, you can start investing in startups with as little as $1K. Here’s how it works: 1️⃣ Pooled Investing - Syndicates gather capital from multiple investors, making it possible to participate in deals that would normally be out of reach. 2️⃣ Access to Top Deals - You’ll get access to startups vetted by experienced investors and lead partners. 3️⃣ Low Entry Point - Instead of needing $100K or more, you can start with usually just $1K. 4️⃣ Diversify Your Portfolio - You can spread your risk by investing smaller amounts across multiple startups. 5️⃣ No Fees Until Success- Most syndicates only charge fees if the deal works out (carry), so you’re not front-loading your costs (management fees). It’s democratizing venture capital and giving more people access to high-potential deals. You can think about it like an email subscription where you apply to different syndicates, get emails about different deal flow, and choose on a deal-by-deal basis if you want to invest. If you’re curious about dipping your toes into the world of startup investing, syndicates might be your answer. I have included a link to apply to our syndicate in the comments section below. #venturecapital #startups #syndicates #investing #angelinvesting

Skyfire raised $8.5 million in seed funding to enable commerce for #AIAgents. “Our payment layer enables AI Agents (and multi-Agent systems) to autonomously make and receive payments, and hold balances... think of us as the #fintech infrastructure for #AgenticAI” said CEO and co-founder, Amir Sarhangi. Investors in the round included Neuberger Berman, Brevan Howard Digital, Intersection Growth Partners, DRW, Inception Capital, Arrington Capital, Red Beard Ventures, Sfermion, Circle, FBG Capital, Gemini, Crossbeam Venture Partners, Everyrealm Inc., Draper Associates, Arca, and Ripple Labs. https://lnkd.in/dyCPvyyy

I officially got my first carry check after running a syndicate for just ~3 years.. here is how it went down👇 We got in during a private token sale through a SAFT (Simple Agreement for Future Tokens), securing a significant discount before the company’s ICO. Over two years, the company executed well, building value and delivering on their roadmap. Two years later, we made the call to sell ~25% of our holdings, giving liquidity back to our investors while maintaining the upside on the remaining 75%. Compare this to traditional startup equity, where liquidity events can take 7-10 years. This is the beauty of crypto investing: flexible exit points, early liquidity, and the ability to lock in returns while still participating in future growth. For anyone navigating the space, remember this: Syndicates aren't just about pooling capital—they’re about unlocking opportunities like this, balancing short-term gains with long-term potential. #syndicates #venturecapital #web3 #angelinvesting #startups ____ Enjoy this? Follow Elana Gold for venture capital, angel investing, and startup insights

Red Beard Ventures is hosting a Pickleball Event during LA TECH WEEK by a16z! Apply to join our event for founders & investors here: https://lu.ma/5qjxpv8h We have all 4 courts reserved and will also have some food catered. Don't worry if you are a beginner! Two courts will be used for beginners to play and get coaching from some pros and two courts will be used for intermediate/advanced to play king of the court. There are VERY limited spots so once you apply comment "Pickle" and I will try to get some of you in! Thanks Escalon Services, Inc. & Justworks for sponsoring the event! #LATechWeek #pickleball #event #founders #investors

So, you want to start Angel Investing and you have allocation in a deal...Now What? 🔥 When you first have the opportunity to invest in a deal whether via a syndicate or directly on the cap table, there are a few things you should pay attention to. 1. Valuation. Below I have put the average valuations that were shared by Carta in Q2, but obviously these change each quarter and are variable based on the industry the start-up is building in. Seed Stage: $15M Series A: $40M Series B: $116.3M Series C: $214.8M 2. Founder-Market Fit. The Secret Sauce Founder-market fit is everything. Does the founder have a unique edge in the industry? If they’re tackling fintech with a consumer goods background, you need to know why. The best founders are obsessed with solving the problem at hand. Look for that passion and expertise. 3. Product-Market Fit. Does the product solve a real problem for a significant audience? Check customer feedback, churn rates, and repeat usage. If the startup has an MVP, test it out. A small but loyal user base is a great sign. 4. TAM: Total Addressable Market (TAM) tells you how big this could get. A large TAM indicates huge potential but also fierce competition. Is this market ready for disruption? 5. Stage & Progress. Where Are They Now? The company’s stage will shape its risk and reward: - Seed Stage: Focus on the idea, team, and early customer validation. - Series A: Look for traction and a solid plan for scaling. - Series B and Beyond: Now it’s all about execution and market expansion. Can they deliver? What is the feedback they are getting from customers? 6. Deal Terms: Pay attention to if you have any of the following - Liquidation Preferences - Dilution - Bridge Rounds Getting allocation is just the first step. To truly win, you need to dive deep into valuation, founder-market fit, TAM, and deal terms. No two investments are the same, but with these insights, you’re on your way to making smarter decisions. #startups #angelinvesting #venturecapital #founders ____ Enjoy this? Follow Elana Gold for venture capital, angel investing, and startup insights

Congrats to our portfolio company Carro - Collaborative Commerce on closing their Series B round of funding! So impressed by the team and excited for the road ahead!

Are you a start-up struggling to close venture capital funding? What if I told you there’s more than one way to fuel your startup’s growth without giving up a chunk of your equity or waiting for a VC to give you a shot? Let’s break it down: 1️⃣ Bootstrapping: Sara Blakely turned $5,000 into a billion-dollar empire with Spanx—all without external funding. The lesson? Sometimes, holding onto control and growing at your own pace can be the smartest move you make. 2️⃣ Crowdfunding Remember Oculus? Before it was snapped up by Facebook for $2 billion, it raised $2.4 million on Kickstarter, proving that a strong community can be your most powerful investor. 3️⃣ Revenue-Based Financing Spotify played the long game with convertible debt, securing capital while keeping equity intact. If your startup is generating steady revenue, this route could be a perfect fit. 4️⃣ Blockchain Innovations Ethereum didn’t just build a platform—it pioneered the ICO model, raising $18 million in 2014. Today, it’s the backbone of decentralized finance. If you’re in the blockchain space, ICOs might be worth considering. 5️⃣ Direct Public Offerings Ben & Jerry’s took their community love to the next level by allowing local Vermonters to invest directly in the company, securing funds and building loyalty at the same time. Sometimes, your best investors are right in your backyard. The key takeaway? There’s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to funding your startup. Whether you’re bootstrapping, crowdfunding, or tapping into new frontiers like blockchain, the path you choose should align with your vision and values. Founders, here’s your challenge: Don’t just follow the crowd. Explore the options, weigh the pros and cons, and find the funding strategy that’s right for your business. Read this week's edition of The Cap Table Newsletter to dive deeper into these alternative fundraising strategies and find out which one might be right for you! #startups #venturecapital #fundraising #entrepreneurship #innovation ____ Enjoy this? Follow Elana Gold for venture capital, angel investing, and startup insights