Capital Factory’s Post

LAST CHANCE TO APPLY!! The DMZ is excited to announce that the annual Black Innovation Summit is back on Wednesday, May 28, in downtown Toronto! This event brings together Black entrepreneurs, visionaries, and community allies, sparking progress and empowerment. There will be an incredible lineup of events throughout the day, including a pitch competition where 10 extraordinary Black tech founders take the stage to pitch for $50,000 in grant prizes! Are you a Black tech founder? Apply to pitch your business at dmz.to/bis-apply. Applications close April 15. Not a Black founder but know someone who would be a great fit for this opportunity? Check out our communications toolkit to help spread the word within your network. Black Innovation Summit: What to expect 8:00 am - Black Innovation Breakfast: Kick off your morning with an inspiring breakfast and mingle with trailblazing founders, investors, corporates, key players and allies within the community. Interested in getting involved? Click here to indicate your interest. 9:30 am - Roundtable sessions: Startup founders, investors, executives, and stakeholders are brought together to share insights and build connections. Interested in getting involved? Click here to indicate your interest. 1:00 pm - Pitch competition: Watch 10 extraordinary Black tech founders take the stage to pitch for $50,000 in grant prizes. Registration is now open! https://lnkd.in/eq7g2iyb

Great listen to start the year. I always appreciate hearing Bill Gurley's perspective on tech markets. He, Brad Gerstner, and Jason Calacanis cover a lot of ground here. It’s worth the time investment for founders looking for an informed perspective on the current state of tech, funding, and IPO markets. Among the topics covered: - Startup shutdowns in 2023 vs dotcom crash – No surprise: start-up deaths highest since 2001 - State of Series B/C deals in 2023 vs 2021 peak - AI investments in 2024 – And how valuations of AI companies have been an anomaly in a world of otherwise depressed tech valuations (i.e. most co.’s will not see a 2021-type valuation anytime soon). Reflecting on past IPOs and paths to building businesses for growth – Could we see a reopening of IPO markets in 2024/2025?   https://lnkd.in/eXngRiM8

Hey #WilmingtonNC If you want more respect for your city and for your economy, you have to respect yourself first. This week, THREE Wilmington #startups won awards in the Top Ten Startups to Watch from North Carolina Technology Association (NC TECH) for upcoming event. And more Wilmington companies are finalists for OTHER MAJOR AWARDS but those winners will be announced at the event on December 3rd. (BUY YOUR TIX NOW right Michelle Calton ?) Yeah, I know it was not in the local media. (They are aware of the wins. They have the information ....) So WE have to make it a big deal. ( CLAP for others until it also your time to win. ) Are you ready to make your own post to boost these #entrepreneurs ? Nuream - #MilitaryVeteran Founder Lumos Data - #FinTech Artemis Immersive - University of North Carolina Wilmington grads Here ya go https://lnkd.in/eSFdd_tC #NorthCarolina #investor #TECH

Are you in town for Generative AI World 2024 in Boston? Say hi at Woodstock - AI Woodstock, that is. Link below #ai #genai

I registered out of curiosity, and it completely transformed my life. Okay, picture yourself surrounded by a group of international investors & innovative minds, each fueled by a passion to revolutionize the world through tech.🫣 Such energy is unmatched, and the excitement is contagious. The feeling tells you that it is a place where dreams are fulfilled, and possibilities are endless. And that is the feeling the Black Innovation in STEM (BIS) Summit organised by Nobellum brings to you! 💪🏽 Not too long ago, I was fueled with big dreams and bigger aspirations. I'd spend countless hours learning with nothing but sheer determination and a burning desire to make a difference. Yet, it seemed like no matter how hard I tried, success remained just out of reach. Sounds familiar? 🤐 I can confidently say that attending the BIS Summit is the best decision any black entrepreneur or talent can ever make in 2024. This is a place where black Tech entrepreneurs, talent, and start-ups are given the chance to pitch their ideas to potential investors. You have the opportunity to forge invaluable connections with like-minded partners and potential investors. You get to be in the room with industry leaders in tech and gain experience from them. And the best part? 😊 Thanks to the BIS Summit, participants can access up to $10k in funding through our partnered pitch events. You need to be ready to take your entrepreneurial journey to new heights by now! Go mark your calendars for June 15th and join us at the BIS Summit. 👌🏽 There’s a FREE early bird ticket for you in the comment section, so hurry, click it, and register now! After that, head to Nobellum's page and follow us for more opportunities in tech and to remain updated on our activities. #entreprenuership #technology #stem #startup #innovation

At just 18, Nextie Rose N. is already shaking up the scene in the tech and aerospace world! What is Rose up to? ⭐️ Head of Marketing and Product Management Minimis Technologies, a hardware and software tech startup, particularly targeting social media and phone addiction ⭐️ Studying Aerospace Engineering at UNSW ⭐️ Recently won the 2024 Innovator Pro Pitch Fest, 'This Sydney Life' with the City of Sydney council to improve and diversify nightlife 🔮 She has a super keen interest in startups to do with rockets 🚀 & space 🪐 and would love to found something in this area in the future. Here are Rose’s 5 biggest learnings over the past 3 years: 1. When you have a goal and vision for what you want in your future, it makes it far easier to be laser-focused, stay on track, be motivated and prioritise your time: ‘for me this is space’ 2. Strive for justice and always speak up for people whose voices may be underrepresented; recognise one’s privilege — that we did nothing to deserve the life and context we were born into — and try to use it to life other’s out of injustice: “I believe no one is free until we are all free” 3. Pass on the luck and opportunities you've been given: give other people the chances you have been given: pay it forward 4. Be kind to people and value everyone’s time, energy and work 5. Show the people around me that they matter to me a lot; try to show gratitude for people — even if it is awkward Check out some of Rose's recommendations and favourite quotes below!

The USA offers R&D tax credits to encourage innovation. These credits can significantly reduce your tax liability by covering a portion of your research and development expenses. By collaborating with us, you can leverage these benefits to accelerate your growth and innovation. Facts about North Carolina’s tech scene: - North Carolina’s Research Triangle Park (RTP) is one of the largest research parks in the world. - The state ranks among the top 10 in the nation for tech employment. - Raleigh is consistently listed as one of the best cities for tech professionals. Reach out to explore collaboration opportunities and learn how we can work together to take advantage of these R&D incentives! #innovation #R&D #researchanddevelopment

The UK's 50 Tech Companies to Watch

As Black entrepreneurs, it’s unfortunate that we don’t have access to capital and the same support from VCs as our white counterparts. According to #Crunchbase, “Venture funding to Black-founded U.S. startups last year totaled only $705 million—marking the first time since 2016 that the figure failed to even reach $1 billion.” The industry does need to change and become more inclusive; however, year after year we’ve seen that it hasn’t improved. What the lack of #VC funding has taught me as I put together our event is that you can’t rely solely on that to make your business take off, and, more importantly, sustain itself. Too many #BlackFounders don’t end up taking their companies to the next level because they are expecting investors to be the solution to their problems. VC funding should be viewed as a means, not an end. Here’s what I learned from speaking to attendees and speakers at leading tech companies over the years about what support is needed to help our businesses thrive. #YesWeLaunch #YesWeScale #YesWeWin

Been reading the The Code: Silicon Valley and the Remaking of America by Margaret O'Mara, a renowned historian of the American digital revolution. In this work, O'Mara draws on her experience working in the White House during the early days of the commercial Internet to provide a comprehensive history of Silicon Valley. I found her correlation between Silicon Valley and the federal government closely interconnected throughout its history spot on. O'Mara delves into the Valley's development, from its origins at Stanford University to its role as a hub for innovation, with significant (but not widely known) influence from the Pentagon and tech venture capital firms. People like to make it seem like the love affair between Silicon Valley and DoD is a new trend - actually, its as old as the valley itself. Highlighting the Valley's remarkable growth, the evolution of tech companies, and the complex politics of the tech sector. O'Mara's work underscores the Valley's transformation into the driving force of the American economy, shaping our hopes and fears, and emphasizes the valley's impact on the nation's destiny. Totally worth a read or at least a #blink with Blinkist