First Momentum Ventures’ Post

#ResourcesforStartups How are VCs adapting their investment strategies for early-stage startups in the current climate? VCs investing in early-stage startups are now prioritizing fundamentals over hype. This means they want to see a clear path to profitability and a good product-market fit, rather than just rapid growth. Also, there's a rise in micro-VCs filling the gap for startups in very early stages with promising ideas. These micro-VCs often focus on specific industries and can offer mentorship alongside funding. Looking for a VC to invest in an early-stage startup? Listed VCs: ARCH Venture Partners, Benchmark , York IE, Accel, VamosVentures, Sequoia Capital, New Enterprise Associates (NEA), Menlo Ventures, Lightspeed, and GGV Capital ( seperated into Notable Capital and Granite Asia as of March 29, 2024). In focus: Illumina, GRAIL, Aera Therapeutics, EarthOptics, Uber, ResearchGate, Cerebras Systems, Cognitive Space, Cranium, Onfleet, Syrup Tech, WellTheory, Misfits Market, Brightseed, SweetBio, Inc., Loom, Robinhood, Bloom Energy, Tintri, Built Robotics, Smartcar, Encoded Therapeutics Inc., CloudTrucks, Dedrone, Rubrik, Ultima Genomics, Dexterity, Inc., and Cobots. Engage with our content and receive a complimentary Executive Summary of any relevant report! Simply email us at hello@bisresearch.com with the report title to claim yours. #deeptech #marketintelligence #earlystagestartups #vcfirms #funding

Super creative use of Harmonic data for VC: >> How do you prioritize who to meet with when you're traveling? Most VCs rely on their network. A strong network can get you far, but on its own is unlikely to get you a full calendar of meetings with promising founders in the next city you visit. Some of our best clients are solving this using Harmonic. Specific example: Teamworthy Ventures (Carta, Slice, Toast, Typeform) is one of our clients. They invested in pre-seed startup GlassHouse.biz after discovering them on Harmonic. One of the various ways that their team has used Harmonic includes looking for founders to meet with while on the road— which is often. Teamworthy VP Brian Cashin spends a lot of time outside the coastal VC hotbeds; especially now, given the post-pandemic “geographical spread” of capital. “I spent time in Dallas earlier this year,” Brian recalls. “That’s a city in which I think there will be quite a few venture successes over the next decade. Harmonic made my time there very rewarding. I met entrepreneurs in the surrounding suburbs like Frisco, Plano, and McKinney. There are founders in those places building early-stage software companies who are qualified candidates for venture investment—many of these founders match Teamworthy’s investment precepts well.” We're grateful to play a part in Teamworthy's journey. They use Harmonic "several times a week at least, and often multiple times a day." Next time you/your team are looking for founders in a specific geography, consider using Harmonic. Curious to take a look? Leave a comment below or send me a direct message. Would be happy to set you up with a demo! Check the full case story here: https://lnkd.in/gwWqVdwy #venturecapital #startups #datadriven #vc 🔔 P.S. Follow Max Ruderman for startup and VC content. Harmonic: We provide VCs with a complete and real-time startup database spanning 20M+ company profiles, 160M+ professional profiles, and 100+ unique fields. Trusted by top teams, including Craft, NEA, Pear VC, GV, Brex, NVIDIA, and many more. #startups #VC #datadrivenVC

VC Trends and Tech Evolution: The Past, Present, and Future of Silicon Valley Oct 23, 5:00 – 8:00 PM (PDT) Silicon Valley, San Francisco Bay Area Join Startup Grinds as we bring together top venture capitalists to discuss the evolution of #SiliconValley's innovation landscape, from its tech-driven roots to the AI revolution. Learn about the rise of startup ecosystems, key funding trends, and what’s next for VC-backed growth in emerging technologies. This panel offers valuable insights for founders, investors, and tech enthusiasts alike. Agenda: 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM | Registration & Networking 6:00 PM - 6:40 PM | Panel Discussion: "The VC View in the Valley - Past, Present, Future" Panelists: Top-tier venture capitalists discussing the rise of innovation in Silicon Valley, the evolution of venture funding, the role of AI, and ongoing industry trends. Mahak Sharma joins us from Google, where she leads product partnerships efforts for Google's AI products - Gemini and Search Generative Experiences. She has spent 8 yrs at Google incubating & scaling businesses on Search & ads, working with Google's most strategic partners, building first of kind product solutions with them. Her prior experience was as a Product & BD leader across Twitter and InMobi. She is an active angel investor, DEI champion within Google and an advisor to startups. Janelle Teng is a Vice President in the San Francisco office of Bessemer Venture Partners where she focuses primarily on early-stage investments in AI/ML apps, data infrastructure, developer platforms, and defense tech. She specializes in applied AI and is passionate about supporting highly technical teams in the earliest stages. Currently, Janelle serves as a board director or observer for Claroty, Coactive, Databook, Netlify, Render, and Virtru. Additionally, she is a co-author of Bessemer’s annual State of the Cloud Report and Bessemer Growth’s Scaling to $100MM Series. Ryan Chandra leads Data & #AI #investments at Accenture Ventures, Accenture's corporate venture capital arm, which is focused on making strategic investments into emerging technology companies that drive actionable impact for the Global 2000 Srishti Jain Kawatra is a former founder turned investor at 500 Global. She founded a food-tech startup in India that was later acquired by Zomato (Doordash of India). At 500 Global, Srishti invests in early-stage companies in using AI to disrupt enterprise and consumer businesses. Srishti is passionate about empowering women founders in the startup ecosystem. Topics include key milestones, challenges faced, and how the future of funding and innovation looks in the tech capital of the world. 6:40 PM - 7:00 PM | Audience Q&A Get direct insights and advice from the #VC panel on current opportunities, market challenges, and future trends. 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM | Networking #Startups

Let's talk about the journey of startups, especially in the deep tech arena. A recent study caught my attention, shedding light on a fascinating trend: startups in deep tech that managed to raise initial capital have a higher chance of becoming billion-dollar ventures when compared to other companies. This revelation underscores the importance of early investment in groundbreaking technologies. 💡💰 However, this journey is far from easy. The term "deep tech" is often synonymous with significant initial capital and complex innovation challenges. Yet, it's these very challenges that fuel our ambition and commitment. Another eye-opener reveals that whether in bull or bear markets, billion-dollar startups flourish regardless. This reaffirms my belief that true innovation transcends economic cycles. 📈📉 At Exovolar, we're not just navigating the present, we're redefining the future. Our vision extends beyond - from enabling personal flight to unlocking a world where progress and innovation come first. In this future, our conflicts are not cemented in differences but elevated towards shared goals. 🌎✌️ My message to fellow dreamers and innovators: Push against all odds, believe in the world you are building, speak about your vision, and never falter. The journey might be daunting, but the stars are only a flight away. Let's soar together folks! 🚀 #Exovolar #DeepTech #StartUpJourney #DreamUp

Come see VCs pitching and get unique insights into their investment process! Then join us on networking party with founders, startup operators and VCs 😎 Don't forget to register (link in the post below) ⬇ and brig an ID! See you there!

Interesting shifts in the funding landscape! While big AI deals are grabbing headlines, it's crucial for startups to stay nimble. The rise in high valuations and investor protections are notable 💡 Let’s stay informed and adapt to these changes to keep pushing forward! #StartupLife #VentureCapital

📢🚀 Get Ready for Week 31 of "Venture with Grace"! 🚀📢 Join me every day this week at 9:00 AM for an exciting lineup on my LinkedIn Live series, "Venture with Grace," where I dive into the minds of industry leaders and pioneers in venture capital and startup innovation. Here’s what’s coming up: 🗓️ August 5, 9:00 AM AI Revolution in Customer Support: Forethought CEO Deon Nicholas Discover how AI is transforming customer support with insights from Deon Nicholas, the visionary CEO of Forethought. Learn about the future of AI-driven solutions in enhancing customer experiences. 🗓️ August 6, 9:00 AM Empowering Dev-First Startups: Ed Sim's Boldstart Vision    Dive into the world of dev-first startups with Ed Sim, Founder and Managing Partner at boldstart ventures. Explore his vision for empowering early-stage founders and building the next wave of innovative companies. 🗓️ August 7, 9:00 AM Jett Fein on Early-Stage Tech Investing at Headline Join Jett Fein, Partner at Headline, as he shares his insights on identifying and investing in groundbreaking early-stage tech startups. Get a peek into the strategies that drive success in venture capital. 🗓️ August 8, 9:00 AM Investing in B2B Tech: Rob Biederman's Asymmetric Approach Rob Biederman, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Asymmetric, discusses his unique approach to investing in B2B software. Learn about the opportunities and challenges in this dynamic sector. 🗓️ August 9, 9:00 AM Berkeley's Startup Catalyst: Chon Tang on SkyDeck's VC Vision End the week with Chon Tang, Founding Partner at Berkeley SkyDeck Fund, as he shares his insights on nurturing startups through Berkeley’s accelerator program. Discover how SkyDeck Fund is shaping the future of venture capital. Don't miss these insightful conversations! Follow me (Grace Gong) on LinkedIn to join the live sessions and be part of the discussion. See you there! 🌟 #VentureWithGrace #LinkedInLive #StartupStories #VentureCapital #AI #TechInvesting #B2BTech #StartupEcosystem #Innovation #Entrepreneurship

Big update on startup funding: U.S. venture capital funding jumped in Q2 2024, but fewer startups are getting that cash. 📊 https://pst.cr/JP1Ar PitchBook and the National Venture Capital Association shared some interesting data. Lots of money is going into just a few huge AI deals. 🤖💰 So, what does this mean for you? • High Valuations, But...: Growth deal valuations hit $238M median, driven by unicorns coming back after a break. • Female-Founded Funding Down: Less funding for female-founded startups compared to last year and 2021. • More Investor Protections: More focus on cumulative dividends in deals. The startup world is always changing. Stay sharp and flexible in navigating these shifts. Remember, major VC hubs like SF, NYC, LA, and Boston are dominating both large deals and early-stage funding, especially in AI. 💡 What do you think about these trends? Share your thoughts or questions in the comments! Let's discuss how we can adapt and thrive in this changing landscape. 💬 #StartupLife #VentureCapital #AIStartups #FundingTrends #Innovation #sviyp #siliconvalleyinyourpocket

I’ve been building and operating #startup #ventures for 20+ years and even when the product, market, or timing is off, a topnotch #team figures out what to change and how to win. A closeup view of how the best founders and execs make the most of their people #talent through our work at Hunt Club: 👉 At every company, only 1 or 2 people truly have the passion, time, and influence to actively develop their existing people and build a strong pipeline of new talent. 👉 For key roles, there's a very long list of 200-300 candidates today (up from 100-150 just 5 years ago. The more senior the position, the more likely that a warm intro through a trusted connection is needed. 👉 Finding the perfect fit is increasingly narrow. If a company has just one profile for a key hire, they either need to get lucky or expand archetypes. Otherwise, the search extends by another 30-80 days. ❓ And a new one - does #AI help or hurt things? With generative AI, there's been an explosion of well-written, but soulless outreach. Companies are combating that with tactics to sift through the noise to bubble up the most promising fits. Looking forward to chatting tonight with Shweta Agrawal, Steve Vilkas & the Born Global Community about #talent, #global #entrepreneurship #community, and why I think #Boston is a magnet for some of the world's most promising #builders, #innovators, and #startups. Hunt Club Atlas, a Hunt Club Company TBD Angels

🚀 Introducing Game Changer Challenge! 🚀 We're thrilled to introduce Game Changer Challenge – your chance to kickstart your tech startup journey with the opportunity to receive a 1.5 MSEK investment and become part of a thriving innovation ecosystem! 💰 📆 Applications close on September 5th, 2024. ✍️ Apply today - link in comments! _________ ⭐️ Why apply? ✔️ Gain two long-term partners in Chalmers Ventures & Almi Invest. ✔️ 1.5 MSEK in direct investment for 15% ownership in your company. ✔️ As a Chalmers Ventures portfolio company, you get access to comprehensive support, expertise, and resources through our Venture Creation Program. ✔️ Coaching services from Almi Företagspartner regarding financing and sustainability. ✔️ Expert network and mentoring. ✔️ And much, much more! _________ ⭐️ Applying = easy! 1️⃣ Submit our webform & send your pitch deck via email. ➡️ Done! ✅ 🖥️ Find all the information you need on the Game Changer Challenge page (🔗 in comments). _________ ⭐️ More about Game Changer Challenge by Chalmers Ventures & Almi Invest We believe there are unique, advanced tech ideas with global impact potential out there, and this year we want to create an extra push to find them. 🚀🌍 Perhaps you've made a game-changing tech innovation in your lab or at work and want nothing more than to share its potential with the world? If so, join us! You'll get backing and first-hand expertise from both Almi Invest, one of Sweden's most active investors, and Chalmers Ventures, the leading tech investor and venture builder in the Nordics, taking deep tech from lab to market. 👋 Don’t miss out on this opportunity to kickstart your startup journey and drive impact and sustainability through business. 🚀 _____________ #techinnovation #startups #venturecapital #sustainability #chalmersventures #almiinvest #gamechangerchallenge