Mark Whittaker’s Post

Countdown to REDHAWK50 RECEPTION AND AWARDS GALA! CincyTech, a Cincinnati-based venture capital firm that specializes in technology transfer and commercialization that invests in early stage companies operating in the information technology, healthcare, and SaaS. big data, B2B payments, infrastructure, life sciences, artificial intelligence, machine learning, cybersecurity, e-commerce, industrials, impact investing, and technology-based sectors across Midwest and Ohio, is one of more than a dozen organizations from across the state of Ohio's entrepreneurial ecosystem that are sponsors of RedHawk50, the John W. Altman Institute for Entrepreneurship's newest program designed to identify, recognize, and celebrate the 50 fastest-growing Miamian-founded or -led private companies in the world. Miami University and Miami University Farmer School of Business alum Sean Kwiat (MU '11 in Accounting and Finance), Director at CincyTech, explains the value of the Department of Entrepreneurship's emphasis on "practice-based, immersive learning" inside and outside the classroom with Bill Tucker, Associate Director of the John W. Altman Institute for Entrepreneurship. "Miami's entrepreneurial mindset and focus on 'boots on the ground' learning is unique in its approach and validated by its many awards." Sean continues and describes Miami students and founders "... as prepared, connected, and ambitious; ready to bring their ideas to life." The inaugural 2023 RedHawk50 will be officially released during the RedHawk50 Reception and Awards Gala on March 15. The list includes companies from Austin, Boston, Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dallas, Detroit, Harrisburg, Indianapolis, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Phoenix, Portland, Rochester, San Francisco, St. Louis, India and the UK, among other locations; more than a dozen high growth companies that have appeared on the Inc. Magazine Inc. 5000 list, including one that ranked #1 on that list in the past 5 years; and founders from more than two dozen majors and every Division across Miami’s Oxford campus. https://ow.ly/iUSc50QMCCX For more information about the RedHawk50, visit https://ow.ly/hubN50QMCCW. #LoveandHonor #BeyondReady #Entrepreneurship #HighGrowth #RedHawk50 #CradleofFounders #StartupCincy Fisher Innovation College@Elm 1809 Capital RedHawk Ventures Miami University Social Impact Fund Miami University College of Engineering and Computing Miami University College of Education, Health and Society Miami University College of Creative Arts Miami University College of Arts and Science Miami University Alumni Association

There's a lot of stuff that goes on behind the scenes at the BattleLab, and it's not hidden because of a veil of secrecy; it's mostly hidden because people are so determined to get projects, innovation and collaboration going; it's simply challenging to communicate coherently. We also don't want to give people false hope. We know that most innovation efforts fail for various reasons, so we tend not to communicate until we have something tangible and worthwhile. Rest assured, tremendous efforts are ongoing to implement the vision of an all-encompassing innovation and collaboration facility and continue to grow our offer. The early mist and fog are seeing signs of clearing. #battlelab #DorsetCouncil #future #ministryofdefence #innovation

I've been formulating a theory around when a govcon startup should really put pedal to the metal and enter a growth stage- and that's after it exits it's small business size governed by NAICS codes. Why? The gov space requires you to vault immediately to mid-sized company (IE from say $25M revs to $100M revs) - or else risk irrelevance. Depending on the NAICS you are in, the revenue amounts vary. This is the nature of the industrial base today. I was in a meeting at West Conference- with senior reps from Dept of Navy - and the small businesses that ranged from $5M to $50M were raising these issues. Today, I'm confronted by this reality in the work we do at BMNT - our Labs Accelerator- where we are helping companies (smalls) reach the next level. Maybe it's at this point that companies raise significant capital - get a series B for example - so they can go buy up, merge to the revenues that then make them stable ....IF they want to play the Gov Con game. Thoughts? Please comment. BMNTH4XLabs

🚀 Exciting Milestone Alert for PerVista on Wefunder! 🚀 Yesterday marked a significant achievement for us at PerVista as we crossed an inspiring threshold on Wefunder – 50 investors have now joined us on our journey! This isn’t just a number; it represents 50 visionary individuals who believe in the potential of our mission, technology, and team. Their financial support is pivotal, especially in the ever-evolving and challenging domain of artificial intelligence where we are making strides. Funding is the lifeline for startups like ours. It enables us to push boundaries, innovate relentlessly, and turn our ambitious objectives into reality. We are immensely grateful to each of our investors. Your belief in us is the fuel that drives our determination to excel. As stakeholders in PerVista, you are not just investors; you are part of a collective dream to revolutionize the AI weapons detection landscape. For those who share our vision and enthusiasm for groundbreaking AI technology, it’s not too late to join this remarkable journey. You can become an investor for as little as $100. Visit www.wefunder.com/pervista to learn more and take your place alongside our growing family of supporters. A huge thank you to our existing investors for your faith and support. To our future investors, we look forward to welcoming you aboard. Let’s spread the word and grow together! "Securing a Digital Future" #PerVista #Wefunder #StartupFunding #AIInnovation #InvestInFuture #ThankYouInvestors

Anyone who has attempted to weigh a large animal knows it is a challenging task. It often involves coaxing the animal into cramped spaces, a process that is muddy, slow, and expensive. Meet Daniel Bull, the visionary founder of Scanabull. His innovative venture is transforming how animal metrics are measured, using a compact device and cutting-edge 3D imagery to streamline the process. Scanabull is one of 13 exciting ventures participating in the Spring24 Sprout Accelerator. Read our latest Meet the Founder blog to learn more about Dan and Scanabull - https://lnkd.in/eWFK3rtX

Dual use and defense tech: what's the difference? by Nicola S., Founder and General Partner at Twin Track Ventures. 👇 Why it matters.👇 Understanding the nuances between deeptech, defence tech, and dual use is crucial for founder-investor fit and efficient communication. Early Silicon Valley startups with defence links highlight the historical significance of dual use. Today, some argue VCs hide behind dual use, avoiding offensive tech funding. However, many dual use investors leverage sector expertise to balance returns and national security. Deeptech encompasses high technical risk tech, dual use serves both commercial and national security sectors, and defence tech spans consumer to deeptech with military applications. Clarity in these terms helps VCs and LPs align on impactful investments. Read the full article on EUVC Insights. 🔽 https://buff.ly/3zvO83m #venturecapital #startupfunding #Europe #EUVCInsights

Last week had a chance to join EWOR Grand Pitch - online demo day where 10 EWOR fellows pitched to over 250 investors. Very well organized event, with solid pitches and on point follow-up conversations with the founders and other investors in the break out rooms. Kudos to the team who organized and thanks for having me! To highlight a few: - Luke Ferris from OriginAI where they're enabling business users to build complex enterprise tools without developer or product team input using GenAI. - Max Osborne from ThisThat, a challenger marketing data company where they're re-defining Brand Lift. Check EWOR's recent post if you want to see the decks (investors only). #vc #startup #investment #opportunities

Owl Insights NEW episode - Robert Copeland, BSME, MBA, CSPO shares his extensive career experience across multiple industries and his current role with Park City Angels, where he evaluates and mentors #startups. Robert emphasizes the importance of a strong founding team, coachability, and honesty in Founders. Park City #Angels employs a structured process to evaluate startups, offering both financial #investment and #mentorship. Robert's insights provide valuable guidance for #Founders navigating the early stages of #fundraising and highlight the critical role of angel investors in the #startup ecosystem. https://lnkd.in/gvw8UXsE

…Let the dialog begin! Thank you, Jacqueline Tame and colleagues for your tireless effort to shed light on the “say vs. do” gap and what that means for all stakeholders in the #defensetech ecosystem. For those of us on the #founder side of the equation that are either contemplating entering the #valleyofdeath, currently “slogging” through it, or starting to scale the other side, I highly recommend the #NATSEC100 report. It may not be a comfortable read, but it is an essential one.

At TechCrunch Disrupt 2024, Becca Szkutak and Dominic Davis engaged in a thought-provoking discussion with Kai Kloepfer, CEO of Biofire, a pioneering smart gun company. Kloepfer shared insights into the complexities of establishing a hardware startup within the firearm industry, highlighting significant challenges such as fundraising and ensuring product reliability. The conversation also delved into sensitive issues surrounding gun violence and suicide, reflecting the broader societal implications of firearm misuse. Kloepfer's perspective underscores the importance of innovation in addressing these critical concerns. #TechCrunchDisrupt #SmartGuns #GunSafety #Innovation #Entrepreneurship ---------------------- Learn more here: https://lnkd.in/ep6N7ZRe