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The venture capital firm Cornerstone Ventures announced the opening of its second #fund, which has a $200 million target amount and a $50 million greenshoe option. According to a statement from Cornerstone Ventures, the fund would have a 12-year lifetime and offer customisable ticket sizes that range from $5 million to $15 million in a mix of early- to growth-stage #firms. With the most recent fund, it intends to invest in 15 to 20 firms. In 2019, the company launched its inaugural Cornerstone Ventures Fund-I, which had a $50 million budget. The capital was distributed among 21 portfolio businesses, with a primary emphasis on #business models involving B2B corporate software-as-a-service. Cornerstone Venture Partners (CSVP) Fund was founded by Abhishek Prasad and Rajiv Vaishnav, is a frontier enterprise SaaS VC Fund #investing in highly scalable enterprise technologies with a strong moat. The fund invests from pre-Series A to Series B. Nanika Kakkar Vatsal Bavishi Payal Punatar Doshi Shreyas Trivedi To share your startup story write us on - startup@viestories.com #cornerstoneventurepartners #venturecapital #investments

Please join us on March 5 to discuss Is Venture Capital Right for You? I'll be joined by three Fund Managers: Shalanda Armstrong of 100KM Ventures Seda Atam Goff of Flintlock Capital Himalaya Rao-Potlapally of The BFM Fund We'll be discussing the following: ➡️What makes a company “eligible” for venture capital dollars? ➡️What are constraints of the venture capital ecosystem and what do you need to know before you raise from angels and VCs? ➡️Even if you ARE “eligible” when/why might a company decide not to pursue venture capital? ➡️What other types of funding are out there for small businesses? This panel is sponsored by Arlington Economic Development and powered by Citrine Angels. Don't miss it! Register here: https://lnkd.in/gN8ePGzi

Is your startup having trouble getting funded? It may be because your business doesn’t fit the portfolio model of VC firms. As this article notes, from the point of view of a venture capitalist, failed investments don’t matter, but every investment you make needs to have the potential to be a home run. #venturecapital #startups #founders

Nearly two years ago, I jumped into venture capital—a move I’d been dreaming about for years. Here are some of the milestones we've hit and lessons learned so far. Entrepreneur Ventures, the venture capital arm of Entrepreneur Media, was the first step. I helped build the team, set up the entities, and bring in a GP to run the fund. To date, we’ve made nearly 32 pre-seed and opportunistic investments. This vision had been in the works for almost 10 years—with a few false starts—but persistence paid off. From there, I moved upstream and launched Beckett Industries, focusing on that critical space between venture capital and growth equity, where so many great founders stall out and need modest capital and strategic guidance to get to the next milestone. We’re writing $1-5M checks and doubling down on high performers from our pre-seed fund. One of the most rewarding parts of this journey has been building an incredible team of partners, advisors, and operators. Their expertise has been invaluable as we source, screen, and execute deals. In fact, we already have our hooks in 7+ deals across CPG, tech, and business services, with multiple closings planned this year. Our goal at Beckett Industries is simple but powerful: write 4-5 strategic checks per year and add a min of $10M AUM annually—all through SPVs. Why SPVs? They give us, and our LPs, the flexibility to invest deal by deal. It’s about finding the right opportunities at the right time. We’re not chasing unicorns or trying to be the next decile VC. My prayer is that this overtime becomes our family office, where my boys can be raised in the business and learn the ropes. Yes, backing a billion-dollar company is exciting, but the odds aren’t in anyone’s favor. Instead, I’d rather take a realistic approach—one that prioritizes sustainable returns. Think doubles and triples over home runs. It’s not about hype; it’s about delivering solid outcomes for our investors, companies, and ourselves. We also don’t enter the picture until the business has proven itself. Typically, we invest in years 3-5, once companies have product-market fit, solidified their model, and generate $1-10M in revenue. By then, we’ve seen founders’ grit. We know the data backs the narrative, and the business is de-risked enough to make smart investments. It’s been a heck of a ride, and I’m happier than ever that I made the leap into venture. There were so many assumptions I made about this space—what it would take, what the hurdles would be—and most turned out to be wrong. The truth? I was forced to leap, and it was exactly what I needed. Sure, there have been challenges, but seeing what I envisioned almost 20 years ago come to life—brick by brick—makes it worthwhile. I’ll share more about the myths I used to tell myself in a future post and how breaking through those limitations led me here. Stay tuned. The journey is still just getting started.

IGNITING NEW BEGINNINGS˖ "At Fuze Fund, we believe in the transformative power of a well-timed spark. The word ‘fuze’ embodies the pivotal moment when potential energy is unleashed, igniting a wave of transformation and growth. As a venture capital fund, we specialize in Seed-stage investments in minority-led, veteran-led, and women-led ventures. We understand that the right support at the right time can create explosive growth. Our mission is to be that fuze, lighting the way for diverse founders and entrepreneurs to achieve lasting impact. We hold a steadfast belief that inclusive investment practices and diversity are the cornerstones of driving innovation, and we aim to be an incubator for disruptive ideation, a place where bold new ideas can take root and flourish." "Our platform is more than just a funding source; it’s a vibrant research hub and a dynamic sounding board. We share cutting-edge insights from across the sector and celebrate alongside our portfolio companies, learning and growing together on their unique journeys. Our commitment at Fuze goes beyond direct investment. We facilitate this through our portfolio of Venture Growth Funds and active participation in investment collaboratives. But our support doesn’t stop there. We foster an environment rich in educational resources, research insights, peer mentorship, and strategic partnerships. Thus, we are dedicated to providing not just financial backing, but a comprehensive support system that nurtures innovation and resilience." "As our flagship fund prepares to enter the subscription phase, we invite you to join us. Help us harness our collective energy to build a more inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem! We are passionate about supporting founders who operate at the social and economic margins of our society, and we are committed to uplifting the entrepreneurial ambitions of our men and women in uniform. At Fuze Fund, we are not just lighting a spark; we are igniting a revolution in the world of venture capital!" Dr. T.J., Managing Partner (website launching soon)

Exciting developments in the venture capital landscape: Adams Street Partners has successfully closed its Venture Innovation Fund IV Program, raising over $1.2 billion in capital commitments. Key takeaways: • The fund was oversubscribed, showcasing strong investor confidence • It grew 40% compared to the previous venture innovation program • The focus is on innovative and disruptive companies globally This significant raise, especially in the current economic climate, signals continued robust interest in venture capital and innovation. Adams Street's success underscores the enduring appeal of well-managed, strategically focused venture funds. At YOBE Ventures, we're encouraged by this news. It reaffirms our belief in the power of innovation and the crucial role of venture capital in fueling groundbreaking ideas. This fund raise also highlights several important trends: 1. The resilience of the venture ecosystem 2. Ongoing investor appetite for exposure to high-growth potential companies 3. The critical importance of established relationships and track record in fundraising For entrepreneurs and startups, this represents a positive signal. Despite market uncertainties, there's still significant capital available for truly innovative ideas that can disrupt industries and create value. Are you working on something that could be the next big disruptor? We'd love to hear about it. At YOBE Ventures, we're always on the lookout for visionary ideas and the passionate people behind them. Let's connect and explore how we can help turn your innovative concept into a success story. #VentureCapital #StartupFunding #Innovation #Startup #Investing

Venture Capital: The Lifeblood of the Tech Ecosystem 🚀 Venture capital is essential for helping startups grow and scale – it's hard to imagine the tech scene without it. But what exactly does a venture capitalist do? How much do they earn? And how can you break into this dynamic field? I've been working on this special project for Forbes that sheds light on these questions, providing insights into the daily life and decision-making processes of venture capitalists. If you want to learn more about this fascinating world, I highly recommend giving it a read ( ❗ ). A huge thank you to Tim Draper, an American venture capital investor and Founder at Draper Associates/DFJ/Draper University; Janelle Teng, Vice President at Bessemer Venture Partners; Jenny Fielding, Co-founder and Managing Partner at Everywhere Ventures; Drew Glover, General Partner at Fiat Ventures; Juan Scarlett, Co-Founder & Managing Director at OneValley Ventures; Nikki Farb, General Partner at Power of N and Venture Partner at Headline; Kamran Ansari, a Venture Partner at Headline; Amy Yin, Venture Partner at defy.vc; and Niko Bonatsos, Managing Director at General Catalyst for their invaluable insights. Your contributions are pure gold 🌟 Read the full article and dive into the world of venture capital! https://lnkd.in/g3S8mGKt #VentureCapital #TechEcosystem #Investment

While everyone is looking for funds, Cendana Capital and Kline Hill Partners just raised $105 million to buy stakes in Seed VC funds. #Cendana Capital and #Kline Hill Partners have joined forces to announce a new $105 million fund, exceeding their initial $75 million target. This innovative fund, named Kline Hill Cendana Partners, aims to address the liquidity challenges faced by venture capital investors by acquiring stakes in seed-stage #VC funds and startups. Michael Kim, founder and managing director of Cendana Capital, recognized the opportunity to enhance his firm's ownership in venture funds and promising startups at discounted rates. Partnering with Kline Hill, led by Chris Bull, CFA, the two firms are leveraging their expertise to capitalize on this emerging buyer's market. The fund's success reflects strong support from existing limited partners at Cendana and Kline Hill, highlighting the growing demand for liquidity solutions in the venture capital space. Traditional secondary investors, such as Lexington Partners and Blackstone, have also raised significant funds, indicating a broader trend towards secondary investments. Cendana and Kline Hill's strategic focus on acquiring secondary interests in seed-stage firms and individual companies sets them apart in the market. By targeting this niche opportunity, the joint venture aims to provide liquidity to investors while unlocking value in overlooked seed-stage assets. With venture-backed companies staying private longer, the need for liquidity solutions continues to rise. Cendana and Kline Hill's collaborative approach to acquiring secondary stakes in seed-stage ventures demonstrates a novel strategy to address this challenge. As the fund deploys capital through 2024, its success could pave the way for future initiatives in the venture secondary market. The partnership between Cendana and Kline Hill underscores the evolving landscape of venture capital investing. By focusing on seed-stage opportunities, the fund pioneers a tailored approach to secondary investments, offering a new avenue for investors to unlock value in their portfolios. The article on TechCrunch in the first comment. Want to stay up to date with the market? Here my newsletter: - Linkedin: https://t.ly/s541W   - Substack: https://lnkd.in/dzfGJzmW

NAVIGATING THE VENTURE CAPITAL LANDSCAPE: A DEEP DIVE WITH WINTER MEAD Mike interviews Winter Mead. In this episode, we delved deep into the world of venture capital with none other than Winter Mead, the mastermind behind “How To Raise A Venture Capital Fund: The Essential Guide on Fundraising and Understanding Limited Partners.” Buckle up because this conversation was a rollercoaster ride through the intricacies of venture funding, startup management dynamics, and entrepreneurship’s transformative power. SUMMARY First, let’s discuss the venture capital model. Winter eloquently says, “The venture model, the way it’s built at the fund level, is 10, plus two.” This insightful breakdown sheds light on the traditional timeline for venture funds to invest, manage, and harvest portfolios. With a focus on compounding growth and a compressed timeframe, venture capitalists like Winter constantly seek high-growth opportunities that can deliver exponential returns. But what about the founders and management teams behind these high-growth startups? Winter emphasizes management’s pivotal role in venture success, highlighting the need for visionary leaders who can navigate the complexities of a rapidly evolving market. As he aptly puts it, “Teams also really, really big… It’s a special type of person who solves those problems and can manage a high-growth environment.” Drawing parallels to the legendary PayPal Mafia, Winter underscores the importance of building relationships and fostering trust within the startup ecosystem. The success of PayPal’s original team is a testament to the power of cohesive leadership and shared vision in driving entrepreneurial ventures to new heights. @milliondollarbookman @thedreamstarter https://lnkd.in/dG7ZCDim