Thunder.vc’s Post

Hey, Mid-Atlantic startups (give me a 👍 if that's you, because I'm expecting less than 5 😅), I'm sharing 11 of the best VCs in Virginia, each a champion in their niche. Whether you're in tech, healthcare, or any field in between, having the right venture capital partner is key to scaling new heights. 1. Columbia Capital Focus: Growth and Late-Stage Ventures Sector: Communications, Media, and Enterprise Technology Investment Range: $25M - $100M Top Portcos: Ooyala, Brightcove, Asana, SailPoint, Grubhub, Duo Security 2. Edison Partners Focus: Growth Ventures Sector: Financial technology, healthcare IT, and enterprise software Investment Range: $10M - $30M Top Portcos: ONlyte Software, Medchart, WebMD, Billtrust 3. Route 66 Ventures Focus: Early-Stage Ventures Sector: Digital health and financial technology Investment Range: $10$500K – $4M Top Portcos: Joon Care, Eirene Medical, Finary, Healthwave, PayPlug, Aircall, Jobbio, Oqium 4. QED Investors Focus: Early-Stage Ventures Sector: Fintech Investment Range: $30K - $3M Top Portcos: Avant, Moniepoint, Banbee, Betterfly 5. Motley Fool Ventures Focus: Early-Stage, Series A Ventures Sector: Technology: Software, platforms, tech-enabled services Investment Range: $1M-$2M Top Portcos: Bamboo, Carta, Effectiva 6. AAF Management Ltd. Focus: Early-Stage, Pre-Seed, Seed and Series AVentures Sector: Agnostic Top Portcos: Robinhood, Didi, Savage X by Fenty, StockX, Figure, Reddit 7. Blu Ventures Focus: Early-Stage: Pre-Seed, Seed and Series A Ventures Sector: TeCyber Secutiry, Fintech, Healthcare, IOT Investment Range: $500K - $1M Top Portcos: Spin.ai, Tidal, Enveedo 8. Razor's Edge Ventures Focus: Early Stage and Growth Stage Ventures Sector: National security, Commercial enterprise Top Portcos: R908 devices, Blacksky, Blackbird Technologies, Black Horse 9. PROOF Focus: Early-Stage and Growth Stage Ventures Sector: Marketplaces, Cybersecurity, SAAS, Fintech, Healthtech, Foodtech, Gaming, eCommerce, Frontier tech Top Portcos: Epic Games, Carta, Materclass, Sweetgreen 10. Riverbend Capital Advisors Focus: Early Stage and Growth Stage Ventures Sector: Software or Tech-enabled ventures Top Portcos: Epic Games, Carta, Veda, Varo 11. ShockVentures Focus: Early-Stage Ventures Sector: MobilityTtechnology Investment Range: $100k - $300k Top Portcos: Treepz, JOCO, AnswersNow Ready to connect with the perfect investor for your startup? Drop a “LIST” in the comments, and we’ll tailor a personalized investor lineup just for you. Got a favorite Mid-Altantic VC firm that deserves a shoutout? Let us know in the comments below. At Thunder.vc, we excel in pairing your startup with venture capital firms that align with your specific sector, growth phase, and objectives.

🇬🇧 Calling all UK startups: stepping into the venture capital arena can be a thrilling yet daunting experience, but you're not in this alone. I’ve curated a list of 10 top-notch venture capital firms in the #UK, each a leader in their unique sector. Whether you're revolutionizing #tech, transforming #healthcare, or breaking new ground in another industry, aligning with the right #VC partner is vital for your growth and success. 1. Ascension Focus: Seed and Pre-Seed Ventures Sector: Software, Internet, FinTech Top Portcos: Heatio, Saltroad, Nebu~Flow 2. Fuel Ventures 🚀 Focus: Seed and Pre-Seed Ventures Sector: Software, E-Commerce, Internet Top Portcos: Lunio, Eleos, StudioSpace 3. Force Over Mass Focus: Seed and Series A Ventures Sector: Software, Information Technology, FinTech Top Portcos: CUR8, Artificial Labs, SuperFi Finance 4. Northstar Ventures UK Focus: Seed, Funding Round and Series A Ventures Sector: Software, E-Commerce, SaaS Top Portcos: Lightox, DayaTani, Circadacare 5. Octopus Ventures Focus: Series A, Seed, and Series B Ventures Sector: Software, Health Care, Artificial Intelligence Top Portcos: Sidekick, ExpressionEdits, Swiipr Technologies 6. MMC Ventures Focus: Early-Stage, Pre-Seed, Seed and Series AVentures Sector: Software, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning Top Portcos: LiveEO, Stanhope AI, Eatron Technologies 7. SFC Capital Focus: Pre-Seed and Seed Ventures Sector: Software, Artificial Intelligence, IT Top Portcos: Lemon, Unibloom World, Blue Skies Space 8. Episode 1 Ventures Focus: Seed, Series A and Pre-Seed Ventures Sector: Software, Artificial Intelligence, SaaS Top Portcos: Lawhive, Superlinked, Viable 9. Maven Capital Partners Focus: Seed and Series A Ventures Sector: Software, Information Technology, SaaS Top Portcos: Carcinotech, Metrion Biosciences, McKenzie Intelligence Services Ltd 10. Notion Capital Focus: Seed, Series A and Series B Ventures Sector: Software, SaaS, IT Top Portcos: TechWolf, Caeli Wind, Harbor Lab Ready to connect with the perfect investor for your startup? Drop a “LIST” in the comments, and we’ll tailor a personalized investor lineup just for you. Got a favorite UK-based VC firm that deserves a shoutout? Let us know in the comments below. At Thunder.vc, we excel in pairing your startup with venture capital firms that align with your specific sector, growth phase, and objectives.

"Shocking Visuals" Look at the visual below (picture credit goes to the original publisher in a LinkedIN article). It depicts tracking outcomes for 3067 startups in the USA incorporated in the year 2018. 49% of companies are closed. Less than 10% of startups secure Series B funding. Less than 3% of startups secure Series C funding Less than 0.5% of startups secure Series D funding Even in such a sophisticated market like USA (in which eco-system is very good to enable startup success), if only those less % of startups are successful, you can imagine what could be the tracking outcomes of startups in other geographies (Europe, MENA, Asia-Pacific, etc)?. If bigger consulting organizations are able to help bigger enterprises on strategies and management frameworks, for business scaling and growth, then do we need another breed of consulting organizations who can help MSMEs, SMBs, and Startups to succeed? What do we need to do for "StartUp to ScaleUp"? If the world of investors are ok with few of their portfolio companies giving them the expected reasons and if they are fine with majority of their portfolio companies getting closed, then don't you think so this could also be a better "eco-system" business problem to be solved?, in which the solution approach (what are your suggestions for it?) is to improve the success rate of every portfolio companies of every investor(s). Is the eco-system problem (of more startup failures) and market sophistication are inter-related?!?! Even if the correlation exists (to prove it right or wrong) with supporting data, what can we do to help as many startups to succeed? Startup fails NOT only because of the business idea. But something else. What is it? Pls share your views and suggestions, and hopefully your responses may help those startups and or entrepreneurs to succeed. In a world where only "success" is celebrated, let us help those entrepreneurs (who are yet to cross the chasm) who are working very smart & hard to make the world a better place. Dallas Venture Capital Ideaspring Capital Chiratae Ventures Blume Ventures Java Capital IIMA Ventures Transition VC Indian Institute of Management Bangalore Innovation ScaleUp Advisors Pvt Ltd Marwari Catalysts Sequoia Capital Accel Ipreneur Startup Accelerator Kalaari Capital Matrix Partners India Nexus Venture Partners Helion Ventures Tiger Global Management GSF Indian Angel Network TiE Global Angels Microsoft AI McKinsey People & Organizational Performance Boston Consulting Group (BCG) Sundara Nagarajan Shyam Penumaka Swarup Pandya Anirudh Jayagopal Shantanu Chaturvedi Sowmya Narayanan Sadagopan Rajesh V Thachil Prashant Upasani Manjunath Sharma Girish Kaushik Mythily Ramesh Arvind Radhakrishnan, CFA Srinivas Rao Mahankali (MSR) Ramesh KV J. Ramachandran Tapan Kumar Datta

🗞️ Today's Startups & VC Updates - 13/02 Peter Thiel-led Founders Fund Invests $200 Million in Crypto After Market Downturn San Francisco's Homebrew seeks $50M for a new fund, shifting from its prior evergreen model funded by partners Satya Patel and Hunter Walk. Founderful (formerly Wingman Ventures): Swiss VC Wingman Ventures rebrands as Founderful, securing $85M for Fund II with a $120M target, focusing on pre-seed startups in B2B software and industrial sectors. Separated from Sequoia Capital, Peak XV Partners hosts an "Immersion Week" for 60 founders from its portfolio in India, Southeast Asia, and Australia, featuring meetings and strategy sessions in Silicon Valley. Startup Fundraising 💰 Sarasota-based cybersecurity firm Nucleus Security raises $43M in Series B funding led by Arthur Ventures and Lead Edge Capital for its risk-based vulnerability management platform. Kenya's health tech Ilara Health secures $4.2M in pre-Series A round, including $2.5M in equity led by DOB Equity, with participation from Philips Foundation and existing investors, bringing total funding to $11.7M. Marietta-based medical device manufacturer BRIJ Medical Inc. raises $5.5M in funding, led by Tim Gleeson (Vidant Capital) and a group of MedTech industry veterans. San Francisco-based data analytics startup Motif Analytics secures $5.7M in Seed funding led by Amplify Partners and Felicis, with participation from InvestInData angel group. Mumbai's senior citizen app provider Khyaal raises $4.2M in funding, led by 62Ventures, SVQuad, and Inventus Capital, bringing total funding to $5.4M. Vadodara-based live shopping mobile SaaS platform Swirl® raises $1.1M in Seed funding led by Shastra VC and angel investors from India, Middle East, and USA. Miami's RFP platform provider Prosal reaches $1.58M in Seed funding, including a new influx of $400k, led by Fusen Fund and a consortium of investors. San Francisco-based crowdsourced security platform Bugcrowd raises $102M in Growth funding led by General Catalyst, with participation from Rally Ventures and Costanoa Ventures. San Francisco's AI and cybersecurity company Reken secures $10M in Seed funding led by Greycroft and FPV Ventures. Bologna-based construction solutions provider Officine Maccaferri receives an undisclosed strategic investment from Ambienta. London-based AI waste analytics startup Greyparrot raises $12.8M in funding led by Bollegraaf. Hong Kong-based insurtech MediConCen raises $6.85M in Series A funding led by HSBC Asset Management. Centennial-based aerospace startup Cosmic Aerospace raises $4.5M in Seed funding led by Pale Blue Dot, with participation from various tech investors. San Juan-based travel planning and booking solution provider Nicer raises $2M in Pre-Seed funding led by Trip Ventures and others. 📰 Want to receive daily updates on #startups, #venturecapital and #tech . Subscribed to Venture Daily Digest Newsletter: https://lnkd.in/dQuvt5xR

🌟 Introducing GW Startup Avenue’s Monday Momentum! 🌟 We are excited to launch our new weekly series, where every Monday we’ll bring you the latest trends, insights, and opportunities from the entrepreneurial world. Our goal is to empower budding entrepreneurs with relevant, actionable news to help take their ventures to the next level! This week, we’re diving into the 2024 Startup Funding Trends that are changing the game for entrepreneurs. 📊 💡 2024 Startup Funding Trends: What Entrepreneurs Need to Know 💡 The startup funding landscape in 2024 is evolving fast, with new models and investor priorities shaping how entrepreneurs can raise capital. Here are the key trends to keep on your radar: 🔹 Alternative Funding Models Startups are turning to alternative sources of funding, moving beyond traditional venture capital. Revenue-based financing and crowdfunding platforms like Kickstarter and Indiegogo are gaining traction, giving founders more control without sacrificing equity. 🔹 Micro-Investing Platforms Platforms like Republic and SeedInvest are opening up funding opportunities to everyday investors. This democratization of funding allows startups to access a broader base of small investors, making it easier to raise capital. 🔹 Corporate Venture Capital More corporations are creating venture arms to fund startups aligned with their strategic goals. These corporations not only provide funding but also offer access to industry expertise, partnerships, and resources that can help startups scale. 🔹 Impact Investing Investors are increasingly focusing on startups with a social or environmental mission. Startups that prioritize sustainability, social equity, or ethical practices are drawing attention from impact investors who want to align their capital with positive change. 🔹 AI in Venture Capital Artificial Intelligence is transforming how venture capital firms evaluate startups, helping them assess risks and growth potential more accurately. AI and tech-driven startups are also seeing a significant boost in funding, making them a key focus for investors. For entrepreneurs in 2024, these trends highlight the importance of sustainable growth, innovation, and creating meaningful impact. Stay tuned for more insights every Monday with Monday Momentum! 🚀 #StartupFunding #Entrepreneurship #BusinessGrowth #makethingshappen #MondayMomentum #GWStartupAvenue Source: https://lnkd.in/daBr_kyC

🗞️ Today's Startups & VC Updates - 14/03 Chamath Palihapitiya-led firm, Social Capital fired two partners tied to Groq Inc. amid allegations of policy breaches, sparking claims of unfair dismissal and prompting an orderly transition. ------- Get the most important startup funding, venture capital & tech news. Join 10,000+ early adopters staying ahead of the curve, for free: https://lnkd.in/dQuvt5xR -------- 💰 Startup Fundraising Updates Eyris: McLean-based cybersecurity platform secures $3M in pre-seed funding led by Red Cell Partners. Perfios: Indian fintech Perfios valued at over $1B with $80M investment from Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan’ Pension Plan's venture arm. Orbio Earth (YC S23): Satellite-powered methane leak detection startup secures $4M seed round from European Space Agency - ESA Agency and Initialized Capital. Cellexcel: Norwich biomaterial technology startup raises over £250K with backing from College Green Ventures and others. FERMÀT: San Francisco startup enabling personalized retail experiences raises $17M in Series A led by Bain Capital Ventures. IO River: Multi-CDN platform secures $5.4M seed funding led by S Capital. furno: Mountain View startup dedicated to decarbonizing cement production raises $6.5M in Seed funding. Big Sur AI: AI platform for e-commerce raises $6.9M in seed funding led by Lightspeed Venture Partners. Telo: San Carlos electric mobility company advancing EV mini-trucks secures $5.4M in funding led by Al Partovi. Luminary Cloud: GPU-powered product design simulator raises $15M in equity and $100M in debt from Sutter Hill Ventures. Joyride: Toronto shared mobility platform secures $5.2M in Series A led by Yamaha Motors. Autonomo: London startup providing checkout-free shopping experiences raises £2M in funding. Zephyr AI: Healthcare technology company develops explainable AI solutions with $111M Series A led by REVOLUTION GROWTH III LP. RealSeq Biosciences: Santa Cruz biotech company extends Seed funding with new investors. Murphy's Naturals: Raleigh outdoor lifestyle company raises $8M in Series B led by Point King Capital. Get the most important startup funding, venture capital & tech news. Join 10,000+ early adopters staying ahead of the curve, for free: https://lnkd.in/dQuvt5xR . #startups #businessnews #funding #venturecapital #news #jobs #internship #funding

How to Identify Breakthrough Startups: Interview with Mike Maples from Floodgate Mike Maples from Floodgate explains that it’s best to support startups that “most people don’t like.” Mike Maples Jr. is a renowned angel investor and co-founder of the venture capital firm Floodgate. Over the years, he has made several successful investments, including Twitter, Twitch, Lyft, and Bazaarvoice. However, there have also been some misses. TechCrunch interviewed him for the Equity podcast, where they discussed his most memorable investments, missed opportunities, startup selection criteria, and his new book. Here are some interesting insights from the interview: 1/ TechCrunch: You coined the term “Thunder Lizards” to describe exceptional companies that radically transform the market. How did you come up with this? Mike Maples: I wanted a term that wouldn’t sound too much like jargon. “Thunder Lizard” came from Godzilla, who hatched from radioactive eggs, swam across the ocean, appeared with attitude, breathed fire, destroyed buildings, and ate train cars like sausages. It’s a great metaphor for startups—capitalist mutations that come out of nowhere and change the game. My job is to find them at the “atomic egg” stage. 2/ Is it harder to find such “atomic eggs” today compared to 10-15 years ago? – I think the number of them is about the same, but there’s a lot more noise. My friend Andy Rachleff, co-founder of Benchmark, tried to estimate how many companies a year reach $100 million in revenue. In the U.S., it’s about 30, give or take five. That’s not a lot. Fifteen years ago, it was easier to believe that an entrepreneur was building a startup for genuine reasons, not just for status. 3/ Investing has become more competitive, right? – Yes. The irony is that when startups are attractive to investors, it’s often a bad sign. It usually means they’re too similar to what already exists. The best startups are radically different from anything that came before. Great startups challenge the present, they disagree with the status quo. That’s why most people don’t like them. If too many people like them, it’s not a breakthrough. Truly breakthrough ideas polarize people. A small group of people says, “Where have you been all my life? I desperately need this.” Those are the ideas we’re looking for. 4/ Can you recall any failed investments from which you learned valuable lessons? – Warren Buffett says: Rule #1 — don’t lose money, Rule #2 — don’t forget Rule #1. In my business, Rule #1 is don’t miss opportunities. For example, I missed the chance to invest in Airbnb at a $1.5 million valuation, which could have given me a 6,000x return.

If you are actively fundraising check out this perfect resource provided by Ivelina Dineva ✅ From Pre Seed to Series B - several sectors represented here. Check the comments as well, quite a few others angel groups have been listed! #startups #funding #fundraising #angelinvesting #angelinvestors #venturecapital #vcfunding Funden

What a great list of resources compiled by EverythingStartups. I know that there are entrepreneurs out there that will benefit from this information. Are you one of them? Dream big and align yourself with those who can support (and help fund) bringing that big dream to reality!