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Venture Capital News
Saastr
2w
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Dear SaaStr: What “Quotas” Should My VP of Customer Success and VP of Product Have?
- For a VP of Customer Success (VPCS), their “quota” or ownership should revolve around two key metrics: Net Revenue Retention (NRR) and Gross Retention Rate (GRR).
- The VPCS should also own time-to-value (TTV) and drive customer advocacy.
- For a VP of Product (VPP), their “quota” is generally less about direct revenue metrics and more about product adoption and stickiness.
- The VPP should also be responsible for delivering on the product roadmap and aligning with the VPCS.
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Medium
2w
161
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AI for Humanity
- The choices we make today will determine the future of our children, our communities, and our planet.
- AI is shaping the world around us in ways that we are only beginning to understand.
- AI can either amplify the worst of human tendencies or be harnessed to uplift, empower, and unite us all.
- The movement is to stand for the good of humanity and use AI to benefit humanity.
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Medium
2w
52
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Setting up a Crypto Fund
- Setting up a Crypto Fund with CV5 Digital can be done in less than 4 weeks.
- CV5 Digital provides a fixed off-fee inclusive of all legal documentation and onboarding with tier-1 service providers.
- The fund is domiciled in the leading jurisdiction for hedge funds, making it an ideal choice for crypto funds.
- CV5 Digital offers various benefits such as independent fund administration, compliant audits, regulatory oversight, and strong relationships with exchanges, brokers, and custodians.
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Saastr
2w
305
A Simple Commitment Test For You And Your Co-Founders (Updated)
- The great thing about SaaS is that it compounds over time.
- Founder vesting with a longer time frame can help minimize co-founder issues.
- An 8-10 year vesting schedule with a 1-year cliff can align co-founder expectations.
- Choosing committed co-founders is essential for long-term success in SaaS.
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Medium
2w
252
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Arc by Brightriver: The AI Platform Tailored for Private Markets
- Arc by Brightriver is an AI platform tailored for private markets, empowering GPs and LPs to streamline workflows and optimize document management.
- The platform integrates CRM and other tools used by investment teams to bring all relevant information onto a single platform, enabling faster decision-making and uncovering hidden opportunities within data.
- Arc's AI-driven Lucid Search algorithm provides rapid and precise information retrieval, outperforming traditional search methods and significantly reducing document search times.
- Brightriver combines generative analytics and autonomous agents to transform how investment teams work, automating data extraction, providing custom analytics, generating tailored investment analysis reports, and streamlining memo creation.
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Saastr
2w
52
Ben Chestnut, Founder of Mailchimp: “I Knew I’d Be Irrelevant As Soon As I Sold”
- Ben Chestnut, founder of Mailchimp, recently discussed the experience of selling his company and the subsequent feeling of becoming irrelevant.
- After selling Mailchimp for over $12 billion, Chestnut admitted that he quickly felt irrelevant in the industry.
- Despite achieving financial freedom, Chestnut confessed that he has never felt less fulfilled.
- He emphasized the importance of breaking founder habits and finding new purpose, even suggesting that getting a dog can be helpful.
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Medium
2w
87
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Navigating the Landscape of Venture Capital: Strategies for Startups and Investors
- Entrepreneurs should seek investors who align with their values and can provide expertise and mentorship.
- Investors should conduct thorough research and choose entrepreneurs who are passionate and resilient.
- Both parties should maintain open and transparent communication to build trust and foster innovation.
- Startups should focus on crafting a compelling pitch and showcasing their business model, while investors should diversify their portfolios and anticipate industry changes.
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Medium
2w
431
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HardTech Reads: The AI & Robotics Revolution vol. 24
- Dobot introduces Atom, a humanoid robot with 28 degrees of freedom and advanced precision, targeting household use.
- Woven City, Toyota's smart city project, runs on hydrogen fuel cells and emphasizes data privacy, set to open in 2026.
- FANUC reports a 16% decline in robot sales due to economic uncertainty, impacting global manufacturing sectors.
- General Fusion advances in plasma tech aiming for scientific break-even by 2026, boosting alternative energy development.
- GigaCrop secures funding for advanced agricultural technologies combining AI and plant science for enhanced crop productivity.
- Tera AI unveils a hardware-agnostic navigation system for autonomous robots, facilitating seamless deployment across various platforms.
- Epirus raises $200M for innovative directed energy systems to counter aerial threats, focusing on national defense and infrastructure protection.
- Aescape secures $83M funding to develop AI-powered massage therapy systems for gyms, hotels, and clinics.
- Zeitview raises $60M to deploy AI-driven software for inspecting critical energy infrastructure assets using drones.
- Viam's $30M Series C funding supports their cloud-based software platform simplifying robotic system development and management.
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Medium
2w
204
What is an Angel Investor?
- Angel investors are individuals who trade their money for equity in early stage ventures.
- They are called angels because the term originated from wealthy individuals funding theatrical productions.
- Angel investors have a high risk tolerance and provide industry knowledge and operational experience.
- Their credibility and network can attract other investors in future rounds of funding.
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Saastr
2w
126
Dear SaaStr: How Do I Show Investors I Have Traction?
- To show traction to investors, focus on revenue growth, sales efficiency, churn and retention, cohort analysis, lead velocity rate, customer logos and case studies, path to $100M ARR, operational metrics, and early proof points for TAM expansion.
- Highlight consistent growth in ARR or MRR, sales efficiency metrics like CAC and payback period, low churn and high retention rates, customer behavior improvement over time, strong lead velocity rate, key customer logos, credible path to scale, and operational efficiency.
- Provide metrics that demonstrate 3x growth at $1M-$2M ARR and 2x growth at $5M-$10M ARR, CAC payback of 12 months or less, 100% or higher NRR, positive cohort analysis, strong LVR, well-known customer brands, and expansion plans for increased TAM.
- Avoid faking traction and focus on clear, credible presentation of metrics and a compelling story for investors.
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7 Likes
Medium
2w
257
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The Pandora’s Box of the EIF: What GPs, Especially First-Time Funds, Need to Know About the…
- The EIF's investment process involves screening, investment readiness, due diligence, and final approval, similar to how funds invest in startups.
- The investment thesis, strategy differentiation, and value addition to founders play key roles in securing EIF approval.
- ESG, including Diversity & Inclusion and Climate Strategy, are core considerations for the EIF during the selection process.
- Understanding the market, having access to deals, showcasing team expertise, and aligning interests are crucial for fund managers.
- For first-time fund managers, proving credentials and aligning backgrounds with fund strategies is essential.
- Fund structure evaluation by the EIF emphasizes budget, portfolio model, return expectations, and legal structure.
- Common reasons for EIF rejections include lack of experience, sectoral expertise, and fund structure alignment.
- Engagement with LPs, regular updates, and transparency are vital to maintaining trust and securing continued support.
- Building strong LP relationships and focusing on core fundamentals are crucial for success with any investor.
- Applicants should be prepared for a potentially lengthy process, with first-time team evaluations by EIF lasting up to 12 months.
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15 Likes
Medium
2w
82
What is Venture Capital?
- Venture Capital is a form of private equity investing where investors take a chance on early-stage small companies/businesses they believe have high growth potential.
- Successful Venture Capital investments can provide exponential returns that outpace the returns of the public equity market (15% or more vs 7–10%).
- Early-stage investing allows for catalyzing the growth of innovation and supporting the creation of revolutionary solutions to society's problems.
- The most challenging aspect of Venture Capital is the high risk involved, as most startups fail and the investment horizon tends to be longer.
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4 Likes
Saastr
2w
139
Carta: Smaller VC Fund Returns Have Fallen -30% or More. Will AI Boost Them Back?
- Smaller VC funds from 2017-2020 have seen a significant decline in their returns over the past 24 months.
- Many hot deals and unicorn rounds that happened between 2018-2021 no longer have the same valuation, resulting in mark-downs and write-offs.
- New emerging VC funds from 2021-2023 are still negative overall, and one reason could be the lack of mark-ups and valuation increases on their investments.
- Most smaller VC funds are not yet benefiting from their AI investments.
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8 Likes
Medium
2w
270
Image Credit: Medium
Beyond the hype — how to actually invest into defence startups
- Investing in defense startups requires a unique approach due to the sector's specific challenges and market dynamics.
- Military customers prioritize technologies that provide immediate combat impact over futuristic tech.
- Integration with existing systems and procurement plans is crucial for defense tech startups to succeed.
- Patience is key in the defense industry, as converting great products into revenue can take years.
- Successful defense startups map their products to existing requirements and infrastructure of target customers.
- Navigating the procurement bureaucracy and having a strong go-to-market strategy are vital for defense startup success.
- Defense tech must fit into a larger operational puzzle to be adopted; standalone products may struggle to gain traction.
- Exits in defense usually involve going public or selling to prime contractors, with IPOs requiring substantial scale and growth.
- Defense primes strategically evaluate acquisitions based on the potential to secure lucrative contracts.
- Acquisition by a prime contractor is common for defense startups filling critical capability gaps.
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16 Likes
Medium
2w
82
Here's a step-by-step guide on how to start online freelancing services in Nigeria:
- Step 2: Choose a Freelance Platform - Research popular freelance platforms and create a profile on the platform(s) that best suit your skills and services.
- Step 3: Create a Professional Profile - Use a professional profile picture and header image, write a compelling bio, and showcase your portfolio and samples of your work.
- Step 4: Set Your Rates - Research market rates for your services, set competitive rates, and consider offering discounts or promotions to attract clients.
- Step 5: Bid for Projects - Search for projects that match your skills and services, bid for projects you're interested in and qualified for, and follow project description and requirements.
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