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Venture Capital News
Medium
6d
227
Image Credit: Medium
CREATOR (Part II)
- The societal narrative around ADHD and founders needs to change.
- Founders with ADHD are not broken, they need healing and discipline.
- Society is rushing towards a bright future but needs alignment and grounding.
- We are co-creators and need to slow down, focus, and channel our energy.
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13 Likes
Medium
7d
236
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The Mass Extinction of Digital Health Startups
- The article discusses the challenges faced by digital health startups and the high failure rates in the industry.
- It highlights the significant losses caused by venture capital (VC) funding to U.S.-listed digital health companies in the past five years.
- The author critiques flawed AI models, investigates healthcare fraud, and exposes bad actors in the digital health sector.
- Only two out of the top 10 successful publicly traded digital health companies are VC-backed, revealing a trend of VC-funded companies facing bankruptcy.
- VC investments have been disastrous with poor returns, and VCs are accused of picking mediocre startups for funding.
- The article highlights the negative impact of VC funding on the startup ecosystem and its implications for pension funds.
- The culture of mediocrity in VC firms and the challenges faced by digital health startups, including sexism in venture capital, are discussed.
- Examples such as Theranos, Babylon Health, and Truepill are cited to illustrate failures in the digital health industry.
- Successful companies like Veeva Systems and Doximity are highlighted as models that achieved success without heavy VC funding.
- The article concludes by exploring barriers to healthcare innovation and proposing potential solutions to improve the digital health sector.
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14 Likes
Medium
7d
336
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Forget AI. Here’s The Best Way to Learn Financial Modeling…
- The best way to learn financial modeling is by building a company's financial model from scratch, as it helps in understanding the business and financial statements deeply.
- Pre-built templates can be useful for advanced users to speed up repetitive tasks, but customization is necessary to capture the unique aspects of each business.
- By building models from blank spreadsheets, one can gain proficiency in financial modeling and confidently create models for any company.
- In the Financial Modeling Mastery Program, students are guided to build their own models step-by-step, reinforcing the importance of 'learning by doing.'
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20 Likes
Medium
7d
410
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How Data Transparency is Revolutionizing Venture Capital — Powered by AAK Tele-Science
- AAK Tele-Science is revolutionizing VC landscape with data transparency
- AI and big data analytics are enabling real-time financial insights and predictive analytics
- AAK Tele-Science tracks key performance indicators and fund utilization for better growth
- Data transparency allows hands-off approach with clear progress view
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24 Likes
Saastr
7d
199
In-Person Sales Generate 3x Higher Conversions Per The CROs of Toast, Splunk, Brex and Slice
- In-person selling in SaaS remains relevant and often leads to higher conversion rates, as highlighted by top CROs like Toast's Jonathan Vassil, Splunk's Christian Smith, Slice's Loren Padelford, and Brex's CRO emeritus Sam Blond.
- Building trust faster is a key advantage of in-person meetings, particularly emphasized by Splunk's Smith in enterprise sales where relationships play a crucial role.
- Toast's success in closing deals out in the field highlights the effectiveness of in-person interactions, with field sales generating higher conversion rates.
- Vertical SaaS companies like Slice emphasize the importance of trust and relationship-building, showcasing how in-person selling contributes to their significant revenue growth.
- Brex's data-driven approach proves that in-person meetings lead to 3x higher conversion rates, demonstrating the tangible impact of face-to-face interactions on deal closures.
- Utilizing local ecosystems and social proof can further enhance sales efforts, creating network effects and driving referrals, especially in close-knit markets.
- A hybrid approach that combines virtual and in-person selling, tailored to customer preferences, is recommended by CROs to maximize sales effectiveness and adaptability.
- Prioritizing high-value opportunities, investing in field sales, and strategic travel planning are key strategies for leveraging in-person selling in SaaS businesses, as observed in the practices of industry leaders.
- In summary, in-person selling remains a competitive advantage in sales strategies, allowing for trust-building, faster deal closures, and long-lasting customer relationships across various sectors within the SaaS industry.
- Balancing virtual interactions with the power of face-to-face connections is crucial for optimizing sales performance, highlighting the continued relevance and effectiveness of traditional sales approaches in a digital-first world.
- The article advocates for incorporating more in-person selling into sales strategies, as it can lead to tangible improvements in conversion rates, customer trust, and overall sales performance for SaaS companies.
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Funded
7d
178
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10 Proven Strategies to Scale Your Startup After Venture Capital Funding
- Before aggressively scaling, evaluate your business model to ensure it is sustainable.
- Use your VC funding to attract top talent in critical areas such as product development, marketing and sales, customer success, operations, and finance.
- Maintain a strong company culture and leadership vision to attract top talent and keep your team aligned with business goals.
- Enhance your product or service by investing in R&D, gathering customer feedback, and expanding product features or launching new complementary services.
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10 Likes
Siliconangle
7d
166
Image Credit: Siliconangle
Charm Security launches with $8M in funding to tackle AI-driven fraud
- Scam prevention platform startup Charm Security Ltd. has raised $8 million in funding to accelerate product development and expand market reach.
- Charm Security aims to mitigate scam risks by assessing human vulnerability exposure, analyzing customer risk patterns, and delivering tailored mitigation strategies based on psychological insights, data analysis, and artificial intelligence.
- The company adopts a proactive approach to fraud prevention, combining psychological insights, data analysis, and AI to defend against scams before they occur.
- Charm Security's platform provides real-time security insights, personalized recommendations, and verification tools to protect customers and frontline staff during high-risk transactions, reducing scam-related losses and operational costs.
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9 Likes
Medium
7d
257
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The Evolution of Investor Expectations: What Post-Pandemic Start-ups Should Know About Start-up…
- Investor due diligence has intensified post-pandemic with investors prioritizing clear financial records, revenue models, and realistic financial projections.
- Start-ups must showcase a validated business model with real traction and scalability to attract investors for growth.
- Entrepreneurs can attract investors effectively through Start-up Accelerator programs, engaging with angel investors and venture capital fund managers, and leveraging government schemes supporting Start-up Funding in India.
- To secure funding, entrepreneurs must align with changing investor expectations, leverage Start-up Accelerator programs, and refine their fundraising strategies for long-term sustainability and growth.
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15 Likes
Medium
7d
315
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Betting Early, Holding Late: VC’s New Playbook
- The funding stage dynamics are expected to gradually normalize by 2026.
- Early-stage investment will likely remain strong, but those companies will eventually need healthy late-stage markets to fulfill their potential.
- Public equity markets staying receptive and experiencing increased IPO readiness efforts may lead to a virtuous cycle of resumed exits, increased LP distributions, renewed LP commitments, and more capital for new VC funds across all stages.
- However, if exits stall again, the late-stage crunch could persist, risking down-rounds, acquisitions, or shutdowns for many mature startups.
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19 Likes
Medium
7d
95
VC Consolidation in India: A Landscape Redefined by Scale and Strategy
- Established VCs in India are increasing fund sizes to deploy capital across various stages, from early to late-stage investments.
- This shift allows for substantial allocations to growth-stage startups that require significant capital to scale.
- First-time funds rely on carried interest for profits, leading to a competitive, hands-on approach compared to established funds.
- Challenges for first-time funds include fundraising hurdles due to perceived higher risk from lack of track record.
- Divergence in performance exists between top-performing and lower-tier funds in India, impacting access to resources and deal flow.
- Large VCs' bidirectional strategies involve both early and late-stage investments, challenging smaller funds in the market.
- Dominance of large funds raises concerns about reduced diversity in funding landscape, potentially stifling innovation in certain sectors or regions.
- Balanced ecosystem requires collaboration between large and small funds, supported by LP programs and regulatory initiatives.
- The Indian VC industry faces a pivotal moment with power consolidation among established players and emergence of performance-driven first-time funds.
- Adapting to these shifts will be crucial for sustaining a dynamic and innovative VC landscape in India.
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5 Likes
Saastr
7d
286
Dear SaaStr: When Should You Make Your First Finance Hire?
- At $1M–$2M ARR, hire a full-time Director of Finance if you’re growing quickly.
- If you’re pre-revenue or very early, consider part-time help.
- By $10M ARR, you’ll need a full-time VP of Finance.
- Don’t over-hire too early. Especially a “CFO” When You Really Need a VP.
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17 Likes
Insider
7d
54
Image Credit: Insider
Here's an exclusive look at the pitch deck that landed healthcare AI copilot Navina $55 million in funding from Goldman Sachs
- Healthcare startup Navina has raised $55 million in Series C funding led by Goldman Sachs.
- Navina's AI helps 1,300 clinics manage patient data to deliver better care and capture revenue.
- The funding will be used to expand into new markets and enhance its offerings with ambient scribing capabilities.
- Navina's advantage lies in its high physician satisfaction and aim to become profitable in the next two to three years.
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3 Likes
Insider
7d
212
Image Credit: Insider
Investors are in a 'frenzy' to buy secondary shares in Anduril, but good luck getting ahold of shares
- Anduril, a defense tech startup founded by Palmer Luckey, has secured a $642 million contract with the US Marine Corps.
- Secondary shares of Anduril are in high demand, with buyers willing to purchase them at a 63% increase over the past six months, valuing the company at $36.3 billion.
- Investors, including VCs, family offices, and hedge funds, are actively seeking to acquire Anduril shares, leading to a frenzy and limited supply.
- Anduril tightly controls its stock, allowing few secondary transactions. Some buyers are resorting to purchasing stock through special-purpose vehicles (SPVs).
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12 Likes
Saastr
7d
395
From 0 to 1 Billion Meetings: How Otter.ai Built a Bottom-Up AI SaaS Without a Single Sales Rep
- Otter.ai, founded by Sam Liang, has processed over 1 billion meetings and partnered with Zoom for transcription services.
- They offer 600 free transcription minutes monthly, focusing on enterprise penetration with Fortune 500 companies.
- Their strategies include a generous free tier, work email authentication for enterprise data collection, and creating a viral loop in meetings.
- Otter.ai built its own AI infrastructure, enabling sustainable pricing for rapid adoption of its services.
- By focusing on specialized Large Language Models and horizontal-to-vertical strategy, they captured market share effectively.
- Their enterprise strategy involves organic user adoption, tracking usage patterns, leveraging internal champions, and data-driven decision-making.
- Key takeaways for AI SaaS founders include owning infrastructure, creating data-driven flywheels, building natural virality, and using free tier strategically.
- Otter.ai's future involves real-time AI assistance in meetings, reflecting the evolving landscape of AI SaaS with deep vertical specialization.
- Their success lies in patient foundation-building and product-led growth, showcasing the importance of sustainable growth strategies in the AI era.
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23 Likes
Medium
7d
270
Why Most AI Startups Fail — And How to Avoid That Fate
- AI startups often fail by treating AI as a product rather than a solution.
- The biggest mistakes made by founders include lacking a clear monetization strategy and failing to solve a real problem.
- AI products should be easy to adopt for non-tech users and seamlessly fit into existing behavior.
- To build a successful AI startup, focus on solving revenue-driven problems, keeping the user experience frictionless, validating demand, and monetizing from the start.
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