T. Luke Sherwin

The #VentureStudio community is thriving and when two leaders from different studios get together it is always going to be a great conversation. This podcast is huge as two brilliant Venture Studio leaders Barry O'Reilly from Nobody Studios and Ben Yoskovitz from Highline Beta join to unpack the innovative world of venture studios and uncover the strategies that make startups thrive. In this episode, you will learn: 📈 The fundamentals of creating and scaling a venture studio 🛠️ Strategies for innovating with accelerators, incubators, and venture capital 💡 How to apply Lean Startup principles to build products people actually want 🤝 The importance of collaboration between founders, corporate partners, and investors 🔄 Insights into the specialization and future trends of venture studios Take a listen and learn from two masters.

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I spend a lot of time discussing #VentureStudios — often these are #investors (#angels, #LP's, #VC's, and #FamilyOffices), current and aspiring studio operators, and #startup #founders curious about how being part of a studio might benefit them. This is a relatively new asset class, so many of the questions I get come down to understanding the studio model itself (e.g., what exactly is—and isn’t—a studio). For me, the simplest way to explain it is this: a venture studio is a company that builds companies. They typically serve as founding or cofounding entities. While #incubators and #accelerators can offer similar support, they tend to work with businesses that are already up and running. What sets studios apart is their involvement from the very start.

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From Inventing the Swipe to Shaping the New Future of Connection, Christopher Gulczynski. I had the incredible opportunity to sit down with the co-founder of Tinder and co-creator of Bumble—the visionary who brought the "swipe" to the world. 🚀 In our latest episode, we journeyed back to the early days when a simple idea transformed how millions romantically connect. We discussed: - The Genesis of Tinder & the Swipe: The story behind one of the most iconic features in mobile app history. - The Societal Impact of Dating Apps: How technology shapes our connections and the unintended consequences that come with it. - Building Bumble: Addressing societal challenges and empowering women to make the first move. - The Evolution of Connection: The recent shift from online to IRL experiences and what that means for the future. - What's Next: A sneak peek into what Chris is building now—something that could redefine how we connect. We also touch on algorithmic fairness, ethics, and diversity/inclusion. If you're interested in the past, present, and future of how humans connect - not to mention all the eye-opening facts and insightful tips - this is a conversation you won't want to miss. Thanks for making this happen Amrapali Gan https://lnkd.in/eD7nWPdy

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The David vs. Golias #FundRaising battle 🤺: Despite a tough fundraising environment for newcomers, established funds are thriving. The latest PitchBook-NVCA Venture Monitor reveals that experienced firms continue to raise significant capital, showcasing their enduring confidence and proven track records. Emerging managers, capturing only 23% of fund value YTD, face a challenging landscape but show promise with innovative strategies. The funding gap between established and emerging managers is widening, favoring larger funds over $400M and $500M. Checkout below for details. #VentureCapital #mergerandacquisitions #StartupFunding #EmergingManagers #EstablishedFunds #InvestmentTrends André Thiollier

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Excited for DCVC portfolio co Alta Resource Technologies to emerge from stealth! The design space of biology is many orders of magnitude larger than inorganic chemistry, and Alta uses it to massively reduce the cost of extracting rare earth metals. https://lnkd.in/g_q5UwRF

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Ray Kurzweil's 2005 seminal book "The Singularity Is Near" predicted that in 2045, computers would become smarter and more capable than humans, His new book "The Singularity Is Nearer: When We Merge with AI" jumpstarts this timeline, forecasting that 2029 is the point when humans will reach longevity and escape velocity. Learn more about this concept of escape velocity when "The Singularity is Nearer" hits bookshelves on Tuesday, June 25. But if you can't wait that long to hear his insights on the future, then watch the video of Kurzweil's on-stage conversation with Nick Thomson of the Atlantic from SXSW 2024. https://lnkd.in/geyVkvyV How soon do you think artificial intelligence will meaningfully change human lifespans? What indications are you seeing in 2024 that confirm 2029 will be a major tipping point for our species? Or do you disagree with the entire premise of the singularity? Your thoughts on this topic belong in the PanelPicker! This interface opens for speaking proposals for SXSW 2025 on June 25 (the same day as the Kurzweil release). The speaking proposal entry window closes at the end of the day on Sunday, July 21. Click on the link below for more information on the PanelPicker. panelpicker.sxsw.com/about #sxsw, #sxsw2024, #sxsw2025, #MarchMagic, #PanelPicker, Ray Kurzweil, Kurzweil Technologies Inc., Nicholas Thompson, #singularity, #artificialintelligence, #ai, #future, #tomorrow, #escapevelocity, #lifeextension, #longevity, #creative, #innovation, #Austin, #speakignproposals, #books, The Atlantic, Singularity University

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Now live: Part 3 of of our monthly blog series spotlighting Web3 x AI - "The Web3 AI Cults." My colleague, Abdul Al Ali, delves into the rise of AI-driven communities and tokens, highlighting how blockchain infrastructure is enabling co-ownership, creativity, and cultural movements. This infrastructure is funding application and use case ideas at the forefront of bringing AI agents to the mainstream. Why read this now? - AI and blockchain are unlocking durable use cases at scale. From tokenized creativity to autonomous transactions, this piece offers a strategic look at the technologies and narratives driving the next wave of adoption. Explore the story of Truth Terminal, a chatbot turned cultural icon, and its impact on token narratives like $GOAT, $OMEGA, and $LUNA. Abdul breaks down how these AI agents are creating aligned communities, reshaping token economies, and pioneering decentralized innovations that blur the lines between technology and culture.

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Keep an eye on Rembrand, a digital platform using AI to add virtual product placement into videos. They just raised $23 million from savvy investors like Tom Chavez and others. The concept is relatively simple and has been around for a while, but the company is definitely getting some traction. Rembrand began with YouTube and expanded to LinkedIn, TikTok and Instagram. They’ve also worked with about 20 brands including those under PepsiCo, L'Oréal, and Amazon. The company is led by CEO Omar Tawakol, who has great startup experience. He sold data management platform BlueKai to Oracle in 2014 and voice collaboration platform Voicea to Cisco in 2019. It’s another intriguing use of AI and video, and it gives advertisers another weapon in their arsenal as they monetize content. What other uses of AI advertising have you seen that impresses you?

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Data security safety concerns with using GenAI: Vets BEWARE Any, in fact ALL, #veterinary #clinicians using any #LLM large language models #AI for any part of clinical work (this includes scribing software) need to be aware of this. If models can memorise and regurgitate copyrighted information, they sure as hell can do the same with confidential medical information and owner personal information. Before you use any software, find out what happens to the data you give it!

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Getting to know the entrepreneur before investing into their idea. Check out the full interview with Fred Wang. A Venture Capitalist out of Adams Street Partners. Fred Wang YouTube: https://lnkd.in/ef6BjQQg Spotify: https://lnkd.in/ekAH-V6J Apple Podcast: https://lnkd.in/exQs4yXe Subscribe on YouTube | Follow & Rate on Spotify | Follow & Review on Apple Podcast | #highvaluediscussions #podcast #entrepreneurship #business #venturecapitalist #investing #financialliteracy #mindset #innovation #tech #technology

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Stepping into adjacent containers, digital, physical, magical to just, oh I don't know, keep it spicy. "Seira, a series of digital video artworks, is a synthesis of modern day technology and the yearning for profound human experiences. Utilizing TouchDesigner, AI software, code, and my original designs, I explore the intersection of the digital and the organic– drawing inspiration from technoromanticism, ancient Greek sirens, and synesthesia.   At its heart, this series is an exploration of the complex relationship between death and _l'appel du vide_—the call of the void. This psychological phenomenon, which tempts humans with the allure of self-destruction, is mirrored in the ancient myth of the sirens. The siren's song, like the void, is a lure that challenges us to confront our deepest impulses—the pull towards oblivion and the simultaneous yearning for transcendence. I intentionally draw a parallel between _l'appel du vide_ and the siren’s call, as both are manifestations of our intrinsic fascination with the unknown, with that which lies beyond the boundaries of safety and rationality." Seirá, Meditations on l'appel du vide (2024) by Neesh Chaudhary https://lnkd.in/gDm_3KTS

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Big news for Rewardable and the future of engagement marketing! 🤖✨ We’re excited to announce that Rewardable has integrated Coinbase’s AgentKit to automate task creation, verification, and fraud detection on our platform. This cutting-edge AI technology will help streamline operations and ensure efficiency, transparency, and security for users and the brands we work with. By leveraging AgentKit and its seamless integration with the Base chain, Rewardable continues to push the boundaries of AI-driven engagement marketing. https://lnkd.in/d2Ap_ZR4

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Wonderful article about Emily Knight and the whole The Engine Accelerator team on the amazing work their doing changing the world with #ToughTech!

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As startup founders navigate the challenges of building a business, prioritizing their mental health is not only essential for their well-being but also for the long-term success of their company and the broader community. At CultureSpeed Communications, we’re proud to partner with the Founder Mental Health Pledge to help bring this crucial conversation to the forefront and support founders in prioritizing their mental health as a key business responsibility.

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At Costanoa Ventures, we pride ourselves on identifying and supporting exceptional founders poised to create impactful, lasting change. Hona is a shining example, driven by a trio of extremely talented founders: Manny Griffiths, Joshua Christensen, and Matt McClellan. They each bring unique, differentiated expertise to the table, and Amy Cheetham and I are extremely excited to partner with them. There are approximately 450,000 law firms in the United States, with half of those firms being B2C - think personal injury, mass tort, or immigration law as opposed to BigLaw. One of the reasons we love how Hona is tackling this market is their focus on B2C law firms and product excellence - B2B firms are historically difficult to sell brand new software products into, but B2C firms are completely different buyers. Oftentimes there's just a handful of lawyers and paralegals in a partnership, and any piece of technology they can use to give them an edge would be valuable. 44% of negative Google reviews on law firms directly reference poor communication as the reason for a negative experience, and the number 1 reason for Attorney Bar complaints in the U.S. is "lack of communication". On the lawyer's side, attorneys, paralegals and legal assistants spend an average of 7.4 hours per week on unnecessary updates, redundant communication, and activities that aren't directly contributing towards getting a client's case solved. Manny and the team at Hona are working to change all of that. Hona delivers a tightly-integrated communications platform to help facilitate better communication between law firms and their clients. During legal proceedings, client communications tend to be a large resource-stressor for law firms. Clients will frequently call firms for case updates, legal explanations, or general administrative questions that tend to eat away at firm resources without providing any additional progress toward case resolution. Hona exists to ease that burden - it’s a platform that allows law firms to efficiently communicate with their clients over text, easily build customizable web pages and embed videos, and share information on case status and basic legal process education. This crucial communication processes allow attorneys to focus on their job – moving cases forward, while keeping their clients informed and educated. If you're a lawyer dealing with these problems - don't hesitate to reach out to us or the Hona team! It's a privilege to work with Hona on this journey. The company has been growing at a rapid pace, and they're delivering meaningful technology to help people get through legal proceedings in a much more fluid, transparent, and easy process. Manny, Joshua, and Matt are exceptional founders whose combined skills and dedication to continuous learning position them perfectly to lead Hona to success. They're just getting started, and we can't wait to see what they'll achieve.

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