Innovate Charlotte’s Post

Welcome to HERMESA's member of the month, Eda Leka! Q: Tell us about your background and expertise: I have a cross functional background in consumer and retail, initially building operations and brands in traditional brick and mortar settings and later in consumer tech with Amazon and HelloFresh which I joined after finishing my MBA at MIT Sloan School of Management and was part of the scale up journey for 7 years in various leadership roles. I have made 13 angel investments to date and angel investing led me towards consulting and venture partner roles with VC funds & accelerator programs (Carbon13, Pact, Techstars), leveraging my operational expertise to support early stage start-ups. Q: What brought you to angel investing and HERMESA? Having seen the struggles of a startup journey first hand, I know how much support is valued in the early days and wanted to provide that to founders. I read  a book called “Angel” written by Jason Calacanis. It gave me a practical framework on how to go about angel investing. My network led me to an MIT Angels event where I met the first company I invested in - an AI powered precision agriculture company called Deep Planet - alongside HERmesa investors. Q: Any key highlights or learnings on your angel investing journey? I have learned a lot about how to assess early stage deals. I have my frameworks but one key learning is that the founder’s personality and their degree of determination are a big success driver. So I always look for signs of that determination in their past journey and my interactions with them. Another learning is that as an angel, you can’t do it on your own unless it’s a full time job. The time commitment to review enough deals before investing in one (I would say a ratio 10:1 at least) is huge and that’s where angel syndicates can add tremendous value with deal sharing and due diligence. Q: Can you tell us about your investment thesis and some of the companies you have invested in? Coming from the consumer industry, I value tech that can disrupt markets and impact consumer behavior with an accessibility, improvement and inclusion theme. Two examples of portcos with these themes I invested in via Hermesa are Flexa and Code First Girls.  I am also looking to increase my portfolio share in climate tech further (a space where I am currently consulting). Business wise, I prefer B2B software because of scalability and good margins and revenue generating deals, just enough to give me a sense that the company has found product - market fit. Q: What would you say to others who are thinking about becoming angel investors? Get involved! Contrary to popular belief, you can engage with very small tickets and it’s a space where you can really make a difference.  It is a game of numbers so make sure you review 10 -15 times more deals than you invest in which is easier to do through angel syndicates.  Be selective, stick to your investment thesis and diversify, diversify, diversify.

1871 Supply Chain & FoodTech Pitch Showcase & Summit day kicked off with - 🥣 Breakfast— don’t underestimate the power of a convenient AND nourishing meal. - Then launched into a lively Investor Pitch Panel with Marlon Ramirez, Managing Partner at Blue Impact Supply Chain Ventures, Darin Cook, CEO of Pathpoint Labs, and JP Keating Managing Partner at proChain Ventures. - It was their time to pitch (and educate) founders on what it looks like to work with a venture capitalist. - 📣SO OF COURSE I HAD TO ASK A QUESTION. - They all unanimously agreed that as a founder you MUST have great communication skills ( or at least your co-founder). - If you can’t communicate your business, ideas, or yourself well— then it’s too much of a gamble to trust that you can SELL… and isn’t that the bottom line of any business???👀 - Marlon Ramirez of Blue Impact Adventures said it best…“It doesn’t matter how great your technology is if you can’t sell it”. - #voice #pitch #communication #venturecapitslist #impact #flexmindbodyvoice

Authenticity as a Service: A Catalyst for a Better World In today’s fast-paced digital landscape, the concept of "Authenticity as a Service" has emerged as a game-changer, transforming businesses and community interactions. But what does this really mean, and how does it impact our world positively? Let's dive in! 1. Building Trust and Transparency Authenticity has become synonymous with trust. By prioritizing authenticity in services, businesses cultivate transparent relationships with their customers. This trust translates into long-term loyalty, fostering a community where collaboration thrives and superficial barriers are broken down. 2. Fostering Inclusive Cultures Upholding authenticity encourages diverse perspectives and real conversations. When companies embrace authentic practices, they create an inclusive environment where all voices are heard and valued. This openness leads to innovative solutions and cultural enrichment, propelling us towards a more empathetic society. 3. Driving Purposeful Innovation Authenticity fuels genuine passion and creativity. It ignites innovation that is not just about technological advancement but also about meaningful human experiences. Such innovation recognizes societal needs, leading to sustainable solutions that address real-world challenges, positively impacting communities globally. 4. Enhancing Emotional Well-being When individuals and organizations operate authentically, there’s a profound effect on emotional well-being. Authentic interactions reduce stress and create an atmosphere of trust and belonging, ultimately contributing to happier, more engaged teams and societies. 5. Strengthening Community Bonds By practicing authenticity, we cultivate stronger community ties. By being true to our values and encouraging others to do the same, we weave a fabric of mutual respect and understanding that reinforces social cohesion and support systems. As leaders, entrepreneurs, and professionals, embracing authenticity can guide us toward ethical practices and fulfilling experiences. Let’s leverage this powerful concept to not only enrich our businesses but also make a substantial, positive impact on the world. Join the conversation! How does authenticity influence your professional and personal life? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below By : Salem Bagami Chief Executive Officer Digital Transformation Company & Managing Director 2080 Ventures Email: salem@2080.ventures Website: www.2080.ventures - #Authenticity #TrustBuilding #Inclusion #Innovation #Community #LinkedInThoughts #Leadership #etcy #Patagonia #Airbnb #sweetgreen #starseed

IRL Collaboration at the 'Collaborate and Elevate Workshop' at Upstairs Startup Hub & Co-Working space presented by Rex Wood . Key takeaways for me: * Innovation and Fresh Perspectives: Collaborating with other businesses and professionals brings new ideas and solutions to the table, sparking innovation. 🤝💡 * Shared Resources: Partnering up means you can share resources, reduce costs, and leverage each other's strengths. This can lead to more efficient operations. I met some amazing like-minded people who I will definitely stay connected to. * Expanded Network and Reach: Collaboration opens doors to new networks and customer bases. 🌐🤗 Thanks Gerarda Mader and Abbie Borg for the work you do :)

📢 Big News! 🏆 As we celebrate the 25th edition of the Technology Fast 50, we are excited to announce some significant additions to our awards lineup! Introducing three groundbreaking categories that recognize the pioneers shaping our future: Deep-Tech Award 🚀 We’re thrilled to introduce the Deep-Tech Award, celebrating deep-tech startups and scale-ups at the cutting edge of technology. These innovators are driving substantial R&D investments and tackling complex challenges with groundbreaking scientific advancements. Diverse & Inclusive Leadership Award 🌍 We're proud to reveal the Diversity in Leadership Award. This award celebrates companies that excel in embedding diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) into their core culture. We believe that diverse teams are not just a checkbox but a powerhouse for creativity, innovation, and resilience. Sustainability Pioneer Award 🌱 Introducing the Sustainability Pioneer Award, recognizing scale-ups that are making a significant impact on the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through innovative business models. 📢 Sign up via the link in the comments! #Fast50 #25Years #TechnologyFast50 #DeepTech #DEI #Sustainability #Innovation #Startups #Scaleups Rob de Leeuw Marieke 't Hart Taissa Conde Sofie van Eeden Chantal Heuwekemeijer Alexandra Blaisse Yvonne Tang Jan-Piet Nelissen Jordan Bish Frits Klaver Sterre Burgers Jason Jie

From tech to traditional arts, do you have an idea that could make a big impact? Tell us in the comments below! #AnnaIncubator #InnovateIncubateImpact #StartupResources #ScaleYourStartup #BusinessGrowth #NetworkForSuccess #EntrepreneurialSuccess

Check out this episode of Travel Tech Insider, hosted by our friends Cara Whitehill and Gilad Berenstein and featuring Gaurav Tuli alongside Suzanna Chiu and Katelyn Foley. In it, the team breaks down the many paths available to travel tech entrepreneurs and operators within the current market: - What, if anything, has changed for the ecosystem in the past year? - Are we bullish or bearish on where the innovation market is heading for travel, hospitality and mobility? - If you’re a startup in this space, how should you be thinking about fundraising now? - And if you’re heading up innovation within a corporate enterprise, how can you best capitalize on the new ideas coming to market so you don’t get left behind?

💡 $480B: That's the projected value of the creator economy by 2027, and we're already ahead of the curve. At #LATechWeek, our strategic vision came to life through two power-packed sessions: Vanessa took the stage and mapped out how creator-led commerce is transforming traditional retail channels. With 64% of consumers making direct purchases through creator recommendations, we're backing the infrastructure making this possible. Our portfolio company, Bump, hosted the event. We co-hosted a breakfast with Forum Ventures, where Alexis D. joined the panel "Accelerators as a Funding Pathway." The panel explored how funding from accelerators shapes companies and what investors look for post-accelerator. The next wave of commerce enablement will be built by diverse founders who understand both technology infrastructure and creator dynamics. While others talk about the creator economy, we're building the infrastructure that powers it. #CreatorEconomy #VC #CommerceEnablement #LATechWeek #Innovation #DiverseFounders #VentureCapital #Bump #CapitalizeVC #StartupFunding

🌟 We are at START Summit 2024 in St Gallen🌟 🌍 Are you passionate about driving change towards a more circular future? Join us at our stand today and tomorrow at START Summit in St. Gallen, next to the Forbes Stage 🚀 Come by and have a chat about: 🔄 ways of shifting our economy from linear to circular 🌱 opportunities to join our passionate team in Berlin 🤝 partnering up and building new business models together Let's shape a more sustainable tomorrow together! Drop by our stand to learn more about Minimise and how you can be a part of the circular revolution. See you there! 👋 #STARTSummit #CircularEconomy #Impact Stefan de Linde Anton Kriener Marlen Heske

We are thrilled to announce the closing of our Seed Round led by The Sondergaard Group, joined by 13 Harvard Business School Alumni angel investors in over 6 countries. The early support from these esteemed investors has been pivotal in propelling our journey. With their unwavering backing, InnovationForce is on its mission to democratize innovation and address some of the world's most pressing issues, from energy and infrastructure and beyond. "We were excited to invest because we liked the founding team's combination of entrepreneurialism led by CEO Kim Getgen, who teamed up with her Harvard Business School professor Dr. Linda Hill, a world-renowned expert in innovation who has one of the largest validated innovation data sets on innovation culture data amassed after 20 years of research," said Peter Sondergaard of The Sondergaard Group. "This data is the perfect source for their AI engine to build a competitive moat around their SaaS platform and disrupt an innovation management market projected to hit $6 billion by 2030." Read the press release: https://lnkd.in/gXpApgxh If you are interested in learning more or participating as an investor in a future round, contact us https://lnkd.in/gfyeP7pM Amanda Freick, Tim Clark, Corey Engel, Sofie Fyrand, Cheryl Whaley, Federico Jimeno, Dr. Linda Hill, Larry Orrel, Krishna Kallakuri, Rob Rollingson, Cheryl Smith, Kim Crespin, Oscar A. Montes Mayorga, Melf Kruse, Jason Wild, Martin Flusberg, Steven Desrochers, Husain Al-Badry, Peter Sondergaard, Sanjay Mundra, Michael Ku, Joseph Germain, Ani Kharajian, Paradox Strategies, Taran Swan