🚀Encore Venture Labs Welcomes Carrie Murphy as our third Entrepreneur-in-Residence! Carrie brings over 15 years of experience in talent development, executive search, and workforce innovation: qualities that align with EVL’s mission to connect Cleveland’s industrial heritage with its future. After launching the careers of over 1,500 young entrepreneurs through Venture for America and working with transformative organizations from Goldman Sachs to Vertical Knowledge, Carrie has seen firsthand the impact of putting the right talent in the right roles. Her extensive background in building teams and scaling innovative ventures will be invaluable as we dive into Industry 4.0 talent challenges and work toward Cleveland’s reindustrialization. A few highlights about Carrie: • 15+ years in talent development, guiding high-impact recruitment at firms such as Daversa Partners and Goldman Sachs. • CEO of Venture For America, where she empowered young entrepreneurs and grew their careers across America. • Deep passion for building a 21st-century talent pipeline that drives transformative change in Cleveland and beyond. We’re excited to see the value Carrie will bring to Encore’s vision of fostering innovation and growth in key industries that will redefine Cleveland's role on a global stage.  Join us in welcoming Carrie to the Encore Venture Labs family! #EncoreVentureLabs #EntrepreneurInResidence #Innovation #Reindustrialization #TalentDevelopment #Cleveland

Did you know these facts about women-led businesses? Between 2012 and 2019 women-owned business grew by 16.7% in comparison to 5.2% for male-owned... And, business with diverse executive teams are 25% more likely to be highly profitable. Furthermore, research shows that only around 13% of venture capital dollars go to startup with a woman on the founding team. Learn more at https://lnkd.in/gBtqDK5E #womenledbusiness #womenownedbusiness #topperformance

Another edition of VCs Doing Work: Slauson & Co. 🎉Congrats to raising $100M for your second fund continuing your mission to make a difference!🎉 Wait... What and who is Slauson and Co? Slauson & Co. is a Los Angeles-based venture capital firm focused on early-stage technology investments, founded by Austin Clements and Ajay Relan. The firm's mission centers on economic inclusion and democratizing access to entrepreneurship for underrepresented founders. Slauson & Co. primarily invests in: Preseed and seed SMB Tech (tools supporting small and medium businesses) Consumer technology The firm typically writes checks between $500,000 and $2 million, aiming to lead most rounds. Since its launch in 2020, Slauson & Co. has made significant strides: Raised a $75 million Fund I, exceeding its initial $50 million target Backed 38 companies, with a majority led by people of color and at least half by women Recently closed a $100 million Fund II, demonstrating continued investor interest in their inclusive approach The firm has garnered support from prominent investors and organizations, including: PayPal Ron Conway (veteran technology investor) Ashton Kutcher will.i.am True Capital Management Alpaca VC Slauson & Co. is just getting started! If you think you have a startup that fits their thesis and stage, reach out! #diversity #inclusion #venturecapital #consumer #smb Brittany Crockett #longla #losangeles #celebration #vcsdoingwork

This weekend, I had the privilege of speaking on a panel at the Texas Venture Forum alongside industry leaders in IPOs, Private Equity, and successful founders. We discussed the current Exit landscape for technology companies and offered practical insights on how to create liquidity for startups. One of the key takeaways is that performance alone is not enough to architect a great outcome for your venture. With IPOs being scarce, Private Equity firms and Corporate/Strategic buyers are best positioned to create exits. But what does a Founder or CEO do? At Growth Warrior Capital, we believe that founders must build their companies with an eye towards creating the greatest enterprise value. To help with this, over the month of April, my team will share a detailed report on Exit trends and I will share a set of videos that answer founders’ most pressing questions on becoming growth-ready CEOs. As Seed and series A investors, we understand the importance of building companies with an eye towards creating enterprise value. If you have questions on your mind, drop them in the comments below and we can connect on LinkedIn.

As we reflect on the impact of Latino/Hispanic businesses leading innovation, these trailblazers are breaking barriers, redefining industries, and setting new standards for success. Let’s honor these visionaries in our Business Spotlight: Chingona Ventures: Investing in the Next Generation of Bold Founders Based in Chicago, Chingona Ventures is an early-stage venture capital firm that invests in founders uniquely positioned to build businesses in overlooked markets. Founded by @Samara Mejia Hernandez in 2019, Chingona Ventures is committed to supporting pre-seed and seed-stage companies, even at the idea stage. With initial investments ranging from $100k to $250k, they partner with founders at the earliest stages of development and help catalyze larger rounds. Chingona Ventures focuses on businesses that cater to the growing generational and demographic shifts in the U.S., revolutionizing how consumers spend, manage their health, and engage with society. With a passion for driving change, the Chingona team is reshaping the venture capital landscape by empowering the next generation of innovative founders. 🌟 Reach out to have your business featured in MBR #business #spotlight #latino #entrepreneur #innovation #hispanic #technology #mbr #minoritybusinessreview

A ticket in an early stage startup can change the world🌍 Re-introducing ... "The Amela Investors Network 💵" If you identify yourself as a trusted ally to woman founders, who would love to trigger growth for amazing women founders, we are looking for you! Join our Investors Network as an Angel or a VC. You will be asked a few questions in order to understand how to better match you with one of our 240 founders of software driven startups across 14 countries and in two geos: Latam and Europe. Apply here👇 https://bit.ly/amelajoin #womenfounderecosystem #womenfounders #amela #investornetwork p.s.: you can bring visibility to this post by replying 🙌 in the comments

Thrilled to have met the remarkable Jesse Draper, Founder of Halogen Ventures yesterday. 🌟 It was inspiring to hear Jesse Draper speak about her unwavering commitment to unlocking doors for female founders! This resonates deeply with me and countless others who dream of making a mark in the entrepreneurial world. Her vision for a more inclusive and equitable venture capital landscape is not just aspirational; it’s a reality she’s building every day. Through Halogen Ventures, she has become a source of strength for women entrepreneurs, proving that they can scale their businesses to new heights with the right support. 🚀 Currently female founders are securing only 2% of Venture Capital, which has decreased in the past few years. Jesse’s belief in the power of female-led companies to disrupt industries and create innovative solutions reminds us of the untapped potential waiting to be unleashed. Let’s celebrate and support the trailblazers like Jesse Draper, who make the entrepreneurial journey accessible and successful for women everywhere! As a startup advisor, I am eager to connect with like-minded entrepreneurs and investors passionate about making a difference and looking to scale at speed! Let's connect if you're a founder looking for guidance or an investor keen on supporting transformative startups! Here’s to more doors opening, more dreams realized, and a future where diversity in leadership becomes the norm. Alicia Long Susan Smederovac-Wilcox Ama Amo-Agyei Elizabeth Muller Laurel Orley Sabah Ashraf Mara Smith Ashi Mitha Lauren Oakes Catherine Burke Melinda Kirk Stenger Liz Firgeleski Julie Williamson, PhD Sheryn Saab Katie Demo Mariam Parineh Sarah Shadonix Olivia Mihaljevic Lilit Apelian, M.A. Olfa Turki, CPA, CA Bethany Gaddy Fiona Kesby - GoTeam #Leadership #VentureCapital #WomenInTech #Inspiration #HalogenVentures #femalevcisnotacharity

I'm a huge fan of a good AMA (Ask Me Anything) session for key insights, and a chance to get a unique perspective from industry leaders. And that's exactly what I got when I joined "Demystifying Startup Fundraising in 2024: An AMA" with Vinnie Lauria of GGV Capital Asia, who was in the hot seat for over an hour. With too many takeaways to list, here's a few standouts for me: - #sophisticatedinvestors should consider spending time on the ground to understand potential and risks in new markets - The CEO / #investor relationship is key, and the roles of each should be defined at the point of investment - As a #founder, don't be scared to do Due Diligence on a potential investor - both the partner, and the firm - When a "no" becomes a "yes" with a VC, the startup has articulated a new proof point or angle. Keep your networks informed of your company progress for future funding discussions There's so much potential and activity across Australia, and SE Asia, and it's always great to learn more about ecosystems other than your own 🙌

I recently chatted with Lisa Lewin, partner at Primary Venture Partners. We talked about diversity in venture capital, the rapid growth of New York City as a tech hub, and the #1 reason early-stage companies fail. Here’s what I learned from our conversation: 1. ❤️🔥 Be more in love with your customer’s problem than with your product.  - The biggest reason early-stage companies fail according to Lisa: “They have so lovingly created a beautiful product that nobody wants to buy.” - If you don’t know what your customer wants, go talk to them. Now! - Tape this on your bathroom mirror: “What problem am I trying to solve today AND for who?” 2. ✂️ Successful founders are cut from the same cloth. - Lisa shared with me the three things founders who’ve received investment from Primary have in common: - A track record of previous achievement. - Demonstrated hustle and grit. - The desire to be part of a startup and buy-in to that culture. 3. 👯 Surround yourself with quality people. - Find friends who promote virtuous cycles of encouragement and sharpening in your life. - Do the people around you dare you to think bigger? - How to know if you’re surrounding yourself with good people: Ask yourself—when those around me offer me advice, do I take it seriously? Do I respect it? Check out the full interview here: https://lnkd.in/gZDse5Aw

Our Ladies Who Logistic monthly meetup this week will feature Maia Benson talking about Angel Investing 101. Companies founded by women receive only 2% of all VC investments - doing our part to narrow this gap! Tag #womeninsupplychain who would benefit from this session!