Caitlin V.

🎙️🚨 Podcast alert: General Partner Joseph F. joined CJ Gustafson on Run the Numbers to talk about our Beyond Benchmarks report, the best SaaS metrics, Waymo, Zuck, Llama, and much more; a fun episode that will make you smarter. Listen here:

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🚀 Check out this week's venture capital investment summary (10 featured companies!) spanning early & growth-stage US based Environmental Technology & Enterprise Software startups! 🎯 Every Monday, the team here at Bearhug Recruiting aggregates, researches, and publishes a recap of the prior week's fundraising activity within the early and growth-stage Environmental Technology & Enterprise Software startup ecosystem. 🌎 This research not only allows us to keep our finger on the pulse of the type of startups we serve, but also benefits others who, like us, enjoy analyzing the latest trends that signal investor confidence AND startup growth within what we believe are the most exciting and impactful market segments. ❤️ We also hope the people and companies we feature enjoy both a virtual fist bump from the team at Bearhug, plus benefit from some additional free market exposure to amplify their mission. Click the link below to get caught up, and make sure you reach out to any that are interesting/relevant that you might be able to help! 💥 Link: https://lnkd.in/e25erSgb 👈 #TraceAir #Sagetap #RainAI #KintsugiAI #MavenAGI #Plenful #Wavelogix #ClarosTechnologies #SmartPM #ReibusInternational #BearhugRecruiting #EnvironmentalTechnology #Sustainability #ClimateTech #CleanTech #DeepTech #FrontierTech #IndustrialAutomation #EnergyTech #ArtificialIntelligence #EnterpriseSoftware #StartupFunding #Startup #Entrepreneur #Entrepreneurship #Startups #Funding #StartupNews #VentureCapital #Technology

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🚀 Ready to take your VC and PE investment strategy to the next level? Our latest blog dives into the top five metrics that every savvy investor should be tracking in quarterly reports. From Revenue Growth Rate to Net Dollar Retention, these insights will help you make smarter decisions and maximize your returns. Don't miss out on these key performance indicators—your portfolio companies will thank you! 📊💼 https://lnkd.in/gNPE6prj #VentureCapital #PrivateEquity #InvestmentStrategy #BusinessGrowth #FinancialMetrics

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After the first deep dive discussion w/ founders I often hear a comment "I wish I had heard about this alternative [to all-in must-become-a-unicorn] way to build a startup earlier as I have wasted years in pursuing the wrong thing". Our mission is that no founder would ever need to say that again as it is such a waste. Us preaching the gospel 1:1 just doesn't scale, hence we use mass media to multiply our efforts - that's how Gorillacast came to be. The 1st episode is out, featuring yours truly. "How can you know what food you like unless you taste everything" said a chef. How can founders make informed choices about the best strategy for them to follow unless they know of all alternatives? This might not be of interest to you but pls spread the word so that the founders who should hear it can find it. I have a dream!

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📊 Exploring SaaS financing? Don’t miss the founder and CEO of Bigfoot Capital Brian Parks’ latest episode on the Scale Your SaaS, where he tackles the topic of debt vs. equity financing for SaaS companies. Brian offers expert insights into the pros and cons of each approach, helping you navigate your options and make the best choice for scaling your SaaS business. Brian’s analysis and expertise shines a light on how SaaS companies can make strategic financial decisions to fuel growth. Listen here: https://buff.ly/3AWv52Q . . . . #SaaSFinancing #DebtVsEquity #BrianParks #MattWolach #ScaleYourSaaS #BCPR #FinancialStrategy

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🚀 Check out this week's venture capital investment summary (11 featured companies!) spanning early & growth-stage US based Environmental Technology & Enterprise Software startups! 🎯 Every Monday, the team here at Bearhug Recruiting aggregates, researches, and publishes a recap of the prior week's fundraising activity within the early and growth-stage Environmental Technology & Enterprise Software startup ecosystem. 🌎 This research not only allows us to keep our finger on the pulse of the type of startups we serve, but also benefits others who, like us, enjoy analyzing the latest trends that signal investor confidence AND startup growth within what we believe are the most exciting and impactful market segments. ❤️ We also hope the people and companies we feature enjoy both a virtual fist bump from the team at Bearhug, plus benefit from some additional free market exposure to amplify their mission. Click the link below to get caught up, and make sure you reach out to any that are interesting/relevant that you might be able to help! 💥 Link: https://lnkd.in/da6hY3Rm 👈 #CajuAI #WindBorne #Xcimer #SiTration #RisingTeam #Whizz #OneScreen #HyperSpectral #Understory #Sixfold #Tobiko #BearhugRecruiting #EnvironmentalTechnology #Sustainability #ClimateTech #CleanTech #DeepTech #FrontierTech #IndustrialAutomation #EnergyTech #ArtificialIntelligence #EnterpriseSoftware #StartupFunding #Startup #Entrepreneur #Entrepreneurship #Startups #Funding #StartupNews #VentureCapital #Technology

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The secret—if it ever was one—is out on private equity fondness for vertical software. While PE-backed acquisitions were down 50%+ from a peak in 2021, vertical buyouts have continued to grow, and the fervor seems to be gaining steam. In today’s essay, we will pose an answer to one question: is PE a viable path to exit for a venture-backed startup?

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Here’s what a sub-30-day due diligence process looks like for XO Capital, a micro private equity firm that buys and operates SaaS businesses with $10k to $40k in MRR. –Assess the customer pool. If the product has a single purpose or application and at least 100 customers paying a small monthly fee, it’s a potential fit. –Identify your best growth channel. Find the easiest growth lever to pull—whether that’s social media, paid ads, etc.—and make a plan to double down on it. –Dig into technical quality. If the tech stack is familiar to existing development resources, it’s easier to improve and maintain the solution. Dive into more ways to assess potential micro-investments in this episode of the podcast --> https://lnkd.in/e_5K6VZp

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California, USA based Maven Ventures recently raised for its new fund. 💸 $60M, Fund IV 💡 Investing in emerging #consumertech across key focus areas including (i) #artificialintelligence (ii) personalised #healthcare (iii) #climate and #sustainability (iv) future of families and (v) #Fintech. Maven makes only 6-8 core investments each year, with an average investment size falls between $1mn and $1.5mn, typically at the #seedstage. 🌍 Global 📈 Since 2013, Maven has achieved 3 IPOs, 10 acquisitions, and 7 unicorns across roughly 50 investments. Current portfolio investments include Class, Wealthfront, Carrot Fertility, QuitCarbon, Medeloop, among others. 💭 “We have a highly concentrated strategy, with a small team of investors building and supporting a select portfolio of consumer software start-ups.” – Maven Ventures 🗞️by Vivek Chhetri Tech Funding News https://lnkd.in/dT79kWhM 👏 For the #AudaciousInvestors unleashing innovation and empowering tomorrow🚀Jim I Sara I Robert I Annaka I Kelly I Nick I Team Maven … #venturecapital #vc #funds #startups #entrepreneurs #funding #tech #usa #entrepreneurship #technology #innovation #venture #fund

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🚨 Masterclass Recap: Unlocking the Power of Dynamic Pricing 🚨 Yesterday, Drew Marconi, CEO of Intelligems, shared game-changing insights on dynamic pricing. Here are 3 🔑 takeaways: 💡 What is Dynamic Pricing? Dynamic pricing adjusts prices automatically based on time or customer segments, aligning closer to willingness to pay to maximize revenue. 💥 The Variety of Dynamic Pricing Methods Drew explored various ways to implement dynamic pricing: usage-based, time-based, discounts, surcharges, and more—making pricing feel VERY dynamic, even with rules. 🔧 When and How to Apply Dynamic Pricing Drew shared actionable tips on setting objectives, understanding inputs, and building systems to effectively implement dynamic pricing. If you want to watch this masterclass + download the slides (and gain access to 17 other pre-recorded masterclasses), join The Cube—our free exclusive pricing community for SaaS leaders 👉 https://lnkd.in/eZYNEwge #DynamicPricing #Pricing #Masterclass #PricingStrategy #Intelligems

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Venture debt volume is on pace for a record year as high-growth companies navigate the current #VC investment environment. With equity becoming more expensive, venture debt has proven to be a useful tool for late-stage #startups looking to fuel growth and extend their runway. Check out this new article from SVB’s Mike Devery + Kyle Larrabee for a quick overview of recent venture debt trends and tips on how to size a debt facility for your company: https://lnkd.in/gf7F2gbn

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Want to know what metrics venture capitalists really care about? Aumni's latest analysis dives into 10,000+ data points from portfolio companies at all stages. Here's what we uncovered: 1️⃣ Revenue, net burn rate, FT headcount, and gross margin are the hottest metrics. 2️⃣ Most VCs request 6-9 specific metrics per quarter from each portfolio company. 3️⃣ Cash is king in the early stages but loses its throne as companies grow. 4️⃣ Operational metrics dominate at Series D+, taking up half of the top ten. Key insights: - Cash-on-hand and cash runway plummet in importance from a combined ranking of 3.5 in the seed stage to barely making the top ten by Series D+. - Metrics spotlighting operational efficiency, like gross margin, total OpEx, EBIT, bookings, and debt balance, become crucial as startups scale. ----- Follow All Chance to learn from more innovative insights.

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Vertical SaaS has been and will continue to be a high priority area for investors. Our latest blog kicks off a series of interviews with private equity leaders, diving deep into their strategies for success in vSaaS and payments. Thanks to Sohum Daftary and Doug Nelson of Long Ridge Equity Partners, a firm that has partnered with high-growth tech companies since 2007, for their insights. ➡ Common SaaS Misconceptions: It’s not as simple as embedding Stripe and moving on. Effective payments strategies require specialized teams and thoughtful design. ➡ Sales Complexity: Payments revenue is transaction-driven, adding layers of integration and compliance that differ significantly from traditional SaaS. ➡ Embedded Payments vs. Lending: Both models present unique challenges, but embedded payments stand out for economic scalability and customer retention. Check out the full blog for more on how Long Ridge is navigating this evolving landscape and supporting portfolio companies in optimizing their payments models. #VSaaS #EmbeddedPayments #Investing #LongRidge https://lnkd.in/gcPyinTw

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We recently discussed the evolving focus on profitability and operational efficiency in KPI frameworks with Eli Wolfson, Senior Associate at Moneta Ventures, and James Chan, CPA, experienced venture CFO. Wolfson notes a shift towards profitability, stating, “We’ve definitely seen that shift in emphasis to focus on profitability. I don’t think we’ll ever move away from revenue being the core driver. But in the picture of all the other metrics, and in the context of the company, that’s where the focus has really shifted.” Chan adds, “We’re definitely looking at the burn multiple more now.” Learn more about their perspectives and strategies here: https://lnkd.in/e2rUgmsY 

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If you aren't remotely in venture capital or private equity this article will literally put you to sleep, so read it at bedtime instead of taking a melatonin. It's a little less soporific if you *are* in VC or PE, and it sums up nicely why Foresight is the operating system for the private market. https://lnkd.in/eGdRBMm8

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Well-written and sourced article describing what's going in seed-stage venture market. At 9point8 Collective we tend to orbit the seed-stage (both ideating and developing companies to reach seed and helping post-seed companies refactor and scale in anticipation of A) and for many companies it's a critical inflection point which determines their long term success or failure. The main takeaways I was able to gather: 1️⃣ Many startups that raised seed rounds in 2021-2022 are struggling to secure Series A funding due to tighter market conditions and increased investor expectations. 2️⃣ Seed investors are becoming more cautious, leading to longer diligence processes and a preference for startups with strong traction or experienced founders. As a result, valuations have stayed relatively high even as deal flow reduces. 3️⃣ Startups are adopting various strategies to navigate this challenging environment, including cutting costs, raising bridge rounds or convertible notes, and M&A/acqui-hires. 4️⃣ Despite the challenges, there are opportunities for both startups and investors in this new landscape, particularly for those who can adapt to the changing market conditions. Investors are accumulating dry powder -- and with rates on the decline -- will be looking to deploy into companies with stronger fundamentals than their 2021-2022 counterparts.

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Welcoming Carta's Peter Walker to Above Board. In our conversation, we talk about Carta's data from over 45,000 startups and Peter shares thoughts on: Why founders should understand the VC model in order to have realistic expectations around their VC conversations How (and why) founders can better structure advisor agreements Why VC's should be ensuring that their data points are up-to-date with the market The half life of data and when to be revisiting employee equity grants https://lnkd.in/gSqe_ifa

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As a B2B SaaS VC 👩‍💻 and a huge data nerd 🤓, fewer things bring me more joy than a truly statistically significant analysis (600+ companies surveyed) of B2B SaaS metrics across early stage companies. Great work by our team at Emergence Capital! See comments for full report, and please let us know how we can make this better in the future!

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