Matthew Iommi

Autonomous Vehicle (AV) funding is surging, according to PitchBook with Q2 2024 seeing $2.9 billion invested in AV startups - the highest since Q3 2021. While self-driving cars grab headlines, innovative startups are finding unique applications beyond passenger vehicles. Key developments: - Supply chain optimization: Outrider is revolutionizing yard operations with autonomous electric vehicles, addressing a $60 billion market. - Specialized transport: Pyka's autonomous planes for cargo and Gatik's local distribution trucks are gaining traction. - Safety & efficiency: Evitado Technologies automates airside operations, mitigating airport collision risks. Of course, more established companies such as Lyft & Uber are working on AV rideshare integration via partnerships with Waymo, BYD, Zoox, and others. The AV sector is focusing on gradual integration and specific use cases. While concerns about job displacement exist, proponents argue that automation could shift human capital to higher-value roles. What those roles are remains to be seen. As the AV landscape evolves, it's clear that the future of transportation extends far beyond just self-driving cars on city streets. Check out the full article by Nadine Manske here: https://lnkd.in/g3HJXZHc? And access the PitchBook Mobility Tech Report here: https://lnkd.in/g4_xP5pr #VentureCapital #AutonomousDriving #FrontierTech #FutureMobility

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#ObsessivelyEnthusiasticInvestor #UnreasonablyEnthusiasticInvestor #IrrationallyEnthusiasticInvestor at REFASHIOND Ventures: The Industrial Transformation Fund. We look for the people we believe are doing the best work in Industrial Transformation & Supply Chain Technology; Attempting the impossible. Then we go all-in on them. With obsessive, unreasonable, and irrational enthusiasm. We back them with evangelical zeal. Join us. #IndustrialTransformation #SupplyChain #Innovation #Technology #Startups #VentureCapital #DemandTheImpossible #UnreasonableEnthusiasm #ObsessiveEnthusiasm #IrrationalEnthusiasm  

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Kudos to aifleet on its $16.6M raise to fund growth in tech-enabled trucking. Its investors include Heron Rock Volvo Group Venture Capital, Obvious Ventures, Ibex Investors, Compound, Winthrop Square Capital and Cooley LLP. Aifleet is doing something different. Most other startups in this field are focused on pure technology. They have 204 drivers and power units. Will they be able to make it work with a combination of trucking and technology? https://lnkd.in/ePytPHx7

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Today's Boring Biz: Pool Leak Detection Company - $2.3M Revenue - $610K Cashflow - South Carolina - Day 39 of "50 States In 50 Days" Note: We do not represent this deal, highlighting for informational purposes only for viewers What do they do? 1. Leak detection services 2. Electronic detection equipment 3. Pool inspections Investment Highlights 1. Strong market demand 2. Established reputation 3. Business systems in place Investment risks/concerns 1. What is the competition 2. Customer concentration 3. Length of contracts #SMB #ETA #finance #Cashflow #investing #search #searchfund #privateequity #microprivateequity #smallbusiness #venturecapital #vc #entrepreneur #business #businessowner #pool #leakdetection #southcarolina #servicecompany Disclaimer: Hypothetical and illustrative only. Please do your own research (DYOR) or work with tax and legal professionals before making a decision. This video are intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or tax advice, nor should be construed as an offer to sell, a solicitation of an offer to buy, or a recommendation for any security by SMB PE LLC or any third party

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🚀Super excited to announce Day Zero Ventures Investment in Zeno🚀 We're thrilled to back Zeno, a company set to revolutionize two-wheel transportation in emerging markets with their innovative electric motorcycle ecosystem. Why we're excited: Massive Untapped Market: • 600M petrol motorcycles globally, growing to 2B by 2040 • 60-80% are 100-200cc commuter motorcycles • No good electric options exist for this segment yet Perfect Product-Market Fit: • African bike taxi (boda boda) drivers cover enough miles annually to circle the globe • Switching to electric can reduce fuel costs by 50-75% Comprehensive Ecosystem Approach: • 100-200cc equivalent electric motorbike • Flexible multimodal charging: swapping, fast charging, home charging • Innovative battery-as-a-service subscription model Exceptional Team: • Michael Spencer (CEO): Ex-Tesla leadership, 15 years in East Africa • Rob Newberry (VP Software): Former Apple & Nest senior engineer • Swaroop Bhushan (VP Engineering): Powertrain expert from Lucid and Harley's LiveWire • Plus ex-engineers from Gogoro, Ola Electric, and Ather Zeno's vision goes beyond transportation. They aim to transform customers' relationship with energy, potentially powering homes, businesses, and supporting the grid in emerging markets. We're excited to partner with Zeno on this journey to electrify the world's fastest-growing vehicle segment. As emerging markets continue to develop and urbanize, Zeno is well-positioned to become a cornerstone of sustainable transportation infrastructure. Read why we invested in Zeno in the 1st comment! Alok Bishoyi Rahul Rajvanshi #CleanTech #ImpactInvesting #ElectricVehicles #EmergingMarkets

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Innovation AND execution exemplified....but why did Tesla succeed? EV's are everywhere and there is so much demand. There is Rivian, Lucid and multiple others... At the end of the day, this is why many great ideas in VC ultimately fail...execution and lack to a path of profitability. Here is why Tesla succeeded vs Ford but many others are struggling: 1. First Mover Advantage: Tesla has been producing EVs at scale for over a decade, giving it a head start in refining manufacturing processes, supply chain management, and cost reduction. - Economies of Scale: With a significantly larger production volume than newer competitors, Tesla benefits from lower per-unit costs. 2. Control Over Supply Chain: Tesla designs and produces many of its components in-house, including batteries and software. This reduces reliance on third parties and allows better cost control and faster innovation. 3. Manufacturing Innovations: Gigafactories: Tesla’s Gigafactories are designed for scale and efficiency, incorporating automation, innovative production lines, and co-location of battery production. Gigapress: Tesla uses massive casting machines (Gigapresses) to produce large, single-piece components, reducing assembly complexity and costs. Focus on Simplicity: Tesla's designs emphasize simplicity, using fewer components and standardizing across models, which reduces manufacturing complexity. 4. Scale: Lucid and Rivian are producing at much lower volumes, leading to higher per-unit costs. At the end of day, Tesla makes $9,264 per vehicle (profit) while Rivian loses $38,784 per vehicle and Lucid loses $137,150 per vehicle. Same idea, right? Just done very differently... #venturecapital #endowments #familyoffices

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Great analysis of recent #vc trends. Thank you Kaela Roeder and Technical.ly for including my thoughts in the piece. My "expanded" two cents below for anyone curious... It is easy to get excited by what is happening in venture capital these days given the advent of AI. However, for early-stage startups, the numbers tell a more nuanced story. Early-stage deal volume in Q4-2023 was down 66% from the peak (Q4-2021) and a quarter of the deals were down rounds. In 2024, volumes stayed fairly flat relative to 2023 levels (signalizing a normalization to pre-pandemic VC activity) and 32% of deals were down rounds in Q1 (a worsening since year end). Early-stage valuations have spiked back up this year – a pleasant boon for some founders. But, this inflation is largely driven by the excitement around AI and strong demand for capital-efficient, high-growth companies. Many startups have tried to become “dot AI” businesses overnight; however, such tactics are not the “silver bullet” to fundraising challenges and growth. With limited time and capital, funds are on the hunt for companies with bulletproof fundamentals or those with exponential growth potential. If you don’t check one of these two boxes, the VC world looks fundamentally different for you. Locally, there are some positive tailwinds. The D.C. area has outpaced other metro areas in adding AI jobs due in large part to the defense industry and an increasing number of tech companies opening-up federal outposts. Over the long-term, this will be very positive for D.C. startup growth and talent.

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Hot off the presses! Our newest Research from the Rock series digs into the latest trends and opportunities in next-gen Transportation Management Systems (TMS). Read the whole piece here: https://lnkd.in/eWpZC-eG Huge shoutout to our colleague Lavina Kalwani who put this together, and the many rad folks who helped her out - Matt Salefski (Rectangle), Burak Cendek (Autotech Ventures), Ethan Daly (Shine Capital) and Justin Sky (Rose Rocket).

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I really enjoyed recording this episode of The Digital Industrial Podcast with Ty Findley. We talked about common misconceptions for deep tech, the "Why Now" for the category, and differences between investor diligence for deep tech and traditional tech. https://lnkd.in/eKtwjauu

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The autonomous trucking industry has faced significant challenges in recent years. In 2023, Embark was acquired by Applied Intuition for $71M, a mere fraction of its $4.5B valuation when going public via SPAC in 2021. Waymo Via, the commercial trucking unit of Google's autonomous vehicle division, shifted its focus from trucking to ride-hailing. TuSimple, once a leader in US autonomous trucking, wound down its US operations to concentrate on China and Japan. Despite this backdrop, Harpoon portfolio company Kodiak has continued to make waves in autonomy for trucking and defense, reflecting its resiliency as a leader in the space, and setting the stage for widespread industry adoption in the coming years. The US trucking industry, a massive $940B market, faces critical challenges that Kodiak aims to address: a severe driver shortage expected to double in the next decade, increasing freight demands driven by e-commerce, and stringent government regulations on driver working hours that impact delivery efficiency and truck utilization. Kodiak's market leading approach tackles these industry challenges with its modular system, the Kodiak Driver, which seamlessly retrofits any driving platform with autonomous capabilities. The company has achieved significant milestones to-date, including disengage-free commercial deliveries, 24/7 operations, delivery of over 4,500 loads, and partnerships with some of the world’s top logistics companies. Kodiak leverages a world-class team from leading self-driving programs, positioning itself uniquely in the market. Its incremental deployment strategy and partnerships with existing fleets for rapid technology scaling demonstrate a pragmatic and efficient path for growth. With the increasing demand for freight and the urgent need to address the driver shortage, Kodiak is poised to transform the trucking industry as it progresses towards fully autonomous capabilities.

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2024, while challenging, was a year of incredible customer focus and impact for us at ChargerHelp . We accomplished so much, including opening two separate training centers in partnership with the Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator (LACI) and the California Mobility Center . We also launched the nation’s first EV Charging Reliability Report in collaboration with two amazing partners—Professor and the great team at Paren. A report that looked at our over 19 million unique data points from over 30,000 stations that we’ve serviced . A report that highlighted the opportunities but also the great work of companies like EV Connect , AMPECO , and the California Energy Commission . Throughout the year, we hosted several deep dives on reliability, showcasing how we care for customers like The Mobility House ChargeLab Ecology Action Rivian Southern Company Exelon and many others. We also showcased many partners who are doing the right thing by EV drivers. Our hard work paid off as we significantly increased the number of stations we take care of and the customers we support. To top it all off, we ended the year by improving our customers’ uptime through smart #data and the dedication of our amazing team. As we look ahead to 2025, and ChargerHelp turns 5 years old, we have so much in store and so much to share. Please enjoy this look-back video my co-founder , Evette Ellis , and I put together—it’s a testament to all we’ve accomplished. And a big shoutout to the ChargerHelp team for striving to meet incredible standards every single day. Here’s to the future of electrification and continuing to build a truly great business.

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We are living in a world that embodies our Industrial Transformation & Supply Chain Technology investment thesis at REFASHIOND Ventures: The Industrial Transformation Fund: Escalating Geopolitical Tensions & Great Power Competition; The Climate Crisis & Severe Weather; Consumer Behavior & Demographics. Join us. #IndustrialTransformation #SupplyChain #Innovation #Technology #Startups #VentureCapital 

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Reporting live with your weekly VC update... In the second quarter of 2024, U.S. venture capital investment soared to $55.6 billion, marking a substantial increase from $35.4 billion the previous year. Despite a slight decrease in the number of deals, this period saw a significant uptick in average deal sizes, indicating a strong focus on supporting high-performing companies with promising growth trajectories. Sectors such as software and biotech experienced notable increases in investment activity, reflecting confidence in innovative technologies and healthcare advancements. Read More Here: https://lnkd.in/e8mEJiYt Inc. Magazine Brian Contreras #business #VentureCapital #AI #startups Branded Hospitality Ventures Hospitality Headline Newsletter Chuck Clarvit James Bernard Matthew Goldberg

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Last month, Uncork Capital celebrated its 20th anniversary with a jubilant gathering attended by 420 guests, marking two decades of success in the venture capital realm. Over the years, the firm, alongside industry peers like First Round Capital and Felicis, has witnessed remarkable growth, now managing billions of dollars in assets. This expansion reflects the flourishing landscape of venture capital, with the industry experiencing exponential growth in investment. Moreover, positive shifts in VC norms, such as the evolving attitudes towards board seats, underscore a commitment to providing tailored support to startups, enhancing their growth prospects. Amidst discussions surrounding sectors like AI, optimism prevails, emphasizing a steadfast dedication to investing in innovative ventures with lasting impact. Read More Here: https://lnkd.in/efN6-Spd Branded Hospitality Ventures Jeff Clavier Susan Liu Ashley Cravens Tripp Jones Sarah Du Andy McLoughlin Amy Saper #innovation #technology #management #venturecapital #startup

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2024's study by J.D. Power revealed that only 26% of US car buyers were “very likely to consider purchasing” an #EV in the next year, and more than 20% were “very unlikely to consider an EV purchase” at all. We know the lack of charging stations, high cost of insurance and repairs are associated pain points. [Side note: As someone who has experienced the very real EV service issue —TLDR: rental Tesla unable to charge during a 7 hour drive to VT, Hertz MIA 🤷‍♀️ - 7 hours slowly turned into 16 hours..so Kinetic has got me intrigued!] They deploy robots that diagnose and recalibrate electric and autonomous vehicles—a game-changer in the world of car repairs.. A robotic arm scans from bumper to fender with machine vision sensors, diagnose - and then Kinetic's software will initiate and track the fixes. They plan to expand to robotaxi fleets. The scoop: 🏁Many repair centers can't support the "finicky, “digital” aspects of customers’ cars - often expensive & time-consuming repairs. 🏁Improved efficiency - from pilot customers "This reduced our cycle time by days.’ Or ‘We got cars back to customers faster and cheaper" 🏁Cost reduction: By tackling the digital complexities of modern vehicles, Kinetic aims to lower maintenance expenses, especially for EV owners. 🏁Insurance impact: Addressing tech-related repair costs could potentially alleviate the burden on insurance, making EV ownership more appealing. Can't wait to see how this shapes the future of #mobility. #AutonomousVehicles

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Kevin Mahaffey's latest article dives into how new "critical technologies" drive industry-shaking revolutions by making entirely new tech stacks viable. From airships losing out to fixed-wing planes, to Uber disrupting traditional taxis with GPS-equipped smartphones, each shift underscores the idea: revolutions happen when technology can truly satisfy evolving customer needs. Mahaffey emphasizes the adjacent possible, where new technologies emerge as feasible pathways, with AI and autonomous vehicles as current examples poised to reshape ride-sharing. Curious how new tech stacks could revolutionize your industry? Read more here: https://bit.ly/3CCX7B6 #TechTrends #Innovation #Disruption

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I'm excited to announce the AVA-ECN Partnership: A New Era for Austin's Business Landscape! We are thrilled to unveil a transformative partnership set to reshape Austin's business community. The Austin Venture Association (AVA), Executive Council Network (ECN), and The Executive Venture Fund (EVF) are joining forces to enhance support for Austin's dynamic ecosystem of executives, entrepreneurs, and investors. Key Benefits of This Strategic Partnership: 1. Amplified Impact: By merging AVA's regional expertise and robust venture capital network with ECN's national executive community and The Executive Fund's resources, we are creating a powerful platform for collaboration and growth that benefits both local and national stakeholders. 2. Enhanced Member Value: Members will enjoy expanded networking opportunities, access to a broader range of resources, and diverse programming tailored to both executives and the venture community, bridging local insights with national perspectives. 3. New Opportunities: Community members will gain access to syndicate opportunities, shared learning experiences, and a wider network of peers across various sectors, enhancing both regional and national connections. 4. Elevated Programming: Look forward to a variety of events, including exclusive networking gatherings, online digital elements, and community-wide celebrations that cater to the unique needs of both Austin’s vibrant scene and ECN’s broader national audience. We are excited about the potential this partnership holds for our members and the broader Austin business community. Together, we will drive innovation, foster connections, and elevate Austin's reputation while integrating valuable national insights and opportunities. This collaboration offers a unique opportunity to deeply serve the Austin community and build lasting relationships on both local and national levels. Stay tuned for more details on how this partnership will unfold and how you can get involved.

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Outrider just raised $62M to scale up in autonomous yard operations. This is noteworthy because one of the best use cases for autonomous transportation is in closed-loop transportation networks, where there is not a risk of hitting pedestrians. We've seen self-driving tractors in mines, military applications, and now yard operations. Outrider's investors include Koch Disruptive Technologies, New Enterprise Associates (NEA), 8VC, ARK Investment Management LLC, B37 Ventures, FM Capital, Interwoven Ventures, NVIDIA's nVentures, and Prologis Ventures. Some of these firms are strategics, e.g. Prologis, who can help with adoption. Kudos to Andrew Smith and all involved. The future is bright for transportation innovation! #supplychain #transportation #technology #investment https://lnkd.in/eZ9t7Zhy

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🧬 This week's Austin Bio & Health Roundup highlights fascinating conversations, exciting launches, well-earned recognitions, and updates from across the Texas Bio Triangle 🧬 💡 Insights from Local Builders and Innovators Eliah Overbey from University of Austin (UATX) joined me on Austin Next this week. Not only did we talk about bio in space (we truly live in an amazing era), but also the sequencing lab she is building right here in Austin! Phantom Neuro’s robotic arm and its recent study data were profiled in Wired. Great coverage, Connor Glass! 🚀 Launches, Expansions, Milestones, and Wins Fighting Weight, a new weight loss platform, launched out of stealth with an undisclosed seed round and announced Mike Apostal, former CEO of Factor, as its new CEO. 🏆 Recognition Harbor Health was a Blazer Winner at the 2024 Inno Fire Awards in the Health, Education, Sports, and Transportation category. Nice win, S. Claiborne "Clay" Johnston and the team! 🤠 Texas Bio Triangle Houston-based OmniScience partnered with INmune Bio Inc., to manage and analyze clinical trial data for INmune’s Phase 2 Alzheimer’s trial. Houston-based EndoQuest Robotics™ received FDA IDE approval to begin human trials for their robotic endoscopic submucosal dissection technology. Woodlands-based Cellipont Bioservices partnered with Xiogenix to integrate the X20 fill-and-finish system, enhancing precision and efficiency in cell therapy manufacturing. What’s Next?

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