Revolution

A stark statistic from this year’s report on VC funding trends: Of the $170B invested in 2023, the 19 states (and D.C.) that voted for the Harris-Walz ticket received 84% of venture dollars, leaving the 31 states won by Trump-Vance with just 16%. In Rising from the Reset, we explore the geography of venture funding through the lens of November’s election results. Our report highlights a decade of growth in seed and early-stage funding beyond California, Massachusetts, and New York, the startup momentum rising ecosystems like Detroit, Kansas City, and Minneapolis (places we visited on our earliest bus tours) have built, and the opportunity the incoming administration has to broaden the innovation map. Entrepreneurship isn’t a red or blue state issue; it’s the engine of American progress. We’ve seen the innovation and economic impact growing startup ecosystems can drive, and we have the opportunity to build on that headway. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gBkfsNiC

25 years after the dot-com bubble peaked, today's AI market jitters feel familiar. Steve Case, who was early to recognize how the Internet would reshape our world, shares why big leaps in tech inevitably come with bets that don't pan out — and why calculated risks still matter. More via Bloomberg: https://lnkd.in/ex7F83ZP

Yesterday, I testified before the U.S. House Committee on Financial Services about how expanding access to capital beyond traditional tech hubs can drive America's innovative leadership.   Over a decade ago, as part of President Obama's Jobs Council, I helped shape policies that became the bipartisan Jumpstart Our Business Startups (JOBS) Act. The JOBS Act made crowdfunding easier, allowed venture firms to publicly solicit investments, and streamlined the IPO process, driving meaningful increases in startup activity and job creation.   But significant gaps remain. Too many entrepreneurs outside Silicon Valley, Boston, and New York still lack critical access to capital. That’s why I urge Congress to build on the JOBS Act's early success by advancing reforms that strengthen IPO markets, expand investor opportunities, and support emerging venture funds in regional startup ecosystems.   Ensuring innovation thrives everywhere—not just traditional tech centers—is key to America's economic future and national security. Thanks to the Committee members for recognizing this moment and the opportunity we have to act. Read my full testimony: https://lnkd.in/eBA-Ehex and watch the hearing: https://lnkd.in/e2zVg8e9

Steve Case, the Chaiman and CEO of Revolution, testified at today’s U.S. House Financial Services Committee hearing: “Beyond Silicon Valley: Expanding Access to Capital Across America.”  His remarks focused on the bipartisan nature of previous entrepreneurship legislation and the need for new policies that help America compete globally on critical next generation technologies. From his testimony: “This Committee is in the unique position to pass legislation that will support capital access for entrepreneurs across the country. I applaud the efforts you are taking today to level the playing field and, as we approach our 250th anniversary, empower entrepreneurs nationwide to write the next chapter of the American story.” Read his full testimony here: https://lnkd.in/eNgwpA24

Congratulations to the Tala team on closing a $150M debt facility — its largest capital markets transaction to date. This funding will accelerate Tala’s growth in Mexico, strengthen its lending capabilities, and advance its mission to build scalable, data-driven financial infrastructure that unlocks opportunity for the global majority. Kylie Madry shares more on the company's growth in Reuters: https://lnkd.in/dxddhnzv

No keywords, no cookies — just the right ads at the right time. ProRata.ai's newest innovation enables marketers to seamlessly integrate contextual ads into AI search and digital media content in real time and at scale, placing the prompt at the center of campaign execution. In Bill Gross's words, "It's a win-win-win—for readers, who get relevant content; for publishers, who make double the CPM; and for advertisers, who see a much higher ROI.” ADWEEK shares more on ProRata Ads: https://lnkd.in/gF_Tfekt 

Big funding news across the Rise of the Rest portfolio in the last few weeks. Here’s a quick look at who raised, where they’re building, and what’s next: 75F (Minneapolis, MN) raised a $45M Series B to expand its IoT-powered building management system, making commercial properties more efficient and sustainable—well beyond premium office spaces: https://lnkd.in/ej2TG7wn Cambium (Baltimore, MD) raised an $18.5M Series A to expand its transparent and traceable wood supply chain technology into the mass timber market: https://lnkd.in/ezEbv-As Carbon Reform (Philadelphia, PA) raised $5.5M to scale manufacturing and accelerate deployment of its HVAC retrofitting, carbon sequestering tech across universities, commercial offices, and healthcare facilities: https://lnkd.in/eQH8AyjW Daupler (Kansas City, KS) closed a $15M Series B to advance its AI-driven data analysis and field operations automation for utilities, helping municipalities and electric providers improve incident response and field operations: https://lnkd.in/eHxSg_3a Trust & Will (San Diego, CA) landed a $25M Series C to further modernize estate planning, using AI and data infrastructure to simplify the process for families and financial advisors: https://lnkd.in/ebcz7Bry Something you'll find across the board: entrepreneurs applying cutting-edge technology to solve real-world problems to improve our daily lives, systems, and legacies. And they’re all building #BeyondSiliconValley. Excited to see these founders scale their impact and fuel momentum in their startup ecosystems.

Every year, the U.S. generates 45M tons of tree waste — reclaimable supply that Cambium is turning into high-quality, high-utility, carbon-negative material. Now, following its $18.5M Series A, the team is scaling its model and expanding into Mass Timber. CEO Ben Christensen joins Mahati Sridhar to discuss Cambium’s growth, its latest funding, and why traceable resources matter. Read more on our follow-on investment and watch the full interview: https://lnkd.in/e68u3etW

Building a high-growth, high-performing company takes cultivating a dynamic where employees can excel. Because startup success may start with a founder’s vision, but it’s their team that executes, adapts, and propels the business to scale. Excited (but not surprised) to see so many Revolution-backed companies recognized among Forbes' Best Startup Employers. Catch Anduril Industries, Carbon Robotics, StockX, Pryon, AcreTrader, Smartwyre, and Paro on this year's list: https://lnkd.in/dGSX3ahr

Attention Founders - our Revolution & Rise of the Rest friends at TitletownTech in #GreenBay may have a great opportunity for you. They are hosting a Startup Draft in conjunction with the #NFLDraft. In partnership with the #GreenBayPackers and Microsoft, the draft is open to high-impact startups in manufacturing, logistics, energy, digital health, and more. The winner will receive a $1M investment. Applications close March 16th at 11:59p CT. Learn more and apply now! https://lnkd.in/gxKzeWZv https://lnkd.in/eZ8qmuZZ