Justin Fasano

soooo who's #hiring engineers in LA? I'm putting an uno-reverse on the hiring process 😂 for TECH WEEK by a16z where startups pitch themselves to engineers in LA, show what makes their engineering culture unique, & why top engineers should work there! DM me if you want pitch at the event. We will give a preference to companies actively interviewing for 3+ open eng roles in October. Register directly if you're an engineer who wants to attend: https://lnkd.in/gtHsfXRU #LATechWeek

85

20 Comments

Friends, Q2 was a quarter of progress and learning for us at HawkTower, where we invest in early-stage startups applying breakthrough computing technologies to maximize California's natural resource markets. Our focus is on technology-enabled interventions (e.g., AI-enabled geospatial radars for lithium-ion batteries in the waste stream) for critical, market-level imperatives (e.g., disaster prevention) that can drive rapid commercial adoption (e.g., placed on every recycling truck in the world). Our current investment priorities are: - Agricultural productivity and efficiency - Biomanufacturing - Labor and mobility automation - Waste stream optimization and decarbonization - Disaster prevention and management Here’s a snapshot of what we’ve been up to: Milestones and Investments: - In late April, we officially launched our fund, filing with the SEC. Yay. - By June, we completed our first fund close ahead of schedule, with backing from family offices, foundations, high-net-worth individuals, and organizations aligned with California's future. - Our portfolio now includes three early-stage investments (Farm-ng, Agriful Software, and Nexstera Tech). Strategic Partnerships: - We believe that startups operating closer to their customers and resources, especially in agriculture and biomanufacturing, have a strategic advantage. For instance, the Salinas Valley, a major agricultural hub, is less than an hour from Silicon Valley and serves as a center of thought leadership in the convergence of agriculture and AI (from Western Growers, Taylor Farms, and others). - Similarly, the North San Joaquin Valley is emerging as a biotech and agtech innovation hub, and we are proud to support BEAM Circular, a startup hub for the circular bioeconomy. Key Relationships: - Karen Warner, CEO of BEAM Circular, joined HawkTower as a strategic advisor. - Jackie Cruz, Ed. D. Cruz, Hartnell College’s VP of Advancement, advises on Salinas Valley and workforce development. - Ben Palone from Western Growers, with his technical background in agriculture, became a trusted advisor. - Matthew Hoffman from Driscoll's Global R&D team provides insights on global agriculture, product positioning, and investment strategy. - We collaborated with Monterey Bay DART for workforce development and automation in agtech. - Dominic Milano and the Milano Technical Group from Merced collaborated on key initiatives and advised us on investments. - HawkTower is participating in Santa Cruz Works's accelerator cohort as a mentor and advisor. Thank you Doug Erickson. - We published an overview of entrepreneurship across the UC system with input from across the University of California system. Moving into the fall, we remain deeply committed to supporting founders shaping California's future natural resource markets. Stay tuned and be in touch! : ) Db

95

5 Comments

Team San Diego! I though you may find this as surprising as I did...we are not alone. Read this quick article from Jon Prentice's (Silicon Valley Bank) interview with with James Newell (Voyager Capital), published in GeekWire on Seattle's innovation ecosystem....they lament the SAME issues as we do in San Diego: * Lack of angel investors, (Especially, it calls out, given the local giant tech co's) * "We need low-conviction check writers." * Lack of "cachet associated with being an angel investor" - We have similar efforts (as described in the article) to drum up angel activity: NuFund Venture Group and, Interlock Capital (read the article and you'll see why the Interlock effort is tops as relates to "paying back into the ecosystem") Connect.org strives to 'connect' innovative companies with investors of all types (angel, VC, PE...) - just see "Innovation Day". Their Springboard program provides another great way for experienced entrepreneurs to give back through mentorship...as for the companies going through Springboard: "Ask for advice, and you often get $$" Your thoughts on the article or San Diego innovation ecosystem? https://lnkd.in/gfwq6mfq

61

3 Comments

Summary: The article discusses Palantir's role in the growing defense tech startup sector and its efforts to become a driving force in the industry. The company's CTO, Shyam Sankar, is determined to help Palantir create a defense tech ecosystem and maximize its impact beyond its government contracts. Key takeaways: Sankar has initiated the First Breakfast program to provide guidance and tools to defense tech startups, aiming to secure a head start in the industry and identify potential "next Palantirs." Palantir has spawned a whole ecosystem in its wake, as evidenced by the success of former employees who have gone on to start their own successful defense tech companies. Sankar is driven by an existential fear of America's war-readiness and believes that more innovative and adaptable solutions are needed to ensure national security in the future. Counter arguments: Some may argue that Palantir's efforts to support and influence the defense tech industry could raise concerns about its potential for monopolizing the market. Critics may point out that Palantir's controversial partnerships with government agencies, especially ICE, raise ethical concerns and contradict its stated mission to protect Western values.

1

WAYMO -- WAYCOOL or GHOST RIDER? If you preside in San Francisco, Santa Monica or Phoenix you are now seeing driverless Waymo taxies making their way through town on an ever-increasing basis. The network is expanding, and I can honestly say that in the Santa Monica / West Los Angeles area I have not driven anywhere in the last two months without seeing one of them on the road every time. In fact, sometimes they are so prevalent that there might be three in a row waiting at a stop light. It still is kind of spooky seeing cars moving around with no driver, or anyone for that matter, in the front seat. It's not exactly the same as the Headless Horseman but it does conjure up that image in my imagination. I have not taken a ride in one, but several family members have and report their satisfaction. Waymo is a division of Alphabet (GOOGL). I have not seen any visible evidence of General Motors (GM) Cruise vehicles which I understand are still being road tested, while Tesla (TSLA) has been projecting their autonomous vehicle vision for some time. For now, Tesla seems to be behind but that could change quickly. GM is likely to use their own branded vehicles, and it would seem that Tesla will likely do the same. However, Waymo technology could be outfitted on any cars. That seems like a big advantage, staying out of the car business and just being like the "Intel/Microsoft" inside personal computers which is a much higher margin business. There has been a lot of noise in the business journals and chat rooms about a Waymo initial public offering but nothing from Alphabet itself. They recently concluded a $5.6 billion investment round; see TechCrunch post below. The autonomous race is on, and it will be expanding rapidly from here on out. I just wonder if we will ever see an autonomous police vehicle stop a wayward autonomous taxi and write it up for some violation as yet unknown. Will traffic school be an option? #waymo, #autonomousvehicles, #selfdrivingcars, #GM, #Generalmotors, #tesla, #Investing, #business,

3

1 Comment

Introducing Stephan Little, a pioneer in entrepreneurship, investment, and mergers and acquisitions, who will be joining the AI Panel at the California Investment Forum in Anaheim, CA, on May 8-11. Steve's journey as a serial entrepreneur began at a young age, and he has since scaled six startups to private nine-figure acquisitions and raised over $2 billion in startup and growth funding for businesses across various industries. As the founder and managing director of Zero Limits Ventures and Zero Limits Capital, Steve has become renowned for generating accelerated value growth and delivering extraordinary acquisition value multiples for his portfolio companies and clients. With a keen eye for unique opportunities and a track record of identifying untapped potential, Steve has mastered the art of spotting valuation growth where others may not. In this introduction video, Steve highlighted the transformative power of AI in three distinct areas. Firstly, he touched on the creation and development of AI and generative tools, which are reshaping industries. Secondly, he delved into AI's practical applications within enterprises, emphasizing how integrating AI can dramatically enhance productivity and growth, ultimately increasing value for entrepreneurs. The third area Steve discussed was the middle ground of AI implementation, which presents an exciting opportunity for companies lacking in-house expertise. This gap in the market suggests a burgeoning demand for external AI knowledge and solutions, which can rapidly propel a company forward. AI is accelerating at an extraordinary pace and significantly impacting market dynamics. As an "older statesman" in the tech world, Steve expressed his excitement about being part of this "big bubble" of innovation. Join us at the California Investment Forum to hear Steve's insights and expertise on AI deployment, bridging the gap between generic AI models and task-specific enterprise applications. Learn how we can harness the power of AI to drive competitiveness, efficiency, and growth, improve productivity, and enhance business values in the next decade. Don't miss this opportunity to learn from one of the industry's most respected visionaries and game-changers. #AI #CIF Daniel Sieu Darlene Bryant (Chiu)

11

3 Comments

Navigating the VC landscape in San Diego? Discover firms that not only invest but also mentor and guide startups to success. Here's a snapshot: - Salesforce Ventures - Specializing in enterprise software. Founded by Halsey Minor, Marc Benioff, & Parker Harris. 🌐 - Versant Ventures - A beacon for biotech, founded by Barbara Lubash & co. 🧬 Healthcare & Biotech focus. 📈 - QED Investors - Fintech frontrunners, by Caribou Honig, Frank Rotman, & Nigel Morris. 💳 - HERCULES TECHNOLOGY GROWTH Capital - Supports startups to growth-stage companies across sectors. Founded by Manuel A. Henriquez & team. 📈 - Correlation Ventures - Co-investing champions in the US, initiated by Trevor Kienzle & David Coats. 🔍 - JMI Equity - Growth-stage software investment specialists. Established by Charles Noell & Harry Gruner. 💻 - Anzu Partners - Life science, manufacturing, and materials innovators, started by Michael David & co. 🔬 - Saltagen Ventures - Early-stage biotech focus, founded by Joseph F.. 🌏 NA and Asia. 📈 🌟 Whether you're seeking capital, mentorship, or operational expertise, these VC firms offer diverse opportunities for startups in various stages and industries. Full article here: https://lnkd.in/gpgkRHU3 👉 Looking to raise funding? Explore more about these firms and find your perfect match. #VCs #Startups #SanDiego #Innovation #Tech #SoCal

3

2 Comments

Navigating the VC landscape in San Diego? Discover firms that not only invest but also mentor and guide startups to success. Here's a snapshot: - Salesforce Ventures - Specializing in enterprise software. Founded by Halsey Minor, Marc Benioff, & Parker Harris. 🌐 - Versant Ventures - A beacon for biotech, founded by Barbara Lubash & co. 🧬 Healthcare & Biotech focus. 📈 - QED Investors - Fintech frontrunners, by Caribou Honig, Frank Rotman, & Nigel Morris. 💳 - HERCULES TECHNOLOGY GROWTH Capital - Supports startups to growth-stage companies across sectors. Founded by Manuel A. Henriquez & team. 📈 - Correlation Ventures - Co-investing champions in the US, initiated by Trevor Kienzle & David Coats. 🔍 - JMI Equity - Growth-stage software investment specialists. Established by Charles Noell & Harry Gruner. 💻 - Anzu Partners - Life science, manufacturing, and materials innovators, started by Michael David & co. 🔬 - Saltagen Ventures - Early-stage biotech focus, founded by Joseph F.. 🌏 NA and Asia. 📈 🌟 Whether you're seeking capital, mentorship, or operational expertise, these VC firms offer diverse opportunities for startups in various stages and industries. Full article here: https://lnkd.in/gpgkRHU3 👉 Looking to raise funding? Explore more about these firms and find your perfect match. #VCs #Startups #SanDiego #Innovation #Tech #SoCal

3

1 Comment

Sharing this primarily for markets outside the top 5 in VC as it's a problem I've experienced as well. One can and sometimes should criticize SV founders who have too much ambition in the way some pursue it, but a super serious problem almost everywhere else is not enough ambition, certainly to include NM. It may surprise some to hear that Seattle lacks ambition given headquarters of Microsoft, Amazon, Costco, Starbucks and others, but that's actually part of the problem--golden handcuffs and conformity, versus hungry and competitive when I grew up in WA in business in the 80s. It's also a problem with many VCs around the country now. They have become so focused on flipping to incumbents their (BT) dominance became a self-fulfilling prophecy. That's not the role of VCs -- if that's their goal they should be a CVC. NM has a similar golden handcuff problem to Seattle, but it's worse in some respects. The national labs pay really well relative to the local cost of living, so it's the career goal of thousands to spend entire careers working for the labs. In both markets the level of early stage funding is so low that it's difficult to leave big tech or labs to join a startup. And in both, the experience of big tech and labs doesn't apply well to startups. Very different world. A related challenge is SV rarely invests outside the region in would-be market leaders--most want to see those remain in CA. So we have a problem for certain, and big disconnect in the market.

6

4 Comments

Recently, Anthropic shared its perspective on California's proposed AI regulation bill, SB 1047, with the California Assembly. While recognizing the importance of safe AI development, Anthropic has raised substantial concerns about the bill's current form, which could potentially hinder innovation and harm the United States' competitive edge in AI. Anthropic's key points include shifting the focus from "pre-harm enforcement" to a more adaptable "outcome-based deterrence" model. They also advocate for regulations that focus more narrowly on frontier AI safety to avoid redundancy with federal requirements. Additionally, they suggest giving regulatory authority to the Government Operations Agency instead of creating a new state agency. Anthropic believes that these amendments will encourage innovation in risk reduction practices and incentivize companies to adopt measures that prevent catastrophic risks. In contrast, the AI Salon Policy & Civic Engagement Guild shares Anthropic's commitment to ethical AI and safe development but has broader concerns about the bills. We believe that overly burdensome regulations may discourage AI development and lead to job losses. Compliance requirements favor large companies, potentially driving smaller startups out of the market, and overregulation might cause California to fall behind other regions in AI development. Furthermore, compliance under penalty of perjury imposes significant personal risk on developers, and strict regulations could disadvantage California-based companies in the global AI market. On behalf of the over 1700+ members of the AI Salon, we urge our larger community to engage in this crucial dialogue about AI regulation. By advocating for well-balanced policies that protect public interests without stifling innovation, we can ensure California remains a leader in ethical and responsible AI development. Please sign the letters of support and join us in shaping a future where AI is developed and deployed with ethical integrity, social responsibility, and inclusive governance. Together, we can bridge the gap between AI technology and policymaking, fostering an environment where innovation thrives alongside robust safety measures. https://lnkd.in/e6MRBmcX #AIRegulation #EthicalAI #Innovation #PolicyEngagement #Anthropic #AISalon #PublicPolicy #TechPolicy Kyle Shannon Leah Fasten Brandon Tidd Stacie L. Matthew Karabinos, MAT Vikki Baptiste Jon Potter Jon Leland Cyndi Coon Daniele Hall

11

In retrospect, 2024 was a pretty amazing year for innovation out of University of California, Berkeley. My Top 10 highlights below. Any I missed? 1. Databricks secured the largest VC round ever—a $ 10B funding round, led by multiple Berkeley founders. 2. OpenAI raised the 2nd largest VC funding round ever - $6.5B. Co-founded by Berkeley alum John Schulman. 3. Since launching Built By Berkeley (a newsletter that tracks Berkeley founded companies funding) in July 2024: 229 companies raised 27.4B. ~$1.1B per week raised by Cal founders! Wild! 4. Out of the 13 2024 Nobel Prize laureates - 4 had Berkeley connections. 5. Record-breaking Berkeley Olympic performance: 5 Gold, 10 Silver, 8 Bronze medals. More than many countries!  6. Berkeley-founded Perplexity emerged as a genuine Google Search competitor, reaching a $9B valuation (9x increase in a year) with 15M+ active users (probably already much higher than this). Along with some unbelievable execution speed from Aravind Srinivas and team. 7. Chatbot Arena, founded at Berkeley, became the industry standard for AI model benchmarking. 8. Rich Lyons became the new Berkeley chancellor. Rich will be a huge innovation catalyst for Berkeley. 9. Berkeley beats Stanford University 21-24 in the Big Game…not innovation but fun nevertheless.  10. Berkeley leads the PitchBook rankings with 1,642 VC-backed undergrad alumni-founded companies. 245 more than second-placed Stanford. Berkeley is shaping up to be ground zero of the coming AI wave from a company formation and research perspective. Looking forward to a bigger and better 2025.

1,815

72 Comments

Old school and probably not popular but I still believe products should be customer-satisfaction focused/led rather than technology-led. Use cases for AI should be byproducts of the product improvement process primarily. The thing though is that founders need to fundraise so they're likely to sprinkle some AI on their decks to even look serious. Not sure that's how the most enduring companies have been built. Of course, if sources of capital become AI-biased, founders have little choice. Happy to keep an open mind and dive in when a use-case that can 10x customer experience for Good Tenants customers and users shows up.

5

Two weeks ago I spent 3 days with brilliant human beings discussing the state of AI investment with other angel syndicate leads, angel investors and VCs at Hustle Fund's #camphustle in Los Gatos. It was brilliant. Truly awesome to learn so much from insanely accomplished investors. But was so clear to me again is that the US and the UK are two countries divided by separate languages of ambition. Aspiration and ambition underlined by the cluster effect of successful exits, incredible talent and venture capital driven by operators and founders rather than accountants. But one reason why the US often trumps (pun not intended) the UK is they learn from failure. Run a startup that didn't reach the dizzying heights of venture-scale returns? Learn, reset and go again. What they certainly do not do is look at failure with glee and an "I told you so" attitude. Which is what I sense when I read most of the narrative around the failure of Cazoo. Alex Chesterman swung and missed. The business was flawed, unit economics didn't add up and in reality - there was very little innovation outside the vertical alignment of a well-understood business. But when we look down upon what he tried to do and 💩 💩 it all we're doing is making it harder for someone else to be equally as ambitious. Focus on what went wrong. Focus on the fundamental underlying business models that drive efficient use of capital and the push for profitability. But let's celebrate people shooting their shot and not celebrate the failures.

23

3 Comments

It is serendipitous that I just posted about how forward thinking Nevada is and then this article popped up in my feed! Congrats Piotr Tomasik 🌊 Jeff Tatarchuk 🌊 Darrick Horton 🌊 you guys are on fire! #vegas #startups #tensorwave

33

2 Comments

Another great example of Seattle's tech ecosystem attracting investment, promoting growth, and potentially freeing up talent to either start their own new firms or attract new employers to enter the market to hire them. Transactions like this are part of the reason why Seattle remains one of the fastest growing regions in the country. #SeattleTech #TechInvestment #GrowthOpportunities #RealEstate

10

Deep Tech hardware startups now have a napkin for benchmarking and milestone validation! Great work by the First Momentum Ventures team, who set up to investigate what it actually takes for Deep Tech Hardware companies to raise capital along multiple dimensions (team, tech, traction, etc.). SaaS founders have many resources available to benchmark their growth and fundraising, such as the SaaS Napkin from Christoph Janz at Point Nine and our analysis with Flashpoint Venture Capital and ChartMogul. But for Deep Tech, especially hardware-focused, that was not the case until now. For instance, for a seed-stage (hardware) deep tech startup, benchmark metrics are: Valuation (€): 9-25M Round size (€): 2-6M Public funding (€): 0-1M Yearly revenue (€): 0-0.5M Team milestones: top-notch technical hires done and first non-tech individuals (commercial, sales, etc) Technology & product: lab demonstration + first demo in small-scale industrial setting. Still, significant tech risk exist in scaling up and industrialization Commercialization: Revenue is great but not necessary. PoCs/pilots done/undergoing and clear productisation and GTM strategy, as well as a forecast of unit economics at scale 30 Deep Tech VCs from 8 countries contributed over 100 data points (validated by ~1000 data points from Dealroom.co). Main contributors: APEX Ventures, Vsquared Ventures, Verve Ventures, IQ Capital, World Fund, XAnge, Seedcamp, Runa Capital, Intel Ignite, Saxovent, Matterwave Ventures, Unruly Capital, Possible Ventures, Project A, Founderful, Elaia, VIGO Ventures, Atomico, Extantia, Onsight Ventures, Übermorgen Ventures, Voima Ventures Link to the full report for more insights 👇 #deeptech #hardware #startups #venturecapital #valuation

68

5 Comments

Hello from Bio 2024, in San Diego CA! I am excited to be here! Scientists, doctors, clinical researchers, technologists, data analysts, and investors all meet to push the biotech industry forward. And there are about 1500 companies here (and an estimated 20,000 people) so they’re taking over the town. And the tech-side been on a multi-year acceleration phase to map human genomes more cheaply, map protein interactions better, sense and diagnose diseases faster, and treat diseases with novel methods. So the GenAI and deep neural net approaches are tearing through the healthcare industries, just like they are in the rest of life. And to my eyes, it’s where success can be so transformative. But new tech risks are also heightened — it’s the most important stuff we’re talking about here, someone’s life! Lastly and closest to my work at Helpfully, there’s a big track on digital health. We’ve realized that healing requires more than a pill. And if health requires friends, family, doctors, caregivers, coaches, easier ways to track progress, simpler monitoring of data, and a patient’s daily decisions, digital technologies are the glue that ties it all together. I’ll be posting a bunch during the week! The convention hashtag is #bio2024. So stay tuned on this channel! And I’ll be posting a bunch over on Twitter/X @thinky (me) and @helpfullyteam, too.

71

1 Comment

Summary: The article discusses tech mogul Vinod Khosla and his recent success as a prominent investor. Khosla's main focus is on AI and its potential impact on various industries. He also addresses concerns regarding AI regulation and competition with Chinese AI. Key takeaways: Khosla's recent $50 million investment in OpenAI has garnered attention and success. He is passionate about the potential for AI to disrupt and improve various industries. Khosla's focus on AI regulation and concerns about Chinese AI competition. Counter arguments: Some may argue that Khosla's intense focus on AI may overshadow other important areas of technology. Critics may question the sustainability of AI in certain industries and its potential negative effects on job displacement. #ai #artificialintelligence #tech #venturecapital #vc #startups

2

Having a Cars and Capital event tomorrow in Southern California with Oren Klaff. If you want to join message me. https://lnkd.in/gDQ4D39u Oren Klaff Bridger Pennington #InvestorEvent #FamilyOffice #InvestmentOpportunity #CarlsbadEvent #PrivateEquity #WealthManagement #InvestmentConference #CapitalRaising #NetworkingEvent #IndustryLeaders #FinancialGrowth #InvestorsMeetup #WealthBuilding #BusinessGrowth #InvestmentForum

24

1 Comment