Kauffman Fellows

Daniel Kimerling (KF Class 27) shares how the Kauffman Fellows two-year program allowed him to step back from the day-to-day of scaling his firm, Deciens Capital, and refocus on the fundamental “whys” of his journey. "Being part of a cohort asking similar questions – the big 'whys' around our personal and professional lives – is a vital part of helping find the answers to these very personal questions. I truly believe that no two people’s 'whys' are the same." Key takeaway: Success in venture capital requires a unique strategy, resources, tenacity, and comfort in nonconformity. "The Kauffman Fellows experience has been transformative, providing value far beyond the realm of venture capital and into every aspect of my personal and professional growth." https://lnkd.in/gXuyGx3D

San Francisco has historically been a boom-and-bust city. From the Gold Rush to today's AI surge, the city continues to repeat a historical pattern of attracting dreamers, risk-takers, innovators, and builders. In Forbes, Marc Steven Schröder (KF Class 24) explores how these historical cycles can inform investors' strategies today. #SanFrancisco #AI https://lnkd.in/eeNhZAUv

Registration is open for the FREE Venture Deals course! https://lnkd.in/gFVZnn5e Join the 50,000+ entrepreneurs who have learned to navigate the VC ecosystem from Kauffman Fellows, including Jaclyn Freeman Hester (KF Class 25) of Foundry, Jeffrey Harbach (KF Class 16), Miriam Rivera (KF Class 15) of Ulu Ventures, and more! #VC #venturecapital #startups #entrepreneurs #raisingcapital Techstars Brad Feld

Alexandre Lazarow (KF Class 19) examines how both LPs and VCs are prioritizing specialization, capital efficiency, and strategic differentiation in their investment decisions. https://lnkd.in/g5u3V5EK For VCs, optimism is creeping back in and spreading beyond traditional venture capital centers. With a renewed focus on solid unit economics and managed burn rates, sustainable growth and prudent financial management is expected to define the next wave of successful startups. For LPs, specialized industry experience and clear, unique value propositions are key elements of their investment decisions. VCs must think about their funds not just as investment strategies but as unique products that can stand out to LPs in a crowded market. #venturecapital #VC #investors #emergingmanagers

In a new profile, Margaret Wu (KF Class 25) explores how Georgian, which is "generally sector agnostic," identified HR and learning tech as key opportunities for the application of artificial intelligence. #AI #HRtech #FutureOfWork https://lnkd.in/gMkMxpdW

"Africa has the highest rates of female entrepreneurship in the world... If you look at the other side of the capital providers, like Norrsken22, TLcom Capital LLP, and Ingressive Capital, all of these different funds have female investment partners and core team members. This representation is crucial for encouraging more women to pursue entrepreneurship and ensuring they receive the support they need to succeed." Read more from Maya Horgan Famodu (KF Class 26) about #Africa's dynamic tech landscape: https://lnkd.in/gaMKSUXt #womenintech #womeninfinance

Witney McKiernan (KF Class 25) on the state of the market in 2024: “Inside investors have been funding companies and bridging companies over the past year and a half, and, now, that money has dried up. So we’re seeing a lot more companies in the market and so a lot of opportunity in higher quality companies." #digitalhealth #healthtech #VC https://lnkd.in/gd25NwAm

Exciting News! 🇨🇦 Kauffman Fellows is thrilled to announce that Montréal, Canada, will be the next destination for our Annual Kauffman Fellows Summit, taking place September 15–18, 2024. Each year, our Summit attracts 400+ venture capitalists and LPs from over 45 countries, promoting cross-border investments, showcasing the local ecosystem, and fostering community within our network. This year, we are proud to partner with BDC, the bank for Canadian entrepreneurs, to host the event. Summit Speakers & Key Themes: - Canadian Success Stories: Harley Finkelstein (Shopify), Christian Weedbrook (Xanadu AI), Katherine Homuth (Sheertex) - Climate Tech: Frederic Lalonde (Deep Sky, Hopper), Amanda Hall (Summit Nanotech) - Future of AI: Martin Kon (Cohere), Raquel Urtasun (Waabi) - LP/GP Relationships: Featuring Ian Carew (Northleaf), Senia Rapisarda, LL.M, CIM (Harbourvest), Isabelle Hudon (BDC), and more. Huge thanks to BDC and our Canadian Fellows Summit Committee, who have designed the content, venues, and experiences available to our attendees during the Summit. Ajay Gopal Alex Baker Alicia Lenis Code Cubitt Ela Borenstein Eleonore Jarry George Babu Joanna Harries Karim Gillani Lesley Esford Margaret Wu Mark Trevitt Mia Morisset Michelle Scarborough Mike McCauley Rob Barbara Shirley Speakman Read More: https://lnkd.in/gd_5BXg8

Partnerships between founders and cultural leaders produce new ideas, new opportunities, and new shifts in culture faster than operating in silos. Read more from Megan Holston-Alexander (KF Class 26), who has helped founders and cultural leaders navigate this collaborative journey at a16z Cultural Leadership Fund. #founders #investing #venturecapital https://lnkd.in/gjQbMyCE

"If you're an entrepreneur right now, it can feel like fundraising is really, really hard," said Maveron's Anarghya Vardhana (KF Class 23). But "now is the time to build an incredible company," because "the resilience, the grittiness, the forced constraints" are allowing companies to refine business models, market approaches, and more. #startups #entrepreneurs https://lnkd.in/gEtUcyHW?