Tess Danielson 
Grief is a universal experience, especially among founders who have experienced startup failure. There is nothing more humbling than outright failure, but dealing with the mental repercussions can be crippling. There are typically five stages of grief–denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance–that must be conquered before moving on with a career. Yet grief is also … more
Investors in the startup ecosystem are growing more and more concerned about the rise of zombie funds. Currently, the venture capital space is at risk of experiencing substantial consolidation. As startups face increasing pressure to locate fresh capital, they are stunted by limited investment opportunities as investors hold tighter onto their funds. All of these … more
Braden Weinstock, 42, has lived a fascinating life before he founded PrettyData, a competitive intelligence platform specifically designed for a beauty salon. He is a first-generation American. His father was born in Israel and grew up in Brazil, and his grandparents were Holocaust survivors. Braden currently spends half his time in Amsterdam with his wife, … more
Miami has bold aspirations to become a global crypto hub—and it’s closer than ever to achieving that vision. Thanks to Miami’s Mayor Francis Suarez fully embracing cryptocurrency, it has emerged as a key player in the tech world. With its tropical climate, rich cultural landscape, and proximity to Latin America, Miami-Dade County is one of … more
It has been a tough year for venture capital (VC) firms, with several accelerators closing their doors. Nonprofit programs like Venture for America, Byte Back, and Girls Who Code, once celebrated for their support of emerging talent, have suddenly gone dark. One of the most significant closures being that of the Roux Institute’s Techstars Accelerator … more
Tyler Bliha, 33, never thought he’d hold the title of founder. In fact, the CEO of Abode, a home finance manager was earning the educational pedigree necessary to cement a career on Wall Street, a path that was “ingrained” into him and his peers at Notre Dame. According to Tyler, most classmates followed the 2+2+2 track: … more
Virginie Raphael, founder of the pre-seed fund FullCircle, is currently based in New York City, but her upbringing was far more quaint. In the tiny town of Lyon, she grew up among the mere 800 inhabitants. Half of whom, she jokes, “were probably somewhat related to me in one way, shape, or form.” When Virginie … more
Russia is a place that will make or break you. This is the environment where Stan Vick, 38, learned to succeed. Today, the founder and CEO of 11thEstate, a New York-based platform for investors to get compensated in securities fraud cases, considers himself a true global citizen. But before Stan was able to set off … more
This week, Canopie raised $3.7 million in its seed round, which was co-led by Beta Boom and Aeroflow Health, said in a press release. The startup, dedicated to prevention-focused maternal health, also raised funds from Sorenson Institute, Luminary Impact Fund, Symphonic Capital, Techstars, and a family office. The company plans to use the capital to … more
The right mentor will act not only as an advisor and teacher but also as an ally, advocate, and confidante. Mentors play a crucial role in helping founders navigate the complexities of entrepreneurship, make informed decisions, and achieve their goals more efficiently. This article will explore the importance of mentoring in startups, the benefits they … more
Ethan Austin, 43, never imagined he’d launch a startup, let alone a venture capital firm. Today, he leads Outside VC, a pre-seed fund that invests in outsider founders building a more equitable financial system, offering $100K-$250K first checks. Growing up in the 1980s suburbs of Orange County was miles away from anything resembling a tech … more
The U.S. has become a hostile environment for advocates of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). The opposition to DEI initiatives, which are designed to assist historically marginalized groups, can be summed up in one word: politics. Conservatives claim that DEI is “reverse racism” and are pursuing legal action. As a result, businesses are slashing funding … more
It can be difficult to leave your mark in the startup world. But occasionally, someone comes along who upends the system. In the modern age, that someone is Tope Awotona. Tope, founder and CEO of the scheduling automation platform Calendly, has become a hero to many. His journey resonates with so many underdog founders – … more
For many founders, they find themselves overwhelmed after making it past the early startup stages. One option that makes these next steps easier is finding the right accelerator. Accelerators are organizations that focus on the rapid growth of early-stage companies that offer a combination of relevant educational workshops, mentorship programs, and networking opportunities. The most … more
While Scot Wingo, 55, describes his upbringing as vanilla, his career path has been anything but. Scot began his entrepreneurship journey 30 years ago and led him to his current love and obsession Research Triangle Park (RTP) in North Carolina. Located in the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill region, Scot is deeply passionate about the RTP’s prospects for … more
Emily Brown, co-founder and CEO of Attane Health, was born and raised with her siblings in Dallas, Texas. She had a great childhood and even better parents. Growing up, Emily, who now lives in Kansas City, Missouri with her family, describes herself as a go-getter, which is highlighted throughout her professional career. But her first … more
With the amount of stress founders take on, it is inevitable that anxiety will get the best of you. Good news is that it is completely normal. Each human only has so much emotional bandwidth to work with. The biggest challenge with anxiety is finding a way to break your toxic thought cycle. By diverting … more
Since she was a child, Sydney Thomas, the founding general partner of Symphonic Capital, had an innate curiosity about what her legacy will be. The San Diego native became obsessed with building a legacy. But to find it, she had to leave home. Then, 20 years later, she found her way back to start Symphonic, … more
We invest at the pre-seed and seed stages in passionate, tenacious founders solving big problems and help them grow their startup with hands-on product, marketing, sales, and fundraising support