On Funding — Shots on GoalBeing great as a startup technology investor of course requires a lot of things to come together:You need to have strong insights into where technology markets are heading and where value in the future will be created and sustainedYou need be perfect with your market timing. Being too early is the same as…
The world around us is being disrupted by the acceleration of technology into more industries and more consumer applications. Society is reorienting to a new post-pandemic norm — even before the pandemic itself has been fully tamed. And the loosening of federal monetary policies, particularly in the US, has pushed more dollars into the venture ecosystems at…
Photo by Scott Clark for Upfront Ventures (no, Evan is not standing on a box)Last year marked the 25th anniversary for Upfront Ventures and what a year it was. 2021 saw phenomenal returns for our industry and it topped off more than a decade of unprecedented VC growth.The industry has obviously changed enormously in 2022 but in…
Nearly six years ago, I was thrilled to invest in Andrew Farah and the team at Density when they had a vision for building anonymous tracking of how people use office buildings, rentals and other public spaces.And today, as the company announces their latest funding round of $125M at a $1B+ valuation, I’m still thrilled to…
Something happened in the past 7 years in the startup and venture capital world that I hadn’t experienced since the late 90’s — we all began praying to the God of Valuation. It wasn’t always like this and frankly it took a lot of joy out of the industry for me personally.What happened? How might our next…
Credit: ApexToday, Apex announced their Series B funding round, led by XYZ Ventures and CRV, with participation from Upfront. And if you spend much time in LA, you’ll quickly realize that we’re in a groundswell of space and defense startups.Is it because of the rich engineering talent coming out of Caltech, UCLA, USC, Harvey Mudd,…
At our mid-year offsite our partnership at Upfront Ventures was discussing what the future of venture capital and the startup ecosystem looked like. From 2019 to May 2022, the market was down considerably with public valuations down 53–79% across the four sectors we were reviewing (it is since down even further).==> Aside, we also have…
No matter what you do for a living, you deal with all kinds of risks daily — whether it’s operational hiccups, financial uncertainty, or potential reputation hits.No matter what you do for a living, you deal with all kinds of risks daily — whether it’s operational hiccups, financial uncertainty, or potential reputation hits. But it’s…
Ok, this has to be one of the most meta projects I’ve worked on: a piece of digital content about digital content — but, hey, it’s an important one.Ok, this has to be one of the most meta projects I’ve worked on: a piece of digital content about digital content — but, hey, it’s an…
As a freelance writer, I’m always receiving and reviewing scope of work documents. These digital documents help me maintain clarity, so I know who’s responsible for what and when tasks are due.As a freelance writer, I’m always receiving and reviewing scope of work documents. These digital documents help me maintain clarity, so I know who’s…
Consumers increasingly care about sustainability, and sustainable marketing practices are your vehicle for connection.Consumers increasingly care about sustainability, and sustainable marketing practices are your vehicle for connection. Consumers value sustainability so much they’re willing to pay 9.7% more for sustainable products. HubSpot’s State of Consumer Trends report also found that buyers take a company’s environmental…
I‘ve been designing images for websites for about seven years now, so I’ve come across many tools that make the process simple.I‘ve been designing images for websites for about seven years now, so I’ve come across many tools that make the process simple. If you want to create or incorporate compelling images into your brand‘s…
I’ve worked in digital marketing for over ten years and always look for ways to improve my marketing analysis and reporting. Having worked in leading digital agencies and my own multi-channel agency, media mix modeling (MMM) is paramount in my work.I’ve worked in digital marketing for over ten years and always look for ways to…
When it comes to video, we marketers often focus the conversation on short-form video — no surprise, given this can be the most engaging format. Regardless of length, for me personally, some of the most impactful marketing content I’ve seen has been in interactive videos.When it comes to video, we marketers often focus the conversation…
I started Morning Brew during my senior year at the University of Michigan while helping students prepare for job interviews.I started Morning Brew during my senior year at the University of Michigan while helping students prepare for job interviews. When I asked them how they stayed up-to-date with business news, they all gave similar answers.…
Choosing the right large language model can feel overwhelming with so many options out there, especially if you’re not exactly living and breathing AIChoosing the right large language model can feel overwhelming with so many options out there, especially if you’re not exactly living and breathing AI But as we’ve worked through each one, we’ve…
During the last 15 years I’ve worked at a few companies, and looking back, most of them relied on tried-and-tested types of marketing methods like paid ads, email marketing, and SEO.During the last 15 years I’ve worked at a few companies, and looking back, most of them relied on tried-and-tested types of marketing methods like…
A lot of marketers are guilty of paying too much attention to keyword volumes and not enough to what the content should cover. As a result, they produce large volumes of content that lack engagement and don’t convert. That’s even true for pieces that are well-written.A lot of marketers are guilty of paying too much…
I know that Instagram is primarily about sharing striking visuals — images, videos, promotions, and even acting as a storefront for one’s business. But in truth, I spend much more time reposting other people’s content than my own.I know that Instagram is primarily about sharing striking visuals — images, videos, promotions, and even acting as…
What do cross-country road trips, wedding speeches, and social media marketing have in common? Planning. I definitely can’t help you with your road trip or wedding speech (sorry), but I can help you create a social media content calendar to organize your next marketing campaign.What do cross-country road trips, wedding speeches, and social media marketing…
If you’re here because you’re wondering how to make a good PowerPoint, you’re in the right place. Let’s just hope it’s not the night before the big day.If you’re here because you’re wondering how to make a good PowerPoint, you’re in the right place. Let’s just hope it’s not the night before the big day.…
A few years back, I remember walking into my favorite pastry shop and effortlessly flipping through a glossy, laminated menu before ordering. Now, every time I dine out, I’m handed a table tent instructing me to scan a QR code with my phone to browse the menu.A few years back, I remember walking into my…
Imagine the leaders who inspire you — each with their own leadership style, driving success in unique ways. I think leadership styles are important enough to shape how businesses operate, influence company culture, and impact team performance.Imagine the leaders who inspire you — each with their own leadership style, driving success in unique ways. I…
In my early days as a solopreneur, I often drowned in an endless list of tasks (more often than I’d like.) Every item on my to-do list felt urgent, and I was constantly pulled in different directions.In my early days as a solopreneur, I often drowned in an endless list of tasks (more often than…
Designing an optimized landing page isn’t just a task — it’s an art form. If you want a landing page that doesn’t just exist but actively converts, you need to master the craft of conversion-centered design (CCD). Ready to level up?Designing an optimized landing page isn’t just a task — it’s an art form. If…