From academia and startups to manufacturers and customers, true innovation is a collaboration from start to finish. We've been working closely with customers to create solutions that deliver real value. It's not enough for something to be technologically possible; it needs to also be relevant, timely and meaningful for the people who will use it. That's why our approach involves getting solutions into people's hands quickly, gathering real-life feedback and continuously improving. To Build Better, we need to understand why it matters. Take a look at the full Building Better episode here: https://brnw.ch/21wW3LL #BuildingBetter #MakingTheWorldABetterHome

I’ve sat in too many investor meetings where founders proudly show off their tech… Only to watch investors’ eyes glaze over when it’s time to talk about numbers. Here’s the thing: 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻’𝘁 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗯𝘂𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻. 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆’𝗿𝗲 𝗯𝘂𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝘀𝗵 𝗳𝗹𝗼𝘄𝘀. And they run every opportunity through the same mental checklist: 1️⃣ 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐭𝐡 –How much cash will this business generate? 2️⃣ 𝐑𝐢𝐬𝐤 – How certain are those cash flows? 3️⃣ 𝐑𝐞𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧 𝐨𝐧 𝐜𝐚𝐩𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 – How much investment is required to keep the engine running? 4️⃣ 𝐌𝐨𝐚𝐭 – How long can you keep competitors at bay? If your pitch doesn’t clearly address all four, you’re leaving your valuation in the hands of guesswork. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗸𝘀 I’ve seen don’t just tell a story about the science. They translate science into business value. They 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝘁𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁, 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝘆, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗻𝘀｡ When you frame your pitch through these four factors, two things happen: ✅ Investors understand where the value comes from ✅ You stop being “just another MedTech startup” and start looking like a business they can actually back Most founders obsess over their slides. But slides don’t secure funding—clarity does. ✍️ Which of these four factors do you think most startups miss? ♻️ Share this with a founder who’s preparing their next investor pitch. www.medtechgrowth.org At Medtech Growth, I help early-stage founders align their strategy, positioning, and execution, so investors see more than technology; they see a company worth funding. 🚀 #medtech #funding #investordeck

Great conversation yesterday on Nasdaq’s #TradeTalks with Mayor Brandon Scott — spotlighting how Baltimore and Maryland are becoming a convergence point for startups, life sciences, and AI innovation. Our region’s growth engine is being powered by collaboration across sectors from university labs to venture investors to civic and business leadership. Watch Full Interview: https://lnkd.in/eG5ieGxn Greater Baltimore Committee | #EconomicDevelopment | #TechHub

“The Day Everything Changed for One Startup” I once worked with a MedTech startup that struggled to explain its breakthrough device. Investors were interested — but confused. Regulators had questions. Momentum was slipping away. Then, they invested in rewriting their white paper. We focused on clarity, strategy, and storytelling. Within weeks: Investor calls became smoother. Approvals moved faster. They closed their funding round. The device didn’t change. The message did. That’s the power of a strong white paper. #GrowthStrategy #MedTechInnovation #WhitePapers #MedicalDevices #InvestorPitch

Why “bad ideas” might be the best place to start… We loved this recent blog from our Tech Series by Jonathan Lewis — “Bad Ideas Can Still Be Valid” is a reminder that innovation often begins with uncertainty, friction, and the courage to challenge assumptions. If you’re building something new, backing bold ideas, or just curious about how early-stage founders navigate uncertainty, this one’s worth a read. Our Tech Team — Lewis, Dave R. and Murray Chapman — sits at the heart of the Geovation community, offering technical expertise, connecting startups to our wider network, and helping founders find the right tools to grow. 👉 Read the blog and explore how embracing “bad ideas” might just be the smartest move you make. https://lnkd.in/ey6a_z7f #LocationIntelligence #TechForGood

The one thing successful founders have in common? The way they think about failure. While most people see a broken prototype as embarrassment, founders see data. While most people hear "that's impossible" and walk away, founders hear "nobody's figured it out yet" and lean in. As part of LaunchVic’s BOLD series, five founders have shared what it really takes to build companies that matter. Not unicorn theatre - real businesses solving real problems. The patterns that emerged weren't what you'd expect. Being delusional enough to start but smart enough to pivot. That pit-in-your-stomach feeling of wasting potential being stronger than any passion or vision. And being absolutely certain about their big picture future but completely flexible about everything else. Like, knowing you will change healthcare, and that big idea came from just one customer call. And the whole "you need to move to Silicon Valley" thing? That wasn’t the case for these founders, who built everything they needed right where they started. The difference isn't what they know. It's how they process doubt. Which of these mindsets are you missing? ➡️ launchvic.org/bold #Founders #StartupMindset #BOLD Jeanette Cheah 💁🏻♀️ | HEX Dr. Anushi (Kulasiri) Rajapaksa | Misti Kai Van Lieshout | Lyrebird Health Matt Allen | Tractor Ventures Bennett Merriman | Rosterfy

Has commercial space hit its tipping point? 🚀 That was the big question on the latest episode of Generation Space, where we were thrilled to welcome Dylan Taylor, CEO & Chairman at Voyager Technologies, for a deep-dive conversation with Seraphim’s Leah Martin and Dr. Maureen Haverty. Together, they explored: 🌌 How private markets are fuelling the sector’s expansion 💸 What today’s funding environment means for space startups 🛰️ How industries on Earth are already relying on space infrastructure 🏁 And what it really takes to scale in this next phase of commercial space Catch the full episode of Generation Space here 👉 https://lnkd.in/eEEXMgcY 🎧 Check out Dylan discussing Voyager's commercial ventures below. #SpaceTech #VentureCapital #CommercialSpace #GenerationSpace #SeraphimSpace

On My Mind: Idan's Thought of the Week ***LA TECH WEEK: THE CITY IS BUILDING*** This past week, LA Tech Week brought together founders, investors, and the broader innovation ecosystem across the city ... and the momentum was undeniable 🚅. San Francisco and New York continue to thrive as leading venture hubs (and we’re deeply active in both), but Los Angeles is special — it’s where we were founded and where entrepreneurial DNA runs deep. From the creative industries to the dreamers chasing ambitious ideas, LA has always been a city that builds. A few takeaways from the week 👇: 🚀 FOUNDERS ARE HUNGRY: We hosted a Founders Breakfast with over 500 RSVPs and nearly 200 attendees. The appetite for venture capital and company-building in LA is stronger than ever. 🤖 AI IS EVERYWHERE: Across panels, meetups, and conversations, one theme was consistent >> every company is now an AI company. It’s a must-have on every founder’s strategy board. 🌎 DIVERSITY OF INNOVATION: LA is no longer just consumer and media. We saw incredible founders across govtech, cybersecurity, fintech, field services, e-commerce, supply chain, and of course defense tech / deep tech (see: El Segundo). It’s a special time to be building and investing in the future. With the efficiencies enabled by AI, more can be accomplished with fewer resources than ever before. Couldn’t be more excited about the earliest stages of innovation and investing in the next wave of industry-defining companies! (Week 40/52) #venturecapital #vc #startups #entrepreneurship #innovation #investing #ai #tech #latechweek #losangeles #building #creation

Recently had the opportunity to engage with Marc Andreessen as he delved into the captivating history and ethos of Silicon Valley alongside Charlie Songhurst and John Collison. The discussion unraveled the core elements propelling the Valley's distinct essence: a foundation of trust, a pioneering appetite for risk, and an unyielding commitment to continuous innovation—regardless of market fluctuations. Marc's anecdotes shed light on the art of identifying market bubbles in real-time and the regret of missing out on promising ventures. The dialogue delves into how market downturns filter out opportunists, the significance of building trust in the venture capital realm, and what truly distinguishes Silicon Valley as a global innovation powerhouse. It's a profound exploration of the intricate patterns, human psychology, and evolving dynamics that have been instrumental in shaping the tech landscape over the years. This discussion is a must-watch for those intrigued by technology, startups, or seeking insight into the DNA of innovation. #SiliconValley #VentureCapital #Technology #Innovation https://lnkd.in/gpy2zhgf

𝗜𝘁’𝘀 #𝗦𝗙𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗺𝗮𝘇𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴! Shoutout to FRONTIER CVC FORUM & DeepTech Nexus “Physical AI” Edition and Omni Ventures for hosting! Key insights on #CorporateInnovation and #Venture challenges: ✔️ Yamaha Motors ($300M under management) highlighted that balance sheet investments are tied to business unit approvals — a very time-consuming process that can take six months or more. ✔️ Collaborating with business units is often tricky: as CVC or Corporate Innovation teams, you can’t control PoCs, but you can control KPIs. The team’s real value often lies in deal sourcing and strategic alignment. ✔️ Series A is typically the right stage for investment, while Series B or later is better suited for deeper collaboration. ✔️ Startups frequently encounter “PoC hell” — resource-intensive and slow. Large companies rarely have budgets for quick PoCs, so success depends on finding a real problem worth solving // Good point of Henry Chung: It might be wise to have a special budget that the innovation team can inject where needed. Key takeaway: Innovation is a marathon, not a sprint — but with the right alignment between startups, CVCs, and business units, the potential impact can be transformative. Great seeing old & new friends: Kei of #YamahaMotorsVentures, Jake and Arman of #PorscheVentures, Jason of #ArmentiCapital, Samantha of #BMWiVentures, Dennis former #FordVentures, Henry former head of #HyundaiCradle, Simon of #OmniVentures and I hope Jay Onda who was co-organizing is feeling better today! #DeepTech #CVC #Innovation #TechWeek #SanFrancisco #MazdaSiliconValley #JoyOfDriving