👊🏽 Equality, +$400K in funding opptys, startup deal stats and trends, VC 101, book reccos and more
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Monique Woodard (Cake), Giovanna Abramo & Lorena Ostos (Plenna), Anna Raptis (Amplifica)
Monday was Martin Luther King (MLK) Day, and I couldn't help but feel inspired by all the amazing things he did for the Civil Rights Movement. And yet, as a person of color (POC), I'm reminded of how much we, as a community, still have to do to achieve true equality and justice for all. So, I invite you to honor MLK by coming together to make change happen this year. Here are a few ways to get started:
Stand in solidarity and speak out against discrimination.
Hire POC into leadership and check-writing roles.
If you are accredited, invest in the best startups or funds led by POC founders.
If you want to help but don’t have the cash, read up on how to combat white supremacy and white fragility.
Become a mentor and spread the gospel of diversity and inclusion.
Personally, I believe that speaking up against racism is crucial, even though it's uncomfortable. At Ganas Ventures, we’re proud that we are a 100% POC-owned and led company, with a team that is 75% POC, and a portfolio that is 100% BIPOC-led ( 👀 2023 Ganas Overview). I actively educate myself on the POC-LGBTQ community, and am currently reading "Brown Neon" by Raquel Gutierrez. Additionally, I am constantly creating content (📝 VC 101/LP 101 posts) and events (🗓️ Ganas Expert Series) to empower our community to succeed in the startup-VC world.
Start where you are, and let’s take action today. By working together, we can build a more just and equitable society, opening doors of opportunity for our communities and creating a brighter, more prosperous future for all.
And happy year of the 🐰 rabbit!
✨ Lolita Taub, GP at Ganas Ventures | twitter | luma
Recently in Forbes, Nasdaq, LinkedIn News, and Techcrunch
Congrats
Mala Gaonkar for raising a $1.8B hedge fund. Adrian and Senofer Mendoza for announcing the first close of Mendoza Ventures's $100M fund III. Monique Woodard for raising $17M for Cake Ventures Fund I. Anna Raptis for raising $11M for Amplifica Capital's Fund I. Rachel ten Brink for raising capital for Red Bike Capital from Bank of America. Giovanna Abramo and Lorena Ostos for raising $4.4M for Plenna. Calanthia Mei and Brendan Playford for launching Masa's (port co) Masa Mainnet.
Sponsored | Calling all CPG founders! Target Accelerators, the premier accelerator for retail startups, is accepting applications for its 2023 programs! Apply through February 3rd. Pro tip: Read this guide and join Target's Ask Me Anything webinar on January 26th for tips to help your app stand out.
Funders
Pitchbook | Read about the VC fund fundraising record set in 2022
Crunchbase | See M&A deal count stats for 2021 & 2022
Carta | Get 2021 & 2022 median cash raised numbers for early-stage cos
Startup-Investor Matching Tool | VCs: meet thesis-aligned underrepresented founders
Sponsored | Want to learn about early-stage VC funds? Check out our Ganas Ventures post: Early-stage micro-fund VC 101: What Investors, Founders & Scouts Should Know. It covers everything from the basics of early-stage VC to the economics of a fund.
Founders
Asking for a founder | Explore deal structures for revenue generating investors
Asking for a founder | Read these first-time founder top reccommended books
Asking for a founder | Get tips on how to navigate this market & maintain sanity
LaaS | Underrepresented founders: get resources made for you
Sponsored | Round is a network of senior product leaders who want to build meaningful relationships and increase their impact–while inspiring each other. Apply here and mention Ganas to skip the waitlist.
Money
Rough Draft | Student founders: apply to win $100K by 1/23
Stitch Crew | Femtech founders: apply for $10K grants by 1/27
Venture Miami | Florida founders: apply to win $15K by 1/27
LACI | Cleantech founders: apply for $50-150K by 1/28
Target | CPG founders: apply for $5K by 2/3
Ganas | Community-driven founders: apply for $100K
Fearless Fund | Black women founders: apply for $10K grants
SoGal Foundation | Black women founders: apply for $5-$10K in grants
1863 Ventures | Black founders: apply to get a 3Rs $5K grants
Non-dilutive capital | Create a profile to find non-dilutive capital
Equity Crowdfunding | Raise up to $5 million
Startup-Investor Matching Tool | Founders: get intros to investors
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