nextview 2015 year in review
TRANSCRIPT
recapping investments, support experiments and our firm’s biggest, most important theme
2015 YEAR IN REVIEW
@NextViewVC
NextViewVentures.com
Common VC advice to founders is to focus on being great at one thing.
Common VC advice to founders is to focus on being great at one thing.
But when it comes to seed investing VCs rarely heed that very same advice.
At NextView, we believe…
The FOCUSED PLAYER WILL ALWAYS WIN.
The FOCUSED PLAYER WILL ALWAYS WIN.
At NextView, we believe…
So in 2015, we decided to triple down on this idea.
So in 2015, we decided to triple down on this idea.
We’ve always focused on having one great product, but this year, we focused on how to better articulate our place in
the tech startup ecosystem:
So in 2015, we decided to triple down on this idea.
We are high conviction, hands-on seed investors.
We’ve always focused on having one great product, but this year, we focused on how to better articulate our place in
the tech startup ecosystem:
We call this a “craft brewer” approach to VC.
(This is the entrance to our office.)
We call this a “craft brewer” approach to VC.
“[Craft brewers] take the same basic ingredients as everyone else and create products that are bold and
different. How do they do it?An uncompromising focus
on being the very best at one thing.”
We call this a “craft brewer” approach to VC.
(BTW, these aren’t beer brands. They’re our portfolio companies.
Each startup gets theirown customized, craft label
incorporating their logo.)
We call this a “craft brewer” approach to VC.
This theme also informed the ways we helped entrepreneurs.
And it guided the firm as we grew our team.
This theme also informed the ways we helped entrepreneurs.
Here’s a look at our 2015…
And it guided the firm as we grew our team.
This theme also informed the ways we helped entrepreneurs.
First, we increased our focus on a single but crucial problem area facing all early-stage startups…
Traction
First, we increased our focus on a single but crucial problem area facing all early-stage startups…
To help, we got busy launching things.
To help, we got busy launching things.
TRACTION TRACTION the podcast the podcast
Listen
To help, we got busy launching things.
TRACTION TRACTION the podcast the podcast
PLATFORM PLATFORM of resources of resources
Listen Explore
To help, we got busy launching things.
TRACTION TRACTION the podcast the podcast
PLATFORM PLATFORM of resources of resources
SYSTEMS SYSTEMS for hiring & Series A for hiring & Series A
Listen Explore Portfolio Only
“Wait, what does ‘platform’ actually mean?” Here’s what we’re up to with this idea at NextView:
“Wait, what does ‘platform’ actually mean?” Here’s what we’re up to with this idea at NextView:
WE WANT TO BUILD THE WORLD’S BEST SITE ABOUT GAINING TRACTION IN ANYTHING
IMPORTANT TO YOUR STARTUP
“Wait, what does ‘platform’ actually mean?” Here’s what we’re up to with this idea at NextView:
WE WANT TO BUILD THE WORLD’S BEST SITE ABOUT GAINING TRACTION IN ANYTHING
IMPORTANT TO YOUR STARTUP
product + design marketing + growth
fundraising hiring + talent startup stories
“Wait, what does ‘platform’ actually mean?” Here’s what we’re up to with this idea at NextView:
WE WANT TO BUILD THE WORLD’S BEST SITE ABOUT GAINING TRACTION IN ANYTHING
IMPORTANT TO YOUR STARTUP
product + design marketing + growth
fundraising hiring + talent startup stories
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Second, we dedicated more resources to helping Boston & New York (where 80% of our portfolio lives & works)
Each Has unique challenges
Each has unique challenges
Each deserves
unique support
Each deserves
unique support
(where 80% of our portfolio lives & works)
Second, we dedicated more resources to helping Boston & New York
This included hiring someone great to focus on New York 100% of the time.
TIM DEVANE Principal@tdevane
previously:
TIM DEVANE Principal@tdevane
previously:
We also renewed our commitment to supporting Boston with various initiatives.
with speakers from:
This included hiring someone great to focus on New York 100% of the time.
Third, we focused our entire world on truly early investing.
The definition “seed” is rapidly changing, and it can be maddening as an
entrepreneur to know if an investor is a fit. This year, we kept it simple:
FIRST VC
Third, we focused our entire world on truly early investing.
The definition “seed” is rapidly changing, and it can be maddening as an
entrepreneur to know if an investor is a fit. This year, we kept it simple:
We’re your first VC investor.
Third, we focused our entire world on truly early investing.
FIRST VC
The definition “seed” is rapidly changing, and it can be maddening as an
entrepreneur to know if an investor is a fit. This year, we kept it simple:
We’re your first VC investor.
Seed, pre-seed, genesis, pre-product, pre-launch, pre-revenue – labels don’t matter as much as understanding why you exist
to those you serve. Regardless of the semantics, we serve the same purpose:
to help startups gain traction.
Third, we focused our entire world on truly early investing.
FIRST VC
The definition “seed” is rapidly changing, and it can be maddening as an
entrepreneur to know if an investor is a fit. This year, we kept it simple:
We’re your first VC investor.
Seed, pre-seed, genesis, pre-product, pre-launch, pre-revenue – labels don’t matter as much as understanding why you exist
to those you serve. Regardless of the semantics, we serve the same purpose:
to help startups gain traction.
SEEKING RAW We like to lead these rounds and invest in early,
unproven companies led by authentic founders out to solve problems that matter. For instance:
Third, we focused our entire world on truly early investing.
FIRST VC
The definition “seed” is rapidly changing, and it can be maddening as an
entrepreneur to know if an investor is a fit. This year, we kept it simple:
We’re your first VC investor.
Seed, pre-seed, genesis, pre-product, pre-launch, pre-revenue – labels don’t matter as much as understanding why you exist
to those you serve. Regardless of the semantics, we serve the same purpose:
to help startups gain traction.
7 pre-product(1 incubation)
We like to lead these rounds and invest in early, unproven companies led by authentic founders out
to solve problems that matter. For instance:
Third, we focused our entire world on truly early investing.
FIRST VC SEEKING RAW
10 investments
The definition “seed” is rapidly changing, and it can be maddening as an
entrepreneur to know if an investor is a fit. This year, we kept it simple:
We’re your first VC investor.
Seed, pre-seed, genesis, pre-product, pre-launch, pre-revenue – labels don’t matter as much as understanding why you exist
to those you serve. Regardless of the semantics, we serve the same purpose:
to help startups gain traction.
10 investments
7 pre-product(1 incubation)
* Stated investment goal.** Still not high enough!
Also Happy About: Portfolio: Half Consumer, Half B2B*
Final 3 Checks in ’15 to Women**
We like to lead these rounds and invest in early, unproven companies led by authentic founders out
to solve problems that matter. For instance:
Third, we focused our entire world on truly early investing.
FIRST VC SEEKING RAW
Fourth, we welcomed these great companies and teams into the NextView portfolio:
PRE-LAUNCH (Connected device)
PRE-LAUNCH (CONSUMER MOBILE)
PRE-LAUNCH (B2B)
YET TO ANNOUNCE (ECOMMERCE)
And lastly, we were excited about this great news. (Congrats again to all the teams involved!)
& an even better 2016 for you, your team, and your business
CHEERS TO A GREAT 2015!
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