Notley Ventures is a venture capital firm that invests in early stage private companies, funds, and other ventures. The firm partners with founders to support innovations in various industries.

Notley Ventures

Founded in 2015, Notley is a hybrid venture capital & philanthropic organization that takes an integrated approach to creating systemic change.  We make investments and incubate companies that drive high profit and best in class returns so we can fund our philanthropic efforts and produce outstanding returns for our partners. We are entrepreneurs and operators first. We have built companies and know what it takes to win and will be there every step of the way. We love what we do and we are in this together!

Navigating the world of venture capital is complex, but 3 things help (a lot):

1. Product Market Fit 💪🏼
2. Business Model Clarity ☁️
3. Team Dynamics 👬

Curious? Let us explain..

Securing VC funding is a pivotal step for startups looking to scale operations in a major way in shorter time. However, the journey to successfully closing a funding round is challenging, even in the best of times. In 2024, when VC & Angel Capital is constricted, it is even more of a challenge.

So, what can a founder do to help secure VC? After countless founder pitches at Springdale Ventures, we can tell you these 3 things are essential:

1. Product Market Fit 💪🏼
One of the primary hurdles for founders is proving a strong product-market fit and the potential for scalability. Many startups struggle to demonstrate two things: 1) how their product meets an unaddressed need (a REAL need that consumers experience) and 2) how their product stands out in a crowded market.

2. Business Model Clarity ☁️
Another challenge is presenting a clear, viable business model for now and the future. Investors need to understand how your business will generate profit and strong growth over time. This includes adding new revenue streams, plans to lower costs with operational efficiencies, adding audience segments, and anticipating challenges.

3. Team Dynamics 👬
The strength and cohesion of the founding team are crucial. Investors look for teams with complementary skills, a shared vision, good communication skills and resilience. Teams must prove they can navigate the startup journey with all the complications in relationships that are inevitable.

What do you find difficult about pitching for funding? Ask a question in the comments and we'll share our insights. 👍

#venturecapital #cpgindustry

This morning, Amanda Salinas with ‘Good Day Austin’ (KTBC Fox 7) ran a story about my career and philanthropy in Central Texas, while also highlighting my efforts in San Antonio over the next several months. Watching it back, I was reminded that nobody expects homelessness to be a part of their life story, let alone the catalyst for so much good. 

To be transparent, I never told my parents, who could have bailed me out, until years later because I wanted to carve my own path and identity, no matter how difficult. Ultimately it was when I found a sense of community and belonging among my affiliations that helped me push through to where I am today. 

I am thankful for nonprofits such as the Human Rights Campaign, United Way for Greater Austin and ZACH Theatre that have poured an invaluable amount of resources into my development and for organizations like Forbes, Austin Under 40 Awards, Notley Ventures, Austin LGBT Chamber of Commerce and Leadership Austin, among others, for giving me a platform to amplify my voice and ideas.

Lastly, y’all know how I feel about my employer, ECPR Texas, but I can't state it enough—it really is the thread that allows me to do what I do. 

Couldn’t be happier. Thanks for following along!

“If you're not constantly testing, you're going to be tested constantly.”

― Henry Joseph-Grant, Award-Winning Tech Entrepreneur

These wise words from Henry got us thinking. "Testing" is something that our most successful portfolio companies do ALL the time. They are out there making an impact because they are testing the market and disrupting it with cutting-edge ideas. So, how do they do it?

⭐️ Test (and prove!) product market fit with an MVP
⭐️ Discover problems they can create new solutions for via social listening
⭐️ Poll and survey customers for improvements and suggestions
⭐️ Event activations to test their products with real consumers

Do you have more methods to add? Share with us below!

#productmarketfit #venturecapital #startuptips

2024 Austin Venture Capital Market: 

Brex
Capital Factory
8VC
Breyer Capital 
Sapphire Ventures
LiveOak Venture Partners
Bedrock
Silverton Partners
Next Coast Ventures
S3 Ventures
Andreessen Horowitz
Gigafund
Trust Ventures
ATX Venture Partners
iFly.vc
FirstMile Ventures
Supercharge VC
Antler
Conscience VC
Seaplane Ventures
Theory Ventures
BuildGroup
Vista Equity Partners
Elsewhere Partners
Ironspring Ventures
In-Q-Tel
TXV Partners
Restive Ventures
True Wealth Ventures
The Artemis Fund  
SANTÉ
Notley Ventures
Avalanche VC 
Fifth Wall
Ecliptic Capital
Sixth Street
PLUS Capital
Moontower Group
Ensemble VC
Scout Ventures
Heartcore Capital 

*Not exhaustive, who am I missing?

Do you know what university in your state has had the highest number of unicorn founders study there?
 
In one of my previous posts (https://lnkd.in/daF5Hg_Y), I showed how clustered founder-producing universities are. What caught my eye was that 49 out of 50 states (excluding Alaska) have at least one unicorn founder who graduated from a university there. 
 
In some states, a single college is the primary “breeding” ground for unicorn founders within that state. Here are the universities that can claim 5+ unicorn founders and whose alumni make up at least 60% of all unicorn founders who studied in that state:
- Dartmouth College: 27 of 31 unicorn founders from New Hampshire (87%)
- Brown University: 29 of 37 unicorn founders from Rhode Island (78%)
- Yale University: 69 of 94 unicorn founders from Connecticut (73%)
- University of Wisconsin-Madison: 31 of 43 unicorn founders from Wisconsin (72%)
- Princeton University: 40 of 59 unicorn founders from New Jersey (68%)
- The University of New Mexico: 8 of 12 unicorn founders from New Mexico (68%)
- University of Minnesota: 16 of 25 unicorn founders from Minnesota (64%)
- Brigham Young University: 39 of 65 unicorn founders from Utah (60%).-
 
The chart shows the university with the highest number of unicorn founders in that state. Although we often hear about the top American universities driving innovation and startups, many other universities that don’t receive as much attention still play a vital role in this mission.
 
Are you surprised to see the university that tops the list in your state?
 
Thank you to the Stanford University Graduate School of Business Venture Capital Initiative team for spearheading this research.

#stanford #stanfordgsb #venturecapital #startups #innovation #technology #bestbystate

Thank you Keystone Bank for the awesome spotlight! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

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