Breaking Barriers of VC Edition 8

Welcome to Breaking Barriers of VC, Edition 8.

What a year it has been. We finally experienced our first snowfall in NYC (before I traveled out of town) — nothing crazy, but enough to bring that unmistakable holiday feeling to the city. The lights, the energy, and the crisp winter air have made it official: the holidays are here.

As I reflect on this whirlwind of a year, I can’t help but marvel at how quickly time has flown by. The momentum from 2024 has been incredible, and the ramp-up for 2025 is already in full swing. It’s hard to believe how much we’ve accomplished and how much more lies ahead.

Looking back on this year, it’s nothing short of remarkable to see how far we’ve come together. From the connections we’ve built to the conversations we’ve sparked, this has truly been a year of Breaking Barriers and reaching new heights.

2024 Highlights:

• Launched: SPANVentures. (venture firm) & Breaking Barriers of VC (venture media)

• Community Impact: BBVC connected over 5,000 individuals across our events, newsletter, and media initiatives.

• Thought-Provoking Panels: From Did Investors Get it Right?, to The State of AI to What’s Up with the Fundraising Climate, we hosted 10 panels featuring VCs, founders, and operators as panelists.

• Investments: since launching in early 2024, SPANVentures. has strategically built a portfolio reflecting a commitment to underrepresented founders and groundbreaking opportunities

• Exclusive Gatherings: Intimate dinners curated for GPs, LPs, and VCs, with meaningful discussions and new collaborations forged + creating a series of events for Founder / Funder connections all through BBVC

• Philanthropy: We hosted, The Gala (featuring on Edition 9 of BBVC Newsletter)

• Growth in Media: The Breaking Barriers of VC Podcast went live, bringing insightful stories of first checks, pivots, and founder journeys to our community. (most recent podcast dropped featuring Alex Chung of Chai Ventures)

Looking Ahead to 2025:
We’re kicking off the new year with New Year, New Check on January 14th, the first event in an exciting 2025 lineup. With even more panels, networking opportunities, and collaborations on the horizon, BBVC will continue breaking barriers in the venture space.

Stay tuned for our full 2025 programming schedule, and don’t hesitate to reach out if you’d like to collaborate or partner with us in the new year!

Thank you for being a part of the BBVC journey. Here's to an even brighter 2025!

Upcoming BBVC Events

1) BBVC Presents, New Year New Check @ Cooley LLP featuring a panel of 4 VCs - January 14th

2) BBVC Presents, a “Dryish” Dinner for VCs and Seed Stage+ founders,

Unique Startups via SPANVentures.

like to see early-stage deal flow? Join the Syndicate

deal flow to be shared for Edition 9

Open-Ended Thought Dive: Black Friday Isn’t The Same - Is Consumer Stagnant?

Black Friday has evolved significantly over the past decade. Once a single, frenzied day of in-store deals, it has transformed into a week-long (or longer) event, with "Black Friday" now often encompassing online promotions, pre-sales, and extended discounts. This shift begs the question: is Black Friday losing its impact as a distinct shopping event?

Retailers have adapted their strategies to align with changing consumer behaviors. By extending sales over several days, they aim to reduce operational stress and tap into shoppers’ growing preference for convenience. For example, in 2022, U.S. consumers spent $9.12 billion online on Black Friday alone, with Cyber Monday hitting $11.3 billion, marking the largest online shopping day of the year. The extended shopping period, often dubbed "Cyber Week," contributed to an impressive $35.3 billion in total e-commerce revenue during that time​.

However, this dilution of Black Friday into a broader timeline might be causing its traditional allure to fade. Shoppers now expect year-round deals, often opting to wait for targeted discounts during seasonal sales rather than relying solely on Black Friday. The surge in mid-year events like Amazon’s Prime Day further supports this trend, as these events offer competitive deals without the seasonal frenzy​.

At the same time, the economic context plays a role: rising costs have encouraged more strategic shopping, with consumers planning purchases weeks in advance to maximize savings (also bringing in to the foray of Buy Now Pay Later platforms). Despite this, some analysts argue that retailers' over-extension of discounts might inadvertently devalue the significance of Black Friday itself (in my opinion, it has).

Is Black Friday stagnant? It’s starting to feel that way. While the shopping event continues to generate massive revenue, its format has undeniably changed, adapting to the evolving landscape of retail and consumer behavior. No longer the singular highlight of the holiday shopping season, Black Friday now serves as one of many tools in a retailer’s promotional arsenal. This shift underscores a broader transformation in consumer expectations—where the allure of flexibility, convenience, and year-round deals increasingly define modern shopping habits. Today’s shoppers value the ability to make informed purchases on their terms, often prioritizing seamless online experiences, personalized offers, and sustainable practices. In this context, Black Friday is less a grand finale and more a strategic component of a dynamic, omnichannel approach to engaging customers.

Thoughts?

COMMUNITY ASK:

• If you want to co-host an event this year, email me.

• I want to bring BBVC to other cities across the country, if you have a suggestion, let me know.

About Edition 8’s Sponsor: SASCO Inc

SASCO Inc. is a global leader in serving promotional products to Fortune 500 companies, the Federal Government, and SMBs. If you need any type of promotional products/marketing campaign initiatives, please reach out and I’ll put you in touch with a representative.

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