Breaking Barriers of VC, EDITION 9

Welcome to Breaking Barriers of VC, Edition 9.

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Welcome to 2025… and somehow, it’s already March. This year is flying by.

From the close of 2024 into the new year, we’ve been on a roll—hosting The Gala, an unforgettable night of networking and philanthropy, kicking off 2025 with our New Year, New Check panel (where we broke down key trends and deals from 2024 and what’s ahead—catch the recording on our YouTube Channel), and bringing together some of our favorite founders and investors for our Monthly Dinner Series.

On the media front, we’re focused on scaling our Breaking Barriers of VC podcast. If you haven’t yet, check out our latest episode with Naomi linked here—it’s a must-listen.

We’ve also got an exciting slate of events coming up, and we’re building out a brand-new initiative in collaboration with our friend Illias from Tapped AI—introducing CreatorWeek. More to come on CreatorWeek in Edition 10.

Meanwhile, on the venture side, we’re deep in diligence across the insurtech and consumer space, so if you are building within those domains, please reach out.

Lots in motion, and plenty more to come. Stay tuned!

Upcoming Events for Breaking Barriers of VC:

1) BBVC x Vanessa from all.in.all present, a Soiree, March 6th

2) BBVC Presents, a Monthly Dinner, for B2B SaaS Founder/Investors March 25th

3) BBVC Presents, A Monthly Dinner, for early-stage founders, April 16th 

4) Presenting: CREATORWEEK. May 28-30th. Stay tuned.

Deals via SPANVentures.

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

1) Eden Labs: New York technology company founded by Sofia Assab and Devon Tietjen. Their product is a data infrastructure middleware that allows enterprises to access real-time data, from anywhere in the organization, with a unified API. This product was developed following several months of customer discovery conversations. Enterprises shared their struggles working with distributed real-time data, and with recent AI adoption, they need a solution. This pain is universal among enterprises, and due to the unique technical challenges, is nearly impossible for organizations to implement themselves. (SPANVentures. has an active allocation, please reach out if interested)

2) Vaultik: Vaultik is the Digital Vault that protects and connects luxury brands and their customers through every product purchased. Vaultik generates digital certificates of physical products that can be digitally worn and used to unlock insurance, immersive experiences, exclusive communication channels and authenticated re-sell. All products are secured by a blockchain-based certificate of ownership, which will also allow brands to benefit from secondary market transactions. (SPANVentures. has an active allocation, please reach out if interested)

3) Vently: Vently is an online social platform with a map-forward interface aimed at bringing local communities together through user-to-user events while connecting users to SMBs with community-to-user events.

Open-Ended Thought Dive: The Great Migration of Talent

Up until recently, a position in the federal government meant stability, benefits, and long-term job security. Now, it seems that no one is safe from "efficient job cuts." Since Donald Trump was sworn into office, his administration has initiated an unprecedented downsizing of the federal workforce, aiming to cut up to $1 trillion in government spending. This effort, led by the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) aka Elon Musk, set out to streamline bureaucracy but instead resulted in widespread layoffs across agencies. The IRS alone saw 7,000 employees terminated, while a hiring freeze and voluntary buyout programs created further uncertainty. Essential programs, including Ebola prevention and veteran support, faced abrupt funding cuts, leading to public backlash and forcing the administration to reconsider aspects of its aggressive approach. Yet, despite some reversals, the broader strategy of large-scale government downsizing remains firmly in motion.

Beyond government agencies, the ripple effects of these cuts have extended deep into the private sector, particularly in industries that rely on federal contracts. Defense contractors, in particular, have been significantly affected, with companies like MVM Inc. and L3Harris Technologies announcing mass layoffs. In Texas alone, hundreds of workers lost their jobs, raising concerns about broader economic instability in regions heavily dependent on government spending. With nearly 475,000 federal positions potentially on the chopping block, the effects of these reductions are expected to be far-reaching. Communities that rely on federal employees as a core part of their local economies may face increased unemployment, declining consumer spending, and long-term business contractions as the shockwaves continue to spread.

For the workers now entering the private sector, the transition is proving to be anything but seamless. Some highly skilled individuals may find opportunities in industries eager to tap into their experience, while others face an oversaturated job market with limited openings. The private sector may not be equipped to absorb such a sudden influx of job seekers, leading to longer periods of unemployment for many. Additionally, the federal government itself faces long-term risks due to the loss of institutional knowledge, which could hinder its ability to function effectively in the years ahead. The scale of these layoffs suggests a fundamental shift in the relationship between government and labor, but whether this shift results in greater efficiency or prolonged instability remains an open question.

Ultimately, the true impact of these workforce reductions will depend on how both the public and private sectors adapt. If companies and policymakers work together to create job placement initiatives, retraining programs, and economic stimulus efforts, this transition could spark new opportunities in emerging industries. However, if job losses continue to outpace hiring and critical government functions remain understaffed, the economic and social consequences could deepen, leading to disruptions in essential services and increased hardship for many communities. As the country navigates this dramatic restructuring, one pressing question remains: Will these cuts create a leaner, more effective government, or will they introduce new crises that outweigh the intended cost savings?

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