Breaking Barriers of VC; EDITION 2

Welcome to Breaking Barriers of VC, Edition 2.

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The goal of my bi-weekly publication will be to update subscribers on deal flow, portfolio updates, and one open-ended thought-dive per two weeks on something new and interesting that I’m seeing either in the eco-system, life, or trends in NYC along with founder spotlights.

As I pondered in my apartment on how best to approach you all, various ideas flitted through my mind. Perhaps a storyboard approach or a segmented strategy? Then, I recalled one of my earliest passions: writing. So, I thought, why not? I'll simply "write" and trust that my subscribers will offer their candid feedback (I have thick skin, so don't hold back).

Last week, we had a great time hosting the latest iteration of our IRL community panel series. “The State of Consumer Social” led to a robust conversation between 4 consumer+ focused founders. Check out the hyperlink!

Unique Startups via SPANVentures.

Like to see early stage deal flow? Join the Syndicate:(https://forms.gle/3P88o7sMAx3cx5nT6)

1. Artem Fragrances: is a fragrance house that tells culturally relevant stories through scent. Using exceptional raw materials with no budget limit, prioritizing meaningful works of art through scent. Artem goes up against the best of the best fragrance houses such as Byredo, Le Labo, Maison Francis Kurkdjian, Creed, and more. Founded in 2023, Artem is now post-product, within the retailer Osswald (right on Mulberry St, NYC), and through the use of a strategic advisor, they are targeting retail distribution within Saks Fifth Avenue, Bloomingdales, and others in 2024. 

   • I am a huge fragrance connoisseur and I will solely wear Artem Fragrances for the foreseeable future. If you want to invest, let me know. 

2. ShopARI: ARI is the future of apparel shopping focused on vertical-AI personalized product curation through an intuitive, conversational user experience.

3. CLIK: Clik is especially useful for larger events, but we built it to be useful anytime you are capturing moments intended to be shared. Whether you are having a night out with friends, traveling, or at a wedding, Clik makes it fun and easy to share photos with friends. Instagram has become a feed of curated posts from people you don’t even know. Clik is a feed of authentic moments you have shared in the real world with the people that matter to you most.

   • I personally try and use CLIK whenever I can. It is the greatest way to share photos / upload photos at large events. If you want to invest, let me know.

4. VAIN: The beauty industry is stuck in the past, failing to keep pace with a tech-savvy Gen Z that demands a more personalized and data-driven shopping experience. Enter VAIN - a revolutionary approach to beauty retail powered by AI to simplify your choices in a market flooded with options. In a rapidly growing market projected to reach $100B in 2024 in the U.S. alone, our mission is to redefine retail by staying at the forefront of unbiased data and personalization, becoming a trusted voice for consumers and brands alike.

   • I personally have struggled with a proper skincare routine, and when I first met the founder, I was deeply intrigued. If you want to invest in the family/friends round, let me know.

Open-Ended Thought Dive: Opportunistic vs Problem Solver Start-Ups

In recent weeks, I've engaged in extensive dialogues with a diverse array of founders, venture capitalists, and industry operators, all centered around the elusive concept of Unicorn companies. From these conversations, I've come to believe that true Unicorn companies are helmed by founders with a steadfast commitment to tackling unique, unsolved problems within their respective markets. When I reflect on exemplary "problem solver" companies, the likes of Airbnb, Uber, and NVDA immediately come to mind, each having revolutionized their industries through innovative problem-solving.

Yet, amidst these discussions, I've also discerned a notable dichotomy between what I perceive as genuine "problem solver" companies and what I term as "opportunistic" ventures. While the former are driven by a genuine desire to address unmet needs, the latter capitalize on existing opportunities, often without fundamentally solving a pressing issue. These opportunistic endeavors may offer convenient solutions to existing inconveniences, but they may lack the transformative impact associated with true problem-solving initiatives.

This introspection prompts a broader question: When embarking on entrepreneurial endeavors, how do we approach the underlying "problem" we seek to address? Are we focused on solving a niche need with profound impact, or are we primarily seeking to exploit scalable solutions for existing inconveniences? It's a nuanced inquiry that invites entrepreneurs to critically assess their motivations and aspirations as they navigate the complex landscape of innovation and business development. Food for thought.

COMMUNITY ASK:

If you know of any last-minute partners available to sponsor an event for TechWeek, let me know. I am paying a generous referral fee!

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