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On the seventh episode of the Thrive Through Connection Podcast, we welcome Jonah Midanik of Forum Ventures. Jonah is the Managing Partner at Forum Ventures, the leading early-stage fund, program, and community for B2B SaaS startups. Jonah joins Mike, the CEO and Founder of Visible, to discuss how early-stage founders can best run a fundraising process. About Jonah Before joining Forum Ventures, Jonah had a career as a founder and marketing leader. With a portfolio of 400+ companies, Jonah has seen the ins and outs of what works with a fundraising process, specifically at the pre-seed and seed stages. Jonah shares his tips for startup founders looking to raise an early-stage round of capital. What You Can Expect to Learn from Jonah How pre-seed founders can build a fundraising process Why the person at a firm matters more than the organization How to leverage storytelling to raise capital Why leading with your strengths is a key storytelling tactic Want more stories like this? Head to the Thrive Through Connection Hub for every past and upcoming episode.

The global finance industry, a cornerstone of economies everywhere, is undergoing rapid transformation. Today’s Finance startups are innovating not only across traditional sectors like asset management, insurance, lending, accounting, and financial advisory, but also within newer markets such as crypto, digital assets, and decentralized finance (DeFi). This expanding landscape is redefining how capital is raised, managed, and distributed—blending established financial practices with cutting-edge technologies and alternative asset classes. For founders in this diverse sector, the current global climate presents both significant challenges and unprecedented opportunities, demanding a nuanced understanding of investor expectations and market dynamics. In this guide, we will provide an up-to-date list of the top global VC firms investing in Finance, actionable fundraising strategies, and a curated overview of key international networking opportunities, accelerators, and resources. Whether you're seeking capital or connections, this guide will equip you with the insights needed to succeed in the global Finance ecosystem. Top VC Funding Finance Startups Anthemis Group About: Our deep understanding of markets and models, passion for emerging technology and values inspire everything we do. By creating fertile ground for a diverse group of startups, investors, entrepreneurs, institutions, academics, and visionaries to converge, we believe we can solve the financial services world’s most pressing challenges faster, better and for the benefit of all. Thesis: Invests in startups that leverage technology to significantly impact the financial system. VEF Sweetspot check size: $ 10M Thesis: VEF is an investment company listed on Nasdaq Stockholm’s Main Market under the ticker VEFAB. We invest in growth stage private fintech companies across the emerging world. We take minority stakes and are active investors with board representation in each of our portfolio holdings. We respect the macro, but are firm believers that the secular growth trend of EM fintech, outweighs all the macro uncertainty and volatility that we and our portfolio companies will invariably live through. A digital financial world is the end game and the best companies always come out of pockets of macro and market turbulence in a stronger relative position. UNIQA Ventures About: We invest in outstanding founder teams in InsurTech, FinTech und Digital Health Sweetspot check size: $ 2M The Fintech Fund About: An early-stage venture fund supporting the best fintech and defi teams. Sweetspot check size: $ 350K Thesis: The Fintech Fund is a $25M venture fund investing in the top 1% of fintech and decentralized finance startups globally. Our focus is split between more established fintech markets in the US and Europe – for which picks-and-shovels SaaS and infrastructure builders will sell into a growing market of buyers – and emerging markets, where opportunities exist for consumer fintechs to dominate winner-take-all markets. .The Aventures Sweetspot check size: $ 300K Thesis: We're a specialized tech-focused fund with a focus on transformative sectors such as Blockchain, SaaS, AI, Web3, Gaming, Fintech & Insurtech, Quantum Technology, and Marketplaces. Revo Capital About: Established in 2013, Revo Capital is Turkey’s largest and one of its pioneering venture capital firms, dedicated to empowering the startup ecosystem across Turkey and Central Eastern Europe (CEE). Sweetspot check size: $ 2M Thesis: With its third fund, Revo Capital is strategically focused on six sectors: B2B SaaS and enterprise software, financial technology, health technology, cybersecurity and cloud solutions, energy, and gaming. The firm emphasizes investments in companies leveraging AI to drive growth and transformation, aiming to scale these innovations in both regional and global markets. Mitsubishi UFJ CapitalShizuoka Capital About: Mitsubishi UFJ Capital is a venture capital firm focusing on life science, ICT and high technology investments. Lotux Sweetspot check size: $ 50K Traction metrics requirements: We would like to see some early validation but can invest in pre-revenue stage if we are bullish on the team and the opportunity. Thesis: Lotux focuses on partnering with mission-driven founders building software-based companies in the pre-seed stage that will improve the lives of the 99% in Latin America. Knight Ventures Sweetspot check size: $ 100K Traction metrics requirements: Deal flow through our Knight Ventures Accelerator and Investment Platform Thesis: OurVC is launching a $5MM pre-seed fund in United States to back West African FinTech and Digital Infrastructure startups powered by our market-fit focused accelerator Kadan Capital Sweetspot check size: $ 1M Traction metrics requirements: Post-revenue Thesis: Kadan Capital is an early-stage VC firm investing proprietary capital in industry-defining startups in Fintech and AI in Asia and beyond. INCA Ventures Sweetspot check size: $ 100K Traction metrics requirements: No Thesis: Investing in fintech & related sectors in the Andean region (Peru, Colombia, Bolivia, & Ecuador) with a focus on underrepresented founders. QED Investors About: QED Investors is a leading venture capital firm based in Alexandria, Virginia. We are focused on investing in disruptive financial services companies in the U.S., the U.K. and Europe, Latin America, India and Southeast Asia and Africa. QED Investors is dedicated to building great businesses and uses a unique, hands-on approach that leverages its partners’ decades of entrepreneurial and operational experience, helping companies achieve breakthrough growth. Nyca Partners About: Nyca Partners is a venture capital and advisory firm exclusively focused on applying innovation in financial services into the global financial system. Our rich experience and deep connections in both finance and technology give us a unique perspective and facility to help entrepreneurs transform payments, credit models, digital advice, and financial infrastructure. We strive to form truly collaborative partnerships, offering our own money and expert advice. Vestigo Ventures About: Vestigo Ventures is a Northeast-based early-stage venture capital firm focused on accelerating the AI age in financial services. We partner with visionary entrepreneurs to build transformative companies at the intersection of FinTech, AI, and B2B SaaS. SixThirty About: SixThirty is a global venture capital firm focused on investing in late seed stage FinTech, InsurTech and Cyber Security companies Sweetspot check size: $ 500K Traction metrics requirements: We invest in companies that have a working product, market traction, and in most instances, recurring revenue. Fundraising Insights for Finance Startups: Trends, Challenges, and Opportunities The financial services sector is experiencing rapid transformation, driven by the rise of decentralized finance (DeFi) and integrated fintech solutions. These advancements are reshaping traditional banking by introducing new models such as blockchain-based peer-to-peer lending and embedded finance options like Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL). With increasing venture capital investment in fintech, the pace of change and disruption within the finance industry is faster than ever before. Current Global Trends in Finance Startup Fundraising In 2025, the finance startup fundraising landscape is marked by a strong rebound in capital deployment, especially in fintech and digital finance. According to TechCrunch, global fintech startups raised $10.3 billion in Q1 2025—the highest level since early 2023—with average deal sizes also reaching a four-year high. This surge is driven by renewed investor appetite for both established and emerging financial services, including payments, banking, asset management, and even crypto-related ventures. Unique Challenges Facing Finance Startups Despite the influx of capital, finance startups face significant hurdles. Regulatory complexity remains a top concern, with compliance requirements varying widely across regions and often demanding substantial resources. Startups must be prepared to address licensing, data privacy, anti-money laundering (AML), and other compliance issues early in the fundraising process. Building trust and credibility is another major challenge. As Gravyty notes, trust is now one of the most important barometers of success in fundraising. Investors and customers in the finance sector are especially risk-averse, making it essential for startups to demonstrate strong risk management, security, and transparency. Additionally, competing with established incumbents and overcoming legacy systems requires innovative go-to-market strategies and, often, strategic partnerships. Access to specialized talent—such as regulatory experts and experienced finance professionals—can also be a limiting factor, particularly for startups operating in highly regulated or technical niches. Opportunities for Finance Founders Amid these challenges, there are abundant opportunities. Investors are showing heightened interest in alternative assets, ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) and sustainable finance, and the digital transformation of traditional financial services. Emerging niches such as SME finance, embedded finance, regtech, wealthtech, and insurtech are attracting increasing attention. Startups that can address underserved markets or offer solutions that streamline compliance, improve transparency, or enhance customer experience are well-positioned for growth. Partnerships with established financial institutions can provide credibility, distribution, and access to resources that accelerate growth. The rise of digital-first and hybrid business models is opening new avenues for innovation in areas like lending, payments, and asset management. Additionally, the growing focus on sustainable and impact finance is creating opportunities for startups that can align financial returns with positive social and environmental outcomes. Practical Tips for Pitching to Finance-Focused VCs When pitching to finance-focused VCs, founders should: Demonstrate clear traction—user growth, revenue, or strategic partnerships are key proof points. Articulate a robust regulatory and compliance strategy—be ready to discuss licensing, AML, and data privacy in detail. Highlight your team’s expertise in both finance and technology, and your approach to risk management. Tailor your pitch to the specific interests of the VC: traditional finance investors may prioritize compliance and scalability, while those interested in emerging markets like DeFi or embedded finance may focus more on innovation and market potential. Leverage data, case studies, and industry benchmarks to back up your claims and show you understand the competitive landscape. Emphasize defensibility—whether through proprietary technology, regulatory moats, or unique partnerships—and be transparent about both your challenges and your plan to overcome them. Networking, Accelerators, and Resources for Finance Founders Global Finance-Focused Accelerators and Incubators Fintech Innovation Lab: A highly competitive 12-week program based in New York, London, and Asia-Pacific, the Fintech Innovation Lab is designed specifically for early- to growth-stage companies in financial services. It offers mentorship from top financial institutions and access to senior executives in banking, insurance, and asset management. MassChallenge: MassChallenge FinTech is a zero-equity accelerator that connects startups with leading financial services partners. The program focuses on solving real-world challenges in banking, insurance, asset management, and payments, and is based in Boston. Startupbootcamp: With locations in London, Singapore, and Mexico City, Startupbootcamp FinTech is a global accelerator dedicated to financial innovation. The program provides mentorship, funding, and direct access to a network of industry partners, investors, and financial institutions. Plug and Play: Plug and Play Fintech, headquartered in Silicon Valley, runs regular accelerator batches focused on financial services, payments, insurtech, and regtech. The program connects startups with over 70 corporate partners, including major banks and insurance companies. SixThirty: Based in St. Louis, SixThirty is a global accelerator that invests in and supports early-stage fintech, insurtech, and cybersecurity startups. The program offers funding, mentorship, and access to a network of financial services partners. Major Industry Events and Conferences Attending global finance and fintech events is one of the most effective ways for founders to network, learn, and pitch their startups. Money20/20: is widely regarded as the premier event for payments and financial services, drawing thousands of investors, executives, and innovators each year. Singapore FinTech Festival: is the world’s largest fintech event, offering unparalleled access to the Asian and global finance ecosystem. Finovate: is known for its rapid-fire startup demos. Insurtech Connect: the leading event for insurance innovation. Cross-Border Funding and International Ecosystem Trends Raising capital internationally presents unique opportunities and challenges. Founders must navigate varying regulatory, legal, and cultural factors when seeking cross-border investment. Cross-border syndicates and global VC networks are increasingly common, enabling startups to access capital and expertise from multiple regions. Successful international fundraising often involves working with legal advisors experienced in cross-border deals and leveraging government programs that support global expansion. Notable trends include the rise of global accelerators, increased interest in emerging markets, and the importance of demonstrating compliance with international standards. Find an Investor for Finance with Visible Visible helps founders connect with investors using our connect investor database, find VCs specifically investing in Finance here. For Finance startups, securing the right investors is critical as it goes beyond mere funding. These investors bring specialized expertise and strategic insights specific to the Finance sector, and their guidance is invaluable in navigating the unique challenges and opportunities within the space. Use Visible to manage every part of your fundraising funnel with investor updates, fundraising pipelines, pitch deck sharing, and data rooms. Raise capital, update investors, and engage your team from a single platform. Try Visible free for 14 days.

In the dynamic world of startups, hardware ventures stand apart. Unlike their software counterparts, hardware companies grapple with a distinct set of challenges that significantly impact their fundraising journey. From extended development cycles and substantial upfront capital expenditures for prototyping and manufacturing, to complex supply chain management and inventory risks, the path to market for a physical product is inherently more intricate and capital-intensive. This often means a longer runway is needed, and the traditional metrics VCs use for software (like rapid user growth or low customer acquisition costs) don't always translate directly. Finding the right venture capital partners who truly understand these nuances, and are patient with the unique growth trajectory of a hardware business, is critical for survival and scale. Despite these hurdles, we are witnessing a remarkable global resurgence in hardware innovation. The past few years have seen an explosion of groundbreaking advancements across various sectors. From the pervasive integration of IoT and sophisticated robotics transforming industries, to the urgent demand for cleantech solutions, revolutionary medtech devices, and the evolution of advanced manufacturing techniques, hardware is at the forefront of solving some of the world's most pressing problems. This renewed wave of innovation has not gone unnoticed by the venture capital community. VCs are increasingly recognizing the immense market opportunities and the potential for defensible moats that well-executed hardware solutions can create, leading to a significant uptick in investment in the sector. This trend is truly global, with innovation hubs emerging and connecting across continents, fostering an international ecosystem for hardware investment. In this guide, we will provide an up-to-date list of the top global VC firms investing in Hardware, actionable fundraising strategies, and a curated overview of key international networking opportunities, accelerators, and resources. Whether you're seeking capital or connections, this guide will equip you with the insights needed to succeed in the global Hardware ecosystem. Top VCs Investing in Hardware Startups HCVC About: HCVC is the first global venture capital fund dedicated to full-stack and hardtech startups. Sweetspot check size: $ 525K Thesis: We are looking for outstanding founders, building game-changing products or technologies and targeting large potential markets Elephants & Ventures About: Elephants&Ventures is an early-stage venture boutique for hardware & software companies. ff Venture Capital About: ff Venture Capital is one of the best performing seed- and early-stage venture capital firms investing in some of the strongest growth areas to date, including cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, machine learning, drones, enterprise cloud software, and crowdfunding. Mitsubishi UFJ CapitalShizuoka Capital About: Mitsubishi UFJ Capital is a venture capital firm focusing on life science, ICT and high technology investments. Monozukuri Ventures About: Monozukuri Ventures provides investment, mentorship, prototyping know-how and manufacturing expertise for hardware startups. Sweetspot check size: $ 250K Thesis: Monozukuri Ventures is focused on funding hardware startups in the fastest growing industries: robotics, AI, clean energy, wearables, space tech, IoT, healthcare, smart home and more. We invest in 10-15 hardware startups per year, with a typical check ranging from USD 150K to 300K at first, with a chance to follow investment up to USD 1M accumulate. Powerhouse Ventures About: Powerhouse Ventures backs seed-stage startups developing innovative software across energy, mobility, and industry. We are backed by some of the world’s largest corporations in energy, utilities, automotive, finance, and tech—including Constellation, American Electric Power, Microsoft, UBS, Toyota, TotalEnergies, and more. Reinforced Ventures About: Reinforced Ventures brings together experienced technologists & investors to empower entrepreneurs building the next generation of autonomous systems, robotics, and biotechnology. Our focus is on overlooked areas of deep tech. We are based out of Pittsburgh, PA but invest globally. Sumeru Equity Partners About: Sumeru Equity Partners is a technology-focused private equity firm that invests $50-$250 million in leading mid-market software, technology enabled services, and hardware companies with a focus on growth. Sumeru was founded by an experienced team from Silver Lake Sumeru with significant first-hand operating experience. Our strategy and operating experience enables us to take a flexible approach to deal types and investment structures including growth funding, founder transitions, buyouts, take-privates, recapitalizations, and corporate divestitures. Thesis: Sumeru’s engagement model centers on partnering with management teams and investing in go-to-market, product, and operations to drive growth and strategic positioning. Wilbe Capital Sweetspot check size: $ 300K Traction metrics requirements: Scientist founders and science companies only! Thesis: We are a venture firm for entrepreneurial scientists. We educate, build, invest and provide lab space to scientist founders solving some of the biggest problems we face this century. The Company Lab About: CO.LAB is a 501c3 nonprofit based in Chattanooga, TN that accelerates early-stage startups in the sustainable mobility space. Sweetspot check size: $ 20K Traction metrics requirements: Startup must be post-revenue Tenacious Ventures About: Tenacious Ventures is a venture capital firm that supports early-stage agri-food innovators. Sweetspot check size: $ 750K Thesis: We are a high conviction, low-volume, high-support early stage investor in agri-food innovation. Networking, Accelerators, and Global Resources for Hardware Founders The Importance of Global Networking for Hardware Startups For hardware startups, global networking isn’t just a “nice to have”—it’s a strategic necessity. Unlike software, hardware ventures often depend on international supply chains, manufacturing partners, and distribution networks. Building relationships across borders can unlock access to specialized prototyping facilities, lower-cost manufacturing, and new markets. Cross-border connections can also help founders tap into diverse pools of investors, mentors, and technical talent, accelerating both product development and go-to-market strategies. Leading Hardware Accelerators and Incubators Worldwide Joining a top-tier hardware accelerator can be transformative for early-stage founders. These programs offer not just capital, but also hands-on support with prototyping, manufacturing, and business development. HAX: With locations in Shenzhen and Newark, HAX is the world’s leading hardware accelerator, providing up to $250,000 in funding, deep prototyping resources, and direct access to Asian manufacturing. Brinc: Based in Hong Kong and expanding globally, Brinc specializes in IoT, robotics, and climate tech, offering investment, mentorship, and supply chain support. Hardware Club (HCVC): A global community and venture fund for hardware founders, HCVC connects startups with a curated network of manufacturers, distributors, and investors. AlphaLab Gear: Based in Pittsburgh, AlphaLab Gear supports hardware, IoT, and robotics startups with funding, mentorship, and access to a robust regional ecosystem. MassRobotics: A Boston-based innovation hub for robotics startups, offering workspace, prototyping labs, and industry connections. Key Industry Events and Conferences for Hardware Founders Attending major industry events is one of the fastest ways to build your network, meet investors, and stay ahead of market trends. To maximize ROI, plan meetings in advance, participate in pitch competitions, and leverage event networking platforms to connect with investors and partners. CES (Las Vegas): The world’s largest consumer electronics show, a must-attend for product launches and investor meetings. Hannover Messe (Germany): The leading global trade fair for industrial technology and advanced manufacturing. TechCrunch Disrupt: A premier event for startups and VCs, with a growing focus on hardware and deep tech. Hardware Pioneers Max (UK): Europe’s top event for hardware, IoT, and embedded systems. Maker Faire: A global series of events celebrating innovation in hardware, prototyping, and maker culture. Slush (Finland): A leading European tech event with strong hardware and deep tech representation. Online Communities, Networks, and Founder Resources Element14 and Hackster.io: Online platforms for prototyping, technical support, and community-driven hardware projects. Indie Hackers Hardware: A sub-community focused on indie hardware projects and bootstrapped startups. Open-Source Hardware Resources: Platforms like GitHub and OSHWA (Open Source Hardware Association) provide access to open designs and collaborative projects. Cross-Border Funding and International Ecosystem Trends Legal and Regulatory Compliance: Understand export controls, IP protection, and local regulations in your target markets. Emerging Hardware Hubs: Beyond Silicon Valley and Shenzhen, regions like Israel, Southeast Asia, India, and parts of Africa and Latin America are rapidly growing as hardware innovation centers. Government and International Programs: Leverage programs like the EU’s EIC Accelerator, Singapore’s EDB, and the US SBIR/STTR grants for non-dilutive funding and market entry support. Cross-Border Tariffs and Supply Chain Risks: Stay agile and diversify suppliers to mitigate risks from trade disputes and tariffs. Actionable Fundraising Insights for Hardware Startups Current Global Trends in Hardware Fundraising The hardware startup fundraising landscape in 2025 is marked by both opportunity and volatility. According to Crunchbase, global venture funding reached $113 billion in Q1 2025, the strongest quarter since 2022, but this was heavily skewed by a handful of mega-deals—most notably OpenAI’s $40 billion round. For hardware startups, the most notable trend is the surge in late-stage and M&A activity, while early-stage and seed funding have declined, making it more challenging for new hardware ventures to secure their first rounds. AI and robotics hardware remain hot sectors, with investors pouring billions into companies building next-generation chips, sensors, and automation platforms. For example, EnCharge AI, a hardware startup, raised a $100 million Series B in early 2025, led by Tiger Global and joined by Samsung Ventures and RTX Ventures. However, global economic uncertainty, trade tensions, and rising tariffs are creating headwinds, especially for startups reliant on international supply chains. Unique Challenges Facing Hardware Startups Hardware founders face several persistent and emerging challenges: Capital Intensity and Long Development Cycles: With early-stage funding down 14% year-over-year, hardware startups must work harder to prove traction before raising significant capital. Supply Chain and Tariff Risks: Ongoing global trade disputes and tariffs are increasing material costs and creating uncertainty for hardware companies, making flexible, globally distributed supply chains more important than ever. Regulatory and Certification Barriers: Sectors like medtech and IoT still require extensive compliance work, which can slow down time-to-market. Scaling from Prototype to Production: The transition from prototype to mass production remains a major stumbling block, with many startups underestimating the operational complexity. Opportunities and Differentiators in the Hardware Sector Despite these challenges, several opportunities are driving hardware innovation and investment: AI-Driven Hardware: The intersection of AI and hardware is attracting record investment, with startups building custom chips, edge devices, and robotics platforms seeing strong demand. Defensible IP and Barriers to Entry: Hardware startups with strong patents and proprietary technology continue to attract premium valuations. Sustainability and Cleantech: Investors are prioritizing hardware solutions that address energy efficiency, climate resilience, and circular economy models. Hardware-as-a-Service (HaaS): Subscription and leasing models are gaining traction, providing recurring revenue and reducing customer friction. Global Manufacturing Innovation: Startups leveraging digital supply chain management and distributed manufacturing are better positioned to navigate geopolitical risks. Practical Tips for Pitching Hardware Startups to VCs Showcase De-Risking Milestones: Clearly communicate technical and operational risks, and demonstrate how you’ve de-risked each stage (e.g., working prototypes, pilot customers, regulatory progress). Highlight Market Validation: Even in early stages, evidence of customer demand—such as pre-orders, LOIs, or pilot deployments—can make a big difference. Present a Robust Go-to-Market and Supply Chain Plan: Investors want to see a clear path from prototype to scalable production, including manufacturing partners and logistics strategies. Emphasize Team and Advisory Strength: Highlight experience in engineering, manufacturing, and operations, as well as any strategic advisors or partners. Prepare for Rigorous Due Diligence: Be ready to share detailed documentation, including your bill of materials (BOM), supply chain partners, and regulatory plans. Tailor Your Pitch: For hardware-savvy VCs, dive deep into technical details; for generalist VCs, focus on market opportunity, defensibility, and risk management. Find an Investor for Hardware with Visible Visible helps founders connect with investors using our connect investor database, find VCs specifically investing in Hardware here. For Hardware startups, securing the right investors is critical as it goes beyond mere funding. These investors bring specialized expertise and strategic insights specific to the Hardware sector, and their guidance is invaluable in navigating the unique challenges and opportunities within the space. Use Visible to manage every part of your fundraising funnel with investor updates, fundraising pipelines, pitch deck sharing, and data rooms. Raise capital, update investors, and engage your team from a single platform. Try Visible free for 14 days.

On the sixth episode of the Thrive Through Connection Podcast, we welcome Kristian Andersen of High Alpha. Kristian is a co-founder and partner at High Alpha, an Indianapolis-based venture capital firm that helps founders and the companies they lead reach their full potential. Kristian joins us to discuss how best-in-class leaders use storytelling to sharpen all facets of their business. About Kristian Before founding High Alpha, Kristian founded Studio Science, a leading design firm, and Gravity Ventures, a seed-stage venture fund. Throughout his career in design and investing, Kristian has had a front row seat to the importance of brand, storytelling, and founder selling. Mike, our CEO, had an opportunity to sit down and chat with Kristian. You can give the full episode a listen below: Spotify Link Apple Link What You Can Expect to Learn from Kristian The responsibilities and roles of a CEO The similarities between selling and storytelling Why the ability to tell stories across an institution is a competitive advantage What he looks for when it comes to a pitch meeting and deck How founders should think about benchmarking their business Stay up to date with the Thrive Through Connection Podcast by subscribing wherever you listen to podcasts. You can find links to your favorite podcast hosts below: YouTube Spotify Apple

On the fifth episode of the Thrive Through Connection Podcast, we welcome Kyle Poyar, the founder of Tremont and Growth Unhinged. Tremont is an early growth equity firm based in Boston. Kyle joins us to break down his career supporting companies at OpenView, how SaaS companies should think about benchmarks, and the future of SaaS investing. About Kyle Before founding Tremont, Kyle was an Operating Partner at OpenView Ventures. During his time there, he launched the SaaS Benchmarks Report, a staple in the SaaS industry. Since then, Kyle has started Growth Unhinged, his newsletter breaking down the playbooks and tactics behind best-in-class startups. Mike, the CEO and Founder of Visible, had an opportunity to sit down and chat with Kyle. You can give the full episode a listen below: Spotify Link Apple Link What You Can Expect to Learn from Kyle How investors and founders can think about leveraging benchmarks Which SaaS metrics and benchmarks are growing in importance Why hiring is the lowest-hanging fruit for VCs to support portfolio companies How he built a content flywheel at Growth Unhinged Stay up to date with the Thrive Through Connection Podcast by subscribing wherever you listen to podcasts. You can find links to your favorite podcast hosts below: YouTube Spotify Apple

When monitoring a portfolio, having the right insights at the right time is crucial. Whether it is a sudden dip in cash runway or a surge in MRR, knowing exactly when portfolio company key metrics shift can mean the difference between proactive support and missed opportunity. Our recent updates to Metric Alerts make it easier to stay connected to your portfolio’s performance. Support Companies With Smarter Alerts We have redesigned Metric Alerts to help you monitor your entire portfolio with ease, spot red flags faster, and stay connected to each company’s performance. A New Home for Alerts Metric Alerts now live in a dedicated section of your sidebar under Monitoring. Here you will find: A New Alert button for fast setup A Log View showing every triggered alert with icons, timestamps, and direct links to your portfolio metrics Easy edit access. Click the metric name or the icon button to quickly update alerts in a side panel Now you can manage all alerts in one place without any hassle. Portfolio-Wide Metric Selection You no longer need to set up alerts company by company. With the Metric Alerts, you can: Select any Portfolio Metric, such as Revenue or Runway, and apply the alert across all companies Receive notifications when a company’s metric meets a specific criteria Creating alerts across your portfolio ensures that you will never miss any shifts across your portfolio. Proactive Support Metric Alerts equip you with actionable information to stay on top of material changes. Use the Log View to track historical alerts and identify patterns Drill down to the Metric page from the alert to conduct further analysis Edit alert criteria instantly using the side-panel form Founders rely on you to be proactive, responsive, and informed. With Metric Alerts, you can stay connected to the numbers and the people behind them. Put Metric Alerts to Work The new and improved Metric Alerts are now available to all Visible customers. Whether you are looking to monitor key metrics across your entire portfolio, catch red flags sooner, or strengthen your relationships with founders through proactive insights, Metric Alerts are designed to keep you connected and in control. To explore how Metric Alerts can streamline your portfolio monitoring and support your investment strategy, head here.

Supporting portfolio companies with hiring and fundraising is table stakes for VC firms in 2025. Relationships and networks have never been more important as human-to-human connection becomes an even more essential differentiator in the age of AI. Evan Walden, CEO of Getro, and Toni Alejandria of Preface Ventures joined us for a webinar to cover the ins and outs of how best-in-class VC funds leverage their networks to help portfolio companies hire top talent and raise capital. You can check out the recording below: We cover topics like: How best-in-class teams scale their platform function How to balance consistency and customization How to help companies source top talent How to leverage network effects to support fundraising Want more great insights? Check out Thrive Through Connection, our podcast about the power of founder and investor relationships.

On the sixth episode of the Thrive Through Connection Podcast, we welcome Kristian Andersen of High Alpha. Kristian is a co-founder and partner at High Alpha, an Indianapolis-based venture capital firm that helps founders and the companies they lead reach their full potential. Kristian joins us to discuss how best-in-class leaders use storytelling to sharpen all facets of their business. About Kristian Before founding High Alpha, Kristian founded Studio Science, a leading design firm, and Gravity Ventures, a seed-stage venture fund. Throughout his career in design and investing, Kristian has had a front row seat to the importance of brand, storytelling, and founder selling. Mike, our CEO, had an opportunity to sit down and chat with Kristian. You can give the full episode a listen below: Spotify Link Apple Link What You Can Expect to Learn from Kristian The responsibilities and roles of a CEO The similarities between selling and storytelling Why the ability to tell stories across an institution is a competitive advantage What he looks for when it comes to a pitch meeting and deck How founders should think about benchmarking their business Stay up to date with the Thrive Through Connection Podcast by subscribing wherever you listen to podcasts. You can find links to your favorite podcast hosts below: YouTube Spotify Apple

On the fourth episode of the Thrive Through Connection Podcast, we welcome Max Yoder, the Founder of Lessonly and author of Do Better Work. Lessonly was an Indianapolis-based company that grew to over 300 employees and $30 million in annual recurring revenue before being acquired by Seismic in 2021. Max joins us to share the lessons he learned from scaling Lessonly and writing Do Better Work. About Max In addition to growing Lessonly to 300+ employees and leading it through a successful exit, Max became known for his thoughtful approach to leadership, insights he captured in his book, Do Better Work. He’s had a front-row seat to the highs, lows, and daily challenges that startup founders and leaders face. In this episode, Max breaks down the countless relationships that shaped both Lessonly and Do Better Work. Mike, the CEO and Founder of Visible, had an opportunity to sit down and chat with Max. You can give the full episode a listen below: Spotify Link Apple Link What You Can Expect to Learn from Max How the mission and vision for Lessonly came to life How mentors helped shape decision-making and strategy in the early days The advantages of having a strong network What it means to lead with vulnerability The importance of aligning with investors and partners Stay up to date with the Thrive Through Connection Podcast by subscribing wherever you listen to your podcast. You can find links to your favorite podcast hosts below: YouTube Spotify Apple

On the sixth episode of the Thrive Through Connection Podcast, we welcome Kristian Andersen of High Alpha. Kristian is a co-founder and partner at High Alpha, an Indianapolis-based venture capital firm that helps founders and the companies they lead reach their full potential. Kristian joins us to discuss how best-in-class leaders use storytelling to sharpen all facets of their business. About Kristian Before founding High Alpha, Kristian founded Studio Science, a leading design firm, and Gravity Ventures, a seed-stage venture fund. Throughout his career in design and investing, Kristian has had a front row seat to the importance of brand, storytelling, and founder selling. Mike, our CEO, had an opportunity to sit down and chat with Kristian. You can give the full episode a listen below: Spotify Link Apple Link What You Can Expect to Learn from Kristian The responsibilities and roles of a CEO The similarities between selling and storytelling Why the ability to tell stories across an institution is a competitive advantage What he looks for when it comes to a pitch meeting and deck How founders should think about benchmarking their business Stay up to date with the Thrive Through Connection Podcast by subscribing wherever you listen to podcasts. You can find links to your favorite podcast hosts below: YouTube Spotify Apple

On the fourth episode of the Thrive Through Connection Podcast, we welcome Max Yoder, the Founder of Lessonly and author of Do Better Work. Lessonly was an Indianapolis-based company that grew to over 300 employees and $30 million in annual recurring revenue before being acquired by Seismic in 2021. Max joins us to share the lessons he learned from scaling Lessonly and writing Do Better Work. About Max In addition to growing Lessonly to 300+ employees and leading it through a successful exit, Max became known for his thoughtful approach to leadership, insights he captured in his book, Do Better Work. He’s had a front-row seat to the highs, lows, and daily challenges that startup founders and leaders face. In this episode, Max breaks down the countless relationships that shaped both Lessonly and Do Better Work. Mike, the CEO and Founder of Visible, had an opportunity to sit down and chat with Max. You can give the full episode a listen below: Spotify Link Apple Link What You Can Expect to Learn from Max How the mission and vision for Lessonly came to life How mentors helped shape decision-making and strategy in the early days The advantages of having a strong network What it means to lead with vulnerability The importance of aligning with investors and partners Stay up to date with the Thrive Through Connection Podcast by subscribing wherever you listen to your podcast. You can find links to your favorite podcast hosts below: YouTube Spotify Apple

Managing equity is one of startup founders' most strategic and challenging responsibilities. Many advisors, investors, and peers contribute valuable insights to a business in the early stages, often without direct financial compensation. For startups with limited cash flow, offering advisory shares becomes a creative and practical way to engage experts while preserving resources for growth. Advisory shares allow founders to attract and retain top-tier talent by providing equity in exchange for critical guidance. This article explores what advisory shares are, how they work, their benefits and drawbacks, and key considerations for offering them in your startup. What Are Advisory Shares? Advisory shares are a form of equity compensation provided to individuals who offer strategic guidance and expertise to a startup. Unlike traditional employee equity, advisory shares are typically granted to external advisors, such as industry experts, seasoned entrepreneurs, or key network connectors, who help the business grow and succeed. These shares often follow a shorter vesting schedule, reflecting the limited but impactful nature of the advisor's contributions. By offering advisory shares, startups can incentivize advisors to commit their time and knowledge, aligning their success with the company’s growth. Advisor Shares vs. Regular Shares (or Equity) Advisory shares and regular shares both represent equity in a company, but their purposes, recipients, and structures are distinct. Regular shares are issued to founders, employees, and investors to reflect direct contributions, whether through work or funding. Advisory shares, however, are explicitly granted to external advisors as compensation for their expertise and guidance, aligning their interests with the company's success without requiring financial or operational involvement. Related resource: CEO vs. Advisory Board: Key Differences in Leadership and Guidance How Are Advisory Shares and Regular Shares Similar? Despite their differences, advisory shares and regular shares share common traits. Both represent ownership in the company, incentivize recipients by tying their potential financial gains to its growth, and typically involve vesting schedules to ensure commitment. Issuing either type of share also contributes to equity dilution, affecting all existing stakeholders. Related Read: The Main Difference Between ISOs and NSOs How Do Advisory Shares Work? While advisory shares can take on different forms, they typically can be boiled down to a few similarities. Of course, these can change depending on your business. Exchanged for advice or expertise Typically offered as NSO stock options Follow a shorter vesting schedule Related resource: Everything You Should Know About Diluting Shares Learn more about how advisory shares typically work below: 1. Advisor Agreement Before granting advisory shares, the startup and advisor enter into a formal agreement that outlines the terms of their relationship. This agreement specifies the advisor’s role, including the scope of their contributions, such as strategic guidance, mentorship, or leveraging their network. It also details the advisor's responsibilities, expected time commitment, and deliverables. Importantly, the agreement defines the number of advisory shares the advisor will receive and the terms under which they are granted, such as the vesting schedule and any conditions tied to performance. By setting clear expectations, this agreement protects both parties and ensures alignment in achieving the company’s goals. 2. Grant of Shares After finalizing the advisor agreement, the startup grants the advisor the right to purchase a specified number of shares at a predetermined exercise price. This exercise price is typically set at the fair market value of the company’s stock at the time of the grant. This approach ensures compliance with tax regulations while offering the advisor an opportunity to benefit from the company’s growth. The grant also outlines the conditions under which the advisor can exercise these options, such as meeting vesting milestones or fulfilling specific responsibilities. By linking the grant to the advisor’s contributions, startups create a mutually beneficial arrangement that aligns incentives with the company’s success. 3. Vesting Period The advisor’s right to exercise their options is generally tied to a vesting period, which ensures their continued commitment to the startup over time. Vesting periods for advisory shares often span shorter durations than employee stock options but typically last one to four years. A common structure includes a one-year cliff, where no options are vested during the first year, followed by monthly vesting thereafter. This means the advisor gains the ability to exercise a portion of their options incrementally, as they fulfill their responsibilities and contribute to the company’s growth. Vesting schedules protect the startup by ensuring advisors earn their shares through sustained involvement and expertise. 4. Exercise of Options Once the vesting period is complete, the advisor gains the right to exercise their options. This involves paying the predetermined exercise price to purchase the shares granted under the advisory agreement. The exercise process typically requires the advisor to notify the company of their intent and complete the necessary paperwork. After the payment is made, the advisor becomes a shareholder in the company and holds equity outright. This step allows the advisor to benefit from any future increase in the company’s valuation, aligning their financial incentives with the startup’s long-term success. 5. Potential Profit If the company’s stock price appreciates over time, the advisor can sell their shares for a profit. Since advisory shares are typically granted at the fair market value at the time of issuance, any subsequent increase in the stock price represents a gain for the advisor. For example, if the exercise price was set at $1 per share and the stock price rises to $10 per share, the advisor can sell the shares at the higher market price, realizing a profit of $9 per share. This potential for financial gain serves as a strong incentive for advisors to contribute meaningfully to the company’s success and growth. Benefits of Advisory Shares Advisory shares come with their own set of pros and cons. Properly maintaining and distributing equity is a critical role of a startup founder so understand the benefits, and drawbacks, of offering advisory shares is a must. Related Resource: 7 Essential Business Startup Resources Learn more about the benefits of offering startup advisory shares below: Access to Expertise and Guidance Advisory shares are a powerful tool for attracting experienced professionals with specialized knowledge that can drive a startup’s growth. These individuals bring valuable insights in areas such as strategy, product development, marketing, or fundraising—critical components for scaling a business. By offering equity in lieu of cash compensation, startups can engage top-tier experts who might otherwise be out of reach financially. These advisors act as strategic partners, helping founders navigate challenges, seize opportunities, and build a strong foundation for long-term success. Related Resource: Seed Funding for Startups 101: A Complete Guide Strengthen Credibility and Network Associating with credible advisors can significantly enhance a startup’s reputation, signaling expertise and trustworthiness to the broader market. Advisors with established industry recognition lend their credibility to the company, boosting its appeal to potential investors, partners, and customers. Beyond reputation, advisors often bring extensive networks of valuable connections, opening doors to strategic partnerships, funding opportunities, and key client relationships. By aligning with respected professionals, startups can accelerate their growth while building trust within their industry. Cost-Effective Compensation As we previously mentioned, most businesses that benefit most from advisors are unable to offer them a salary or cash compensation. With advisor shares, startup founders are able to offer shares as compensation and conserve thei cash to help with scaling their business and headcount. Attract Long-Term Commitment Vesting schedules play a crucial role in fostering long-term commitment from advisors. By distributing equity over a set period, such as one to four years, advisors are incentivized to remain actively engaged with the startup for the duration of the vesting timeline. This structure ensures that advisors continue to contribute their expertise and resources while aligning their success with the company's growth. The gradual allocation of shares motivates advisors to stay invested in the startup’s achievements, creating a mutually beneficial relationship that drives sustained collaboration and progress. Drawbacks of Advisory Shares Of course, offering advisor shares is not for everyone. While there are benefits to offering advisor shares, there are certainly drawbacks as well. Weighing the pros and cons and determining what is right for your business is ultimately up to you. We always recommend consulting with a lawyer or counsel when determining how to compensate advisors. Diluted Ownership The biggest drawback for most founders will be the diluted ownership. By offering shares to advisors, you will be diluting the ownership of yourself and existing shareholders. As advisors are fully vested in 1-2 years, they will potentially not be invested in future success as other stakeholders and could be costly when taking into account the diluted ownership. Potential Conflicts of Interest Advisors might not have the same motivators and incentives as your employees and other shareholders. As their ownership is generally a smaller % and their shares vest early, they are potentially not as incentivized for the growth of your company as employees and larger % owners will be. Getting in front of these conversations and making sure you have a good read on any potential advisors before bringing them onboard is a good first step to mitigate potential conflicts. Extra Stakeholder to Manage Chances are most advisors are helping other companies as well. This means that their attention is divided and you will need to ensure you are getting enough value to warrant dilution. This also means that you are responsible for managing a relationship and communication with another stakeholder in your business — what can be burdensome on some founders. The 2 Variations of Advisory Shares Advisory shares are generally offered in 2 variations — restricted stock awards and stock options. Learn more about each option and what they mean below: Restricted Stock Awards Restricted stock awards (RSAs) are a form of equity compensation where shares are granted to an individual with certain restrictions, typically tied to a vesting schedule or performance milestones. Unlike stock options, RSAs represent ownership of the shares from the moment they are granted, though the recipient may not fully control or sell them until the restrictions are lifted. These shares often include voting rights and entitle the recipient to dividends, aligning their interests with the company’s long-term success. Restricted stock awards are commonly used to reward early contributors or advisors, ensuring their commitment while providing immediate equity ownership subject to conditions. Stock Options Stock options are a type of equity compensation that grants the recipient the right to purchase company shares at a fixed price, known as the exercise price, within a specified timeframe. Unlike restricted stock awards, stock options do not represent immediate ownership but provide the potential to acquire shares if certain conditions, such as vesting schedules or performance milestones, are met. The exercise price is typically set at the fair market value of the shares at the time of the grant. If the company’s valuation increases, the recipient can profit by purchasing the shares at the lower exercise price and selling them at the higher market value. Stock options are often used to align the recipient’s incentives with the company’s growth, encouraging active involvement and long-term commitment. Who Gets to Issue Advisory Shares? Issuing advisory shares is typically reserved for the founder or CEO of a company. Having a decision-making process and gameplan when issuing advisory shares is important. This might mean offering no shares at all, having an allocated amount of advisor shares from the get go, or something inbetween. Making sure your board of directors and other key stakeholders are on board is crucial to make sure that interest and strategy stays aligned for all stakeholders. Related resource: Is An Advisory Board Paid? What Startups Should Know How Many Shares Should You Give a Startup Advisor? Determining the number of shares to offer a startup advisor requires balancing sufficient incentives with managing equity dilution. The exact amount will vary based on factors such as the advisor’s experience, expected contribution, and time commitment. Advisors who bring extensive industry expertise or access to valuable networks may justify a higher equity allocation than those with a more limited role. According to guidelines referenced by Silicon Valley Bank, advisors are often granted between 0.25% and 1% of the company's equity, depending on the startup's stage and the nature of the advisory role. Structuring this compensation strategically- including a vesting schedule or performance milestones- helps ensure that the advisor’s contributions provide meaningful value while maintaining flexibility for the company. Let Visible Help You Streamline the Investment Management Process Managing equity and fostering investor relationships are critical for your startup’s success. Visible simplifies this process with tools for tracking advisory shares, managing fundraising pipelines, and keeping stakeholders informed through data rooms and investor updates. Raise capital, update investors, and engage your team from a single platform. Try Visible free for 14 days.

When Andrew Crinnion joined Emergence Capital as Director of Portfolio Analysis, he stepped into a role that required more than crunching numbers. As a Series A investor in B2B SaaS companies, Emergence prides itself on being data-driven, but that only works when the correct data is accessible, consistent, and actionable. The challenge? Their portfolio was growing fast, but performance tracking lived in scattered spreadsheets and inboxes. "Before Visible, it was Excel Sheets and lots of manual emails," Andrew explained. "We were a pretty data-driven firm, which gave me a good foundation. But we needed a better way to scale." A Central Source of Truth Andrew was tasked with finding a portfolio monitoring solution that could grow with their fund and simplify performance data management. After evaluating platforms like iLevel, Dynamo, and Standard Metrics, he ultimately chose Visible. What stood out? "Flexibility," he said. "The ability to build dashboards and calculate our own metrics was huge. Before, I'd ask for something like burn rate and NDR, and I wasn’t always sure how it was being calculated. So being able to calculate it within the system was a big help." The transition was smooth. After merging their existing data into a more structured format, onboarding to Visible was seamless. “It was real smooth to load that into Visible and move forward.” Driving Better Decisions With Visible in place, Andrew can surface insights faster and share them more effectively with the general partners. "Once a company responds to our Visible Request, it graphs it out. I can see if burn rate increases or if runway is dropping off, and it prompts me to ask the right questions to the GPs. It keeps us aligned." The dashboards are a core part of portfolio reviews and one-off requests alike. "They don’t really see how it’s getting made,” he said, “but it makes it a lot easier for me to answer their questions.” Better Data = Stronger LP Relationships When communicating with LPs, the value of Visible became even more clear. When LPs are digging into performance, portfolio metrics, and fund-level questions, the Emergence team is ready. "Visible helps me quickly respond to all our LP requests. I have a repository of data that makes it easy to pull what they need. It also helps GPs answer LP questions faster, with more confidence." By having a centralized system to rely on, Emergence offers transparency and builds trust with its limited partners, a key ingredient in any relationship. Turning Internal Value Into External Impact As Emergence’s data infrastructure matured, Andrew saw an opportunity to scale the value of what they were learning. Portfolio companies were coming to him with questions like, “What should my CAC payback be?” and “How much should I be spending on R&D?” Thanks to the insights they’d built internally with Visible, Emergence launched the Beyond Benchmark report, an external study based on data from over 560 companies. What began as a tool for internal alignment became a valuable resource for the broader SaaS community. Support That Scales With You Throughout the process, Visible’s Customer Success team remained a key part of the experience. “They’ve been great. I’ve shared product feedback, and it’s been implemented. They’re responsive and invested in helping us succeed.” Emergence Capital didn’t just choose Visible, they built a system around it. For funds building out platform or investor relations teams, he recommends investing early in the right metrics and infrastructure. The payoff? Faster answers, stronger LP conversations, and the confidence to scale with clarity. Check out how you can join Emergence Capital and leverage Visible for your portfolio monitoring and reporting here.

On the fourth episode of the Thrive Through Connection Podcast, we welcome Max Yoder, the Founder of Lessonly and author of Do Better Work. Lessonly was an Indianapolis-based company that grew to over 300 employees and $30 million in annual recurring revenue before being acquired by Seismic in 2021. Max joins us to share the lessons he learned from scaling Lessonly and writing Do Better Work. About Max In addition to growing Lessonly to 300+ employees and leading it through a successful exit, Max became known for his thoughtful approach to leadership, insights he captured in his book, Do Better Work. He’s had a front-row seat to the highs, lows, and daily challenges that startup founders and leaders face. In this episode, Max breaks down the countless relationships that shaped both Lessonly and Do Better Work. Mike, the CEO and Founder of Visible, had an opportunity to sit down and chat with Max. You can give the full episode a listen below: Spotify Link Apple Link What You Can Expect to Learn from Max How the mission and vision for Lessonly came to life How mentors helped shape decision-making and strategy in the early days The advantages of having a strong network What it means to lead with vulnerability The importance of aligning with investors and partners Stay up to date with the Thrive Through Connection Podcast by subscribing wherever you listen to your podcast. You can find links to your favorite podcast hosts below: YouTube Spotify Apple

About Airtree Ventures Airtree is a Sydney-based venture capital firm backing founders based in Australia and New Zealand building the iconic companies of tomorrow. The firm was founded in 2014 and is now deploying out of its 4th fund with $1.3 billion in assets under management. Their portfolio includes over 105+ portfolio companies and 250+ founders who have helped create over 17,000 jobs. Airtree’s portfolio includes the region’s breakout technology companies, such as Canva, Go1, Employment Hero, Pet Circle, Immutable, and Linktree. For this case study, we spoke to Dan Lombard who is the Data Lead at Airtree Ventures. Related article: Airtree Ventures already returned its first fund thanks to Canva while maintaining the majority of its stake Fragmented Systems and Processes Prior to Visible Prior to the integration of Visible, Airtree relied heavily on a fragmented system of spreadsheets to manage their portfolio of 105+ companies. Each quarter, four employees were tasked with managing the relationships with the points of contact at 15 to 20 portfolio companies through manual outreach and communications. This reliance on spreadsheets resulted in inefficiencies and potential data loss, as spreadsheets are prone to break when modified. Challenges With Data Accuracy and Scaling Manual Outreach to a Growing Portfolio Before Visible, 80% of Airtree’s portfolio monitoring problem was having clean data and scaling outreach to their portfolio companies. They faced two primary challenges with their former system: Operational Efficiency: Four team members spent significant time manually collecting data from over 100 companies every quarter. The Airtree team members were sending one-off email communications to each company and manually keeping track of who needed to be followed up with at each company which diverted resources from other critical projects they could be working on. Data Integrity and Scalability: Frequent changes to the data in spreadsheets resulted in errors in the sheets and data loss, which caused frustration as there was no way of understanding which changes were made to the sheet and when. This process made it difficult to scale portfolio monitoring operations as Airtree grew. Why Airtree Chose Visible as their Portfolio Monitoring Platform Airtree chose Visible for its robust, scalable, and user-friendly platform. Key factors influencing their choice included: Ease of Use and Customization: Visible's platform offered unparalleled customization and ease of use. Support and Development: Visible’s team actively listened to feedback, offered best practices, and continuously invested in their product, ensuring a partnership that catered to Airtree’s evolving needs. Automation and Integration: Visible excelled in automating portfolio monitoring and offered a frictionless experience for founders. Airtree leveraged the Visible API to seamlessly integrate data into their existing data warehouse system. Airtree’s historical data collection process, previously led by four Airtree team members, is now a streamlined process led only by Dan, who leverages Visible Requests to collect data from their portfolio of 105+ companies. Visible Requests empowers Dan to send customized link-based data requests to each company, automate the email reminder process, and easily keep track of where companies are in the reporting process. View an example Visible Request below. Onboarded to Visible within 24 Hours Visible provided Airtree with an efficient and supported onboarding. When asked about Airtree's onboarding with Visible Dan Lombard shared the following: Visible stood out by enabling a swift and seamless transition that was operational in less than 24 hours, a stark contrast to other providers who estimated a quarter for full implementation. This rapid integration was facilitated by a comprehensive onboarding template provided by Visible. Visible API & Airtree’s Data Infrastructure With the implementation of Visible, Airtree wanted to take a more sophisticated approach to the way they handle their portfolio data with the goal of driving more valuable insights for their team. The approach needed to be automated, integrate with other data sources, and have a singular view accessible for the whole team. This was not possible when their data lived in disparate systems, files, and spreadsheets. Dan Lombard has led the improvement of Airtree's data infrastructure. Now, data sources like Visible and Affinity are piped into Snowflake via recurring AWS Lambda jobs. Airtree leverages the Visible API daily. Dan mentioned that while Airtree collects data quarterly, a daily sync of the data is crucial because Airtree is always onboarding new companies, communicating with their founders, and uploading historical data. “The Visible API gives us this level of daily fidelity and only takes the AWS Lambda job 5 minutes to populate an entire data architecture.” - Dan Lombard, Data Lead at Airtree Ventures Once the data is in their database, Snowflake handles the ETL and entity matching. Airtree then has Streamlit sit on top of Snowflake to query data, provision access, and build out new insights. Advice for Other VC Firms Building Out Their Data Infrastructure Don’t overcomplicate things to start. It is easy to get caught up in the bells and whistles. Dan recommends a bias towards simplicity. Start small and use it as a stepping stone as you build things out. Conclusion Airtree’s adoption of Visible transformed their portfolio management by automating key processes and centralizing data, thus enabling more strategic decision-making and efficient operations. The case of Airtree is a testament to how the right technological partnerships can profoundly impact business efficiency and data management.