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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.

The story of venture capital in Crypto is one of dramatic cycles, bold bets, and constant reinvention. In the early 2010s, when Bitcoin was still a fringe experiment, only a handful of visionary investors dared to back blockchain startups. The first wave of Crypto VC funding was dominated by small seed rounds and a focus on core infrastructure—wallets, exchanges, and early protocols. As Ethereum launched in 2015 and the ICO boom of 2017 took off, the sector exploded, attracting billions in speculative capital and spawning a global ecosystem of startups. However, the subsequent “Crypto Winter” of 2018-2019 saw funding dry up, valuations plummet, and many projects disappear. The next phase, from 2020 to 2022, was defined by the rise of DeFi, NFTs, and Web3, with venture capital pouring into new verticals and record-breaking rounds. Yet, this period also brought increased regulatory scrutiny and market volatility, culminating in a sharp correction in 2022. Many predicted a prolonged downturn, but the Crypto sector proved resilient. By 2024, institutional investors and sovereign wealth funds began to enter the space, drawn by maturing technology, clearer regulations, and the promise of real-world asset tokenization. 2025 marks a pivotal moment for Crypto startups and their investors. In the first half of the year alone, venture capital inflows into Crypto surged to over $10 billion—levels not seen since the last bull market—driven by landmark deals like the $2 billion investment into Binance by Abu Dhabi’s MGX, the largest single VC deal in Crypto history. Unlike previous cycles, today’s capital is flowing into both early-stage innovation and late-stage, revenue-generating companies, reflecting a maturing market where business fundamentals matter as much as vision. Key factors driving this change: Regulatory Clarity: New, more supportive policies in the US, Europe, and Asia have reduced uncertainty and opened the door for institutional capital. Institutional Participation: Pension funds, family offices, and sovereign wealth funds are now active players, seeking exposure to blockchain infrastructure, DeFi, and tokenized real-world assets. Globalization: While the US remains the leading hub, Asia and Europe are rapidly gaining ground, with new projects and capital emerging from Japan, China, Malta, and beyond. Sector Maturation: The focus has shifted from speculative tokens to sustainable business models, with strong interest in CeFi, DeFi, blockchain infrastructure, and the intersection of AI and Crypto. In this guide, we will provide an up-to-date list of the top global VC firms investing in Crypto, 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 Crypto ecosystem. Leading Crypto Venture Capital Firms 2025 Eden Block About: We focus on the impact of emerging tech, particularly blockchain and AI, across three verticals: 1) Finance & Assets; 2) Privacy, data & security; and 3) Supply Chains & Distribution Sweetspot check size: $ 1.50M Thesis: Backing the builders of the Open Internet Digital Currency Group About: At Digital Currency Group, we build and support bitcoin and blockchain companies by leveraging our insights, network, and access to capital. Sweetspot check size: $ 250K Thesis: We invest in companies that are accelerating the creation and adoption of a better financial system using blockchain technology and cryptocurrency Blue Yard Capital About: BlueYard backs founders at the earliest stages building the interconnected elements that can become the fabric of our future. A future where markets are open and decentralized, where we have solved our largest planetary challenges, where knowledge and data is liberated and humanity can live long and prosper. Thesis: BlueYard seeks to invest in founders with transforming ideas that decentralize markets. BACKED About: BACKED is a maverick VC fund backing a new spirit of entrepreneurship. With an emphasis on personal development and community strength, we back the exceptional founders building a future we want to share. Sweetspot check size: $ 1M AppWorks About: Based in Taiwan, AppWorks is the largest startup accelerator in Greater Southeast Asia and one of the region's most active early-stage VCs. Alchemy Ventures About: At Alchemy, our mission is to provide developers with the fundamental building blocks they need to create the future of technology. Through Alchemy Ventures, we'll be accelerating this mission by dedicating financing and resources to the most promising teams growing the Web3 ecosystem. Thesis: Alchemy Ventures invests in teams building revolutionary products for the web3 ecosystem. Acrew Capital About: Acrew Capital is a venture capital firm that provides investable assets for diverse angel investors to fund tomorrow's companies. Sweetspot check size: $ 5M Thesis: We engage in long-term partnerships with world-class teams that are uniquely suited to transform big challenges into bigger opportunities. Pantera Capital About: Pantera Capital is the first institutional investment firm focused exclusively on bitcoin, other digital currencies, and companies in the blockchain tech ecosystem. Sweetspot check size: $ 5M Andreessen Horowitz (a16z Crypto) About: Andreessen Horowitz was established in June 2009 by entrepreneurs and engineers Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz, based on their vision for a new, modern VC firm designed to support today's entrepreneurs. Andreessen and Horowitz have a track record of investing in, building and scaling highly successful businesses. Sweetspot check size: $ 25M Thesis: Historically, new models of computing have tended to emerge every 10–15 years: mainframes in the 60s, PCs in the late 70s, the internet in the early 90s, and smartphones in the late 2000s. Each computing model enabled new classes of applications that built on the unique strengths of the platform. For example, smartphones were the first truly personal computers with built-in sensors like GPS and high-resolution cameras. Applications like Instagram, Snapchat, and Uber/Lyft took advantage of these unique capabilities and are now used by billions of people. Paradigm About: Paradigm primarily invests in crypto-assets and businesses from the earliest stages of idea formation through to maturity. Every once in a while, a new technology comes along that changes everything. The internet defined the past few decades of innovation. We believe crypto will define the next few decades. Paradigm is an investment firm focused on supporting the crypto/Web3 companies and protocols of tomorrow. Our approach is flexible, long term, multi-stage, and global. We often get involved at the earliest stages of formation and continue supporting our portfolio companies over time. We take a deeply hands-on approach to help projects reach their full potential, from the technical (mechanism design, smart contract security, engineering) to the operational (recruiting, regulatory strategy). Thesis: Paradigm is an investment firm focused on supporting the great crypto/Web3 companies and protocols of tomorrow. Our approach is flexible, long term, multi-stage, and global. We often get involved at the earliest stages of formation and support our portfolio with additional capital over time. Coinbase Ventures About: Coinbase Ventures is an investment arm of Coinbase that aims to invest in early-stage cryptocurrency and blockchain startups. Thesis: At Coinbase, we’re committed to creating an open financial system for the world. We can’t do it alone, and we’re eagerly rooting for the brightest minds in the crypto ecosystem to build empowering products for everyone. Digital Currency Group (DCG) About: At Digital Currency Group, we build and support bitcoin and blockchain companies by leveraging our insights, network, and access to capital. Sweetspot check size: $ 250K Thesis: We invest in companies that are accelerating the creation and adoption of a better financial system using blockchain technology and cryptocurrency YZi Labs (Formerly Binance Labs) About: YZi Labs manages over $10 billion assets globally. Our investment philosophy emphasizes impact first -- we believe that meaningful returns will naturally follow. We invest in ventures at every stage, prioritizing those with solid fundamentals in Web3, AI, and biotech. YZi Labs’ portfolio covers over 300 projects from over 25 countries across six continents. More than 65 of YZi Labs’ portfolio companies have gone through our incubation programs. For more information, follow YZi Labs on X. MGX About: Born in the UAE, MGX is a leading AI and advanced technology investor. We are committed to accelerating responsible AI development and building one of the world’s most advanced AI ecosystems. MGX provides access to a global network of visionaries, entrepreneurs, and investors, all focused on shaping a prosperous and interconnected future. Key Networking Opportunities, Accelerators, and Resources for Crypto Founders Major Industry Events and Conferences Attending top-tier events is one of the fastest ways to access VCs, corporate partners, and the latest industry insights. Some of the most influential Crypto and blockchain events in 2025 include: Consensus by CoinDesk (USA): The world’s largest and most influential Crypto conference, drawing VCs, founders, and policymakers from around the globe. Token2049 (Singapore & Dubai): Asia’s premier Crypto event, now with a major presence in the Middle East, attracting global investors and innovators. ETHGlobal (Global): A series of hackathons and summits focused on Ethereum and Web3, with events in North America, Europe, and Asia. Paris Blockchain Week (France): Europe’s flagship event for blockchain, DeFi, and Web3, with a strong VC and institutional presence. Web Summit (Portugal): While broader than just Crypto, Web Summit’s Crypto and Web3 tracks are a magnet for global investors and founders. Tip: Many VCs now host private side events, pitch competitions, and office hours at these conferences. Apply early and leverage your network for introductions. Leading Crypto Accelerators and Incubators Accelerators and incubators remain a powerful launchpad for Crypto startups, offering funding, mentorship, and direct access to top-tier investors. The most respected programs are increasingly global and sector-specific: YZi Labs (Binance’s Incubation Program): Backing early-stage Crypto projects worldwide, with a focus on infrastructure, DeFi, and Web3. a16z Crypto Startup School: Andreessen Horowitz’s intensive program for Web3 founders, offering mentorship from industry leaders and direct VC access. Outlier Ventures Base Camp: A leading Web3 accelerator with a global cohort, focusing on DeFi, NFTs, and the open metaverse. CV Labs Accelerator (Switzerland, Africa, Asia): Supporting blockchain startups with funding, workspace, and access to the Crypto Valley ecosystem. Techstars Web3 Accelerator: A global program for blockchain and Crypto startups, with a strong network of mentors and investors. Tip: Acceptance into a top accelerator can significantly boost your credibility with VCs and open doors to global networks. Regulatory and Legal Resources Global Digital Finance (GDF): Industry-led best practices and regulatory updates for digital assets. Coin Center: US-focused policy research and advocacy for Crypto founders. Blockchain Association: Advocacy and resources for navigating US and global Crypto regulation. Cross-Border Funding Considerations Local Legal Counsel: Engage with law firms experienced in Crypto and cross-border fundraising. Jurisdictional Hubs: Consider the advantages of incorporating in Crypto-friendly jurisdictions like Switzerland, Singapore, Malta, or the UAE for regulatory clarity and investor access. International Ecosystem Trends and Cross-Border Insights Asia’s Rise: Japan, Singapore, and Hong Kong are seeing a surge in new projects and VC activity, driven by regulatory clarity and government support. Europe’s Maturation: Switzerland and Malta remain top destinations for Crypto startups, with strong legal frameworks and access to EU capital. US Leadership, Global Competition: The US is still the largest market for Crypto VC, but founders are increasingly looking to raise from a global syndicate of investors. Africa and Latin America: These regions are emerging as innovation hotspots, especially in payments, DeFi, and real-world asset tokenization, with growing local VC and accelerator support. Find an Investor for Crypto with Visible Visible helps founders connect with investors using our connect investor database, find VCs specifically investing in Crypto here. For Crypto startups, securing the right investors is critical as it goes beyond mere funding. These investors bring specialized expertise and strategic insights specific to the Crypto 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.

Raising venture capital as a Real Estate startup founder is a unique journey—one that demands a deep understanding of both the property sector and the fast-evolving world of technology investment. The Real Estate industry, long known for its complexity and capital intensity, is now at the forefront of innovation, with PropTech, smart buildings, and digital marketplaces transforming how we buy, sell, manage, and experience property worldwide. Yet, securing the right investment partners in this space is far from straightforward. Real Estate startups face distinct challenges, including navigating regulatory hurdles, managing lengthy sales cycles, and proving value in a sector where disruption is both necessary and challenging. At the same time, global trends—such as the rise of sustainable development, the integration of AI and IoT, and the growing appetite for cross-border deals—are creating unprecedented opportunities for founders who know where to look and how to pitch. In this guide, we will provide an up-to-date list of the top global VC firms investing in Real Estate, 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 Real Estate ecosystem. Top Real Estate VCs Moderne Ventures About: Moderne Ventures is a venture fund that invests in tech real estate, mortgage, finance, insurance, and home service companies. Sweetspot check size: $ 5M M7 Structura About: Real Estate/PropTech Seed to Series A European-focused VC firm. Sweetspot check size: $ 700K Traction metrics requirements: Revenue or other clear commercial traction Thesis: We invest in companies developing technology solutions to improve and create efficiencies through the real estate lifecycle and built environment. GoEx Venture Capital Sweetspot check size: $ 250K Thesis: GoEx is a $5MM pre-seed fund in Nashville, TN, focusing on real estate technology companies across the U.S. Alate Partners About: Alate Partners is the result of a partnership built between Dream, one of Canada’s largest real estate companies, and Relay Ventures, an established early stage venture capital fund. Sweetspot check size: $ 3M Thesis: Alate Partners empowers entrepreneurs who are rethinking real estate. Fifth Wall About: At Fifth Wall we are pioneering an advisory-based approach to venture capital. Full-service, integrated, operationally aligned. We are the first and largest venture capital firm advising corporates on and investing in Built World technology. Our strategic focus, multidisciplinary expertise, and global network provide unique insights and unparalleled access to transformational opportunities. Sweetspot check size: $ 10M MetaProp About: MetaProp is a New York-based venture capital firm focused on the real estate technology (“PropTech”) industry. Founded in 2015, MetaProp’s investment team has invested in 175+ technology companies across the real estate value chain. The firm manages multiple funds for both financial and strategic real estate investors that represent a pilot- and test-ready sandbox of 20+ billion square feet across every real estate asset type and global market. The firm’s investment activities are complemented by pioneering community leadership including the PropTech Place innovation hub, MetaProp Accelerator at Columbia University programs, global events including NYC Real Estate Tech Week, and publications Global PropTech Confidence Index and PropTech 101. Camber Creek About: Camber Creek is a venture capital firm providing strategic value and capital to operating technology companies focused on the real estate market. Thesis: Focused on the real estate market Alate Partners About: Alate Partners is the result of a partnership built between Dream, one of Canada’s largest real estate companies, and Relay Ventures, an established early stage venture capital fund. Sweetspot check size: $ 3M Thesis: Alate Partners empowers entrepreneurs who are rethinking real estate. JLL Spark About: JLL Spark has invested more than $380 million in more than 45 early-stage PropTech startups—from IoT sensors to investment platforms and more. Thesis: Spark believes that no one company can produce all the innovation required to serve today’s clients, so we invest and partner with the brightest startups that share our vision and values and are dedicated to bringing positive change to the real estate industry globally. Second Century Ventures About: Second Century Ventures (SCV) is a venture capital fund focused on promoting innovation in the real estate industry. Traction metrics requirements: We are round-agnostic, favoring investments in organizations with strong market traction and proof of product market fit. Thesis: Second Century Ventures invests in strong teams and technologies with the potential to serve multiple industries. Fundraising Insights, Trends, and Practical Tips for Real Estate Startups Current Global Trends in Real Estate Venture Funding The Real Estate technology (PropTech) sector remains a focal point for innovation and investment in 2025, though overall venture capital funding has moderated compared to the record highs of previous years. According to the Center for Real Estate Technology & Innovation (CRETI), global PropTech venture capital funding totaled $615 million in January 2025, with the U.S. accounting for nearly half of that activity. This reflects a more disciplined and strategic investment environment following a cautious 2023, when global PropTech VC deals reached just $2.2 billion through May. North America and Europe continue to lead in deal volume and capital deployed, but Asia-Pacific and the Middle East are emerging as fast-growing hubs, particularly in areas like smart cities, green building, and digital infrastructure. Investors are prioritizing startups that address climate risk, energy efficiency, and regulatory compliance—trends accelerated by tightening regulations and growing demand for sustainable solutions. The integration of AI, IoT, and advanced data analytics is now a baseline expectation for new PropTech entrants. Solutions that enable remote property management, digital transactions, and enhanced tenant experiences are in high demand. Notably, cross-sector convergence is accelerating: innovations from agtech and foodtech—such as vertical farming and urban agriculture—are drawing Real Estate investors interested in mixed-use, sustainable developments. Unique Challenges Facing Real Estate Startups Raising capital in Real Estate comes with sector-specific hurdles. Sales cycles are often lengthy, as enterprise clients and institutional landlords require extensive due diligence and pilot programs before fully adopting the solution. Regulatory complexity is another major challenge, with zoning, building codes, and data privacy laws varying widely across regions. Additionally, Real Estate is a capital-intensive industry. Startups must often demonstrate not just product-market fit, but also the ability to scale operations, manage physical assets, and navigate conservative industry mindsets. Building trust and credibility—through partnerships, pilot projects, and a strong advisory board—is essential for overcoming skepticism and unlocking larger funding rounds. Opportunities for Innovation and Differentiation Despite these challenges, 2025 presents unprecedented opportunities for Real Estate founders. Sustainability and ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) are now top priorities for both investors and property owners. Startups offering solutions for energy management, carbon tracking, and green construction are seeing increased interest and premium valuations. AI-powered analytics, predictive maintenance, and digital twin technologies are enabling smarter asset management and operational efficiency. In emerging markets, there is growing demand for affordable housing, modular construction, and digital marketplaces that connect buyers, sellers, and renters in new ways. Fractional ownership and tokenization of real assets are also gaining traction, opening up Real Estate investment to a broader audience. Real Estate-Specific Due Diligence: What VCs Look For Venture capitalists in Real Estate are particularly focused on: Market Size and Growth Potential: Is your target market large and expanding? Regulatory Compliance: Are you prepared for local and international legal requirements? Technology Differentiation: How defensible and scalable is your tech? Team and Industry Expertise: Do you have the right mix of technical and Real Estate experience? Proof of Concept: Have you demonstrated your solution in real-world settings? Networking, Accelerators, and Global Resources for Real Estate Founders Key Networking Opportunities and Industry Events MIPIM (Cannes, France): The world’s leading Real Estate event, attracting 20,000+ industry leaders, VCs, and innovators. MIPIM 2025 will focus on sustainability, smart cities, and PropTech. CREtech New York & London: Premier PropTech conferences featuring top VCs, founders, and corporates. CREtech’s 2025 agenda includes panels on AI, ESG, and cross-border investment. PropTech Connect (London): Europe’s largest PropTech gathering, with a strong focus on networking and deal-making. EXPO REAL (Munich, Germany): Europe’s largest Real Estate and investment trade fair, with a growing PropTech pavilion. Leading Accelerators and Incubators for Real Estate Startups MetaProp Accelerator (New York): The world’s leading PropTech accelerator, offering investment, mentorship, and access to a global network of Real Estate corporates. REACH by Second Century Ventures (Global): Operates in North America, Australia, UK, and Latin America, focusing on scaling Real Estate innovation. Pi Labs (London): Europe’s first PropTech VC and accelerator, supporting early-stage startups with funding and industry access. Plug and Play Real Estate & Construction (Silicon Valley, Global): Connects startups with major Real Estate and construction corporates worldwide. Online Communities, Networks, and Founder Resources PropTech Collective: A global community for PropTech founders, investors, and professionals, offering events, Slack channels, and curated content. CREtech Community: Online forums, webinars, and networking for Real Estate tech innovators. Newsletters & Podcasts: Propmodo, PlaceTech, and The PropTech Podcast deliver news, trends, and founder stories. Government and NGO Resources: Startup Genome provides global ecosystem reports and benchmarking. The World Bank and local innovation hubs offer grants, regulatory guidance, and support for market entry. Find an Investor for Real Estate with Visible Visible helps founders connect with investors using our connect investor database, find VCs specifically investing in Real Estate here. For Real Estate startups, securing the right investors is critical as it goes beyond mere funding. These investors bring specialized expertise and strategic insights specific to the Real Estate 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.

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

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. Join us and Getro CEO, Evan Walden, on July 31st for a webinar where we 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. About the Webinar Evan Walden is the CEO and Founder of Getro, a platform that helps VCs build job boards and talent networks to support their portfolio companies. Evan is joining us to discuss the ins and outs of how best-in-class VC funds leverage their networks to help portfolio companies hire top talent and raise capital. We'll 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 Even if you can't make it, register anyway! We'll send the recording to anyone who registers.

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.

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.

About Moxxie Moxxie was founded in 2019 by former Twitter executive Katie Stanton. Prior to starting Moxxie Katie worked at Google, in the Obama administration as a Special Advisor to the Office of Innovation, and co-founded the angel group #Angels. In 2021, Katie brought on Alex Roetter, whom she had worked with before at both Twitter and Google, as an equal partner in Moxxie’s second fund of $85M. Alex joined Moxxie with a wealth of operational and engineering experience from previously serving as the Senior VP of engineering at Twitter for 6 years as well as working as a software engineer at Google and various other early-stage startups. Today, Moxxie has invested in over 60+ seed-stage companies in the consumer, enterprise, fintech, health tech, and climate sectors. The team at Moxxie is differentiated by their operational experience and focus on underrepresented founders. According to an article published in Forbes, out of the 27 investments from Moxxie’s first fund, 36% were founded by women, 40% by people of color, 8% by Black founders and 43% by immigrant founders. Learn more about Moxxie. This Case Study was put together in collaboration with Alex Roetter, Managing Director and General Partner at Moxxie. What Moxxie was doing prior to using Visible In the early days at Moxxie, the team used a combination of check-in calls at varying frequencies, ad-hoc meetings, and texts to gather updates from their companies. Later on, they created a Google Group email alias where founders sent their updates so the communications were all stored in one inbox. The Moxxie team kept a summary of each company in a combined Google Document that was updated irregularly. The portfolio monitoring challenges Moxxie was facing The main issue with Moxxie’s ad-hoc method was that “...it was just all very manual. It was a mish-mash of documents and hard to maintain. We were inconsistent in how up-to-date we were on different companies,” shared Alex, Moxxie’s Managing Director. The manual effort required to stay on top of portfolio companies meant portfolio monitoring was “...falling to the wayside and we were not doing as good of a job [monitoring our companies] as we needed to be.” “...it was just all very manual. It was a mish-mash of documents and hard to maintain. We were inconsistent in how up-to-date we were on different companies." It’s common for investors to feel overwhelmed as they attempt to manually keep up to date on a growing number of portfolio companies despite recognizing the benefits of doing so. Alex emphasized that the main reason Moxxie wanted to improve their portfolio monitoring was to ensure they were spending their time most effectively at their firm. It was hard to identify which companies needed their support and where Moxxie's time would be most valuably spent “...without having a regular heartbeat from [their] portfolio companies.” The reasons Moxxie chose Visible Moxxie’s founder Katie Stanton was told to check out Visible’s KPI tracking capabilities at the end of 2022 while she was attending the Equity Summit, an invitation-only gathering that brings together thought-leading LPs and GPs that drive industry change. Alex from Moxxie reached out to Visible soon after the initial referral to schedule a demo. The demo confirmed that the Visible platform had exactly what Alex was looking for in a portfolio KPI tracking tool. Moxxie's portfolio monitoring criteria included: An automated way to send structured data requests to portfolio companies A solution that wasn’t taxing on their founders Allowed founders to share their data within seconds Ability to see all their portfolio data in one clear place Ability to easily build Tear Sheets for each company Moxxie's onboarding experience with Visible Moxxie’s onboarding took approximately 9 days to complete. When asked to share feedback on Visible’s onboarding process Alex shared “Everything was great. Whenever we had bulk data in a CSV that needed to be uploaded we shared it with Visible and it was uploaded within 24 hours.” Check out additional Visible reviews on G2. How Moxxie is leveraging Visible to streamline portfolio monitoring and reporting processes today Today Moxxie doesn’t have to remember to check in with their companies or make guesses about their companies’ recent progress updates. Instead, Visible has enabled Moxxie to send automatic, recurring, structured data requests to their companies that can be completed without their founders ever having to log in or create an account. The Moxxie team is immediately notified when companies complete data Requests. From there, they are able to easily identify which companies need more support. This streamlined, founder-friendly process ensures the Moxxie team can continue to spend time on high-value fund operations, such as deal flow, while also efficiently monitoring and supporting current portfolio companies. Taking a closer look at Moxxie’s use of the Visible platform, the team primarily uses four main features on Visible: Requests, Tear Sheets, Reports, and Updates. Requests: Streamlining Moxxie’s portfolio KPI data collection process Moxxie uses Visible’s Request feature to collect 5 metrics from companies on a regular basis. The firm collects data from early-stage companies on a monthly basis and on a quarterly basis for more mature companies in their portfolio. The five metrics Moxxie collects include: Revenue Runway Cash Spend Cash Balance Headcount Moxxie also includes a qualitative text block in their Request that provides companies with an opportunity to add additional context to their metrics, share any additional updates, or ask Moxxie for support on specific items. Alex shared that likes that the Visible platform sends him a notification each time a company submits a Request. He uses this as an opportunity to quickly identify any changes to the company’s performance. Alex shared “...anytime there’s something unexpected it’s a reminder to check in with the company.” Reports: Building a custom investment data report before an annual meeting Another key feature that Moxxie is utilizing is Visible’s report feature which allows Moxxie to pull together select metrics and investment data into a single table view. Moxxie has a fund summary for both Fund I and Fund II that includes: initial ownership %, total invested, total invested from a specific fund, and the initial valuation for each company. Moxxie initially created this report to prepare for an annual meeting with LPs. They wanted to see the numbers across all their portfolio companies, be able to download the figures, and then compute averages. Tear Sheets: Creating a clear overview of individual company performance Moxxie utilizes Visible’s dashboard templates to create custom Tear Sheets for each of their companies. Moxxie’s Tear Sheets incorporate elements of their original investment memo coupled with dynamic metrics and qualitative updates that change over time. Integrating company properties into Tear Sheets The static information in Moxxie's Tear Sheets is pulled directly from companies' profiles in Visible. The information that Moxxie includes in their Tear Sheets are: Company website url Latest valuation Co-investors Founders Company summary Why we invested Status Deal source Initial ownership Initial valuation Investment date Total invested Sector HQ location Year founded Integrated dynamic charts into Tear Sheets Moxxie also incorporates data visualizations into their Tear Sheets which are automatically updated as companies submit new information to Visible. The dynamic information Moxxie includes in Tear sheets is: Monthly KPI’s in a bar chart Runway vs Headcount in a bar chart Monthly spend vs cash balance in a bar chart Revenue forecast vs actual in a bar chart Update/progress since investment in a text widget Key metrics in a text widget Company-specific metrics in a text widget View Tear Sheet examples from Visible. Updates: Communicating portfolio performance with LPs on a quarterly basis Moxxie also leverages Visible’s Updates feature to send outbound communication to their LPs and the wider Moxxie community on a quarterly basis. The firm uses Visible’s Update feature instead of its previous Google Group as a way to consolidate its tech stack. Alex shares that he finds the open rates and viewing analytics helpful so he can understand how LPs are engaging with their regular communications. Conclusion Moxxie chose to move forward with Visible’s founder-friendly portfolio monitoring solution after hearing about Visible’s KPI tracking capabilities through a credible referral. By adopting Visible, Moxxie’s ad-hoc, manual portfolio monitoring processes have been transformed into a streamlined cadence for collecting structured updates from their companies. The firm previously stored outdated company summaries in Google Documents and now the Moxxie team leverages neatly organized Tear Sheets that auto-update when companies share new information. Over 400+ VC firms are using Visible to streamline their portfolio monitoring and reporting process.