Build Tech Stack Equity Darius Gant

In a rapidly evolving tech landscape, securing enterprise contracts can be a game-changer for startups and tech firms alike. The journey to winning over Fortune 1000 clients requires strategic planning, tailored communication, and a deep understanding of the enterprise world. Drawing insights from venture capital experts, we explore the nuances of navigating enterprise sales and building successful relationships with top-tier clients.

In this episode, we sit with Theo Williams, the founder of Third Vector and an expert in venture capital specializing in the space technology industry. Theo shares his journey from a finance background to diving into the tech world, highlighting the challenges and opportunities he encountered along the way. He delves into the importance of investing in the space technology industry and how it can drive significant global impact.
 
If your company is looking to scale its AI initiatives, head over to Tesoro AI (www.tesoroai.com). We are experts in AI strategy, staff augmentation, and AI product development. 
Founder Bio:
 
Theo Williams is a seasoned professional with extensive experience in venture capital, strategic partnerships, and business development. As the Founder and Managing Partner at Third Vector, he spearheads an early-stage VC firm specializing in investments at the intersection of Space Tech and Big Data. Prior to founding Third Vector, Theo served as a Senior Portfolio Development Manager at Salesforce Ventures, where he played a key role in fortifying the enterprise ecosystem through strategic partnerships and investments. Before his tenure at Salesforce Ventures, Theo held positions in sales and investor relations at Cadre and in product development at Nuveen, a TIAA company. Throughout his career, Theo has demonstrated a commitment to driving growth and innovation in various sectors, leveraging his expertise in investment strategy and relationship management.
 
Theo holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Rice Business - Jones Graduate School of Business, where he was recognized as a Robert Toigo Foundation Fellow. He also earned a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree from Louisiana State University, where he demonstrated leadership as part of the Tiger Twelve Senior Recognition Class of 2012 and in various student government roles.
 
Time Stamps:
 
02:49: Theo’s journey from finance to tech
06:33 Understanding alternative investments
09:08 Transitioning to tech and angel investing
14:15 The birth of a space tech VC firm
21:37 Investment focus: Space data and infrastructure
24:22 Navigating the fundraising process
26:34 Aligning with founders and managing risk
31:43 Enterprise sales strategies for founders
37:49 Building for Enterprise vs. SMB
42:22 What’s coming new in 2024, and how to get in contact with the team
 
Resources
 
Email: Theo@thirdvector.ventures
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/third-vector/
Theo’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/theowilliams3/

In this episode we speak with Marlon Nichols, co-founder of MaC Venture Capital, who discusses his diverse career path from starting as an early employee at an enterprise software company, moving into consulting, and ultimately venturing into the world of venture capital. He explains the founding and growth of MaC Venture Capital, sharing insights into their investment thesis, sector focus, and the types of companies they seek to partner with. Marlon also provides invaluable advice for new fund managers and entrepreneurs, touching on the current fundraising landscape, strategies for success, and the importance of aligning with a firm's culture and team dynamics
 
MaC Venture Capital is a seed-stage venture firm that invests primarily in North America, with a focus on California. While the firm does not have a specific sector focus, it considers itself a generalist firm run by sector experts. Marlon explains that the common thread among their investments is a focus on popular culture and future trends. The firm seeks to identify emerging behaviors and trends early on and invest in companies that align with these shifts. This approach allows MaC Venture Capital to invest in a wide range of sectors, including fintech, B2B SaaS, digital health, and space and defense.
 
If your company is looking to scale its AI initiatives, head over to Tesoro AI (www.tesoroai.com). We are experts in AI strategy, staff augmentation, and AI product development. 
Founder Bio:
Marlon Nichols is the co-founder and managing general partner at MaC Venture Capital, a seed-stage venture capital firm that invests in visionary founders building the future that the world wants to see. Marlon has an extensive background in technology, private equity, media and entertainment. His unique eye for global and cultural trends, along with shifts in consumer behavior, has helped him uplift and accelerate entrepreneurs and companies that are on the verge of their breakthrough moment. Some of his current and previous portfolio companies include Blavity, Faze Clan, FINESSE, Gimlet Media, LIT Videobooks, Mansa, MongoDB, Pipe, PureStream, Ryff, Solo Funds, Spill, Thrive Market, Wonderschool and others.

Thanks to his background as a professional athlete, Marlon utilizes sports leadership philosophy when working closely with CEOs to build the Venture of tomorrow. His diverse network of media and entertainment industry leaders, tech entrepreneurs, Fortune 500 executives and sports professionals helps him develop strategic partnerships and promote brand expansions for his portfolio companies.Marlon serves on the board of directors for the Kauffman Fellows program, where he has been instrumental in growing the representation of underrepresented minorities. He also serves on the advisory board for Los Angeles Mayor’s office’s PledgeLA.

Marlon has been honored on the LA500 in 2022, 2023 and 2024, and ranked among top early stage investors on Business Insider’s Seed 100 for three consecutive years. He was also named Pitchbook’s 25 Black Founders and VCs to Watch for the last six years. Marlon has been featured in Axios, CNBC, Cheddar, The Information, Crunchbase News, Fortune, Yahoo! Finance and more.

Prior to MaC Venture Capital, Marlon was co-founder of Cross Culture Venture. He eventually enacted the merger with Adrian Fenty’s M Venture that resulted in MaC Venture Capital as it stands today. Prior to Cross Culture Venture, he served as an Investment Director at Intel Capital and earned hands-on experience as an operator himself. Marlon earned his Bachelor of Science in Management Information Systems from Northeastern University and an MBA from the SC Johnson College of Business at Cornell University, where he was also adjunct faculty in entrepreneurship and venture capital.
 
Time Stamps:
 
02:57 Marlon's journey from early operator to VC founder
08:55 Venture capital as a path to diversity and strategic engagement
12:14 MaC Venture Capi

In this episode we speak with Brandon Thorpe, a trailblazer in technology and entrepreneurship. From his early programming days to pivotal roles at Google AI and Apple, Brandon has redefined innovation in the tech world. Beyond his technological achievements, discover how his musical collaborations with Grammy winner Dallas Austin and the launch of his groundbreaking album 'Unicorn' showcase his diverse talents. Co-founder of Formless, Brandon is revolutionizing the internet through shared technology and smart contracts.
 
Learn about his vision for an equitable digital landscape, the origins of his passion for tech, and the challenges and successes he faced while raising funds for Formless. Explore the multifaceted world of a creative technologist committed to inspiring others and reshaping the future of digital communities.
 
If your company is looking to scale its AI initiatives, head over to Tesoro AI (www.tesoroai.com). We are experts in AI strategy, staff augmentation, and AI product development. 
Founder Bio:
 
Brandon Thorpe was a Staff engineer at Google AI, Senior engineer at Apple, self-taught programmer at 13 years old, featured in national media such as Forbes and WSJ, signed with Grammy Award winner Dallas Austin to release album "Unicorn", creator of Multi-Dream Theory with the idea that humans are capable of achieving excellence in multiple fields in parallel, co-founded Formless in 2022 aiming to illuminate true human purpose through technology by revolutionizing the internet with SHARE technology empowering common property ownership with smart contracts. Creative technologist with millions of streams and views across internet platforms. Formless was selected as one of around 30 companies from a pool of 8,000 to receive investment from a16z's CSX accelerator in 2023 and has since raised a multi-million dollar pre-seed round.
 
Time Stamps:
 
03:11 Brandon's journey from tech to music and back
12:52 Exploring the intersection of music, technology, and blockchain
15:27 Pain point that led to creating Formless
18:58 Redefining music distribution through blockchain
20:18 Blockchain as a nongovernment global computer.
23:02 Challenges and opportunities of music and blockchain
25:47 Redefining artist monetization and community building
30:52 Expanding Formless Beyond Music
34:04 Starting points and essential skills for building blockchain
38:31 Navigating the blockchain insights and opportunities
43:12 Engaging with the Formless Platform
45:08 Fundraising journey: strategies and lessons learned
51:56 What is coming up in 2024 and how to get in contact with the formless team
 
Resources
 
Company website: https://formless.xyz/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/formlessxyz/
Twitter: https://x.com/formless_xyz
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/formlessxyz/
 

In this episode, we sit with Kevin Moore, the fund manager at Serac Ventures. Kevin shares his unconventional journey to venture capital. Starting with a degree in civil engineering, Kevin transitioned through roles as a financial advisor, a regulatory worker at the Federal Reserve Bank, and eventually into the VC world. He emphasizes the importance of diverse experiences and a curious mindset for sourcing and evaluating investment opportunities. He discusses his methodology for investment selection and the significance of a disciplined approach across various investment mediums.
Kevin provides insights into the venture capital industry, highlighting the importance of understanding both the finance aspects and the operational challenges of startups, he also delves into the specifics of fundraising, offering advice on engaging with different types of investors, including foundations, endowments, family offices, and high net worth individuals. Furthermore, Kevin outlines the strategic focus of Serac Ventures on fintech, B2B SaaS, and commerce enablement solutions, emphasizing the fund's commitment to diversity and hands-on support for portfolio companies.
If your company is looking to scale its AI initiatives, head over to Tesoro AI (www.tesoroai.com). We are experts in AI strategy, staff augmentation, and AI product development. 
Founder Bio:
Kevin Moore is the Founder and Managing Partner at Serac Ventures. Kevin has over 18 years' experience in public and private markets investing having worked at Spur Capital Partners (VC FoF), i2E (VC Fund), Morgan Stanley, The Federal Reserve Bank, and Northwestern Mutual. Kevin is also the author of Starting Your Investment Fund: A How to Guide and he has a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Oklahoma State University and an MBA from the University of Central Oklahoma.
Time Stamps:
02:52 Kevin Moore’s unconventional paths to VC success
08:03 First steps into venture capital and the importance of background diversity
11:25 Embracing your role for personal and professional growth
13:08 Navigating the investment landscape: from LP to VC fund manager
18:33 Strategies for investment managers to engage with endowments
26:36 Challenges and strategies in fundraising for successive funds
28:06 Strategizing fund size for investment success
30:34 Financing GP commitments through fund distributions
32:33 Investment criteria and strategies at Serac Ventures
36:28 VC leverage expert networks for founders
38:24 Investment trends and predictions for 2024 and beyond
41:51 Dry powder and investment strategy in fund management
46:32 What is coming up for Serac Ventures
Resources
Company website: https://www.seracventures.vc/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@SeracVentures
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/serac-ventures-vcfund/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/seracventures

In this episode, we have a conversation with Justis Mendez, who is the Managing Partner and Co-Founder of OneSixOne Ventures. Justis shares his journey from the tough streets of Cleveland to becoming a leading figure in the venture capital world. From experiencing the harsh realities of gang violence and incarceration to founding Qu Parking, an innovative startup that revolutionizes residential parking. We also delve into Justis's transition into the venture capital sphere and his role in building a robust tech ecosystem, tracing his path from his initial introduction to VC at OneSixOne Ventures.
During our conversation with Justis, he highlights the significance of making a positive impact through venture capital and offers valuable advice for aspiring founders. He emphasizes the importance of being authentic and having technical expertise. Justis also discusses the challenges of raising capital in Florida and their mission to support local founders and keep them in the state. Building a strong community and providing value to founders beyond just capital is also a key point that he talks about, sharing insights into their investment strategy, focusing on early-stage startups in the enterprise software and AI infrastructure space.
If your company is looking to scale its AI initiatives, head over to Tesoro AI (www.tesoroai.com). We are experts in AI strategy, staff augmentation, and AI product development. 
Founder Bio:
Justis was born and raised on the west side of Cleveland. He grew up around gang violence, drug traffickers, and drive-by shootings happening as often as one could imagine. Many of his childhood friends have been either gunned down or locked up in prison. His best friend even ended up on First 48 after being involved in the murder of a high-profile gang member they knew. Justis founded Qu Parking, an "Airbnb for residential parking" startup, and led business development for Pinata, a fintech startup based in NYC helping tenants earn rewards for paying rent. OneSixOne Ventures is a leading pre-seed venture capital firm in the Southeast that identifies and invests in enterprise software and government tech startups that are developing breakthrough dual-use technologies.
Time Stamps:
03:13 Justis Mendez’s background and introduction to VC
12:41 Building a tech ecosystem: The genesis of OneSixOne Ventures
17:05 Launching a virtual accelerator during the pandemic
19:12 Launching their fund after realizing the need for monetization
22:15 Making a positive impact through venture capital
24:24 The strategic focus on enterprise software and AI
26:56 Investing in pre-seed and seed stages with small checks
30:05 Joining the fund’s ecosystem and warm referrals as ways to connect with OneSixOne
34:20 Current state of the VC space and capital deployment
38:57 Plans and predictions for 2024
40:52 Advice for founders: Authenticity and technical expertise
44:06 Considerations when outsourcing technical development for AI
46:17 Upcoming events for 2024 and how to get in contact with the OneSixOne group
Resources
Company website: https://www.onesixone.ventures/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onesixoneventures/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/onesixonegroup/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/onesixone-ventures/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/161ventures
 
 
 

When it comes to fundraising, storytelling is a crucial element that can make or break a founder’s success. It goes beyond presenting information and numbers; it’s about creating a narrative that captivates investors and showcases the potential of the opportunity. Black founders should leverage their unique experiences and perspectives to craft a powerful story that resonates with investors, highlighting their journey, the problem they’re solving, and the impact they can make can help differentiate them in a crowded market.
In this episode we sit with James Norman, co-founder Black Ops, who shares valuable insights on building successful tech companies and raising venture capital as a black founder. He emphasizes the importance of storytelling and the power of a compelling narrative when pitching to investors. James also offers advice on navigating the fundraising process and highlights the need for black founders to focus on building a strong network and finding mentors who can provide guidance and support. Overall, he provides valuable advice for black founders looking to succeed in the tech industry.
If your company is looking to scale its AI initiatives, head over to Tesoro AI (www.tesoroai.com). We are experts in AI strategy, staff augmentation, and AI product development. 
Founder Bio:
James Norman is a serial entrepreneur who built his first company at the age of 16, an aftermarket automotive e-commerce site called MJH Sound.com. While previously he may have been known as a visionary in automotive product planning, over the past 7 years in the media and entertainment industry he has become a thought leader in over-the-top media and consumer video consumption behaviors. His latest venture is Pilotly, a consumer insights platform that enables content creators to get feedback from audiences at scale.
Time Stamps:
02:25 Introduction and background of James Norman
10:02 Hiring the right engineer to build a product
13:46 The continuous learning process in technology
15:09 Funding challenges for non-profit organizations
17:27 How Black Ops program born out of the experience of founder support
21:13 Shifting power dynamics when fundraising as a founder
24:39 Building a Strong VC Network
26:11 Articulating the unique value and experience of the fund
30:38 Considerations for fund size and raising a first fund
33:19 Financial modeling and decision-making for portfolio construction
35:05 Importance of having a term sheet to raise a Series A
36:21 The power of storytelling in convincing investors and supporters
41:25 Addressing Gaps in Accelerators for Black Founders
46:21 What is coming up in the 2024
Resources
Company website: https://www.blackopsvc.com/
Twitter: https://www.linkedin.com/company/black-ops-vc/
LinkedIn: https://twitter.com/BlackOpsVC