Community Newsletter #38

A window into the world of women in startups

Aug 22, 2024

A Note from Leslie.

Dear friends,

Earlier this month, I did something both extremely out of character and extremely in character: I took a very public political stance when I created and led the VCs for Kamala Pledge. The surge of ultra-right wing VC voices that dominated headlines in July did not speak for me, nor for many of the founders in our community. That's why I spoke up in a moment when it was unpopular to do so. To date, more than 800 VCs have signed - veritable who's who in the industry - plus hundreds of founders too.

I'm sharing this here because I have historically stayed away from politics, but this was a major moment and I didn't want to pretend like it never happened with you. I am politically independent and deeply believe in the power of dialogue - especially with those whose views are different from mine. I also know that some of you don't want to hear about politics at all, and I respect that. You won't hear more about this through Graham & Walker channels after today.

That said, if you'd like to add your voice and join upcoming VCs for Kamala events, you can sign the pledge here. This election is much more consequential for our country, our institutions, and our literal bodies, than a handful of billionaire VCs say it is. They may have more dollars. But we have more heart.

Warmly,

Leslie

In today's newsletter:

September’s Virtual Forum: From Ideas to Customers - Start off Right
San Francisco, 9/17-18: G&W is collaborating with AWS to launch a 2-day fundraising bootcamp designed to give women founders the tools and knowledge to reach key fundraising milestones.
Our Latest Funding Report: Check out who got funded last month.
Portfolio Spotlight: Arielle Radin Pulverman, Co-Founder and CEO, Bruin Health
Catch up on our conversation with Monique Woodard, Founder and Managing Director of Cake Ventures here.
We loved meeting our community during Seattle Tech Week! See pictures of the Founders and Funders Brunch here.

THIS NEWSLETTER IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY:

Let’s get down to (small) business! Seattle Bank’s small business loan leverages an easy online application with quick decision and funding time and zero origination fees. We’re committed to helping you reach your business goals with custom financing solutions that make it easy to move your business forward. For more information about Seattle Bank and our services, please contact our Business Banker, Albert Lau, at alau@seattlebank.com.

If you are interested in sponsoring this newsletter, please email team@grahamwalker.com

Upcoming: From Idea to Customers: Start off right

Join us for an exclusive workshop led by Sam Chandler, Director of Customer Success at Startups, Zendesk. In this interactive session, Sam will guide you through the pivotal journey of turning a great idea into a thriving business. How do you know if you’re a founder or just someone with a good idea? The answer lies in your customers! Sam will break down the transition from idea to founder into three actionable steps, providing you with the tools to effectively invest in your customers and elevate your business to new heights. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain invaluable insights and kickstart your entrepreneurial journey with confidence.

Funding Report

Sybill, a startup solving this problem with a novel AI assistant, announced it has raised $11 million in Series A funding from Greycroft, Neotribe Ventures, Powerhouse Ventures and Uncorrelated Ventures.
Momentum, the customer intelligence platform that enables enterprise listening and automation, today announced that it has raised $13 million in Series A funding led by FirstMark Capital with participation from Stage 2 Capital, bringing Momentum’s total funding to $18 million
Levels, a software platform that shows users how food affects their health, announced it has raised $10m in Series A Extension funding. The round included $3 million in crowdfunding from more than 2,000 investors, as well as investments from Long Journey, a16z, and others.
Uplimit, a leader in AI-based enterprise learning, announced that it has closed an $11 million Series A funding round to support its ongoing investment in delivering high-quality enterprise teaching and learning at scale. The round was led by Salesforce Ventures, along with existing investors GSV Ventures, Greylock Partners, and Cowboy Ventures, and new investors Translink Capital, Workday Ventures, and Conviction.

(Cont’d on the blog)

G&W Portfolio Founder Feature

What you missed:

Fireside Chat with Monique Woodard, Managing Director Cake Ventures

Catch up on this fireside chat where Monique’s insights underscore the importance of aligning with demographic trends and the critical role of execution and market understanding in building successful startups.

G&W’s Founders and Funders Brunch at Seattle Tech Week