Laconia

We're thrilled to announce that LiquiDonate has successfully raised $3.75 million in seed funding! Laconia led this round with support from Uncork Capital, Kapor Capital, Maccabee Ventures, Ganas Ventures, and more. LiquiDonate is revolutionizing the way retailers handle returns and excess inventory by matching them with nearby nonprofits. This not only reduces waste but also supports charitable causes. With seamless integration into warehouse systems and ecommerce platforms like Shopify, LiquiDonate is making the donation process easier than ever. Check out our reasons for investing here: https://lnkd.in/gihUFJvK A big thank you to Christopher K. Lee, MPH, a Venture Fellow from our Venture Cooperative program, for surfacing this opportunity 🙏 Please join us in congratulating LiquiDonate's founder, Disney Petit, MBA on this milestone!

Our portfolio company WeStock is holding an investor roundtable for CPG brands on September 30. They are bringing together some of the top investors in the space to share their insights on how to raise capital in the current climate. They will dive into: What successful brands are doing right now How to navigate the fundraising process effectively What investors are looking for when evaluating pitches Sign up here: https://lnkd.in/egN655q5

At Laconia, we’re passionate about partnering with early-stage companies that are ready to make a significant impact. We invest in pre-seed and seed-stage companies that are transforming how business is done. Whether you are pre-product or post-revenue, we are most interested in understanding who your target customers are, how big their pain point is, and how you've validated the market demand for your solution. Our investment approach is sector-agnostic, and we’re particularly drawn to companies that are solving high pain point problems in established markets and workflows. Our current portfolio reflects this, with investments in healthcare, climate tech, fintech, proptech, martech, supply chain, and e-commerce enablement, among others. Given our b2b software focus, we typically do not invest in medical devices, biotech, agtech, energy, military applications, or B2C companies. If your company aligns with our investment focus, we’d love to hear from you. Reach out to us here: https://lnkd.in/gY6ZbSBa

Congratulations to Laconia’s very own Jeffrey Silverman on starting his new role last week as Adjunct Professor at Tulane University! 🎉 In his course, undergraduate students will get a real feel for venture capital operations, enhancing their investment skills, understanding entrepreneurial finance, and gearing up for a future in VC with confidence. We're incredibly proud and can't wait to see the impact Jeffrey will make in this new chapter!

We are excited to announce our portfolio company, WeStock, is expanding their storefront programs in NYC, partnering with Village Grocers! So proud of their continued growth, and can’t wait to see where they grow to next!

Congratulations to our portfolio company, Yuvo Health, for their partnership with Switchboard Health. This collaboration will bring tech-enabled care navigation to Yuvo’s FQHC partners, helping more patients connect with their providers earlier. The result? Improved health outcomes and reduced overall healthcare costs. It’s a win for patients, providers, and communities alike.

What an incredible night last week at the Hustle Fund Angel Squad NY Chapter Q3 event at the Google offices! Thank you to our very own Mirit Lugassi for sharing your insights about the Good the Bad and the Ugly for what it means to Hustle. A massive shoutout to Steve Soleimani for being an incredible host, and opening up the Google Campus for us! Thank you to Leon Jon for hosting, Lei Bely-Cheng 成蕾 for moderating and Sheila E Dennis MS and Katie Nowak for being incredible co-panelists. Thanks to all the Hustle Fund Angel Squad crew who joined us for great food, drinks, and engaging conversations. Looking forward to the next one!

Now You're a Part of the Laconia Family ... What Happens Next? Once your funding is wired, Laconia kicks off with a structured onboarding process. We start with a candid conversation to uncover any overlooked details and re-align on your 6-12-month plan. We also cover best practices for Board meetings, filling independent Board seats, and setting investor communication guidelines, ensuring a smooth transition so you can focus on building your business. For the first 18 months, we're on-call 24/7, ready to assist with everything from team structure to future fundraising. As your company grows, our role shifts to that of a trusted advisor, always available when you need us. Beyond support, you’ll join a vibrant community with bespoke events, founder roundtables, and industry-specific gatherings. At Laconia, you’re not just an investment; you’re a core team member, and we’re here to help you succeed at every stage. If you're considering Laconia as an investor, we’d love to connect and explore how we can support your growth. Get in touch with us here: https://lnkd.in/gY6ZbSBa

We're thrilled to share that our portfolio company, AutoFi’s, Showroom Solution is now officially certified and seamlessly integrated with CDK Global, Dealertrack DMS, and The Reynolds and Reynolds Company DMS! Dealers can now close deals on AutoFi and securely push transactions directly into their DMS—saving time and eliminating errors. Kudos to the AutoFi team for this incredible achievement!

Last week, Geri Kirilova and Mirit Lugassi had the pleasure of sitting down with the Lynx Collective, meeting with pre-seed and seed founders to share Laconia Capital’s approach to investing in early-stage B2B software startups. They discussed the evolving Seed to Series A landscape and the importance of knowing your market. At Laconia, we prioritize a qualitative, customer-focused approach. If you're considering Laconia as an investor, we’d love to connect and explore how we can support your growth. Get in touch with us here: https://lnkd.in/gY6ZbSBa Thank you to Andrew Chang and Dorothy Chang for having us! Click below to watch the full interview.