Crescent Ridge VC’s Post

Is entrepreneurship becoming an exclusive club? 👑 In her insightful article, Allison Long Pettine explores the evolving landscape of entrepreneurship, from the misfits of the past to the elite entrepreneurs of today. She calls for a return to our roots, where pragmatism, resilience, and creativity drive innovation. It's time to celebrate and support those who challenge the status quo and build businesses that solve real problems. 3 Key Highlights: 😅 The Misfits of Yesteryear: Allison emphasizes that the original entrepreneurs were often outsiders and pragmatists who succeeded through resilience and determination. 🎩 The Rise of the Elite Entrepreneur: Today's entrepreneurs often come from privileged backgrounds, which has shifted the perception and accessibility of entrepreneurship. 🫂 A Call to Return to Our Roots: Pettine advocates for lowering barriers, valuing pragmatism, and fostering resilience to create a more inclusive and innovative entrepreneurial ecosystem. Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/g3rEPEfX #crescentridgevc #4DWealth #Inclusivity #Innovation #entrepreneurship #resilience #thoughtleaders

Are you an early-stage founder in San Diego looking to build, fund, and scale your business but don't know where to start? Check out these San Diego-based accelerator programs designed to help you succeed: Stella Foundation: Stella targets 50-75 high-performance women to serve each year through a 6-week intensive program with access to expert 1:1 mentors The EXXCHANGE: a networking community where our network of active investors converge with the hottest companies in life sciences and technology. EvoNexus: Provides incubation and mentorship for technology and life science startups without taking equity. Connect ALL @ the Jacobs Center for Neighborhood Innovation: Focuses on diverse, low-to-moderate income and women founders, offering mentorship, resources, and business development services. The Brink SBDC: Supports innovation-driven startups across various sectors with mentorship, workshops, and access to funding resources. SD Sport Innovators: Caters to startups in the sports and active lifestyle sectors with mentorship, networking, and business resources. Bluetech Incubator: Focuses on marine and water technology startups, providing industry-specific resources, mentorship, and funding. SDSU ZIP Launchpad: Supports San Diego State University students, faculty, and staff in launching startups with resources and mentorship. Startup San Diego: Provides programs and resources to early-stage startups across all sectors, fostering a collaborative entrepreneurial community. Hera Hub: A female-focused accelerator that supports women entrepreneurs with co-working spaces, mentorship, and business resources. CUBIC INNOVATIONS Lab: Works with tech startups in transportation, defense, and smart cities, offering access to Cubic Corporation's resources and expertise. Cyber Tech: Focuses on cybersecurity startups, providing mentorship, access to funding, and a network of industry experts and investors. Explore these programs to take your startup to new heights! 🚀 #Startup #Entrepreneurship #AcceleratorPrograms #SanDiego #TechStartups #Mentorship #Funding #Innovation

Navigating the Information Age: Key Insights for Business Success from Managing Partner, Allison Long Pettine and Maria Gonzalez-Blanch 🌐 In the era of digital transformation, companies must elevate their game to meet the heightened expectations of informed consumers. Our latest blog, Informed Audiences, Elevated Expectations, by Allison and Maria, highlights three pivotal insights driving this change. 1️⃣ Transparency Is Non-Negotiable: Consumers can easily verify business practices, making transparency essential. Esas Beauty exemplifies this by sourcing synthetic-free ingredients and prioritizing environmental health, gaining customer loyalty through their transparent approach. 2️⃣ Quality and Value Take Center Stage: With abundant access to product reviews, delivering high-quality, valuable products is crucial. Needed showcases this by maintaining rigorous supply chain standards and launching Needed Labs, reinforcing their commitment to women's health research and sustainable practices. 3️⃣ Cultivating Brand Values: Building credibility and resonating with audiences through authentic brand values is more important than ever. Companies like Esas Beauty and Needed lead by example, demonstrating how deeply rooted values can foster loyalty and trust. You can read the full blog here: https://lnkd.in/gSXdRm39 #crescentridgevc #4DWealth #IntellectualProsperity #Innovation #Creativity #sandiego #vcs #transparency

Happy Independence Day from the Crescent Ridge VC family to yours🇺🇸 Today we honor the community we live in the opportunities we have the privilege of accessing. For this Independence day, we would like to send you our gratitude for every partner, founder, and investor we've had the opportunity to work with throughout the last few years.

Need a fundraising crash course? Fundraising for the first time❓ Techstars offers an exclusive 3-part Fundraising Series designed to empower you with the knowledge and tools to successfully raise capital for your early-stage startup. 📈 Led by industry experts, gain insider tips on preparing for investor meetings, crafting the perfect pitch, and creating an impactful investor deck. Leave each session with actionable insights and practical advice to confidently navigate the fundraising process. 🎥 Part 1 (Ready): Raising Capital Replay - Discover investor readiness essentials, define your business goals, and learn how to secure meetings with target investors. 📝 Part 2 (Set): Prepping Your Materials Replay - Master the materials needed for fundraising, create a strong investor deck, and determine your fundraising goals. 🎬 Part 3 (Go!): Mock Investor Interview Replay - Watch mock interviews with real investors, gain valuable insights, and refine your pitch. #crescentridgevc #4DWealth #IntellectualProsperity #Innovation #Creativity #techstars

Congrats Kate Dilligan and Cooler Heads Care!

Managing Partner, Maria Gonzalez-Blanch, had the pleasure of joining Startup San Diego for their quarterly 1st Monday event yesterday! Joining the stage with Gary Benitt, Managing Partner at Social Leverage, Kate Dilligan, Founder & CEO of Cooler Heads Care and Doug Hecht, CEO at Walla, together they shared insights on the current venture landscape and strategies for early-stage founders preparing to scale. A few highlights from the night: 🤝 When having conversations with investors, keep company board constructions top of mind ⚡️ Resilience is key to fundraising. Especially through the ebbs and flows of VC markets. 🏆 Find your champions. Build relationships with those who believe in what you're building and advocate for you in new "rooms". #crescentridgevc #4DWealth #IntellectualProsperity #Innovation #1stmonday

Tonight! Managing Partner, Maria Gonzalez-Blanch, will be joining Startup San Diego for this month's "1st Monday"🗓️ Local founders and investors fundraising and growing in San Diego for a short panel moderated by David Loseke, J.P. Morgan Executive Director and Startup San Diego Board Member. Featured Panelists for #1stMondays are: ➡️ Gary Benitt, Managing Partner at Social Leverage ➡️ Maria Gonzalez-Blanch, Managing Partner, Crescent Ridge VC ➡️ Kate Dilligan, Founder & CEO, Cooler Heads Care ➡️ Doug Hecht, CEO at Walla Register here: https://lnkd.in/g9C4dRWC #crescentridgevc #4DWealth #IntellectualProsperity #Innovation #1stmonday