📢 Welcome to the Level Up Ventures Startup Spotlight Series, ✨ where we feature interviews with the inspiring entrepreneurs behind our portfolio companies.
First up is Options MD, a groundbreaking telehealth platform that's changing the game for individuals battling severe and treatment-resistant mental illnesses. Their AI-powered tool, Thalamus MD, developed by psychiatric researchers at Harvard, UCSF, and Carnegie Mellon Universities, offers personalized treatment recommendations and diagnostic suggestions. We're excited about the difference Options MD is making with an impressive 88% rebooking rate and a 27% patient remission rate which is 2x higher than industry average for treatment-resistant depression.
By the way, Options MD is currently fundraising and we're happy to make any intros or provide additional info upon request. 🤝
About Level Up Ventures: Level Up Ventures is a Hearst-backed investment vehicle launched in 2021 with a mission to help close the racial wealth gap. We invest in early-stage, tech-enabled startups led by Black and Latino founders, providing them with capital and the support of our Level Up Scout network, comprising professionals from across Hearst’s global businesses.
Level Up Ventures is currently investing—please visit our website to check out our investment criteria and recommend a great startup today!
📺 Watch the full interview and be sure to share with your networks!
#InvestInTheFuture#BlackAndLatinoFounders#TelehealthMorgan HewettKyle Pierce
I'm Morgan Hewitt and I'm one of the cofounders of Options MD. Options MD is a telemedicine clinic that serves the most severe cases of mental illness. We do this through a proprietary treatment matching software as well as psychiatrists who treat patients directly into our platform. Hearts and Level Adventures will bring all of the portfolio founders together for summits or interviews or events, and they're always very mindful of how can we utilize. Media to push you, but also the mission of your company, what you're doing to positively impact the world. Hearst Investment founders across industries. And so no two businesses that they've amassed in are exactly the same, which breeds this really collaborative environment. We know that there's opportunity to grow with this organization as we grow as a company.
Reflections on the Entrepreneurial Experience: Community's Impact on Mental Health
In pondering our recent discussions about solopreneurship and team-based startups, we've been struck by a crucial aspect of the founder's journey: the impact of community on mental health.
In the world of entrepreneurship, whether solo or with a team, challenges are a constant companion. My experiences at Kavedon Kapital have shown me the invaluable role community plays in nurturing mental health and resilience.
👥 Insights on Community Support:
Shared Journeys: There’s something uniquely comforting about engaging with fellow entrepreneurs. Sharing the journey brings a sense of belonging and mutual understanding.
The Power of Networks: I've seen how founders gain strength from connecting in groups or forums, breaking through the isolation that can shadow the entrepreneurial path.
Mentorship as a Guiding Light: Witnessing the growth and support fostered by mentorship relationships has been inspiring.
🧠 Observations on Mental Health:
Easing the Stress: Regular community engagement seems to significantly alleviate the stress and anxiety of startup life.
Collaborative Confidence: The idea exchange within networks not only enhances business strategies but also seems to elevate founders' confidence and clarity.
Solidarity in Highs and Lows: There's a profound reassurance in knowing we're not alone in this venture.
🔍 Our Approach at Kavedon Kapital:
Cultivating Connections: We're dedicated to creating spaces for our founders to connect and support each other.
Championing Engagement: Encouraging participation in diverse networking groups has been a key focus for us.
Fostering Mentorships: We believe in the power of mentor-mentee relationships, extending our support beyond just financial investments.
🚀 A Personal Takeaway:
The entrepreneurial journey is enriched by community. I've come to see the strength and support it offers as essential in both navigating the business world and maintaining mental well-being.
#CommunitySupport#FounderMentalHealth#Entrepreneurship#KavedonKapital#Revveon#kavedon#tech#funding#venturecapital#venture#vc#startup#startups#founders#investing#investor#BeBrave#BeDifferent#Bethechange
GP at Sunset VC | Business Insider Rising Star | Founder at Emerging LA | Ex: Samsung, Morgan Stanley | Board at Toigo Endowment & LA Library Foundation
Founders will face unprecedented levels of mental health crisis! 😰
- Startups face funding logjam, shut IPO window, and ghosting clients as cash runs low and investors encourage returning capital
- Predicted epidemic of founder mental illness as struggling startups and economic pressures heighten stress levels
- Investors offer support through programs addressing founder mental health, including coaching and therapy services
What can we do to support the builders of our future??
👉🏼 “More investors have spun up programs to address founder mental health and burnout in recent years. Felicis and Seven Seven Six 7️⃣7️⃣6️⃣ commit 1% on top of every new investment for founders to subsidize services like coaching and therapy.”
Shout out to the The Grand World a startup that provides group coaching as a service to founders.
“one of the fast-growing segments of the business is coaching for founders, now that venture firms such as First Round Capital, Redpoint Ventures, Forerunner and Freestyle Capital offer it as a perk to entrepreneurs.”
The Grand is a Sunset Ventures portfolio company, and led by Anita Hossain Choudhry + Rei Wang!!
Hit them up if your company or fund wants to provide coaching support to your employees / founders! 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
https://lnkd.in/gNYVWeWU
YES! And the mental health crisis extends not only to founders, but to emerging VC Fund managers and startup leaders and will particularly hit hard female and BIPOC leaders, who already face additional challenges just by simply being themselves. 💔
After starting 2 companies since Covid, going thru the capital journey, growing 2000% in 18 months organically, and then facing huge personal and professional setbacks the last 2 years (including having to bankrupt 1 company) - I know firsthand the massive mental health toll being in this startup world takes. 🤯
AND I have found, learned, and intimately know the tools, practices, and resilience systems that not just get me back into the arena, but make me bolder, more audacious, and more alive. 💃 (Huge thanks to Regena Thomashauer!)
That is why I'm starting 2024 with an event (K. Immersive | Jan 18th | D.C. ) for female founders, VC Fund Managers, CEOs, and leaders who are craving a new internal operating model, a feminine growth model, that gives them:
🔥 tools to actually metabolize and integrate challenges and setbacks and turn them into renewable energy sources for themselves and their businesses (vs shutting down, disassociating, and just powering through)
🔬 clarity into their desires for growth (that tricky balance of listening & incorporating valid feedback but not conforming to whims)
🏃♀️ Power, confidence, and the long-haul resilience capacity to build and invest in companies the world needs.
We know that founders (and those that support them) are literally building our future. And we NEED female and diverse founders in the mix to build a more inclusive, diverse, and expansive tomorrow.
These founders need different types of support, and I'm so glad to hear that funds like Felicis, Seven Seven Six 7️⃣7️⃣6️⃣, Forerunner, First Round Capital, Redpoint Ventures, Freestyle Capital, Sunset Ventures are supporting this!
GP at Sunset VC | Business Insider Rising Star | Founder at Emerging LA | Ex: Samsung, Morgan Stanley | Board at Toigo Endowment & LA Library Foundation
Founders will face unprecedented levels of mental health crisis! 😰
- Startups face funding logjam, shut IPO window, and ghosting clients as cash runs low and investors encourage returning capital
- Predicted epidemic of founder mental illness as struggling startups and economic pressures heighten stress levels
- Investors offer support through programs addressing founder mental health, including coaching and therapy services
What can we do to support the builders of our future??
👉🏼 “More investors have spun up programs to address founder mental health and burnout in recent years. Felicis and Seven Seven Six 7️⃣7️⃣6️⃣ commit 1% on top of every new investment for founders to subsidize services like coaching and therapy.”
Shout out to the The Grand World a startup that provides group coaching as a service to founders.
“one of the fast-growing segments of the business is coaching for founders, now that venture firms such as First Round Capital, Redpoint Ventures, Forerunner and Freestyle Capital offer it as a perk to entrepreneurs.”
The Grand is a Sunset Ventures portfolio company, and led by Anita Hossain Choudhry + Rei Wang!!
Hit them up if your company or fund wants to provide coaching support to your employees / founders! 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
https://lnkd.in/gNYVWeWU
CEO & Founder at MeepMeep - tracking, analytics, and AI-powered digital coaching for recreational athletes. Mandarin Chinese & English. BCBusiness 30 Under 30.
🚨 The Tundra Angels' Angle is now live! 🚨
The Tundra Angels' Angle is a weekly newsletter that drops investor insights on how startups can find asymmetric ways to win in the market. It's been in stealth since July last year. By raving demand that I couldn't contain 😉, we are now making it publicly available! 🙌
𝗜 𝘄𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗧𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗿𝗮 𝗔𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗹𝘀’ 𝗔𝗻𝗴𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝘄𝘀𝗹𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗜 𝘄𝗶𝘀𝗵 𝗜 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝟭𝟬 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗴𝗼 𝗼𝗻 𝗺𝘆 𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗽 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗷𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘆𝗅 😀
This content takes a much different approach than others. It's intended to be heavily tactical, using many anonymized company examples from my investor journey as well as insights drawn from the true heroes of the story, the founders of our Tundra Angels' portfolio companies.
While Tundra Angels invests in the state of Wisconsin, these insights transcend state or country borders. We believe that startups anywhere can and should find asymmetric ways to win in the market.
The next issue comes out THIS Saturday morning! Link is below! Check out the 21 posts since last July. Subscribe, share, and let's execute and invest in public! 👇 👇 👇
✅ https://lnkd.in/eMiaUx7R ✅
PS: I'm grateful to be along this journey with 50+ other investors in Tundra Angels who are the visionaries that take risks on the future. We have a TON of fun together and the future is bright ☀ ! 🙌
We are grateful to have invested into 17 portfolio companies (and counting) who are making a local and global impact across industries: Adrian Deasy, Charles Kubiak, Carol Hirschmugl, Jeff Moore, Kevin Barnett, Mel Luetkens, Faraz A. Choudhury, Ph.D., Daniel Benjamin, Paul Anton, Lyth Saeed, Justin Seidl, Bre Loughlin, MS, RN, Phil Fonfara, Tyler Waite, Daniel Borkhus, Fariba Assadi-Porter, Jack Heinemann, Brian Wiegand, Aaron Gregory, Danielle Hill, Sal Braico, Pete Johnson, Ben Kvalo, Dustin Conrad, Scott Allen, and Dan Abel! You execute so well day in and day out. Looking forward to sharing your stories on a bigger stage 🎤 !
🚨 The Tundra Angels' Angle is now live! 🚨
The Tundra Angels' Angle is a weekly newsletter that drops investor insights on how startups can find asymmetric ways to win in the market. It's been in stealth since July last year. By raving demand that I couldn't contain 😉, we are now making it publicly available! 🙌
𝗜 𝘄𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗧𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗿𝗮 𝗔𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗹𝘀’ 𝗔𝗻𝗴𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝘄𝘀𝗹𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗜 𝘄𝗶𝘀𝗵 𝗜 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝟭𝟬 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗴𝗼 𝗼𝗻 𝗺𝘆 𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗽 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗷𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘆𝗅 😀
This content takes a much different approach than others. It's intended to be heavily tactical, using many anonymized company examples from my investor journey as well as insights drawn from the true heroes of the story, the founders of our Tundra Angels' portfolio companies.
While Tundra Angels invests in the state of Wisconsin, these insights transcend state or country borders. We believe that startups anywhere can and should find asymmetric ways to win in the market.
The next issue comes out THIS Saturday morning! Link is below! Check out the 21 posts since last July. Subscribe, share, and let's execute and invest in public! 👇 👇 👇
✅ https://lnkd.in/eMiaUx7R ✅
PS: I'm grateful to be along this journey with 50+ other investors in Tundra Angels who are the visionaries that take risks on the future. We have a TON of fun together and the future is bright ☀ ! 🙌
We are grateful to have invested into 17 portfolio companies (and counting) who are making a local and global impact across industries: Adrian Deasy, Charles Kubiak, Carol Hirschmugl, Jeff Moore, Kevin Barnett, Mel Luetkens, Faraz A. Choudhury, Ph.D., Daniel Benjamin, Paul Anton, Lyth Saeed, Justin Seidl, Bre Loughlin, MS, RN, Phil Fonfara, Tyler Waite, Daniel Borkhus, Fariba Assadi-Porter, Jack Heinemann, Brian Wiegand, Aaron Gregory, Danielle Hill, Sal Braico, Pete Johnson, Ben Kvalo, Dustin Conrad, Scott Allen, and Dan Abel! You execute so well day in and day out. Looking forward to sharing your stories on a bigger stage 🎤 !
🚨 The Tundra Angels' Angle is now live! 🚨
The Tundra Angels' Angle is a weekly newsletter that drops investor insights on how startups can find asymmetric ways to win in the market. It's been in stealth since July last year. By raving demand that I couldn't contain 😉, we are now making it publicly available! 🙌
𝗜 𝘄𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗧𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗿𝗮 𝗔𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗹𝘀’ 𝗔𝗻𝗴𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝘄𝘀𝗹𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗜 𝘄𝗶𝘀𝗵 𝗜 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝟭𝟬 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗴𝗼 𝗼𝗻 𝗺𝘆 𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗽 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗷𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘆𝗅 😀
This content takes a much different approach than others. It's intended to be heavily tactical, using many anonymized company examples from my investor journey as well as insights drawn from the true heroes of the story, the founders of our Tundra Angels' portfolio companies.
While Tundra Angels invests in the state of Wisconsin, these insights transcend state or country borders. We believe that startups anywhere can and should find asymmetric ways to win in the market.
The next issue comes out THIS Saturday morning! Link is below! Check out the 21 posts since last July. Subscribe, share, and let's execute and invest in public! 👇 👇 👇
✅ https://lnkd.in/eMiaUx7R ✅
PS: I'm grateful to be along this journey with 50+ other investors in Tundra Angels who are the visionaries that take risks on the future. We have a TON of fun together and the future is bright ☀ ! 🙌
We are grateful to have invested into 17 portfolio companies (and counting) who are making a local and global impact across industries: Adrian Deasy, Charles Kubiak, Carol Hirschmugl, Jeff Moore, Kevin Barnett, Mel Luetkens, Faraz A. Choudhury, Ph.D., Daniel Benjamin, Paul Anton, Lyth Saeed, Justin Seidl, Bre Loughlin, MS, RN, Phil Fonfara, Tyler Waite, Daniel Borkhus, Fariba Assadi-Porter, Jack Heinemann, Brian Wiegand, Aaron Gregory, Danielle Hill, Sal Braico, Pete Johnson, Ben Kvalo, Dustin Conrad, Scott Allen, and Dan Abel! You execute so well day in and day out. Looking forward to sharing your stories on a bigger stage 🎤 !
It feels like every other LinkedIn post is a trite, vague nod to the challenges of founder mental health and burnout.
But in this Founder Secrets interview, Wil Schroter (founder of Startups.com) speaks vulnerably about his own personal experience, and dispenses some very tangible (and encouraging) advice for founders who might feel "trapped".
It's going to be a very rough 12 to 24 months for startups whose last round was during a very different environment (2020-21).
In this turbulent period, I hope that Wefunder (or more accurately, startups' customers and community members) can be an invaluable alternative source of capital -- that doesn't always demand a power law.
And I also hope that Wil's insights here might benefit founders who are struggling right now:
https://lnkd.in/eZJGXV2f
Why Our Community is Our Strength✨
I wanted to share a bit about the power of community in what we do and why I believe it's something every startup should lean into. In the world of cross-border investing, we've found that building a community isn't just nice to have—it's essential.
Why Community Matters 🫂
For us, community means growth. It's a space where everyone, from investors to entrepreneurs, comes together to share knowledge, support, and even the occasional coffee chat. It's about more than just business; it's about creating connections that matter in this fast-paced world.
The Value We've Found 💡
Taking a page from Greg Isenberg's insights, we've seen firsthand how real interactions within a community can lead to real value. Whether it's through mentorship, exclusive deals, or just the chance to exchange stories and strategies, the benefits are tangible.
A Little Advice 🤝
For startups looking to build their community, remember it's about more than just numbers. It's about fostering genuine connections and offering something of real value. Whether it's educational content, networking opportunities, or just a space to share and learn, focus on what makes your community unique.
Closing Thoughts 🧠
Building a community has transformed how we approach cross-border investing, and I believe there's immense potential for other startups to do the same. It's about bringing people together, learning from each other, and ultimately, growing together.
Would love to hear how you're building or planning to build your community. What challenges are you facing? What successes have you had? Let's chat.
#startups#entrepreneurship#venturecapital#investing#finance#crossborder#inovexus#startup#VC#earlystage
Startup founders will face an 'unprecedented' crisis of mental health this year, VCs predict
“A funding logjam at the early stages. A shut window for IPOs. Clients ghosting businesses. If the investor warnings are to be believed, struggling startups will face a bloodbath this year as cash runs low and wary investors encourage founders to return the capital.
Now, investors are predicting an epidemic of founder mental illness in Silicon Valley and beyond, the likes of which tech has never seen.
"Sadly, but not terribly surprisingly, it feels as though we are in the early stages of an unprecedented founder mental health crisis," said Brad Svrluga, a cofounder and general partner at Primary, which invests in early-stage startups based largely in New York City.”
https://lnkd.in/gRgzK6My#empower#mentalhealthEmpower Mental Health
Startup founders will face an 'unprecedented' crisis of mental health this year, VCs predict
“A funding logjam at the early stages. A shut window for IPOs. Clients ghosting businesses. If the investor warnings are to be believed, struggling startups will face a bloodbath this year as cash runs low and wary investors encourage founders to return the capital.
Now, investors are predicting an epidemic of founder mental illness in Silicon Valley and beyond, the likes of which tech has never seen.
"Sadly, but not terribly surprisingly, it feels as though we are in the early stages of an unprecedented founder mental health crisis," said Brad Svrluga, a cofounder and general partner at Primary, which invests in early-stage startups based largely in New York City.”
https://lnkd.in/gyKdkhSh#empower#mentalhealthEmpower Mental Health
Social Architect & Connector of High Caliber People | Author | Keynote Speaker | #networking
2moKeep up the good word Options MD