In this episode, James Vanreusel joins Marshall Hawks, who leads the Northern California technology relationship management team at SV, in a discussion that revolves around the role of venture debt providers, particularly Silicon Valley Bank (SVB), in supporting companies at various stages of their life cycle.

Marshall Hawks from SVB shares insights on their approach to lending, emphasizing that at early stages, they often align with equity funding. As companies progress and achieve milestones, the focus shifts to financial analysis based on specific metrics and trends. Marshall highlights a case involving Planet Labs, where SVB provided capital based on the company's potential for a positive outcome, including a successful SPAC process.

The conversation then transitions to incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) in banking operations. Marshall acknowledges the significance of AI but notes the challenges faced by regulated financial firms, such as SVB, in leveraging AI due to regulatory considerations. He shares that while AI is a prevalent topic, its implementation within SVB is constrained by the need to navigate legal landscapes and potential data security issues. Marshall provides a concrete example of AI usage in marketing, where AI-generated graphics and design were employed in a campaign.

And more. Listen now.

Learn more about our guest:

Marshall Hawks | SVB website

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Welcome back to the Scale By Numbers Podcast.

In this episode, James Vanreusel interviews Eric Bahn, the Co-founder, General partner and hustler at Hustle Fund.

Eric's journey from the heart of Detroit, Michigan, to the epicenter of technology innovation in Silicon Valley is an inspiring one. He's no stranger to hustle, and he's here to share his insights on what it takes to succeed as a founder, investor, and a family man.

With a background that includes time at tech giants like Facebook and Instagram, Eric also has a finger on the pulse of emerging technologies, including the impact of artificial intelligence and the trends that will shape the startup landscape in the coming year.

Learn more about our guest:

Eric Bahn's Linkedin | Hustle Fund

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This episode of the Scale by Numbers podcast welcomes Glenn Gow, a seasoned C.E.O. coach and board member focusing on AI, to share insights into his journey. Glenn discusses his transition from a 25-year CEO role to venture capital, where he recognized AI-related patterns, leading to a deep involvement in the current landscape. The conversation touches upon McKinsey's study on AI impact, distinguishing between traditional and generative AI, and the importance of CEOs embracing these changes.

The episode underscores the significance of CEOs understanding both traditional and generative AI. Glenn Gow emphasizes the transformative potential of AI, particularly in areas like chatbots and image generators. The call to lean into these changes is coupled with a cautionary note about potential pitfalls, urging CEOs to be mindful of assumptions, the limitations of generative AI, and the importance of keeping a human in the loop. The discussion also addresses the evolving job landscape due to AI, highlighting a CEO's experience with the impact on problem-solving dynamics.

Key Takeaways:

• Getting your team involved with AI, even if you are not a software company, as soon as possible is essential.

Learn more about our guest:

Glenn Gow LinkedIn | Website

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Welcome back to the Scale By Numbers Podcast.

In this episode, James Vanreusel interviews Cameron Newton, an investment manager and founding member of Relevance Ventures. Cameron shares his background, starting as an investment banker before transitioning into venture capital. Relevance Capital focuses on health and wellness investments, primarily in Series A and Series B stages. They employ a reverse barbell strategy, aiming for high returns with seed investments while also focusing on scaling businesses in the 1 to 10 million revenue range.

The conversation then delves into the concept of impact investing. Cameron explains that Relevance Ventures defines impact from a ground-up perspective, building companies with impact-focused cultures, diverse boards, and management teams. They measure impact through the longevity and success of these companies, emphasizing that financial return is crucial for sustainability and long-term impact. They prioritize investments that serve underserved populations, use sustainable practices, and have readily available products.

Key Takeaways:

• The importance of an AI component in any business.
• How to get a good introduction to VCs.
• The good timing to investing as valuations went down.

Learn more about our guest:

Cameron Newton's Linkedin | Relevance Ventures

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In this episode, we have the pleasure of hosting Steve Brotman, a seasoned entrepreneur, investor, and fund manager with an impressive track record in the world of venture capital and startups. Steve is the founder and Managing Partner at Alpha Partners and a Strategic Advisor to the Pritzker Group's venture arm, Pritzker Group Venture Capital.

Steve's venture capital journey began as the co-founder and Managing Director of Greenhill SAVP, a venture capital unit of Greenhill & Co that later became Tribeca Venture Partners. Managing a fund with $100 million in assets, Steve focused on technology and business information services, becoming an early institutional investor in successful companies like LivePerson (Nasdaq: LPSN) and Medidata Solutions (Nasdaq: MDSO).

Beyond venture capital, Steve's entrepreneurial spirit led him to co-found AdOne, an online classified advertising platform that originated as a class assignment at Columbia Business School but grew to serve over one-third of the newspaper industry, ultimately being acquired by a consortium led by Hearst. Steve's outstanding contributions have earned him accolades, including being named a finalist for the Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award, recognition in Crain's Tech 100, and inclusion in the Top 40 under 40 among New York business leaders.

Steve Brotman's extensive experience as an entrepreneur, investor, and fund manager makes him a valuable guest, and we look forward to delving into his insights and experiences in the world of venture capital and entrepreneurship in this episode.

Key Takeaways:

• The Blackjack analogy - how to double down on the winners.
• Green lights and red lights in investments;
• AI is here to stay, how to get ready for it.

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Today, we welcome David Spreng, the founder of Runway Growth Capital, a Silicon Valley-based investment firm that provides venture debt financing to growth-stage companies. David has over 30 years of experience as a VC and growth debt lender and has been actively involved in the formation and development of nearly 50 technology companies. He has been ranked four times by Forbes magazine on their annual Midas List as one of the top 50 VCs, and in 2006, he was ranked the #8 VC.

David's expertise in how venture debt has become critical for sustaining established companies has helped companies like Madison Reed secure $50 million in venture debt. In this episode, David shares his insights into the rising popularity of venture debt as an alternative to venture capital, particularly for established companies and household names.

• Growth lending and venture debt [7:06]
• Counterparty risk and risk management. [14:41]
• The long-term model of venture debt. [17:04]
• Being a good partner is about knowing the risk. [42:35]

Want to learn more about Runway Growth Capital? Check out their website here where you can view case studies and learn more about growth lending and venture debt.

You can also email David directly at ds@runawaygrowth.com or on LinkedIn.

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In this episode, we're joined by Tony Quintong, the Founder of The Securieon Group, a business consulting and M&A advisory firm. With extensive experience in pre-and post-M&A advisory roles, Tony shares his expertise in navigating the challenging M&A landscape.

We delve into Tony's innovative growth strategies that have helped businesses improve profitability, secure growth capital, and eventually exit at a higher valuation. Tony also shares his insights on the importance of market analysis in M&A, and how businesses can effectively position themselves for successful acquisitions. He emphasizes the importance of communication and alignment between all parties involved in an M&A transaction, including the target company, the acquiring company, and any investors or stakeholders.

Throughout the episode, Tony provides valuable advice for businesses looking to navigate the complex M&A landscape, including tips on due diligence, negotiation tactics, and post-merger integration. Tune in to gain valuable insights from an experienced M&A advisor and business consultant.

Key takeaways:

• The double-edged sword of Silicon Valley Bank. [2:10]
• The emotional return on investment in tech. [5:08]
• How do you prepare for an exit? [10:56]
• The importance of innovation and adaptability. [16:44]
• How to choose a good client? [36:32]

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In this episode, we talk to Bharat Kanodi who helps startup founders and VCs know how much their companies are worth. He has valued over 4000 businesses and signed off on assets worth $2.6 trillion in value. He has appraised unique assets like the Golden Gate Bridge, Atlanta Airport, Uber, Airbnb, Yahoo!, Brooklyn Bridge, and Mirage Casino LV, among many others.

Either if you are a founder or an investor, knowing how to properly evaluate a company is essential to a successful round.

Key Takeaways from this episode:

• The 409A valuation
• Down round and stock options
• Valuation x Stock Price what are the correspondences
• Closing date: the beginning of a relationship, not the ending
• Two reasons people buy businesses.

To get in touch with Bharat, you can find him on LinkedIn or Youtube.

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