EverythingStartups Weekly

For funds, founders, and startup & VC enthusiasts.

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EverythingStartups
February 21, 2025

Welcome to all the new visionaries here who signed up last week! Already 2000+ subscribers, thanks everyone 😊 

I did promise I’ll share a list of 150 active pre-seed to Series A investors with contact details, I’m working on it, and it shall be delivered very soon. Stay tuned.

We have some collaborations & partnership opportunities, so DM us if you’re looking for exposure for your startup, personal brand, or VC firm. Learn more here. 

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Cheers,
Ivelina

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The Narrative Around VC Lately: Are LPs and Family Offices Ditching Funds? 🟣

Something big is shifting in private markets. If you’ve been following the narrative on socials, you’ll have noticed that many VCs are noting that family offices and LPs (the quiet capital behind venture and private equity funds) are making moves to go direct.

No more middlemen. No more management fees. They want full control over deal flow.

But is cutting out funds actually a winning strategy, or are they underestimating what goes into finding the best investments?

Two perspectives have emerged:

Family Offices: Cutting Out the Middleman

A billionaire family office recently walked away from a private equity deal, not because they lacked capital, but because they were tired of fund managers getting paid first.

And they’re not alone.

A new report shows that 50% of family offices plan to invest directly in private companies over the next two years. Their reasoning?

More control:
They want to negotiate their own deals, set their own terms, and invest on their own timeline.

Lower fees:
No more paying fund managers to do what they believe they can do themselves.

Long-term focus:
Instead of chasing quick exits, they’re targeting cash-flowing businesses they can own for decades.

However, going direct comes with a challenge: access to quality deal flow.

60% of family offices say their biggest issue is getting into the best deals.

The most successful ones are (apparently) solving this by:

  • Building stronger networks (74% want more introductions).

  • Setting up investment committees (54% use them to sharpen diligence).

  • Using strategic positioning to attract top-tier deal flow.

Private equity is shifting. If family offices continue to bypass traditional funds, it could reshape the entire industry.

The Case Against Going Direct

While family offices are embracing direct investing, skipping funds is a mistake.

Here’s why:

Funds curate winners:
GPs spend years sourcing and nurturing top startups. LPs use funds as an option to double down on the best bets once they’re clear winners.

Going direct is harder than it looks:
Finding high-quality seed deals is obviously not just about capital. It requires deep networks, relationships, and a full-time infrastructure to access competitive allocations.

Most LPs can’t replicate the process:
Winning $250k-$500k allocations in top startups takes years of relationship-building. The best deals don’t go to institutions just because they have money.

Skipping funds might seem like an easy way to save on fees, but without an edge in sourcing and selection, many LPs could end up overpaying for lower-quality deals.

The Big Question: Is This the End of Traditional Fund Investing?

The power dynamics in private investing are shifting. Family offices and LPs are demanding more control, better terms, and direct access to deals.

But are they underestimating the value of experienced fund managers?

One thing’s for sure: the old rules of venture and private equity are changing.

What do you think, will LPs and family offices succeed by going direct, or will they regret cutting out fund managers?

Speaking of, check out our list of 24 active LPs + contact information.

 
Angel Syndicate Highlight: World Solver Syndicate 🟣

Introducing World Solver Syndicate - Dedicated to solving some of the world's biggest challenges.

Looking to start your angel investing journey or perhaps you’re a founder looking for investors? I have an exciting syndicate to share with you this week run by Mario Grigorov and Dusan Stanarevic.

Thesis:

  • Industry - Opportunistic with a focus on Healthcare, Fintech, and Greentech sectors, prioritising B2B models with AI enhancements that lower costs and improve efficiency.

  • Stage - Primarily Series A/B, with select pre-seed or pre-IPO opportunities. A lead investor is essential, though we’re open to discussions prior.

  • People - We seek 2nd-time founders, two-founder-led teams, or companies with diverse, minority backgrounds.

  • Check size - Typically $150k-$5mm, based on syndicate interest and prior deals.

What we offer:

  • Capital - Fuels your vision by providing flexible, growth-oriented funding that empowers you to scale strategically, maintain operational focus, and realize your business ambitions with confidence.

  • Strategic Connections - Introductions to investors (FOs, UHNW, VCs), potential partnerships, and founders with similar experiences. Resources for marketing, sales optimization, tech development, and software.

  • Experience - Leveraging 30+ executed deals from early to pre-IPO stage, we provide knowledge, guidance and connections to experts who can add meaningful value to you and your team.

Why join?

  • Incredible off-market deal access

  • White glove attitude and fee structure

  • Co-invest alongside Tier 1 Funds

Co-investors:

We have successfully deployed capital alongside some of the most significant names in the industry, including Khosla Ventures, Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), Sands Capital, Mercedes, Sony, Bain Capital Ventures, Y Combinator, Accel and many more.

Executed deals:

Databricks, Everup, Phlo, Pavegen, Legacy, Matternet, Earli, Sparkmeter, Solosuit, Databento, Indykite, Zitara and more.

Join World Solver and help solve world's biggest challenges!

 
GP/LP Calendar 2025 🟣

Here’s a quick annual snapshot of must-attend GP/LP events in 2025. Thanks to the OMX Ventures team for this.

Feb 26-27: Upfront Ventures Summit – Los Angeles, CA

Mar 2-5: With Intelligence - Women's Summits Women's Private Equity Summit – Phoenix, AZ

Mar 10-12: Private Equity International Nexus – Orlando, FL

Mar 13: SEO (Sponsors for Educational Opportunity)'s Annual Alternative Investments Conference – New York, NY

Mar 17-19: Markets Group's ALTSLA – Los Angeles, CA

Mar 17-19: SuperReturn North America – Miami, FL

Mar 24-26: With Intelligence - Pension Bridge The Annual 2025 – Half Moon Bay, CA

Apr 29-30: McGuireWoods LLP Emerging Manager Conference – Dallas, TX

May 4-7: Milken Institute Global Conference – Los Angeles, CA

May 8-9: Bridge Funding Global's The Bridge Conference – San Francisco, CA

Jun 2-6: SuperReturn International – Berlin, Germany

Jun 2-4: SuperVenture – Berlin, Germany

Jun 9-10: MFA | iConnections Global Alts – New York, NY

Jul 9-10: The Investment Diversity Exchange (TIDE) Spark – Dana Point, CA

Jul 14-15: Markets Group's ALTSCHI – Chicago, IL

Sep 7-10: Future Proof Festival – Huntington Beach, CA

Sep 10: The Diverse Venture Capital Emerging Managers Conference – San Francisco, CA

Sep 24-26: IPEM Paris – Paris, France

Oct 1-2: National Association of Investment Companies (NAIC) Amplifying Alternatives Forum – Los Angeles, CA

Oct 20-22: The Global Absolute Return Congress (‘Global ARC’)– Boston, MA

Oct 23: RAISE Global Summit

Oct 27-29: GCM Grosvenor's SEM Consortium – New York, NY

Oct 15-16: Kayo Conference Series Women’s Private Funds Summit – Boston, MA

Nov 4-5: CAASA - Canadian Association of Alternative Strategies & Assets Annual Conference – Montreal, Canada

Nov 12-14: Institutional Limited Partners Association (ILPA) Summit – New York, NY

Nov 13-14: Markets Group's ALTSTX – Dallas, TX

Nov 10-12: MFA | iConnections Global Alts Asia – Singapore

Dec 11: 100 Women In Finance's Global Fund Women Week - New York, NY

 
Linkedin Post Analysis: Why They Got Attention 🟣

Insider thoughts from our team on why certain posts go viral. Use these tips for your own posts!

Here’s our expert thoughts:

Why It Works:

👍 The hook flips expectations.
The first line, "I’m NOT the best investor," instantly grabs attention by contradicting what people expect. Instead of self-promotion, it starts with humility, making the reader curious.

👍 It sets up contrast to make a point.
The follow-up, "But I am an angel investor with over 10 years of experience..." immediately shifts gears, demonstrating credibility. The "See the difference?" line invites the reader to actively engage with the comparison.

👍 It taps into founder psychology.
By saying "that's exactly what you should do when you're raising funds," it subtly implies that founders who aren't clear about their niche are making a mistake—creating a sense of urgency.

👍 It uses a before vs. after format.
The post contrasts a bad pitch ("We're an entertainment tech company with innovative solutions.") with a good pitch ("We're the only platform helping event organizers increase audience engagement by 40% using AI-driven personalized recommendations."). This makes the lesson concrete and easy to absorb.

👍 It follows a “problem → solution” framework.

  • Problem: Vague pitches get ignored.

  • Solution: Be specific, targeted, and scalable.

  • Call to action: "Own your niche, and position your startup as the leader in it."

👍 It ends with an open-ended question.
“How are you presenting your business? Are you highlighting what makes you unique?” invites engagement, increasing comments and reach.

The Template: How to Write a Post Like This

Start with a pattern-breaking hook.
("I’m NOT the best [role].") → Creates curiosity and disarms the reader.

Establish credibility with a quick pivot.
("But I have [X years] of experience in [specific niche]. See the difference?") → Adds authority and reinforces the key lesson.

Highlight a common mistake.
("Many [group] struggle with [pain point]. The best ones? They do this instead.") → Sets up the value of the insight.

Use contrast to show the right approach.
❌ Bad example
✅ Good example
("Instead of saying X, try Y.") → Makes the takeaway clear and actionable.

End with a CTA.
("Are you making this mistake? How do you position yourself?") → Encourages comments and engagement.

Now try crafting your own using this template 😉 


VC Internships Galore 🟣

🚨 We’ll soon be adding VC jobs in the USA & Europe.

VC Internship - Acumen
Location: San Francisco
Apply here

VC Internship - Foothill Ventures
Location: Los Altos, CA.
Apply here

VC Internship - HOF Capital
Location: New York
Apply here

VC Internship - StepStone Group
Location: Baltimore
Apply here

VC Internship - Equal Ventures
Location: Remote
Apply here


For the Founders: 24 Top Pre-Seed Startup Programs 🟣

Pre-seed is brutal. No product, no traction, just you and an idea.

Here are 24 top startup programs for pre-seed founders that can help you go from idea to execution:

▪️AI Grant

▪️Pear VC X 

▪️Boost VC 

▪️Seedcamp 

▪️LOI Venture 

 
VC & Startup Favorites + News 🟣

Latest tidbits, resources, and social gems from the ecosystem.

 


Top Pre-Seed to Series A funding rounds of the week 🟣

⚫ Femtech ⚫

1. Riley, a startup that combines AI with expert insights to provide personalized guidance for new parents, raised a $3.1 million seed round.

→ Investors: True Ventures, Flybridge, Next Wave NYC
→ Founded by: Amanda DeLuca

2. Level Zero Health, a female-founded medical device startup, raised $6.9 million to develop the world’s first continuous hormone monitoring device.

→ Investors: Redalpine, HAX (SOSV), Entrepreneur First (EF), and industry experts
→ Founded by: Ula Rustamova and Irene Jia

⚫ Fintech ⚫

3. Capi Money, a startup that provides an international payments platform tailored for SMBs in emerging markets, raised an $18 million Series A round.

→ Investors: Creandum, Janngo.africa, Y Combinator, Firstminute Capital
→ Founded by: Mitch Riley, Scott Liddle, and Tom Watson

⚫ AI ⚫

4. Singulr AI, a startup that's developing a governance and security platform, raised a $10 million seed round.

→ Investors: Nexus Venture Partners, Dell Technologies Capital
→ Founded by: Shiv Agarwal and Abhijit Sharma

5. AI-BOB, a startup that offers an AI-driven platform to help property developers and architects ensure their building designs comply with regulations, raised a $2.1 million round.

→ Investors: CapitalT, NCA
→ Founded by: Elin Mårtensson, Petter Wallberg, Rickard Svedenmark and Olle Eriksson

6. Springboards, a startup that has developed an AI-powered platform to assist creative professionals in the advertising industry, raised a $5 million seed round.

→ Investors: Blackbird Ventures
→ Founded by: Pip Bingemann and Amy Tucker

⚫ Accounting & Finance ⚫

7. Stacks, a startup whose platform automates key accounting workflows, raised a $3 million pre-seed round and a $7 million seed round.

→ Investors: EQT Ventures, General Catalyst
→ Founded by: Albert Malikov

⚫ Mobility ⚫

8. Fetii, a startup that offers an on-demand group ridesharing service, raised a $7.4 million seed round.

→ Investors: Mark Cuban, Y Combinator, Goodwater Capital
→ Founded by: Matthew Lommi and Justin Rath

⚫ Social & Search ⚫

9. Diem, the social search platform reimagining online information sharing, secured $1.8 million in venture funding.

→ Investors: Stellation, Precursor Ventures, Alumni Ventures, and others
→ Founded by: Emma Bates and Divia Singh

⚫ Localization & Translation ⚫

10. Lingo.dev, a startup that provides an AI-powered localization engine, raised a $4.2 million seed round.

→ Investors: Initialized Capital, Y Combinator
→ Founded by: Max Prilutskiy and Veronica Prilutskaya

Huge congrats to all these startups on their successful funding rounds!

The People Behind EverythingStartups Newsletter:

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