nextview 2015 year in review

recapping investments, support experiments and our firm’s biggest, most important theme

2015 YEAR IN REVIEW

@NextViewVC

NextViewVentures.com

Common VC advice to founders is to focus on being great at one thing.

Common VC advice to founders is to focus on being great at one thing.

But when it comes to seed investing VCs rarely heed that very same advice.

At NextView, we believe…

The FOCUSED PLAYER WILL ALWAYS WIN.

The FOCUSED PLAYER WILL ALWAYS WIN.

At NextView, we believe…

So in 2015, we decided to triple down on this idea.

So in 2015, we decided to triple down on this idea.

We’ve always focused on having one great product, but this year, we focused on how to better articulate our place in

the tech startup ecosystem:

So in 2015, we decided to triple down on this idea.

We are high conviction, hands-on seed investors.

We’ve always focused on having one great product, but this year, we focused on how to better articulate our place in

the tech startup ecosystem:

We call this a “craft brewer” approach to VC.

(This is the entrance to our office.)

We call this a “craft brewer” approach to VC.

“[Craft brewers] take the same basic ingredients as everyone else and create products that are bold and

different. How do they do it?An uncompromising focus

on being the very best at one thing.”

We call this a “craft brewer” approach to VC.

(BTW, these aren’t beer brands. They’re our portfolio companies.

Each startup gets theirown customized, craft label

incorporating their logo.)

We call this a “craft brewer” approach to VC.

This theme also informed the ways we helped entrepreneurs.

And it guided the firm as we grew our team.

This theme also informed the ways we helped entrepreneurs.

Here’s a look at our 2015…

And it guided the firm as we grew our team.

This theme also informed the ways we helped entrepreneurs.

First, we increased our focus on a single but crucial problem area facing all early-stage startups…

Traction

First, we increased our focus on a single but crucial problem area facing all early-stage startups…

To help, we got busy launching things.

To help, we got busy launching things.

TRACTION TRACTION the podcast the podcast

Listen

To help, we got busy launching things.

TRACTION TRACTION the podcast the podcast

PLATFORM PLATFORM of resources of resources

Listen Explore

To help, we got busy launching things.

TRACTION TRACTION the podcast the podcast

PLATFORM PLATFORM of resources of resources

SYSTEMS SYSTEMS for hiring & Series A for hiring & Series A

Listen Explore Portfolio Only

“Wait, what does ‘platform’ actually mean?” Here’s what we’re up to with this idea at NextView:

“Wait, what does ‘platform’ actually mean?” Here’s what we’re up to with this idea at NextView:

WE WANT TO BUILD THE WORLD’S BEST SITE ABOUT GAINING TRACTION IN ANYTHING

IMPORTANT TO YOUR STARTUP

“Wait, what does ‘platform’ actually mean?” Here’s what we’re up to with this idea at NextView:

WE WANT TO BUILD THE WORLD’S BEST SITE ABOUT GAINING TRACTION IN ANYTHING

IMPORTANT TO YOUR STARTUP

product + design marketing + growth

fundraising hiring + talent startup stories

“Wait, what does ‘platform’ actually mean?” Here’s what we’re up to with this idea at NextView:

WE WANT TO BUILD THE WORLD’S BEST SITE ABOUT GAINING TRACTION IN ANYTHING

IMPORTANT TO YOUR STARTUP

product + design marketing + growth

fundraising hiring + talent startup stories

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Second, we dedicated more resources to helping Boston & New York (where 80% of our portfolio lives & works)

Each Has unique challenges

Each has unique challenges

Each deserves

unique support

Each deserves

unique support

(where 80% of our portfolio lives & works)

Second, we dedicated more resources to helping Boston & New York

This included hiring someone great to focus on New York 100% of the time.

TIM DEVANE Principal@tdevane

previously:

TIM DEVANE Principal@tdevane

previously:

We also renewed our commitment to supporting Boston with various initiatives.

with speakers from:

This included hiring someone great to focus on New York 100% of the time.

Third, we focused our entire world on truly early investing.

The definition “seed” is rapidly changing, and it can be maddening as an

entrepreneur to know if an investor is a fit. This year, we kept it simple:

FIRST VC  

Third, we focused our entire world on truly early investing.

The definition “seed” is rapidly changing, and it can be maddening as an

entrepreneur to know if an investor is a fit. This year, we kept it simple:

We’re your first VC investor.

Third, we focused our entire world on truly early investing.

FIRST VC  

The definition “seed” is rapidly changing, and it can be maddening as an

entrepreneur to know if an investor is a fit. This year, we kept it simple:

We’re your first VC investor.

Seed, pre-seed, genesis, pre-product, pre-launch, pre-revenue – labels don’t matter as much as understanding why you exist

to those you serve. Regardless of the semantics, we serve the same purpose:

to help startups gain traction.

Third, we focused our entire world on truly early investing.

FIRST VC  

The definition “seed” is rapidly changing, and it can be maddening as an

entrepreneur to know if an investor is a fit. This year, we kept it simple:

We’re your first VC investor.

Seed, pre-seed, genesis, pre-product, pre-launch, pre-revenue – labels don’t matter as much as understanding why you exist

to those you serve. Regardless of the semantics, we serve the same purpose:

to help startups gain traction.

SEEKING RAW  We like to lead these rounds and invest in early,

unproven companies led by authentic founders out to solve problems that matter. For instance:

Third, we focused our entire world on truly early investing.

FIRST VC  

The definition “seed” is rapidly changing, and it can be maddening as an

entrepreneur to know if an investor is a fit. This year, we kept it simple:

We’re your first VC investor.

Seed, pre-seed, genesis, pre-product, pre-launch, pre-revenue – labels don’t matter as much as understanding why you exist

to those you serve. Regardless of the semantics, we serve the same purpose:

to help startups gain traction.

7 pre-product(1 incubation)

We like to lead these rounds and invest in early, unproven companies led by authentic founders out

to solve problems that matter. For instance:

Third, we focused our entire world on truly early investing.

FIRST VC   SEEKING RAW  

10 investments

The definition “seed” is rapidly changing, and it can be maddening as an

entrepreneur to know if an investor is a fit. This year, we kept it simple:

We’re your first VC investor.

Seed, pre-seed, genesis, pre-product, pre-launch, pre-revenue – labels don’t matter as much as understanding why you exist

to those you serve. Regardless of the semantics, we serve the same purpose:

to help startups gain traction.

10 investments

7 pre-product(1 incubation)

* Stated investment goal.** Still not high enough!

Also Happy About: Portfolio: Half Consumer, Half B2B*

Final 3 Checks in ’15 to Women**

We like to lead these rounds and invest in early, unproven companies led by authentic founders out

to solve problems that matter. For instance:

Third, we focused our entire world on truly early investing.

FIRST VC   SEEKING RAW  

Fourth, we welcomed these great companies and teams into the NextView portfolio:

PRE-LAUNCH (Connected device)

PRE-LAUNCH (CONSUMER MOBILE)

PRE-LAUNCH (B2B)

YET TO ANNOUNCE (ECOMMERCE)

And lastly, we were excited about this great news. (Congrats again to all the teams involved!)

& an even better 2016 for you, your team, and your business

CHEERS TO A GREAT 2015!

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