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VVN Jan 2015
FreshTracks Capital, established in 2000 and based in Vermont, has raised three funds and invested in 30 companies to date. The document highlights trends in venture capital funding, particularly in Vermont, where funding per capita remains below average but shows positive growth. Various local companies and developments, including significant deals and emerging businesses, are also noted alongside national VC trends and alternative funding methods.
VVN Jan 2015
- 1. www.freshtrackscap.com @FreshTracksCap & @VTCairnCross cairn@freshtrackscap.com & www.linkedin.com/in/cairncross
- 2. FreshTracks Capital Overview •Founded in 2000 • Based in Shelburne and focused on investing in VT • 3 Funds Raised – (2001, 2007 & 2013) • Invested in 30 portfolio companies to date
- 3. FreshTracks Named Businessof the Year
- 4. Roadmap to VT’sInnovation Economy
- 5. Commercial Interruption forPeak Pitch • 3/12 @ Sugarbush • Signups now Open • Space is Limited • Best Early Stage Networking Event of the Year
- 6. Matt Dodds @ •From Matt’s talk to Vermont Legislators on first day of 2015 session • “Evolving Brand Vermont”
- 7. My first thoughtwas… “Holy crap Matt Dodds has been stalking me this year”
- 8. National VC trendsSlightly Improved in 2014 • Q1 – Q3 2014 186 firms raised $24Bn vs. $18Bn for all four quarters of 2013 • In Q3, 5 firms accounted for 50% of the money raised by the industry > there continues to be concentration in hands of a few big firms • IPO activity in 2014 highest since 2000 • Lots of M&A activity at crazy looking valuations: $19Bn for WhatsApp which had $20MM in revenue • Crazy looking venture valuations: What do Instacart, WeWork Companies, Stripe and Kabam have in common?
- 9. What about theAngels? Q2 SVB Halo Report • Round size of “angel only” deals drops • But, more angels cooperating with venture and “non angel” investors in syndicates • Median valuations up – ($3MM “Pre” compared to $2.7MM in Q1) • Angel groups active in non-traditional markets – Texas in top three – Maine in top eight • Healthcare deals up • Internet & Mobile deals down
- 10. Alternative Funding • Kickstarter(Rewards Crowdfunding) – In 2013, Kickstarter platform raised $480MM from 3MM people. – In Q2 ’14, Kickstarter raised $144MM from 1.1MM people • Equity Crowdfunding Portals: – In 2013, helped raise $204MM – In Q1 2014, helped raise $90MM
- 11. But cracks inthe “social fiber” of VC & Tech Communities are appearing
- 12.
- 13. 2013 VT VCFunding Compared to the Region Stat e Deals/MM populatio n U.S. Rank VT 16 7 NH 12 11 ME 3 36 CT 15 9 MA 53 1 NY 20 4 RI 12 10 http://www.ssti.org • In 2013 VT was well below average for Dollars invested per 1MM residents – 2013 U.S average $53MM per 1MM – 2013 VT was $34MM per 1MM • Q1 – Q3 2014 VT is $50MM per 1MM
- 14. Vermont VC TrendsRemain Positive (PWC Data)
- 15. Additional Detail forVT Private Investments 2014 Vermont “Reg D” deals not included on previous slide: •23 companies raised at least $17MM – From small deal at $30K, to – NG Advantage raising $5.5MM •Of note: – 3 breweries – 3 Ag-related deals – Several consumer product cos. – 2 food deals
- 16. • Ello Accolades: –9 most significant deals of 2014 (Inc. Mag) – 2015 most surprising things to watch (Forbes) – # 9 most popular social network (Cowen & Co) • What the conversation should be about: – Why Burlington and Boulder, not Silicon Valley? – Why is a tech co. a Public Benefit Corporation (PBC)? – Venture investors will invest in a PBC? – How is this different that a B-Corp? – Does this signal a convergence of values and $s? – What does this mean for the VT Technology ecosystem? Vermont Deals of Note
- 17. Vermont Deals ofNote IrisVR •Graduate from Middlebury •Win LaunchVT •Hire handful of young professionals •Raise angel capital •Accepted into TechStars NY •Get ready for really big things in 2015
- 18. Vermont Deals ofNote • CleanEthics based in Richmond, VT & Founded in 2010 • Take a bike ride, end up with stale Camelbak & find a pain point to solve • Start your company & build a product • Apply to Shark Tank > Get a deal with a Shark.
- 19. Additional FreshTracks Highlightsfrom 2014 Faraday wins $1MM SunShot Grant from DOE Bridj expands into Boston/urban transportation
- 20. An IPO? • FilesS-1 January 5th 2015 • This will be first VT company to go public in more than a decade • Still relatively small company to go public ($45MM revenues first 9 months of 2014) • Will be interesting to watch this offering progress • Zero press coverage so far in Vermont
- 21. Road Pitch –First Annual August 2014 • 30 riders • 1 Lt Gov • 4 days • 7 towns • 28 pitches • 500 miles • 1 rain storm
- 22. www.freshtrackscap.com @FreshTracksCap & @VTCairnCross cairn@freshtrackscap.com & www.linkedin.com/in/cairncross