1. recapping investments, support experiments
and our firm’s biggest, most important theme
2015 YEAR IN REVIEW
@NextViewVC
NextViewVentures.com

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

3. 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.

4. At NextView, we believe…

5. The FOCUSED PLAYER
WILL ALWAYS WIN.
The FOCUSED PLAYER
WILL ALWAYS WIN.
At NextView, we believe…

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

7. 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:

8. 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:

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

10. (This is the entrance to our office.)
We call this a “craft brewer” approach to VC.

11. “[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.

12. (BTW, these aren’t beer brands.
They’re our portfolio companies.
Each startup gets their
own customized, craft label
incorporating their logo.)
We call this a “craft brewer” approach to VC.

13. This theme also informed the
ways we helped entrepreneurs.

14. And it guided the firm as we grew our team.
This theme also informed the
ways we helped entrepreneurs.

15. 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.

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

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

18. To help, we got busy launching things.

19. To help, we got busy launching things.
TRACTIONTRACTIONthe podcastthe podcast
Listen

20. To help, we got busy launching things.
TRACTIONTRACTIONthe podcastthe podcast
PLATFORMPLATFORM
of resourcesof resources
Listen Explore

21. To help, we got busy launching things.
TRACTIONTRACTIONthe podcastthe podcast
PLATFORMPLATFORM
of resourcesof resources
SYSTEMSSYSTEMSfor hiring & Series Afor hiring & Series A
Listen Explore Portfolio Only

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

23. “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

24. “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

25. “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
SUBSCRIBE TO WEEKLY EMAIL

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

27. 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

28. This included hiring someone great to focus
on New York 100% of the time.
TIM DEVANE
Principal
@tdevane
previously:

29. 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.

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

31. 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.

32. 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

33. 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

34. 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

35. 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

36. 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

37. 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)

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

39. & an even better 2016 for you,
your team, and your business
CHEERS TO A GREAT 2015!

40. JOIN THOUSANDS IN TECH
on our weekly email about gaining traction
advice and stories shared by entrepreneurs from these companies and more:
ADD ME TO THE LIST
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