Venture Pill

Our Social Media Pages, follow us and engage with the Pill-grim community! Join our Entre Community Instagram Twitter  YouTube TikTok LinkedIn  And now for this week’s prescription: On this week’s dose, we start (1:58) with a breakdown on Decagon, an enterprise AI platform revolutionizing customer support, following their $65M Series B. Next (9:28), we dive into Abridge, a startup using AI to automate clinical documentation, backed by a recent $250M funding round. Finally (20:11) , we wrap up with a deep dive on Joby, a company developing electric air taxis for commercial passenger service, and their additional $500M investment from Toyota. Sources: https://decagon.ai/blog/series-b  https://www.abridge.com/ https://techcrunch.com/2024/06/18/how-abridge-became-one-of-the-most-talked-about-healthcare-ai-startups/?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAALhF6BSj0lyZwC64cw-YB1qSaFwsl5fQBx9Q15snKLTn2J02SNzvontN6PVuSKRJiBNRZTx61UXxAzv1BC5UVLOBujaKES08ovmk859Z28za0j9HZNYL4GwEwzB-7hXaKMgjPJG1-M8ms6wXR2XcVdi1v32hX_3OaFoJBQ5VQlv0  https://siliconangle.com/2024/10/11/healthcare-ai-startup-abridge-reportedly-raising-250m-2-5b-valuation/ https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/digital-health/abridge-raising-250m-report.html https://www.jobyaviation.com/ https://pressroom.toyota.com/toyota-to-invest-500-million-in-joby-aviation/ Music Credit: Chapter One by Cole Bauer and Dean Keeton https://www.instagram.com/deankeeton/?hl=en Disclosure: The views, statements, and opinions,  expressed herein by the hosts and guests are their own, and their appearance on the podcast should not be construed as reflecting the views or implied endorsement of Independent Brokerage Solutions LLC or any of its officers, employees, or agents. The statements made herein should not be considered an investment opinion, advice, or a recommendation regarding securities of any company. This podcast is produced solely for informational purposes and is not to be construed as an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy a security.

Our Social Media Pages, follow us and engage with the Pill-grim community!InstagramTwitter YouTubeTikTokLinkedIn And now for this week’s prescription:On this week’s dose, we mix things up a bit with a status update for Sam and Brandon. The 138 week streak of weekly doses may soon come to an end. With each of us moving to new cities, there just isn’t as much time in the week as there used to be when the pod was based out of Austin. Don’t worry! We aren’t going anywhere. You just might not see a dose every single Thursday morning.The second half of this week’s dose is a conversational breakdown of Interplay Learning (the company Sam works for) and their recent fundraising round led by Goldman Sachs’ Inclusive Growth Fund. With that announcement, Interplay also welcomes ITI (Industrial Training International) to the family. Tune in to hear more from Sam on the news and what’s ahead!Sources:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/interplay-learning-closes-growth-investment-from-goldman-sachs-alternatives-and-acquires-industrial-training-international-302252417.htmlhttps://www.interplaylearning.com/https://www.iti.com/Music Credit: Chapter One by Cole Bauer and Dean Keetonhttps://www.instagram.com/deankeeton/?hl=enDisclosure:The views, statements, and opinions,  expressed herein by the hosts and guests are their own, and their appearance on the podcast should not be construed as reflecting the views or implied endorsement of Independent Brokerage Solutions LLC or any of its officers, employees, or agents. The statements made herein should not be considered an investment opinion, advice, or a recommendation regarding securities of any company. This podcast is produced solely for informational purposes and is not to be construed as an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy a security.

Our Social Media Pages, follow us and engage with the Pill-grim community!InstagramTwitter YouTubeTikTokLinkedIn And now for this week’s prescription:On this week’s dose, we start (1:44) with a breakdown on Aifleet, an Austin-based trucking startup that uses AI to optimize routes and load planning, which just announced a $16.6M Series B led by Tom Williams. Then (6:57), we have a Pillfolio Update on Viome, a startup that leverages AI and data to offer people personalized nutrition guidance through the lens of gut health, fresh off a $25M Series D. Lastly (15:43), we close out this week’s dose with a deepdive on LineLeap, a startup that lets people pay to skip lines at popular venues, hot off a $10M funding round.Sources:https://aifleet.com/https://siliconangle.com/2024/09/10/aifleet-raises-16-6m-scale-ai-driven-trucking-solutions/  https://www.viome.com/ https://longevity.technology/news/viome-lands-25m-to-launch-new-diagnostics-division/https://www.lineleap.com/https://techcrunch.com/2024/09/11/lineleap-lets-users-pay-to-skip-the-line-at-bars/Music Credit: Chapter One by Cole Bauer and Dean Keetonhttps://www.instagram.com/deankeeton/?hl=enDisclosure:The views, statements, and opinions,  expressed herein by the hosts and guests are their own, and their appearance on the podcast should not be construed as reflecting the views or implied endorsement of Independent Brokerage Solutions LLC or any of its officers, employees, or agents. The statements made herein should not be considered an investment opinion, advice, or a recommendation regarding securities of any company. This podcast is produced solely for informational purposes and is not to be construed as an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy a security.

Our Social Media Pages, follow us and engage with the Pill-grim community!InstagramTwitter YouTubeTikTokLinkedIn And now for this week’s prescription:(1:41) First up, you’ll hear about Aerflo, which just secured over $10M in seed funding to revolutionize the sparkling water market with its innovative portable carbonation system. The round was led by Lerer Hippeau and Torch Capital.(9:05) Next up, we’ll break down Turntable Labs, hot off an $8.2M seed round led by Founders Fund, Elizabeth Street Ventures, and others. The company is revamping their innovative music sharing platform to enhance the listening experience for music lovers.(16:18) And lastly, you’ll hear a breakdown on micro nuclear power plant startup, Last Energy, which just announced a $40M Series B led by Gigafund and Autodesk Foundation.Sparkling water, Music sharing, and of course, micro nuclear power plants. Standard stuff for the Pill.Sources:https://www.alleywatch.com/2024/08/aerflo-sparkling-water-carbonation-reusable-bottle-device-system-portable-on-the-go-john-thorp-buzz-wiggins/https://aerflo.zendesk.com/hc/en-ushttps://turntablelive.com/ https://hangout.fm/ https://edm.com/gear-tech/turntablefm-creators-launch-social-listening-platform-hangout https://www.esgtoday.com/micro-nuclear-power-plant-startup-last-energy-raises-40-million-to-decarbonize-heavy-industry-and-data-centers/ https://www.lastenergy.com/about Music Credit: Chapter One by Cole Bauer and Dean Keetonhttps://www.colebauer.com/https://www.instagram.com/deankeeton/?hl=enDisclosure:The views, statements, and opinions,  expressed herein by the hosts and guests are their own, and their appearance on the podcast should not be construed as reflecting the views or implied endorsement of Independent Brokerage Solutions LLC or any of its officers, employees, or agents. The statements made herein should not be considered an investment opinion, advice, or a recommendation regarding securities of any company. This podcast is produced solely for informational purposes and is not to be construed as an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy a security.

Our Social Media Pages, follow us and engage with the Pill-grim community!InstagramTwitter YouTubeTikTokLinkedIn And now for this week’s prescription:On this week’s dose, we start with Sora Fuel (2:05), a startup that produces sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) using only air, water and renewable energy, and their recent $6M Seed round. Next, we talk about Bat Box (7:14), a social and tech-infused baseball “eatertainment” company that secured a $7.3M Series A. Finally, stick with us for a Pillfolio Update on Bilt (15:26), as the startup that offers a unique loyalty program that allows renters to earn points by paying rent is back in the headlines after an $150M funding round.Sources:https://www.sorafuel.com/ https://carboncapturemagazine.com/articles/sora-fuel-secures-6m-seed https://www.batboxusa.com/ https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/batbox-announces-series-a-funding--us-expansion-plans-302209256.html https://www.biltrewards.com/https://newsroom.biltrewards.com/bilt-rewards-secures-150-million-in-additional-funding-led-by-ontario-teacher-s-pension-planhttps://fintech.global/2024/08/02/bilt-rewards-clinches-150m-in-fresh-funding-to-enhance-loyalty-programs/Music Credit: Chapter One by Cole Bauer and Dean Keetonhttps://www.colebauer.com/https://www.instagram.com/deankeeton/?hl=enDisclosure:The views, statements, and opinions,  expressed herein by the hosts and guests are their own, and their appearance on the podcast should not be construed as reflecting the views or implied endorsement of Independent Brokerage Solutions LLC or any of its officers, employees, or agents. The statements made herein should not be considered an investment opinion, advice, or a recommendation regarding securities of any company. This podcast is produced solely for informational purposes and is not to be construed as an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy a security.

Our Social Media Pages, follow us and engage with the Pill-grim community!InstagramTwitter YouTubeTikTokLinkedIn And now for this week’s prescription:(1:37) Up first on this week’s dose, we have Chaiz, an Austin-based online marketplace for comparing and purchasing extended car warranties, hot off a $3.7M seed round led by ResilienceVC.(10:38) Next up, you will hear a Pillfolio Update on Bandana (E85), a job site focused on hourly wage jobs, and their $8.5M funding round led by General Catalyst. (16:26) And lastly, stick with us for a breakdown on Unspun, a fashion tech company looking to reduce carbon emissions through their 3D weaving technology. The company just announced a $32M Series B led by DCVC.There you have it, another dose in the books. Let’s dive in.Sources:https://www.chaiz.com/blog/chaiz-raises-3-7m-seed-roundhttps://www.chaiz.com/https://techcrunch.com/2024/08/07/bandana-lands-new-investment-to-help-hourly-wage-workers-find-good-jobs/https://www.unspun.io/ https://www.fashiondive.com/news/unspun-series-b-32-million-weaving-technology/722889/ Music Credit: Chapter One by Cole Bauer and Dean Keetonhttps://www.colebauer.com/https://www.instagram.com/deankeeton/?hl=enDisclosure:The views, statements, and opinions,  expressed herein by the hosts and guests are their own, and their appearance on the podcast should not be construed as reflecting the views or implied endorsement of Independent Brokerage Solutions LLC or any of its officers, employees, or agents. The statements made herein should not be considered an investment opinion, advice, or a recommendation regarding securities of any company. This podcast is produced solely for informational purposes and is not to be construed as an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy a security.

Our Social Media Pages, follow us and engage with the Pill-grim community!InstagramTwitter YouTubeTikTokLinkedIn And now for this week’s prescription:On this week’s dose, first up, (1:50) we have Franshares, hot off a $4.1M seed round led by Chicago Ventures. That startup makes investing in franchises as easy as investing in stocks or mutual funds. Then you’ll hear about (6:48) Applied Carbon, a startup that turns agricultural crop residue into biochar to minimize agricultural carbon emissions, and their $21.5M Series A led by TO VC. Lastly, (11:46) stick with us for a Pillfolio Update on Oats Overnight, as the high-protein, spoon-free oatmeal company we covered on episode 58 is back in the headlines with their $35M Series B led by Enlightened Hospitality Investments. Sources:https://franshares.com/ https://www.morningstar.com/news/globe-newswire/9195556/franshares-secures-41m-seed-to-bring-franchise-investing-to-the-masses https://www.appliedcarbon.com/ https://www.appliedcarbon.com/news/applied-carbon-raises-21-5-million-to-deploy-groundbreaking-biochar-technology-that-increases-soil-health-and-sequesters-carbon https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/oats-overnight-announces-35m-raise-in-series-b-capital-302208696.htmlhttps://www.oatsovernight.com/Music Credit: Chapter One by Cole Bauer and Dean Keetonhttps://www.colebauer.com/https://www.instagram.com/deankeeton/?hl=enDisclosure:The views, statements, and opinions,  expressed herein by the hosts and guests are their own, and their appearance on the podcast should not be construed as reflecting the views or implied endorsement of Independent Brokerage Solutions LLC or any of its officers, employees, or agents. The statements made herein should not be considered an investment opinion, advice, or a recommendation regarding securities of any company. This podcast is produced solely for informational purposes and is not to be construed as an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy a security.

Our Social Media Pages, follow us and engage with the Pill-grim community!Join our Entre CommunityInstagramTwitter YouTubeTikTokLinkedIn And now for this week’s prescription:On this week’s dose, we start (1:41) with a breakdown on Posh, an event startup that is looking to foster human connection through its platform that brings people together in intimate settings, and their $22M Series A. Then (8:37), we have a Pillfolio Update with Saronic, a startup that’s leading the charge in autonomous surface vehicle innovation, and their $175MB that vaulted them to unicorn status. Lastly (15:55), we close out this week’s dose with a deepdive on Athletic Brewing Company, America’s largest non-alcoholic brewery, and their $50M funding round led by General Atlantic.Sources:https://posh.vip/ https://techcrunch.com/2024/07/23/event-startup-posh-raises-22m-in-to-focus-on-personalisation-and-event-diversification/ https://www.saronic.com/https://medium.com/saronic-technologies/saronic-raises-175-million-in-series-b-funding-valuing-company-at-1-billion-ad64de58babe https://techcrunch.com/2023/10/09/saronic-a-defense-startup-building-autonomous-ships-raises-55m/https://techcrunch.com/2023/09/30/vc-defense-tech/https://athleticbrewing.com/https://nabeerclub.com/athletic-brewings-50m-expansion-pushing-the-non-alcoholic-beer-revolution-further/https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/athletic-brewing-company-announces-50-million-equity-financing-round-led-by-general-atlantic-302191415.htmlMusic Credit: Chapter One by Cole Bauer and Dean Keetonhttps://www.colebauer.com/https://www.instagram.com/deankeeton/?hl=enDisclosure:The views, statements, and opinions,  expressed herein by the hosts and guests are their own, and their appearance on the podcast should not be construed as reflecting the views or implied endorsement of Independent Brokerage Solutions LLC or any of its officers, employees, or agents. The statements made herein should not be considered an investment opinion, advice, or a recommendation regarding securities of any company. This podcast is produced solely for informational purposes and is not to be construed as an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy a security.

Our Social Media Pages, follow us and engage with the Pill-grim community!Join our Entre CommunityInstagramTwitter YouTubeTikTokLinkedIn On this week’s dose, we have Daniel Belfort, Founder of Blok, an innovative device designed to help you reduce your screen time. Daniel’s journey began in Venezuela before he moved to the US for college, where he quickly became involved in software engineering at one of the world’s leading companies. However, it wasn't long before Daniel shifted gears to pursue a long-held passion: helping people regain control over their time and attention in an era of constant digital distraction. Recognizing that software-only solutions weren’t cutting it, Daniel developed Blok—a remarkably simple yet ingenious physical device that you tap your phone against to block distracting apps. By keeping the device out of reach, it helps resist those unconscious urges to use those apps. In our conversation, Daniel shares the inspiration behind Blok and the progress the company has made so far. He also outlines his future goals for Blok and what he seeks in potential investors. Lastly, we wrap up with some invaluable advice for any Pillgrims who are thinking about starting their own venture.Sources:https://blok.so/https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielbelfort/Music Credit: Chapter One by Cole Bauer and Dean Keetonhttps://www.colebauer.com/https://www.instagram.com/deankeeton/?hl=enDisclosure:The views, statements, and opinions,  expressed herein by the hosts and guests are their own, and their appearance on the podcast should not be construed as reflecting the views or implied endorsement of Independent Brokerage Solutions LLC or any of its officers, employees, or agents. The statements made herein should not be considered an investment opinion, advice, or a recommendation regarding securities of any company. This podcast is produced solely for informational purposes and is not to be construed as an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy a security.

Our Social Media Pages, follow us and engage with the Pill-grim community!Join our Entre CommunityInstagramTwitter YouTubeTikTokLinkedIn And now for this week’s prescription:On this week’s dose, we start (1:50) with a breakdown on Function Health, a startup that aims to empower people to live 100 healthy years through its comprehensive lab tests and personalized health dashboard, and their hearty $53M Series A. Then (10:15), we discuss HeyGen, a startup that’s looking to scale visual storytelling for businesses, hot off a $60M Series A. Lastly (18:09), we wrap up this week’s dose with a deepdive on Apex, a Los Angeles-based satellite manufacturing startup that secured a $95 million Series B to accelerate production of its "productized" satellite buses.Sources:https://www.functionhealth.com/ https://athletechnews.com/longevity-startup-function-raises-53m-for-personalized-health-testing/ https://www.heygen.com/https://www.heygen.com/article/announcing-our-series-ahttps://www.maginative.com/article/ai-video-startup-heygen-raises-60-million-valued-at/https://www.apexspace.com/https://techcrunch.com/2024/06/11/apex-raises-95m-to-scale-satellite-bus-production/https://spacenews.com/apex-raises-95-million-to-increase-satellite-bus-production/Music Credit: Chapter One by Cole Bauer and Dean Keetonhttps://www.colebauer.com/https://www.instagram.com/deankeeton/?hl=enDisclosure:The views, statements, and opinions,  expressed herein by the hosts and guests are their own, and their appearance on the podcast should not be construed as reflecting the views or implied endorsement of Independent Brokerage Solutions LLC or any of its officers, employees, or agents. The statements made herein should not be considered an investment opinion, advice, or a recommendation regarding securities of any company. This podcast is produced solely for informational purposes and is not to be construed as an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy a security.