Mike Carter

In the late 90s founders raised hundreds of MILLIONs for new fax technologies… But when was the last time you faxed a document? Startups need to be PROBLEM-centric, not solution-centric. Fax technology was focused on making faxes work better, rather than focusing on the problem of sending documents and written signatures.

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My review of Pablos Holman's seriously probing (yet occasionally witty) book, Deep Future, about the core technologies that can transform key industries, in CTech by Calcalist. A must-read for any DeepTech investor or entrepreneur.

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The move from early traction to scale forces a different set of capital decisions. In today's episode of the Private Equity Value Creation Podcast, Jonathan D. Drillings of Riverside Acceleration Capital talks with Shiv Narayanan about how B2B software companies fund that in-between phase—and why the wrong structure at the wrong moment creates problems later. Tune in to learn: - The role of growth lending in hitting milestones - How early equity affects dilution, valuation and future flexibility - What durability actually looks like before scaling - How AI affects risk without changing the fundamentals And much more. The link to the episode is in the comments below.

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Understanding why first-time CFOs leave compared to seasoned professionals is essential. A new blog by Andy Siravo and Craig Wallace examines the retention risks for both groups and offers strategies to address them. Read it here: https://lnkd.in/eZq2W8sE

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Enterprise Value to Equity Value bridge explained for Healthtech Founders For healthtech founders, understanding the bridge from Enterprise Value (EV) to Equity Value is critical for M&A. While a buyer's offer is typically based on a company's EV, the value of its operating business, the actual cash you receive as a founder is based on its Equity Value. The bridge is a simple calculation that adjusts the EV for your company's balance sheet to determine the final payment to shareholders. https://lnkd.in/e-G8vkRV

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For many community institutions, the biggest challenge is not strategy. It is execution. Projects stall because internal teams are stretched thin. Vendors push timelines. Regulatory expectations increase. Budgets tighten. A strong outsourcing partner reduces that risk. We provide delivery teams that keep programs on track, stabilize workstreams, and bring discipline to execution. Our teams integrate with client staff and elevate internal capability. Community banks and credit unions deserve the same level of precision and predictability as any Tier One bank. #ProjectDelivery #RiskManagement #CreditUnions #CommunityBanks #FinTechServices #ITConsulting

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jensen called the idea that enterprise cos will rip+replace software 'illogical' and he's right. no one wants to vibe code their payroll - software is 8-10% of enterprise budgets & for most companies the compliance risk of rebuilding mission-critical systems far outweighs the software savings

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Top quotes from my conversation with David Breach from Vista Equity Partners. 1. "Enterprise software is a really interesting business to invest in, and if we bring operational value creation excellence to these companies and resources to help, then we can create value on a more predictable, repeatable, and consistent basis." 2. "Our average company has about a 625% ROI to its customer. There's almost no more effective way to spend money than to consume software that enhances the productivity of a company." 3. “We don't want to cannibalize any opportunity for our institutional investors. They are the backbone of our firm and our most critical relationships and partners.” 4. “We’re approaching wealth by thinking about the right amount of capital to raise to augment what we're doing institutionally.” 5. “Our products invest alongside each other, pari passu. We don't want to be in a situation where different products compete for deals.” 6. “Learning how to sell is really learning how to listen, ask questions, and understand the needs of your customer.” https://lnkd.in/egAvqy7i With thanks to WCM Investment Management and Vesto.

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Most of us in the financial services sector know that AI is a game changer for the deal market but are still getting our arms around how to harness the technology. Join ACG Cleveland for a luncheon panel on March 19th with practical advice from local VC professional, John Kinific, innovation lead Katherine Minami with NFP insurance, and our moderator, Mike Cottrill as we dive into the topic.

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Layer is tackling one of the most overlooked pain points for SMBs: accounting. They’re gaining real traction doing so. Emergence is leading their seed round to bring embedded, AI-powered accounting to the SMB software stack. Kevin Spain highlights what makes this team and product so compelling. 

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Corporate venture teams often struggle with internal reporting. Rather than an administrative burden, it can be a strategic tool to build credibility and earn a seat at the leadership table. Good programs don't just report on activity. They use the opportunity to align with leaderships' priorities and reinforce the venture program's relevance to the enterprise. Understand what drives each particular audience. Tailor what is reported. Build rhythm through frequency and format. Three keys to a program that demonstrates venture program's focus, maturity, and alignment with enterprise goals. If you're interested in diving in deeper, subscribe at https://lnkd.in/gMh3VRRU. I'll be publishing a three-part series on Corporate Venture Monitoring and Reporting. #corporateventurecapital #CVC #reporting

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Working on Agent2Agent or multi-agent products or projects? Sign up to give a lightning talk on March 12th. 3 slides, 60 seconds, let the world know what you are working on. While you're at it, meet the community working to build an open, trusted internet of Agents: Project NANDA: Architecting the Internet of AI Agents. Thank you Underscore VC for sponsoring this valuable work.

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🚀 Verif-y is redefining digital record management. With 9 State DOE contracts, 200+ institutions onboarded, and 90%+ margins, this AI-powered SaaS platform is solving a $20B+ global problem: fragmented, insecure, and outdated education and credential systems. Now raising $5M Seed funding to accelerate U.S. and international growth. 👉 For VCs and institutional investors: this is defensible, AI-driven SaaS with regulatory moats — the right product, right time. See www.verif-y.com Then DM me for more info. Join us on this funding round? Follow me on LinkedIn: https://lnkd.in/e8bZ8srt

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Too many service businesses focus only on revenue growth without understanding what actually increases enterprise value. - Margins - Retention - Operational efficiency - Revenue quality - Scalability The founders who win long term are the ones building with a scoreboard. This MRR Growth Ceiling Calculator is a solid tool for operators looking to better understand what drives valuation and where bottlenecks may exist inside the business. Worth a look if you're building, scaling, or preparing for an eventual exit.

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Most startups die trying to get what an existing business already has — Customers Cash flow Systems Brand trust Why start from zero when you can buy from momentum? Buy a business doing $500K–$2M in revenue. Leverage seller financing, SBA, or private capital. Keep the team, fix the margins, and scale. It’s not about being an entrepreneur anymore. It’s about being an acquirer. Startups are hope. Acquisitions are math. And math wins. 🦈

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Why do private equity sponsors and CFOs see AI so differently? 98% of PE sponsors demand immediate AI adoption while 68% of CFOs admit they don't know where to begin. This disconnect reflects a broader truth about innovation—vision without executional guidance creates paralysis. In my experience, the CFOs asking 'where do I start?' often end up ahead of those with grand strategies but no practical roadmap. The shadow AI economy shows us the answer: start with what employees are already using successfully, then scale with proper governance... The question isn't whether AI transformation will happen—it's whether leadership will learn from the 90% of workers who've already figured it out. Read more in the latest Velocity Meter newsletter:

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