We are early-stage investors looking to back teams that have a minimum viable product. We guide companies from this “proof of value” to “proof of market” helping identify product-market fit, building well-rounded teams and brainstorming pricing, business model, distribution and channel strategy with our young companies. In terms of rounds, we typically invest in Seed and Series A stages.
Our core focus is on the early stage. However, we are thematic investors and always like to help entrepreneurs working within our core themes, even if it ends up being too late for an investment from NewBuild. Do contact us if we can be of help.
Our investments tend to cluster around supply chain related infrastructure software and applications. The infrastructure rails that we are following are
1) Edge Cloud, which connects the billions of connected devices in the enterprise to developers who derive intelligence.
2) AI/ML because every enterprise user needs (or wants) an AI assistant. NLP and vision AI are spawning a Saas refresh, but route optimization, pricing, geo location of inventory are supply chain specific AI categories that can create infrastructure software opportunities.
3) As students of decentralized networks, we see a gush of streaming data creating new data storage, data transport and analytics opportunities. Blockchain technologies that enable cooperative systems and Web3 projects that have real world uses are very interesting to us.
In the application software world, we are prioritizing warehouse automation, procurement, logistics and supply chain productivity as key areas of focus. We expect these enterprise supply chain management areas to attract significant dollars this year.
These are the themes where we are active right now, but our curiosity extends much further! If you’re building something different targeted at supply chain enterprise customers, we want to hear from you and learn about the vision of the future you have in mind. We will be respectful of your time and still add value via introductions to our network if it is not a fit for NewBuild.
We love to learn! Find a common connection, share something insightful about your space, tell us how you plan to change the world, or how we can help you on your journey. We are very responsive on email and (fairly) responsive via LinkedIn/ X.
Yes! Since we are thematic investors, we see category defining clusters emerging in many areas around the US and Canada. We are also quite comfortable with "headquarter-less" and "all-remote" models or Delaware-incorporated companies with extensive development teams outside the US. Our main criterion is that the companies target US enterprises as the initial/ primary market segment.
Being a small firm, all our companies get the whole team, but if you have a specific team need, we are open to a conversation about it. Rohini is focused on Edge Cloud & Chad is working on Supply Chain and they jointly look at productivity, AI/ML and fintech companies. Venture Partners like Madhav and our corporate practitioner advisors are also available to our companies as you build your business.
Our investment amount will depend on the stage of the company, ranging from $1M to $8M.
We invest with conviction and would like to have a material position on the cap table. Ideally that would be 10-20%, but we are open to a smaller ownership in later stage, category leading companies where we bring unique value.
We will lead or co-lead in rounds. Our expectation is that we will lead 60% of our investments and co-lead in the remaining 40%. Stage wise, we will lead a seed stage investment and can lead/co-lead Series A rounds.
Yes, we take board seats or board observer roles in our companies. It is the most efficient way for us to have the business context needed to be helpful to our entrepreneurs on company culture, business development and product growth. As companies grow, we are active in building balanced boards and helping entrepreneurs on developing strong operating plans.
You may be referring to the World of Connections 2019 which was indeed wonderful, and it brought together our entrepreneurs, co-investors and corporate partners in a way that added value to each. As the world has emerged out of the pandemic, we are meeting in person again. We hosted a Women in Supply Chain Summit in March 2023 and based on the positive response, will host it again in March 2024.
Do reach out if you wish to collaborate with us on events that add value to the supply chain startup ecosystem and support the next generation of women entrepreneurs.
We are always keeping our eyes open for new teammates. We are looking to bring on two investment associates who are entrepreneurial enough to join a brand-new venture firm. What we offer is the promise that you will learn tremendously, work with category defining companies right from day 1, participate in the growth of this firm, and progress towards becoming a full life-cycle investor – please reach out to team AT Newbuild.VC if interested.
We are based in the Bay Area working from co-working spaces in Menlo Park and San Francisco.
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