What's the ONE thing your career path has taught you?

For Erica Duignan Minnihan, it's that supporting diverse teams is key for startup growth... and that startup success is key to economic growth.

And this venture capital pro has the receipts to prove it.🧾

Erica has been doing this for a while. From an internship at Golden Seeds -- a prominent angel investor network -- to Managing Director at DreamIt Ventures, Erica knows what it takes to scale companies and how to make the right investments.

Oh and she's been a founder, too. With an exit. ➡️

Now she's Founder and Managing Partner of Reign Ventures, a $50 million fund that invests in early-stage companies with a strong focus on underrepresented founders, particularly women and people of color. And she's dedicated to helping these founders build successful billion-dollar companies.

Join us on Tuesday, Jan 16 to hear directly from Erica on the actionable steps you can take to build a better team and get the right investments. She may even drop some hints at what she likes to see in a pitch deck. 

Hint: it's not what you think. 👀

Tickets for this event are $5 and include food and drinks, as well as exclusive access to this VC with one heck of a resume.

You'll also meet dozens of other high-performing entrepreneurs who are creating their next big thing. Seriously, it's some of the best founder networking in the city.

We're meeting LIVE AND IN-PERSON at The Yard, a coworking space at the intersection of innovation, creativity, design, & play -- with locations in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Philly, and DC -- with a variety of shared and private workspace options. If you are interested in learning more or scheduling a visit, you can do so here.

Getting a ticket guarantees admission. No long lines outside in the cold. No waitlist. No wondering if you'll even get in. 

And don't miss our recurring founder social events over coffee or cocktails. It's a great opportunity for operators to network with each other to share best practices and find new resources to get the year started right. See them all here.

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Below are actionable takeaways from our conversation with Erica on January 16.

1. **Focus on Early-Stage Relationships:** Prioritize building strong relationships with investors, especially at the pre-seed and seed stages, as they can have a significant impact on the success and culture of your business.

2. **Understand Market Dynamics:** Stay informed about market fluctuations and trends that may affect investor sentiment and funding opportunities for early-stage startups.

3. **Articulate Your Value Proposition:** Clearly communicate the economics of your business model in your pitch deck, highlighting profitability and scalability to attract investor attention.

4. **Invest in Team Composition:** Build a core team of three to five individuals with complementary skills and a shared vision for the company's growth and success.

5. **Embrace Diversity and Inclusion:** Foster diversity within your management team and company culture, recognizing the value of diverse perspectives in driving innovation and business success.

6. **Demonstrate Market Understanding:** Show a deep understanding of your target market, customer needs, and competitive landscape to instill confidence in investors about the viability of your venture.

7. **Simplify Your Pitch:** Keep your pitch deck concise and focused, emphasizing the core value proposition and avoiding unnecessary complexity or diversification of revenue streams.

8. **Set High Targets:** Aim for significant multiples on invested capital (MOIC) to attract venture capital investment, focusing on achieving at least a 10x return to meet investor expectations.

9. **Stay Agile and Adaptive:** Adapt to market changes and investor preferences, remaining flexible in your approach to fundraising and business strategy.

10. **Strive for Exceptionalism:** Strive to be the standout investment opportunity by showcasing your unique ability to generate returns and solve market needs better than anyone else in your space.

By incorporating these actionable insights into your entrepreneurial journey, you can better position your early-stage startup for success and attract the investment needed to fuel growth.