In this episode of Tech Scenes Beverly Hills, we take a ride with Winter Mead, the founder and managing member of Coolwater Capital, an investment firm specializing in emerging managers and technology investments. Winter is also the author of the insightful book, "How To Raise A Venture Capital Fund," and operates Coolwater, an academy dedicated to training, building, and scaling emerging managers. With over 240 emerging managers trained in the last four years, Winter brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the table. Winter’s impressive career includes helping build and invest in an evergreen fund at SAP, where he co-founded the LP transparency movement #OpenLP. He has also worked as a private equity and venture capital investor at a large multi-family office in San Francisco, completing seventy-nine institutional investments and over twenty-five additional investments since leaving his institutional allocator role. As junior faculty at Stanford Graduate School of Business, Winter taught Venture Capital and Entrepreneurship, sharing his expertise with the next generation of investors and entrepreneurs. Coolwater Capital's mission is to create a new model for launching, building, and scaling emerging fund managers. Their programs include Coolwater Build, a virtual cohort program for emerging managers, and Coolwater Explore, a virtual program for angel investors to build and organize their portfolio investments. In this episode, Winter discusses the inspiration behind Coolwater, the challenges and opportunities for emerging fund managers, and the unique approach of Coolwater cohorts in building VC firms and growth companies. He shares insights from his book, which serves as a comprehensive guide on raising a venture capital fund, revealing the secrets of LP diligence, best practices in fundraising, and the intricate dynamics of the VC world. Whether you are an aspiring venture capitalist, an emerging fund manager, or simply interested in the venture capital ecosystem, this episode offers valuable insights from one of the industry's leading experts. Join us as we explore Winter’s journey, the evolution of Coolwater Capital, and the strategies that drive success in the world of venture capital. Don't forget to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell to stay updated with all our episodes, where we bring you the untold stories of innovation and leadership from the tech world, only on Tech Scenes. Learn more about the book “Peak Teams - Mastering the Habit of Unstoppable Venture-backed Companies” - https://geni.us/peak-teams Visit Collective Genius to Build your Venture-backed Team with the Peak Operating System - www.collective-genius.com Music by Andrew Applepie - https://soundcloud.com/andrewapplepie #prodify #benfoster #productmanagement #productleadership #productroadmap #productcouncil #collectivegenius #peakoperatingsystem #peakos #vbos #innovation #investing #venturecapital #startups #healthtech #SaaS ##entrepreneurshipceo #founder #cofounder #okrs #kpis

In this episode of Tech Scenes Unplugged, we connect with Brett Brohl, an investor who has dedicated his career to fostering innovation and supporting early-stage founders. As the Founder and Managing Partner of Bread and Butter Ventures, Brett shares his extensive experience in the startup ecosystem, where he invests in companies that are revolutionizing the world's food system, from robotics and kitchen tech to biotech and supply chain solutions. Brett’s passion for entrepreneurship is evident in his former work with the Techstars Farm to Fork Accelerator and the Minnesota Twins Accelerator in partnership with Techstars. With a rich background as both a venture-backed and bootstrapped founder, Brett has experienced the highs of leading companies to acquisition and the lows of encountering failures. His journey underscores the challenges and rewards of entrepreneurship, emphasizing the importance of resilience and passion in this demanding field. During our conversation, Brett delves into his core investment focus on FoodTech, highlighting the innovative solutions that are transforming the food industry. We explore the intricacies of fundraising, building cohesive teams, and fostering transparency and alignment within startups. Brett also shares valuable insights from his personal experiences, aiming to help founders avoid common pitfalls and make informed decisions. In addition to his investment work, Brett actively shares his knowledge through his YouTube channel, "Brett’s Brain," where he discusses best practices for entrepreneurs and investors, and via his blog on Medium, where he writes about FoodTech. His passion for the startup world extends beyond his professional life, as he enjoys spending time with his family and indulging in lobster diving in the Florida Keys. Join us for an engaging discussion with Brett Brohl as we uncover the strategies and stories behind his successful career in entrepreneurship and venture capital. This episode is packed with actionable insights for aspiring entrepreneurs, investors, and anyone interested in the dynamic world of FoodTech. Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell to keep up with all the insights and stories from the cutting edge of venture-backed companies, right here on Tech Scenes. Learn more about the book “Peak Teams - Mastering the Habit of Unstoppable Venture-backed Companies” - https://geni.us/peak-teams Visit Collective Genius to Build your Venture-backed Team with the Peak Operating System - www.collective-genius.com #breadandbutterventures #brettbrohl #foodtech #agtech #collectivegenius #peakoperatingsystem #peakos #vbos #innovation #investing #venturecapital #startups #healthtech #SaaS ##entrepreneurshipceo #founder #cofounder #okrs #kpis

This is a Tech Scenes throwback from 2019 - Welcome to Tech Scenes by Collective Genius where we meet up with ceos, founders and investors to learn what makes cities in the startup tech ecosystem thrive. On this episode we meet up with Sam Yagan CEO of ShopRunner and take a spin through the former ShopRunner offices and head out for pizza at Lou Malnati's (because we are in Chicago).

Along the way we talk about moving ShopRunner to Chicago, the combination of capital + labor + culture, diversity, recruiting and pursuing vision and passion against all odds. Learn more about the book “Peak Teams - Mastering the Habit of Unstoppable Venture-backed Companies” - https://geni.us/peak-teams Visit Collective Genius to Build your Venture-backed Team with the Peak Operating System - www.collective-genius.com Corazon Capital Born out of a love for building startups and a passion for backing entrepreneurs with heart, Corazon Capital (spanish for “heart”), a leading Chicago-based venture fund, brings a coastal approach to Seed and Series A investing. With a rare blend of investing experience and operating expertise, Corazon Capital provides unusually pragmatic, actionable counsel to the entrepreneurs it supports.

Corazon Capital believes that the best entrepreneurs and the smartest VCs will intentionally solicit both financial and operating investors in their syndicates, with Corazon Capital recognized across geographies for its deep operating knowledge and reach inside and outside of Chicago. https://corazon.com/ Lou Malnati's Pizzeria Considered the oldest family name in Chicago pizza, Lou Malnati's is as rich in history as its pizza is in flavor. www.loumalnatis.com