Brian Matthews

I spoke with Christien Louviere of BDE Capital about his journey from a $330mm exit to becoming an independent sponsor. Christien shared excellent insights for folks looking to partner with business owners, rather than buy sellers out completely. Below are a few of the topics we covered: - Why he moved from “zero-to-one” startups to a buy-then-build strategy - How Christien's background shaped a focus on growth vs. cost-cutting - Why 20–40% rolled equity is central to his deal structures—and how it builds trust with sellers - Using scenario analysis with AI tools to evaluate management teams and uncover hidden key-person risks - How to identify when a $3–5M EBITDA company truly has a middle management layer—or is still founder-reliant For anyone investing in or buying small businesses, Christien’s approach provides a fresh lens on growth, alignment, and deal structuring. 🎥 Watch the full interview here → https://lnkd.in/ekfkaiej 🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://lnkd.in/e86Agx6V

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AI isn’t just a computing story. It’s becoming an energy story. This piece looks at the proposed ~9 GW gas power project in Ohio tied to AI data center demand. The scale is staggering. Projects like this highlight how quickly electricity demand from AI could reshape power infrastructure planning and economics. One point that stands out: the cost of reliable, large-scale power for AI may be far higher than many expect. As hyperscalers push for dedicated generation and firm capacity, the traditional model of grid expansion and cost sharing starts to break down. It raises a bigger question for the energy transition: Who ultimately pays for the massive power buildout required to support AI? Worth the read. https://lnkd.in/e36NsBd5

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👇 A practical guide for Private Capital firms looking to strengthen their investor experience, prepared using the insights from our recent panel discussion with Atominvest.   The discussion made one thing clear: investor experience is fast becoming a key differentiator in Private Markets.   Thank you to our panellists for sharing their perspectives on how GPs can meet evolving LP expectations and build lasting relationships! #privateequity #investorexperience #data #tech

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Remi Schmaltz led Brilliant Harvest Inc. secured US $4M seed funding from FTW Ventures, Alpaca VC, Automotive Ventures, SVG Ventures | THRIVE, NYA Ventures, Builders VC and AltaML. https://lnkd.in/giRjn-rn

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💥 New Curriculum: Asking for Introductions: Help Them Help You 💥 If you are raising capital, how you get in front of investors can matter almost as much as what you pitch. Warm introductions are still the most reliable way for early-stage founders to get real investor meetings, especially in relationship-driven Midwest ecosystems. Many founders rely on cold outreach and hope for the best. In reality, warm intros work because they borrow trust. An investor pays attention when someone they respect puts their name behind you. In the latest Nebraska Startup Academy module, we break down: - What a warm introduction actually is and why it works - How to map your network and uncover intro paths you may be missing - How to ask for warm intros clearly and respectfully (with forwardable templates) - Why portfolio founders, advisors, and operators are often your best connectors - How to build a repeatable warm-intro system before you're actively fundraising Whether you are months away from raising or actively in fundraising mode right now, this will help you create momentum, avoid common intro mistakes, and make it easier for others to help you. Link to the curriculum below 👇

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Weather delays. Compliance gaps. Lost days and lost dollars. Every contractor knows the pain. Pavewise, based in North Dakota and built by operators who’ve lived it, has just raised a $2.5M seed round led by C2 Ventures Fund II, alongside Connetic Ventures, Service Provider Capital, M25, gener8tor 1889, and Broadwater Capital. Their platform brings real-time compliance, weather, and production tracking to road construction, helping crews make better calls, cut rework, and keep projects on time. This is exactly what we mean when we talk about our thesis, Dirty, Dull, and Dangerous innovation: solving real operational problems in essential industries with durable tech. https://lnkd.in/eecPMHdN

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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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AI isn't just powering software. BrightAI just raised $51 million to automate inspection and other hardware-based AI capabilities. As Alexa von Tobel, co-founder of Inspired Capital put it: “So many people are so focused on the future of digital AI, but we’re excited about this new layer of AI: the physical world AI.” We are in the early innings of a series of AI-fueled innovations! https://lnkd.in/enhmafvH

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