Chris Haug

Had a great time at DC Startup & Tech Week (Formerly DC Startup Week) moderating a panel with Scott Christensen (Chesapeake Bay Seed Capital Fund (CBSCF) , Faith Davis (Exelon) and Bill McNulty (NextEra Energy Investments), convened by the great C'pher Gresham. Here's a quick recap: 1) The panelists were phenomenal - a mixture of corporate, state and foundation-backed VC's all focusing on climate. They're actively funding companies across a range of sectors - e.g. nature-based solutions, energy + AI, water, etc. Point being, we were lucky to have experts with such broad purviews. 2) The current climate could be pushing at least some climate VC's to focus on software and move away from hardware, at least temporarily. This type of capital may indeed just be better suited for software companies at this juncture. It also reflects the fact that certain segments of the climate-tech market are just more mature than others - e.g. software performs best once the hardware and the business case around it are solid, then it becomes and optimization and efficiency game. 3) Founders need to target "must-solve" climate problems from the investor lens. In other words, yes there's a sea of climate challenges where startups can be additive. However, in this environment, few of these areas are attracting meaningful capital. There's nothing wrong with tackling problem areas that are under-invested, we need this in spades. However, for those trying to get capital in the door, realize the constraints that come with targeting problems that investors just aren't prioritizing. 4) Look to funders overseas. The EU, where so much climate finance, policy and general expertise has come from, could be playing a much more important role. I'd also argue that Gulf countries like KSA and UAE are going to be critical here too, not to mention China, of course. 5) We need mentoring and coaching to be at an all-time high. With so much uncertainty, networks/communities where both founders and investors can learn from/lean on each other have never been more important. The panel/audience was a nice microcosm of the types of support networks we need to be actively building. Big thanks again to C'pher, Faith, Scott and Bill, as well as the whole DC Startup + Tech Week team. Til next year!

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**The Importance of Strategic Networking at Tech Events** As we approach TechCrunch Disrupt 2026, I urge Limited Partners to capitalize on the opportunity to engage with emerging entrepreneurs and transformative ideas. Events like these are not just about attending sessions; they are critical platforms for building relationships that can lead to strategic investments. At ElevenX Capital, we understand the value of networking in driving innovation. I encourage you to actively participate in discussions. How do you evaluate the potential of startups encountered at these events? #investing #innovation #venturecapital #entrepreneurship

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With $750 million in federal commitment on the table, the design choices made in the coming months will shape how Canadian companies form, scale, and stay here for a generation… The conversation couldn't be more timely.

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Founders and investors converged at TEDCO's 2025 Entrepreneur Expo for the "Access to Capital: Different Funding Sources for Startups" panel. Recognizing that securing funding is a universal hurdle for early-stage companies, this session served as a strategic roadmap, confirming that Maryland’s robust capital ecosystem is actively engineered to fund visionary ideas and drive next-level growth at every stage. Learn more about the session and the advice provided by moderator Mindy Lehman of TEDCO and panelists Jeff Cherry, Conscious Venture Lab; Dawn Medley, FSC First; and Bret Schreiber, Fulton Bank at https://lnkd.in/ewG_E5Ss #entrepreneuer #startup #TEDCOExpo

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🚀 Meet PACT, simplifying SBA-backed acquisitions with investors. Think YC’s SAFE, but built for Main Street M&A. 📘 What is PACT and why we built it PACT (Partnership Acquisition Commonsense Terms) is a free, balanced starting point for the agreements used in SBA-backed acquisitions with outside investors. For too long, SBA-backed acquisitions with outside investors have been the wild west: every deal is different, inefficient, and confusing, especially for first-time searchers raising capital. PACT gives everyone a common baseline so reviews are faster, expectations are clear, and operators can focus on acquiring the business. 🧩 SAFE for ETA Y Combinator’s SAFE gave startups a shared template that made early investing easier to execute. PACT brings that same idea to ETA. It teaches the key concepts in plain English, aligns searchers and investors on the economics, and sets a fair place to start. Our goal is for PACT to become the default baseline for investor-backed small business acquisitions using SBA loans. 🤝 Who contributed 🏛️ Legal input from top SMB M&A attorneys: Joseph Spina (Cullen and Dykman LLP), Mark Dittrich (Groundswell Advisors, LLP), and Eric Hsu (Clear Focus Law, PLLC) provided feedback on drafts. 💼 Early investor adopters: Jordan F. (Shareholder Ventures), Grant Hensel (Entrepreneurial Capital), Jason Ehrlich (Fruition Capital), Sean Smith (Search Fund Ventures), Adam Kaplan (ETA Funding Partners), Jacob Hall (Kando Capital), Tony Cappaert (Workbench Capital) and Adam Markley (PROX Search Capital) have adopted PACT on new deals. 🎓 Community support: Chelsea Wood and Walker Deibel at the Acquisition Lab and Buy Then Build have committed to start educating the community on how investor deals work using PACT. 👉 What to do next 🔍 Searchers: download the docs and ask your lawyer to start from PACT. ⚖️ SMB M&A Law firms: review the templates and send feedback so the next version is better. 💸 SMB investors: adopt PACT as your starting point and share redlines from real deals. This is a community-led standard, and we will keep versioning PACT as feedback comes in from all sides. 📝 Thanks: Special thanks to Joseph Spina for leading the legal drafting with me and helping shape a true middle ground. 🔗 Download PACT and see the key terms: ETAPACT.com (link in the comments) Let’s make investor-backed acquisitions clearer, faster, and fairer for everyone. 🚨 DISCLAIMER: PACT is not legal advice. Searchers must engage experienced SMB M&A counsel to review and tailor these documents to their deal.

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Culture isn’t something that just appears — it’s something you shape with intention. In his interview on The Greatness Machine, Dr. Geoff Smart, chairman and founder of ghSMART, explains how entrepreneurs can align their company culture with their core values by being deliberate about the way they hire, set expectations, reward behavior, train teams, and design internal systems. When leaders take the time to define what they stand for and ensure that every part of the business reflects those values, culture becomes a powerful force for growth and alignment. Don’t miss this insightful episode — check it out now!

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What does it look like when lived experience meets deep technical expertise? You get founders like David Gory Jr, M.S., MBA., Richard Mariita, MSc., Ph.D., MBA Candidate and Ejike K - Opurum, Ph.D.. David and his co-founder Richard Mariita, MSc., Ph.D., MBA Candidate were both among the 2.3 billion people globally who lack access to clean water. That experience didn't just motivate them - it shaped how they think about infrastructure. At Airbuild Inc, they're not just treating wastewater. They're rethinking what infrastructure should do. Their Biopods use algae to: → Treat polluted water to EPA standards → Sequester carbon permanently as biochar → Boost solar panel efficiency by 12% One modular system. Triple impact. In two weeks, their first full deployment goes live in Green River, Utah!!! They've already secured: • $3.2M carbon offtake agreement • $37.5M in municipal letters of intent • 6 cities ready to deploy But here's what excites me most: David understands something many founders miss. Cities aren't looking for "sustainability" as an add-on. They need solutions that work better AND cost less. They need infrastructure that pays for itself. Airbuild Inc delivers that. And cities are lining up because of it! Doing well by doing good! This is what climate infrastructure looks like when it's built by people who've lived the problem. Proud to support David, Ejike, John William Bucur, Richard Mariita, MSc., Ph.D., MBA Candidate and the Air Build team. If you're working on water, climate, or infrastructure solutions — follow their journey. #ClimateInfrastructure #ImpactInvesting #CleanTech

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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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What kind of founders join the Praxis Accelerator? We’re looking for founders who are building redemptive ventures—and want to do it in community. Praxis Fellows are typically: + Serious Christians + Humble and ambitious + Working full-time on their venture + Seeking accountable, values-aligned community These founders are leading ventures that are: + Early-stage, but gaining traction + Innovative in model or mission + Built for scale + Aimed at addressing major issues of our time Know a founder building in this way?  Nominate a Fellow for our 2026 US Business or Nonprofit Accelerator—or consider applying when applications open on July 14th. Let’s build together. Nominate a Fellow: https://lnkd.in/e3DcnRZW Learn more about our Accelerators: https://lnkd.in/eyqpX8yq

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At Brightstar Capital Partners, we believe success begins with strong relationships built on trust, alignment, and a shared vision to help great businesses grow. While capital is essential, we focus on building long-term partnerships built through hands-on experience and a commitment to lasting value. Our investment evaluation process is grounded in sectors we know deeply. We focus on cash-flowing businesses where we see an opportunity to optimize operations and foster ownership culture, helping to grow the company better than it could on its own. Ultimately, we judge success by a simple question. Five or 10 years after we exit, if someone calls a founder or partner we’ve worked with and asks, “Should I work with Brightstar?” I want the answer to be yes. That is our definition of real value creation.

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Fundraising? Nail Your “Use of Funds” Story Many founders fumble here: They raise $500k but can’t explain exactly how they’ll use it. Investors want to know: ✅ How much will go to growth? ✅ How much for product development? ✅ What milestones will this funding unlock? Your “use of funds” isn’t just a slide in your deck. It’s a reflection of your priorities and execution plan. Clarity here = confidence from investors. Before you pitch, ask yourself: “Can I explain exactly how every dollar raised will drive us forward?” Founders, how did you allocate your last funding round? Let’s learn from each other. #FinArchitect #InvestorReady #StartupFunding #FounderTips #VCInsights

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