Adam Nathan

ICYMI: ~80% of Trustible's $4.6M Seed Series fundraising round includes VCs and angel investors based in the #WashingtonDC area. The D.C. area is the nation’s third-best city for tech (https://lnkd.in/gbSUKNZw) ��� with 1,000+ startups and a 24 % rise in tech jobs since 2019—all supported by some of the highest average tech salaries in the world. It also boasts the nation’s deepest cybersecurity talent pool—roughly 3.5× the U.S. average— the densest concentration of federally funded R&D, and nearly a dozen top-ranked universities. Our region’s strengths translate directly into an opportunity for Trustible: we can build at the intersection of policy and tech, proving that the next generation of responsible AI leaders will come from a place that understands that governance and innovation are two sides of the same coin. Being headquartered in the DMV area means we can be at the center of emerging policy and innovation, and take advantage of the enormous talent pool with deep technical expertise and commitment to public benefit grown across the region. Our sincere thank you to to Technical.ly for the Exclusive and for sharing our story about our commitment to building locally in the DMV! 📰 Read More: https://lnkd.in/eSyF4di3

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Feeling motivated after a couple days in Redmond for Microsoft's Climate Innovation Summit — a few takeaways: -Policy + macro headwinds remain real, and are creating uncertainty. -Microsoft is leaning in: catalyzing decarbonization through procurement strategies that create real demand signals, in addition to investments — and crucially, continuing to talk publicly about what’s possible. -Coalitions matter: deploying new tech inside large organizations requires collaboration across internal teams and external suppliers. -It’s “when,” not “if” for technologies required for deep decarbonization (like geothermal, green fuels) — but avoiding decades-long adoption curves (like solar PV) depends on investing and procuring now. -AI as a vanguard: data centers are both a source of load growth and a testbed for decarbonization playbooks that other industries can follow. Big thanks to Brandon Middaugh and the Microsoft Climate Innovation Fund team team for a great event!

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Excited to share that we have closed RA Capital’s $120M Planetary Health Fund. We are bringing RA Capital’s evidence-based, returns-driven approach to companies addressing urgent planetary challenges. Planetary Health is about people, planet, and profits. What sets us apart: • Deep technical and market diligence • Precision capital deployment based on proprietary research • Active support across technology, regulatory strategy, hiring, and scale-up • Focus on market readiness over momentum or funding rounds • Portfolio companies are commercially viable and not reliant on policy tailwinds Our expanding portfolio includes companies like Sortera Technologies (AI-powered metal recycling), AM Batteries (advanced battery manufacturing), and several exciting companies still in stealth. Each is built on strong fundamentals, with clear paths to impact and profitability. Proud to rejoin Kyle Teamey and partner with the RA Capital Management team to help build enduring, high-performing businesses that create both strong returns and lasting impact. The opportunity is real. The timing is right. Let’s build. https://lnkd.in/guU6hktt

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For states making funding decisions or programs trying to demonstrate their impact, better benchmarks help everyone build stronger systems. TIME is pulling together a ranking of America's Top Incubators & Accelerators. The survey is open now. More details are outlined by EcoMap Technologies, Inc. below.

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I recently spoke on MONEYFM 89.3 on what we do at Catalytic Capital for Climate and Health (C3H). Have a listen here: https://lnkd.in/gWuRtbEf - 3 quick take-aways: 👨‍⚕️ The thematics of Climate and Health are very deeply interconnected; rising global temperatures affect all of us. As a simple example, rising heat stress can cause more deaths and illness among vulnerable communities.🌡️ 💵 Catalytic capital is investment capital that is more risk-tolerant, and patient. It is traditionally viewed as a bridge between philanthropy and venture capital, although in practice there are overlaps at both ends of this spectrum. A longer-term view matters, especially for impactful solutions that may take a longer time to scale. 🗻 🌍 At C3H, we look for a scalable product or solution with some demonstrated traction, that has tangible and measurable impact. Of course, the basic building blocks also need to be in place: an awesome team, a viable product, and a blueprint to scale impact and to grow into being financially sustainable. 🪴 Together, we can work to profile and scale innovative solutions that have tangible, measurable impact on our planet. Eugene Tan Leslie Lau Akhil Khurana Xin Wei Wong Jaymin Koh #C3H #catalyticcapital #TemasekTrust

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🚀 Mazlo Raises $4.5M Seed Round to Empower Nonprofits San Francisco–based Mazlo, a fintech startup simplifying fiscal sponsorship and nonprofit financial management, has secured $4.5 million in seed funding. The round was backed by Westbound Equity Partners, Super{set}, Social Good Fund, a16z speedrun, and a network of friends, family, and advisors including Charles Oppenheimer and Chef Dunny. Led by CEO Kian Alavi and CPO Sean Anderson, Mazlo delivers an intuitive platform that: ✅ Centralizes grant management ✅ Ensures compliance & real-time financial visibility ✅ Simplifies accounting and spending controls This funding will accelerate product development and operational growth, helping more fiscal sponsors and nonprofits streamline finances and focus on their mission. 💡 Mazlo is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services are provided by Regent Bank, Member FDIC. Chad Haynes - Engineering Leader Lauren Chianese - Customer Success Manager | Onboarding Specialist | Project Manager Stephanie Castro  - Operations @ Mazlo | Compliance-Driven Banking for Nonprofits | Building Systems that Serve People and Purpose #Mazlo #Fintech #Nonprofits #FiscalSponsorship #SeedFunding #StartupGrowth #ImpactTech #SocialGood #FinancialManagement #a16z #FundingNews #SanFranciscoStartups

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Laura had zero climate experience. She'd spent her career in hospitality, most notably building a 3,000-person ambassador community at Airbnb. She wrote a guide on building ambassador programs for climate companies. One piece. Published it on a Tuesday. By that afternoon, three companies had booked calls. Not because she had credentials. Because she was visibly useful to a specific audience before they hired her. This is what we call a "Challenge" at Climate Drift. It's not about showing off. It's about solving a real problem for the people you want to work with, in public. I broke down the entire framework: the three types of Challenges, how to find your angle, and 7 examples of people who used this to land climate roles. Full piece here: https://lnkd.in/eZA_RiPC #ClimateJobs #CareerPivot #AmbassadorMarketing #ClimateTech #JobSearchTips

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To empower early stage startups, DigitalOcean and Techstars announce a new partnership. Details in the post below and the DigitalOcean link in the comments.

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Grateful to see this ecosystem-wide framing from Christopher Wink and Technical.ly, and honored that the Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center’s research contributed to this year’s analysis. What stands out most is the intentional shift away from “who has the most unicorns” toward a far more meaningful measure of progress: which regions are building the capacity to help more people turn ideas into companies, repeatedly and sustainably. That lens feels especially timely as tech advancements, workforce alignment, and industrial policy increasingly shape local economic outcomes. Congratulations to Pittsburgh on being named Entrepreneurial Ecosystem of the Year, and to the many regions highlighted that demonstrate how momentum is being built across ecosystems of all sizes. This is exactly the kind of narrative the field needs right now on advancing the Innovation Economy for All! [Learn more on our research here: https://bit.ly/3LDp5kR]

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Fundraising is usually judged by one thing: the outcome. Did you raise a round or not? That makes sense. But it’s also an incomplete way to think about it… The fundraising process itself can be incredibly valuable — if you treat it that way. That's because going through a raise forces a level of clarity that’s hard to manufacture otherwise. When you’re explaining your business to investors over and over again, weaknesses in your business can surface really fast. Metrics you’ve been glossing over suddenly really matter. Gaps in your strategy become very obvious. It can be incredibly uncomfortable, but it’s also really useful. Going through this process can also sharpen your story. After having enough conversations, you learn what actually resonates and what doesn’t. You get better at explaining why your company exists and why it matters now. That narrative doesn’t just help with fundraising — it'll carry into your sales, hiring, and board conversations. And the feedback matters. Every conversation is a data point. Founders who pay attention and take the feedback to heart will come out of a fundraise much stronger. Fundraising can feel painful and distracting. But approached intentionally, it’s one of the most useful forcing functions a founder can go through. I wrote more about this on the Unusual blog for founders who are fundraising (or thinking about it):  https://lnkd.in/euUcXgKa

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More great insights from Montauk Capital and Evan Caron on the extraordinary risks, and opportunities, at the intersection of energy and the real estate industry.

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"We actually found a cure for homelessness. And it's part that we're working with through our chief philanthropy officer." - The HumaTek team—Tommy (CEO), Daniel (CMO), Michael (CSO), and Ruhul (CTO) What if homelessness could actually be cured instead of just managed? The HumaTek team reveals their breakthrough system that goes beyond traditional homeless solutions - hear how they're putting their money where their mouth is. Full episode: https://lnkd.in/gkwkkYpN

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🚨Opprtunity Alert 🚨 Does your business need funding? Check out this great list of May funding opportunities from Camelback Ventures.

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Launching a nonprofit VC fund in an region of the country where there's little to no VC or private capital available to founders sounded like a no brainer at the time... But... what we found out is that trying to get donations to fund the fund was not to be. "Why would I donate when I could invest in the fund and get a return? What you do with your portion of the profits it up to you. I love the mission behind this, but the economics doesn't work for me." They weren't wrong, we were! Turns out that a fund management firm or even an RIA can be set up as a nonprofit. The fund itself can be a for profit entity that the nonprofit manages for fees and carry. Lesson learned the hard way but working on a remedy as we speak 5/3 Fund

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New blog out for Pave Health Ventures! If you’re a startup tackling health-related challenges, take a closer look at the intersection of two massive, fast-growing industries: Consumer Health & Wellness and Traditional Healthcare. You might be pleasantly surprised. The opportunity is bigger (and closer) than you think. Read the full blog + subscribe to our Substack for more insights at the intersection of wellness and healthcare: https://lnkd.in/gJ2T6WBK

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New partnership alert!! Excited to announce that Black Flag is partnering with xAI to give founders free credits and direct access to Grok - xAI’s family of powerful, multi-modal, real-time models. Across essentially any end product you're applying to Black Flag with, Grok will deliver: - Deep reasoning across text, code, and context - Faster inference and improved function calling - CUI: Secretary of War Pete Hegseth just announced that Grok is being adopted for handling Controlled Unclassified Information If you're building in critical technology areas important to the West - space, energy, autonomy, cyber - the next generation of secure software will be built with Grok and you can now get a head start through Black Flag. Only 18 days left to apply to Black Flag’s January batch - apply at the link in the comments!

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More than $2.5 million in total funding from Rare Impact Fund Nonprofit organizations working on youth mental health: Apply to the Rare Impact Fund Youth Mental Health Workforce Grant by 10 April 2026. 🌍 About the opportunity The Rare Impact Fund , founded by Selena Gomez , is launching its first public Request for Proposals (RFP) to strengthen the nonclinical youth mental health workforce. The fund aims to expand access to mental health services for young people globally by supporting organizations that train and support professionals working outside traditional clinical settings. More than $2.5 million in total funding will be awarded through this grant cycle. 💰 Funding • Grant size: $250,000 – $500,000 • Total funding available: $2.5M+ • Includes a $500,000 contribution from the Enlight Foundation 🎯 What they are funding Projects that strengthen the nonclinical youth mental health workforce, including initiatives focused on: • Recruitment of youth mental health support providers • Training and professional development • Workforce retention and sustainability • Programs supporting youth outside traditional clinical settings Examples of supported roles may include: • Community mental health workers • Peer supporters • School-based support staff • Youth mentors and counselors 🌎 Eligible regions Global (nonprofit organizations) 📅 Key date • Letters of Intent deadline: 10 April 2026 Selected organizations will be invited to submit full proposals after the LOI stage. Preparing a Strong Application At TechField Africa, we work closely with impact-driven organisations and high-growth ventures across Africa and emerging markets to strengthen their funding readiness, strategic positioning, and growth potential. Over the years, we have supported teams preparing for grant opportunities, funding programs, and strategic partnerships, helping them present their work in a clear, structured, and compelling way. Our support includes: • Structuring Expressions of Interest (EOIs) • Full proposal development • Grant writing and technical documentation • Financial modelling and co-financing structuring Our work is focused on serious, impact-driven organisations that already demonstrate traction, revenue potential, and measurable results. If your organisation is preparing to apply for a funding opportunity and would like to submit a strong and competitive application, we would be happy to explore how we can support. You can schedule a conversation with our team here: https://lnkd.in/d2tqeBCR Kindly note that professional terms, fees, and engagement conditions apply.

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💰 VC vs. DFI vs. Impact Fund vs. Private Equity—What’s the Difference? One of the biggest mistakes I see? Founders and nonprofits pitching to every funder they see—without understanding who’s a good fit. That’s a mistake. Funding strategy = Alignment strategy. Here’s a simple breakdown to help you choose wisely: 🔹 Venture Capital (VC) – Funds: High-growth, early-stage startups – Wants: Big exits (10x+ return), scalability, fast growth – Examples: Future Africa, LAUNCH Africa, Microtraction 🔹 Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) – Funds: Large, impact-driven projects (infrastructure, healthcare systems, etc.) – Wants: Social + economic development outcomes + modest ROI – Examples: IFC - International Finance Corporation, African Development Bank Group , British International Investment (BII) 🔹 Impact Funds – Funds: Startups solving urgent social/environmental problems – Wants: Measurable impact and financial return – Examples: Acumen, BlueOrchard Finance Ltd, EchoVC Partners 🔹 Private Equity (PE) – Funds: Mature businesses needing growth or restructuring capital – Wants: Profitability, expansion, operational efficiency – Examples: Helios Digital Ventures, Actis, AfricInvest Group ✅ If you're building a solution in Africa, here’s a quick cheat: MVP stage + high risk → Impact Funds Fast growth, VC-ready → VCs Big infrastructure/scale plays → DFIs Cash-flow positive + mature → Private Equity 📌 Lesson? Your best funder isn’t the biggest one. It’s the one whose mission, risk appetite, and return expectations match your stage. 🚨 I’m building something powerful: The largest searchable database of African funders—across grants, DFIs, VC, impact capital, pitch competitions, and more. Want early access? Comment “Yes” or DM me to join the early access list. Let’s help African startups and nonprofits fund what truly matters—with clarity, not guesswork. #FundraisingStrategy #ImpactFunding #VCFunding #DFI #HealthTechAfrica #AfricanStartups #NonprofitLeadership #FunderFit #CapitalAccess #GrantsAfrica #FundersDatabase #SocialImpact

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I've consulted with a few economic development entities around spinning up an accelerator. My first piece of advice is usually "don't do it" because there are other things that need to happen before such a program can be effective, like developing an engaged and active local angel network that actually writes checks consistently. First step is usually a lower lift, like pitch competitions and meetups. If you've already received the mandate to establish an accelerator, I suggest the following: 1. Consider an incubator instead. A time-bound, cohort-based model (accelerator) has its benefits in terms of program experience, but doesn't necessarily result in better outcomes for the local economy. Incubators are more flexible and can enable more customizable experience for each company. 2. The entity running the program should be non-profit. Accelerators/incubators, if run properly, are loss leaders and require subsidies. However, there should be a for-profit fund attached to it, the purpose of which is to fund the top quartile/decile coming out of the incubator. 3. Develop a shared support services program within the incubator, but available (at a cost) for any company operating in your area of interest. Think of it like AAA for back office business services (accounting, basic legal, payroll, financial modeling, graphic design, social media management, virtual assistants, etc.). The purpose is not only to give discounted services to these companies, but actually shoulder some of the admin burden so they can focus on customer and product development. See startupok.org for an example. 4. Last, but not least, start with customer demand first, using a reverse incubator model. This likely means working with the local chamber of commerce (for B2B companies) and community organizations (for B2C companies) to identify unmet needs and quantify demand. Otherwise you'll spend too much time and resources attracting companies to come to your town/city/state for your program, who then have to move away because there aren't enough customers, investors, or local talent with the necessary skills to keep them there. The exception is companies that build physical products, who need a different set of incentives (logistics hubs, cheap power, sufficient labor pool, physical space, etc.).

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