Introduction:
Marilyn Nicholas is the founder Managing Partner at Cross Culture Ventures (CCV), where he guide the CCV to identify the game -changing businessmen who are creating next generation companies. Marilyn attracted to its unique professional background to focus on global trends and consumer behavior changes to capture high professional investors.
Prior to the co -founder CCV, Marilyn was the director of investment in Intel Capital, where he completed his Kaf Main Fellowship. He has worked with several startups, invested in Minon, Gamel Media, Bluetty, Aerospace Technologies, Kodoris, and many other companies.
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Question and Answer:
What is your / your fund’s mission?
In cross -culture ventures we adopt a themes of investment that we have developed ‘cultural investment’ – which has the impact of global popular culture and the impact of consumer behavior on technology and innovation. In this way we observe the behavior of consumers and invest in types of products and services that are in line with emerging trends. For example, we have noted that in thousands of years, flexibility, over -the -control, transparency, and immediate satisfaction are valued so that an investment in a company that allows consumers to complete a short and 100 % transparent purchase process through a mobile application allows us to capture a specific vehicle without any time. In this way, we have invested fairly and our dissertation has proved to be true at this point.
When did you start your current fund?
We began investing in our opening fund, cross -culture ventures I in April 2015. We conducted some of the final shutdown in February 2017. To date, we have invested about 30 of this fund in companies and will add 10 to 15 more.
What is the one thing you are passionate about right now?
The combination of technology and healthcare is an area I am paying closely on. Health care in this country has been breaking for a long time and is in dire need of disruption. I am attracted to the solutions that serve the majority of the population, reduce the cost and wait for time, and remove the defects. In our portfolio, three companies are addressing it from different angles. (Check out Ready respondentsFor, for, for,. Fire Fly HealthAnd Keen,
Who is your founder you think we should see?
This is a problem because in our portfolio we have many terrific founders. Successful Repeat Founders such as Scott Permanent (Festival), Justin Denjeel (Ready respondents), Gunar Lolis (The market of development) And Nick Balakova (Airspace Technologies) Impressively for the first time founder like Matt Labor (Jamelot Media), Morgan Debon (Bliss), Travis Holve (Solo funds), Delin Parnell (Playwe), Charles King (Macro), Landrio Robinson (Henjato) And much. I honestly believe that you should see them all and their companies. If I have to highlight someone, I would say that Chris Bennett and his team pay close attention very closely Wonderschool. Only last week, he announced the M -20 million series A, led by Anderson Horwitz, and was monitored only one year after his series seeds, which we had previously led by the capital of the round. In a very short time, they have opened 140+ preschools/day careers on the east and west beaches. The Wonders School is solving an important problem in children’s care/education and is doing this on both sides of the market.
What are the 3 high qualities of every great leader?
1. The balance of trust and humility
2. Sympathy
3. The courage and integrity to see your vision.
I will throw in a fourth, which is flexible that has the ability to adjust and replace the final goal as the ability to achieve.
What was your first investment? And when?
My first investment in cross -culture was in April 2015 and was in the designated company MionineA mobile -based distribution platform for hairstylists. I was attracted to this company because it was solving a huge problem for diverse stylists – failure to buy inventory or earn product income. I am very familiar with this challenge because my mother has run my salon in Mount Vernon, New York because I was a teenager. In the cross -culture, we emphasize the founders of the companies that we return. In this case, Deshan Amir was the best founder based on living experiences and skills. He grew around several hair stylists, who looked at him deeply on the issue. He lived in Asia, first taught English and eventually joined the import/export business. Most hair products are obtained from Asia so it has provided incredible benefits to the Desh. He also knew his powers and weaknesses and was not afraid to bring talented people to fill his gap.
What do you ask yourself before investing in a company?
Do I believe this founder/team? Are they the right group to create a big business that indicates this challenge/opportunity and wins the market?
What is one thing to each founder before walking in a meeting with a potential investor?
Are we the best team to solve this challenge and is our point of view really novel and different? In other words, why will we win?
What should you do in CEO’s Top 3 company’s preferences?
1. Create a strong and good company culture
2. The focus of madness on the unit economy and growth
3. Keep consumer requirements/ wishes and solid understanding of competitive landscape
Favorite Business Book or Podcast?
Alchemist Paulo Quelho is my favorite business book. It reminds me that the journey is often more important than what you learn in your way. It also highlights that the goals change and that is fine.
What is your favorite thing when you’re not working?
Watching movies, I am a huge bandage. I also like to exercise and play basketball. All three activities relax me in different ways.
Who is a leader you appreciate?
I appreciate Barack Obama, guided grace and maintained his composer in a highly tried presidency. He never made an excuse and is not always owned by his short works. Such a great role model and a successful president. I am also very impressed with the work that Labon James is excluding from the court. I Promise School There is a great move!
What is a piece of advice to every founder of you?
Construction and execution! Everyone has an opinion, including investors, but traction/matrix/number facts. Contrary to opinion, it is better to engage in the facts concentrated.
Last words ..
To continue interesting things Cross Culture Ventures And our portfolio companies are following us on Twitter @Cross Clotorio C Or follow yourself marloncnichols
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