The Yard Ventures Community Newsletter — July 2022
Content at the intersection of entrepreneurship, venture capital, and our Harvard community.
IN THIS ISSUE: Fund 7 open now, upcoming live discussion with The Yard’s team, our investment in Ghana-based mobile digital lender Fido, and more.
The Yard Ventures Fund 7 Open Now
We invite you to learn more about The Yard, at a live discussion for a fund overview or a 1×1 call with our team for specific questions. You can also click below to visit our secure portal to access all fund materials.
Meet The Yard Ventures Fund 7 Team
Wednesday, July 13, 3:30 PM ET
Join a live discussion with Managing Partner Michael Madden and our newest teammate, Principal Alex Attard-Manché (HBS ’20). Michael and Alex will review the current state of the VC market and their outlook on investing over the coming year and specific growth sectors. We’ll have plenty of time for questions and discussion around the benefits of diversifying into venture capital, as well as The Yard and Alumni Ventures’ unique model, investment strategy, and previous portfolios.
The Yard Portfolio Update
Fido (YV6) is a Ghana-based, fast-growing mobile digital lender focused on customers in Africa. Powered by machine learning, Fido makes small personal loans through instant credit decisions based solely on a user’s cell phone data. The Yard Ventures deployed capital in the company’s recently announced a $30 million round led by Israel-based private equity fund Fortissimo Capital. Fido plans to use this capital to add savings and payment products to its portfolio and expand to more regions across the continent.
The Yard Portfolio Companies in the News
- Benepass Awarded as Technology Pioneer by World Economic Forum (Yahoo! Finance)
- HawkEye 360 Adds Satellites to Geolocation Constellation (GPS World)
- Obligo and Wells Fargo Partner to Eliminate Security Deposits (PR Newswire)
- Pacaso Aims to Make Co-Ownership More Familial With UrbanSitter Deal (Inman)
FOR CURRENT INVESTORS
Thinking of becoming an investor? Access Materials »
Updates From Your Managing Partner
We invite existing investors to visit your Club portal for updates from Managing Partner Michael Madden and our team, including webinars and events, Syndications, portfolio news, and other exclusive content. Visit Club Portal »
Campus and Community Update
Lawrence S. Bacow, the 29th president of Harvard University, announced that he will step down on June 30, 2023. Read More »
What’s New at Alumni Ventures
Our Thoughts on the Venture Market
Like many of our peers, we believe we’re entering into a new part of the venture cycle. We’ve already seen a dramatic reset of public market valuations — with impacts also affecting the private markets. Read More »
AV Talent Referrals
Interested in joining a cutting-edge startup or know someone who might be? Our portfolio companies are growing and always looking for high-caliber talent. Check out their open positions on our job board. If you find a match, fill out this short form, and we will try to make a personal referral. Visit Job Board »
Contact [email protected] for additional information. To see additional risk factors and investment considerations, visit av-funds.com/disclosures.