NY Venture Community

NYVC is a 16K person community dedicated to helping innovators be more successful. Founded by @mpd.

[Mark Peter Davis @mpd]

Y Combinator has long been - and continues to be - the tip of the innovation spear. That's why I was especially excited to sit down with @garrytan, President & CEO of @ycombinator, for a conversation that gets right to the core of what’s changing across the startup landscape.

At @interplay, I've spent years working alongside entrepreneurs who are laser-focused on building, scaling, and making a lasting impact. Over that time, I've seen countless trends come and go - but when a true seismic shift hits, like the one we’re seeing with AI today, it’s critical to step back and understand the bigger picture.

Garry and I dove deep into why vertical SaaS and AI-native startups are poised to drive the next wave of innovation, how lean, AI-augmented teams are rewriting the rules of company building, and why real traction still comes down to solving tangible user problems. We also explored the geographic shifts reshaping where startups thrive, the current realities of AI adoption, and what it truly takes to build a product the world actually wants. It’s a great, timely conversation.

A special thanks to Garry for joining us and sharing his insights.

[Mark Peter Davis @mpd]

Today is a special day. Wendy - the story-building toolbox where kids create, collaborate, and expand their own story worlds - is officially available on iPad.

Wendy was born out our @Interplay Foundry and is now live as a result of the tireless work by Lance Neuhauser and the rest of the Wendy team. What they've created is nothing short of amazing. Congrats on this incredible milestone.

The best part? Wendy doesn’t just entertain - it inspires a love for reading via a healthy, creative screen time alternative that can compete with the likes of videos and video games.

Why Wendy?

✅ Healthy screen-time alternative parents can feel good about
✅ Certified kidSAFE, with a 5-Star rating from Education App Store
✅ Create, share and reuse characters with friends again and again
✅ Build, read and listen to unlimited stories

If you know a young storyteller (or a parent looking for a creative and engaging, screen-time alternative), check out Wendy. Download it here: https://t.co/Vs6dQmj396

#WendyApp #StorytellingForKids #CreativeScreenTime #NowLive #StoryBuilding #StoryToolbox

[Mark Peter Davis @mpd]

The time of year for reflection is upon us, so in this week’s episode the team and I review our 2024 predictions and dive into bold forecasts for 2025. From the impact of geopolitical shifts to the state of venture capital and global deglobalization trends, we explore what lies ahead for technology, startups, and markets. We cover key trends like AI's application layer boom, the rise of humanoid robots in the workforce, the evolving IPO market, and much more.

What do you think is going to happen in 2025??

https://t.co/CZyjxL1wc1

[Mark Peter Davis @mpd]

What if I told you there’s a way to make reading as entertaining and interactive as video games and social media?

Wendy - an innovative new app that’s transforming how kids engage with stories - is doing just that. They’re creating a platform to compete in today’s captivating, fast-paced media landscape, and on this week’s ep I chat with Lance Neuhauser - Wendy’s Founder & CEO - all about their mission.

If you’re a parent wanting a fresh approach to getting your child excited about reading, this episode is a must-listen and Wendy is a must-try.

During our conversation, Lance shares how Wendy empowers kids to create their own worlds, select characters, and shape unique adventures—encouraging a love for reading by making it fun, immersive, and personalized. In an age when screen time often feels like the enemy of education, Wendy brings the best of both worlds, helping kids rediscover reading in a way that’s safe, engaging, and socially connected.

Parents will appreciate how Wendy is built with children’s development in mind, thanks to insights from educators, authors, and psychologists. As you might suspect, building a platform like that is no easy feat. We chat all about the significant challenges and strategies in building an app that safeguards kids’ online experiences, respects intellectual property, and offers educational benefits. By bridging the gap between entertainment and literacy, Wendy isn’t just an app; it’s a tool that turns screen time into story time, fueling imagination and learning.

Coming out of our Interplay Foundry, I’ve been fortunate to get a front row seat to see Wendy’s amazing growth over the past year so it was quite exciting to record and share this episode. I hope you enjoy.

https://t.co/OGDc2eSCUY

[Mark Peter Davis @mpd]

Determining how much capital a startup should raise during each funding round is hard. On this week's pod ep, Phuong Ireland and I break down the tools and methodologies that founders and VCs use to calculate the right number.

If you’re a founder looking to navigate the fundraising landscape with confidence, this episode is a must watch.

We cover key fundraising strategies, including aligning milestones with investor expectations, avoiding common pitfalls like over-dilution and the importance of creating a detailed operating model.

Listen/watch here: https://t.co/jdiCfJrjQf

[Mark Peter Davis @mpd]

In today's digital age, small businesses face numerous challenges, one of the most pressing being fraud. With technology evolving rapidly, so too do the tactics employed by fraudsters. Despite this being a serious issue, the tools to help startups have been limited. Enter BizDefender @bizdefendertech).

BizDefender offers a suite of services tailored specifically for small businesses to protect their company. This is a clip from my recent podcast convo with BizDefender's Founder and CEO Patrick Butler.

If interested, here's the link to check out the full convo: https://t.co/3S8LPIuRMX

And here's the link to check out BizDefender: https://t.co/tREz7JyPxE

[Mark Peter Davis @mpd]

To kick off a new season of the pod, I sat down with Patrick Butler, Founder CEO of BizDefender. Patrick, a seasoned founder with deep technical expertise, discusses his latest venture, BizDefender, a company co-founded and developed in @interplay's foundry.

BizDefender addresses the growing epidemic of fraud targeting small and medium-sized businesses. The conversation delves into the various types of business fraud, including hacking, social engineering, and brand spoofing. Patrick explains how BizDefender is stepping up with a simple, accessible solution, including a free-tier product, to help businesses monitor and mitigate these fraud risks, which are often invisible yet devastating. Small businesses are particularly vulnerable to fraud, with median losses that could cripple many companies. BizDefender aims to provide a much-needed defense, offering tools to monitor dark web activity, protect against phishing attacks, and offer human support to navigate the complex landscape of fraud prevention.

Check out the pod and give BizDefender a shot to see how it can help your company stay safe at https://t.co/rEDLY0MnkE.

https://t.co/3S8LPIujXp

[Mark Peter Davis @mpd]

For this week's podcast episode - the last one before the pod takes a summer break - my colleague @Mikeyjrog joins me to discuss Apple's latest updates + AI announcement.

Additionally, we touch on the implications of growth round pay-to-play dynamics in the early-stage market.
https://t.co/haUgGS40fc

[Mark Peter Davis @mpd]

This week's podcast is playing a segment from our Annual Investor Meeting. We hosted a panel where
@Mikeyjrog and I talked to two strong founders from our portfolio, @toddsaunders, the co-founder and CEO of
@Broadlume, and Chetan Narain, the co-founder and CTO of @PeppereCommerce about how they think about vertical SaaS. If you're more inclined to read, Caroline Elliott provides a comprehensive summary on our blog.

Blog ✍️: https://t.co/0qadXBKIek

Podcast 📷:https://t.co/a6CxkrmiDq

[Interplay @interplay]

@interplay invests in founders who grasp their market and the right time to launch their product. @BestOfLuk, CEO of portfolio company @withPlenty , aligns her business with emerging trends in consumer fintech, shaping the next decade.
https://t.co/6RFV7WF4od

[Interplay @interplay]

Embracing a healthier start to the New Year! Excited to share insights from @JoinMonument's , Co-founder & CEO, Michael Russell, featured in @voguemagazine's article on the rising trend of "Dry January." 

https://t.co/vU00LtHTeA

[Mark Peter Davis @mpd]

For our last podcast of the year, I spoke with the Interplay Partners on their predictions for 2024... take a a listen. https://t.co/aVti0gxEt8

[Mark Peter Davis @mpd]

A Friday episode where Chris and I to dive into this week's Fed announcement and what that could mean for future markets.
https://t.co/aJb8unxZLM

[Mark Peter Davis @mpd]

Instead of our usual discussions, I'm excited to share some recent tech discoveries that have caught my attention. Has any app, book or software helped you level up this year?

https://t.co/4b3XAejkV4

[Interplay @interplay]

Today marks a significant milestone for Interplay as we proudly announce the closing of our third fund, securing $45M to focus on B2B marketplaces and vertical software.

A v special thanks to @ChristineMHall at @TechCrunch for covering the announcement! https://t.co/ZFeiUrx341

[Mark Peter Davis @mpd]

Mastering Pricing Strategy: Unveiling the Art of Business Positioning... the topic of this week's podcast.
A lot of useful information here for entrepreneurs.

https://t.co/djgcCnoTni

[Mark Peter Davis @mpd]

For anyone managing distributed teams, this week's pod is for you.

@adampnathan, Cofounder & CEO of @AlmanacDocs, joins me to share the secrets to making remote work more structured, efficient and effective.

Special thanks to Adam for sharing his wisdom. https://t.co/SLUgcH3tY3

[Mark Peter Davis @mpd]

Here's what's covered on this week's pod:
- Phuong shares some valuable insights on team construction and making the first hires for your startup.
- @Mikeyjrog and I discuss the current state of #AI, its challenges, and signs of the initial hype subsiding. https://t.co/gpdC1VHVhv

[Mark Peter Davis @mpd]

We cover two super helpful #startup/#founder topics in this week's pod ep.

1) A step by step guide on how to iterate MVPs.

2) A discussion on the importance of maintaining transparency, trust, and ethical practices in the portfolio/VC relationship. https://t.co/C2LUrGy7rL

[Mark Peter Davis @mpd]

This week's pod is a deep dive into venture debt w/ @Billy__Libby of @upper__90. Discover a new financing approach for startups that challenges equity focus and learn valuable insights on asset-based lending.

IMHO a must-listen for founders/entrepreneurs. https://t.co/LpOpelSr2m