Dispatches from the Road: Q3 2022
Our travel itineraries heated up this summer with dozens of trips to visit portfolio companies, co-investors, and entrepreneurial ecosystems. Below are a few highlights from the past three months on the road.
Where we went: Buffalo, NY 📍
What we did: Rise of the Rest Vice President, Andy Cloyd, headed to Buffalo for a Kangarootime board meeting following the software company’s $26M Series B. While there, he caught up with and got an impromptu hair consult from Buffalo-based ShearShare co-founders, Dr. Tye and Courtney Caldwell.
Where to go: Canalside for a stroll along the revitalized waterfront, Buffalo Theater District to catch a new flick in a classic venue, and Frank Lloyd Wright’s Martin House for a tour of an architectural treasure.
Where we went: Cincinnati, OH 📍
What we did: Revolution Ventures Managing Partner, Tige Savage, and Associate, Carl Leacock, landed in the Queen City to meet with the region’s startups, investors, and innovation catalyzers at the Cintrifuse Annual Meeting. On the agenda: discussions around attracting talent, partnering across the ecosystem, and leaning into regional strengths to reach the full potential of the Midwest’s innovation economy.
Where to go: Skyline Chili for a 3-Way (spaghetti topped with chili and cheese — don’t knock it till you try it), Great American Ballpark for a Reds game, and Graeter’s Ice Cream for a scoop of their signature black raspberry chocolate chip.
Where we went: Madison, WI📍
What we did: Rise of the Rest Vice President, Mahati Sridhar, judged finalists at the Pressure Chamber pitch competition during Madison’s Forward Fest (i.e., Wisconsin’s largest technology and entrepreneurship festival).
Where to go: One or all of Madison’s five lakes for your fix of water activities and waterfront dining, State Street for a scenic stroll street between the University of Wisconsin and the State Capitol, and The Old Fashioned for cheese curds, your choice of 50 local brews, and (naturally) an old fashioned.
Where we went: Los Angeles, CA📍
What we did: Revolution Growth Partner, Todd Klein, and Associate, Fifi Young, went west to the City of Angels to get a pulse on the latest in gaming, catch up with the Axiomatic portfolio, and see Team Liquid in action at a League of Legends match.
Where to go: Venice for canal strolling, vintage car spotting, and people watching, Sawtelle for a selection of Asian eats, and Melrose Trading Post for vintage finds.
Where we went: Burlington, VT📍
What we did: Rise of the Rest Senior Director of Strategy, Jamie Rodota, traveled north to the Green Mountain State for this September’s See Change Sessions — a climate action summit that brings together sustainability-minded and progress-oriented CEOs, marketers, artists, storytellers, entrepreneurs, and students.
Where to go: Hula Lakeside to catch up with the local startup community, Burlington Surf Club for paddle boarding or kayaking on Lake Champlain, and the next See Change Sessions on March 7–9.
Where we went: Tampa, FL📍
What we did: Rise of the Rest Senior Associate, Ayush Jain, returned to Tampa Bay to meet with founders building in proptech, healthtech, and insurtech, and to convene portfolio companies (Immertec, Haddy, and Harness) and regional investors (Florida Funders, Tech Square, and Atlanta Seed) over dinner and drinks.
Where to go: Sparkman Wharf for all of the al fresco options, Embarc Collective to co-work and catch up with the entrepreneurial ecosystem, and Fly Bar + Restaurant for “jazz-inspired” cocktails.
Where we went: Indianapolis, IN📍
What we did: Revolution Ventures Vice President, Alex Shtarkman, headed to the Hoosier state to meet with investors from across the nation and network with Indiana’s most promising startups at (Ind)Venture.
Where to go: City Market for a bite to eat (and the City Market Catacombs for a taste of the local history), White River State Park for a scenic walk along the canal, and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for some race day excitement or an on-track adrenaline rush of your own.
Where we went: Huntsville, AL📍
What we did: Rise of the Rest Real Estate Partner, Tom Danilek, grabbed a shovel and headed to the groundbreaking of the team’s newest investment, Anthem House — a $105 million project that will include 330 multifamily units and 67K square feet of retail and office space.
Where to go: The U.S. Space and Rocket Center to see how Rocket City earned its nickname, the new Orion Amphitheater for a live performance, and Burritt on the Mountain for unrivaled views.
