Weekly Roundup: Google Maps Hacks 📌

Happy Friday, DVC! An article from The Verge recently highlighted "Thai Food Near Me" - a NY-based Thai restaurant using a clever name to improve its search rankings on Google Maps.

Anyone who's ever craved Pad Thai on Saturday night (or Monday at 10am honestly 🙋) can see the brilliance of this strategy. But with Halloween approaching, now I'm just hoping there's an "Emergency last-minute low-budget spooky costumes near me" with the same idea.

Weekly Poll:

This week in Lab Notes we discussed the importance of Unit Economic Analysis for any investment.

Time for a pop quiz... Choose an answer and see how you stack up next week!

What does the term "CLV" stand for?

1. Customers Love Value

2. Cost of Lifetime Variables

3. Customer Lifetime Value

4. Celebrate Little Victories

Last Week's Results:

Last week we asked you to define your thesis for investing in hot trends. 66% of you identified as "Rational Optimists" while the other 34% are "Certified Contrarians^TM". Let's pour one out for the AI Hypebeasts 😢

Vote for New Deals:

Help select DVC's future deals! Please view the options, upvote your favorites, and suggest your own!

New companies suggested this week:

• Advancing Eco Agriculture

Venture Pool #68 Summary

This Venture Pool wrapped with a stunning defeat for Loopie Laundry after raising just $50 of the $100 Wefunder minimum. While the rest of us do our own laundry this weekend, the Venture Pool participants will see their contributions refunded & processed to their payment source within 5 business days.

Despite high voting demand for Loopie, the deal carried too many unknowns for members to feel confident enough to invest. While Loopie has raised $4.2M+ from Angels/VCs, it's still unclear how many customers it has, how it will use its campaign funds, and how it plans to achieve profitability while simultaneously expanding nationwide.

Plus, beneath it all is the obvious red flag that the founder seems to be absent - having not responded to our Wefunder questions or direct outreach via email. We get that founders are busy, but communication is a key piece of raising from the crowd. Sadly, DVC is out!

Past Venture Pool Updates:

Read on for recent updates from past Venture Pools!

Airthium (VP #29) - Patents Filed!
Renewable power startup Airthium shared that after keeping its heat engine design top secret, it has finally filed for patent protections on its technology! See full update.

RAD AI (VP #9) - Updates on Updates:
In typical RAD fashion, the company has returned with a flurry of updates!

1. Its current Wefunder round has raised $1M+ and is now closing on November 3rd

2. The company will soon announce a new partnership with a major marketing company

3. RAD is holding an investor webinar with its CEO on November 1st at 1pm EST

Thanks for reading & participating! Have a great weekend and see you for a new deal next week!

Sincerely,

Team DVC