TechCrunch+ summary: Finding the right LPs, ocean conservation, in Uber’s pre-seed floor

Will your startup go public and capture a huge slice of your market, or will it be a hard-charging unicorn adding value?

Kitu Koluri, founder and managing director of Neotribe Ventures says, “If you can’t do product-market fit, there’s a third option that too many entrepreneurs and their investors overlook: selling.

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In this article aimed primarily at early stage founders, Kolluri shares a detailed framework with timelines to help determine when it’s time to look for a buyer or find the stars.

“How to choose? Although it is not an easy decision, it is not as difficult as you think. There are only two doors, value and growth.

Thanks for reading TC+ this week,

Walter Thompson
Editorial Manager, TechCrunch+
@your main actor

Emerging managers should ask 5 questions before selecting LPs

Before a new manager can start backing startups, they must first gain the trust of limited partners who are willing to bet on their investment.

“Each step increases the risk of redundancy, lost information or misunderstanding,” says Linda Greb, founder and managing partner of The Decision Making Ladder. Avestria Ventures.

Drawing from her own experience, Greb shares five questions emerging managers can use to “find investors who believe in you.

Making layoffs less: How to announce layoffs and retain high performers

Image Credits: Abu Hanifa (Opens in a new window) / Getty Images

Startups typically don’t have a deep bench of management talent, which means layoffs are often — a no-no. Normally – They are associated with lack of passion and poor communication.

More than once it has been my responsibility to look someone in the eye and tell them their job is out. The “best” training I’ve ever had? A 60-minute briefing with a consultant who told me I’d be fine if I stuck to the script.

Leslie Crowe, a talent partner at Bain Capital Ventures, says founders who develop a communications plan and “choose to be as generous as possible” can work well with former employees and gain the trust of those who remain.

“For better or for worse, you are in charge.” This may feel like one of the worst moments in your company’s trajectory, but your team will respect you when you take responsibility for additional hires or any missteps that led to this point.

Is ocean conservation the next climate technology? 7 investors explain why they all got in

Image Credits: Douglas Kluge (Opens in a new window) / Getty Images

Marine industries such as fishing and oil exploration are inherently manufacturing, but technological advances and increased environmental awareness have ushered in a new era.

“Founders and investors are beginning to look for opportunities to conserve and even improve the ocean’s resources rather than exploit them,” reports Tim de Chant.

He interviewed seven investors to explore some of the parallels between climate technology and ocean conservation technology, and to learn more about the opportunities they present.

• Tim Agnew, General Partner, Bold Ocean Ventures
• Peter Bryant, Program Director (Oceans), Builders Initiative and Kate Danaher, Managing Director (Oceans and Seafood), S2G Ventures
• Daniela V. Fernandez, Founder and CEO, Sustainable Ocean Alliance, Managing Partner, Seabird Ventures
• Rita Sosa, Partner, Faber Ventures
• Christian Lim, Managing Director, SWEN Blue Ocean Partners
• Reece Pacheco, Partner, Propeller

Pitch Deck Teardown: Uber’s $200k pre-seed deck from 2008

Image Credits: Uber (Opens in a new window)

The word “disturbing” gets thrown around so much, it loses much of its impact. But when Uber launched its service in San Francisco in 2011, it changed the way people get around.

Before the transportation giant reached today’s $69 billion market cap, its founders raised $200,000 in a pre-seed round in 2008 to prove their idea that “digital power will now make road ice unnecessary.”

Here is their first step:

• Cover slide
• Problem Slide (“Cabs in 2008”)
• The Solution Slide (“Digital Snow Could Now Make Road Snow Unnecessary”)
• The solution slide (“UberCab Concept”)
• Product Slide 1 (“1-Click Car Service”)
• Value Proposition Slide 1 (“Key Differences”)
• Mission (“Principles of Conduct”)
• How It Works Slide 1 (“UberCab Apps”)
• Slide 2 How It Works (“UberCab.com”)
• Slide Layout ( “Use Case” )
• Value Proposition Slide 2 (“User Benefits”)
• Value Proposition Slide 3 (“Environmental Benefits”)
• Product Slide 2 (“UberCab Fleet”)
• Go to Market Slide 1 (“First Service Area”)
• Technology Overview Slide (“Technology”)
• Competitive Advantage Slide (“Demand Forecasting”)
• Market Size Slide (“Total Market”)
• Market Segmentation Slide (“Market Composition”)
• Go to Market Slide 2 (“Target Cities”)
• Scenario Planning (“Possible Outcomes”)
• “Why now?” Slide( “Smartphones August 2008” )
• Roadmap Slide 1 (“Future Optimization”)
• Marketing Slides (“Marketing Ideas”)
• Roadmap Slide 2 (“Location Based Services”)
• Drag Slide (“Progress to Date”)

Dear Sophie: Domestic pilot program for H-1B and L visa stamps?

Image Credits: Bryce Durbin / TechCrunch

Dear Sophie,

I am in the US on an H-1B that my employer recently extended. However, I do not have an H-1B visa stamp in my passport because I switched from F-1 STEM OPT in the first place.

It’s been over three years since I visited my family in India and I want to do that now, but I’m worried about how long it will take to get my H-1B visa to come back to the US.

How long does it take to get an interview for an H-1B visa stamp? Am I eligible for a visa interview waiver? How do I get it? Can I make it from America this year?

– Hungry for home