iiM | Early Stage Investing: Recent Episodes

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innovation in Motion (iiM) is an early-stage investment firm that employs a disciplined approach to identifying, funding, and curating early-stage companies. Learn more about our investment platform in the agriculture, animal health, and human health sectors.

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In this episode, iiM Managing Director Lydia Kinkade and Managing Member Lee Harris discuss constructing a diversified portfolio of early-stage company investments. Topics discussed include:

  1. Managing risk
  2. Utilizing dollar cost averaging
  3. Domain expertise
  4. Deep due diligence
  5. Laddering the duration of holding periods through anticipated exits

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In this episode, iiM Managing Director Lydia Kinkade speaks with Managing Member Lee Harris about follow-on investing. Topics discussed include: 

  1. Is the first check the best check?
  2. How much should you reserve for follow-on investing?
  3. What can founders do to cultivate healthy relationships with investors?

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On this episode, iiM Managing Director Lydia Kinkade talks to Managing Member Lee Harris about messy capitalization tables (cap tables) and stock options.

The discussion includes: 

  • How messy cap tables can hinder early-stage investing.
  • What constitutes a "messy cap table."
  • How to use stock options to the company's benefit.
  • How to use stock options to benefit team members and the company.

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In this episode, iiM Managing Director Lydia Kincaid and Lee Harris, president and CEO of Cohen Esrey discuss how to balance portfolios in this trying economy. 

They discuss: 

  • Burn rate
  • Managing multiple verticals
  • How to ensure a company is financially sound

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In this episode, iiM Managing Director Lydia Kinkade and Cohen Esrey President and Chief Executive Officer Lee Harris talk to Cohen Esrey Chief Technology Officer Mark Fletcher about how startups can utilize new technology. In this episode, Mark talks about tools like Chat GPT and how to sanity-check the product of these new tools. 

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In today's episode, Lydia speaks with Centese CEO and Co-founder Evan Luxon. Evan shares his experience in early-stage medtech companies and the origins of Centese. Lydia and Evan also discuss if a company should be a lifestyle or venture business. 

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In this episode Lee and Lydia discuss the criteria that iiM uses to select investments. They also share what founders should consider when deciding if venture capital is the best fit for their company. 

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In this episode Lydia and Lee discuss why investors would want to choose early stage investments. Lee goes in detail about iiM's due diligence process.  

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In this episode Lydia and Lee discuss how to determine if Venture Capital Dollars are the best fit for your business. They discuss what investors look for and the type of accountability investors expect. 

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In this episode Lydia and Lee discuss how to make the most of your portfolio. 

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In this episode Lee and Lydia make a compelling case for investing in early stage companies. 

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Lee and Lydia discuss how to start a business in a troubled market. 

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Lee and Lydia discuss the history of Cohen-Esrey.

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Lee and Lydia discuss various exit strategies.

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Lee and Lydia discuss the current market climate from an investor perspective.

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Lee Harris and Lydia Kinkade discuss various pitfalls during the investor pitch. 

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Lee Harris and Lydia Kinkade discuss the state of the market in the venture capital industry.

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Lydia and Lee discuss relationships between founder and investor.

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Lee Harris and Lydia Kinkade discuss return expectations and structuring a fund

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Lee Harris and Lydia Kinkade discuss building a portfolio

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Lee Harris and Lydia Kinkade How to source, screen, and select investments

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Lydia and Lee discuss why startups fail - Part 2.

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Lydia and Lee discuss why startups fail.

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Lydia visits with Casey Niemann and Jerrod Westfahl, the cofounders of AgriSync, one of iiM's portfolio companies to discuss their journey.

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Lydia and Lee describe the investor due diligence process and provides tips for preparation.

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Lee Harris and Lydia Kinkade review best practices for giving the best pitch.

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Lydia Kinkade, Managing Director of iiM, along with Lee Harris, President and CEO, break down the pieces of early stage investing.

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innovation in Motion (iiM) is an early-stage investment firm that employs a disciplined approach to identifying, funding, and curating early-stage companies. Learn more about our investment platform in the agriculture, animal health, and human health sectors.