Crunchbase

Roughly 20% of new businesses fail during their 1st year, as per data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Recent research was able to shed some light on the biggest recent obstacles that have thwarted startups.
Skynova, which creates invoicing software for small businesses, surveyed 492 startup founders in Nov. 2022 and analyzed data from CB Insights for the new study. The purpose of this study was to compile the most widely-encountered reasons that caused startup failures in 2022.

1. Lack of financing or investors. About 47% of startup failures were due to a lack of financing, nearly 2X the percentage that went bust for the same reason in 2021.
2. Running out of funds was responsible for 44% of failures. While that can be the result of subpar financial planning, it can also be a sign of a dearth of available funding. These issues aren’t surprising, considering that fears of a potential recession have caused investments in US startups to fall by 63% in 2022 compared to 2021, according to Crunchbase.
3. Lack of initiative to establish a solid presence on major social networks and neglecting budget-friendly tactics, such as dedicated profiles on Instagram or Facebook, as well as tools for instant youtube views or accumulating follower traffic to help their product get its foot in the door quicker.
4. The unfortunate impact of the recently ended Covid pandemic. While 33% of startup failures were caused by the pandemic’s wide-reaching effects on the overall economy, further data shows that number was down from 59% a year earlier. This would be an obvious sign that a number of smaller businesses somewhat recovered from the pandemic the previous year, even as others continued to struggle to rebound.

When asked what they would’ve done differently when starting out, 58% of the founders surveyed said they would’ve opted for more detailed preliminary market research. The same percentage replied they would’ve looked to put together a sounder business plan.
In terms of their top advice to aspiring founders, 79% of the respondents urged to “learn from your mistakes.” These words would appear to stem from direct experience, as 40% of those polled said they would pivot their startups in some fashion to avoid failure, with 75% of these efforts proving successful.

The mods acknowledge that this is not exactly a political question per Rule A. There have been a couple times in the past when we've attempted to leverage this subreddit's combination of strict rules, established culture, and moderation style to host productive discussions about Reddit-specific incidents. In light of the current conflict around API access costs and third-party apps on Reddit, this is another one of those times.
Background and description
Third-party software that interfaces with Reddit relies on the company's "application programming interface" (API) to communicate with the site. Back in April, Reddit said it would begin charging for access to its API, and on May 31st, the company announced to developers that it would be adding an Enterprise-level tier for API access, though it did not publish the pricing.
That same day, Christian Selig, developer of the popular Apollo app, said Reddit is proposing to charge $12,000 for 50 million requests, which he estimates would cost him $20 million a year, an amount that could easily cause him and others to shut down their apps.
For comparison, Selig cites the photo site Imgur as a more reasonable pricing scheme, "I pay Imgur (a site similar to Reddit in user base and media) $166 for the same 50 million API calls." Twitter recently announced a three-tier API pricing scheme. The highest tier, which is aimed at commercial-level access, is estimated to cost as much as $42,000 per month. Some Twitter developers said the new pricing would kill their projects.
If Selig's reported numbers are correct, Apollo and many other third-party apps could be priced out of access to Reddit. Many users say the official Reddit app is inferior and the loss of all third-party apps would have a dramatically negative effect on the site and their participation. This has led to petitions, protests, and widespread calls for a boycott.
Reddit history and financial information
Reddit admins have been notably quiet in all this. As of this posting, they haven't issued a statement or commented on Selig's post. Until they do, we can only infer the company's reasoning by examining the public information.
Reddit began as a website, but like most social media, has experienced a notable shift towards mobile access, such that now over two thirds of visits are from mobile devices. In most cases, Reddit cannot serve ads to users browsing through third-party apps. I think we can also infer that users of those apps are more likely to pay premium subscription fees to the app developer than to Reddit itself.
This means those apps incurs costs to Reddit of serving the API calls without any corresponding revenue stream. The third-party apps probably also steal some users who would otherwise be using Reddit's native app where the company could serve ads, although many of those users say they'd just leave Reddit rather than use the native app.
Reddit's main revenue streams are from advertising and premium subscriptions. The company reportedly took in $350 million of gross revenue for 2021, which pales in comparison to Meta’s 2022 ad revenue of $113 billion. Even Twitter, despite its many controversies, raked in nearly $7 billion last year.
Although Reddit ranks as the 9th-most-visited website in the world and 6th most-visited website in the US, its users are the least valuable of any major social media network, with estimated average revenue per user (ARPU) of about $0.30. For the sake of comparison, Facebook and Pinterest have estimated ARPUs of $7.37 and $2.80 respectively.
Since 2006, Reddit has been majority owned by Advance Publications, the parent company of Conde Nast. Other significant investors are various venture capital firms. Because it's privately held, Reddit isn't subject to any of the financial reporting requirements for public companies, so we don't know if it is profitable or to what degree.
It has been widely reported that Reddit is preparing for a potential initial public offering (IPO) sometime later this year. In such cases, it's common for investors to be looking for growth in — or entirely new streams of — revenue.
Companies are also legally required to enter a quiet period before an IPO, limiting their public statements. It's not clear if we may be in that period, but beyond the legal requirements, it's also in the interest of a company planning for an IPO to be careful not to communicate anything that could diminish its perceived value. The 2012 JOBS Act eliminated many disclosure requirements for "emerging growth companies" (which Reddit qualifies as) for a period of five years from their date of filing to go public. "What that means from a communications perspective is that – apart from rumor and speculation – the general public has no knowledge of the EGC’s IPO plans until the finalized registration statement is publicly filed which, in most cases, is about one month before the company complete[s] the IPO and goes public." So, unfortunately, the financial motivations behind of Reddit's move on API pricing remain obscured from the users.
In the broader market, though, funding for tech companies has dried up and layoffs abound. High interest rates have also taken their toll, because potential investors can get better returns elsewhere. Increasing revenue and a successful IPO may be Reddit's only avenues to profitability.
What's notable behind all the numbers is that users and moderators are key elements for the company. A loss of users would directly lead to a drop in revenue and valuation. Meanwhile, moderators provide an enormous amount of free labor in the form of content moderation on the platform, without which Reddit would be at risk of severe reputational harm. A policy shift that results in an exodus of both mods and users cannot be good for the company's bottom line. At the same time, running out of cash or provoking an exodus of investors and/or employees could also be very detrimental to the site's future.
Questions

• Acknowledging there's a lot of presumption here due to the lack of information from Reddit itself, if a decision for a public media company comes down to open access versus survival, how do they balance those forces?
• Are there other public/social media companies that do a good job of this, and if so, how?
• If a company like Reddit determines it needs to raise revenue in order to continue to provide a platform for public discourse, are there ways to do it that maintain the relative freedom of access (from different apps) such discourse requires?
• And even if the platform is not at risk of extinction, are there ways for a social media company to ensure a reasonable return for investors while also balancing the interests of free and open discussion from all devices?

Statement from the moderators
The mods of NeutralPolitics appreciate the time and effort of all the teams who have brought public attention to this issue. We generally support whatever fosters more productive discussion on Reddit, and based on what we've seen so far, it's difficult to see how that goal would be served by the elimination of third-party apps. However, if anyone — especially the Reddit corporate officers or administrators — wants to chime in to offer more information, it would be most welcome. All viewpoints will get a fair hearing, so long as they stick to this subreddit's rules on commenting. Towards that end, when citing primary sources in this thread, the rule against linking to content on Reddit is lifted.

Hello! I'm looking for a source for periodic info on startups that receive funding. I'd like the following information: name, website, brief product description, city, state, round (seed, series A, etc.), and amount raised. I'm mostly interested in US companies with B2B SaaS offerings. I know that I can scrape sites like FormDs.com, but that site doesn't include product information. I also know that I can get the information I want with a paid subscription to Crunchbase.com, but I'd like to find a free source. Any ideas?

Hello everyone! I have been scraping raw data from Crunchbase, specifically focusing on recently funded startups. I then go a step further and handpick and curate this data, including decision makers' emails and other points of contact (POC), in order to facilitate outreach. I am curious to know the value of this service and if it can be of help to anyone. Your feedback and insights would be greatly appreciated.

Hello everyone! I have been scraping raw data from Crunchbase, specifically focusing on recently funded startups. I then go a step further and handpick and curate this data, including decision makers' emails and other points of contact (POC), in order to facilitate outreach. I am curious to know the value of this service and if it can be of help to anyone. Your feedback and insights would be greatly appreciated.

Hello everyone! I have been scraping raw data from Crunchbase, specifically focusing on recently funded startups. I then go a step further and handpick and curate this data, including decision makers' emails and other points of contact (POC), in order to facilitate outreach. I am curious to know the value of this service and if it can be of help to anyone. Your feedback and insights would be greatly appreciated.

Hello everyone! I have been scraping raw data from Crunchbase, specifically focusing on recently funded startups. I then go a step further and handpick and curate this data, including decision makers' emails and other points of contact (POC), in order to facilitate outreach. I am curious to know the value of this service and if it can be of help to anyone. Your feedback and insights would be greatly appreciated.

Hello everyone! I have been scraping raw data from Crunchbase, specifically focusing on recently funded startups. I then go a step further and handpick and curate this data, including decision makers' emails and other points of contact (POC), in order to facilitate outreach. I am curious to know the value of this service and if it can be of help to anyone. Your feedback and insights would be greatly appreciated.

Hello everyone! I have been scraping raw data from Crunchbase, specifically focusing on recently funded startups. I then go a step further and handpick and curate this data, including decision makers' emails and other points of contact (POC), in order to facilitate outreach. I am curious to know the value of this service and if it can be of help to anyone. Your feedback and insights would be greatly appreciated.

One source says there were at least 25 applicants. 8 were given awards. Who could be the other 17? I'm finding it not so easy to come up with names, considering that they have to be US based or with a US subsidiary.
The three obvious ones are TAE, Helion, and General Atomics.
After that, I have Avalanche Energy, CTFusion (closed in April, but maybe they knew they were out of the running,) Helicity Space, Horne Technologies, Hyper Jet Fusion, Lawrenceville Plasma Physics (LPP Fusion,) MIFTI, Princeton Satellite Systems (through their Princeton Fusion Systems spin-off,) and Shine Technologies.
Some US-based FIA members that are not listed in Crunchbase are: NearStar Fusion, Electric Fusion Systems, Longview Fusion Energy Systems, LaserFusionX, and Blue Laser Fusion.
By my count, that's exactly 17. Did I leave out any other possibilities?

Education is an ever-evolving field that requires passion, dedication, and commitment. It demands an educator to constantly learn and adapt to new challenges and trends in the field. One such educator who has been a driving force in the field of education for over two decades is Seeley Okie. With 20+ years of experience as a professional educator and 10 years in leadership roles, Seeley's passion and commitment to education have been instrumental in his success. In this article, we'll explore the key principles that have guided Seeley Okie throughout his successful career as an educator and leader, and how they can be applied to achieve success in education.

Passion for Education

Seeley Okie's passion for education is evident in every aspect of his career. He has dedicated over two decades of his life to improving the lives of students, teachers, and communities through education. As a student at Colby College, Seeley pursued a degree in American Studies but soon realized his true passion lay in education. After graduating, he began his career as an educator, working in a variety of roles over the years, including as a teacher, coach, and mentor.
Throughout his career, Seeley has never lost sight of his passion for education. He has consistently sought out opportunities to learn and grow as an educator, earning multiple degrees, including a Master of Education in School Leadership from the prestigious Harvard Graduate School of Education. He has also been actively involved in educational organizations, such as the National Association of Independent Schools and the Massachusetts Association of Independent Schools. Through these organizations, Seeley has stayed up to date on the latest trends and best practices in education and has shared his expertise with colleagues across the industry.
Seeley's passion for education extends beyond his profession and into his personal life as well. He has been actively involved in his local community, serving on the board of directors for several non-profit organizations focused on education and youth development. He has also been a dedicated volunteer, working with students and families in need and offering his time and expertise whenever possible.
In short, Seeley Okie's passion for education is a driving force in his career and his life. It has motivated him to pursue excellence in everything he does, from teaching to leadership to community service. His dedication to education has had a positive impact on countless students, educators, and communities, and serves as an inspiration to all who share his passion for improving the lives of others through education.

Innovative Teaching Techniques

Another key aspect of Seeley Okie's success in education is his innovative approach to teaching. Throughout his career, Seeley has been committed to finding new and creative ways to engage his students and help them learn. He has sought out new teaching techniques, technologies, and best practices, and has applied them in his classroom with great success.
One example of Seeley's innovative approach to teaching is his use of project-based learning. Rather than relying solely on traditional lecture-style teaching, Seeley has embraced the power of hands-on, collaborative learning through projects. He believes that projects allow students to engage with material in a more meaningful way, and to develop important skills like communication, critical thinking, and problem-solving. Seeley has developed and implemented a variety of project-based learning activities over the years, from building model cities to planning and executing community service projects.
Another example of Seeley's innovative teaching techniques is his use of technology in the classroom. Seeley recognizes that technology can be a powerful tool to enhance learning, and has incorporated a range of tech-based resources into his teaching. From interactive whiteboards to online educational games, Seeley has leveraged technology in creative ways to help his students learn and stay engaged.
Finally, Seeley is known for his focus on personalized learning. He believes that every student is unique and has their learning style and pace. To this end, he has always been committed to tailoring his teaching to meet the needs of each student. Whether through differentiation, individualized learning plans, or one-on-one tutoring, Seeley has always gone above and beyond to ensure that every student in his class has the chance to thrive.
Seeley Okie's success in education can be attributed in large part to his innovative approach to teaching. His willingness to experiment with new techniques and technologies, as well as his focus on personalized learning, have helped him connect with students and create a dynamic, engaging classroom environment. Through his commitment to innovation and excellence, Seeley has inspired countless students and fellow educators and helped to shape the future of education for the better.

Continuous Learning

In addition to his passion for education and innovative teaching techniques, Seeley Okie's commitment to continuous learning has been a key factor in his success as an educator and leader. Throughout his career, Seeley has demonstrated a relentless thirst for knowledge and a deep curiosity about the world around him.
This commitment to continuous learning is reflected in Seeley's impressive academic credentials. He holds multiple degrees, including a Master of Education in School Leadership from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, and a Master of Education in Elementary Education from Lesley University. He also completed a joint program between Lesley University and the Buckingham, Browne & Nichols School to earn another Master of Education in Elementary Education. These qualifications are a testament to Seeley's commitment to expanding his knowledge and staying up to date with the latest trends and best practices in education.
But Seeley's commitment to continuous learning extends beyond formal education. He is constantly seeking out new sources of knowledge and inspiration, whether through attending conferences and workshops, reading educational publications, or simply engaging with his colleagues in the field. He is known for his voracious appetite for learning and his willingness to engage deeply with complex ideas and issues.
This commitment to continuous learning has contributed greatly to Seeley's success as a leader in the field of education. It has enabled him to stay at the forefront of new and emerging trends in education and to bring innovative ideas and best practices to his school and community. It has also allowed him to develop a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing educators today, and to develop effective strategies for addressing them.
Perhaps most importantly, Seeley's commitment to continuous learning has inspired countless students and fellow educators to embrace their own love of learning and to strive for excellence in all they do. As a role model and mentor, Seeley has shown that education is not just a career, but a lifelong journey of discovery and growth. His commitment to continuous learning will undoubtedly continue to inspire future generations of educators and learners for years to come.

Effective Communication

Effective communication is a critical aspect of success in education, and it is one of the key principles that has guided Seeley Okie throughout his career. As an experienced educator and leader, Seeley knows that effective communication is essential in all aspects of education, from classroom instruction to leadership to community outreach.
One of Seeley's strengths as a communicator is his ability to listen carefully and empathetically to others. He understands that effective communication is a two-way street and that it requires not only clear and concise expression of ideas, but also attentive listening and understanding of others' perspectives. Whether he is working with teachers, students, parents, or community members, Seeley always takes the time to listen closely to their concerns and needs and to respond thoughtfully and compassionately.
Another aspect of Seeley's effective communication style is his focus on transparency and honesty. He believes that trust and respect are critical components of any successful relationship and that these can only be built through open and honest communication. Seeley is always willing to share his thoughts and opinions with others, even when the conversation is difficult or delicate, and he expects the same level of candor from those around him. This approach has helped him to build strong and productive relationships with colleagues and community members alike.
In addition to his interpersonal communication skills, Seeley is also an effective written and verbal communicator. He is known for his clear and engaging writing style, particularly in his educational publications and presentations. He is also a skilled public speaker and has delivered numerous keynote speeches and presentations at conferences and workshops across the country. Whether he is teaching a class, leading a meeting, or presenting to an audience, Seeley's communication skills are always strong and effective.
Overall, effective communication is a cornerstone of success in education, and it is a principle that Seeley Okie values deeply. Through his compassionate and attentive listening, his commitment to transparency and honesty, and his strong written and verbal communication skills, Seeley has built successful relationships with colleagues, students, parents, and community members alike. His ability to communicate effectively has been instrumental in his success as an educator and a leader, and it is a skill that he continues to prioritize and develop every day.
Seeley Okie's career in education is an example of how passion, innovative teaching techniques, continuous learning, and effective communication can create a powerful and successful educational experience. As educators, we can learn valuable lessons from his career and apply them in our teaching to achieve success in education. Passion is infectious, innovative teaching techniques engage students, continuous learning helps educators stay current, and effective communication helps build strong relationships that impact student outcomes. By incorporating these principles into our teaching, we

(A Look into the Career of a Professional Educator)

Seeley Okie is a highly regarded professional educator with over 20 years of experience in schools and 10 years of leadership. Okie's journey in education has been impressive, and this article aims to explore his achievements and experiences in detail.
Seeley Okie began his journey in education after obtaining a Bachelor's degree in American Studies from Colby College in 2000. He later pursued his Master's in Education in Elementary Education from Lesley University in 2001-2002. Okie continued to obtain a second M.Ed. in School Leadership from the prestigious Harvard Graduate School of Education in 2009-2010.
Okie's passion for education and commitment to excellence has been evident from an early stage in his career. He has served as a teacher, mentor, and administrator in various schools, earning him the respect of many colleagues and students.

Teaching Experience

Seeley Okie's teaching experience spans over a decade and has been recognized for its excellence. Okie began his teaching career as an elementary school teacher, serving as a mentor to his students and providing them with quality education. His passion for teaching was evident in his approach, practice, and philosophy, which centered on creating a nurturing and inclusive learning environment that fostered students' growth and development.
During his time as a teacher, Okie's pedagogical approach incorporated principles of active learning, differentiated instruction, and technology integration, which led to better academic outcomes for his students. He constantly demonstrated his commitment to continuous improvement through ongoing professional development opportunities and self-reflection.
Over the years, Okie's teaching expertise led to his playing a pivotal role in the development and implementation of curriculum and instructional strategies. He worked collaboratively with fellow educators to ensure that the curriculum met the needs of diverse learners while promoting academic excellence. Additionally, he was involved in various committees that focused on enhancing student engagement and learning outcomes.
Seeley Okie's teaching experience is a testament to his commitment to excellence in education. His teaching philosophy centered on imparting knowledge in a nurturing environment that catered to students' unique needs, facilitated growth and promoted academic success. He demonstrated that by actively engaging in professional development opportunities, collaborating with colleagues, and playing an instrumental role in curriculum development and implementation.

Leadership Experience

Seeley Okie's leadership experience in education is equally impressive, having held various administrative positions for over a decade. He demonstrated his leadership skills in creating a culture of collaboration, innovation, and continuous growth for educators and students alike.
One of Okie's notable successes in leadership was as an assistant principal at Weston Public Schools, where he provided instructional leadership and support to the school community. He worked collaboratively with teachers to develop and implement a data-driven approach to instruction that led to improved student achievement. Furthermore, he facilitated professional development sessions that focused on improving teachers' instructional strategies and empowering them to meet the diverse needs of their students.
Okie also served as a district-wide instructional supervisor, where he worked closely with educators, students, and families to identify and address student learning needs. In this role, he facilitated the implementation of a new district-wide literacy program that increased student engagement and achievement. He also collaborated with school administrators to provide professional development opportunities for educators, including curriculum development and implementation.
Still, in leadership, Seeley Okie's experience extends to serving as an adjunct professor at Lesley University, where he taught courses in teacher leadership, curriculum design, and assessment. Through his role as an educator, Okie sought to inspire his students to set high standards for themselves and to promote excellence in their future careers in education.
Seeley Okie's leadership experience in education is extensive and varied, spanning over ten years. His examples of successful leadership demonstrate a focus on collaboration, innovation, and a commitment to improving outcomes for all students. Through his legacy, he has encouraged other educators to set high standards for themselves and to continue advocating for pedagogical techniques that foster inclusive learning environments and promote academic excellence.

Professional Development and Contributions to Education

Seeley Okie's professional development and contributions to education have been instrumental in her journey as a highly-respected professional educator. His commitment to excellence is reflected in his active engagement in ongoing professional learning opportunities and contributions to educational initiatives.
Professional Development
Throughout his career, Seeley Okie has participated in several professional development programs. He has attended various conferences and workshops where he has learned about innovative pedagogical techniques and best practices in education. Additionally, Okie has actively sought to enhance his skills and knowledge by enrolling in advanced courses and obtaining graduate degrees, including his M.Ed. in Elementary Education and his M.Ed. in School Leadership.
Okie's engagement in professional development goes beyond attending conferences and pursuing advanced degrees. He has been actively involved in educational organizations, including serving as a board member for the Massachusetts Association of School Principals (MASP). In this role, he helped to create professional development opportunities for educators that focused on fostering inclusive learning environments and promoting academic excellence.
Contributions to Education
Seeley Okie's contributions to education have been extensive and impactful. He has been instrumental in curriculum development, implementation, and evaluation, ensuring that it meets the needs of diverse learners while promoting academic excellence. One of his notable accomplishments was collaborating with fellow educators to develop a district-wide literacy program that improved student engagement and achievement.
Okie's commitment to promoting inclusive learning environments also extends to his advocacy for the use of technology in education. He actively integrates technology into his instructional practices and encourages other educators to do the same. His belief in the transformative power of technology in education is supported by research findings that suggest that technology integration can lead to improved student achievement and engagement.
Furthermore, as an adjunct professor at Lesley University, Seeley Okie has contributed to teacher preparation and professional development. He has taught courses in teacher leadership, curriculum design, and assessment, passing on his knowledge and experience to the next generation of educators.
Conclusion
Seeley Okie's professional development and contributions to education have been an essential aspect of his journey as a professional educator. His active participation in professional development opportunities and educational organizations demonstrates his commitment to continuous growth and improvement. His efforts in curriculum development and implementation, advocacy for technology in education, and contributions to teacher preparation and professional development have helped to promote inclusive learning environments and academic excellence. Through his legacy, Seeley Okie has been an inspiration to other educators, encouraging them to set high standards for themselves and to advocate for innovative and transformative pedagogical techniques.