Dispatches from the Road: Q4 2023
Reflecting on a fall and winter well-spent on the road as we see glimmers (maybe, hopefully) of spring. From the Sunshine State to the Windy City, and college to coastal towns, we met up with some incredible founders, ecosystem builders, and co-investors last quarter, and experienced just about every season along the way. Check out our Q4 travels in photos and itineraries below.
Where we went: Chicago, IL📍
What we did: The Rise of the Rest team kicked off October with a trip to Chi-Town to catch up with portfolio companies Blueprint, Unreal Estate, and Rheaply and co-investor, Chicago Ventures. Their jam-packed agenda culminated with a gathering of local entrepreneurs and ecosystem builders for happy hour at Siena Tavern.
Where to go: Fuel up with breakfast at Beatrix, peruse the showrooms and retail at The Mart (the world’s largest commercial building and design center), step back in time and explore the city’s “Vice Districts” with a Gangsters and Ghosts Tour, and grab Chicago-style street food at Portillo’s.
Where we went: Denver, CO📍
What we did: Revolution Growth Partner, Fazeela Rashid, discussed investing in the future of food at October’s Reducetarian Summit. Hear her takes on fundable companies in the space and what sustainable protein innovators she thinks will come out ahead.
Where to go: Stroll, sip, or window shop at Larimer Square, catch a show (or just take in the views) at Red Rocks, and see the shimmering aspen groves along Meyer Ranch Park Loop.
Where we went: Cincinnati, OH📍
What we did: Revolution Ventures Managing Partner, Tige Savage, Associate, Anant Pai, and Rise of the Rest VP, James Barlia, were all in attendance at 2023’s Cintrifuse Summit, which focused on “homegrown hustle,” inspiring innovation, and retaining talent in the greater Cincinnati startup ecosystem. Read highlights from the annual meeting.
Where to go: Book a room at the 21c Cincinnati for an artful stay, explore the country’s glowing commercial history at the American Sign Museum, and catch a Bearcats game at the University of Cincinnati’s Nippert Stadium.
Where we went: Wilmington, NC📍
What we did: Rise of the Rest Managing Partner, David Hall, joined Cofounders Capital Managing Partner, Tim McLoughlin, onstage at the Network for Entrepreneurs in Wilmington North Carolina’s community event. He then joined Wilmington founders at Live Oak’s Channel for office hours. Read more on the visit and Port City’s burgeoning tech ecosystem in WilmingtonBiz.
Where to go: Head to the Cape Fear Riverwalk for a scenic waterfront stroll, Ironclad Brewery for a craft beer, and Rx Chicken & Oysters for seasonally inspired Southern cuisine.
Where we went: Detroit, MI📍
What we did: Tige Savage and Revolution Ventures Associate, Carl Leacock, headed to the Renaissance City for Renaissance Venture Capital’s Fall UnDemo Day, an event connecting VCs from across the country with startups based in Michigan. See the “Hotlist” (a database of promising early-stage companies raising funds in the next 12–18 months) from the event.
Where to go: Head to the Motown Museum to catch up on your music history, grab the Boogaloo sandwich at Chef Greg’s Soul-N-the Wall, and don’t leave without grabbing a sweet treat from Sister Pie.
Where we went: New York, New York📍
What we did: David Hall, who serves on the board of the National Venture Capital Association, celebrated the organization’s 50th anniversary by joining fellow board members at the New York Stock Exchange to ring the Closing Bell. Check out scenes and soundbites from the event via NYSE Floor Talk. The Revolution Growth team also spent time in the Big Apple for their quarterly offsite, where they hosted a community happy hour, stopped by one of Convene’s curated NYC meeting and event venues, and ended the trip with a Hudson River cruise.
Where to go: Trek to Queens to see MoMA PS1’s collection of 200K+ pieces, get a mirrored view of Manhattan at Summit One Vanderbilt, and stroll Battery Park for views of the Statue of Liberty (and the bench where Kendall Roy shot his final scene).
Where we went: Tampa, FL📍
What we did: Revolution Ventures VP, Alex Shtarkman, touched down in Tampa Bay to log some IRL office hours with local entrepreneurs and catch up with Embarc Collective VP of Platform, Allie Felix, and CEO, Lakshmi Shenoy.
Where to go: For a luxe stay, book a room at The Tampa Bay Edition, and whether you’re staying there or not, drop by the lobby’s wraparound coffee bar for an espresso and pastry, then stroll the Tampa Riverwalk with a pitstop at Armature Works, a food hall housed inside a former streetcar warehouse.
Where we went: Buffalo, NY📍
What we did: Chairman and CEO, Steve Case, and David Hall headed north for the 43North Finals, aka “Buffalo’s Biggest Night.” On the itinerary: checking out the Queen City startup accelerator’s HQ on the 24th floor of Seneca One, a fireside conversation with President, Colleen Heidinger, on how non-coastal cities like Buffalo can rise and thrive as vibrant tech hubs, an AMA with local founders, and a trip to the Kangarootime office before heading to Shea’s Theater for the main event. Catch insights from Steve and a recap of the pitch competition.
Where to go: Visit Niagara Falls State Park for a jaw-dropping view, have a cocktail at the historic Richardson Hotel, and get tacos from D.A. Taste before you head out.
Where we went: Atlanta, GA📍
What we did: Revolution Ventures Partner, Clara Sieg, headed south to the Peach State to judge the 2023 Venture Atlanta pitch competition. The conference was the Southeast startup community’s biggest to date, with a total of 550 company applications. Check out event highlights and the winning startups.
Where to go: Catch a Braves game at Truist Park or an Atlanta United FC game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, dine, stroll and shop Ponce City Market — a renovated Sears & Roebuck building that dates back to the 1860s, and enjoy “a love letter to Middle Eastern cuisine” at Delbar.
Where we went: Charlottesville, VA 📍
What we did: The Rise of the Rest team ended the year with an offsite to C’ville, where they enjoyed some friendly pickleball competition at Boar’s Head Resort in addition to reflecting on 2023 and planning for the year ahead (more 2024 Beyond Silicon Valley Summit details to come 👀).
Where to go: Check out the art, grab a coffee, and peruse the gift shop at the Quirk Hotel, go apple picking and take in the Blue Ridge Mountain views at Carter Mountain Orchard, and head to the Wool Factory for small-batch wine, locally-roasted coffee, or a multi-course dinner in an industrial-cool setting.
