Dispatches from the Road: Q2 2022
Revolution’s team put rubber to the road this spring, traveling more than a collective 12.5K miles to visit founders, college campuses, co-investors, ecosystem builders, and communities in rising cities. While we may not show up on a big red bus every time, showing up — figuratively and literally — is core to our investment thesis. Why? Because there’s no replacement for meeting people where they are and experiencing innovation economies in real life. Here’s a snapshot of the places we went, people we saw, and sights (and bites) we can’t wait to revisit.
Where we went: Bentonville, AR 📍
What we did: Steve Case was a featured panelist at Heartland Forward’s 2022 Heartland Summit — an event showcasing the innovation and economic growth possible in the middle of the country. Rise of the Rest also hosted a Northwest Arkansas Startup Community Roundtable to help connect individuals within the regional innovation ecosystem with those visiting for the Heartland Summit to share experiences, challenges, and best practices for supporting entrepreneurs.
Where to go: Crystal Bridges and The Momentary for world-class art collections, Slaughter Pen (or any of Northwest Arkansas’s 250+ miles of world-class trails) for mountain biking, and Scotch and Soda for a modern take on a classic cocktail.
Where we went: Houston, TX 📍
What we did: Rise of the Rest Managing Partner, David Hall, and Revolution Ventures Managing Partner, Tige Savage, landed in the Space City for a fireside chat with HX Venture Fund on Revolution’s investment thesis, industry trends, and how Houston fits into the entrepreneurial equation. The panel took place at The Ion, a 266K-sqft space designed to bring together Houston’s entrepreneurial, corporate, and academic communities.
Where to go: Montrose for coffee, vintage shopping, and a pit stop at the Rothko Chapel, Twilight Epiphany at Rice University for an otherworldly photo op, and Minute Maid Park for an Astros game.
Where we went: Charleston, SC 📍
What we did: Revolution Growth Vice President, Nancy Hilliker, participated in the 2022 Dig-South Tech Summit, where she discussed supporting a more diverse innovation landscape and the acceleration of connections between VCs and founders in non-traditional tech hubs. Rise of the Rest Senior Associate, James Barlia, and Senior Director of Strategy, Jamie Rodota, also headed to the Palmetto State to meet with local investors and judge the College of Charleston Founders Club’s pitch competition.
Where to go: King Street for people watching, Charleston Municipal Golf Course for a fun (and affordable) round of golf, and Rodney Scott’s for Lowcountry-style slow-smoked barbecue.
Where we went: Miami, FL 📍
What we did: We headed to the 305 for eMerge Americas during Miami Tech Week, where Steve Case took the main stage with CNBC’s Deirdre Bosa to discuss the migration of talent and capital, how the future of work will impact the growth of rising startup ecosystems, and what policymakers can do to support young, high-growth businesses outside of Silicon Valley.
Where to go: Zak the Baker for a mid-morning pick-me-up, Perez Art Museum for modern and contemporary exhibits, and South beach for people watching with an art deco backdrop.
Where we went: Chicago, IL 📍
What we did: Rise of the Rest Vice President, Mahati Sridhar, touched down in ChiTown to participate in P33’s VC Desk — an event connecting coastal investors with Chicago’s most innovative startups. While in town, Mahati met up with portfolio companies (Swaypay, Partyslate, and Mad Rabbit), investors at M25 and Manifold Group, and startups headquartered in the city — with more than a few Foxtrot pit stops in between. The Revolution Communications team also made their way to the Windy City, where they met with the portfolio companies Partyslate and Rheaply and got a tour of the Foxtrot HQ.
Where to go: A riverboat cruise to take in the architecture, Lake Shore Drive for a scenic running/walking route, and Bar Goa, Kasama, and Girl & the Goat for dinner and drinks.
Where we went: Boulder, CO 📍
What we did: Revolution Growth Partners, Fazeela Abdul Rashid and Kristin Gunther, Vice President, Nancy Hilliker, and Associate, Fifi Young, traveled to the Mountain West to meet the team and see the production facilities of our newest portfolio company, Meati.
Where to go: Pearl Street for shopping, the Dushanbe Teahouse for a cup of chai, Birdcall for a hot chicken sandwich made with Meati, and Royal Arch Trail for a longer but less-traveled alternative to Chautauqua
Where we went: Raleigh-Durham, NC 📍
What we did: Rise of the Rest Managing Partner, David Hall, joined Chris Heivly — co-chairman of the inaugural Raleigh-Durham Startup Week, former EIR of Techstars, and co-founder of MapQuest — for a keynote Q&A on rising ecosystems and why he’s bullish on the Triangle.
Where to go: UNC Chapel Hill and Duke University’s campuses for the sights, sounds, and rivalry, the Carolina Theater for a classic flick or live performance, and Crank Arm Brewing to sip on a rotating selection.
Where we went: Scottsdale, AZ 📍
What we did: Rise of the Rest Senior Associate, James Barlia, headed to the Southwest to connect with the portfolio companies Equipifi and Qwick, catch up with co-investors at PHX Ventures, and meet with startups in the city.
Where to go: Tom’s Thumb for a short-but-steep out and back, Footprint Center for a Suns game, and Maple & Ash for a steak and espresso martini.
