London, 12 August 2025 – TILKI, a London-based AI-powered game creation platform, announced today it has closed $2.2 million in pre-seed funding. The round was spearheaded by Twin Path Ventures, with strategic participation from Atlas AI^VB Fund I (Atlas SGR), XTX Ventures, and SFC Capital.

A New Era of AI-First Game BuildingTILKI sets itself apart as an AI-first platform, built from the ground up to generate dynamic, evolving video games—not by retrofitting AI into standard game engines, but by placing AI at the core of creation and distribution.
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Creators begin with prompts and conceptual graphs, and TILKI dynamically interprets and expands these into immersive game worlds that evolve based on both creator vision and player actions. This approach offers unbounded narratives, where every player interaction influences the ongoing story.

Dynamic Gameplay & Emergent StorytellingTILKI’s unique structure enables true dynamism in gaming:

• Layered architecture: Games are constructed with three layers—a creator’s overarching vision, a log of player session events, and individual player histories—enabling both multiplayer interactions and deeply personalized solo experiences.
• Endless narrative potential: Rather than follow rigid storylines or limited dialogue choices (A, B, or C), TILKI generates complex, unscripted gameplay. For example, an innkeeper NPC might simply rent a room—but with the right persuasion, could incite an uprising that spreads across an entire town.

Led by a Stellar Cross-Discipline TeamTILKI is helmed by Barn Cleave (Co-Founder & CEO) and supported by a multidisciplinary leadership team:

• Kasper Hunt, Chief Technology Officer
• Luke Robinson, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer
• Eleanor Stefanik, PhD, Chief Product Officer
• Colleen Farrelly, MS, Chief Mathematician Officer
• Siddharth Deshpande, PhD, Chief Machine Learning Officer

The 17-person team includes experienced video game developers, AI and ML scientists, and engineers who have worked with Atari, Sony, Microsoft, and NVIDIA. Many have also led platforms serving over 14 million users, founded previous AI ventures, are avid D&D enthusiasts, and published creative writers.

Funding Use: Beta Build-Out & Marketplace DevelopmentTILKI will deploy the fresh capital to drive key milestones:

• Closed beta launch in six months
• Open beta rollout within one year
• Development of a creator marketplace: This upcoming platform will foster collaboration—allowing creators to share strategies, modular components, and co-develop gameplay elements.

Vision to Transform a $176B MarketTILKI aims to upend the conventional development model by granting individual storytellers and creators unprecedented access to game design tools—without the need for code. CEO Barn Cleave captured the ethos:
“We see a future where anyone with a game idea can bring it to life, creating experiences that grow and evolve alongside the players. By democratising game creation, we’re not just changing how games are made; we’re opening the door for entirely new voices to shape the medium.”

About TILKI
TILKI is an AI-powered game creation platform redefining how interactive experiences are built and enjoyed. By enabling creators—from children and novelists to professional designers—to build immersive, dynamic games driven by narrative choice rather than static coding, TILKI reimagines story and gameplay for the AI era.

About Twin Path Ventures
Twin Path Ventures is an early-stage VC firm focused on AI and game-technology startups. Their backing of TILKI reflects confidence in the company’s vision and diverse, deep-tech founding team.

Jump, a New York City–based fan experience and sports technology startup, has raised $23 million in Series A funding. The round was led by Alexis Ohanian’s Seven Seven Six, with participation from Courtside Ventures, Will Ventures, Forerunner, and Steve Malik, owner of the NC Courage.

Founded by Jordy Leiser, Marc Lore, and Alex Rodriguez, Jump offers a purpose-built platform for sports teams and venues, integrating ticketing, content, commerce, and gameday operations. The announcement follows the company’s recent partnership with the Minnesota Timberwolves and Minnesota Lynx of the NBA and WNBA.

Learn more on 🔗 jump.com

Co-founded by Pablo Casadio and Andrei Manuel, Bit2Me is officially registered with Spain’s CNMV as a Crypto-Asset Service Provider (CASP).

​The company places a strong emphasis on regulatory compliance and cybersecurity, holding numerous certifications, including:

• ISO 27001 (Information Security Management)
• ISO 22301 (Business Continuity Management)
• ISO 37001 (Anti-Bribery and Corporate Ethics)
• ISO 37301 (Compliance Management Systems)
• UNE 19601 (Criminal Compliance Management)
• CSA STAR Level 1 (Cloud Security)

Tether’s strategic investment, coupled with Bit2Me’s recent acquisition of an EU regulatory license, positions the company to significantly scale its presence across Europe. At the same time, it aims to consolidate its leadership in Spanish-speaking crypto markets, particularly in Argentina and Latin America.
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For more information, visit bit2me.com.

The company was co-founded by Rotem Weiss (CEO), Assaf Elovic, and Yuval Rozio, who serves as Managing Director at Alpha Wave Global, which initially incubated the company. In just a year, Tavily has built a robust platform now supporting mission-critical use cases such as fraud prevention at leading financial institutions, logistics optimization for major shipping providers, and high-level academic research at top-tier universities.

With this new funding, Tavily plans to double its team, scale its go-to-market operations, and deepen its partnerships with developers and within the LLM ecosystem. The company is actively expanding its reach among enterprise customers and AI infrastructure providers.

Tavily’s current client base includes Fortune 500 enterprises, cutting-edge AI startups, and major players in the generative AI space such as Cohere and Groq. The company is headquartered in New York City, with additional offices in Tel Aviv and Abu Dhabi, reflecting its global ambitions and access to top-tier technical talent.
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For more information, visit www.tavily.com.

by Manny Larcher


Y Combinator’s Fall 2025 Requests for Startups (RFS) outline a clear new direction for innovation: it’s time to move beyond proving AI works and start building the infrastructure of the AI-driven economy.

Rather than focusing on marginal improvements to foundation models, YC is now calling for startups that rethink real-world systems—education, enterprise, labor, government, and digital media—using AI as the starting point, not an afterthought.

This represents a significant shift from past startup cycles, which were often dominated by simple AI wrappers and hype-driven applications. The new focus? High-leverage solutions that unlock productivity, scale, and entirely new categories.

Below are six of the most striking areas of opportunity from YC’s latest RFS:

1. AI-Powered Vocational SchoolsAs companies build out massive AI data centers, a new bottleneck has emerged: the shortage of skilled labor—electricians, welders, HVAC technicians, and others needed to bring physical infrastructure online. YC sees a major opportunity in AI-powered vocational schools that can train people in months instead of years. These programs could leverage multimodal AI and immersive AR/VR to simulate hands-on training remotely, making trade education scalable, accessible, and high-ROI.

2. Video as the New Computing PrimitiveThe cost of generating high-quality video has plummeted, and capabilities are advancing fast. YC argues that video is no longer just a format—it’s becoming a base layer for computing. Applications span from personalized retail to infinitely customizable training data and gaming experiences without traditional engines. Startups that treat video like code—programmable, composable, and functional—will define the next wave of computing.

3. The $100B, 10-Person CompanyArtificial intelligence is fundamentally shifting startup economics. With the right AI tooling, a small team can now operate with the output and efficiency of a much larger organization. YC predicts that the first $100 billion company with only 10 employees is not only possible—it’s coming. They’re looking for startups building lean, AI-first companies where revenue per employee is the primary metric.

4. Multi-Agent Systems as InfrastructureThe era of multi-agent AI systems—where hundreds or thousands of autonomous agents perform tasks in parallel—is just beginning. However, the infrastructure to reliably deploy, monitor, and scale these agents is still missing. YC is seeking founders who can build core tools for agent orchestration, reliability, and coordination, much like what Kubernetes did for containerized applications.

5. Replacing Legacy SaaS with AI-Native ToolsEnterprise giants like Salesforce and ServiceNow were built in the cloud-native era. Now, they are ripe for disruption. YC is calling for AI-native enterprise software designed from the ground up with autonomous workflows, adaptive learning, and embedded intelligence. The future of productivity won’t just integrate AI—it will be built around it.

6. Rethinking Government Consulting with LLMsGovernments worldwide spend over $100 billion annually on consulting services. Much of this work—report writing, analysis, documentation—can already be replicated or enhanced by today’s large language models. YC sees a massive opportunity to rebuild government services with AI-first tools, reducing inefficiencies and driving transparency across public systems.

The Next Frontier: AI as InfrastructureAcross all categories, Y Combinator’s Fall 2025 RFS reinforces one central idea: AI is no longer just a feature—it’s infrastructure. The most impactful startups won’t be those focused on AI hype, but those who use it to reimagine core systems and services across the economy.

The call is out for builders who want to do more than create demos—they're being asked to reshape the foundations of how industries operate. From workforce training and cloud-native video, to streamlined government operations and next-gen enterprise software, the next decade of innovation will be led by those who treat AI not as a tool, but as the platform itself.
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To explore the full list of Requests for Startups, visit: www.ycombinator.com/rfs

Doughlicious, a London, UK-based frozen snack brand, raised $5m in funding.

The round was led by Rich Products Ventures (RPV), the corporate venture capital fund of global, family-owned food company Rich Products (Rich’s), and private investor collective The Angel Group, along with participation from existing investors.

The company intends to use the funds to accelerate its expansion across the U.S. and international markets.
Led by Kathryn Bricken, Founder and CEO, Doughlicious makes frozen cookie dough & gelato bites certified gluten-free, free from added refined sugars and white bleached flour, and contain no artificial additives or preservatives. All frozen snacks are crafted and produced at the brand’s facility in London, England. Products are available in over 10,000 retail stores across the US, including Target, Whole Foods, Wegmans, and GoPuff, UK, parts of Europe, and the Middle East.

Learn more here.

From left to right Eyal Fisher (CTO), Michael Gladishev (VP R&D), Ely Abramovitch (CEO). Credit Ella Barak

Legion, a NYC-based browser-native AI Security Operations Center (SOC) platform, emerged from stealth with $38M in Seed and Series A funding.

​The round was led by Coatue, with participation from Accel and Picture Capital (co-leads on the earlier seed round), along with angel investors from leading tech companies, including Google, Crowdstrike, and Wiz.

Founded in 2024 by security veterans Ely Abramovitch (CEO), Michael Gladishev (VP R&D), alumni of Microsoft, and Eyal Fisher (CTO), AI founder and expert, Legion introduces a browser extension AI SOC companion that turns in-house expertise into scalable automation. It trains within the organization, observing the team’s investigations, learns their patterns, and helping the system improve them. Then, it automates them at their own pace, at any scale, and without requiring any integrations or APIs.

​The platform uses vision models and a lightweight browser extension to record analyst workflows, capturing both light and complex investigation patterns and the decision-making processes of top-performing analysts. It then shows teams the workflows it learned and helps optimize them. With permission, Legion investigates and responds to threats 24/7 using existing tools, either with human-in-the-loop or completely autonomously.

It scales a team’s expertise without adding headcount. The platform doesn’t require APIs, no custom playbooks, no disruptive integrations, and it can be up in minutes. It works with any browser-accessible platform, including SIEMs, threat intel tools, email platforms, and internal, homegrown systems.

Legion is already driving security operations for Fortune 500 enterprises across finance, healthcare, and energy.

source; FinSMEs

Momentum underscores Motive’s role in advancing global fleet safety and operational excellence

SAN FRANCISCO--Motive, the AI-powered Integrated Operations Platform for the physical economy, announced today that it raised $150 million in a new funding round led by Kleiner Perkins, with participation from both existing investors and new investor AllianceBernstein. This additional capital will enable Motive to accelerate growth by further expanding its AI capabilities, scaling internationally, and sustaining momentum with enterprise customers.

As part of this round, Ilya Fushman, Partner at Kleiner Perkins, has rejoined Motive’s Board of Directors. A long-time believer in the company’s mission and trajectory, Fushman led Motive’s Series A in 2015 and backed the company again in its Series F in 2022.

“Motive has solidified itself as a clear leader in bringing advanced AI to the physical economy,” said Fushman. “The company’s growth trajectory is a testament to the value it delivers to customers. We are proud to continue our partnership as Motive enters its next phase of global scale.”

“We continue to execute against a bold mission to empower the people who run physical operations with AI to make their work safer and more productive,” said Shoaib Makani, CEO and Co-founder of Motive. “This funding allows us to extend our AI leadership, enter new markets, and expand our teams to support the world’s largest and most complex operations.”

Funding will advance Motive’s AI roadmap and expand automation across its Integrated Operations Platform

With this funding, Motive will expand its AI capabilities to enhance every aspect of physical operations, including driver safety, which already helps organizations reduce collisions by up to 80%; service verification; preventive maintenance; fraud detection; and automated coaching. These developments are assisting customers to streamline repetitive tasks, improve safety, and increase productivity.
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Motive expands go-to-market (GTM) efforts to meet rising enterprise demand in North America and around the world

Motive serves nearly 100,000 customers and 1.3 million drivers across industries such as transportation and logistics, construction, oil and gas, utilities and telecoms, food and beverage, agriculture, the public sector, and more—including global leaders such as FedEx Freight, Cintas, KONE, Davey Tree, ABM, and CRH. Since 2024, Motive has more than doubled its ARR from customers spending over $100,000, driven by the addition of hundreds of new enterprise customers and industry-leading net revenue retention of more than 130%.

Driven by strong global demand for its AI-powered platform, Motive is expanding its GTM operations and investing in R&D, customer success and support, and tailored capabilities to support large, worldwide organizations. The company is gaining momentum across North America, with rapid growth in Mexico and Canada. It is set to launch in the UK in early August to meet rising demand for driver safety and fleet sustainability solutions. This new funding will further accelerate R&D expansion in India, building on Motive’s early 2025 hiring initiative.

For more information, visit gomotive.com

About Motive
Motive empowers the people who run physical operations with tools to make their work safer, more productive, and more profitable. For the first time, safety, operations, and finance teams can manage their workers, vehicles, equipment, and fleet-related spend in a single system. Motive serves nearly 100,000 customers from small businesses to Fortune 500 enterprises such as Halliburton, KONE, Komatsu, NBC Universal, and Maersk across a wide range of industries, including transportation and logistics, construction, energy, field service, manufacturing, agriculture, food and beverage, retail, waste services, and the public sector.
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Visit gomotive.com to learn more.

Caseflood.ai, a San Francisco, CA-based human-assisted AI intake team for law firms, raised $3,2M in funding.

Backers included Acquisition.com, Y Combinator, Rebel Fund, Four Cities Capital, Elevation Capital, Amino Capital, Valia Ventures, Pioneer Fund, and angels like Kulveer Taggar, Will Drevno, Ben Bryant, and German Royal family, the Sayn-Wittgensteins.

The company intends to use the funds to expand operations and its development efforts.

Led by CEO Ethan Hilton, Caseflood.ai is a human-assisted legal AI intake team designed to autonomously sign retainers for law firms, combining advanced voice AI with experienced human closers to dramatically increase conversion rates and revenue. Its 24/7 AI voice agent, Luna, can hold 30+ minute conversations, handle inbound and outbound calls, send SMS follow-ups, book paid consultations, and perform receptionist duties, while outperforming traditional staff by booking consultations 30% more effectively.

​source; FinSMEs

Its next phase of growth continues to focus on e-commerce, while also exploring potential opportunities in high-end retail. Selective placements in luxury settings are part of the company’s long-term vision. Product-wise, Saint Sass is preparing to launch a broader lingerie and lifestyle collection, designed for the woman’s daily life.
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With projected 2025 revenue of $10M, the company has already built traction across Europe and the US, already its largest market, with minimal CAC and high customer retention, empowered by digital marketing, values-led campaigns and celebrity endorsements (from Madonna, Paris Hilton, Kendall Jenner).

by Manny Larcher

In 1994, 'Why Should White Guys Have All the Fun?' was published posthumously, telling the remarkable story of Reginald F. Lewis—Harvard Law graduate, business pioneer, and one of the first African American billionaires. Decades later, the impact of his life continues to grow—and now, it's headed to the big screen.

A New Chapter Begins: Reginald F. Lewis Biopic in the Works

In 2022, it was announced that MACRO, Charles D. King's production company, had teamed up with Franklin Leonard (founder of The Black List) to develop a feature film based on Lewis's life. Titled after the book, Why Should White Guys Have All the Fun?, the biopic will bring his journey to global audiences. This move is not just a celebration of Lewis's accomplishments but also a cultural moment, shedding light on a trailblazer who shattered ceilings in an era where few imagined it was possible.

Lewis's life and philosophy remain profoundly relevant in today's conversations around race, wealth, equity, and opportunity.

Here are five updated lessons his story teaches us now more than ever:

1. You Don't Have to Wait for Permission
Lewis never waited for an invitation to enter the room—he built his own. He pursued law when few Black students were admitted to elite schools. He conquered Wall Street when virtually no one who looked like him held such power. The takeaway? Stop waiting to be validated. Be so good they can't ignore you—and then bet on yourself.

"Keep going, no matter what. The world makes way for those who know where they are going." – Reginald F. Lewis

2. Control Is Better Than Fame
Lewis wasn't seeking celebrity status—he wanted ownership. His $985 million leveraged buyout of Beatrice International wasn't just a financial feat; it was a bold assertion of Black excellence and autonomy in the global business world. Today, we see a growing number of creators, entrepreneurs, and innovators echoing this path: owning your story, platform, and outcome.

3. Representation in Power Is the Real Game-Changer
In corporate boardrooms where he was often the only Black executive, Lewis didn't just "fit in"—he led. His story continues to challenge today's organizations to rethink who gets access to leadership roles. With the biopic on the horizon, his legacy will inspire a new generation to push past tokenism and demand real equity.

4. Balance Ambition With Health and Humanity
Lewis was a fierce competitor, but his story also highlights the personal costs of unrelenting ambition, including the toll it took on his health before his untimely passing at the age of 50. In today's hustle culture, his life reminds us that sustainability matters. Success should not come at the expense of wellness, relationships, or purpose.

5. Legacy Is Bigger Than Wealth—It's Impact
​Lewis didn't just break records—he broke barriers. His influence lives on through the Reginald F. Lewis Foundation, scholarships, business programs, and now, a forthcoming movie that will educate and inspire millions. As wealth inequality and opportunity gaps widen, Lewis's life reminds us that legacy is measured not just in dollars, but in doors opened for others.

'Why Should White Guys Have All the Fun?' isn't just a biography—it's a blueprint. Whether you're an entrepreneur, a student, a corporate climber, or an activist, Lewis's journey holds tools, truths, and motivation for your path.
The writing, co-authored by Blair S. Walker, combines business strategy with intimate reflection, making it a profoundly human story. It challenges racial and economic stereotypes while demonstrating that excellence is not defined by background, but by vision, preparation, and relentless belief.

With the biopic in development, Reginald F. Lewis's story is entering a new era. His legacy isn't just about the past—it's about what's possible now!

Dropzone AI, a Seattle, WA-based provider of AI SOC analysts, raised $37M in Series B funding.

The round was led by Theory Ventures with participation from Madrona, Decibel Ventures, Pioneer Square Labs, and IQT.

The company intends to use the funds to:

• amplify its global footprint to meet surging demands by growing sales, marketing, and customer-success teams, so more security teams can better protect and enable their businesses without large increases in headcount or budget;
• accelerate the creation of additional specialized, autonomous AI agents for manual security tasks;
• extend its roster of ecosystem partnerships and technical integrations, ensuring its solutions can work with security teams of all sizes, tool stacks, and maturity to boost operational efficiency, sharpen threat detection, and drive stronger ROI;

Led by CEO and Founder Edward Wu, Dropzone AI weaponizes LLMs for cyber defenders, equipping them with armies of AI agents so that they can overmatch attackers. With its autonomously handling routine Tier 1 alert triage, organizations can spend less time on reactive security and more time on proactive security.

The Dropzone AI SOC Analyst replicates the techniques of elite analysts and is used by more than 100 organizations, including Mysten Labs, Pipe, UiPath, and Zapier.

by Manny Larcher

Ballin AI, the sports technology startup founded by former collegiate athlete Nyla Pollard, has officially closed a $500,000 angel funding round, marking a significant milestone in the company’s mission to revolutionize the athlete recruiting experience.

Nyla Pollard’s success in securing this round is not only a testament to her leadership and vision but also a breakthrough moment that reflects the growing recognition of underrepresented innovators in sports and technology. Her journey highlights the importance of fostering ecosystems that support diverse founders with innovative ideas.

This raise is especially significant given the broader funding landscape in the United States, where less than 1% of venture capital goes to Black women founders. ​

The company is developing cutting-edge tools to accelerate recruiting, making it faster, smarter, and data-driven for both athletes and coaches. By combining automation and AI, Ballin AI aims to eliminate outdated and inefficient systems in sports recruitment, replacing them with a platform rooted in transparency, performance analytics, and opportunity equity.

The angel round includes investment from an impressive group of early believers:

• Slauson & Co.
• Oregon Sports Angels
• ACT House
• FBomb Angels Investment Club

These partners bring not only capital but also a deep commitment to the company's vision of empowering student-athletes and enhancing how coaches discover and evaluate talent.

Ballin AI is already gaining traction within the sports tech ecosystem, and this new capital will fuel product development, user growth, and strategic partnerships across the U.S.

To learn more about Ballin AI, visit www.ballin.ai

by Manny Larcher, CEO Colaeb
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The entertainment industry is transforming, and a game-changing alliance is here to accelerate its evolution. YourInfoDaily.com—the hub for music, film, and culture—and Colaeb.com—the premier platform bridging entrepreneurs and creatives—are joining forces. Together, they bring a combined reach of over 1 million annual impressions, exclusive real-world events, and a powerhouse network of over 1,000 business leaders and Fortune 500 brands.

Why This Collaboration is Timely

Today’s audiences demand authenticity, innovation, and immersive experiences, while brands seek fresh ways to connect with culture. At the same time, independent creators need stronger pathways to funding, distribution, and high-impact partnerships.

YourInfoDaily.com and Colaeb.com are merging their strengths to:
✅ Supercharge Talent – Giving rising artists, filmmakers, and innovators direct access to massive audiences and industry decision-makers.
✅ Elevate Brands – Helping companies tap into cutting-edge creativity and culturally relevant storytelling through strategic collaborations.
✅ Fuel Disruption – Connecting visionaries across entertainment, tech, and business to spark the next wave of industry-shifting ideas.

The Power of Two Growing Brands

By combining YourInfoDaily.com’s growing media influence with Colaeb.com’s entrepreneurial network, this partnership creates unmatched opportunities, including:

• Exclusive showcases where brands discover and partner with the next generation of hitmakers.
• High-impact networking between artists, executives, and innovators at invite-only events.
• Content that drives careers forward—from in-depth features to branded storytelling campaigns.

What’s Coming Next?

This is only the beginning. Watch for:

🎤 Industry Mixers & Pitch Events – Where deals get made and collaborations ignite, Colaeb 2025 Innovation Conference takes place December 2025.

🎬 Original Content Series – Spotlighting the creators and brands shaping culture’s future.
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💡 Resource Hubs – Equipping artists and companies with tools to thrive in the new creative economy.

The takeaway?
Whether you’re an artist, brand leader, or entrepreneur, this alliance opens doors. Now’s the time to step in.

Ready to be part of the movement?
📌 Follow @YourInfoDaily & @Colaeb for updates.
📌 Want to explore partnerships? Get in touch today, email me at manny@colaeb.com

About the brand:
Colaeb is a business growth platform founded in 2020 that connects entrepreneurs, startups, corporations, and nonprofits to essential resources, including new customers, capital, top talent, and brand amplification. The company offers a smart network that streamlines access to funding, hiring, and marketing opportunities, helping businesses of all sizes accelerate their growth. Colaeb's platform is designed for quick onboarding and provides tailored support through its accelerator, annual conferences, and networking events. By fostering a collaborative environment, Colaeb empowers members to achieve their business goals efficiently and effectively.

Ideal Customer Profile:
Colaeb serves entrepreneurs, startups, established businesses, corporations, and nonprofits seeking to grow their organizations by finding new customers, raising capital, hiring talent, and expanding their brand presence. Its customers are driven individuals and teams looking for actionable resources and a supportive network to help them scale and succeed.

Brand Point Of View:
We believe that every business, regardless of size or stage, deserves direct access to the resources and connections needed to thrive. Traditional cold outbound methods are outdated, and we are committed to providing a more intelligent, more effective network that translates ambition into tangible results. Our mission is to foster a community where collaboration, innovation, and growth are accessible to all.

Learn more today on colaeb.com

by Manny Larcher

Over the years, I've worn many hats—founder, consultant, investor, mentor, and operator—but if there's one constant that has guided me through every chapter of my journey, it's this: personal growth is the foundation for creating value in the world. Everything else—business wins, capital raises, strategic partnerships, even exits—flows from that inner alignment.

Today, as I lead Colaeb, which recently launched its first Accelerator (with no charges and no equity dilution), serve in venture capital, and support early-stage founders across various industries, my focus is singular: developing myself and creating opportunities for others. And that's the only sustainable path to long-term impact.

From Hustle to Alignment
In the early stages of my career, like many entrepreneurs, I chased results. I was focused on moving fast, getting press, scaling up. That drive helped me exit a venture-backed startup in 2017 and cofound Stopwatch Creative, a consulting firm that guided multiple companies to exits of seven, eight, and even nine figures.

But something shifted after that.

I realized that real fulfillment didn't come from accolades or deal flow—it came from how I showed up each day. Was I aligned with my purpose? Was I contributing to others? Was I growing?
Those questions led me down the path of deep personal development, and eventually, to launching Colaeb—a platform built not to scale ego, but to scale connection.

Colaeb Was Never About Me

Colaeb (short for "Collaborate and Elevate") was born during the pandemic, not as a product of ambition, but as a response to disconnection.

I wanted to build something that helped people connect—clients seeking partners, founders seeking capital, and individuals navigating change. What started as a simple event and curated network has grown into a global platform supporting thousands of multi-passionate professionals and businesses.

But more than anything, Colaeb became a mirror of my mission: to create meaningful, intentional opportunities for others to thrive. And that's something I'll never outsource.

Venture with Vision

In 2022, I joined a venture capital firm with a legacy spanning over two decades. It was an opportunity to bridge two worlds I care deeply about: early-stage innovation and deep community relationships.

But even in venture, my philosophy didn't change. I was focused on finding real people building real things—especially those who historically had less access to capital, support, or networks. And I wanted to be more than a check—I wanted to be a mirror, a coach, a connector, and a partner in growth.

Becoming vs. Arriving

There's this illusion in entrepreneurship that once you hit a milestone—raise a round, land a big client, exit a company—you'll finally feel whole.

But I've learned that growth is not about arrival. It's about becoming.

That's why I invest in becoming a better listener, leader, and learner every day. I meditate. I read. I travel. I unplug. I mentor. I reflect. Through that process, I show up with clarity for my team, my partners, and my community, because the most powerful opportunity we can give others is the example of someone living with integrity, purpose, and presence.

Right now, I'm only focused on two things:

1. Personal development – the daily commitment to evolving into the best version of myself.
2. Creating opportunities for others – through Colaeb, through venture, through mentorship, and through every conversation I'm blessed to have.

If you're someone trying to navigate your path, know this: you don't have to figure it out alone.
If you're ready to level up your journey and build a career or company on your terms, check out the Colaeb Accelerator—a free, no-equity-dilution program designed to help multi-passionate individuals gain clarity, structure, and traction. Whether you're refining your pitch, launching a new service, or building a scalable brand, the Accelerator provides you with the tools, community, and guidance to grow.

by Stopwatch Creative

Colaeb.com Perspective
In the relentless pursuit of growth, entrepreneurs often trade their freedom for friction. At Colaeb, we believe scaling shouldn’t mean surrendering your sanity. Operational Harmony™—the seamless synchronization of people, processes, and tools—is the transformative framework that liberates founders from daily chaos. Here’s how to architect self-sustaining growth:

The Liberation Paradox: Grow Your Business, Not Your WorkloadGrowth traps founders when their presence becomes the operating system. Operational Harmony dismantles this dependency, replacing heroics with elegant workflows that function autonomously. The result? A business that scales around your life, not through it.

The Four Pillars of Operational Harmony

1. Clarity Architecture™
   Document core workflows (sales, onboarding, delivery) in visual playbooks—not dusty manuals.
2. Automated Synergy
   Connect tools so data flows frictionlessly (e.g., CRM → invoicing → analytics).
3. Decision Devolution
   Empower teams with authority matrices—not approval bottlenecks.
4. Evolutionary Feedback
   Build real-time refinement loops (e.g., client exit interviews → process upgrades).

The Founder’s Evolution: From Player to ConductorOperational Harmony demands a mindset shift:

• Focus on leverage, not effort (1 hour designing > 10 hours doing)
• Measure freedom metrics: Recovery Time (how fast operations stabilize without you)
• Standardize to personalize: Consistent processes enable bespoke client experiences
• Protect your genius zone: Redirect energy from firefighting to vision-crafting

Colaeb’s Orchestration Framework

1. Map Friction Points: Identify where energy leaks (e.g., proposal delays, service gaps)
2. Harmonize One Core Flow: Perfect client acquisition before optimizing delivery
3. Tool Stack Integration: Use platforms that share data natively (avoid "Franken-stacks")
4. Living Documentation: Host dynamic SOPs in Notion/Airtable with version control
5. Rhythmic Refinement: Quarterly harmony audits + weekly micro-adjustments

The Freedom Formula
Growth = (Autonomy × Predictability) ÷ Owner-DependencySolve this, and you create what we call an "Orchestrated Enterprise"—a business that scales while you sleep.

Transformative Outcomes of Operational Harmony

• ⏱️ 87% reduction in founder-in-the-loop decisions (Colaeb client data)
• 📈 3x throughput with existing teams
• 🎻 Flawless client experiences at any volume
• 💸 Exit-readiness: Documented harmony boosts valuation multiples
• 🌎 True sovereignty: Lead from anywhere—no operational handcuffs

The Colaeb Verdict
Operational Harmony isn’t about rigidity—it’s about creating fluid, resilient businesses that thrive amid uncertainty. At Colaeb, we help founders replace friction with flow, transforming scaling from a grind into a graceful crescendo.

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by Manny Larcher

From $1B Honda EV Revolution to Smart Mobility Labs — Inside the Economic Surge Reshaping Industry and Community

Driving Innovation: The EV and Mobility EpicenterUnion County cemented its status as Ohio’s innovation powerhouse in 2024, fueled by landmark investments and strategic collaborations. Honda’s $1 billion overhaul of its Marysville, East Liberty, and Anna plants stole headlines, positioning the region as the core of Honda’s North American EV production. For the first time globally, the Marysville plant will assemble EV battery packs, enabling hybrid, electric, and combustion engines to roll off the same U.S. assembly line.

Meanwhile, the Transportation Research Center broke ground on a $25 million Impact Laboratory—a 66,000 sq ft playground for testing electric and autonomous vehicles. Slated for completion in 2026, it anchors the county’s "Smart Mobility Corridor," now home to 70+ automotive companies.

Community & Collaboration: Fueling Inclusive GrowthBeyond tech, Union County prioritized livability and opportunity:

• Housing & Workforce: The Economic Development Partnership (EDP) spearheaded critical talks on affordable housing while connecting 400+ students with manufacturers via "Crafted in Union County."
• Ridesharing Wins: The Union County Rideshare Program (Uber subsidies) served 250+ riders, with 50+ regular users.
• Festifair Boom: Main Street Marysville’s festival exploded from 167 to 233 vendors—a 40% surge.

Global Ties & Education SynergyInternational partnerships thrived:

• Celebrated 11 years with Japan’s Friendship City, Yorii, with student exchanges engaging 86 youths since 2015.
• 20 Japanese companies now operate locally, supported by a weekly Japanese Language School drawing 400+ students.

Key Developments Powering ProgressMajor 2024 projects set the stage for sustained growth:

• The Silos at Water & Light ($110M mixed-use)
• Pioneer Park ($7.5M flex/office space)
• TRC Impact Lab (retaining 500 jobs)
• Marysville East & South: 1,000+ acres of master-planned business parks targeting tech and industrial tenants.

By the Numbers, 2024’s Impact:
✅ 37,563 total jobs
✅ 30 business retention visits
✅ $1B Honda investment in EV manufacturing
✅ 233 vendors at Festifair

The Road Ahead
With Honda’s EV hub accelerating, smart mobility labs rising, and community programs bridging opportunity gaps, Union County isn’t just growing—it’s redefining the future of industry and innovation in the heartland.

Explore the full report here.
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