2 New Investments, Ora Graphene CEO Michael Kraft Interview - October 2024 NYA NewsLearn about our latest investments, watch an interview Ora Graphene CEO Michael Kraft, and NYA Member Karthik Krishnan keynotes at the Education ODA
NYA wrapped up Q3 2024 at nearly double the YTD investment that NYA Members had made by this time last year. This newsletter includes:
Investments: Rehabtronics and Nestment
Company Spotlight: Ora Graphene CEO Michael Kraft.
Community Connections: NYA Member Karthik Krishnan keynotes at the Education International ODA conference in South Korea
Industry News: History of Golden Seeds - our friend and fellow angel investment network that supports female-founded ventures.
LATEST INVESTMENT ACTIVITY
NYA Members have invested $6.8 million YTD through end of Q3 showing increased investment vs. 2023
SEPTEMBER INVESTMENT HIGHLIGHTS
NYA Members recently invested in Rehabtronics due to its cutting-edge neuromodulation and neurorehabilitation systems. As a leader in advancing neurostimulation technology, Rehabtronics designs and manufactures rehabilitation products that help people recover movement after a stroke or injury. With a strong team under the leadership of CEO Rahul Samant and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Bojana Turic, Rehabtronics continues to gain traction including recent approval of its Prelivia device by Health Canada. NYA Members Tom Hirschfeld and Rob Hedlund helped support investments in the deal.
Nestment is a real estate platform helping the next generation of Americans achieve homeownership through accessible, creative pathways and wealth-building strategies. Homeownership is increasingly out of reach for Americans, especially for historically underrepresented, Gen Z, and Millennial populations. NYA Members invested in Nestment as it seeks to make homeownership more affordable and help facilitate a co-buy process for groups of friends and family who want to purchase property together. As a relatively new NYA member, Josh Powe introduced Nestment to NYA Members and led the deal.
NYA COMPANY SPOTLIGHT
Michael Kraft, CEO of Ora Graphene, was appointed CEO in November 2023 with the aim of taking the company to the next level (growing the company by an order of magnitude over the next two and a half years). Michael was chosen as CEO based upon his background in high-purity materials having worked in semiconductors and satellite technologies. Michael shares why he considers working with NYA as "smart money," and how he raised $1 million from NYA Members in "record speed" (about three to four weeks).
COMPANY NEWS
BUOY
NYA Members first invested in Buoy Hydration Drops in 2022. Since the original investment, Buoy has made some important pivots that have driven its latest successes. Recently Buoy was recognized for being the Best Unflavored Electrolytes on the market. With 50g of sodium and no added sugars, Buoy can be added to any liquid for an electrolyte boost. Health Magazine's NYC-lab tested over 23 products. See Complete List of Winners
COMPANY NEWS
GOLDILOCK
Goldilock has been selected to join Phase II of the highly-exclusive NATO Defense Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA) program. Of the 44 participants accepted into Phase I, Goldilock emerges as the only CNI-focused cyber company selected to progress to Phase II. NATO Allies created DIANA to tackle the complex security challenges with disruptive dual-use technologies. Read Article
COMPANY NEWS
KASISTO
Kasisto announced the appointment of Don Layden as Executive Chairman of its Board of Directors and the successful closing of Kasisto’s Series D funding round, raising the company’s total funding to $90 million. This new influx of capital, along with the strengthened leadership, will further solidify Kasisto’s position as a leader in conversational and generative AI solutions that empower financial institutions of all sizes to enhance customer engagement and workforce capabilities. Read Press Release
COMPANY NEWS
TIRE AGENT
Tire Agent Founder & CEO Jared Kugel has built one of the fastest growing private companies in the U.S. The company has a current valuation of over $130 million and has sold more than 1 million tires through its online platform since 2020. Tire Agent offers a superior selection of more than 70 trusted tire and wheel brands to fit every budget and lifestyle. In an interview with Total Prestige Magazine, Jared shares the successes and struggles in building the company and his personal life. Read Full Story on Jared Watch NYA Interview with Jared
MEMBER PERSPECTIVES EDUCATION ODA CONFERENCE KARTHIK KRISHNAN
NYA Member Karthik Krishnan made a keynote address at the Education International ODA conference highlighting the need for Financial Innovation and Collaboration to put upcoming generations on a path to prosperity. The Korea Ministry of Education and Foreign Affairs bought together experts and institutions including the Asian Development Bank (ADB), The World Bank, UNICEF and more. Read More
MEMBER EVENTS HOW TO ENGINEER A SUCCESSFUL SERIES A CO-HOSTED BY WITHUM AND GOODWIN
NYA sponsors Withum and Goodwin co-hosted an event "How to Engineer A Successful Series A" for founders pursuing Series A financing. The path from seed to Series A has become increasingly more difficult across all industries. One of many benefits of working with NYA are NYA sponsors and their best-in-class services. Learn More About NYA Sponsors
COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS DEMO DAY ERA
Entrepreneurs Roundtable Accelerator hosted its 27th Demo Day, which featured its summer cohort of 15 tech founders presenting their innovative startups. ERA also hosting an exclusive showcase for NYA Members. Watch Full Event
COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS NEW CLIMATE FUTURES NEW LAB
NewLab hosted over 1,500 of the most innovative entrepreneurs, industry leaders, investors, and policymakers at to discussing how to collectively move faster to commercialize critical tech for a sustainable future. See Program Overview
FORBES GOLDEN SEEDS AT 20: EMPOWERING WOMEN, TRANSFORMING ANGEL INVESTING
Golden Seeds is a pioneering angel investment network supporting female-founded ventures. As one of the largest angel groups in the country, Golden Seeds has a network of about 280 members and has invested over $181 million in 250 companies with women in leadership roles, providing crucial capital and mentorship to fuel their growth. The landscape of angel investing is transforming with the increasing participation of women. Women angel investors are not only investing in startups but also actively shaping the conversation around funding, bringing diverse perspectives, and championing women-led ventures. Read Article
UPCOMING MEMBER MEETINGS
Investment Forum (Hybrid):
• October 21st (9:00 AM - 12:30 PM)
November Screening (Hybrid):
• November 4th (9:00 AM - 1:00 PM)
FOUNDER DEADLINES
November Screening Application:
• Due October 14th
*New York Angels, Inc. ("NYA") is a not-for-profit corporation that is funded by membership dues for individuals and/or entities that NYA has designated as members as well as from certain sponsors. Its purposes include providing administrative support to its members. NYA does not invest in companies. Investments, if made, are made by individual members of NYA.
