Sara Luchian

"You can’t be truly successful without being true to yourself." I had the pleasure of hearing Kara Swisher speak at the Dean’s Speaker Series at University of California, Berkeley, Haas School of Business a couple weeks ago, and this quote really stuck with me. Kara was incredibly candid about her journey covering the tech world for decades, but it was her advice on authenticity that truly hit home. After the event, I asked her about her thoughts on navigating the entrepreneurship space as a founder from an underrepresented background. I’ve often found myself code-switching or "cosplaying" to fit into certain professional spaces, and I’ve been torn about whether that’s necessary in the exclusive world of venture-backed startups. Kara’s response? Focus on building the best product and staying true to the mission that drives you. That advice resonated deeply, especially as I work on building a product that addresses some of the hardest and most meaningful problems in healthcare and nutrition—areas that have personal significance for me. If you're as passionate about advancing health and nutrition through AI as I am, or if you’re building in these spaces, let’s connect. I’d love to continue this conversation and explore how we can make real impact together. #Entrepreneurship #Authenticity #HealthcareInnovation #AI #NutritionTech #FounderLife

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An incredible deep dive from Nathan M. into the cultural and structural issues that are plaguing Boeing and how they got to where they are today. This article should be turned into a business school case study it's that good. And many of these issues aren't unique to Boeing. The focus on financial engineering over actual engineering is an issue at play in many scaled aerospace and defense companies. A definite must-read! https://lnkd.in/gkdpF2tM

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"How can we make more females successful? By building up the pipeline and seeing more future leaders - Anna Hong Join us on this powerful episode as we explore Anna Hong's journey and her impact on the entrepreneurial world through B.E.L.L.E （Formerly GirlUp Entrepreneurs） Save this post for later!

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Team San Diego! I though you may find this as surprising as I did...we are not alone. Read this quick article from Jon Prentice's (Silicon Valley Bank) interview with with James Newell (Voyager Capital), published in GeekWire on Seattle's innovation ecosystem....they lament the SAME issues as we do in San Diego: * Lack of angel investors, (Especially, it calls out, given the local giant tech co's) * "We need low-conviction check writers." * Lack of "cachet associated with being an angel investor" - We have similar efforts (as described in the article) to drum up angel activity: NuFund Venture Group and, Interlock Capital (read the article and you'll see why the Interlock effort is tops as relates to "paying back into the ecosystem") Connect.org strives to 'connect' innovative companies with investors of all types (angel, VC, PE...) - just see "Innovation Day". Their Springboard program provides another great way for experienced entrepreneurs to give back through mentorship...as for the companies going through Springboard: "Ask for advice, and you often get $$" Your thoughts on the article or San Diego innovation ecosystem? https://lnkd.in/gfwq6mfq

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MobilityVC says 2025 is the year new mobility bounces back Sam Baker, the Founder and Managing Partner of the early-stage mobility startup investor, says don’t count mobility out. While 2024 was the year of regrouping, 2025 is the year the industry starts moving forward—and fast: ‘it’s going to be one hell of a ride.’ MobilityVC ChargeEuropa Flowfox DeepScenario truckoo #AI #artificialintelligence #AutonomousVehicles #AVs #ChargeEuropa #chargingaccessibility #containerimportautomation #DeepScenario #digitizingtrucking #earlystagemobilitystartup #ElectricVehicle #EV #EVcharginginfrastructure #Flowfox #Futurride #greenwave #mobilitysector #MobilityVC #sustainablemobility #Truckoo https://lnkd.in/ePVX9a93

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Waymo's recent doubling of its paid ride volume is an impressive business result. But what does the feat say about the state of the self-driving industry? And how does Waymo stack up against self-driving rivals like Tesla, and ride-hailing giants like Uber? We dive into these questions on the latest episode of TWIST

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I've seen countless startups stumble on regulatory strategy - it's painful, expensive, and often avoidable. The seminar shared by David Pudwill and Geetha Rao hosted by UCSF Innovation Ventures, absolutely nailed what matters most. Here are my key takeaways that every founder should know: 1. Understand your scope - this is where it all starts or stops You've got to nail this foundation: --Map out ALL potential clinical uses (yes, all of them) --Find your "regulatory siblings" (similar approved devices) --Get crystal clear on your impact level: 1)Wellness management (easiest route) 2)Screening/monitoring (middle ground) 3)Diagnostics/therapy (time to bring your A-game) 2. Pick your lane: regulatory pathways from "Easy" to "Buckle Up" Here's what you're looking at: --510(k) Exempt: The startup favorite (for good reason!) --510(k): Tried and true path --De Novo: The road less traveled (but sometimes necessary) --PMA: The regulatory marathon (pack your endurance) 3. Strategic roadmap: This part separates winners from the pack Smart execution is everything: --Start minimal, but make it smart --Grow strategically (think chess, not checkers) --Nail the execution sequence: Define → Design → Test → Produce → Sell Pro tips from the investor seat - know your audience and speak their language: --Investors need that solid IP story --Clinicians want real-world outcomes --Regulators love familiar territory (use it) --Claims strategy (this is crucial) Three rules to live by: --Start small (seriously, resist the temptation) --Expand methodically (no shortcuts) --Document everything (future you will thank you) Why this matters to investors - here's the bottom line: "Your regulatory strategy IS your market strategy. Plain and simple - you'll only get to sell what you get approved for. Plan accordingly." (Full credit goes to David and Geetha for sharing their invaluable insights)

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Autonomous Vehicle (AV) funding is surging, according to PitchBook with Q2 2024 seeing $2.9 billion invested in AV startups - the highest since Q3 2021. While self-driving cars grab headlines, innovative startups are finding unique applications beyond passenger vehicles. Key developments: - Supply chain optimization: Outrider is revolutionizing yard operations with autonomous electric vehicles, addressing a $60 billion market. - Specialized transport: Pyka's autonomous planes for cargo and Gatik's local distribution trucks are gaining traction. - Safety & efficiency: Evitado Technologies automates airside operations, mitigating airport collision risks. Of course, more established companies such as Lyft & Uber are working on AV rideshare integration via partnerships with Waymo, BYD, Zoox, and others. The AV sector is focusing on gradual integration and specific use cases. While concerns about job displacement exist, proponents argue that automation could shift human capital to higher-value roles. What those roles are remains to be seen. As the AV landscape evolves, it's clear that the future of transportation extends far beyond just self-driving cars on city streets. Check out the full article by Nadine Manske here: https://lnkd.in/g3HJXZHc? And access the PitchBook Mobility Tech Report here: https://lnkd.in/g4_xP5pr #VentureCapital #AutonomousDriving #FrontierTech #FutureMobility

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Some more insight into what we are building at Aerodome 📈🚀

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Having a Cars and Capital event tomorrow in Southern California with Oren Klaff. If you want to join message me. https://lnkd.in/gDQ4D39u Oren Klaff Bridger Pennington #InvestorEvent #FamilyOffice #InvestmentOpportunity #CarlsbadEvent #PrivateEquity #WealthManagement #InvestmentConference #CapitalRaising #NetworkingEvent #IndustryLeaders #FinancialGrowth #InvestorsMeetup #WealthBuilding #BusinessGrowth #InvestmentForum

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We’re excited to announce that Pyka has raised $40M in Series B funding to accelerate the commercialization of their autonomous electric aircraft! Led by Obvious Ventures, with support from Piva Capital, Prelude Ventures, Metaplanet, and Y Combinator, this investment will expand Pyka’s impact in sectors like agriculture, cargo transport, and defense logistics. With commercial operations already underway across multiple continents and partners like Dole and Embraer, Pyka is transforming aviation while driving sustainability and decarbonization. ⚡✈️ More here from TechCrunch: https://lnkd.in/gGYfc824

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🎯 Discover Productivity- 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘗𝘶𝘳𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘦 Like you, I'm often feeling overwhelmed by...everything.  For over ten years, the way I've been able to find meaning in the chaos is through The Bullet Journal® Method. It helps me align my daily tasks with my deeper intentions and stay true to what truly matters.   Here's how this system has changed my life: - Take 15 Minutes a Day: I am more aware of my thoughts and feelings. - Reflect Without Shame: I evaluate my thoughts, moods, and actions honestly, but with compassion for myself and for others - Uncover Patterns: I identify behaviors and situations that hinder my goals. - Act Intentionally: I use that insight to make better choices - Purpose and Meaning: I have less FOMO, better boundaries, and more satisfaction with how I spend my time and energy. 𝗔𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝗰𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗱 Bullet Journal® 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝗻 𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗮, 𝗜'𝗺 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗽 𝗶𝗻 𝗟𝗼𝘀 𝗔𝗹𝘁𝗼𝘀, 𝗖𝗔 𝗼𝗻 𝗧𝗵𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗡𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟭𝘀𝘁, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝟱:𝟯𝟬 𝘁𝗼 𝟴:𝟯𝟬𝗽𝗺. Space is limited and seats are going fast! Please join me and my friend, our hostess Elena Krasnoperova- founder of Women of Wisdom Bay Area- to learn how to align your daily tasks with your deeper intentions. All you need is a notebook and pen(or your digital notebook,) and a willingness to commit to the process. Are you ready to focus on what truly matters? Let’s start journaling! ✍️ #BulletJournal #Productivity #Mindfulness #PersonalDevelopment https://lnkd.in/gBn3KHef

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In the earliest stages, startups have to balance two needs: capital to build now, and the focus to create the product that will bring their vision to life. We experienced this journey at Prewitt Ridge, and I had the opportunity to share parts of our story last week at AIAA ASCEND, and I wanted to share some of the highlights here, as well as the video clip captured by my teammate York Zhang! Steve Massey and I incorporated Prewitt Ridge in Dec 2019 and hit the ground running in 2020. Building on our experience as engineers working at SpaceX and Slingshot Aerospace, we set out to take a picks-and-shovels approach to build digital engineering software tooling for engineers like us, who are working at the companies out there using the picks and shovels, here on Earth and soon in space. We quickly found that there were a host of resources available to us. We received initial funding through the SBIR/STTR program, an initiative from the US government to provide early-stage technology funding for small businesses. With two STTR awards and a great university partner at UNM, we began to execute on our product vision. Simultaneously, we received phenomenal support from the Techstars Space Accelerator program. This accelerator helped us focus on the tradeoffs of bootstrapped growth through SBIR/STTR vs traditional fundraising. SBIR/STTR are fantastic sources of capital, providing a partnership that helps small businesses build through non-dilutive funding. But it’s important to remember that these opportunities are focused on specific topics and non-recurring. As a business, it's important to be disciplined on aligning the SBIR/STTR opportunities with your core product features and strategies to ensure they don't impede your teams execution. We made the decision to balance both SBIR/STTR with growth via venture capital. We successfully raised a round of funding, led by Squadra Ventures with participation from Stage Venture Partners, Aurelia Foundry, Wonder Ventures, Haystack, Acequia Capital, Techstars and GC&H We’ve had a wonderful experience working with the VC community, highlighted by the hands-on approach and national security expertise of Squadra Ventures. Going forward, we’ll continue to consider both types of funding. These resources have provided numerous connections to government and industry leaders, and in turn they have helped to focus our tool offering and capabilities. Our journey shows the importance of another balance that startups must strike: reducing risk and optimizing opportunities. Thanks to Techstars, AIAA ASCEND and all of the panelists for a great conversation! If you’re interested in discussing solutions for digital engineering, get in touch! #startups #aerospace #AIAAASCEND

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Sharing my latest post in my series exploring the world of defense-adjacent technology investments. Defending What We Stand For: Demystifying Defense-adjacent Tech Investment for New Investors In this post, I dive into: - What Dual-Use Technology Really Means: How innovations in this space serve both military and civilian needs - The Potential for High Returns: Why A&D investments offer stability and growth, even in uncertain times - Navigating Regulations: How smart investors and founders turn regulatory frameworks into strategic advantages Whether you’re new to this sector or looking to deepen your understanding, I hope this offers some valuable insights. Next, I’ll explore the intersection of climate and defense technology. 🌱💼 Fulcrum Venture Group #DefenseTech #DualUse #Innovation #VentureCapital

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Want to know what the California Air Resources Board had to say about #ACFR implementation last night? Cloverleaf AI monitors these hearings distills insights, so your team can stay focused on doing their job. Reach out for a free customized summary! #cleanfleet #Advancedcleanfleet #Fleetelectrification #EVfleet #Hydrogenfleet

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Must read if you're building in the defense ecosystem. Vannevar Labs is giving new meaning to understanding customer needs by embedding engineers alongside their users, allowing them to quickly iterate and build product directly with warfighters. Scaling the FDE function has been a key unlock to becoming a multi-product defense company and expanding into new missions and customer groups.

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Awesome new initiative Aviel Ginzburg!! When Sean Sternbach and I launched Venture Out, Aviel and Pablo Brown-Rodriguez were silent cofounders. Aviel freely shared his words of wisdom from years of building community in Seattle. He and Chris DeVore were the first money into our community, followed quickly by Flying Fish Partners, Liquid 2 Ventures, M12, Microsoft's Venture Fund, and a huge list of Seattle angels. After growing to 1200+ members in <3 years, running multiple pre-preseed accelerators, a few learnings about building great community and the Seattle Founder Ecosystem: In the early days, no one knows what they are doing. Seek outside advice and guidance from people just ahead of you. Unicorn founders and tech moguls have great stories, but the woman who left amazon six months ago, launched an MVP, and crashed through her first 2 dozen investor discussions will have golden advice. Be open, honest, and vulnerable. Our best events and discussions happened when people let their guard down. No one will spend their life (which a startup requires) to build your idea. They might build something similar and tackle the same problem, but only your life experience and decision-making will make the difference. Share ideas often. Give first. As a ~10 year Techstars mentor, I saw this as the best part of the community. In my opinion, they have lost this completely. Don't come into a community and take. Give all you can, even when it feels counterproductive. Something might eventually come back that changes your life and direction. Even if it never does, you will 1000% feel great about the decision. Play long-term games with long-term people. Naval Ravikant was the first person I heard say this. Surround yourself with committed doers, makers, and visionaries. There are a lot of want-entrepreneurs in the world (which is a good thing; we need more people to take risks), but spend the most time with people in the ring, putting their time behind what they are doing. Learn how to give advice and direction without being evangelical, condescending, or a jerk. Learn to be direct but helpful. It's what you want on your journey, so invest in being a great thought partner for others. A final few notes: 1) No, you likely will never get paid the same amount or make as much money as a founder as you would as an L7/L8 at Amazon. If that is why you are starting a company, you're already in trouble. But knowing Aviel, he is already filtering for this 😂 2) You will likely learn in 6-18 months in the ring as a founder, than the rest of your life combined. Start to write, share your experience, find a therapist, and get ready to unpack a LOT as you go. The only way to make space for new information is to process it, store it, and then let it go. 3) The relationships are the most important part of the journey. I will always remember meetings with Matt Ehrlichman, Asha Sharma, Kyle Sandburg, and Matthew Neagle and the rest of the Porch Group team. Go Aviel!!!

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Fortunate to have had the opportunity to use Meta's Orion glasses before their unveiling on Wednesday. I've tried many head-mounted displays over the last decade, including some parents of Orion and its other ancestors (in some cases, before they joined Meta). There are caveats to such a prototype: it's construction cost and resilience, use in a non-demo environment, when and how a subsequent unit might ship to consumers, etc. I am very cognizant of those limitations and their significance. All the same, Orion is a wonder as you've likely heard. It boasts not just a wider field-of-view and brighter/richer screen than I expected, but it did so in a form factor lighter, more comfortable, more attractive, and with more seamless performance than I expected. Each of these attributes are hard; they are collectively brutal. Eye tracking felt as sharp as the Vision Pro (and it took less time to train) and interactions were easy and natural. The EMG band was tremendous and will soon begin to improve the lives of the disabled (not matter how you feel about head-mounted displays or cameras, this much is clear). Overall, the experience was a blast (one of the games was a ton of fun and immediately made clear we'd one day be riding the bus playing games heads up not our necks cracked down). The future is coming into view.

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Recently, I had the privilege of hosting a workshop for founders and entrepreneurs at my alma mater, the University of Southern California, in collaboration with VentureSpark and the USC Viterbi School of Engineering. It was a fantastic opportunity to reflect on the early days of Supportiv and those intense months leading up to launching the company. Back in 2016-2017, platforms like Ginger.io (now part of Headspace) were experimenting with predictive well-being models—one of the first examples of #AI in #mentalhealth. At the same time, 7 Cups of Tea (a Y Combinator graduate) was tackling #peersupport with some incredible #growthhacking - before most people even knew what that term meant! To my surprise during the workshop, a couple of students raised their hands and mentioned they had served as "listeners" on 7 Cups. One student, only 19 at the time, shared that she had been connected to an adult going through a divorce—with zero formal training on how to help. She had no idea what to do! It hit home how much was at stake with these early models. In fact, the platform’s shortcomings were so pronounced that someone even wrote a book about it: The Ugly Truth About 7 Cups: https://a.co/d/bxesyEh This was exactly the gap Supportiv set out to fill. Back then, 7 Cups’ version of peer support was pairing people who had nothing in common. Supportiv flipped the script. We redefined #peersupport by using advanced #AI to match users with others who were going through similar struggles. Connections are now meaningful with an instant sense of belonging. But we didn’t stop there. Supportiv’s human moderators go through over 100 days of testing and training before they ever interact with users, and their education doesn’t end there. Continuous monitoring, supervision, and ongoing clinical oversight ensure that the support provided is not only real-time and 24/7, but also reliable and high-quality. But we didn’t stop there either... there's so much more to share about how we’ve pushed boundaries and redefined what’s possible. But this post is long enough already, so stay tuned for the next episode!

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