PnR Monthly - May 2024 NY Tech Week is HERE

🎤 MEET THE RUNNER: Spencer Chandlee

How did you learn about/get involved with Pitch and Run?

I had heard about PnR so many times before I finally came. I was never a huge runner so I was worried about embarrassing myself and not being able to finish – but it was finally when a founder who knew one of the OGs told me it’d be the best group of people I’d have the chance of knowing, I gave it a shot.

Tell us about your NYC ties/life/connections.

I grew up in NYC after moving around a ton in early years (East Coast to London to Austin, 12 times before high school), and knew I was going to come back after university. It also helped that my last startup had our headquarters in NYC, and I was flying back and forth while still in school so it felt like the natural conclusion. The week after I graduated in California, I moved everything I owned back to New York and have never looked back.

What are some favorite memories from Pitch and Run or favorite things you’ve gained from PnR?
One of my favorite runs was one we did in a downpour– still had 8-10 people show up with smiles all around, some recounting that their favorite weather to run in was the rain. Everyone talked with everyone and there was never a dull moment. A favorite event all together was the holiday white elephant party, just seeing everyone exchange gifts in sweaters outside of the running gear we usually saw each other in.

Some of the best pieces of advice I’ve heard from PnR:

• If you’re going to do something, you should do it all the way

• (relating training to accomplishing something) you can’t expect to go from walking to running a marathon, and it’s the same thing for going after a goal. Step by step.

• If there’s a red line going through a bruise or injury, go to the hospital

• Runners are a good kind of crazy

What do you do for work? Tell us about your company/role?

I run an accelerator as well as a venture studio, while hosting events for founders and funders in NYC. The accelerator, which I’ve run since leaving my last startup, is both a nonprofit and a fund. (“How do you make money then?” they ask) I love the model we run – where the accelerator cohorts are entirely free and non-dilutive, and we try to give as much value as possible, same as other programs. The fund has its own economics but the accelerator is driven by sponsors who share the same ethos and partner with us to help founders. We’ve helped founders raise over 240M after we spun out of Techstars 6 years ago.

The venture studio I get to help build startups 0-1 and 1-1000 and then hand back/off the reins to founders. I’ve had the chance to work with and invest in some incredible people, and I wouldn’t trade the work I do with this for the world.

Events I’ve done everything from a VC legal panel to a black-tie gala with a nonprofit. I usually try to keep things educational and based on the goal of connecting specific groups (typically founders and funders), but sometimes I’ll host things adjacent – this week I had an event at Andy Warhol’s old brownstone where we had some amazing pieces showing (from Warhol, to Basquiat, to Herring, etc.) and brought together people from all different cultures and backgrounds, including founders and investors. The one before that was TechDay for 4.5k people in the startup and tech world. So it’s a mix, but I have some cool plans for the rest of the year that will be announced soon.

How did you break into venture/accelerators? Any advice for others looking to break in?

I was lucky to have been brought into the accelerator after leaving my startup, and the nature of essentially being Switzerland to founders and investors (we don’t take any space on the cap table unless we invest at the same terms as everyone else), I can help everyone without having ulterior/side motivations. I didn’t care if an investor ignored or didn’t like a deal I brought, I just kept bringing more. And more. And more. And eventually they’d like something enough to take the call and invest. That’s definitely not sustainable on a 1-1 basis, but having a pipeline and getting to know amazing founders can only help.

It would be hard to convince every firm you like to be a venture scout, but you don’t need an official title to bring deals to people. From my experience, which is not nearly as vast as many people in PnR which I want to preface, I would find one or a couple of founders you truly believe in and try to be as helpful as possible with connecting them to investors. If it’s a good opportunity, funds and accelerators will see that you know high-quality founders, and they'll pay closer attention to ones you bring in the future. Worst case they don’t, but you’ve now had a touchpoint with the firm and can go back with something more catered to their thesis/focus. There’s no downside in advocating for a founder.

Favorite under-the-radar places or things to do in NYC?
I will be very upset if this finds its way onto TikTok or Reels, but the Genesis Tea House in Chelsea. You go through the car dealer to the elevator up to this spot looking out at the water and WSH, with the longest menu of teas and drinks you’ve ever seen. You can opt for a tea experience where you get to experience traditional tea practices dating back 1300 years, or sit down at a table or elsewhere and just enjoy the space with people.

You don’t need to love tea to enjoy it, but it helps.

What’s on deck for you this summer, the rest of 2024?

I have some major plans for the accelerator and studio which I’m excited about that should help founders even more than they do currently. One of the incubated companies, an art startup called Blanco, is also working on some incredible stuff to support artists and showcase in alternative spaces. On the events side I will have a pretty awesome announcement during my NYTW event on Monday (with a prize for attendees), Demo Night, that will lay out plans for the rest of the year. Finally, I’m excited to showcase the PNR syndicate fund and some of the angel investments I’ve made recently, looking to make many more this year and in the years to come.

🚀 PRODUCT NEWS

💫 PNR Ventures – The Syndicate We’ve officially launched the syndicate publicly, PNR VC! Now with PnR members helping on the operations and on IC, we’re excited to work with the chapters around the country to find the best founders outside the mold (who are also excited by pitching on a run). We’ll be releasing more info soon so keep an eye out for notifications and join the Angel/accredited investor group chat!

💫 Sophie launches Art of Broth in it’s first grocery store, Follow Your Heart. Sold out in 4 HOURS! Fear not, there’s still plenty in stock to fuel your runs this summer. Use CODE20 for a special PnR discount.

🗞️ OTHER NEWS

🚨 KIRO (getKIRO.com), modern chiropractic clinic founded by fellow PnR member, Sherjan, invites all PnR members to come get their first chiropractic adjustment for FREE ($75 value). Click here to book!

🚨 NIKKI GOT MARRIED! Congratulations!

🚨 Oscar is leading a 5K run in Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx for a good cause TOMORROW, June 1. https://runsignup.com/Race/NY/Bronx/iBEFiT5KInvitational

🚨 Jess performed at a SUFFs pre-show! This lawyer is shining a light on women’s voices especially the years following the right to vote.

🚨 Pitch and Run EARLY BIRD LAUNCHED this month! Don’t forget to register for every Thursday morning at 7am!

🚨Order your Pitch and Run gear

📆 #NYTechWeek2024 

🗓️ 6/3 - Pitch and Run #NYTechWeek Kickoff https://lu.ma/ouaie12u 

🗓️ 6/6 - Pitch and Rum! #NYTechWeek https://lu.ma/wt7y169r 

🗓️ 6/7 - Pitch and Run - #NYTechWeek Finale https://lu.ma/50xrkq9b 

All Pitch and Run Events https://lu.ma/pnr

🍰 BIRTHDAYS

[June 6] Kunal

[June 8] Avantika

[June 10] Javad

[June 16] Jeanne

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