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As a principal at M13, Brent leads investments across the firm's consumer investment themes. Prior to joining M13, Brent was an investment associate at Battery Ventures. Prior to that, he served as a strategy & corporate development associate for Samsung NEXT.

Brent Murri

Investor

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Jack helped launch and build consumer brands as a strategy & operations manager at Innovation Department. Prior to that, he was an investment banker at Jefferies.

Jack Gorab

Perhaps one of Amazon’s most underrated products is its personalized recommendations. While it flies under the radar, this product is _everywhere._ On users’ Amazon home pages, on individual product pages, when users add items to their carts, on order confirmation pages, and so on. It appears as “Products related to items in your cart,” “Customers who bought this item also bought,” and “Frequently bought together,” as a seamlessly integrated part of the shopping experience. <br><br>
Tremendous value is driven by this one product: about [35% of marketplace sales](https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/retail/our-insights/how-retailers-can-keep-up-with-consumers), or a whopping $150B in incremental revenue on the Amazon platform, based on 2022 revenue (excluding the AWS segment).<br><br>
Enter a pair of brother co-founders who spotted this trend sooner than most—and built a product to help e-commerce brands achieve the same incremental sales uplift on their own site. <br><br>
In 2010, John and James Erck co-founded a design and development agency for Shopify brands called After Market. Leveraging their backgrounds in software engineering, they began to design Shopify sites and build custom apps for their clients. One request continued to rise to the top of their customers’ wishlists: creating personalized recommendations based on the consumer’s individual buying habits. Understanding the value creation from industry giants like Amazon, the Ercks co-founded [Rebuy](https://www.rebuyengine.com/) to deliver personalized recommendations to the Shopify ecosystem. <br><br>
Rebuy’s software helps brands generate additional e-commerce revenue via online storefront experiences tailored to the individual shopper. Rebuy collects and analyzes customer data across commerce platforms, including data on past customer behavior. This feeds its AI engine, which intelligently predicts customer intent and personalizes the digital storefront with relevant upsells, cross-sells, and automated ordering.<br><br>
In just a few years, Rebuy has established itself as the category leader for personalization and product recommendations on Shopify, building out a diverse customer base of 3,000+ merchants. Rebuy has developed a robust roster of customers (including Magic Spoon, Liquid Death, Feastables, and Patagonia) and integration partners (such as Klaviyo, Recharge and Attentive) to support merchants’ growth. <br><br>
The strength of Rebuy’s ecosystem became clear as we spoke with brands and partners during our investment process. We were struck by the brand affinity Rebuy has created and the quality of experience cited by merchants. That’s not to mention the immediate ROI brands see when they add the Rebuy app to their storefront.<br><br>
<center><img src="//downloads.ctfassets.net/vcjxvx0h1a5n/7XNNMaUOkr8uj8zAj4Xek/9571bc110717346c136d50f1860fd3c3/Magic_Spoon.gif" style="width:35%; padding-bottom:15px;"></center>
<center><p style="color:gray;"><i>Rebuy’s Smart Cart provides a personalized experience, prompting a Magic Spoon customer with upsell products, discounts, subscriptions, and other perks in a dynamic checkout.</i></p></center><br><br>
Recent privacy changes (like Apple’s IDFA changes and Google’s deprecation of the cookie tracking system) have made it more difficult for e-commerce merchants to accurately track customer behavior across digital formats. Customer acquisition has become more costly, and brands have become increasingly focused on maximizing every customer encounter on site, in order to improve conversion and customer value. <br><br>
That’s where Rebuy comes in: increasing average order value and conversion rates to help merchants drive positive unit economics.<br><br>
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        <div class="col-sm-6"><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/vcjxvx0h1a5n/4MXRa3JPDRFljJ24c1FmNV/bc68c9ff92b7edf36b2e908733b150de/www.trysnow.com_12558263_checkouts_7e28b4620d7addfcc87be5123a20a69b.png" alt="Snow" style="padding-bottom:15px;"></div>
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<center><p style="color:gray;"><i>Rebuy client Snow Teeth Whitening pairs a fully loaded Smart Cart with merchandising throughout the customer journey, from pop-up upsells in shoppers' carts to cross-sells at checkout.</i></p></center><br><br>
M13 is excited to lead Rebuy’s $17M Series A round, with an incredible investor syndicate joining us—including Peterson Ventures, Sidekick Partners, R Squared Ventures (Roy Rubin, former CEO of Magento), Dynamism Capital, and strategic angels like Ben Jabbawy (former Founder of Privy) and Nik Sharma. <br><br>
AI-driven personalized recommendations have the power to skyrocket sales, and we look forward to partnering with the Rebuy team to make this a reality for all e-commerce and retail brands. <br><br>
<center><h3>Welcome to the M13 family!</h3></center>

M13 is leading the $17M Series A for Rebuy, a data-driven personalization platform helping e-commerce brands maximize cart values.

rebuy announcement Header

Investing in Rebuy: Supercharging E-Commerce Sales with AI-Powered Recommendations

M13 leads the $17M Series A for Rebuy, whose data-driven personalization platform is helping e-commerce brands maximize value via tailored online storefront experiences.

M13 Leads Round to AI-Powered E-Commerce Recommendation Engine Rebuy

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As a partner and head of talent, Matt coaches our founders on hiring the best talent and building healthy and high-performing cultures. He leads several of our future of work investments. Matt previously built and led the People functions at DigitalOcean and Return Path (#1 Best Place to Work in NYC and #2 in the US, respectively).

Matt Hoffman

Partner

Virginia Lloyd

*__Matt Hoffman__ and __Virginia Lloyd__ have dealt with layoffs before, from both sides of the equation. Matt has spent almost two decades leading talent functions in both Fortune 500 companies and high-growth startups. He is currently a Partner and Head of Talent at M13, where he works closely with portfolio companies on talent acquisition and retention strategies. Virginia is a recruiting consultant and former Head of People at multiple startups, and now spends a significant portion of her time helping and coaching recently laid-off employees find new opportunities.*<br><br>
Losing a job is stressful and traumatic under the best of circumstances. Right now, it feels even more so. <br><br>
There’s been a major run of layoffs in recent months, and for the first time in almost a generation, jobs in the tech sector are not plentiful. In an economic environment where many companies are freezing or slowing down hiring, this time can be fraught with fear, tension, and uncertainty for people who now unexpectedly find themselves looking for new roles. Research has shown that losing a job is one of the most stressful life experiences a person can experience, and when you are facing one of the toughest job markets in years, finding your way back to a job you love can be even more daunting.<br><br>
While overall hiring is still up relative to the beginning of 2020, it does not feel that way at all for those impacted by layoffs. Many workers are finding themselves laid off for the first time in their careers, and we have spoken to multiple people who have not updated their resumes—let alone gone on a job interview—in over a decade.<br><br>
But this does not have to be a terrifying moment, and if you’ve been laid off, you’re far from alone. While there’s no single magic bullet that will relieve the stress of coping with a layoff, we can offer some important tips to help you navigate what comes next.<br><br>
<MenuAnchor id="regroupprepare" text="Regroup & prepare"/>
## Regroup & prepare
##### Most importantly: don’t panic
Being unexpectedly laid off from a job often feels jarring and distressing. Your entire routine, economic support, and even self-worth can be significantly tied to your job. That’s normal and understandable—but don’t let that define you.<br><br>
Almost everyone has been through a job loss, and if there’s one thing we can promise from our numerous experiences, it is that things will get better and you will find something else. More often than not, you’ll be better off than where you were most recently. So take a deep breath (research shows it helps), and know that while this experience may be painful, it won’t last forever.<br><br>
##### Let go of shame
Only a short while ago, candidates felt they had to hide or explain away “gaps in their resumes.” That time is over.<br><br>
Today, recruiters understand people leave jobs for all sorts of reasons, and that often it’s as much about the employer as the employee. It’s not your fault if the company over-hired! Don’t feel like you have to make excuses. Calmly explain what happened and why you’ll be even more careful to find the right fit for you the next time around.<br><br>
It’s becoming normalized for people to proudly own their job searches on LinkedIn, either through the #opentowork hashtag or even via a post letting their networks know that they’ve been laid off. We think both approaches are a fantastic idea. We are thrilled to see more empathy and fewer negative assumptions about only low performers being let go from high-performing companies, because that’s just not true.<br><br>
##### Leverage your network—people want to help
You don’t have to be a social butterfly to network. We all have people in our lives that care about us, both personally and professionally. Don’t be afraid to reach out to personal connections and share your experiences with them. You may be surprised to learn who your friends and family are connected to, and who may be able to help with your search or refer you to someone that can.<br><br>
One of the best things about removing shame and stigma from being let go is that it has become perfectly socially acceptable to talk about looking for new opportunities. Feel free to ask for help, while being respectful of people’s time and space.<br><br>
Also consider leveraging your social network outside of LinkedIn. Platforms like Twitter, Discord, TikTok, and Reddit can offer great ways to tap into communities and networks that are willing to share your search within their networks.<br><br>
If there are companies you are excited about, and you have a connection that works there, it’s a great idea to send that person a (well-researched) message about why you are so excited about the company and ask if they’d consider putting in a warm recommendation for you. Recruiters prioritize and highly value referrals from their colleagues much more than purely inbound applications.<br><br>
<MenuAnchor id="jobsearching" text="Job searching: App..."/>
## Job searching: Applications & interviews
##### Pace yourself and stay focused
Set up regular times to focus on your search, but don’t burn yourself out by applying aimlessly to every job you come across. Looking for a job is a full time job in and of itself, and “panic applying” can waste a lot of valuable time—not to mention it can make you feel discouraged and more anxious about your search when you don’t hear back.<br><br>
Consider setting aside set time to research industries and companies you’re interested in. Look at Glassdoor reviews, reach out to your network for recommendations on companies that fit what you’re looking for, and check to see what openings are available on their careers sites. Once you’ve narrowed down your search, do some digging to see if you know anyone that works within the organizations you’re most interested in, and reach out.<br><br>
##### Think like a recruiter
Recruiters have limited time to look through many applications. Here are some ways to set yours apart.<br><br>
**Write a strong hook—the lines a recruiter will read first that will make them want to learn more about you.** Including a summary at the top of your resume that provides a quick overview of your qualifications is a great place to share the things you do really well. This will also be the first thing a recruiter sees when they open your profile, so make it count!<br><br>
**Don’t be afraid to sell yourself.** It might sound obvious, but this can be challenging to do. Ask a few trusted people what they believe your biggest strengths are. Sometimes we overlook our own value, making it hard to highlight what we do well on our own resumes.<br><br>
**Tailor your resume to each specific job.** One way to do this is to write a summary that speaks specifically to the strengths you bring to the particular role you are applying for. It’s easy to read a job description and mentally check off all the things we know we can do, but if those experiences aren’t explicitly highlighted on your resume, it can be easy for a recruiter to overlook them.<br><br>
Including language from the job description in your resume is another simple yet effective way to draw attention to how suited you are to the requirements of the job (as long as what you write is true). Many companies will use a form of AI to filter for relevant keywords in a resume even before a human sees it. Make sure your resume speaks to not just why you are great—and you are!—but why you are the right person for this specific company, and most importantly, why you can help them solve their problems.<br><br>
##### Interview with your best foot forward
Hiring teams are most interested in understanding your prior impact and how much involvement you have had on the projects you worked on. Be sure to explain what_you_ did specifically. It’s great to be inclusive of the rest of the team and their contributions (“we” is better than “I”), but in an interview, be sure to make it clear what _your_ specific impact was within the context of that team. The hiring manager is interested in potentially hiring you, not the entire team you worked with.<br><br>
While it’s important not to water down your impact, it’s even more important to be honest. Do not take credit for other people’s work. You may be surprised by how many recruiters and hiring managers will do backdoor references with close contacts that have worked with you previously to verify the work you claim to have done. Also, be consistent in your answers and try to offer different examples if you happen to be asked similar questions by two different interviewers. This will help demonstrate depth and versatility in your experience, as well as prevent any potential red flags if the details of one story differ between interviewers.<br><br>
Another thing to remember while interviewing is that “culture fit” can be very ambiguous, but typically ties back to several behavioral traits that shine through while you’re interviewing. The best candidates tend to exhibit signs that they’re curious learners, empathetic, inclusive, self aware, and good communicators. While preparing for your interview, try to think of specific career examples that speak to these traits, and try to keep these in mind as you’re responding to tangible questions throughout the interview process.<br><br>
<MenuAnchor id="aftertheinterview" text="After the interview"/>
## After the interview
##### Communicating after an interview
It never hurts to send a personalized thank you note to each interviewer, especially if there were any points in the conversation that really stood out to you. This helps make your meeting memorable, particularly when interviewers are meeting with multiple candidates and have other work priorities to contend with. A thank you note is also a great opportunity to follow up on a discussion or add more context to something you discussed.<br><br>
If your main point of contact is a recruiter, don’t be afraid to check in with them if you haven’t heard back within a few days. Sometimes people simply get busy and teams are slow to provide feedback, and it can be helpful to make your continued interest known (without being pushy). If you follow up and don’t hear back within a couple more days, try again, or try reaching out to the hiring manager directly. If you don’t get a response after two attempts, it might be worth focusing your attention on other opportunities.<br><br>
Remember, you’re interviewing the team as much as they’re interviewing you, and if there’s not mutual interest and respect for each other’s time, it may be an indication that it’s not a great long term fit for you. The interview stage is a chance for you to decide if the company is worth your investment, and it’s okay to withdraw from the process if you don’t feel like your time is valued.<br><br>
##### Navigating an offer
Once you receive an offer, you have a lot more power than you may realize. Companies will rarely rescind an offer to someone, so don’t be afraid to discuss the details confidently.<br><br>
Even with the recent pay transparency rulings that force many companies to disclose a pay range upfront, it can be difficult to know what part of the range is fair based on your experience. A great way to approach the topic is to ask for clarification on the compensation philosophy.<br><br>
Some questions that you can ask include:
<DotBullet text="How does the company determine &ldquo;market value&rdquo;?" />
<DotBullet text="How do they determine your level of impact?" />
<DotBullet text="What compensation dataset are they using? (e.g., Radford, Pave, Payscale)" />
<DotBullet text="What compensation dataset are they using? (e.g., Radford, Pave, Payscale)" />
<DotBullet text="What percentile of the market are they aligning themselves to?" />
<DotBullet text="How are they comparing themselves within the market? For example if they are a $1B valuation company, are they aligning to other $1B companies or a different pool altogether?" />
By asking some of these pointed questions, you’ll get a much better understanding of whether or not the company making you an offer has really put thought into the offer they gave you. If they can’t clearly explain their compensation philosophy, you likely have room to negotiate your salary higher.<br><br>
There are also other levers you can pull besides base salary. Sign on bonuses, annual bonus percentages, and some other benefits might be up for grabs. For startups or pre-IPO companies, it’s perfectly reasonable to ask about how equity is valued and understand best-case and likely-case scenarios. (The worst case is always zero, so no matter how excited the company is about the potential for equity upside, keep that in mind.)<br><br>
<MenuAnchor id="hanginthere" text="Hang in there"/>
## Hang in there
Being laid off can be an intense emotional experience, but it doesn’t negate your past experience or permanently block your access to future opportunities. Ultimately, a layoff will be a small moment in your decades-long career. Keeping a long-term perspective—and remembering that many, many other people have been laid off and gone on to new and better roles—can help stay grounded and take a measured approach to finding your next opportunity.


Thousands of workers have been affected by the most recent wave of widespread layoffs, with more to come. If you’re one of them, here’s what you can do next.

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If You’ve Been Laid Off, Here Are Your Next Steps

Thousands of workers have been affected by the recent wave of layoffs, with more to come. If you’re one of them, here are your next steps.

What to do after being laid off | M13

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M13 Team

Today, Built In announced that M13 was honored in its 2023 Best Places To Work Awards, ranking on lists for both Los Angeles and New York City.<br><br>
At M13, we believe that we’re brighter together—and that our people are at the center of our success.<br><br>
“Many VC firms don’t focus on culture in the way we do at M13, and so it’s fairly unique for a VC to be recognized for that,” says Matt Hoffman, M13 Partner and Head of Talent. “We credit much of our success in this area to the operating experience our partners bring to the team, where we’ve learned the value of a strong developmental mindset in driving performance.” <br><br>
M13 Partner and Head of Brand Christine Choi adds: “From the start, Carter and Courtney conceived of M13 as a different kind of venture. We designed a firm that prioritized helping our founders with our expertise and an understanding of what they’re going through. This human-centric approach to business is similarly expressed with our own team.”<br><br>
In turn, our strong culture propels our strategic vision. “Nobody wakes up at M13 not wanting to achieve great things,” says Carter Reum, M13 Co-founder and Partner. “We want to create a new innovative model that is talked about for decades to come.”<br><br>
We asked the team to weigh in on what makes M13 a great place to work, from their favorite parts of M13 culture to how they feel supported in life beyond the office. Read on to see what they had to say.<br><br>
## What makes M13 special?
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        <div class="col-sm-2"><a href="https://m13.co/profile/christine-choi" target="_blank"><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/vcjxvx0h1a5n/45KefwlrENbFna37H3xEz9/1c8929aaea0498af0a3bc51943844cdd/m13_team_profilesChristine.png"></a></div>
        <div class="col-sm-10"><td><p style="padding-bottom:10px">“M13’s LA headquarters and NY office are designed for gatherings, connection, and inspiration as much as they are for heads-down work. The play and joy in our staff retreats nourish bonds that make remote collaboration so much better. And every day we learn from our colleagues, whether they graduated from college two or 20 years ago. <b>That learning mindset keeps us evolving and experimenting in times of change and uncertainty.</b> It’s always about the people, and we are very proud to nurture a culture that attracts the best.”
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<p class="italic gray mb-2">— Christine, Partner & Head of Brand</p>          </td></div>
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        <div class="col-sm-2"><a href="https://m13.co/profile/carter-reum" target="_blank"><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/vcjxvx0h1a5n/xSYUPy6R3wv0x7KfUqsfu/facf23e2060343a6c4c310d93fe189fc/m13_team_profilesCarter.png"></a></div>
        <div class="col-sm-10"><td><p style="padding-bottom:10px">“M13 has a culture of appreciating all the contributions of all our various team members on a daily and weekly basis. <b>Everyone works hard and has high bars of excellence, yet the firm’s culture is one that causes people to pause and express gratitude to others along the way.</b>”
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<p class="italic gray mb-2">— Carter, Co-founder & Partner</p>          
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        <div class="col-sm-2"><a href="https://m13.co/profile/michael-martin" target="_blank"><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/vcjxvx0h1a5n/6vVm5IHsXEmxJH9cUPUN4S/9699b3d99e2c26784cd7993e3bb2a15d/m13_team_profilesMichael.png"></a></div>
        <div class="col-sm-10"><td><p style="padding-bottom:10px">“M13’s commitment to excellence through inclusive decision-making is an approach that is foundational to our culture. Our partners work hand-in-glove with their teams to ensure that the projects we pursue are valuable to the firm, while also being aligned with what each side sees as core challenges to be solved.”
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<p class="italic gray mb-2">— Michael, Community</p>          
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## How is M13 different from other places you’ve worked? 
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        <div class="col-sm-2"><a href="https://m13.co/profile/melissa-van-kluyve" target="_blank"><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/vcjxvx0h1a5n/1pyjXbKDM8DnCsrZbST83F/c442e25858a2c82433beb5d13d50b906/m13_team_profilesMelissa.png"></a></div>
        <div class="col-sm-10"><td><p style="padding-bottom:10px">“People at M13 are allowed—and in fact encouraged!—to experiment. We are always looking for better ways to work, collaborate, and provide value to our startup founders. It’s a great place to try throwing different things at the wall to see what sticks.”
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<p class="italic gray mb-2">— Melissa, Propulsion</p>          
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        <div class="col-sm-2"><a href="https://m13.co/profile/sarah-tomolonius" target="_blank"><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/vcjxvx0h1a5n/2rwm8gbdCt2gb4kvLQ8vs0/0e3e14a7b91dfd894e8cad31df1dfe57/m13_team_profilesSarah-T.png"></a></div>
        <div class="col-sm-10"><td><p style="padding-bottom:10px">“<b>Firms often tout their 'smart, collegial culture,' but M13 truly is a place where teamwork is the most important cultural quality</b>. Without any hesitation, M13 facilitates a culture in which a rising tide lifts all boats."
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<p class="italic gray mb-2">— Sarah, Investor Relations</p>          
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        <div class="col-sm-2"><a href="https://m13.co/profile/andrew-grone" target="_blank"><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/vcjxvx0h1a5n/2GH9iKJfpveKbmADYSZXBN/ced8e463faa24b8d9de4a6e0a9a18299/m13_team_profilesAndrew.png"></a></div>
        <div class="col-sm-10"><td><p style="padding-bottom:10px">“The humans! Not just the quality of our team, but the diverse backgrounds and experiences that each contribute to making M13 what it is.”
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<p class="italic gray mb-2">— Andrew, Launchpad</p>          
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## How does M13 support your life beyond the office? 
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        <div class="col-sm-2"><a href="https://m13.co/profile/generra-rodriguez" target="_blank"><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/vcjxvx0h1a5n/3HOv9KdBe4CcA1EzlOybGw/b7cc9c663d0b80d1289cbd9a40c14567/m13_team_profilesGenerra.png"></a></div>
        <div class="col-sm-10"><td><p style="padding-bottom:10px">“M13 has supported me beyond the office during the most difficult time in my life. <b>M13 has given me the space to spend time with my family when I needed to and return to work at a pace that was conducive to my healing journey.</b> The firm remains very human in their approach to ensuring all team members feel respected, supported, and truly cared for in and out of the office.”
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<p class="italic gray mb-2">— Generra, Brand</p>          
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        <div class="col-sm-2"><a href="https://m13.co/profile/lizzie-francis" target="_blank"><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/vcjxvx0h1a5n/3UIFEH0qAq5NqVgd6Eczzf/3bc7da87bdaa1a61f8ae01f3dbcdc976/m13_team_profilesLizzie.png"></a></div>
        <div class="col-sm-10"><td><p style="padding-bottom:10px">“<b>During the pandemic, M13 came together to ensure each of us, and our families, were supported in every way.</b> With great intention and planning, the firm’s Mission Control team created a cadence of virtual events, check-ins, and programming, centered around our core value of Community, to ensure we were connected, collaborative, and #brightertogether. Partners, children, pets—all were welcome. This human approach to life during an unprecedented moment in time embodies the generosity of spirit and caring that is a hallmark of our firm, and it continues to this day.”
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<p class="italic gray mb-2">— Lizzie, Partner & Head of Operations</p>          
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## What makes you feel engaged at M13? 
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        <div class="col-sm-2"><a href="https://m13.co/profile/mark-grace" target="_blank"><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/vcjxvx0h1a5n/4NxiUvqP6u4qU0vNGutaA6/f3776497d077e63aa6514022e08ebda6/m13_team_profilesMark.png"></a></div>
        <div class="col-sm-10"><td><p style="padding-bottom:10px">“<b>It's easy to feel engaged when you're working in an environment where intellectual curiosity is valued.</b> The group collectively puts a lot of time and effort into understanding future trends.”
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<p class="italic gray mb-2">— Mark, Investing</p>          
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        <div class="col-sm-2"><a href="https://m13.co/profile/michael-perez"><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/vcjxvx0h1a5n/5AcnH8zy5ZszSPSViExzS9/6c5de7c54a7fec441e2753eeaddb471b/m13_team_profilesMike.png"></a></div>
        <div class="col-sm-10"><td><p style="padding-bottom:10px">“M13’s culture of gratitude motivates me to do my best work. Whether one-on-one, in Slack, or in all-hands team meetings, gratitudes are common, and they energize everyone to give their best while enjoying the ride.”
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<p class="italic gray mb-2">— Michael, Data</p>          
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        <div class="col-sm-2"><a href="https://m13.co/profile/loren-boyce"><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/vcjxvx0h1a5n/3HwGoshPddvQ8oNWgXFZ15/2c3d87d05e0f21c4c2819a07547d4a5d/m13_team_profilesLoren.png"></a></div>
        <div class="col-sm-10"><td><p style="padding-bottom:10px">“Everyone here brings energy and enthusiasm to their work, and it’s exciting to see everyone leverage their experience and knowledge to support each other and our founders and their teams. <b>Our common love for founders and the journeys they are on keeps me engaged and inspired.</b>”
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<p class="italic gray mb-2">— Loren, Talent</p>          
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        <div class="col-sm-2"><a href="https://m13.co/profile/adam-domian"><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/vcjxvx0h1a5n/3Zx5LVMMbcV45F3eyGn7j1/b4619020805ceabe04d6395d9e3ebec6/m13_team_profilesAdam.png"></a></div>
        <div class="col-sm-10"><td><p style="padding-bottom:10px">“Venture as an industry is fast moving, and M13 as a firm is very responsive to the changes occuring to the markets, to the consumer, and to technology. I find our work at M13 to be very engaging because we get to help drive these changes through our investment decisions, as well as our hands-on work with our portfolio companies.”
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<p class="italic gray mb-2">— Adam, Entrepreneur-in-Residence</p>          
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        <div class="col-sm-2"><a href="https://m13.co/profile/samantha-hughes"><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/vcjxvx0h1a5n/2zK7Tib7MS8CkfjRuzELWd/a41fdc4fa86c4d2fbdd8a87b747e7fef/m13_team_profilesSamantha.png"></a></div>
        <div class="col-sm-10"><td><p style="padding-bottom:10px">“I’m given the room and the support to tackle really challenging problems. <b>I’ve grown twice as much in my five months at M13 than I did in 2 years at my previous position</b>, because I am trusted and encouraged to learn by doing.”
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<p class="italic gray mb-2">— Samantha, Community</p>          
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        <div class="col-sm-2"><a href="https://m13.co/profile/carly-lucas"><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/vcjxvx0h1a5n/01lmVakdWnqXJBqiteqmvE/3b903ae402587efa9d7660ef9d8d8232/m13_team_profilesCarly.png"></a></div>
        <div class="col-sm-10"><td><p style="padding-bottom:10px">“M13’s first annual Brighter Together Week in 2022 was a true embodiment of our commitment to fostering community both internally and externally. This week of events brought together our community members from all different backgrounds and provided the unique opportunity for direct connections between the M13 team, founders, and investors. The success of this week would not have been possible without the support of the entire M13 team’s collaborative efforts in the months leading up to the event.”
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<p class="italic gray mb-2">— Carly, Brand</p>          
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## What is the best part of working at M13?
<div class="container-fluid">
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        <div class="col-sm-2"><a href="https://m13.co/profile/sarah-levine"><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/vcjxvx0h1a5n/BpR3JMMUU7erJSvPB64fI/75f8c9a5abde59f379f6ac3676aca6ce/m13_team_profilesSarah-L.png"></a></div>
        <div class="col-sm-10"><td><p style="padding-bottom:10px">“<b>All voices are heard. I’ve never been afraid to speak my mind</b> or contribute my opinions, and as a result, I’ve been able to have a greater impact through my work here and develop more as a professional than I would be able to anywhere else.”
</p>
<p class="italic gray mb-2">— Sarah, Talent</p>          
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        <div class="col-sm-2"><a href="https://m13.co/profile/karim-bhalwani"><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/vcjxvx0h1a5n/3dDIUFnJQwquYPbUul1Yb1/713f1bc466525b7f235e049d1ed3d423/m13_team_profilesKarim.png"></a></div>
        <div class="col-sm-10"><td><p style="padding-bottom:10px">“The best part of working at M13 is that we place equally high value on our thoughtful process and on achieving outsized outcomes. This is exemplified by the journeys of our co-founders Carter & Courtney, who seeded multiple unicorns—including Lyft, Ring, and Thrive Market—and put us in a position every day to fuel the next generation of companies, like Rho, Shef, Rothy's, Daily Harvest, Lifeforce, Lightning Labs, and Arena Club. It all starts with our obsession with solving problems, commitment to our craft, and, most importantly, having fun throughout the journey. I'm so lucky to get to work at a company where we are equally inspired by the joy of winning and by enjoying the process along our special journey."
</p>
<p class="italic gray mb-2">— Karim, Investing</p>          
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        <div class="col-sm-2"><a href="https://m13.co/profile/julie-terreson"><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/vcjxvx0h1a5n/5f23tMuvfWcAmz6ohFbq6Y/fa5afa72a0e52bff3dc4fc2664e3ec1c/m13_team_profilesJulie.png"></a></div>
        <div class="col-sm-10"><td><p style="padding-bottom:10px">“The people, the collaborative culture, and the collective effort to continually improve. M13 is a community of incredible people who make coming to work every day a true privilege. <b>I am lucky to work alongside people who trust me, uplift me, challenge me, and inspire me.</b>”
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<p class="italic gray mb-2">— Julie, Talent</p>          
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        <div class="col-sm-2"><a href="https://m13.co/profile/arbo-shah"><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/vcjxvx0h1a5n/7Caa7TsEXVqCmMilzB69TZ/cc35711f15c778627b3643a2c670b9ff/m13_team_profilesArbo.png"></a></div>
        <div class="col-sm-10"><td><p style="padding-bottom:10px">“The sense of community here is remarkable, and getting to collaborate and work with everyone here is such a rewarding feeling.”
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<p class="italic gray mb-2">— Arbo, Talent</p>          
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        <div class="col-sm-2"><a href="https://m13.co/profile/abigail-snodgrass"><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/vcjxvx0h1a5n/6PuhQWYIhpEggGXoNpWOfa/902691ca19e7aa50c48ba68e4aaff57a/m13_team_profilesAbigail.png"></a></div>
        <div class="col-sm-10"><td><p style="padding-bottom:10px">“<b>Everyone here is such a great human being with a genuine heart. This is not by accident!</b> The strength and power of 'one team, one dream' is not only felt but actively discussed and pursued. I am consistently thankful for not just my immediate team but the entire team working and supporting each other to do our best work.”
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<p class="italic gray mb-2">— Abigail, Brand </p>          
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<center><h3>Join the team</h3></center>
<center><p style="padding-bottom:10px">Interested in being part of M13 culture?We're hiring, for both our team and our portfolio!</p></center>
<center><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="https://m13.co/careers" target="_blank"><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/vcjxvx0h1a5n/7HVQ4m3OlMw4s46hSn5jxi/f4b5c3a4d46b3e58869157df1d03d419/blog_buttons_career_opportunities.png" alt="join our community" style="width:25%" "padding:20px"></a></p></center><br><br>
Founded in 2016 with offices in Los Angeles (HQ) and New York and a staff of 40, M13 is a consumer technology venture capital firm. We invest in the seed to series A stages of enabling technology startups that power the future of work, health, commerce, and money. <br><br>
M13 is staffed with 2.5 operators for every investor so our founders get access to deep operational expertise, tech tools, and an ecosystem that helps them build faster and better. Where we see whitespace in an industry, our Launchpad develops founding teams, products, and practices to incubate and launch an idea from inception. <br><br>
We believe that advancement is a team mission. Messier 13 (or M13) is one of the brightest star clusters in the Northern sky. It’s full of remarkable individual stars, and when those stars come together, they create something that’s truly greater than the sum of its parts. All of us at M13 contribute to our collective success by being brighter together. Our proven Propulsion platform for success will create more winning companies and demonstrate that when investors and founding teams are aligned on a venture together, we can redefine what’s possible.<br><br>
Built In determines the winners of Best Places to Work based on an algorithm, using company data about compensation and benefits. To reflect the benefits candidates are searching for more frequently on Built In, the program also weighs criteria like remote and flexible work opportunities, programs for DEI and other people-first cultural offerings. 


From a culture of gratitude to expansive opportunities for growth, here’s what our team has to say about what makes M13 a great place to work.

M13 team gathers in outdoor coworking space at LA office.

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Built In Names M13 a ‘Great Place to Work’ — Our Team Tells You Why

From a culture of gratitude to expansive opportunities for growth, here’s what our team has to say about what makes M13 a great place to work. 

What Makes M13 a Great Place to Work | M13

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Congratulations to M13 portfolio company Shef for being recognized by Fast Company as one of the world’s most innovative companies of 2022.

World’s Most Innovative Companies: Shef

A group of people smile while holding out delicious dishes (representing Shef).


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A partner and head of brand/communications, Christine worked with Sir Richard Branson to launch Virgin Group’s North American portfolio and was the first head of communications for Virgin Galactic/Virgin Orbit/The Spaceship Company. She serves on the boards of KIPP NJ and Virgin Unite US.

Christine Choi

When you’re building awareness about your company, it’s helpful to first map out the company story and what editorial content you want to share with the world. That requires a regular cadence of news and stories that you produce and promote on your owned channels. From there, pick out a few timely pieces of news that you can use to pitch the press.<br><br>
But how do you know if your startup is prepared for the spotlight?<br><br>
In this guide, we’ll answer top questions, including:
<NumberedBullet number="1" highlight="What's the role of a PR firm?"/>
<NumberedBullet number="2" highlight="When is the right time to seek media attention?"/> 
<NumberedBullet number="3" highlight="What are common PR mistakes by early-stage startup founders?"/> 

​​Is your startup ready for all that media attention? Here are the telltale signs to track.

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When to Hire a Public Relations Agency for Your Startup

Ready to let the world know about your startup? M13’s guide to hiring a public relations agency can help founders like you navigate media relationships and more.

When to Hire a Public Relations Agency for Your Startup | M13

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Mike is an experienced data strategy and growth marketing operator with experience across commerce, health and fintech. He brings perspective from working full-time and freelance for analytics consultancies, growth agencies, and DTC companies.

Michael Perez

Operator

Every company needs to make pricing decisions, but early-stage teams frequently spin their wheels trying to determine the best way to price their product. It’s far too easy for founders to find themselves overwhelmed, either ending up in analysis paralysis or barrelling forward while over-relying on their intuition. As founders and operators at M13, we’ve experienced this first hand, so we constructed a framework based on our collective experience across Growth, Product, Finance, and Data to guide founders.<br><br>
This guide will introduce you to the framework that M13 uses to help founders launch, measure, and adjust their pricing models. We’ve created this framework as a step-by-step template that founders can use to identify the things that matter, analyze them properly, and proceed with confidence. <br><br>
By the time you finish this module, you’ll know how to filter out the noise and break pricing decisions down into digestible components. This will consist of identifying key concepts, organizing market research, and using it to form a pricing model hypothesis that can be tested in-market, measured, and optimized.<br><br>
__A pricing model, simply put, is a set of rules that a business uses to determine who pays (or is paid), what they pay for, how much they pay, and when they’re paid.__ When you create your pricing model, you must ask questions from both the stakeholder view and the business view.<br><br>
__For stakeholders:__
<DotBullet text="What problem is being solved?" />
<DotBullet text="What are the alternatives?" /><br><br>
__For the business:__
<DotBullet text="What does it cost to serve customers?" />
<DotBullet text="What are the growth loops?" /><br><br>
__Both of these views must be considered before we can make the decisions that comprise the pricing model:__
<DotBullet text="Who should I charge?" />
<DotBullet text="What should I charge for?" />
<DotBullet text="How much should I charge for it?" />
<DotBullet text="When should I charge for it?" /><br><br>
In this guide, we’ll cover:
<NumberedBullet number="1" highlight="Understanding stakeholder and business views" />
<NumberedBullet number="2" highlight="The product journey map" />
<NumberedBullet number="3" highlight="Choosing a value metric" />
<NumberedBullet number="4" highlight="Defining your timing strategy and price scaling" />
<NumberedBullet number="5" highlight="Navigating the art of pricing and discounts" />
<NumberedBullet number="6" highlight="Measuring and optimizing" />
<NumberedBullet number="7" highlight="Takeaways & next steps" /><br><br>
The principles in this guide can be applied to DTC, B2B, B2B2C, and marketplace businesses all within the same framework. Some businesses have two or three major distribution channels that each have a unique set of stakeholders. For example, Form Health sells its weight-loss telemed service DTC, but also leverages referring physicians as a distribution channel. If the physician’s referral is a critical part of the customer journey for a large subset of users, then both the physician and patient perspectives should be considered. <br><br>
This guide will be most helpful for those who aren’t already measuring and optimizing the impact that their pricing models have on growth. Founders who have already chosen a pricing model should reevaluate their pricing model if:
<DotBullet text="Its underlying assumptions haven’t been validated since launch (don’t assume your model is optimal if you haven’t tested it)." />
<DotBullet text="Meaningful new features have been introduced, internally or by competitors (e.g. if you recently delivered a new feature or an additional use-case that targets a different persona)." />
<DotBullet text="The costs to serve stakeholders have changed (e.g. packaging costs have changed so that bundles no longer result in expected cost savings)." />
<DotBullet text="The efficiency of growth loops has changed (e.g. your referral rate is changing over time, leading to changes in viral growth)." /><br><br>
Every step in this guide will apply to the majority of startups, but some startups will benefit from additional frameworks that aren’t included in this generalized material. If you're an M13 portfolio founder or operator who wants help navigating this walkthrough and any other supplemental analysis, please reach out to us.<br><br>
<p style="text-align:center;"><a href="mailto:propulsion@m13.co" target="_blank"><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/vcjxvx0h1a5n/fLVcCpf02N9rG9FxKOaRR/0fa3b91ff29ce01e0bb9444bdb9fc893/contact_us_v1.png" alt="propulsion@m13.co" style="width:25%"></a></p><br><br>
To get started, make copies of these templates:<br><br>
<TemplateLink sysId="how-to-create-a-pricing-model-for-your-startup" elementType="Guide" text="M13 Template: Pricing Framework" type="GSheets" href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Imug7uOkgZLGt3phShrRh7UqZlLauJXxRIvAfGLYGA0/edit?usp=sharing"/>
And refer to the overview on slide 2 before continuing: [How do I use this guide](https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1CTTkZskedT7EB7-Pz_RIvLkz-YXSqgHXiCMEXtqY4Lc/edit#slide=id.g107f91fa7a9_0_6)<br><br>
<TemplateLink sysId="how-to-create-a-pricing-model-for-your-startup" elementType="Guide" text="M13 Template: How to Create a Pricing Model" type="GSlides" href="https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1CTTkZskedT7EB7-Pz_RIvLkz-YXSqgHXiCMEXtqY4Lc/edit?usp=sharing"/>


Learn how to set up an effective pricing model for your B2B or B2C startup.

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How to Create a Pricing Model for Your Startup

Every startup’s pricing model requires understanding stakeholders, defining a go-to-market monetization model hypothesis, and validating it with a measurement strategy.

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Creating a Pricing Model for your B2B or B2C Startup | M13

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Gautam is a venture partner at M13 and a general partner at TCV. Before joining M13, he was the CEO and co-founder of NatureBox and an investor at General Catalyst.

Gautam Gupta

Congratulations! Your business idea has gained traction, and you’ve garnered seed funding to test your idea in the marketplace. It’s a tremendous accomplishment, and it’s important to take a moment to celebrate. <br><br>
Once that moment has passed, however, you’ll realize a lot of work still lies ahead. While you build your product and business, you’ll also need to simultaneously look ahead to your Series A funding—securing a partner (or partners) with the desire and ability to invest in your business’s future. <br><br>
To secure Series A funding, you’ll need to think carefully about the needs your business is designed to meet, and why they’re crucial at this juncture. As you find product-market fit, don’t forget that you don’t need to go on this journey alone.<br><br>
In this guide, we’ll explore the following steps we recommend to secure Series A funding:
    <NumberedBullet number="1" highlight="Creating a timeline" />
    <NumberedBullet number="2" highlight="Pre-fundraising steps" />
    <NumberedBullet number="3" highlight="Active fundraising stage" />
    <NumberedBullet number="4" highlight="Finalizing the deal" />
    <NumberedBullet number="5" highlight="Utilizing available resources" />


Get ready to secure Series A funding with these fundraising tips, templates, and tools.

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From Seed to Series A: How to Develop an Effective Fundraising Strategy

M13, an early-stage venture capital firm, shares tips for creating an effective fundraising strategy to secure Series A funding for your startup.

Planning a Fundraising Strategy That Works | M13

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Adam is an EIR, working with M13's portcos to craft and navigate go-to-market strategies and accelerate growth. Previously, Adam held multiple roles at Unilever, S.C. Johnson and Target with a track record of success accelerating, expanding globally and turning around brands and businesses.

Adam Domian

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As a partner and head of operations, Lizzie leads the Propulsion team that helps propel our founders’ businesses forward. She was previously the COO of sneaker marketplace GOAT Group, CMO of Gilt Groupe, and founding partner of Brilliant Ventures.

Lizzie Francis

Casper: once valued at $1.1 billion. Allbirds: valued at $1.7 billion. Warby Parker: [now valued](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-04-21/warby-parker-is-said-to-plan-u-s-ipo-as-soon-as-this-year) at $3 billion. [Direct-to-consumer brands](https://www.fool.com/the-blueprint/power-direct-consumer-model/) have benefited from massive valuations and profit margins over the past decade. <br><br>
The direct-to-consumer distribution model appeals for a few reasons. Almost 40% of digital consumers visit a brand’s website prior to making an offline purchase. DTC provides brands with deep and valuable customer insights. And DTC eliminates many of the supply chain costs that can weigh down profit margins. <br><br>
However, brands that operate solely as DTC distributors are limiting their growth potential. “Ninety-eight percent of DTC brands are out of business—they just don’t know it yet,” Gary Vaynerchuk, founder and CEO of VaynerMedia told [Harvard Business Review](https://hbr.org/2020/03/reinventing-the-direct-to-consumer-business-model) in March 2020. Distribution to other retail partners leads to broader consumer awareness and sales. While this paradigm is shifting rapidly with the pandemic, 87% of all consumer spending in the U.S. still takes place offline. <br><br>
This guide will take you through the basics of expanding your DTC brand into new digital platforms and physical retail spaces, giving you a more complete understanding of omnichannel distribution. We’ll walk you through the process of deciding when and where to expand your distribution, as well as focus specifically on the pros and cons of selling via Amazon. <br><br>
Inside, we will cover: 
    <NumberedBullet number="1" highlight="Defining omnichannel distribution" />
    <NumberedBullet number="2" highlight="Expanding beyond DTC" />
    <NumberedBullet number="3" highlight="Pros and cons of Amazon" />
    <NumberedBullet number="4" highlight="Selling on Amazon" />
    <NumberedBullet number="5" highlight="Distributing outside of Amazon" />
    <NumberedBullet number="6" highlight="Case study: Madison Reed" />
    <NumberedBullet number="7" highlight="Resources we love" />
    <NumberedBullet number="8" highlight="Takeaways & next steps" />

Understand when and where to expand your distribution, plus learn the pros and cons of selling via Amazon.

Novi, M13's astronaut mascot, reaches toward an infinity system of distribution represented by a laptop with an image of a shopping cart, to a store, to a box.

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The Importance of Omnichannel Distribution

This M13 guide for early-stage founders can help you decide when and where to expand your distribution, including the pros and cons of selling via Amazon.

The Importance of Omni channel Distribution | M13

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A partner and head of finance at M13, Brian was the former COO at Piano Media. He previously served as CFO and advisor to various startups including Glamsquad and DigitalOcean, and started his career in web infrastructure engineering with Akamai Technologies.

Brian Carroll

Choices that you make early in your startup’s journey will determine how easily you can scale. Even choices that seem simple now, like QuickBooks versus FreshBooks, can either facilitate a smooth transition from 10 to 100 employees—or create hurdles you’ll have to jump over as you grow. <br><br>
Small companies need to perform all the same financial functions as a large company: pay vendors, manage payroll, invoice customers, produce financial reports, and so on. When you’re setting up your company’s operating systems and processes, you need to: <br><br>
    <DotBullet text="Look professional " />
    <DotBullet text="Stay nimble and not overcomplicate things" />
    <DotBullet text="Avoid getting locked into a system you’ll need to change later" /><br><br>
As a small company with ambitions to grow, you need systems that are error-resistant and labor-light. We’ve implemented the systems outlined in this guide at several early-stage companies that have gone on to successfully scale. We believe that following this plan will set you up for future success.<br><br>
In this guide, we’ll take you through the fundamentals of finance and operations for your early-stage startup:<br><br>
    <NumberedBullet number="1" highlight="Choosing a corporate structure " />
    <NumberedBullet number="2" highlight="Setting up finances" />
    <NumberedBullet number="3" highlight="Creating accounting systems" />
    <NumberedBullet number="4" highlight="Finding a location" />
    <NumberedBullet number="5" highlight="Managing expenses and documents" />
    <NumberedBullet number="6" highlight="Understandng KPIs and burn rates" />
    <NumberedBullet number="7" highlight="Resources we love" />
    <NumberedBullet number="8" highlight="Takeaways & next steps" /><br><br>
Consider this the ultimate finance and ops stack that can accelerate your growth in the early stage and beyond.

Get actionable advice on everything from setting up accounting software to securing office space.

Novi, M13's astronaut mascot, floats on top of a disk-shaped operations area.

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The Finance and Ops Stack for Early-Stage Startups

Set your startup for success with M13’s tips on accounting, accounts payable, business credit cards, payroll and benefits, office space, and more.

 The Finance & Ops Stack for Early-Stage Startups | M13

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As DigitalOcean's COO, Karl built the business from first product to >500 employees & $250M ARR over six years and prepared it for its eventual IPO (NYSE: DOCN). Having previously managed and exited two startups over a 20 year operating career, Karl is now M13’s managing partner and oversees its day-to-day operations.

Karl Alomar

Watch any Hollywood interview, award ceremony, or acceptance speech, and you’ll probably hear artists, writers, or directors talk about the process. The magic stems from the right creative process, they say. <br><br>
Product development—especially digital product development—isn’t so different. Developing a product that fits the marketplace and sustains profitable growth, indeed, is all about process.<br><br>
In this guide, we’ll explore the concept of the agile process, articulate what it means to digital product development, and offer you what you need to know on relevant topics, including product-market fit, customer feedback, and testing and experimentation.<br><br>
What we’ll cover will most likely be of maximum benefit to startups focused on digital product development. And while several of the concepts we’ll discuss certainly can apply to physical product development, the principles we’ll focus on are most effective in a digital context.<br><br>
To help build the type of products that can change consumer behavior, we’ll explain the basics of:  <br><br>
    <NumberedBullet number="1" highlight="Understanding product-market fit" />
    <NumberedBullet number="2" highlight="Making sense of common methodologies " />
    <NumberedBullet number="3" highlight="Picking an agile approach" />
    <NumberedBullet number="4" highlight="Testing the market" />
    <NumberedBullet number="5" highlight="Getting customer feedback" />
    <NumberedBullet number="6" highlight="Applying 5 successful tips " />
    <NumberedBullet number="7" highlight="Resources we love" />

Learn best practices—and common failures—of digital product development using agile and lean methodologies.

Novi, M13's astronaut mascot, is pointing to a visual cyclical process from idea to product. 

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A Founder’s Practical Guide to Finding Product-Market Fit

M13’s product-market fit guide recommends the top tools and software to manage process and communication for your startup’s agile and lean methodologies.

Product-Market Fit: A Guide to Agile and Lean Methodologies | M13

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Tania is the co-CEO of LifeLabs Learning. She is also a psychology researcher, leadership trainer, and co-author of the book, “The Leader Lab: Core Skills to Become a Great Manager Faster.”

Tania Luna

In our latest installment of guides in the [Human Capital series](https://m13.co/humancapital/), we’re focusing on the People Systems that ensure high performance—especially in the midst of change, uncertainty, and ambiguity. We began with a guide on setting up an effective [manager system](https://m13.co/guide/how-to-support-and-develop-effective-people-managers). <br><br>
Now it’s time to zero in on the key practices that let growing companies set org-level, team-level, and individual-level goals that drive success. Across the entire spectrum of People-focused tools, systems, and processes, we still don’t know of a better way to drive performance than to set clear goals and give developmental feedback against those objectives. We’ll talk about the first half of that equation today.<br><br>
**In this guide, we’ll cover:**
<NumberedBullet number="1" highlight="" text=" Why companies need goals" />
<NumberedBullet number="2" highlight="" text=" 3 ways to set goals" />
<NumberedBullet number="3" highlight="" text=" Takeaways & next steps" />


Drive startup success by learning how to set goals at three levels: org, team, and individual. 

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The 3 Levels of Goal Setting That Every Startup Needs

Use this Human Capital guide to discover how setting achievable goals at the organization, team, and individual level can help drive success at your startup.

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