Black Angel Group

It started as an idea to diversify venture capital investing, and now, it’s a reality. Fresh out of stealth mode, the Black Angel Group (BAG for short), was formed during the pandemic. BAG is a collective of professionals across Google and Alphabet dedicated to investing in early-stage, venture-backable, high growth startups. Check out this TechCrunch article to learn about our goals and what we’ve been working on during the past year.  #startups #investing https://lnkd.in/ggCDpBmb

I’m incredibly bullish on the power of AI to drive enterprise transformation, revolutionizing how businesses operate and innovate. With enterprises at the epicenter of the next tech revolution, we are looking at an unprecedented $2T market opportunity fueled by productivity boosts. For this reason, I’m thrilled to spotlight Sarmad Qadri and Andrew Hoh, co-founders of LastMile AI, as part of our Black Angel Group founder interview series 🚀 LastMile is a platform designed to help developers seamlessly develop and integrate generative AI models into their applications. Generative AI holds immense potential to unlock new economic opportunities for enterprises, from automating processes to enhancing customer experiences. However, a staggering number of AI prototypes fail to make it to production, often getting stuck at the "last mile." LastMile AI provides the tools to solve this problem, enabling companies to fully leverage the power of AI. Here are a few key takeaways from our conversation with Sarmad and Andrew: 1. Model-Agnostic Solutions for Flexible Enterprise Integration LastMile AI is model-agnostic, supporting leading generative AI models from providers like OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic. This flexibility allows enterprises to select the best models for their needs while avoiding vendor lock-in. 2. Overcoming 'Last Mile' Barriers in AI Deployment While many companies successfully develop AI prototypes, scaling these into reliable, real-world applications is where challenges emerge. LastMile has developed specialized guardrail and evaluation tools to address the unique challenges (e.g. hallucination, brand tone, toxicity, etc) associated with integrating AI models into enterprise environments. 3. The Future of Generative AI Development Both Andrew and Sarmad emphasize a balanced and pragmatic approach to AI development. By focusing on practical applications rather than hype, LastMile is creating solutions that deliver real value to businesses, and they believe that combining traditional machine learning with the latest advancements in generative AI is key to unlocking the full potential of AI in the future. Generative AI has the power to revolutionize enterprise operations, but realizing its full potential requires robust infrastructure to bridge the deployment gap. We at the Black Angel Group are truly thrilled to have invested in LastMile AI, led by experienced founders with a proven track record in AI and machine learning. Their innovative solutions address the increasing demand for AI integration in large enterprises, and their commitment to democratizing access positions them as future leaders in the AI tooling market. Check out our full interview here: https://lnkd.in/eNjw8ZY9

Marketplaces are hard. Baton made it work. Chat Joglekar, Co-Founder and CEO of Baton, shares insights on how his company overcame the challenges of building a successful marketplace for selling and buying small businesses. By focusing on increasing supply and building a high-quality, high-trust platform, Baton has created an ecosystem where buyers and sellers can connect seamlessly. Key takeaways: 1️⃣ Prioritize supply: A robust supply is essential for a thriving marketplace. 2️⃣ Understand your audience: Deeply understand the needs and pain points of your target market. 3️⃣ Build trust: Create a platform that is reliable and transparent. Want to learn more about building successful marketplaces? Check out Baton's journey in our interview: https://lnkd.in/e4sWSXRV #Marketplace #startups #founders #venturecapital

From DC to NY, SF to ATL – the Black Angel Group recently held regional meetups, bringing together our incredible members 🌎 These spaces were an opportunity to share ideas, build relationships, and drive our collective mission forward. We were so excited to see the energy present, as it reinforced the significance of community in our shared journey of angel investing. 🚀 A big thank you to everyone who joined us and those that led these efforts! 

🌟 AI is revolutionizing healthcare, and forward-thinking leaders are leveraging its potential to enhance care delivery, streamline operations, and drive innovation across the industry. Aster Co-Founder and CEO Fifi Kara speaks to this transformative opportunity, highlighting how healthcare providers are skipping traditional digital tools and jumping straight to AI-powered solutions. From transcription to other transformative technologies, AI is rapidly improving workflows and patient outcomes. Learn more about how Aster is making a difference in maternal health in our interview here: https://lnkd.in/gdrZfafk #artificialintelligence #AI #healthcare #MaternalHealth #healthtech #reproductivehealth #venturecapital #startups

🚀 We’re thrilled to spotlight Julia Haber 🎓, Co-Founder and CEO of Home From College, one of our innovative portfolio companies! Home From College (H\FC) is revolutionizing career opportunities for #GenZ by offering gig-based roles that provide practical experience and connect companies with emerging talent. In our discussion, Julia shares insights on: 🌟 The inspiration behind creating H\FC 📈 How they've scaled the platform on both sides of the marketplace 💭 Their vision for the #FutureOfWork and H\FC's role in it As they continue to grow, they would love to work with companies who have an interest in hiring Gen Z and bring them onto their platform. Let us know if you have any interest and/or know of others who may. Check out the full article here: https://lnkd.in/efH4BzQW Learn more about the opportunities available for students and recent grads here: www.homefromcollege.com

🚀 Looking to integrate AI into your business? Here are 5 key best practices from Brandon Johnson, Senior AI Solutions Architect at NVIDIA and Black Angel Group member: 1️⃣ Ensure there’s a clear ROI. 2️⃣ Assess your need for AI. 3️⃣ Secure the right resources and talent. 4️⃣ Build a solid data strategy. 5️⃣ Ensure robust infrastructure. AI has the potential to revolutionize your business, and following these steps is key to achieving sustainable results. Learn more in our full interview with Brandon here: https://lnkd.in/e92XbJDu #artificialintelligence #datastrategy #startups #founders #venturecapital #angelinvesting

After recently announcing a $20M Series A and $100M debt facility, Gynger, a Black Angel Group portfolio company, is now #hiring for a Director of Marketing, primarily responsible for driving product marketing and sales enablement. This will be the most senior marketing position in the company. Gynger is an embedded financing platform built for buyers and sellers of technology. They simplify the end-to-end purchasing process and provide an opportunity for sellers to extend flexible payment options to their customers while still getting paid upfront. Learn more and apply, or share this incredible opportunity with your network: https://lnkd.in/exhxxWen #Fintech #Marketing

🚀 "At Audiomob, we're reimagining mobile game advertising by making it seamless and engaging," shares our CEO, Christian Facey. 🚀 We're excited to be highlighted in Black Angel Group's interview series, where we discuss how Audiomob is changing the game with non-intrusive audio ads. Here are some key insights from the interview: 🎯 Our advanced audio signal analysis targets users effectively without using personal data. 📈 Developers see a 5-15% revenue boost, thanks to our smooth onboarding process. 🎮 Players prefer our ads, with 95% favouring audio over video for an uninterrupted gaming experience. Read the full interview here: https://lnkd.in/e39NpDaS #Audiomob #MobileAdvertising #GameMonetization #TechInnovation