TIA Ventures February Newsletter

February 2025

Author

TIA Ventures
February 20, 2025

Recent Rounds & Investments

ACKWEST Raises $7M Seed Round

ACKWEST is a market research technology platform providing enterprises with best-in-class first-party data to drive better and faster business decisions. The company leverages advanced technology, deep and proven operational expertise, and user-centered solutions to set new standards in first-party data. ACKWEST is redefining how data is created, shared, and leveraged for business information, with an extreme focus on transparency, efficiency, and collaboration. The round had participation from highly successful investors from the market research industry.

Meet Harry Landis: Our Newest Investment Associate

From sports analytics in high school to founding startups at Duke, Harry has never taken the traditional path—and that’s exactly why we knew he belonged at TIA.

He didn’t just study entrepreneurship; he lived it. His startup, Fanful, began as a bold idea to gamify fan engagement but hit early roadblocks. Instead of giving up, he pivoted—shifting from B2C to B2B, landing a major partnership with Phoenix Rising FC, and proving firsthand what makes a great founder: relentless persistence, smart iteration, and laser focus. That mindset is exactly what we look for—not just in the startups we invest in, but in our own team. Welcome to the team, Harry! Let’s build. 🔥

Highlights: What Made Harry Stand Out?

🏈 Quarterback Mentality - Obsessed with Winning: “As a quarterback, when things go wrong, it’s your fault. And when things go right, you give credit to everyone else.” Harry played QB in high school, where he learned that leadership means owning mistakes, being able to work under pressure, and lifting up the team. (He even brought his entire offensive line into his “Athlete of the Week” photo instead of taking a solo shot.)

📊 Data Junkie - Founder DNA: “In high school, I became obsessed with sports analytics. I started my school’s sports analytics club and carried that passion into Duke, where I realized there wasn’t a great infrastructure for it—so I started building.” Harry’s love for data and strategy started early, shaping how he thinks about problem-solving, decision-making, and ultimately, investing. He has built multiple startups, learned from failures, and turned lessons into wins.

🎨 Gen Z Standards - Relentless Operator: “If a product isn’t intuitive and beautiful, I’m already checked out.” Growing up with Apple products, Harry is convinced that ugly, clunky tech is doomed to fail. He brings to the team a fresh set of eyes and focuses on friction in adaption when assessing startups.

📚 Pivoting from Failure - Dedication: “One of the biggest lessons I learned building my startup? Less is more. If you try to be everything, you end up being nothing.” His first version of Fanful (a sports fan engagement app) failed because it tried to do too much. Instead of giving up, he pivoted to a leaner B2B model, landing a deal with a pro soccer club.

📺 Check out our full conversation with Harry in our latest video podcast.

TIA Ventures Partner Insights

Are Early-Stage Startups Being Managed Like Public Companies Too Soon?

One of the biggest shifts we have been observing in venture capital is what we call the 'public marketification of private markets'—holding early-stage startups to the same rigid metrics as public companies. While accountability is important, applying public market standards too soon can limit a startup’s ability to experiment, iterate, and find its true direction.

We believe early-stage companies need the space to explore. Some of the most successful businesses didn’t start with their final idea—they evolved. Take Fair Harbor 🩳 , for example. When Wills Hapworth and Andy Greenfield first met Jake Danehy at the Colgate University Incubator he originally wanted to launch a late-night hot dog stand 🌭 . Instead of pushing him to optimize that business, they encouraged exploration. That led to a thriving apparel brand made from recycled plastic, generating tens of millions in revenue.

This raises an important question: Are we measuring startups by the right metrics 📊 ? When companies are forced to optimize for short-term growth too soon, they risk missing their true potential. Investors often send mixed messages—pushing for rapid scaling while also demanding profitability.

As early stage investors, our role isn’t just capital—it’s helping founders prioritize the right things at the right time. The best companies strike a balance between disciplined execution and the freedom to innovate.

We would love to hear what you think — leave a comment, let’s discuss!

Portfolio Company News

Bevi Appoints Former Drizly Executive Cathy Lewenberg as New CEO

Lewenberg will guide Bevi into its next phase of growth, pulling on her wealth of experience in the food and beverage sector and proven track record of scaling businesses. The addition of Lewenberg comes at an important time for Bevi as the company continues to scale its healthy product offerings while achieving its goal to make the beverage industry more sustainable. This move will support co-founder and board member Sean Grundy’s shift to focusing on new and emerging lines of business, beginning with international expansion. Read More.

Moved and HappyCo Announce ‘Plugins’ Integration; Enhances Resident Onboarding with Streamlined Move-In

Through this collaboration, Moved clients can access HappyCo's inspection tools during the resident onboarding phase, ensuring that residents and property management teams are aligned on move-in requirements and inspection completion. This integration aims to increase awareness, compliance, and overall efficiency in handling inspections. Read More.

James Blake Strikes His Next Record Deal using Indify Platform

James Blake has become one of the most prominent artists speaking out about the traditional music industry structures, and how he’s trying to find alternatives. Blake used Indify to build a “dream team of partners” including Good Boy (funding and strategy), Stellar Trigger (marketing), Crowns & Owls (creative) and Silo (sync) to work on his new project. Read More.

Soil Connect Secures Funding, Launches New Products, and Welcomes New CEO

SoilConnect, the leading dirt marketplace and dirt service provider for the construction and soil industry, is excited to announce several major milestones marking its transformative year. These advancements highlight the company’s commitment to innovation, customer success, and market leadership. Read More.

TIA Ventures Team