Moonshot - a Crescent Fund Newsletter

Moonshot - A Crescent Fund Newsletter

[cue the music]

Welcome to Moonshot, the first-ever Crescent Fund newsletter. You haven’t heard of us? Well, it’s probably time you did:

We are a group of students, some might say nonconformists, across Southern California running SoCal’s first student-led VC firm.

What’s Our Thesis?

To say the very least, venture capital is in need of a renaissance. Allow us to set the scene for you…

[birds chirping] 

Once upon a time, long, long ago in the far lands of the East Coast and the Bay Area, VC was born. However, as long and far ago as that time was, the startup scheme changed, but VC didn’t. Southern California arguably holds the world's highest concentration of top engineering and liberal arts colleges that get overlooked in the shadows of VC’s birthplace and the demographic that has long controlled the narrative. But no more. We are here to change that - writing $25k checks to student & alumni founders from SoCal universities at the earliest stages.

TLDR

• Deal flow: In 2023, 479 founders = spoken to & 7 checks = written

• Events: San Diego Startup Week, Southern California Blockchain Conference, Anderson’s Tech + Society Conference, and more!

• Portfolio Highlight: 222

• Crescent Team Highlight: Lola Mafoud (USC Head of Platform)

  Lola’s contrarian take: sparkling water is better than regular water

Let’s Dive a Bit Deeper…

DEAL FLOW

With unmatched access to student innovation from Southern California’s Crescent, deal flow has certainly not been dry. In 2023, we have spoken to 479 founders and written 7 checks.

This year we invested in:

1. Nanome (UCSD)

Ever design molecular structures with antiquated 2D desktops and email screenshots? Maybe not… but thousands of scientists have and they’re certainly not happy about it, so Nanome is enabling real-time, 3D collaboration through a virtual reality platform built specifically for chemistry and drug discovery.

2. Flexwash (UCSB & UCSD)

Who even owns a car anymore? The answer is a lot of freaking people and this startup is out here exponentially improving the efficiency of how you get your car cleaned through a cloud-based operating system for car wash operators.

3. Creatorland (USD)

As if creators didn’t already act like they are on another planet, this platform is creating the next professional network for the creator economy.

4. OneText (USC)

As Dua Lipa said…OneText is all it takes…or maybe that’s not how it went but anyway this is a text marketing platform for e-commerce, helping brands 10x SMS revenue through text-to-buy conversations and frictionless payments.

5. ENTR (USC) 

To help you and every other frat bro try and start the beer brand they’ve been dreaming of, ENTR is creating a new age of seamless food & beverage formulation and compliance.

6. Roopairs (Cal Poly SLO)

Tired of Chipotle running out of your favorite chicken? Chances are their equipment is broken and they’re playing phone tag with manufacturers, parts dealers, and repair providers. Enter Roopairs, field service & warranty management software for commercial kitchens… hangry no more!

7. Santé (Santa Monica College)

Ironic that we are college students pushing this cause…but say goodbye to Fake IDs, the next generation POS system for liquor stores is here.

Building something? At Crescent we back SoCal’s boldest founders at the earliest stages. Click below to apply for funding.

PORTFOLIO HIGHLIGHT

Built by Keyan Kazemian (UCI), Arman Roshannai (USC), and Danial Hashemi (USC), 222 is creating a full-stack itinerary curation and social facilitation platform for both new & existing connections.

Unsatisfied with today’s suite of social products used among their generation, the team has built a solution for individuals to meet others through serendipitous social encounters. Rather than getting exploited of time & attention, while being forced to choose social connections through a few self-identifying vanity factors or identity-group affiliations, people can find meaningful and authentic experiences IRL at the tap of a button.

So… how does it work? Basically, 222 helps you find your people at the places you’ll love. Users take a 20-minute personality test, generate a unique psychological profile, and get invited to a curated dinner with their 3 most compatible social partners based on an AI-powered algorithm. Afterward, everyone is sent to a larger venue with other 222 groups. It’s not a dating app or friend-making service. There aren’t any profiles…and absolutely no scrolling or DMs. People just say “yes” and explore chance encounters they’ve never experienced.

Sounds pretty cool, right? Well, don’t take our word for it!

@alex.paisley.stedman

Ever been on a 40+ person blind date? #222 #222la #whatis222 #thismustbetheplace #la #events #meetup #new #newfriends #hotgirlwalk #social... See more

On the venue side, 222 partners with local restaurant and hospitality businesses, providing access to unique and scalable distribution, ultimately driving more GMV. End users pay a curation fee to attend events while venues are charged based on attendance. To date, 222 has facilitated dozens of events for thousands of 18-31 year-old members across LA. The team is excited to expand into NYC in late 2023 and early 2024.

TEAM HIGHLIGHT

Our team is growing by the minute, and it’s only right that we shine some light on the talent we have.

Speaking of, you may wonder who this sharp character is delivering this content to you…I’m Lolita Mafoud, but you can call me Lola…and yes, I am highlighting myself. I am the new Crescent Fund Head of Platform, a USC student from NYC (with, of course, a superiority complex over it). My blood is compromised 90% of bagels, hummus, and Pellegrino. My interests currently lie in innovation in e-commerce, marketplace, and community building concepts. I would go all Satoshi on you all to seem mysterious, but frankly it does not align with my personal brand nor Crescent’s. We are an open book, so seriously, ask us anything.

Each week we will be highlighting one of our partners to show what trends they are bullish on at the moment, what wakes them up in the morning, and if we’re lucky, maybe we can reveal their deepest darkest secrets.

Interested in joining our community of founders, operators, and funds? Click below to reach out.

SETTING THE STAGE

This newsletter, and along with it: our radical transparency, is now embedded into who Crescent Fund is; so stay tuned for our monthly Moonshot Crescent Newsletter. Until then.

I’ll see you when I see you…