In a time where we’re more connected than ever through technology, many entrepreneurs and investors feel isolated and lack authentic relationships to support their personal and professional journeys.
The traditional education system and startup ecosystem frequently let them down with universities producing graduates with impractical skills and crippling student debt, and accelerators offering narrow curriculums only on building VC-friendly business models.
But SVRN Ventures, an innovative startup out of Los Angeles, is taking a unique community-driven approach to fill this void. By fostering meaningful connections and equipping members with forward-looking educational resources through their mastermind series, they aim to cultivate authentic relationships that spark collaborative opportunities and mutual success.
As David Li, SVRN’s Co-Founder and COO, explains, “We create strong human connections by curating deeply engaging social experiences and future-proof education curricula for founders and investors.” He adds, “The mastermind series is a set of weekly online gatherings connecting people to various domain experts while providing them with the opportunity to connect in breakout groups and interactions with other members. Through this ecosystem, we’re able to facilitate investment syndication and source venture studio opportunities.”
At its core, SVRN provides a digital network and in-person social club for entrepreneurs and investors to connect, learn together through an expert-led curriculum, access trusted resources, and explore potential co-investment and business partnerships. Members range from cross-industry founders to accredited investors, fund managers, and family offices.
The results of SVRN’s community-driven approach are already materializing within its first year of operation. Since its launch in Spring 2023, the company has rapidly grown its curated network to over 100 members, facilitating collaborations and investments directly stemming from the connections cultivated within the group.
A prime example is member Terry Egan, an investor who provided funding to fellow member Dominic Kalms’ philanthropy fintech platform B Generous after the two connected at a SVRN event last December, where the community raised money for the Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation from Santa Barbara, California.
“The conventional routes for entrepreneurs and investors can be extremely isolating, leaving them without the meaningful relationships needed to truly support the intense personal and professional journeys they’re on,” explains Ben Spievak, CEO and Co-Founder of SVRN Ventures. “At SVRN, we’ve crafted a modern solution – a meticulously curated community that intertwines social connections, future-focused education, and investor networks. By immersing our members in the right mix of people, experiences, and resources, we organically facilitate the authentic connections that pave the way for collaborative opportunities and mutually beneficial successes.”
Beyond just making connections, SVRN takes a hands-on role – spending time deeply understanding both the investor and entrepreneur’s needs, then leveraging its trusted network to facilitate introductions, provide fundraising support, and advise on deal structuring.
But it’s not as simple as just applying and joining. SVRN has an intentional vetting process to curate the right members for their community. “We’re looking for people who are action-takers and have already created or achieved something, whether that’s launching their own startup, actively deploying capital, or exploring the next chapter after an exit,” explains David.
SVRN is open to those who are deeply dedicated to their missions, hungry to keep learning, and proactive about supporting others on their journeys. This includes younger entrepreneurs in need of mentorship as well as investors and domain experts who have earned or inherited resources they want to put towards impactful endeavors.
Looking Ahead
With their sights set on the future, SVRN is now raising $1 million to expand its mastermind series in collaboration with experts from top universities like Stanford and Georgetown. The founders’ ambitions are audacious but rooted in an authentic desire to solve major societal pain points.
“The current education system and many communities have lost their way,” David notes. “Too often, they prioritize transactional relationships or have an overly narrow focus. At SVRN, we aim to revive the true essence of impactful communities – building genuine human connections as the bedrock.”
As David and Ben continue building SVRN in the years ahead, their vision is for SVRN to become a central hub empowering a new generation of mission-driven entrepreneurs, investors and lifelong learners. One that fosters collaboration and deal flow opportunities across the entire venture value chain – from startup founders all the way to large capital providers such as family offices and institutional investors.
Published by: Holy Minoza
