Elevate Capital

06/01/2026

Every company has an authentic story. The founders who build companies that last have a sharper purpose, deeper community ties, and the courage to be honest.

Your personal experience is your most valuable competitive insight.

Our latest blog breaks down three practical frameworks to help you uncover, shape, and share your story.

✅ Origin Arc: Uncovers your founding moment
✅ Community Impact: Focuses on who your story is really about
✅ Three-Layer Pitch: Gives you a flexible, scalable structure

Start building trust and driving growth today!

🔗 https://elevate.vc/authentic-storytelling-entrepreneurs-stand-out-win-trust-grow-business/

05/27/2026

The "hustle" doesn't have to lead to a health crisis. To shift from an unsustainable grind to long-term resilience, entrepreneurs must recognize that stress is a natural part of the process, not a personal failure.

Here are three strategic steps for balancing your well-being:

✅ Prioritize self-care
✅ Create simple decision frameworks
✅ Separate your identity from the company

🔗 Read our guide to learn more about the shift: https://elevate.vc/unseen-pressures-preventing-entrepreneur-burnout-protecting-wellbeing/

05/25/2026

On Memorial Day, we honor the heroes who gave everything for our country. We are forever grateful for their bravery, dedication, and legacy.

05/20/2026

For most entrepreneurs, the stakes are deeply personal. Founders are often responsible not only for their own livelihoods but also for employees, customers, and families who depend on the business's success.

The emotional pressure of responsibility is immense, yet founders frequently treat rest, exercise, and self-care as luxuries rather than necessities.

🔗 Learn more about making self-care a strategic investment in your long-term success in our guide: https://elevate.vc/unseen-pressures-preventing-entrepreneur-burnout-protecting-wellbeing/

05/15/2026

What an incredible few days at the May 11–12 ! Elevate Capital was honored to sponsor the Keynote Fireside Chat featuring Lance Armstrong (General Partner, Next Ventures) and T.A. McCann (Managing Director, Pioneer Square Labs).

"It was an inspiring conversation on the parallels between endurance sports and entrepreneurship, covering discipline, resilience, and the mindset necessary to reframe challenges and overcome long odds," said Ben Nahir, PhD, Elevate Capital Partner.

Elevate Capital had outstanding portfolio representation on stage and at the founder booths, with 14 companies showing up strong:

⭐ Biomotum, Birch Biosciences, Burch Energy Services, Canopii, CleanHaus, Hemex Health, Photon Marine, Ren Energy, Renewcat, Thaena, Toast Wear, Trace Biosciences, Vivifi Medical, and Waterleaf.

"The speakers didn’t shy away from the hard conversations: from current tax legislation to barriers to hiring and building in Oregon, and what it takes to attract top talent and capital to our ecosystem. That kind of candor is what moves the needle. I walked away with meaningful new connections across founders, investors, and ecosystem partners. Grateful to be part of such a vibrant and growing community," said Ben.

05/14/2026

In 2012, while living on the West Coast and frequently traveling with her toddlers, The Sky Squad founder and CEO Julie Melnick often found herself overwhelmed by the sheer volume of gear she had to manage. She wished for just one thing: an extra set of hands.
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This overwhelming struggle sparked her passion for improving the travel experience.

Today, that vision has evolved into SkySquad: a service that delivers essential support right at the airport. By offering an on-demand extra set of hands, SkySquad helps travelers of all ages to enjoy their journeys without going it alone.

In this Elevate Capital founder spotlight, Julie shares:

✅ The importance of self-care
✅ Memorable customer stories
✅ Advice she’s gathered along the way

🔗 Read Julie's story: https://elevate.vc/skysquad-extra-hands-extraordinary-journeys/

Founder Julie Melnick shares advice on entrepreneurial challenges, overcoming burnout, and inspiring stories that fuel SkySquad.

05/11/2026

The baby apparel industry is caught in a cycle of seasonal churn: buy, discard, replace. goumikids was born from firsthand experience: as mothers, they recognized how much better baby clothing could be.

In our latest founder spotlight, co-founder and CEO Lili Yeo discusses how …

- Reducing operational waste and complexity creates a more responsible business.
- Goumi Kids provides families with baby apparel that works, lasts, and is built to be passed down.

⤵️

🔗 Read Lili's story: https://elevate.vc/small-moments-big-impact-goumi-kids-is-redefining-baby-clothing/

Co-founder and CEO Lili Yeo discusses her inspiration, the brand’s philosophy, and the lessons learned throughout Goumi Kids' journey.

05/10/2026

Important cybersecurity information from HacWare!

The recent Canvas LMS cyberattack is a reminder that attackers rarely stop after the first breach. After claiming to steal data from thousands of schools, hackers reportedly returned to deface school login pages in an effort to pressure victims into paying a ransom.

Organizations need to prepare for “comeback attacks” after an initial security incident.

Here are a few important steps schools and businesses should take immediately after a breach:

🔑 Reset privileged credentials
🛡️ Revalidate SSO and MFA configurations
🎣 Increase phishing awareness because attackers may use stolen emails and messages for follow up attacks
🔍 Audit third party integrations and dormant accounts
📊 Enable continuous monitoring and anomaly detection
⚠️ Patch vulnerabilities quickly and verify remediation actually worked
📢 Communicate transparently with users about potential phishing risks

Hackers often return when they believe defenses are weak or incident response is incomplete. Recovery is not just restoring systems, it is validating trust across your environment.

Cybersecurity awareness and rapid response matter more than ever. Try HacWare.com today!

https://techcrunch.com/2026/05/07/hackers-deface-school-login-pages-after-claiming-another-instructure-hack/

05/10/2026

Motherhood and entrepreneurship share a quiet, powerful truth: both require you to believe in something deeply before the rest of the world can see it.

More than 65% of the companies in the Elevate Capital portfolio are led by women. We recognize the immense dedication required to run a business, as both paths demand:

🌱 Resilience on the hard days
🤍 Grace under pressure
🚀 Unshakable belief that what you’re nurturing will one day stand on its own

To every mother and mother figure who pours their heart into building something extraordinary, . 💐

05/07/2026

✨The May Elevate Capital newsletter is packed with inspiration and big wins!

✅ Strategies for preventing entrepreneur burnout and building long-term resilience.
✅ Inspiring founder spotlights featuring Lili Yeo (goumikids) and Julie Melnick (The Sky Squad).
✅ Huge congratulations to Elevate Capital portfolio companies on their awards, achievements, and recognition.
✅ Meet our three new Venture Partners and learn about the EmpowerPitch program for women founders.

🔗 Read the May news now: https://mailchi.mp/6cdd248a4b98/elevate-capital-may-2026-newsletter