•
Learnings From Fund I: Time Is Your Best Friend
Talks about Venture Capital, Investing and Fundraising
SM
Shawn Merani
Managing Partner at Parade Ventures
Los Gatos, California
Overview
Shawn Merani is the Founder and Managing Partner at Parade Ventures, where he specializes in venture capital and entrepreneurship, investing in early-stage companies like Northstar and Stayful. He also holds a faculty position at UC Berkeley, teaching business development and corporate strategy, showcasing his expertise in the field and commitment to educating future business leaders.
Work Experience
Founder and Managing Partner
2018 - Current
Parade Ventures is a investment firm
Lecturer
2022
I teach New Venture Finance at Haas. Course MBA236V.
Guest Lecturer
2013
Guest lecture for Shomit Ghose (Amazoogle, INDENG 185-002) 2021-present, Guest lectured for Adair Morse (New Venture Finance, MBA236) 2016-2019; Contribute to the Executive MBA program 2018-present; Periodically do teach-in sessions around investing; Volunteer with the Lester Center; Participate in the LAUNCH program
Advisory Board Member, Bay Area
2019
ALPHA is a private network for tech leaders, focusing on mobile crypto mining.
Advisor
2017
I advise Skydeck, the official accelerator of UC Berkeley.
SkyDeck Berkeley is a research university accelerator that serves as an apex startup launchpad for affiliated entrepreneurs.
Advisor
2017
Advisor
2015
MAX is a music sponsorship platform that helps brands cut through the marketing clutter and reach new audiences. We align brands & emerging artists, quantify the value of those relationships, and activate artists as brand ambassadors across radio, streaming, social and stage. Local Music Sponsorship drives marketing results – learn how.
Music Audience Exchange develops a platform that facilitates music partnerships and provides marketing services.
Raised $13,582,220.00 from Interlock Partners and Method Capital.
Co-founder and Partner
2014
http://flight.vc/
Flight Ventures is a venture capital firm that invests in SaaS and financial services.
Advisor
2014 - 2018
Acquired by KAR (NYSE: KAR) in February 2018.
OPENLANE is an online auction company for automotive dealers to buy and sell wholesale vehicles.
Raised $35,000,000.00 from Meritech Capital Partners, August Capital, RPM Ventures, Meritech Capital Partners, August Capital, Zilkha Venture Partners and RPM Ventures.
Founder, Private Shares Marketplace
2012 - 2013
Co-founded the private shares marketplace at Liquidnet. We enabled asset managers to invest in late stage private companies via marketplace software. $150MM+ GMV in first 2 years.
Liquidnet is a global institutional investment network that intelligently connects the world’s investors to the world’s investments
Raised $260,000,000.00 from TCV and Summit Partners.
Senior Director Business Development
2008 - 2012
IPO May 2010 (NASDAQ: RLOC)
Senior Director Corporate Development
2008 - 2012
IPO May 2010 (NASDAQ: RLOC)
Business Development Intern
2008 - 2008
ReachLocal provides online marketing solutions for small and medium-sized enterprises.
Raised $127,335,670.00 from Hercules Capital.