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Relevance Ventures This venture capital fund invests primarily in health and wellness Series A and B companies. They support “value-add” businesses they think will produce above-market returns, and have a positive impact on the world. Talkiatry is a service that delivers mental health services to areas without psychiatrists. Petscreening is a service that helps multi-family households with pets.
In an exclusive interview, Dean Newton, chairman and general partner of Relevance Ventures told me, “We are focused on our founders and their vision and how we can help them to achieve it.” Does the company make people healthier?” Is it restoring balance in areas where there is a real imbalance? “We invest only when our skills can be added to the cash we are investing in order to increase that likelihood.”
Relevance
Dean Newton and his brother Cameron Newton founded Relevance. Native brothers and sisters are motivated by their purpose. There’s no doubt that our work has been a blessing. It can be tiring but, when everything comes together, it’s not so bad. The exhaustion, on the other hand, is motivating because the world has improved for many people. I can’t describe it. Dean Newton says, “In many ways this is the ideal job.”
Le Mend cofounder Betsy Scanlan says, “We were so fortunate to have Dean and Cam from Relevance as our first investor.” Le Mend is creating Good PatchHomeopathic transdermal wellbeing solution, distributed by retailers across the country, is intended to counterbalance unnatural imbalances that we face every day in an industrialized world.
Scanlan says, “Our products represent our best efforts to help those who are disconnected from the natural world, as we cannot put our arms on them and say, ‘Take deep breaths, everything will be fine’.” The Newtons didn’t find it strange. The Newtons got it. They got it.
Le Mend
Chelsie is the CEO and cofounder of CarooPlatform that helps organizations recognize employee achievements and value. Caroo’s predictive analytics helps identify people at risk and help brighten up their lives with products from companies founded primarily by members of historically underrepresented communities.
Relevance is a great company. I’ve worked with many investors who have been excellent, but Relevance has always put me first. In an exclusive interview, Lee told me that Relevance cares about things that are important. We had dark days following the pandemic, when we didn’t know if Caroo was going to survive. The Newtons helped us remember that Caroo’s mission was well worth fighting for. “They were exactly the ally that I needed.”
Josh Withers
When we first met Relevance, we assumed they were like any other VC, said Leila Kahani and David Manshoory CEO and COO AlleyoopA company that delivers multi-use products to make the world a better place. They really cared for our mission. We were introduced to new partners that lowered our cost and created new channels of sales. The engagement was real. The team worked round the clock to answer calls, texts and emails. Alleyoop received more support from them in a matter of weeks than any other VC had in many years.
Alleyoop
Bob Youakam, co-founder and Chairman of Passport Labs is one of the most prominent mobile payment providers in the U.S. He provides low cost transit and payments solutions for municipalities that encourage the use and adoption of mass transit. In an exclusive interview, he told me that “every founder dreams of having an investor who is relevant.” In an exclusive interview, he said: “Relevance is what every founder hopes to be as an investor.” They weren’t joking, I think. These people should be known by every founder. “I wish I could use a bullhorn to shout out their praises to the entire world.”
Dean Newton is certain that the work he does with Relevance aligns with his purpose in life. In a society plagued with social media, instant satisfaction, shocking income and racial inequality, constant strife and constant strife in which self-worth can be defined so easily by praise or relative victory, I do not claim to have found my life’s purpose. My goal would be to have a good night’s sleep. It is my goal to listen to the life that surrounds me and to Mother Earth, so I can help her as much as possible. It’s a privilege to be able to assist some of the founders in making magic, restoring balance and fulfilling their dreams. Many people will never experience that sensation. Newton: “I’ve been extremely fortunate to experience it multiple times.
Newton warns those who are looking for their purpose in life not to take the path that society says is most appealing. Newton says, “Don’t just become a lawyer because there is a law school nearby. The job I have now is terrible. You lose your soul. Everybody wants to be rock stars. Now that is the dream life. Fame, fortune and glamour. A Kardashian at your dinner table. What if you never knew your true friends? As a child, I was raised in a family of entertainers and as a lawyer for music represented some top musicians. Newton says: “Let me dispel the illusion that the job is a pain. Instead, be open to new ideas and perspectives. Trust your gut. “Keep your ears open to Mother Earth’s whispers.”