Meghan Cross

Exciting News! Avra van der Zee is joining us as General Partner! Hard tech is really hard at the earliest stage, which is why we do things differently at HAX. As well as investing money, we have built infrastructure with physical labs, complete with scientists and engineers, all run with operational rigour to create the best outcomes. The core HAX team of Ji Ke, Susan Schofer and Andrew Gollach are investors who’ve spent decades in the trenches, doing exactly what our startups need to do. And now that team gets better with Avra joining. Avra was part of the core team at JUMP bikes (SOSV investment) and helped create a great outcome for SOSV with the sale to Uber. At Elemental Impact, she helped create a world-class platform for climate founders and invested in some fantastic companies. Lots of exciting stuff to work on together — including the HAX Plasma Forge in Princeton, a public/private partnership bringing cutting-edge plasma research to commercial reality and much much more. Welcome (back) to SOSV!

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Congratulations #ParadigmEmissionsTechnologies!!! Brown and White Ventures has reached an agreement to invest in Paradigm, a pioneering clean-tech startup based in Rochester, NY, focused on advancing the sustainability of diesel engines through innovative emissions-reduction decarbonization technology. Founded by #JohnErbland and Neville F. Rieger, Paradigm Emissions Technologies designs and manufactures a patented decarbonization plasma technology device that significantly reduces CO₂ emissions, improves engine fuel efficiency, and lowers fleet maintenance costs. With the potential to eliminate global CO₂ at gigaton levels, Paradigm Emissions Technologies provides a pathway to net-zero emissions, while helping fleets operate cleaner, longer, and more sustainably. “We are proud to be investing in the team at Paradigm and its outstanding system,” said Jim Aroune, General Partner with Brown and White Ventures, LLC. “It presents an opportunity in the emissions control sector, and the significant diesel engine base that operates in our communities and our industrial, construction and municipal sectors.” “We’re honored to have Brown and White Ventures join us as a strategic partner in this next phase of growth. Their investment is a strong vote of confidence in our technology and our mission to deliver practical, real-world solutions that reduce emissions and improve air quality today,” said Erbland, founder, and CEO of Paradigm Emissions Technologies.  Paradigm Emissions Technologies has developed its system to address pollutants produced by diesel engines without requiring filters or chemicals.  Its device creates a low-maintenance alternative to traditional filtration systems that is compatible with both exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) and downstream aftertreatment configurations. “Investing in Paradigm aligns with our commitment to energy and technology startups, and manufacturing in Western New York and the Rochester/Finger Lakes regions,” said Aroune.  “The Paradigm system offers fleet operators a compliance-ready option without having to replace equipment or modify support systems.” Paradigm Emissions Technologies will launch pilot programs in 2026 in fleets operated by:  #MonroeCounty Casella, #LewisTree and Regional Transit Service (#RTS) to validate performance and demonstrate real-world impact. “This support (from Brown and White Ventures) will accelerate our ability to scale, deepen our pilot programs, and bring our technology to more fleets and OEMs that can’t afford to wait for other powertrain technologies to become viable,” said Erbland. Its investment in Paradigm Emissions Technologies will mark the first time the venture capital fund will invest in a startup founder who is an alumnus of St. Bonaventure University University. Erbland earned a B.A. in Economics from #SBU. The investment in Paradigm is also Brown and White Ventures first portfolio company doing business in the #Rochester #FingerLakes region.

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I spoke with Christien Louviere of BDE Capital about his journey from a $330mm exit to becoming an independent sponsor. Christien shared excellent insights for folks looking to partner with business owners, rather than buy sellers out completely. Below are a few of the topics we covered: - Why he moved from “zero-to-one” startups to a buy-then-build strategy - How Christien's background shaped a focus on growth vs. cost-cutting - Why 20–40% rolled equity is central to his deal structures—and how it builds trust with sellers - Using scenario analysis with AI tools to evaluate management teams and uncover hidden key-person risks - How to identify when a $3–5M EBITDA company truly has a middle management layer—or is still founder-reliant For anyone investing in or buying small businesses, Christien’s approach provides a fresh lens on growth, alignment, and deal structuring. 🎥 Watch the full interview here → https://lnkd.in/ekfkaiej 🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://lnkd.in/e86Agx6V

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