At our 2025 Great North Ventures Annual Reception, the fireside chats were the centerpiece of the evening. For me, being on stage with our founders and partners was a chance to highlight not only their journeys but also the optimism and resilience of our community. Each conversation offered a unique window into how we are navigating challenges, seizing opportunities, and shaping the future of our industries together.
The first chat was with my brother and Co-Founder, Ryan Weber, and longtime ecosystem champion Graeme Thickins. Sitting alongside them, I was reminded how far our community has come and how much potential lies ahead. We discussed why this AI cycle feels different from past technology waves. Ryan emphasized that vertical AI and embedded finance are reshaping industries by creating practical, revenue-producing workflows, while Graeme highlighted the importance of community and ecosystem support in helping startups grow. My takeaway from that conversation was clear: the combination of purpose-built AI and strong networks is unlocking opportunities like never before.
I then had the privilege of interviewing Heath Schubert and Cookie Lithyouvong, co-founders of HLRBO. They shared their journey from bootstrapping to building a national platform that connects landowners and hunters. What struck me most was their relentless focus on solving real problems for their users and their vision for weaving technology into outdoor recreation. Their story reminded me that with grit and creativity, even traditional industries can be transformed.
Next, I sat down with Tim Li, founder of LendAPI. Tim walked us through how his company is streamlining lending infrastructure, giving partners plug-and-play tools to enter markets faster and more efficiently. His disciplined approach to growth, building patiently before raising outside capital, stood out as a key lesson for every entrepreneur in the room. It reinforced for me the importance of timing and sustainability in fintech.
We closed with Jonathan Treble, founder of WithMe. Jonathan spoke candidly about scaling from coffee shops to multifamily housing, achieving rapid growth while building a fully remote company culture that has been nationally recognized. His message was clear: culture is not an afterthought; it is the foundation that enables teams to thrive during times of growth and uncertainty. Hearing his perspective left me energized about the possibilities ahead.
These conversations captured the spirit of our community, resilient, forward-looking, and optimistic about the future. Each speaker brought a different angle, but together they painted a picture of what it takes to build enduring companies in today’s environment. I am deeply grateful to our founders, our fund’s investors, and partners for joining us, and to the Great North Ventures team for making the night possible.
