🕵️ DYOR: Thinking like a detective

Hi {NAME}, Welcome to Week 2 of our series on evaluating deals! How do you evaluate an investment opportunity? Last week we talked about how the market and sector can be important to research and what to look for. This week, we're talking all about the founders. Building a successful business from the ground up is an incredibly challenging pursuit. There’s a reason for the stereotype that tech entrepreneurs are ramen-eating, garage-dwelling insomniacs: building a company takes hustle, determination, and sacrifice. Think great leadership is the only key to success or that there's only one type of great startup leader? We cover all that and more in this week's lesson! [Week 2: The Founders]( Want to start practicing evaluating investments? Republic has over 30 different deals closing on or before May 1, 2022. Start sifting through and honing your practice on these before they're gone —[ view them all here](. ⏰ Closing Soon ⏰ It's the last week to invest in these deals! To see all the companies raising on Republic click [here](. [KUL MOCKS]( are original hand-crafted cocktails, with no alcohol. They retail through Amazon, Total Wine, Festival, Woodman's, HyVee, and Harmons. They were featured on Forbes, ABC, NBC and CBS News. [Learn about KUL MOCKS»]( [Hawaiian Bros]( is a growing restaurant chain serving island-inspired food and a compelling guest experience to the fast casual space. They more than doubled their revenue from 2020 ($20M) to 2021 ($55M+). [Learn about Hawaiian Bros»]( [Datagran]( centralizes a company's data, analyzes it, runs Machine Learning, and connects the output to business applications, fast—all without coding. They have 3,000+ customers including Starbucks, Domino’s, P.F. Chang’s, Subway. [Learn about Datagran»]( [Altwork]( creates ergonomic office solutions that keep remote workers healthy, connected, and productive. Some of their investors include VC firm Black Diamond Ventures along with [North Bay Angels]( the “oldest and largest angel investment group north of the Golden Gate.” [Learn about Altwork»]( [Cria Hair]( is a 100% organic, topical elixir for those experiencing hair fall, thinning hair, itchy scalp. Cria Hair has been featured in [Vogue, Vanity Fair, Tatler, & GQ](. [Learn about Cria Hair»]( [Epoch Financial Group]( offers mortgages, insurance, title & property transfer services, and builds proprietary technology for lenders and consumers. They have $5M revenue over the last 12 months as of March 2022. [Learn about Epoch Financial Group»]( [Sienna Sauce]( is returning to Republic after an appearance on Shark Tank, and looking to support a mass retail expansion. Their gluten-free, low-sugar sauces have gained hundreds of 5-star reviews across all platforms. [Learn about Sienna Sauce»]( [Mighty Monkey]( is on a mission to make delicious, gluten-free cookies. Mighty Monkey cookies debuted in Whole Foods stores in NYC, and now are carried in 120+ retail locations. [Learn about Mighty Monkey»]( [Applaudable]( is a new social media platform disrupting the $177B social media ad market. Every post on Applaudable will be shoppable, giving anyone the ability to buy what they see on the spot. [Learn about Applaudable»]( [HEVO]( is launching their wireless Electric Vehicle (EV) charging platform and cloud-based app—the first system of its kind in the global market to meet the universal safety and performance standards developed by UL and the Society of Automotive Engineering (SAE). [Learn about HEVO»]( [Unbanked]( is a global neo-bank platform that bridges the gap between legacy financial systems and blockchain-based asset management. They are a crypto-focused Visa FastTrack Enablement partner, and serve 10+ whitelabel customers including Paxful, Nexo, and Litecoin Foundation. [Learn about Unbanked»]( [Guac]( is a new kind of savings tool designed to automate saving so users can achieve their financial goals on schedule, without ever having to think about it. Guac has seasoned advisors from Honey and Acorns teams. [Learn about Guac»]( [Xiggit]( provides employers with a low-cost, administration-free benefits platform built specifically for hourly workers. Xiggit’s founders have three exits total and SaaS and fintech experience (Visa, Paypal, Affirm). [Learn about Xiggit»]( [Inside.com]( provides newsletters, how-to guides, events, and an online community for founders and executives. Inside.com is led by entrepreneur and investor Jason Calacanis, and backed by Sequoia Capital (investors in Apple, Instagram and DoorDash) and Mark Cuban. [Learn about Inside.com»]( [Cabinet Health]( provides eco-friendly medicine, sustainable packaging, and personalized care. Since their founding in 2018, Cabinet Health has brought in $27.7M in revenue on their first $6.6M raised. [Learn about Cabinet Health»]( [Aashna]( is an eco-social-housing platform offering accessible wellness, community, and sustainable living options. Members can enjoy mindful living, climate-smart architecture, and face-to-face or digital social club experiences. [Learn about Aashna»]( [Down to Cook]( was founded by a PhD formulation scientist; they make nutritious, plant-based ground meat alternatives that use whole, fresh vegetables. Down to Cook has national distribution with Imperfect Foods and Misfits Market, and plans to launch in Whole Foods next month. [Learn about Down to Cook»]( --------------------------------------------------------------- Crypto Updates The Secret Service is [cracking down]( on crypto crimes - Agents and analysts have been actively tracking the flow of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies on the blockchain for several years. The U.S. Secret Service has reportedly seized more than $102M in crypto since 2015 (254 cases). - Cases include investigations into the Romanian National Police and North Korean and Russian cybercrime syndicates that pose as threats to the U.S. and its citizens. YTD, [crypto stocks have lost more value than cryptocurrencies]( - Top crypto stocks have failed to beat the performance of digital assets so far this year. Coinbase -42%, Silvergate Capital -22%, Marathon Digital -36%, and Riot Blockchain -34% - The two biggest cryptocurrencies, Bitcoin and Ether, are down 12% and 19% respectively on the year. --------------------------------------------------------------- Office Hours 🚨 The Investor Relations team will be hosting Republic Office Hours every Wednesday from 2-2:30pm ET on Zoom! Come with any and all questions you have about investing on Republic. The next event is on April 27, 2022. Register below! [Republic Office Hours Registration]( --------------------------------------------------------------- Republic Reads 📚 - [TechCrunch]( Republic Capital-backed Indian crypto exchange CoinDCX as they top a $2B valuation. - [The Block]( Republic Capital lead Flipside Crypto’s Series A. Flipside provides blockchain analytics and business intelligence to crypto companies. Head of Republic Capital, Boris Revsin, wrote more on why they invested [here](. - [Republic Blog]( How many startups should a portfolio have? - [Republic’s Evaluating Startups School]( Week one on evaluating the market. --------------------------------------------------------------- Latest Deal Updates ⚡️ [Rule Breaker Snacks]( “After winning a contest called The Big Find, we will appear on QVC on 4/20. Looking forward to selling lots of snacks!” [Cabinet Health]( “We have launched as the first sustainable medicine company on [Grove Collaborative]( the largest online sustainability retailer.” [KUL MOCKS]( “We are expanding distribution into 16th state, Tennessee. What's up Nashville! Meetings with regional & mass retailers in progress. HERE WE GROW!” [Guac]( “Aligns with Intermestic Partners to bring Guac to Mexico. Lead Attorney Sergio Chaves-Moreno of Intermestic Partners is an experienced lobbyist & wrote the fintech law passed by the Mexican congress.” [Punch]( “Rough Seas need an even Rougher Captain… Meet our Chief Content Officer and Co-Founder [Aaron Gingrich]( Crowdfunding investments can result in total loss, and may be impossible to resell. Read about risks. This brief should not be construed as investment advice. Always consult with trusted professional advisors before making investments. Private investments are inherently illiquid and may result in total loss. Not FDIC or SIPC insured. Republic Core LLC ("Core") provides technology and support services to OpenDeal Inc. and its affiliates (collectively, the "Republic Ecosystem"). Republic Note holders and as well as users of the site and services maintained by the Republic Ecosystem, regardless of and their activities on or relating to the Republic Ecosystem, are subject to the applicable terms of service, in their entirety. Core cannot give investment advice, analysis or recommendations with respect to any securities, and is not a registered broker-dealer, funding portal or investment adviser. Securities offerings displayed by Core may be facilitated by its affiliates in the Republic Ecosystem, OpenDeal Portal LLC d/b/a Republic, or OpenDeal Broker LLC d/b/a The CapitalR, Republic Capital Adviser LLC, Republic Deal Room Advisor LLC, Fig Publishing, Inc. or by a third-party issuer. This email is intended only for accredited investors with a pre-existing relationship with the Republic Ecosystem. Please notify the sender immediately if you have received this email by mistake, then delete it. Private investments are risky and illiquid, never invest more than you can afford to lose, consult with your trusted advisors and do your own diligence before investing. Republic Retail refers to OpenDeal Portal LLC dba Republic, an SEC-registered crowdfunding portal, OpenDeal Broker LLC, an SEC-registered broker dealer, Republic Core LLC, Republic Deal Room Advisor LLC, an exempt reporting investment adviser, Fig Publishing Inc., and Republic Realm Inc. and its subsidiaries. Submissions by issuers: Issuer updates are submitted by issuers following guidelines [here.]( All quoted language under Issuer Updates are statements directly from Issuers. These statements have not been assessed for validity or accuracy. Please conduct your own diligence and research. 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