Date: 2026-09-24 2:30 PM EDT Granola: https://notes.granola.ai/d/e2c87152-b3c5-4f6c-86a2-648feff39833 Attendees: Michael Houck, Emil Barr (Candid Network / FlashPass / CivicChain)
Weekly advisory call. Michael advises Emil across fundraising, speaking tour, and portfolio company strategy.
Summary
Weekly sync covering Emil’s fundraising pipeline for CivicChain, speaking tour sponsorships, signature talk repositioning, and business updates for FlashPass and CivicChain.
Emil is heading into fundraising mode. Michael has been working the network with intros. Strongest lead is a DC-connected LP in the GovTech venture ecosystem who may have an interested party. Key target: Rob Hilmer (former Coatue exec, billionaire, previously expressed interest in a $50M fund commitment during Launch House days).
Decisions
- Emil will update his signature talk to be AI-native. Angle: how to start/build a business using AI. Threads the needle — schools want mindset/journey content, AI framing appeals to sponsors, and business schools are actively seeking AI curriculum. Website and positioning doc to be updated accordingly.
Decision scope: client-engagement (Emil’s speaking business). See decision page: Emil: Reposition Signature Talk as AI-Native
Action Items
- Michael: Follow up with Rob Hilmer using NYC trip as a hook — suggest coffee meeting.
- Michael: Forward any investor intros as they come in.
- Emil: Update signature talk, website, and positioning doc to AI-native framing.
- Michael: Build sponsor asset packs for speaking tour — include logo placement specs, video recap assets, social collateral that both schools and sponsors receive.
Fundraising Pipeline Notes
- Strongest lead: DC-connected LP in GovTech venture ecosystem; LP in multiple DC funds; may have an interested party.
- Offline VC (SF): Crypto-focused early-stage fund; Michael’s contact has been asking for deal flow. Not decision-maker yet, but a possible fit.
- Crypto angel: Previously publicly non-supportive during a past scandal; being re-approached. Uncertain.
- Balaji: Unresponsive after 2 emails. Unlikely to pursue further.
- Rob Hilmer: Top priority. Former Coatue exec, now billionaire. Was interested in $50M fund during Launch House days (2022). NYC trip is a potential hook for a coffee meeting.
Speaking Tour Sponsor Update
- Blake (partnerships) working existing sponsor docket. Feedback: sponsors want specifics (logo placement, mentions, turnout expectations), some not allocating event budget this fall.
- Plan: create sponsor asset packs with social media collateral and video recaps.
- Big-brand conversations (OpenAI, Anthropic) ongoing — Michael is on his 3rd contact at OpenAI navigating to the right person.
- Insight from Michael’s creator brand history: HubSpot deals came from 3-4 different people across different teams each time. Finding the right person + timing is the game.
Business Updates
FlashPass: On track to recognize over $3M this quarter, up significantly from 9 months ago. Exit strategy: targeting a PE firm to buy 50-75% stake at ~$70M valuation, likely Q2 next year.
CivicChain: Targeting $10M ARR across 3 states, then raise $15M Series A at a large cap. Ohio contract timing may slip to June given current political situation (governor’s office). Mitigation: package as financial services software, hire a Democratic lobbyist. Burning ~$40K/month with ~$1M runway; a 5-6 month delay is manageable. FlashPass similarly insulated (budget flows through Senate, not governor’s office).
Notable Transcript Excerpts
On the fundraising dynamic: “It’s just all these fucking VC clowns. They need like a16z or like someone to put a stamp of approval on it, and then they all suddenly like it.”
On Rob Hilmer: “He’s like, this guy is nuts in like a good way. He was interested in giving us like $50 million to do a fund [during Launch House]. I have regrets. He’s gotten even more successful since I talked to him in 2022. He’s a billionaire now.”
On AI-native positioning for speaking: “The schools love the mindset stuff, the story journey stuff. But we can position it in a way where it’s like how to do the same thing easier with AI now… schools love AI stuff right now. There’s a state-level grant that universities get to bring in AI speakers.”
On FlashPass exit: “I think if we can get like $70M for the business, sounds great. That's more of an equity-esque type deal than a Series A or Series B. You invested at $9M.”