This Week in 757 (Happenings) January 9, 2026

Psionic Brings on New North Ventures to Scale Precision Navigation Technology

New North Ventures brings more than capital to the partnership. The firm specializes in building and scaling dual-use technology companies and is expected to play an active role as Psionic strengthens its internal operating systems and prepares for production at scale. With flight-proven technology already operating beyond Earth, Psionic is now focused on scaling precision navigation systems for broader deployment, positioning the company to play a central role as autonomy expands across space, aerospace, and defense. Read More ➜

757 Angels: From Fragmented Capital to Five Exits in a Decade

Founded in 2015 through the Reinvent Hampton Roads initiative, 757 Angels was co-founded by Paul Hirschbiel, John Paris, and Monique Adams, who also served as the organization’s executive director during its formative years. Across its first decade, 757 Angels invested more than $121 million across 58 companies, ultimately recording five exits. Today, 757 Angels is focused on its next phase — a more inclusive, more active, and more engaged model of angel investing. Read More ➜

What Venture Capitalists Are Actually Looking for Before They Invest in Founders

Investors are always trying to understand, “Why are you the one to solve the problem?” Zakiya Alta Lee, a Principal at IDEA Fund Partners, said “We’re not looking at your financials and your models just to see that you’re going up into the right.” Instead, investors are trying to understand how founders think. Founders don’t need perfection to engage investors. Venture capital isn’t a performance. It’s a long conversation about trust, judgment, and execution. Read More ➜

FERVENT FOUR
E292: The Work Between Business and Government
https://www.linkedin.com/events/7412218715032932352

Most good ideas don’t fail because they’re bad — they fail because execution breaks down.

In this episode, Chris Davidson, founder of Orca Strategies, unpacks why organizations stall, where businesses misunderstand government and public policy, and what actually moves complex initiatives forward. From stakeholder alignment to leadership and execution, this conversation is about turning big ideas into real-world results.

Major Takeaways

• Execution breaks down when no one truly owns the outcome.

• Policy shapes business decisions more than most leaders realize.

• Progress accelerates when leaders stop trying to do everything themselves.

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