Welcome (back) to Excoastal, what once was a newsletter covering deals, startups, venture capital, and more from Chicago to Boulder, Detroit to Columbus, and beyond. I’m Evan Lonergan, a native Midwesterner.
Wow, it really has been a minute. I won’t lie, the time warp from 2021 to 2025 is a wild one.
When the last issue of this newsletter was published, I was a wide eyed and wet behind the ears law student, the COVID-19 pandemic was in its third mutation, Jack Dorsey was still running Twitter, Clubhouse (remember that?) was all the rage, and FTX was the fastest-growing crypto exchange. How times have changed…
And how they’ve remained the same. I’m still deeply involved with the Midwest startup community - now as a service provider - counseling startups and their investors as a part of Venture Best. While the fundraising landscape has changed dramatically since the genesis of Excoastal, the fundamental ethos remains the same. The Midwest is a great place to start, grow, and invest in companies.
Life takes its circuitous path, and at some point, the competing demands on limited time meant I missed a few weeks of posting. The transition back from student life to real life drove the final nail into the coffin of “I’ll definitely find time for that.” I do feel some remorse, because the newsletter undoubtedly bolstered my chances for gainful employment (2021 was not a great time to look for a job as a law student).
So, what’s next for Excoastal? Well, don’t call it a comeback, because it won’t be that. The one-to-many broadcast model no longer feels right for me, for the moment. I don’t want to talk (or write) at you, I’d rather talk with you. In my current role and in our present world, I’m prioritizing more durable connections.
If you were a fan of this newsletter, and you’d like to connect, I’d love to grab a coffee (in person if we can, but definitely over video as well).
If you’re at a startup or you’re an investor and interested in talking shop, feel free to shoot me an email at ejlonergan@michaelbest.com.
I’m no longer on Twitter (X) but you can still find me on Medium, on Bluesky (heyevan), or drop me a personal line at evanlon92@gmail.com.
Some recommendations for the road, below.
Podcast Addiction
What I’m Reading
Which AI to Use Now: An Updated Opinionated Guide (Updated Again 2/15)
Culture Break
📚Read- I’ve been slowly making my way through James Holland’s meticulously detailed series examining the Italian campaign in WWII - currently on Cassino ‘44
🎬Watch- Severance on Apple TV+
🎧Listen-
🧐Think- Addiction Economy
Have a great week!
- Evan