Founder event - what’s next?

A great turnout for my breakfast event on the transition from founder-led sales with Matthew Codd of Cosmic Partners who is part of unbundled vc's founder support scheme.

Matthew even gave away three free sessions with him to attendees!

Thank you to everyone who attended and please give me feedback in the comments.

Founders, what would you like to see next? More from Matthew? Marketing advice? Raising advice?

#founders #startups #venturecapital #buildinginpublic #investinginpublic

Evening update - 31 May 23

#TodayI

Had breakfast with my brothers, Simon Cohen and Dan Cohen.
Recorded a podcast with Aarish Shah of Nothing Ventured and EmergeONE.
Had a quick bite with Jonny Plein of YASO.
Shared about being on the panel for Nano Grit Demo Day.
Attended the Nano Grit Demo Day. Thank you Chris Fernandes and Igor Krasnik for hosting and to all the fantastic founders who presented.

#NowI

Am going for dinner with Dylan Cohen.

#FoundersDontForget

My breakfast event tomorrow morning on the transition from founder-led sales with Matthew Codd of Cosmic Partners.

#founders #startups #venturecapital #buildinginpublic #investinginpublic

Nano Grit Demo Day

Really excited to be on the panel for the Nano Grit Demo Day taking place today at 5pm (link in comments) alongside Karthik Puvvada, Landon Sanford & Deep Kakkad.

Thank you Chris Fernandes and Dmitry Schetnikovich for including me.

Looking forward to hearing from some great founders and startups very shortly!

#founders #startups #venturecapital #buildinginpublic #investinginpublic

Evening update - 30 May 23

#TodayI

Shared that I have advised my 15yo son not to study computer science at university.
Had coffee and a tour of Runna HQ with Dom Maskell, Ben Parker and Dylan Cohen (pic below).
Had lunch with a fellow investor.
Shared a reminder about my founder breakfast with Matthew Codd on Thursday.
Finally met in person my fellow investor in Nation.better and Wangie.app, Raj Kulasingam.
Had an early dinner with Daniel Sozonov of Unison.

#founders #startups #venturecapital #buildinginpublic #investinginpublic

Don’t study computer science

I have advised my fifteen year old son, Dylan Cohen, not to do a computer science degree.

The demand for software developers will shrink enormously as what one person can achieve increases exponentially. This is hugely net positive for the world as it will be much easier to build.

You need to be that person who can build most effectively using the new tools. The best will always still be in demand.

#founders #startups #venturecapital #buildinginpublic #investinginpublic

Evening update -26 May 23

#TodayI

Shared about my breakfast event with Matthew Codd next Thursday.
Took the kids to school.
Chatted with Chantal Epp FRSA of ClicknClear.
Had coffee with Paul Robinson of Hyperion.
Chatted with Tim Wyatt and Seb Valencia of Optimise Guernsey.
Had a call with Paul de Gruchy Gaudin.
Caught up with Simon de la Rue of The Little Big Group.

#NowI

Am going for pizza with the kids.

Have a great long weekend.

#founders #startups #venturecapital #buildinginpublic #investinginpublic

Founder breakfast event - the transition from founder-led sales

Next Thursday, come and hear Matthew Codd of Cosmic Partners and unbundled vc's founder support scheme speak about navigating the transition from founder-led sales.

Then ask Matthew and Marc Cohen anything.

#founders #startups #venturecapital #buildinginpublic #investinginpublic

Evening update - 25 May 23

#TodayI

Ran to work (my legs hurt).
Shared about posting authentically.
Attended Pi Labs virtual demo day.
Chatted with Matthew Codd of Cosmic Partners about the breakfast event we are running next week. Details tomorrow.
Planned out my first unbundled vc founders email.
Had my Important not Urgent day.

#founders #startups #venturecapital #buildinginpublic #investinginpublic

Authenticity in posting

What is authenticity on LinkedIn and why does it matter?

For me it's, "Can I imagine myself saying this."

Rewrite it until you can even if those aren't theoretically the perfect words.

If you don't sound like yourself, people will notice and they won't like your posts. This is why most company posts suck, they have no authentic voice.

Most importantly, you have to sound like the same person if you meet someone because that may be one of the reasons they wanted to meet you!

#founders #startups #venturecapital #buildinginpublic #investinginpublic

Evening update - 24 May 23

#TodayI

Shared about the famous entrepreneur who wanted to connect.
Tried to rearrange the meetings I had to postpone last week.
Chatted with Andrew Mann of Coinstrats.
Was pitched by Vish Burgul of bndle.
Was not as productive as I'd hoped to be.

#NowI

Have to collect the kids from school.

#LaterI

Will be barbecuing as the sun is out.

#founders #startups #venturecapital #buildinginpublic #investinginpublic

To connect or not to connect, that is the question

Three weeks ago I received a connection request from a famous entrepreneur and internet personality.

I only connect with people I actually have some kind of connection with so I told them this and asked for a quick 15-minute call. I am a fan of their content and told them I would continue to be even if they declined.

They declined (politely). We're not connected.

What would you have done? If you would have connected, why?

#founders #startups #venturecapital #buildinginpublic #investinginpublic

Evening update - 23 May 23

#TodayI

Ran to work with the help of Runna.
Asked founders what they would do differently.
Had a call with Edgar Smith of Digital Assured.
Chatted with Henry Noon of Bolsta.
Ran research experiments on ChatGPT.
Was pitched by founders who wish to remain anonymous.
Had coffee with two founders.

#NowI

Need to remember to take the bins out.

#founders #startups #venturecapital #buildinginpublic #investinginpublic

What would you do differently

I recently asked a founder what she would do differently in her startup given what she now knows.

Founders, what would you do differently in your business given what you know now?

#founders #startups #venturecapital #buildinginpublic #investinginpublic

Evening update - 22 May 23

#TodayI

Cycled to work.
Shared about my father-in-law passing.
Was pitched by Matthias Plunser of WXplr.
Had a postponement due to poor internet connectivity.
Chatted with Simon Livesey about Volt Vision.
Was pitched by an early-stage London robotics startup.
Was pitched by Roger Planas of 51Trips.
Found that the aggregate cost of Sure Business's fibre is little different from Starlink's and Sure will lock you into a long-term contract so I'm sticking with Starlink.

#founders #startups #venturecapital #buildinginpublic #investinginpublic

Ezra Khedouri Shaul

My father-in-law, Ezra Khedouri Shaul, passed last Sunday. He was 88.

He grew up in Baghdad, Iraq. When he was a teenager he and his family had to leave Iraq fast because of increasing violence towards the Jewish population.

He was a lecturer in Biochemistry in the UK and US, including having guest lectured at Harvard.

He was a loving, warm, caring man.

I miss him.

#founders #startups #venturecapital #buildinginpublic #investinginpublic

Evening update - 18 May 23

#TodayI

Took the kids to school.
Asked for advice about how to say no.
Was pitched by Jemima Bunbury and Bella Levin of BLEND.
Had a call with Tom Manterfield of Hiphops.
Had a postponement.
Attended Focal demo day.
Had a call with Oliver Beavers of PHOSPHOR.
Collected the kids from school.

#TomorrowI

Am heading to the UK for my father-in-law's funeral. He passed on Sunday. I plan to post about him this coming Monday.

#founders #startups #venturecapital #buildinginpublic #investinginpublic

How to say no politely - advice requested

Asking for advice - how do you say no to things you know will be a poor use of your time?

Can you just say out loud, "I'd love to help but this isn't the best use of my time right now"?

I struggle with this - I like helping, I don't want to hurt people's feelings, I don't want to ignore and I don't want to mislead.

Help me, please!

#founders #startups #venturecapital #buildinginpublic #investinginpublic

Evening update - 15 May 23

#TodayI

Had to cancel my trip to the UK for family reasons.
Took the kids to school.
Shared about mental health awareness week.
Spent time postponing and rearranging meetings.
Did a load of admin.
Met a syndicate investor.
Collected the kids from school.

#FromTomorrow

I will be off for a couple of days.

#founders #startups #venturecapital #buildinginpublic #investinginpublic

Mental Health Awareness Week

It's mental health awareness week. Look after yourself and those around you.

#founders #startups #venturecapital #buildinginpublic #investinginpublic

Evening update - 12 May 23

#TodayI

Shared that my podcast with Greg Mccallum of Founders Unplugged was live.
Had a quick call with Daniel Sozonov of Unison.
Tried and failed to return clothes and collect shoes for my wife.
Was pitched by Sam Tendall and Dan Thomas of Smashed Grapes.
Shared that Focal demo day was fast approaching.
Chatted with Mike Martin of True.
Was pitched by Oliver Beavers of PHOSPHOR.
Was nominated for a UK Business Angels Association award.

#NextWeek

I will be in the UK.

Have a great weekend everyone!

#founders #startups #venturecapital #buildinginpublic #investinginpublic