Evening update - 21 July 23

#TodayI

Asked for support standing up.
Had a call with Sam Perry of ensemble.
Had a postponement due to poor health.
Met and bought my boys a milkshake.
Booked a week with my boys on Herm Island.
Was pitched by two founders who wish to remain anonymous.
Had coffee with Barrie Baxter of Brixx Software.
Did my final prep for this evening.

#LaterI

Am standing up for the first time.

#founders #startups #venturecapital #buildinginpublic #investinginpublic

First and last time standing up

Tonight I'm performing standup comedy for the first and perhaps last time with the lovely people in this picture.

I've taken a pretty short course, am steeling my nerves, and ten of us who've never done this before are going to put ourselves out there.

I could write something about personal growth and how challenging yourself is good for you, and that's all true, but if I'm honest I'm just nervous and am getting this off my chest.

Wish me luck, please.

#founders #startups #venturecapital #buildinginpublic #investinginpublic

Evening update - 20 July 23

#TodayI

Shared a go to market hack.
Had coffee with an ex-colleague.
Worked on the Guernsey Venture Challenge shortlist.
Had a meeting for the Guernsey Venture Challenge.
Attended Duel Tech's Tackling Threads event hosted by Verity Hurd and Scarlett Hatchwell.
Had my Important not Urgent day.

#LaterI

Am rehearsing for tomorrow night's standup event with Sarah Hansmann Rouxel.

#founders #startups #venturecapital #buildinginpublic #investinginpublic

Go to market hack

Go to market hack for specific verticals, size of client or contract value.

Find another founder with the same target clients who you are not competing with. Ask them for the characteristics of those clients. Ask them what worked and what didn't. Start there.

Other founders will talk to you and tell you the truth. Your target clients may be hard to speak to in the first place.

This won't be the whole truth, your business is unique and you will need to adapt what you heard. But it's a great start.

#founders #startups #venturecapital #buildinginpublic #investinginpublic

Evening update - 19 July 23

#TodayI

Shared that my podcast with Karthik Puvvada, The Build In Public Guy, was live.
Saw my Business Brief article was also in the Guernsey Press .
Was pitched by Sam Perry of ensemble. To be continued.
Had a call with Dami Hastrup of MOONHUB.
Attended a Diversity meeting.
Followed up with people I met on Monday.
Worked on my standup.

#NowI

Need to sleep. Brighton was fun but hectic.

#founders #startups #venturecapital #buildinginpublic #investinginpublic

Podcast with KP, The Build In Public Guy

This was fun. I did a podcast with KP, The Build In Public Guy (Karthik Puvvada) on his Build In Public Podcast and we talked about everything.

KP has had some incredible people on including Gary Vaynerchuk and Alexis Ohanian Sr. of Reddit, Inc. and Seven Seven Six 7️⃣7️⃣6️⃣ so I feel privileged to be on here.

Link to listen on Spotify, Apple Music and everywhere in the comments.

We covered all of this. Let me know what you think.

● Intro
● My background story & how I got into venture capital
● What made me build in public as a venture capitalist
● The genesis and reason behind unbundled vc
● My beliefs on the unbundling of VC
● Consistency and compound interest of content
● Content ideas and experiments
● The kind of founders unbundled vc is looking for
● Businesses and sectors that I wants to invest in
● 3 startups KP and I could have invested in during the last 2 decades
● Learning to invest, but never knowing what will succeed
● Explaining what founders have learned from users
● My top 3 questions to assess great founders
● The power of having a network of founders
● Vulnerability as a huge part of building in public

#founders #startups #venturecapital #buildinginpublic #investinginpublic

Evening update - 18 July 23

#TodayI

Shared that if it's just you making an investment decision, that can be a superpower.
Had coffee with Mark Bedser and Mariam Crichton of 7 Satya.
Had coffee with Julian Saunders of Orlofus.
Had coffee with Richard Cager of Jobsocks.
Had coffee with Jake Fox of South East Angels.
Had coffee with Louis Brookstein of Native Labs.
Had coffee with Jack Maddalena of Naurt.
Had coffee with Simon Ritchie and Archie Croft of Blox Software​.
Had coffee with Dan Wallman of TechNative Digital.
Saw my podcast with Karthik Puvvada - KP, The Build in Public Guy - was live. Trailer link in the comments.
Flew home to Guernsey.
Put the bins out.

Thank you Wired Sussex and The FuseBox for hosting me and making me feel so welcome the last couple of days.

#founders #startups #venturecapital #buildinginpublic #investinginpublic

Can’t see the wood for the trees

If it's just you making an investment decision, you can turn that into a superpower.

An investment team can go into so much detail they forget what's important to them.

This is particularly important in early-stage investing where there is an infinite amount of data about the business area and much less about the founders.

You have to know what is important to you and figure that out. Then you can make an informed decision based on your priorities.

#founders #startups #venturecapital #buildinginpublic #investinginpublic

Evening update - 17 July 23

#TodayI

Shared the importance of choosing a co-founder.
Had coffee with Mike Fahey.
Had coffee with Christopher 💻 Weeks of Bounce Technologies Limited.
Had coffee with Llewellyn Thomas of Mission Digital Graphics Limited.
Had coffee with Omid Moallemi and David Parr of Prsnt.
Had coffee with Hayley Lowe of Klovr.
Had coffee with Simon Chuter MBA FRSA of Sussex Innovation.
Had coffee with Jason Baker and Ben Williams of Neonify.ai.
Had coffee with Claire Bown of Insert Space.

#NowI

Am heading to a Tech Jumpstart event.

#LaterI

Will not be sleeping.

#founders #startups #venturecapital #buildinginpublic #investinginpublic

Choosing a co-founder

Founders, choosing a co-founder is your most important choice. Do not rush it.

If all goes well you will be working with them for many years. You may spend more time with them than with your partner. Don't rush it.

Find a way to be as sure as you can. This is as important for them as it is for you. There's no way back from a co-founder decision.

Make sure you include reverse vesting in your co-founder agreement. Then neither you nor they can walk away after 6 months with all the equity. If you raise money from a VC fund they will ask for reverse vesting anyway.

#founders #startups #venturecapital #buildinginpublic #investinginpublic

Late update - 14 July 23

#YesterdayI

Was on a panel for The University of Sussex demo day for their accelerator for students and alumni with Susan Elliott, Holly Price, Nuray Tanis, Grant Philpott and Holger Bollmann. Thank you Luke Mitchell for inviting me and to all the incredible businesses that presented.
Had a quick call with Jonny Plein of YASO.
Met an old friend for comedy at The Secret Comedy Store. When the MC found out what I did, I was named "The Villain".

#TodayI

Am meeting Stuart Lewis of Rest Less UK for a walk in the Sussex countryside.

#founders #startups #venturecapital #buildinginpublic #investinginpublic

Thank you Sussex University

In 2001 I did a Masters in AI at the University of Sussex. I met my wife there. I have a lot to be grateful for.

Today they have a demo day for over twenty student and graduate startups pitching their businesses to an audience of investors, mentors, alumni founders, supporters and members of the University community. All the startups have completed a six-week accelerator and this is the final piece.

Thank you Luke Mitchell and the University of Sussex for inviting me to be on the panel. It is a pleasure to give something small back.

#founders #startups #venturecapital #buildinginpublic #investinginpublic

Evening update - 13 July 23

#TodayI

Sent funds for another investment.
Finally tidied my office.
Packed my bag for my trip to Brighton tomorrow.
Spoke with Steve Rackley of Silicon Brighton who has made some great introductions for my trip.
Shared about my Brighton trip hosted by Wired Sussex and The FuseBox. Thank you again Iain McKenna for organising.
Listened to Sophie Veron talk about her journey into Para-Sports in Guernsey. Thank you Caroline Barby for inviting me.
Had my Important not Urgent day.
Cleared some of my backlog before it builds back up while I'm in Brighton.

#ThisEveningI

Am improvising and learning to stand up with Sarah Hansmann Rouxel.

#ThereAre

Just three of sixteen slots left in my diary for Monday and Tuesday in Brighton. Link in the comments.

#founders #startups #venturecapital #buildinginpublic #investinginpublic

Meet me in Brighton

Brighton people, on Monday and Tuesday I will be in Brighton trying to meet as many people as possible.

If you are from Brighton or the surrounding area please share this for reach.

Wired Sussex and The FuseBox have kindly agreed to host me at The FuseBox. Thank you Iain McKenna for organising.

Comment below or contact me directly and let's make a plan!

#founders #startups #venturecapital #buildinginpublic #investinginpublic

Evening update - 12 July 23

#TodayI

Shared why I don't have a favourite investment.
Registered for Duel Tech's event - Tackling Threads. Link in the comments.
Sent funds for a new investment.
Was pitched by Charles Black of Sen.
Share about RideTandem's raise.
Chatted with Iain McKenna of Wired Sussex to make a plan for my Brighton trip. Info coming tomorrow.
Discussed with James Hickson of Brand Hackers how we might collaborate.
Collaborated with Sarah Wernér of Husmus on our project. Coming soon.

#NowI

Am working on my standup set. Tickets still available. Link in the comments.

#founders #startups #venturecapital #buildinginpublic #investinginpublic

RideTandem raise

Congratulations to Tatseng Chiam, Alex Shapland Howes, Huw McLeod and the whole team at RideTandem on the raise!

I first invested in RideTandem when I was at 1818 Venture Capital and it's great to see them doing so well.

#founders #startups #venturecapital #buildinginpublic #investinginpublic

Don’t make me choose

I often get asked what my favourite investment is.

I don't have one. It's like asking me to choose between my children.

I love all of them. Even if they do occasionally drive me crazy (j/k).

#founders #startups #venturecapital #buildinginpublic #investinginpublic

Evening update - 11 July 23

#TodayI

Shared that the moment you think you've nailed it is the moment you stop improving.
Had my hair cut by James Bransford.
Caught up with Sean Tai.
Had coffee with Mark Le Page of Kroll.
Received investment docs for a new investment.
Had a no-show.

#NowI

Am about to be pitched by Patrick Williamson of Robin.

#LaterI

Have to review and hopefully sign those docs.

#founders #startups #venturecapital #buildinginpublic #investinginpublic

Notice your flaws

The moment you think you've nailed it is the moment you stop improving.

You have no ability to innovate if you don't recognise your own flaws.

#founders #startups #venturecapital #buildinginpublic #investinginpublic

Evening update - 10 July 23

#TodayI

Cycled to Pilates with Maria Jose Freeman (Fernandez) of Pilates Core Club.
Shared why future pivots are an investment challenge.
Made arrangements for my trip to Brighton.
Attended lunch break meditation at Guille-Allès Library.
Prepped to add a list of funds I have invested alongside to my website.
Finished my article for next month's Business Brief.
Was pitched by Jin Park of KIKO SORI.

#LaterI

Will be watching Guernsey vs Åland in the Island Games football with my sons.

#founders #startups #venturecapital #buildinginpublic #investinginpublic