Breaking into venture capital
I am often asked how to help someone break into venture capital. Here is my most recent advice:
I am often asked how to help someone break into venture capital. Here is my most recent advice:
"VC is hard to break into. Because of the market, many funds will be struggling to raise their next funds so may not be looking to hire.
She may want to focus on ones that have recently announced new larger size funds than their previous. They will need more people. And she should target ones in the space she is interested in.
Why is she interested in venture? Can she evidence that through behaviour?
She's done the right thing spending time with a startup. That is a traditional path.
She could also find people who recently got these roles or have just been promoted from analyst to principal and speak to them about how they got in, what they did right to get promoted and what they think firms are looking for."
What advice would you give?
#founders #startups #venturecapital #buildinginpublic #investinginpublic
More at unbundled dot vc.
AI-ready
AI will drive huge opportunities across the whole of digital tech as software becomes ten times easier to build.
AI will drive huge opportunities across the whole of digital tech as software becomes ten times easier to build.
It will also make it easier to build something that disrupts your business. Are you ready?
Taking your own advice
Giving advice is so much easier than applying your expertise to yourself.
Giving advice is so much easier than applying your expertise to yourself.
Is there hidden demand
The trick lies in figuring out if an entirely new product will unlock an entirely new market.
The trick lies in figuring out if an entirely new product will unlock an entirely new market. Is there hidden demand?
Tea cake and tea
Toasted teacake and a camomile tea by the bathing pools.
Toasted teacake and a camomile tea by the bathing pools.
The sun is finally out. Giving myself time to get my thoughts in order.
With or without you
The best founders will win with or without you.
The best founders will win with or without you.
I love to help. But if you only invest when you can make a difference, you filter out the best opportunities.
Be there when they need you, let them get on with it when they don't.
Focal is back
Founders, Focal is back. It's where I met Tash Grossman of Slip. It's your chance to pitch to over 250 VCs including unbundled vc, Episode 1 Ventures, dmg ventures, Playfair and many more.
Founders, Focal is back. It's where I met Tash Grossman of Slip. It's your chance to pitch to over 250 VCs including unbundled vc, Episode 1 Ventures, dmg ventures, Playfair and many more.
It takes 7 minutes to apply for demo day and over 1,600 introductions were made last time.
Application here. Please mention unbundled vc when you apply.
Shoutout to Caitlin Rozario
Shoutout to Caitlin Rozario of interlude for reminding me that whenever I need to solve a problem or stop procrastinating, I should take a break.
Shoutout to Caitlin Rozario of interlude for reminding me that whenever I need to solve a problem or stop procrastinating, I should take a break.
Fifteen minutes sitting in silence with no devices works for me. YMMV.
Leading with values
My article on Leading with Values for Business Brief magazine.
My article on Leading with Values for Business Brief magazine.
Inspired by Ben Horowitz's book, "What You Do Is Who You Are".
Thank you Amanda (Mandy) Eulenkamp for the opportunity to write.
How my brain works
Random insight into how my brain works:
Random insight into how my brain works:
A friend is learning Thai. He told me it doesn't use spaces between words.
My immediate thought was, "I wonder how this affects compression algorithms."
Speaking at Rare Founders
Two weeks today I am speaking at this event on Best Practices for Assessing Investment Opportunities. It is a great chance to understand what investors are looking for.
Two weeks today I am speaking at this event on Best Practices for Assessing Investment Opportunities. It is a great chance to understand what investors are looking for.
There are many other great speakers and fundraising founders demoing who I helped to rate.
Thank you to Vasily Alekseenko of Rare Founders for inviting me and SeedLegals for asking me to speak and I hope to see many of you on the day. Let me know if you're coming below!
AI makes the world better
For AI to disrupt the world, it has to lead to much better outcomes.
For AI to disrupt the world, it has to lead to much better outcomes.
People will only use it if it's helpful. Businesses will only use it if it helps deliver better services or existing ones more efficiently.
If it does disrupt the world, it will look very different but on average we will all be in a much better place.
Talking to the duck
When I am stuck on something, I sometimes figure it out just by explaining my problem out loud. The act of explaining takes my mind somewhere where I figure out the solution.
When I am stuck on something, I sometimes figure it out just by explaining my problem out loud. The act of explaining takes my mind somewhere where I figure out the solution.
TIL (thank you Nick Davis) that in software dev this is known as talking to the duck or rubber duck debugging. Link in comments.
Never if it’s obvious
If it's obvious, it's either a bad idea or too expensive.
If it's obvious, it's either a bad idea or too expensive.
Inspired by Harry Stebbings podcast with Trae Stephens.
Best US funds
Founders, if you had to choose a US fund to lead your Series A or B, who would it be?
Founders, if you had to choose a US fund to lead your Series A or B, who would it be?
I'm going to be in the States in three weeks time and want to meet the best funds to invest in my current and future portfolio.
Help me find them!
Sales objections
Hearing a sales objection is like finding a bug in your code.
Hearing a sales objection is like finding a bug in your code.
It's good news.
You'd much rather it didn't exist but, if it does, you need to know about it.
Pitch deck feedback
Founders, your first draft pitch deck might not be so good. It can be hard to see the big picture when you're deep in the details.
Founders, your first draft pitch deck might not be so good. It can be hard to see the big picture when you're deep in the details.
Ask people in your 'startup family' for honest feedback. Be open to that feedback.
Rewrite. Repeat.
Target returns
I am laser-focused on doing everything I can to generate the best returns.
I am laser-focused on doing everything I can to generate the best returns.
I don't have a target return, I am aiming for as high as possible.
Valuations matter
I have to think hard about the valuations I invest at. They matter. If every investment was at double the valuation, my returns would halve.
I have to think hard about the valuations I invest at. They matter. If every investment was at double the valuation, my returns would halve.
Occasionally, there is an investment where I would be happy to pay double the valuation. If I could only invest in these, I would. Then my returns would double.