Episode #25: Startup Media Hype Circles, 11x Tech Crunch Article, Market Arbitrage in Venture

In this episode of The Learning Corner, we dive into the venture ecosystem, focusing on optics versus nuance and founder expectations. We explore acqui-hires, small exits, and alternative startup paths, emphasizing transparency. A controversy around an AI sales startup sparks a discussion on founder honesty. We also discuss capitalizing on arbitrage windows, challenges for specialists, and investing in out-of-favor categories like African fintech. The debate continues on AI-focused funds and the generalist versus specialist approach in venture capital, concluding with thoughts on supporting individual contributors.

Episode #24: LP POV on Secondaries, CoreWeave/NVIDIA Growth Loop, Questioning Traditional Reserves Strategies

This episode of The Learning Corner kicks off with an introduction and overview, setting the stage for a deep dive into Cendana Capital's unique approach to secondaries and small fund liquidity. The conversation moves on to the concept of tourist fund managers, offering insights on how founders can evaluate them effectively. The growth of CoreWeave under the influence of NVIDIA is explored, raising questions about the sustainability of AI infrastructure companies. The discussion then shifts to the challenges surrounding reserve funds and follow-on investments. The episode wraps up by examining the balance between supporting founders and adhering to investment strategy, concluding with closing remarks and gratitude to listeners.

Episode #23: Unique Revenue Channels For Vertical AI, Ghosting in Venture, Is Data Driven VC Over?

In this episode of The Learning Corner, the discussion begins with an introduction to the podcast and hosts, followed by an overview of Harvey AI's impressive $300M Series D funding round. The conversation then shifts to a TechCrunch article addressing the issue of VC ghosting and the frustrations it causes for founders. The episode also examines the tendency of AI startups to exaggerate their traction, introducing the concept of "annual curiosity revenue." Lawrence Lundy Brian's post on the future of data-driven venture capital is explored, highlighting its potential impact. The episode concludes by examining the intersection of AI, data-driven investing, and venture capital, wrapping up with a sign-off.

Episode #22: Secondaries Across Venture, Stripe's Tender Offer, Knowing How Much Is Too Much To Fundraise

The discussion turns to venture capital insights, focusing on the importance of liquidity in the ecosystem. The nuances of secondary sales and the role of employee liquidity are explored, shedding light on their significance for startup growth. Attention is given to the challenges of overfunding and the necessity for capital efficiency in startups. The episode features a thoughtful discussion on a blog post, offering additional perspectives. It wraps up with closing remarks and a note of gratitude to the listeners.

Episode #21: Anthropic's Latest Raise, Internal Turf Wars in Big Tech, IPO Alternatives In Venture

In this episode of The Learning Corner, the conversation begins with an introduction to the hosts before diving into Anthropic's recent AI funding and the competitive landscape of large language models. The discussion then addresses consumer adoption of AI tools and Google's struggles in AI development. Attention is given to the impact of internal politics on tech innovation, exploring how organizational dynamics can hinder progress. The episode shifts to trends in the venture ecosystem, focusing on IPOs and secondary liquidity. It concludes with an analysis of the evolving venture model, highlighting the increasing importance of financial sophistication.

Episode #20: AgTech and Venture Capital, Signs of a Failing Company, What The Heck Does Pre-Seed Even Mean?

In this episode of The Learning Corner, the conversation kicks off with insights into understanding the role of Agtech in early-stage investing. The discussion then moves to identifying signs that a startup might be on the brink of failure, with a focus on the critical role of product velocity. Attention is given to recognizing red flags in founder behavior that could signal potential challenges. The episode concludes with a detailed exploration of pre-seed rounds, highlighting their significance and impact on the broader venture capital landscape.

Episode #19: Venture Capital 3.0, Deciphering Early Stage Traction, 90's Tech Bubble vs. Current AI Valuations

In this episode of The Learning Corner, the discussion kicks off with an introduction to the podcast and the significance of ARR milestones in the startup journey. The conversation then transitions into the evolving landscape of venture capital in the AI era, examining AI's influence on VC operations and the unique challenges faced in pre-seed funding. The episode delves into the nuances of analyzing early-stage traction, debunking common misconceptions. A comparison is drawn between the current AI investment hype and the 1999 tech bubble, offering insights into the potential parallels. The episode wraps up with a forward-looking perspective on AI investment strategies and concluding thoughts.

Episode #18: Founders Quitting vs Stopping, The Rise of Spinout VC Funds, AngelList State of Venture Report

In this episode of The Learning Corner the episode delves into Hunter Walk's essay, exploring the critical themes of founder perseverance and timing decisions in the startup journey. The conversation then shifts to a Forbes article examining Sarah Guo's recent fundraise and the opportunity of spinouts across venture capital. The episode also reviews the AngelList state of venture report, offering a comprehensive look at current and future trends in seed and venture dynamics.

Episode #17: DeepSeek, Importance of Running a Fundraising Auction, Growing Seed Round Sizes

In this episode of The Learning Corner, the discussion begins with an introduction to the podcast, setting the stage for an analysis of DeepSeek and ripple effects across venture, the public markets and startups. The conversation then shifts to predicting the future of AI, focusing on the potential of low-cost models. The episode explores auction-based fundraising, offering practical advice for founders. The importance of maintaining an updated diligence room for founders is emphasized, followed by a discussion on the dynamics of seed rounds, where size truly matters. The challenges and tips for founders navigating large seed rounds are also covered. The episode wraps up with closing thoughts and a call to action.

Episode #16: Pre-Seed/Seed M&A Activity, Solo Founders, Harvey $3B Raise, Fund Performance Recalibrations

In this episode of The Learning Corner, the conversation begins with an engaging overview of the current venture ecosystem, setting the stage for a discussion on M&A trends in venture capital. The focus then shifts to the unique challenges and dynamics faced by solo founder startups. The episode explores the rise of legal AI startups and their significant impact on the industry, followed by insights into AI's broader influence on professional services. The discussion also addresses how to navigate valuation resets within the venture capital landscape. The episode concludes with thoughtful closing remarks, bringing together the key themes explored.

Episode #15: Andrea Funsten, Robert Vinall, Manny Medina

In this episode of The Learning Corner, the conversation opens with a warm welcome, setting the stage for an exploration of transparency in venture capitalists' investment memos. The discussion then transitions to a presentation on the lessons learned from mistakes of omission in investing, offering valuable insights into recognizing and avoiding missed opportunities. The episode also delves into a LinkedIn post discussing the intersection of SaaS founders, AI, and evolving business models, highlighting the innovative ways these elements are reshaping the industry.

Episode #14: The Information, TechCrunch, LifeSciVC (shared by Jay Ripley)

In this episode of The Learning Corner, the discussion kicks off with insights into venture financing, setting the groundwork for a deep dive into Bench's shutdown and the dynamics between investors and founders. The conversation then navigates the complexities of venture debt, highlighting potential pitfalls, and addresses trust issues in founder-investor relationships. An exploration of Silicon Valley's unique venture capital landscape is followed by strategies tailored for non-Valley founders. The episode also delves into venture capital economics and fund strategies, comparing exits in biotech and emerging sectors.

Episode #13: Rob Go, Zain Rizavi, New York Times

This is the last episode of 2024 for The Learning Corner, and it's packed with great insights from across the ecosystem. The discussion first shifts to the dynamics of founders choosing firms and people, offering recommendations for repeat founders and insights into risk assessment. The episode delves into investment strategies, emphasizing timing and due diligence, and compares public and private market investing. An exploration of the history and evolution of venture capital is provided, alongside an analysis of founder preferences and decision-making. The dialogue highlights significant learning moments and predictions for the venture ecosystem, wrapping up with closing remarks and expressions of gratitude.

Episode #12: Peter Walker, Benedikt Langer, Aaron Levie

In this episode of The Learning Corner, the conversation begins with an introduction to the series, leading into a discussion on graduation rates from seed to series A. The analysis delves into factors influencing these rates and emphasizes the importance of patience in investment. The focus then shifts to the balance between profitability and growth in startups, followed by insights on building reputation and personal brand within the venture ecosystem. The episode explores marketing strategies in venture capital and discusses Aaron Levie's post about AI agent pricing. A look into the future landscape of B2B SaaS is provided before wrapping up with closing remarks and expressions of gratitude.

Episode #11: Chris Neumann, Forbes, The Economist

In this episode of The Learning Corner, the conversation opens with insights into current market turbulence, setting the stage for a discussion on navigating silence in Silicon Valley. The episode then explores limited partners' perspectives on the future of venture capital in 2025 and examines the evolving dynamics of early-stage ventures. The narrative shifts to Sequoia Capital's business model evolution, highlighting adaptive strategies in a changing market. The discussion continues with a focus on enhancing founder relationships and providing robust venture support, emphasizing innovation within the venture capital sector. The episode concludes with closing thoughts and appreciation for the audience.

Episode #10: Euclid Insights, Benedict Evans

In this episode of The Learning Corner, the journey begins with an introduction to the series and a lively discussion about ChatGPT. The conversation then delves into the concept of Service as a Software, weighing its pros, cons, and cost implications. The exploration continues with a look at AI and SaaS models within the Precursor portfolio, emphasizing the balance between services and scalability in product development. A brief sponsor message from Euclid Insights is shared. The dialogue compares AI to historical technological advancements, enriched by personal anecdotes on its practical use. The episode concludes with closing remarks and a heartfelt thank you to listeners.

Episode #9: Jamin Ball, Hunter Walk, Menlo Ventures

In this episode of The Learning Corner, the discussion kicks off with an introduction to the series, setting the stage for a deep dive into venture capital incentives and their impact on valuations. The conversation then explores the influence of large funds on market valuations and examines hiring strategies, debating the merits of missionaries versus mercenaries. Strategies for sustainable growth and the realignment of incentives are analyzed, followed by valuable seed investing insights from Hunter Walk. The episode also addresses the rise of generative AI in enterprise applications, before concluding with a sign-off.

Episode #8: Bowery Farms, Sapphire Partners, Patricia Halfen Wexler

In this episode of The Learning Corner, the focus begins with the crucial task of managing raised funds, setting the stage for a discussion on the collapse of Bowery Farming and the pivotal investment decisions involved. The narrative unfolds to explore unexpected risks and factors contributing to startup failures, emphasizing the importance of managing business dependencies and evaluating market size. The strategy and impact of venture reserves on investments are examined, followed by insights into the dynamics of follow-on investments. The episode also delves into the future and industrialization of the venture ecosystem, contrasting opportunities and strategies for small versus large funds, and concludes with an analysis of risk-return profiles.

Episode #7: Ubiquity Ventures, WSJ, Equal Ventures

In this episode of The Learning Corner, we begin with an exploration of the pivotal role seed investors play in the venture ecosystem. The discussion then shifts to the unique traits and challenges faced by solo General Partners. The potential valuation surge of AI startup Perplexity is analyzed, alongside broader monetization strategies within the AI space. Insights from an emerging venture manager provide a fresh perspective on current trends. The conversation also covers the importance of sustaining collective success in seed investing and offers guidance on navigating career transitions within venture management.

Episode #6: Pitchbook NVCA Venture Monitor Q3 2024 Report

This episode of The Learning Corner delves into the key insights from the Q3 2024 PitchBook NVCA Venture Monitor, analyzing its implications for the venture ecosystem. The discussion highlights how the current fundraising market is reshaping founder strategies and explores the consequences of limited distributions on venture capital dynamics. Performance metrics in venture funds are examined, alongside considerations for LPs. The challenges faced by emerging funds and their pursuit of non-consensus investments are also addressed. The episode wraps up with closing remarks and a call to action for listeners.