The Learning Corner by Precursor
Welcome to the Learning Corner, a weekly Precursor Ventures podcast, where members of the Precursor team walk through their favorite articles and news snippets across the venture ecosystem.
Episode #65: I See Dead VCs, Tech Media Echo Chambers, VC-Backed Startups' Status Collapse
This week features Beezer Clarkson from Sapphire Partners discussing her analysis on venture's first substantial firm contraction in 20+ years, with fewer than half of existing VC firms actively investing. We examine Om Malik's critique of access journalism dominating tech media, where velocity trumps substance. Finally, Michael Dempsey's essay argues that VC-backed startups have undergone the same status collapse as investment banking, becoming the unremarkable default path for ambitious talent rather than a signal of contrarian vision.
Key Points
- Acknowledging the difficulty and high attrition rates in venture capital, Beezer Clarkson emphasizes the importance of LP management and staying true to one's pitch and strategy as critical factors for fund managers to succeed and endure.
- Charles Hudson discusses the evolving landscape of tech journalism, noting the shift from substantive reporting to access journalism, which often prioritizes visibility and marketing over rigorous questioning and genuine insight.
- Michael Dempsey's essay highlights the cultural shift in venture-backed startups, suggesting that as the industry becomes more industrialized and less risky, the competitive advantage for founders and employees may increasingly hinge on the "vibes" or perceived cultural alignment of the companies they join.
Chapters
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| 0:55 | |
| 2:06 | |
| 3:22 | |
| 4:19 | |
| 5:58 | |
| 8:22 | |
| 10:54 | |
| 12:54 | |
| 17:32 | |
| 19:08 | |
| 20:33 | |
| 21:48 | |
| 24:11 | |
| 25:23 |
Transcript
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