Venture Prose

Venture Prose shares insights from a venture capital perspective, focusing on the intricacies of pitching, investment strategies, entrepreneurial challenges, and personal development within the tech space. It discusses leadership, communication, decision-making, the French tech ecosystem, investor-entrepreneur dynamics, and the importance of balance in professional and personal life.

Venture Capital Entrepreneurship Leadership and Communication Investment Strategies Personal Development Tech Ecosystems Work-Life Balance Startup Culture Decision-Making

The hottest Substack posts of Venture Prose

And their main takeaways

My Pitch Framework

1517 implied HN points • 18 Feb 24
💼 Business Entrepreneurship Investment Presentations Networking
  1. The goal of a first meeting is to trigger a second one; good investor asks the right questions, bad one slows you down.
  2. Important elements of a good pitch: timing, preciseness, energy, and emotion to keep investors engaged.
  3. Entrepreneurs need optimism, clarity of vision, and ability to adapt quickly; assess qualities like learning from experience and embracing learning from others.

Cap Table Template

159 implied HN points • 07 Apr 24
💼 Business Finance Startup
  1. Be mindful of dilution when piling up post-money SAFE notes as a founder.
  2. Creating a proper cap table can reveal the dilutive impact of different funding rounds and securities.
  3. Use templates to simulate scenarios like adding co-founders, granting stock options, raising multiple rounds, and selling secondaries.

Irresistible Insights

299 implied HN points • 24 Mar 24
💼 Business Entrepreneurship Investing Startups
  1. Founders can stand out when they combine genius with the obvious in their industry or approach.
  2. Sometimes unique and brilliant ideas may seem natural to founders, requiring help to highlight these insights for investors.
  3. Investors seek out founders with irresistible qualities and ideas, often discovering hidden gems in unexpected places.

Don't Give Up

459 implied HN points • 04 Mar 24
💼 Business Entrepreneurship Investment Marketing Strategy Success
  1. In crowded markets, strive to show unique insight, act fast, and execute well.
  2. If there's a clear leader, consider different strategies - like targeting a different geography or being more capital-efficient.
  3. Entering small or tough market sectors can still work if you start niche, focus on profitability, and learn from previous attempts.

How I Work

918 implied HN points • 07 Jan 24
💼 Business Training Style Communication
  1. The person prefers email as their main form of communication and has a structured work schedule with specific meeting times.
  2. They are dedicated to training, spending around 15 hours per week on cycling, and prioritize family time.
  3. Their work style focuses on efficiency, belief in founders, and a preference for email communication over other mediums.
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Make it simple

519 implied HN points • 04 Feb 24
💼 Business Efficiency Productivity Simplicity Meetings
  1. Efficiency comes from making every minute more valuable, intentional, and concrete.
  2. Being intentional about how you spend time, both in quantity and quality, can make you more present and purposeful.
  3. Simplicity is key - from making a good first impression in 1 minute to keeping meetings concise and effective.

President

539 implied HN points • 05 Nov 23
🌍 World Politics International relations Economic Policy
  1. Being a president comes with immense challenges like managing debt, dealing with administrative issues, and navigating societal tensions.
  2. To make a country like France attractive, competitive, and profitable, leaders need to focus on positive impact, simplicity in implementation, and clear accountability.
  3. France has the potential to excel in areas like nuclear energy, artificial intelligence, agriculture, and education, but effective automation and addressing system abuse are essential for profitability.

Believe In Yourself - Ironman Italia

798 implied HN points • 17 Sep 23
🎾 Sports Training Endurance Nutrition Achievement
  1. Believing in yourself and pushing past your limits can lead to achieving great personal goals like completing a challenging race.
  2. Having a supportive coach with the right mindset, attitude, and expertise can make a significant difference in training and performance.
  3. Setting clear goals, following a structured training plan, and staying focused on the process can help in conquering difficult challenges and reaching new heights.

The Post Money SAFE Horror Story

359 implied HN points • 26 Nov 23
💼 Business Investing Entrepreneurship Finance
  1. SAFE agreements help define investor equity ownership in startups
  2. Transition from Pre-Money to Post-Money SAFE can impact founder equity significantly
  3. Consecutive Post-Money SAFE agreements can have a larger dilution effect on founder ownership compared to Pre-Money SAFE agreements

Hyper Complacent

359 implied HN points • 12 Nov 23
💼 Business Entrepreneurship Feedback Investing Relationships Motivation
  1. Being hyper-complacent can harm relationships and erode trust, despite initial short-term benefits of being pleasing.
  2. Seek tough love and honest feedback rather than blind support, especially in entrepreneurial ventures.
  3. To succeed, surround yourself with believers, cultivate a driving force, and courageously face challenges and risks.

Delusion

698 implied HN points • 30 Jul 23
💼 Business Entrepreneurship Investing Self-awareness Startups Leadership
  1. Self-awareness is crucial to avoid delusion. Recognize your failures, flaws, and biases to make better decisions.
  2. Surround yourself with the right people who can provide constructive criticism. Be open to inner and outer conflicts to improve.
  3. Ask for clear feedback and address concerns about your business. Work towards understanding and extracting value from others' perspectives.

Ti Amo

259 implied HN points • 19 Nov 23
🕹 Technology Social media Startup Product Development Innovation
  1. Launch fast and don't be afraid to release early in the world of social consumer apps
  2. Successful founders in social consumer apps focus on building products intentionally with a deep understanding of user behavior
  3. Social consumer applications revolve around status, communication, and entertainment, where people post, communicate, and get entertained

Turning 40

519 implied HN points • 27 Aug 23
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Reflection Life lessons Values
  1. Giving by default leads to receiving gratefulness, happiness, and success.
  2. Maintaining a positive attitude even in frustrating situations can lead to better outcomes.
  3. Approaching tasks with a voluntary attitude shows energy, motivation, competitive mindset, and willingness.

YC

519 implied HN points • 21 Aug 23
💼 Business Venture Capital Startups Investing Entrepreneurship Market Trends
  1. YC-backed companies' valuations have significantly increased over the past years due to market conditions and increased capital availability.
  2. When investing in startups, it's crucial to have access to top founders, win deals, and diversify your portfolio with at least 20 deals to maximize returns.
  3. High valuations and early-stage startup frenzy can sometimes lead entrepreneurs to lose sight of the core values and essence of their journey.

Feel

379 implied HN points • 01 Oct 23
  1. In order to achieve something with pleasure and pride, you must be willing to face fear, take risks, and feel pain by stepping out of your comfort zone.
  2. When striving to accomplish a goal, it's important to learn to handle uncomfortable emotions, efforts, and situations to experience the joy of success.
  3. There's a fine line between being daring and being reckless - it's crucial to understand the risks before putting yourself in harm's way.

The Game

539 implied HN points • 13 Aug 23
💼 Business Venture Capital Startups Investors Market Trends Entrepreneurship
  1. Venture capital world has become overly competitive, leading to deals made without proper diligence or due consideration.
  2. Consensus in the industry spreads rapidly, leaving founders vulnerable to hype and unfounded opinions.
  3. Investors often don't provide enough guidance or mentorship to young founders, leaving them to run companies without sufficient support.

Master & Conquer

379 implied HN points • 26 Sep 23
💼 Business Entrepreneurship Data Analysis Coaching Investing Startups
  1. Understanding your user behaviors over time through cohorts is crucial for business success.
  2. Clear frameworks and precise data help separate vanity from reality in business trends.
  3. Invest time and effort into mastering the basics of qualitative and quantitative feedback to increase long-term success.

The Family

1058 implied HN points • 12 Mar 23
💼 Business Startups Entrepreneurship Venture Capital Management Leadership
  1. The Family organization had a lot of ambitious individuals and a strong sense of community, but struggled to find a sustainable business model.
  2. Despite the energy and enthusiasm within The Family, they faced challenges with loose processes, lack of focus, and poor accountability.
  3. Individuals within The Family, like Oussama, played significant roles in both the success and failure of the organization, showcasing the importance of leadership and responsibility.

Foundations

419 implied HN points • 04 Sep 23
💼 Business Entrepreneurship Productivity Leadership Success Work ethic
  1. Success is about making people around you happy, including employees and customers, while also ensuring profitability for sustainability.
  2. Having a healthy balance is crucial; success should not drain all your energy, you must prioritize maintaining your physical and mental well-being to last in the long run.
  3. Happiness and fulfillment come from connecting with your inner self and surrounding yourself with the right people who share your aspirations and provide support.

New Normal

219 implied HN points • 15 Oct 23
💼 Business Entrepreneurship Financial planning Efficiency Business Models
  1. Set higher business goals and aim to achieve positive yields from actions taken.
  2. Question industry norms and push yourself to exceed expectations, rather than just following what others have done before.
  3. Prioritize efficiency and financial independence in your business strategies, ensuring that actions are intentional with positive long-term impacts.

PE Slapping VC

579 implied HN points • 16 Apr 23
💼 Business Investment Finance Startups Entrepreneurship Management
  1. Private equity-backed companies prioritize cash flow over growth, teaching venture capitalists an important lesson for sustained success.
  2. Some growth-stage companies, profitable and mature, outshine venture-backed companies in terms of financial yield without the need for external fundraising.
  3. Venture-backed founders can benefit from connecting with founders of different companies to understand the importance of capital deployment yield and reduce stress levels.

Topi

419 implied HN points • 02 Jul 23
  1. Be inspired by the people you love and admire, as they can shape your values and behaviors in a positive way.
  2. Kindness and tolerance are powerful traits to embody, even in the face of adversity, as they can influence relationships and interactions.
  3. Embrace curiosity, open-mindedness, and hard work, as these qualities can lead to personal growth and inspiration.

Animal

379 implied HN points • 16 Jul 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Self-awareness Work-life balance Personal Growth
  1. Reflect on your actions and how they impact others, strive for genuine intentions in your interactions.
  2. Recognize your strengths and weaknesses in managing relationships and commitments, while maintaining your individuality.
  3. Understand your personal needs and preferences, and embrace them even if they differ from societal norms.

Long Term

479 implied HN points • 04 Jun 23
💼 Business Entrepreneurship Venture Capital Ethics Company Building
  1. Success often requires effort, dedication, and patience over immediate gratification.
  2. In the world of entrepreneurship and investing, it's important to have a long-term perspective and not get caught up in instant success narratives.
  3. Building meaningful companies requires ethics, rhythm, and alignment, along with cultivating long-term relationships with founders.

Comment Décider ?

738 implied HN points • 22 Jan 23
💼 Business Leadership Framework Engagement
  1. To make decisions effectively, leadership, a decision-making framework, and team engagement are crucial.
  2. Leadership entails setting direction, rhythm, and ensuring alignment with the company's vision and mission.
  3. Utilizing a decision-making framework involves considering the level of information, potential impact, execution intensity, and reversibility of decisions.

Grand Marnier

718 implied HN points • 28 Jan 23
🍲 Food & Drink Cocktails Entrepreneurship
  1. Success as an entrepreneur requires a solid team, clear priorities, and rapid product development.
  2. Entrepreneurship is filled with challenges and uncertainties, pushing individuals to constantly strive for progress.
  3. Key qualities of successful entrepreneurs include maintaining a positive attitude, surrounding oneself with the right people, and staying realistic and clear-sighted.

Dire Les Choses

738 implied HN points • 15 Jan 23
💼 Business Venture Capital Entrepreneurs Investors Communication Feedback
  1. Investors in venture capital should not shy away from addressing sensitive topics with the founders they support, to avoid miscommunication and potential issues.
  2. Communication is key in maintaining productive relationships between investors and entrepreneurs. Creating an environment where feedback is welcomed and honest conversations can take place is crucial.
  3. Investors need to share observations directly with entrepreneurs, rather than gossiping or keeping concerns to themselves. Open dialogue and constructive conflict can lead to better outcomes for all parties involved.

Kindness

379 implied HN points • 25 Jun 23
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Kindness Trust Happiness Values Self-Improvement
  1. Kindness should be a default currency when engaging with people, not something to reserve only for special situations.
  2. Expressing kindness can help to quickly determine if someone is trustworthy or not.
  3. Kindness is a valuable attribute that triggers positive responses, builds trust, and fosters happiness.

Exploite tes peurs

658 implied HN points • 05 Feb 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health Self-Improvement Entrepreneurship Personal Growth Emotional Intelligence
  1. Recognize and exploit your fears as a way to drive yourself to do better each day.
  2. Entrepreneurs should not shy away from acknowledging and utilizing their vulnerabilities as a source of motivation and growth.
  3. Seek feedback from others to identify recurring behaviors that may be limiting you, and work towards understanding and overcoming them to reach your full potential.

Reflection #1

259 implied HN points • 06 Aug 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Self-reflection Gratitude
  1. Reflecting on past decisions and mistakes during summer is essential for personal growth and learning.
  2. Summer is a time to appreciate the people and moments that bring joy and gratitude in life.
  3. Finding a balance between staying connected and unplugging during summer is key to maintaining mental well-being.

Pleasure

199 implied HN points • 10 Sep 23
💼 Business Relationships Communication Conflict resolution Team Dynamics
  1. Friction in relationships often stems from differences and disagreements, rather than one person being solely at fault.
  2. Understanding each other's vulnerabilities and flaws is crucial for building strong relationships.
  3. It's important to find pleasure and enjoyment in your interactions and collaborations with others to maintain healthy relationships.

How to drive me crazy 🤯

379 implied HN points • 28 May 23
💼 Business Entrepreneurship Leadership Failure Progress Mindset
  1. Ownership is key: Acknowledge mistakes, apologize, reflect, and avoid blaming others. It's important to take full responsibility.
  2. Increase awareness: Connect and interact with others, understand their needs, and reflect on yourself. Being self-aware is crucial for healthy relationships.
  3. Embrace progress over success: Failure is part of the journey, and the ability to grow and evolve is vital. Avoid getting stuck in a fixed mindset and strive for continuous improvement.

Burning

339 implied HN points • 11 Jun 23
💼 Business Entrepreneurship Startups Management Growth Leadership
  1. Companies in the startup world face the risk of 'burning out' due to various reasons like lack of product-market fit, slow growth, or unsustainable economics.
  2. Entrepreneurs fall into categories like 'High Flyers' who start strong but need to sustain hype, and 'The Burn-Outers' who struggle to manage work-life balance while pushing their companies forward.
  3. Running a company successfully requires a balance of fundamental work, intense focus, and clarity of vision, along with surrounding oneself with a supportive team to navigate challenges.

Le futur de la messagerie instantanée

479 implied HN points • 12 Feb 23
🕹 Technology Messaging Privacy Innovation iOS Communication
  1. Don't let yourself be overwhelmed by notifications, prioritize important connections over others.
  2. Consider using messaging platforms like Roze that prioritize privacy and control over who you chat with.
  3. Focus on quality interactions by selecting a limited number of close contacts for messaging, rather than being bombarded with irrelevant notifications.

Lagging Behind

359 implied HN points • 30 Apr 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Productivity Self-care Mental health
  1. Acknowledge when you're falling behind and need to clean house. Don't blame yourself too much; it happens. Adjust your schedule to find more time and space to get things done in the next few days.
  2. Prioritize tasks and schedule them for the upcoming week. Be careful not to spread them too thin. Start with the most critical things early in the morning to avoid carrying a mental backlog.
  3. Don't be afraid to say no, reschedule, or cancel commitments. Get back to handling emails and important messages promptly without overthinking. Be honest about your overwhelmed feelings.

Chaos

359 implied HN points • 02 Apr 23
🎭️ Culture Chaos Entrepreneurship Creativity Mindfulness Philosophy
  1. Chaos can bring beauty, freedom, and risk, offering a different perspective and new ideas.
  2. Embrace chaos in action by allowing room for diversity, creativity, and rebellion in your organization.
  3. While chaos can be inspiring, be cautious of letting it cloud your thoughts - aim for clarity and coherence.

Real Clarity

299 implied HN points • 23 Apr 23
💼 Business Startups Entrepreneurship Investing Management Tech
  1. Finding equilibrium in startups involves balancing sales, tech, and product investments.
  2. Clarity in startups means aligning narrative with reality, managing expectations vs. realizations.
  3. Startups face challenges in maintaining clarity and facing the unpredictability of change.