The hottest Startups Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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APIs eat Travel 🔌 Our investment in Impala 🏩

Venture Prose • 0 implied HN points • 02 Oct 19
💼 Business Startups
  1. Impala's mission is to improve data management in the travel industry, providing a single access point for various hotel systems.
  2. Venture capital involves finding unexpected yet perfect matches between opportunities and talented teams.
  3. Impala's approach focuses on solving data management challenges in travel, offering a secure and structured layer for information exchange.

Nonsense: Equal Equity Split Among Founders, Infinitely

Venture Prose • 0 implied HN points • 11 Jul 19
💼 Business Startups
  1. Initial equal equity split among founders is a good starting point but may not remain fair as the company grows and individuals contribute differently over time.
  2. Co-founders need to have ongoing conversations about equity split evolution and be transparent about their individual contributions to ensure fairness and alignment.
  3. Commitment, accountability, and results are key in determining the distribution of equity among co-founders as organizations evolve and grow.

For foreign investors willing to back startups in France

Venture Prose • 0 implied HN points • 18 Jun 19
💼 Business Startups
  1. French entrepreneurs are increasingly talented and ambitious, with valuable experiences and learning curves.
  2. The growing startup environment in France is fostering excellence, velocity, and compounded effects, indicating a promising future for French startups.
  3. Foreign investors are showing increasing interest in French VC firms and startups, but many struggle with knowing how to engage effectively in the French ecosystem.

Irresistible to fund

Venture Prose • 0 implied HN points • 18 Jun 19
💼 Business Startups
  1. Investors make decisions to back entrepreneurs based on patterns and moments of enlightenment during interactions.
  2. Founders who show talent, hard work, and consistent quality interactions can be irresistible to fund.
  3. People are the essence of any venture, and supporting individuals with big opportunities can lead to transformational impact.

Paradoxical Singularities

Venture Prose • 0 implied HN points • 15 Apr 19
💼 Business Startups
  1. Within teams and companies, singularities exist - unique attributes that can be strengths or weaknesses.
  2. These singularities can lead to paradoxical effects, like early strengths turning into future liabilities.
  3. Investors can assist founders in addressing their imperfections by understanding their major behavioral patterns.
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The Venture Chills

Venture Prose • 0 implied HN points • 30 Jan 19
💼 Business Startups
  1. The key traits of great founders include humble-aggressive convictions, obsession, ability to learn and execute with speed and excellence, and unbreakable will to build world-changing ventures.
  2. Great founders stand out by leveraging learnings from others, overcoming difficulties, and revealing unexpected brilliance, leading to unwavering trust and conviction.
  3. Experiencing 'venture chills' in Venture Capital comes from witnessing founders like Lucrezia of Kukua, Pierre of Side.co, and Phil of Dice.fm, who strive to build iconic, transformative companies with purpose and resilience.

The Stellar Company

Venture Prose • 0 implied HN points • 03 Dec 18
💼 Business Startups
  1. The Stellar Company focused on product quality, data excellence, and operational excellence rather than just growth.
  2. Their approach led to exponential growth in monthly GMV from 50k to 2M in 2 years.
  3. Despite rapid growth, the company maintained a strong net contribution margin of 43%, allowing for sustainable expansion.

Ode to the Contrarians

Venture Prose • 0 implied HN points • 29 Nov 18
💼 Business Startups
  1. Contrarians like Airbnb have paved the way for successful investments by going against the grain.
  2. Successful entrepreneurs can change the fate of a company with belief, effort, and positive energy from their supporters.
  3. Investors should focus on startups with deep market knowledge, operational excellence, and clear vision supported by strong values.

Why VC

Venture Prose • 0 implied HN points • 04 Nov 18
💼 Business Startups
  1. Venture Capital is about long-term commitment, making informed decisions, and supporting extraordinary entrepreneurs.
  2. People join the VC industry for various reasons, like the opportunity to fund future innovations and for the perceived effortless and profitable nature of the job.
  3. The purpose of being a VC is to amplify unique opportunities and support companies that aim for significant positive impact on society.

A short note about Venture Capital in France

Venture Prose • 0 implied HN points • 06 Jun 18
💼 Business Startups
  1. Venture Capital involves taking risks to support talented entrepreneurs with the aim of creating successful companies and generating significant returns in the long run.
  2. The Venture Capital landscape in France was initially driven by tax incentives, leading to behaviors focused on avoiding risk rather than embracing it, unlike the UK where higher discounts allow for more risk-taking.
  3. There is a lack of meritocracy and professionalism among French early-stage investors, but the increasing quality of French entrepreneurs is attracting international investors and motivating local investors to improve or exit the market.

An Optimistic Venture Prose

Venture Prose • 0 implied HN points • 22 Mar 18
💼 Business Startups
  1. Investors and entrepreneurs often engage in gossip and cliches, while true progress is being made by dedicated entrepreneurs focused on providing solutions to their clients.
  2. In the world of venture capital, reputation and performance are crucial, with one often influencing the other. It takes time and consistency to see the full picture of success or failure.
  3. When investing in startups, optimism is key, as the future is not merely an extension of the past. It's important to prioritize talent, strategy, and the entrepreneur's decisions over fear or euphoria.

Charles

Venture Prose • 0 implied HN points • 02 Nov 17
💼 Business Startups
  1. Charles has always been determined and persuasive, creating convincing cases from a young age to get what he wants from his parents.
  2. Charles recognized the need for a change in the work paradigm and decided to act on it by starting his own venture, Comet, with a focus on transparency and simplicity.
  3. At 22, Charles witnessed unethical practices in the consultancy industry, leading him to make a drastic career shift towards a more meaningful and ethical path.

Damien

Venture Prose • 0 implied HN points • 31 Oct 17
💼 Business Startups
  1. Damien started his entrepreneurial journey at a young age, making money through computer repairs, organizing events, and venturing into smartphone repair business.
  2. Learning from his experiences, he realized the importance of listening, observing, and involving his team in decision-making, instead of being overly dominant.
  3. Despite facing challenges and setbacks, Damien was able to save his business with hard work, luck, and external support, highlighting the importance of resilience and learning from failure.

Dear Founder, Please Read & Acknowledge Carefully This Onboarding Set

Venture Prose • 0 implied HN points • 10 May 17
💼 Business Startups
  1. The onboarding process for founders involves specific instructions and expectations for communication, updates, and collaborations with the investment platform.
  2. Founders are provided with resources such as guides, templates, and recommended readings to support their growth and decision-making within their organization.
  3. The emphasis is on continuous learning, maintaining control over key metrics and cash flow, as well as fostering a strong relationship with investors.

VC Attitude: Altruism By Default

Venture Prose • 0 implied HN points • 23 Mar 17
💼 Business Startups
  1. Investors provide capital, network, and smart attitudes that help entrepreneurs reflect and make decisions.
  2. Venture Capital's logic is simple: support founders in building successful ventures while acknowledging the uncertainty and small probability of massive success.
  3. Entrepreneurs should focus on driving their teams towards sustainable business models and serving customers, never acting foolishly due to capital expectations.

To All The Batmen & Catwomen, The Great Founders Who Shine In The Shadow & Darkness.

Venture Prose • 0 implied HN points • 21 Mar 17
💼 Business Startups
  1. Founders should focus on staying true to themselves and their core business aspects, despite market rumors and distractions.
  2. The best-performing companies often operate in a low-key manner and prioritize essential elements like users, product, and business model.
  3. Investors play a crucial role in supporting founders behind the scenes during challenges, helping them navigate the realities of building a successful business.

KPI & Cash Control

Venture Prose • 0 implied HN points • 02 Jan 17
💼 Business Startups
  1. Startups can crash due to internal clashes or running out of cash. Make sure to master your KPIs to avoid the latter.
  2. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) act as a control tower, providing insight into the business status and potential problems.
  3. Tracking and mastering KPIs is crucial for building a proper profit & loss and cash plan to ensure business sustainability.

Venture Casino

Venture Prose • 0 implied HN points • 29 Nov 16
💼 Business Startups
  1. Economic landscape has changed with an abundance of investor funds.
  2. Venture capital presents new opportunities fueled by high-risk/high-return decisions.
  3. Both entrepreneurs and investors must be cautious and build sustainable organizations to avoid the pitfalls of amateurism.

Can The French Do It Better ? Tribe, Yellow, Zenly

Venture Prose • 0 implied HN points • 12 Oct 16
🕹 Technology Startups
  1. French apps Tribe, Yellow, and Zenly have attracted millions of downloads and hundreds of thousands of daily active users.
  2. These apps have shown resilience, starting as different products and evolving to their current successful versions with investor support.
  3. To truly succeed, these French apps still need to reach millions of daily active users with strong retention rates.

source{d} just raised a $6M Series A to unleash the power of source code analysis

Venture Prose • 0 implied HN points • 04 Oct 16
🕹 Technology Startups
  1. source{d} raised $6M in Series A funding. They use advanced technologies like deep neural network techniques to analyze open source code. They are developing an open source platform to help developers collaborate and achieve their full potential.
  2. source{d} can extract a unique DNA for developers and projects, allowing for possibilities like showing coding profiles, matching developers and projects, and measuring productivity and consistency of contributions.
  3. source{d} focuses on the power of source code analysis by providing transparency, readability, and liquidity to millions of contributions, aiming to help developers reach their full potential and hiring for positions including VP of Marketing.

The VC Voodoo Formula

Venture Prose • 0 implied HN points • 14 Sep 16
💼 Business Startups
  1. Investors focus on building a strong conviction about a team and its potential for the future.
  2. For sustainable success, founders' skills, vision, and ability to recruit top talent are crucial.
  3. In venture capital, success involves navigating uncertainty, focusing efforts on chosen battles, and capitalizing on network effects and timing.

The Toilet Paper Theory

Venture Prose • 0 implied HN points • 28 Aug 16
💼 Business Startups
  1. Regularly tracking key metrics and data is crucial for seed-stage companies to observe founder discipline and consistency.
  2. Founders must pay attention to small details and regularly analyze company metrics to avoid potential organizational failures.
  3. The 'Toilet Paper Theory' emphasizes the importance of self-awareness and attention to detail, encouraging individuals to dig into small aspects to stay informed about their company.

Dealing With User/Customer Rejection

Venture Prose • 0 implied HN points • 04 Aug 16
💼 Business Startups
  1. Rejection is common for startups striving for product-market fit. Address reluctance, unwillingness, and doubt to expand market reach.
  2. Reluctancy could be countered by demonstrating clear benefits, showing product in action, and offering exclusive features.
  3. Unwillingness to change can be tackled by reassuring current users, highlighting benefits, and minimizing the cost of transition.

DECK + FAQ: The (necessary) killer combo for entrepreneurs raising funds

Venture Prose • 0 implied HN points • 29 Jul 16
💼 Business Startups
  1. When preparing a pitch deck, focus on presenting no more than 20 words and 3 ideas per slide to avoid overwhelming your audience.
  2. Create a FAQ document during meetings to document common questions asked and provide detailed yet concise answers that can be easily shared.
  3. Sharing a FAQ document after meetings not only saves time but also helps track audience concerns and lets them rely on accurate information.

Startups are like TV Series

Venture Prose • 0 implied HN points • 29 Jul 16
💼 Business Startups
  1. Startups and TV series share similarities in terms of complexity and organized storytelling.
  2. Success in startups, like in TV shows, comes from the convergence of details towards a compelling story.
  3. Building a successful venture requires entrepreneurs to excel by handling details effectively and avoiding a messy narrative.

Hello VC, Here’s A Gentle Slap in your Face: Contemplation is no Action, Success is Earned.

Venture Prose • 0 implied HN points • 29 Jul 16
💼 Business Startups
  1. Success in venture capital is earned through action, not just contemplation.
  2. European/French Venture Capitalists are urged to focus on improving governance, discipline, proactivity, software usage, and support for portfolio companies.
  3. Venture Capital should aim for long-term value creation, not just short-term gains, and actively seek out promising startups instead of waiting for opportunities.

Why TheFamily?

Venture Prose • 0 implied HN points • 29 Jul 16
💼 Business Startups
  1. Education systems should allow more freedom to experiment and maximize individual achievement.
  2. Becoming an entrepreneur is not just about starting a company, but about driving change and making an impact.
  3. Accessing resources and knowledge has never been easier, providing a great opportunity for everyone to learn entrepreneurship and lead change.

When Business Angels are Gentlemen.

Venture Prose • 0 implied HN points • 29 Jul 16
💼 Business Startups
  1. When seeking investment, entrepreneurs should value both money and time from investors.
  2. Entrepreneurs can reward investors with stock options instead of discounting valuations.
  3. Positive and mutually beneficial attitudes in investment partnerships lead to effective collaboration and business growth.

Startups Are Like Racehorses

Venture Prose • 0 implied HN points • 29 Jul 16
💼 Business Startups
  1. In startups and horse racing, success is not always predictable despite indicators like pedigree and performance.
  2. External factors like weather and competition can greatly influence outcomes in startups and horse races.
  3. Entrepreneurs and racehorses have similarities in terms of potential, growth trajectory, and the quest for success.

TokTokTok: Personal Delivery at Scale.

Venture Prose • 0 implied HN points • 29 Jul 16
💼 Business Startups
  1. Investors sometimes miss out on unique investment opportunities, like Capitaine Train, because of not understanding the team, product value, or market potential.
  2. TokTokTok stands out for its CEO's clear vision, team commitment to customer satisfaction, and focus on personal delivery at scale beyond traditional food or personal services.
  3. Success doesn't always come from following the crowd; sometimes it's the outliers that surprise us the most.

API or Platform

Venture Prose • 0 implied HN points • 29 Jul 16
🕹 Technology Startups
  1. Entrepreneurs should focus on either building a BtoB SaaS API or a Platform, not both simultaneously.
  2. A BtoB SaaS API offers technology for others to use, while a Platform provides both technology and data to users.
  3. Platforms, which combine tech and data, are harder to succeed with compared to APIs, which focus solely on technology.

API-Tech + Product

Venture Prose • 0 implied HN points • 29 Jul 16
🕹 Technology Startups
  1. Successful companies can work on and sell two different but connected things at the same time, like API-Tech + Product.
  2. Companies that initially stand out and succeed often have clarity, determination, and quality in their foundational choices.
  3. To build an empire, focus on creating unique assets, game changers, and barriers that set your company apart from others.

You only have 2 min to make a great impression

Venture Prose • 0 implied HN points • 29 Jul 16
💼 Business Startups
  1. When pitching your startup, focus on delivering simple and bold data that show conversion, retention, and growth within a concise 2-minute pitch.
  2. Ensure your pitch is empathetic, true to yourself, and clear to capture sincere attention and avoid boring your audience.
  3. Craft your startup story by covering who you are, what you do, when you started, why people love your product, your unique value, KPIs, and ambitions, all within a time limit of 2 minutes.

Love the many, Live for the few

Venture Prose • 0 implied HN points • 29 Jul 16
💼 Business Startups
  1. Success often comes unexpectedly and defies predictions.
  2. Many great achievements are born out of being different and going against the norm.
  3. Competition is intense, and being excellent doesn't guarantee success; you must outperform your competitors.

En Levée de fonds, ce ne sont pas les meilleurs entrepreneurs qui gagnent, ce sont les plus forts

Venture Prose • 0 implied HN points • 29 Jul 16
💼 Business Startups
  1. In fundraising, it's the strongest entrepreneurs, not necessarily the best, who succeed.
  2. About 80% of startups fail, highlighting the challenges many entrepreneurs face.
  3. Success in startups and fundraising requires resilience, methodology, and talent, emphasizing the importance of these qualities in the entrepreneurial journey.

En France, l’ambition se nourrit d’amour et d’eau fraiche. Puis elle meurt, dans l’indifférence.

Venture Prose • 0 implied HN points • 29 Jul 16
💼 Business Startups
  1. Ambition in France is often fueled by inspiring role models and team dynamics, enabling individuals to push boundaries beyond perceived limits.
  2. Challenges exist in deploying public funds for startup financing in France, indicating a need to reevaluate or change approaches when faced with persistent issues.
  3. To enhance startup success and growth in France, motivating investors with effective incentives similar to those in the UK could be a key solution for addressing the funding gap.

WARNING ENTREPRENEURS & STARTUPS: Les bons et les mauvais leveurs de fonds!

Venture Prose • 0 implied HN points • 29 Jul 16
💼 Business Startups
  1. A good fundraiser typically does 2 to 3 deals per year, with 5 to 6 in active mode, always having 2 to 5 deals in progress at different stages.
  2. Effective fundraisers usually avoid working with very young companies raising less than 1M€/1.5M€, unless they have a strong interest and do not take retainers in such cases.
  3. Reputable fundraisers operate exclusively, charge between 4% and 6% success fees based on deal size, and never ask for a signed contract with commission and capital access.

Software Is Eating The VC World

Venture Prose • 0 implied HN points • 28 Jun 16
💼 Business Startups
  1. Kima Ventures uses software to streamline their venture capital operations and manage deal flow efficiently.
  2. The goal of Kima Ventures is to develop high-quality software that can revolutionize the VC world and benefit entrepreneurs.
  3. They plan to share their software with other VC firms and investors to enhance the industry as a whole.