The hottest Venture Capital Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Business Topics

Why raising 1M$ isn't all that

Trying Truly • 1 HN point • 19 Feb 24
💼 Business Venture Capital
  1. Raising $1M may seem exciting, but it's important to realize the true value beyond just the capital.
  2. Consider the experience gained from building a company before returning to pursue bigger goals.
  3. Success isn't just about the money; it's about the meaningful work, growth, and time spent together as a team.

Clouded Judgement 1.12.24 - Hard Truths

Clouded Judgement • 1 HN point • 12 Jan 24
💼 Business Venture Capital
  1. In 2021, there was an influx of funding in the venture market, leading to challenges for startups to meet milestones in the future.
  2. Startups need to assess if their product has a unique market fit and can sustainably operate independently.
  3. Having honest conversations now about a startup's viability can prevent future struggles, especially as funding balances decrease.

Getting Off the VC Train

Venture Reflections • 1 HN point • 15 Dec 23
💼 Business Venture Capital
  1. For many founders, 'getting off the train' means no longer relying on future venture capital rounds for success.
  2. Due to recent volatility in fundraising markets, founders are hesitant about staying in the VC ecosystem.
  3. Founders wanting to get off the VC train often do so due to mismatched business models, fear of uncertain funding future, or a desire to control their company's destiny.

Be a rocketship or leave a big crater

Startup Real Talk • 1 HN point • 18 Oct 23
💼 Business Venture Capital
  1. Venture capital investors expect high returns, so startups need to aim to be either hugely successful or risk being considered failures.
  2. In the world of venture-backed startups, growth is essential - if a business can't sustain growth, it may face failure.
  3. Founders should carefully assess if venture capital funding aligns with their business goals and take steps to mitigate potential misaligned interests with investors.
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#36: Rubina Singh: engineer investing in frontier deep tech and climate tech w/ Octopus Ventures (>£1bn AUM)

Views • 0 implied HN points • 23 Jan 24
💼 Business Venture Capital
  1. Explore the extraordinary opportunity in deep tech investment with potential for revolutionary advances in technology and addressing critical global issues.
  2. Investment in breakthrough tech like deep tech can be uncommon due to perceived difficulties and misconceptions, but offers significant value.
  3. Mitigate risks and enhance deep tech investments by focusing on big problems, improving understanding of technology and market, and building a supportive ecosystem.

#35 Manuel Silva: VC firm building, LP fundraising hacks, and the future of finance

Views • 0 implied HN points • 31 Oct 23
💼 Business Venture Capital
  1. Curiosity and diverse experiences play a key role in shaping a successful career in VC and fintech innovation.
  2. Building a corporate VC arm requires seizing the right opportunities, managing complex problems, and ensuring a personal fit.
  3. Lessons from Silicon Valley highlight the importance of strong relationships, ambitious thinking, ecosystem connections, and personal reputation.

#31 Oscar Farres: the semiconductor engineer turned biggest LP in European Venture Capital

Views • 0 implied HN points • 06 Jun 23
💼 Business Venture Capital
  1. Oscar Farres started in tech by disassembling gadgets and coding at a young age, leading him to study electronics engineering.
  2. Transitioning into investments, Oscar founded startups before becoming a VC, then later the biggest LP in European Venture Capital.
  3. Key opportunities in European tech and VC include greater focus on research-based startups, adapting to macro contexts, and demonstrating solid team dynamics as important for LPs.

Series A activity: Week of January 22, 2024

Magid and Co • 0 implied HN points • 29 Jan 24
💼 Business Venture Capital
  1. Deal volume for Series A activity increased by approximately 60% compared to the previous week
  2. One notable Series A deal was Krutrim SI Designs raising $50M at a $1B post from Matrix Partners
  3. Data focused on Series A deals worldwide (excluding China) where the amount raised is over $5M and the companies are not focused on therapeutics

2023 VC Deal Data in Review

Magid and Co • 0 implied HN points • 18 Jan 24
💼 Business Venture Capital
  1. 2023 was challenging for companies raising venture capital, with the total capital, deal volume, and median deal size being below the peak in 2021-2022.
  2. Notable trend: Later stage rounds were more affected than early stage ones, possibly due to their IPO expectations and proximity to public markets.
  3. Brand name investors reduced activity, with a drop in the number of Series A, B, and C rounds led by them compared to the broader market, suggesting founders need to pitch to a broader range of funds.

Series A activity: Week of December 11, 2023

Magid and Co • 0 implied HN points • 18 Dec 23
💼 Business Venture Capital
  1. Mistral AI's Series A round over $400M challenges the typical size definition for Series A rounds, raising questions about business progress.
  2. The total amount raised in Series A deals last week reached $874M, with Mistral AI alone accounting for 48% of the total.
  3. The announced deal volume for Series A activity was 27% higher compared to the previous week, indicating a significant increase in activity.

Series A activity: Week of November 6, 2023

Magid and Co • 0 implied HN points • 13 Nov 23
💼 Business Venture Capital
  1. The post provides data on Series A deals done worldwide, excluding China, where the amount raised is over $5M and the company is not focused on therapeutics.
  2. The data summary includes statistics on Series A activity for the week of November 6, 2023.
  3. The article invites readers to subscribe for free to receive more posts and support the author's work.

Series A activity: Week of October 16, 2023

Magid and Co • 0 implied HN points • 23 Oct 23
💼 Business Venture Capital
  1. The post shares data on Series A deals from the week of October 16, 2023.
  2. The summary stats provided focus on Series A deals worldwide (excluding China) with raises over $5M for companies not focused on therapeutics.
  3. Readers are invited to subscribe for free to receive more posts and support the author's work.

Series A activity: Week of October 3, 2023

Magid and Co • 0 implied HN points • 10 Oct 23
💼 Business Venture Capital
  1. Data was shared on Series A deals done in the last week, focusing on deals worldwide (ex-China) where the amount raised is over $5M and companies are not therapeutics-oriented.
  2. A downloadable PDF file with data on Series A deals from October 2, 2023, was available for access, providing insights and statistics.
  3. Readers were encouraged to subscribe for free to receive updates and to support the author's work on Magid and Co.

Series A activity: Week of September 4, 2023

Magid and Co • 0 implied HN points • 11 Sep 23
💼 Business Venture Capital
  1. Shortcut Labs is a new post-seed accelerator program aiming to help companies with Series A funding.
  2. This update provides data on Series A deals done worldwide exceeding $5M, excluding therapeutic-focused companies.
  3. The post offers information and a summary of Series A activity in the week of September 4, 2023.

Series A activity: Week of June 12, 2023

Magid and Co • 0 implied HN points • 19 Jun 23
💼 Business Venture Capital
  1. The post provides data on Series A deals done in the last week of June 12, 2023.
  2. Information is available for Series A deals worldwide (excluding China) where the amount raised is above $5M and the focus is not on therapeutics.
  3. Readers can subscribe for free to receive new posts and support the work of Magid and Co.

How did Mamaearth scale?

This week I am curious about? • 0 implied HN points • 07 Nov 23
💼 Business Venture Capital
  1. Mamaearth founders identified a gap in the market by focusing on toxin-free, safe baby care products, which resonated with parents in India.
  2. The founders leveraged partnerships with organizations like Madesafe to gain credibility for their products and build a purpose-driven brand.
  3. Mamaearth engaged with blogger moms, utilized word of mouth marketing, and built personalized D2C capabilities to reach target segments effectively.

From $120M to Zero: An In-Depth Analysis of Juicero's Catastrophic Collapse

Founder Fuck-ups • 0 implied HN points • 19 Jul 23
💼 Business Venture Capital
  1. Juicero's downfall showcases the importance of delivering real value to customers. Without fulfilling promises or solving problems, even well-funded startups can face failure.
  2. High costs and lack of differentiation in a competitive market were key challenges for Juicero. Consumers questioned the worth of expensive products amidst other affordable options.
  3. Negative publicity can significantly impact a business. Juicero's flawed product and inability to manage media scrutiny led to widespread doubts and ultimately contributed to its collapse.

Your Fund Size is Your Strategy

Equal Ventures • 0 implied HN points • 28 Feb 24
💼 Business Venture Capital
  1. The size of a fund impacts the investment strategy - larger funds may need to be less collaborative and aim for higher ownership percentages.
  2. As funds grow larger, it becomes more challenging to syndicate deals and collaborate with other investors, leading to a need for more selective partnerships.
  3. Investing independently and leading deals can be a strategic advantage, especially for firms looking to maintain a specific investment focus and collaboration opportunities.

Welcoming Grace Penders to Equal Ventures

Equal Ventures • 0 implied HN points • 17 Feb 24
💼 Business Venture Capital
  1. Grace Penders joins Equal Ventures as the new Climate Product Owner, bringing impressive expertise and passion for the sector.
  2. Grace's personal qualities, like a knack for finding unrevealed insights and a team-first mentality, stood out in her candidacy for the role.
  3. Equal Ventures focuses on building enduring partnerships with founders, and Grace's addition is expected to further strengthen these relationships.

Seed is the New Series A

Equal Ventures • 0 implied HN points • 19 Dec 23
💼 Business Venture Capital
  1. Seed stage investing has evolved to become as prominent and important as Series A investments in recent years.
  2. Seed investors have seen success, leading to larger investments, pushing Series A rounds to later stages.
  3. The venture capital landscape is changing, with early-stage investing maturing, causing a shift in investment strategies towards earlier-stage opportunities.

Going Your Own Way

Equal Ventures • 0 implied HN points • 15 Nov 23
💼 Business Venture Capital
  1. Venture capital managers should not rely on past success strategies in the rapidly evolving industry, but should forge their own paths.
  2. Breaking away from traditional venture capital norms and practices can lead to success, even when faced with skepticism from experienced investors.
  3. Innovation and originality are key in the venture capital world, with a constant need to push boundaries to stay ahead of the market.

ClimateTech 2023: Lessons from the CleanTech Bubble

Equal Ventures • 0 implied HN points • 04 Apr 23
💼 Business Venture Capital
  1. Climate industry has seen a rise in capital over the last three years, learning from the failures of the CleanTech bubble in the past
  2. CleanTech market suffered a crash due to investing in areas misunderstood by VCs, leading to poor returns and hindering future investments
  3. VCs during the CleanTech era made mistakes by investing in business models that required government intervention, leading to their downfall

Modern Meditations: Josh Wolfe

The Generalist • 0 implied HN points • 12 Feb 23
💼 Business Venture Capital
  1. Josh Wolfe focuses on three main investment spaces: inner space, outer space, and latent space.
  2. Interdisciplinary thinking can lead to great ideas by merging fields like myrmecology and physics.
  3. Josh Wolfe believes that some environmental movements hinder progress by overlooking nuclear energy.

The Great Page Break

The Down Round • 0 implied HN points • 25 Apr 23
💼 Business Venture Capital
  1. Deals are happening again in various industries like AI, SaaS, and crypto, despite many being down rounds.
  2. There's a shift in attitude from dwelling on past losses to looking towards the future with more acceptance and optimism.
  3. The industry is experiencing a reset after a tumultuous period, leading to a renewed focus on growth and a sense of moving forward.

The Art of Early-Stage Investing

Digital Native • 0 implied HN points • 22 Nov 23
💼 Business Venture Capital
  1. In early-stage investing, having outlier companies with good ownership is crucial for fund returns.
  2. Market size may not matter as much as founders expanding markets with great products and vision.
  3. Investing in platforms and networks, rather than just product companies, can lead to more fund-returning investments.

Seed Investing: The State of the Union

Digital Native • 0 implied HN points • 15 Nov 23
💼 Business Venture Capital
  1. Seed investing is experiencing a rough period due to market downturn, impacting both pre-seed and seed stages.
  2. Despite the challenges, early-stage investing remains compelling, attracting multi-stage investors looking for opportunities in Seed.
  3. Seed valuations are relatively high, but a focus on reasonably-priced rounds at the earliest stages can lead to significant returns for investors.

The Journey of Melanie Strong: From Nike to NEXT VENTŪRES– Recognizing Talent and Building Relationships

The Healthtech Initiative • 0 implied HN points • 31 Jan 24
💼 Business Venture Capital
  1. Melanie Strong's career journey showcases innovation and talent recognition in sports marketing.
  2. She transitioned from Nike to co-founding NEXT VENTŪRES with a focus on venture capital and healthcare innovation.
  3. Strong's leadership emphasizes embracing change, fostering authentic relationships, and driving industry-shaping innovations.