The hottest Venture Capital Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Paypal's 'Going Sharp' Stategy To Find Product Market Fit | VC Distributions Sink To 14-Year Low | VC Remote Jobs ....

Venture Curator • 179 implied HN points • 13 Feb 24
💼 Business Venture Capital Startups Product-Market Fit Remote Jobs Investments
  1. PayPal's 'Going Sharp' strategy focused on specific customer segments and key features for successful growth.
  2. Venture Capital distributions hit a 14-year low, affecting LP reinvestment willingness.
  3. Valuation caps varied based on round size in 2023 post-money SAFEs for US companies, highlighting caution against blind use of multiple caps.

Marc Andreessen: Understand "Onion Theory Of Risk" To Raise Funding For Your Startup | VC Remote Jobs & More

Venture Curator • 259 implied HN points • 18 Dec 23
💼 Business Startups Venture Capital Funding Milestones Investors
  1. Understanding the relationship between risk and cash flow is crucial for successfully raising venture capital funding for a startup.
  2. Peeling away layers of risks through achieving milestones is key to pitching your startup effectively to investors at different funding rounds.
  3. The Onion Theory of Risk highlights the layers of risk a startup faces and emphasizes the importance of systematically reducing these risks to attract funding.

DeFi Education's Holiday Book List

DeFi Education • 1079 implied HN points • 07 Dec 22
💰 Finance Investing Books Markets Economic History Venture Capital
  1. Reading is important for investors. It helps you understand new information and gain different viewpoints.
  2. The recommended book list includes diverse topics, not just crypto, to foster a well-rounded understanding of finance and business.
  3. Books like 'Digital Minimalism' and others help readers refine their focus and learn important historical lessons about money.

The Importance (and Shortcomings) of a Data-Driven Approach in Venture Capital

patternventures • 198 implied HN points • 16 Feb 24
💼 Business Venture Capital Investment Strategies Data Analysis Market Trends
  1. Venture capital is a great field for using data because it can really improve the investment process. By analyzing data, investors can more easily find and support promising startups.
  2. Some key performance indicators (KPIs) have been shown to correlate with the success of funds. For example, funds scoring above 30% on specific KPIs are much more likely to provide high returns.
  3. While data-driven strategies are helpful, they aren't perfect. Investors still need solid experience and networks to truly understand fund performance and secure access to the best opportunities.
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The Future of Investing 101

Investing 101 • 87 implied HN points • 04 Jan 25
💼 Business Investing Venture Capital Market Trends Business Models Entrepreneurship
  1. Writing helps clarify thoughts and ideas. It's surprising how much understanding comes from putting words on the page.
  2. Conversations with others can spark valuable insights. Talking about ideas can lead to new perspectives that writing alone might miss.
  3. Improving writing involves more than just writing. It includes reading, watching content, and engaging in dialogue to enhance learning and thinking.

"Land & Expand" To Improve Your Odds of Getting to Yes With a VC | VC Remote Jobs & More

Venture Curator • 299 implied HN points • 10 Nov 23
💼 Business Venture Capital Funding Startups Investment Entrepreneurship
  1. Raising capital from VCs is a sales & marketing process where you're selling trust and confidence in the future of your company. Building trust with VC partners and understanding their decision dynamics can increase your odds of success.
  2. Each VC firm has a unique decision-making process, so it's crucial to know the firm's partner structure, how decisions are made, and the role of non-partner staff. Building relationships with multiple team members before the final decision meeting can improve your chances.
  3. To secure funding from VCs, go beyond just your sponsoring partner - engage with multiple staff members, understand the decision dynamics within the firm, and address biases and concerns in advance. Building broad relationships within the VC firm can increase the likelihood of a positive outcome.

Spotlight: Michael Mealling - General Partner @ Starbridge Venture Capital

Space Ambition • 79 implied HN points • 03 May 24
💼 Business Venture Capital Investment Strategies Space Technology Startup Ecosystem Market Analysis
  1. The key to successful investing in spacetech is understanding market structures and leveraging a strong network. This helps in identifying real opportunities amid hype.
  2. Using the Integrated Space Plan (ISP) aids in spotting gaps and potential growth areas in the industry. It's important to ensure there are actual customers for new technologies.
  3. When reaching out to potential investors, concise and clear pitches about the business model are crucial. It's more effective to focus on solving customer problems rather than just showcasing technology.

Whatever, do the secondary sale

benn.substack • 562 implied HN points • 01 Mar 24
💼 Business Venture Capital Startup Growth Employee Relations
  1. If you're a visionary founder who raises a lot of money and then sells shares for personal gain before mismanagement leads to the company's downfall, VCs will prioritize your ability to grow and persuade over your financial choices.
  2. In the world of venture capital, making money often trumps moral values, with investors backing those who are monetizable rather than necessarily 'nice.'
  3. While secondary sales by founders may raise concerns about focus and fairness to employees, making them transparent to the entire company could help ensure accountability and address potential disillusionment.

The VC Corner 📰 #6

The VC Corner • 219 implied HN points • 30 Dec 23
💼 Business Venture Capital Startups Investing Finance Entrepreneurship
  1. This newsletter provides valuable news and resources for people in the startup and venture capital world. It's great for both experienced investors and beginners.
  2. By subscribing, you get access to weekly insights that can help you stay informed about the latest trends and developments in startups.
  3. There's a free trial option available, so you can explore the content without any initial commitment.

The Levers of Innovation

Investing 101 • 124 implied HN points • 23 Nov 24
💼 Business Entrepreneurship Innovation Venture Capital Startups Market Trends
  1. There's a shortage of exceptional founders in the startup world, which affects the number and quality of new companies. We need to support more people in becoming great founders.
  2. Access to capital isn't the real issue; it's about how well that capital is distributed to potential founders. Many great ideas and markets exist, but they need the right people to bring them to life.
  3. Creating a culture that accepts struggle and encourages innovation can help develop more exceptional founders. We need to be open to new ideas and support each other in taking risks.

It's Logical

Points And Figures • 346 implied HN points • 29 Feb 24
💼 Business Startup Investing Product-Market Fit Venture Capital Market Analysis
  1. The main reason for business failure often boils down to individuals not being able to achieve product-market fit.
  2. Businesses that may seem logical on the surface can actually struggle to succeed in the startup world.
  3. Investing in startups involves understanding that success may not always follow a straightforward, logical path, and accepting the inherent risks involved in the process.

The Business of Venture Capital

Insight Axis • 296 implied HN points • 05 Nov 23
💼 Business Venture Capital Investment Startups Entrepreneurship Risk management
  1. Venture capital began from the dot-com bubble era, where tech entrepreneurs set up investment firms to fund new, high-growth technology companies.
  2. VCs specifically invest in early stage companies with potential for rapid growth and huge profits, aiming to 10x their investment in 5 years.
  3. Venture capital faces challenges like misaligned incentives, high-risk investments, and the need to balance finding unicorns without funding too many duds.

Spotlight: Jonathan Lacoste - General Partner @ Space.VC

Space Ambition • 179 implied HN points • 26 Jan 24
💼 Business Venture Capital Startups Investment Strategies Technology Innovation Space Industry
  1. Investing in space tech has huge potential. It's becoming a key part of important industries like defense, agriculture, and communication.
  2. When looking to invest early, focus on the founding team and the size of the customer market. Successful relationships can be built before a product even exists.
  3. Finding big problems to solve is better than starting with a tech idea. Look for large markets that could benefit from smart space applications.

YC Partner: Avoid These Tempting Startup Ideas - Tarpit Ideas | VC Remote Jobs & More

Venture Curator • 179 implied HN points • 25 Jan 24
💼 Business Startups Venture Capital Entrepreneurship Investing Jobs
  1. Avoid 'Tarpit Ideas' in startups, which have an oversupply of founders but low market demand.
  2. Consumer startups are risky due to high competition, user demands, and timing challenges.
  3. Identify Tarpit Ideas by spotting survivor bias, seeking second-order innovations or difficult-to-scale ideas, and pivot by understanding supply-demand dynamics.

Crypto VC Landscape

DeFi Education • 739 implied HN points • 14 Feb 23
🔮 Crypto Investing Startups Venture Capital DeFi Market Trends
  1. Venture capital funds invest in startups at different stages, from early ideas to companies preparing for IPOs. Most startups, especially in crypto, face high failure rates, so VCs take big risks with their investments.
  2. Crypto VCs can get returns faster than traditional VCs because they can exit investments within about a year after a startup issues tokens. This liquidity aspect makes crypto investments different and often more attractive.
  3. In 2022, despite a tough market, crypto and blockchain startups still received significant funding. However, VCs shifted towards later-stage deals, showing a cautious approach in these challenging times.

The VC Corner 📰 #8

The VC Corner • 179 implied HN points • 13 Jan 24
💼 Business Venture Capital Startups Sales Healthcare Ethics
  1. Carta is facing accusations of unethical practices, which could impact its reputation in the industry. It's a reminder that businesses need to act ethically to maintain trust.
  2. To become a sales-focused founder, there are key steps to follow. Focusing on sales can help drive growth and success for startups.
  3. The outlook for healthcare in 2024 is being discussed. Understanding trends in healthcare can help investors and startups prepare for future opportunities.

VC Don't Care About LTV/CAC Ratio ? | Hacking the VC process: Maximise Your Chance Of Getting Funded | VC Remote Jobs and More

Venture Curator • 299 implied HN points • 06 Oct 23
💼 Business Venture Capital Startup Entrepreneurship Investment Funding
  1. Investors obsess over the LTV/CAC ratio to gauge the potential return on investment and look for 'just-add-money opportunities.'
  2. Not all customers are equal; focusing on high-LTV customers can optimize customer acquisition efforts.
  3. VCs focus on CACD (Customer Acquisition Cost Doubled) to assess the time taken to recoup investments, emphasizing the importance of velocity over just the LTV/CAC ratio.

Clouded Judgement 5.23.25 - AI Grows the Size of the Prize

Clouded Judgement • 2 implied HN points • 23 May 25
💰 Finance Investing Economics Market Trends Venture Capital Debt Management
  1. Venture capital returns can grow as fund sizes increase. The value of successful startups has been climbing, which could mean bigger returns for investors in the future.
  2. Inflation and rising yields are influencing the bond market. As government spending increases and investor concerns grow, yields on U.S. debt are going up, making it more expensive to borrow.
  3. Understanding how software companies are valued is important. These companies are often valued based on their expected revenue, and knowing the growth rates can help investors find the best opportunities.

'You Can’t Raised Funding Without Using Old Sales-Marketing Funnel’ : Y-Combinator | VC Remote Jobs & More

Venture Curator • 219 implied HN points • 04 Dec 23
💼 Business Venture Capital Startup Funding Investment
  1. Raising funding requires utilizing the old sales-marketing funnel, according to Y-Combinator.
  2. Fundraising is a sales & marketing process and needs to be diligently managed, like any other sales campaign.
  3. Focus on engaging with the right investors, prioritize time management, and continuously work on building and managing a strong pipeline of potential investors.

Why Founders Are Afraid to Talk About MOAT? | Should Founders Work By Vision or Data? | VC Remote Jobs & More

Venture Curator • 199 implied HN points • 15 Dec 23
💼 Business Startups Venture Capital Entrepreneurship Technology Innovation
  1. Founders should focus on building a strong 'moat' for their startup, which is like a set of characteristics that make it hard for other companies to compete.
  2. Tech is no longer a strong moat for startups, as it can be easily replicated, but factors like community, trust, and network effects are more valuable.
  3. Successful companies like Spotify built their moat not just on technology, but on bold statements and innovative experiences that stand out in the market.

How Can You Use Airbnb's & Stripe's Strategy To Build Your MVP? | The First Six Month Of Fundraising For NVIDIA | VC Remote Jobs & More

Venture Curator • 199 implied HN points • 11 Dec 23
💼 Business Startup Strategy Venture Capital Entrepreneurship Funding Technology
  1. Successful startups focus on building a Minimal Viable Product (MVP) with the 'Viable' part being crucial, not just the 'Minimal' part.
  2. Key to MVP success is launching quickly, getting feedback from customers, and iterating based on that feedback.
  3. Early adopters are crucial for testing MVPs; founders should build products for customers with urgent needs, even if the MVP is not perfect.

Three Future States of the Early-Stage VC Ecosystem

Venture Reflections • 21 implied HN points • 03 Dec 24
💼 Business Venture Capital Market Dynamics Investment Strategies Fund management Startup Ecosystem
  1. The early-stage VC market might return to old ways, but it's unlikely because many multi-stage firms are now investing in seed rounds. This means the landscape is changing, and firms might not find comfort in going back to the past.
  2. There could be a split in how seed and multi-stage firms operate. Seed firms may focus on smaller exits around $1 billion, while multi-stage firms chase much larger exits over $5 billion. This will change how both types of firms approach investments and support their companies.
  3. Multi-stage firms might take over the seed investing space thanks to their resources and strong networks. If they attract the best startups, smaller seed-focused firms may struggle to compete, which could reshape the future of venture capital.

Long on shovels, short on gold

benn.substack • 434 implied HN points • 08 Mar 24
💼 Business Tech Investing Entrepreneurship Venture Capital Startups
  1. In the tech world, many companies are heavily investing in AI, with billions of dollars being raised for AI startups and established companies shifting focus towards AI.
  2. Liquidation preferences in startup funding can lead to conflicts of interest between investors and founders, affecting decisions around company sale and financial outcomes.
  3. Despite the hype around AI, success stories of companies profiting from AI technology are not yet as abundant, raising questions about the actual impact and returns of AI investments.

It wasn’t Vice’s business model that sank it

Simon Owens's Media Newsletter • 449 implied HN points • 28 Feb 24
💼 Business Media industry Advertising Venture Capital Revenue streams Startups
  1. High overhead costs and failure to control expenses can lead to the downfall of media companies, not just their business models.
  2. Diversifying revenue streams beyond advertising can be beneficial for media companies to sustain themselves.
  3. Establishing reasonable burn rates and controlling expenses are crucial for the long-term success of media companies.

Artisan

Venture Prose • 299 implied HN points • 26 Mar 23
💼 Business Investing Venture Capital Startups Entrepreneurship Relationships
  1. To survive as a generalist seed investor, understand founders' emotions and engage with genuine care and support.
  2. When interacting with founders, focus on understanding, asking thought-provoking questions, and articulating key issues to help them progress.
  3. In the world of seed investing, competitiveness matters, but it's crucial to prioritize meaningful connections over unnecessary competition.

Don't Fall In Trap Of Tarpit Ideas, It's Worst Than Bad Ideas, Why? | Consumer Startups - Tarpit Ideas? | VC Remote Jobs & More

Venture Curator • 219 implied HN points • 18 Nov 23
💼 Business Startups Venture Capital Ideas Consumer Pivoting
  1. Tarpit ideas are worse than bad ideas and can trap entrepreneurs into wasted time and resources.
  2. Many consumer startup ideas end up being tarpit ideas, as they seem simple but are challenging to execute successfully.
  3. To succeed in the startup world, founders need to recognize tarpit ideas early, pivot strategically based on supply-demand dynamics, and focus on building high-quality, in-demand products.

Why Your Startup Idea Isn’t Big Enough for Some VCs? | Understanding Churn and Building Action Plan | Product Market Fit Misconceptions | VC Remote Jobs & Internship

Venture Curator • 259 implied HN points • 01 Sep 23
💼 Business Venture Capital Product-Market Fit Remote Jobs
  1. VCs expect startup ideas with huge potential for returns, as a single successful investment can make all the difference.
  2. Reducing churn and increasing net retention are crucial for startups, as customer retention is key for sustainable growth.
  3. Many founders misunderstand Product-Market Fit (PMF) - it's not just about revenue growth, but deeper market validation.

Marc Andreessen"You Can't Build A Successful Company Without Thinking On Idea Maze !"| VC Remote Jobs & More

Venture Curator • 199 implied HN points • 24 Nov 23
💼 Business Startups Entrepreneurship Venture Capital Innovation Competition
  1. Good startup ideas are well-developed, multi-year plans that consider various paths and changes in the market, known as the Idea Maze.
  2. The Idea Maze concept helps founders think strategically about their company's journey, by mapping out potential paths to success or failure.
  3. When navigating the Idea Maze, founders can gain insights from history, analogies, theories, and direct experience to make informed decisions.

How Do Investors Protect Themselves from Downrounds Through Weighted Average Anti-Dilution Protection? | Paul Graham's Article & More

Venture Curator • 239 implied HN points • 24 Jul 23
💰 Finance Investment Valuation Venture Capital Remote Jobs
  1. Investors use Anti-Dilution Protection to safeguard against down-round situations, like Stripe's valuation decrease from $90 billion to $50 billion.
  2. There are two types of Anti-Dilution Protection: Full Ratchet and Weighted Average, each impacting investor ownership differently.
  3. Weighted Average Anti-Dilution Protection involves calculating new share conversion prices to adjust ownership percentages after a down round, ensuring fair investor protection.

How Do LPs Evaluate VC Fund Performance? | How Much Should You Raise For Your Startup? | Small vs Large Market Focus | VC Remote Jobs & Internships

Venture Curator • 239 implied HN points • 04 Sep 23
💼 Business Venture Capital Startup funding Remote Jobs
  1. Limited Partners (LPs) evaluate the performance of a VC fund using terms like DPI, RVPI, and TVPI.
  2. When raising funds for a startup, VCs look for reasonableness in the amount raised relative to progress and goals. The amount raised can reflect valuation expectations and the company's runway.
  3. Understanding financial factors like cash in, cash out, and achieved milestones can make VC meetings smoother and increase the chances of getting funded.

Understand Math Behind Secondary Sales, Measuring Startup Tractions, VC Daily Digest & More

Venture Curator • 239 implied HN points • 31 Jul 23
💼 Business Venture Capital Investment Strategies Entrepreneurship Financial Education
  1. Secondary sales involve shareholders selling shares to buyers, different from primary sales where new shares are issued.
  2. Understanding the math behind secondary sales helps grasp ownership changes and value fluctuations for founders and investors.
  3. Evaluation of startup traction can be challenging for VCs due to factors like new markets, inexperienced founders, and limited financial history.

8 Signs Your Startup Is a Zombie and 3 Things to Do About It ! | VC Remote Jobs & More

Venture Curator • 159 implied HN points • 22 Dec 23
💼 Business Startups Venture Capital Investing Entrepreneurship Career development
  1. Recognize the signs of a 'zombie' startup, like stagnant growth and constant need for funding, to avoid being unattractive to investors.
  2. Decide whether to accept failure, pivot the business model for exponential advantage, or explore opportunities for acquihire when a startup is struggling.
  3. Knowing when to quit or pivot is essential for startup success - sometimes failure can lead to growth opportunities or valuable lessons learned.

Lemons Ripen Early: Playing the Long Game

The Hard Fork by Marvin Liao • 235 implied HN points • 05 Aug 23
💼 Business Venture Capital Investments Entrepreneurship Startup Growth
  1. In venture capital, bad investments tend to fail early, making way for successful ones later on.
  2. It's important to play the long game, especially in the early stages of investing, to allow winners to emerge.
  3. Success usually takes time and persistence, with at least 2 years needed to see a project through and achieve product-market fit.