Archive - Venture Reflections

The last bit of runway has a way of focusing energy and attention on the things that matter. I want to find a way to get more companies to operate with…

Jul 12 •

June 2024

Why It's Hard for Small Venture Funds to "Play the Game on the Field" in AI Investing

I'm not sure the analogy of playing the game on the field works for small funds who are thinking about how to navigate the world of AI.

Jun 6 •

April 2024

What Happens If I Don't Make This Investment?

Sometimes there's nothing wrong with your company or pitch, the other person just doesn't feel like passing will be a decision they regret.

Apr 11 •

March 2024

The Changing Nature of Pre-Seed Syndication

The syndication dynamics for pre-seed rounds are changing, and things are getting harder for founders looking to raise pre-seed rounds.

Mar 11 •

and

February 2024

When Standalone AI Apps Meet Existing Systems of Record

More of the AI-powered applications I'm seeing have a new challenge - working with core systems of record that weren't designed for AI applications and…

Feb 16 •

January 2024

A Crowdsourced List of Books and Resources for New Venture Capitalists

A simple tweet yielded a really good set of resources for new venture capitalists. I present these all without comment or judgment - I think they are…

Jan 26 •

Replacing "Non-consensus and Right" with "Differentiated and Good" for Emerging VC Managers

I meet so many emerging managers who reference the "be non-consensus and right" post without focusing on the most important piece - being right.

Jan 5 •

December 2023

Getting Off the VC Train

I've talked to a lot of founders who have raised money and are now thinking of getting off the venture capital train if they can.

Dec 15, 2023 •

November 2023

Take Time to Process Startup Failure - Please Don't Do a Rebound Startup

Shutting down a company often comes with a grieving process just like a breakup or the loss of a loved one. Give yourself time to process before jumping…

Nov 7, 2023 •

October 2023

The Big Reset in Seed to Series A Graduation Rates is Real and Permanent

We are in the middle of a big reset where the percentage of Seed stage companies that graduate to Series A rounds will drop dramatically, with…

Oct 25, 2023 •

Getting Burn Rates in Line with Reality, Not the Letter Name of the Last Round

Burn rates should be tied to product-market fit, not the letter name of the last round you raised.

Oct 4, 2023 •

September 2023

Sometimes No Is the Beginning, Not the End

At a time when many fund managers and founders are encountering a lot of rejection, some thoughts on how to think about life on the other side of the…

Sep 22, 2023 •

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