Lessons from 250 Blog Posts
I never thought I’d actually write for this long, so I thought I would take some time this week to reflect on it. Here are some of the lessons I learned from writing 250 blog posts.
Before You Start Fundraising, You Need to Get Acclimated
Founders trying to raise Seed or Series A funding from Silicon Valley VCs need to change their approach now.
What’s Going On With Accelerators?
With more accelerators and fellowships than ever, it might seem like there’s an overabundance of options for founders to choose from. What we’re seeing is actually a clustering around two very specific approaches to hands-on investing.
Snakes and Ladders
Over the past 18 months, Silicon Valley has sped up. And most people outside of the Bay Area have no clue just how wide the chasm has become.
Who Should I Talk To?
I’m a big proponent of startup founders visiting San Francisco on a regular basis. But many make a fatal mistake when asking for on-the-ground introductions.
How to Tap Into the Serendipity of Silicon Valley
Many founders come to San Francisco for a weekend or a week, hoping to “tap into the magic.” But come away disappointed. Why?
10 Nonobvious Things About Silicon Valley Fundraising
Here are 10 nonobvious tips about Silicon Valley fundraising from the VCs mentoring at Game On.
How to Build a Silicon Valley Network
Here are the top tips for breaking into Silicon Valley and building a network that matters.
The Myth of the Magical Money Fairies
The myth of Silicon Valley’s magical money fairies is deeply entrenched in many ecosystems around the world.
Changing Founder Metabolism
Announcing Game On, a program designed to accelerate Canadian founders and help them build meaningful connections to Silicon Valley.
Want to Hire the Best? Stop Paying Local Wages
If you raise Silicon Valley funding or are generating revenue primarily from US customers, there is fundamentally no reason why you can’t pay employees Silicon Valley salaries.
VCs are Changing Their Tune on Conflicts
VCs generally do not invest in startups that compete directly with existing portfolio companies. But that norm is changing.
Why Won’t VCs Here Invest in Napkins?
Are Silicon Valley VCs really more willing to invest in ideas than VCs in other ecosystems?
American VCs Aren’t the Reason Your Startups are Leaving
Instead of blaming American VCs for “taking” their high-potential startups, ecosystems should stop and look in the proverbial mirror.
10 Tips for UK Founders Going to San Francisco
If you’ve never been to San Francisco before, where do you start?
Here are 10 resources for UK founders landing in San Francisco for the first time.
10 Tips for Canadian Founders Going to San Francisco
If you’ve never been to San Francisco before, where do you start?
Here are 10 resources for Canadian founders landing in San Francisco for the first time.
In Silicon Valley, No Answer is an Answer
No aspect of Silicon Valley etiquette is more jarring to newly-arrived founders than the fact that it is culturally acceptable to not reply to emails.
YC's Move to 4 Batches is a Win for Founders
Last week, YC doubled the number of batches it's running each year. Here's why that's good news for founders.
I Never Wanted to be a VC
When I graduated from Stanford more than 20 years ago, nobody aspired to "be a VC".
Stop Trying to Replicate Silicon Valley
Along with death and taxes, one of the certainties of life is that every politician, journalist and armchair entrepreneur thinks that their city can be the next Silicon Valley.