Building a startup is hard.
Figuring out fundraising and venture capital shouldn’t get in your way.
Here you will find all of my posts, starting with the most recent.
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The Changing Startup Landscape According to Video Games
Believe it or not, the contemporary evolution of startups in many ways mirrors the evolution of video games. Here are 3 lessons founders should take from the history of video games.
The Life and Death of Project Stag
There is a startup I cofounded that almost no one knows about. This is the story of Project Stag.
It’s Okay to Go Outside
There’s growing evidence that spending time away from work — particularly in nature — not only has a powerful effect on our health and well-being but improves our productivity.
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".
To Win Transactions, Don’t Be Transactional
How often do you meet someone new and within 10 seconds get the feeling that they’re a transactional person?
Velocity: One Metric that Matters Most
As an early-stage investor, velocity is the #1 thing I’m trying to measure when I meet with founders.
How to Get the Best Out of Your Investors
The relationship between a founder and an investor can last 10 years or more. Just like any long-term relationship, you need to put in effort to stay aligned.
Treat Yo' Self!
If your goal as a founder is to build a world-changing company you need to put yourself in the best position to run an epic, decade-long marathon. Which means you need to treat yo’ self!
5 Ways to Improve an M&A Outcome
Like fundraising, getting acquired is something most founders only do once (if ever). Here are 5 ways you can improve the outcome of an M&A process.
The Power of Discomfort
Many people fall into the trap of thinking that, in order to grow in our professional lives, we must be uncomfortable at work. What really matters is that we challenge ourselves somewhere, somehow in some aspect of our lives.
This Critical Lesson in MySpace's Failure is Still Relevant Today
I had a front-row seat for the rise and fall of MySpace. This critical mistake that MySpace made is still relevant to founders today.
5 New Habits for the New Year
Here are 5 new habits that every founder can begin this week to start the new year off strong.
Find Your Recharge
Startups are a marathon, not a sprint. Long-term success requires you to pace yourself. It’s essential that you uncover the things that deplete your energy and what you need to replenish it. You need to find your recharge.
You Are Not Your Company
The journey of a founder often feels like a series of trials of worthiness. And no experience embodies this more than fundraising.
The Moment of Truth
It was 2012. My cofounder and I were huddled around a laptop pitching Brad Feld, the "final boss" in our quest to secure a term sheet from Foundry Group.
Founders Never Forget
It's been nearly 15 years since I founded DataHero. To this day, I viscerally remember how I was treated by each and every investor I met. All founders do.