What Happens After You Sign a Term Sheet?
Here are the steps that occur between signing a VC term sheet and the money being deposited into your startup’s bank account.
The Times They Are A-Changin’
Ecosystems around the world have been evolving, adapting and reconfiguring themselves post-Covid.
Things I Think I Think - Q3 2024
We're heading into the home stretch of 2024. Here are 5 Things I Think I Think: Q3 2024.
Why I Don’t Invest in “Outsourced” Startups
Startups that outsource the majority of their core work can be extremely profitable. But as a VC, I will never invest in one.
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.
Thank You, Jerry
This week, angel investor and prolific blogger, Jerry Neumann, penned his "resignation letter"
When Life Gives You Lemons 🍋
I come from a family of entrepreneurs, which makes running a lemonade stand a rite of passage in our family.
2 Minutes for Instigating
My name is Chris. And I’m an instigator. Here's the story of Vancouver Founders Day.
The Mythical U.S. Lead Investor
The stereotype that local investors don’t lead rounds but "foreign investors" do exists all over the world. But is it true?
How to Pitch Hard Tech to a Generalist VC
To increase fundraising success with generalist VCs, hard tech founders must show that your startup fits the traditional VC model. Here's how.
I Never Wanted to be a VC
When I graduated from Stanford more than 20 years ago, nobody aspired to "be a VC".
How to Connect with a VC on LinkedIn
Connecting on LinkedIn can be the easiest way to open a direct line of communication with a potential investor. But you have to do it right.
How to Pitch a VC at a Party
Pitching an investor at a party is very different from pitching in an office, a coffee shop or over Zoom. Here are 6 tips for pitching a VC at a party.
Why is Summer a Bad Time to Fundraise?
Is summer really a bad time to fundraise? And if so, why?
Things I Think I Think - Q2 2024
Q2 has come to a close and we’re into that sweet, sweet Canadian summer. Here are 5 Things I Think I Think: Q2 2024.
Canada's Problem Isn't Ambition
Canadian founders are amongst the most ambitious in the world. Seriously.
There is No Such Thing as Pre-Seed Valuation Data
Founders and VCs both want valuation comparisons when fundraising. But the truth is, there is no such thing as accurate pre-seed valuation data.
The Paradox of the Junior VC Partner
There’s plenty of debate around whether or not founders should talk to associates at VC firms. But there’s another, more subtle fundraising dynamic at play that most founders are completely unaware of: the dynamic between partners.
Be Honest With Your Metrics
Here are 5 misleading metrics that have no place in your fundraising deck.
How to Manage Your Fundraising Timeline
Here are 5 tips for starting your fundraising process on the right foot and signalling to investors that you’re in control of the timeline.