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.
I Don’t Know Who You Are. I’m Sorry.
There’s one aspect of being an investor that fills me with shame. Despite my best efforts, chances are I have absolutely no idea who you are.
What’s Going on with Early-Stage Founders?
What now we’re seeing the manifestation of the shift Everett Randle warned about back in 2021.
Things I Think I Think - Q2 2025
Sending dispatches from the wilderness in between Canada Day and America Day. Here are 5 Things I Think I Think: Q2 2025.
Why Won’t VCs Here Invest in Napkins?
Are Silicon Valley VCs really more willing to invest in ideas than VCs in other ecosystems?
Will You Be the Better Man or the Bitter Man?
This past Sunday was Father’s Day. I spent the day thinking about both my own journey as a dad and those of my father and grandfathers.
What’s Going on with Early-Stage Investing?
I have never seen a more bifurcated fundraising environment. What’s going on?
How to Be a Community Instigator
To many people, the idea of planning an event is overwhelming, so I’m going to show you how to do it. Here’s how you can be an instigator for your community.
7 Things I Learned From VCs Who Passed On Me
Hundreds of VCs passed on me when I was a founder. And I learned important lessons from a lot of them.
What Does it Mean to be Investor Ready?
It feels like the term “investor ready” is all the rage these days, but what does it actually mean?
Don’t Slam the Door on Your Way Out
If you successfully fundraise from Silicon Valley VCs, be careful about how you tell the story. You could end up accidentally burning bridges.
A Strong Company Gets You a Term Sheet. A Strong Process Gets You a Valuation.
Great founders of strong companies will almost always get a round done. But whether or not they get the valuation they want depends on their process.
Want People to Say Yes? Listen to Them.
One simple filter busy people use trips up many founders: when I tell you how to get my help, do you listen?
Things I Think I Think - Q1 2025
Can you write this post in the style of Studio Gibli? Here are 5 Things I Think I Think: Q1 2025.
5 Easy Ways to Be a Healthier Founder
Here are 5 easy ways to be a healthier founder (and, in doing so, perform better over the long-run).
If You’re Not Prototyping with AI, You’re Going Too Slow
If you’re a founder in 2025, you need to learn about vibe coding. Here’s why.
Want to Improve Your Pitch? Stop Talking to Founders
A trusted group of peers is one of the most valuable resources a founder can have, but there’s one area where talking to founders can steer you wrong: your fundraising pitch.
Want to get the Most Out of Mentoring? Don’t be a Pushover
Here are 5 steps to ensuring that you get the most out of mentorship without being steamrolled by an overzealous mentor.