Creating startup financials is, despite claims to the contrary, an essential part of the fundraising process. Solid financial projections based on verifiable data serve both entrepreneurs and Venture Capitalists analyzing…
Jobs in Venture Capital are notoriously hard to land. They don’t come by often, and they are seldom advertised—except in large VC firms, mainly for entry-level positions. Aspiring VCs often…
Venture Capitalists must use decisive investment criteria when they evaluate deal flow to determine which opportunities to pursue. Making swift go/no-go decisions allows VCs to allocate more time to the…
A recent post by a former entrepreneur-turned-VC reminded me of a basic VC term sheet truth: Everything is negotiable. In particular, clauses that don’t work as intended because they target…
Vinod Khosla, the eponymous Founder of Silicon Valley VC firm Khosla Ventures, is known for his no-nonsense approach and frank delivery. In a quote that is a decade old but…
I’m often surprised by how little many Venture Capitalists know about network effects. When I ask them to define network effects and explain how to spot whether a startup is…
Few Venture Capital firms are more elite than Benchmark, and few Venture Capitalists are more iconic than Bill Gurley. In a recent podcast, he illustrates why VCs must break their…
Venture Capital job “exit interviews” are rare, so I jumped on the opportunity when Moksha announced she left the elite VC firm Bessemer Venture Partners to launch an entrepreneurial venture.…
Early-stage Investors seem to rely on little else than their gut to make multi-million dollar bets on fledgling startups—and their Founders. How do the best VCs mix their intuition and…
Unit economics is a term that can ignite excitement or induce confusion in the heart of Venture Capitalists. The ability to accurately evaluate a startup’s potential can mean the difference…
VC secondaries, buying shares in VC-backed startups in the VC secondary market, has become a trending topic in Venture Capital as more industry players strive to get liquidity. Founders, GPs,…
Venture Capitalists always stress that their most important investment criterion is the quality of the startup’s Founding team. What are the characteristics and personality traits Investors are looking for? More…
When legal tech startup Atrium declared bankruptcy after raising $65 million from prestigious Venture Capital firms, including a16z, co-Founder Justin Kan went public with the lessons he learned from the…
Employee ownership plans (ESOW) are a cornerstone of motivation and compensation, yet their complexity often presents a significant challenge. Two forms co-exist: Employee Stock Option Plans (ESOP) and Restricted Stock…
Softbank’s Masayoshi Son has been credited with the largest win (Alibaba) and loss (WeWork) in Venture Capital’s history. As he’s commonly referred to, “Masa” is reported to be a very…
Understanding how Venture Capital compensation works is akin to deciphering a complex puzzle, with various pieces including salaries, bonuses, carried interest, and attached terms. Factors like seniority, location, firm size,…
Guy Kawasaki is one of the most beloved and recognized figures in the startup world. A former Macintosh “evangelist” and Steve Jobs’s right-hand man, he tried his hand at Venture…
Landing a Venture Capital job is notoriously challenging. There are few open positions in VC, and many are not advertised. Aspiring VCs struggle to get in the hiring process, prepare…
The true performance of Venture Capital is often debated, and myths about it tend to persist despite recent data published by various outlets. Does VC make money as an asset…
Venture Capitalists receive hundreds of investment opportunities annually, making performing quick and effective exploratory due diligence crucial. They need to identify promising startups while swiftly avoiding potential pitfalls. However, data…
