Fishing in Venture

This segment is where I plan to share a story about what I’ve seen while in the VC/Entrepreneur space. This could be anything from recent news in the startup ecosystem or a conversation I had with a founder that week about customer discovery.

Fish of the Week

This is where you come in! This is easily my favorite weekly segment. Each week, we’ll reel in a different story, showcasing founders, startups, and investors who are making waves in the VC waters. These stories are not just about successes; they’re about the struggles, the strategies, and the unexpected turns in the journey.

Your participation is what makes this segment come alive. Do you have a story or know someone whose journey deserves the spotlight? Use the button below to submit a nomination.

Submit a Fish

Ebbs & Flows

Welcome to the “Ebbs & Flows” segment, where we explore the dynamic nature of venture capital, akin to the ever-changing currents of a river. Just like a river experiences periods of calm ebbs and vigorous flows, the venture capital space is always changing. In this segment, we’ll navigate these shifting flows, offering insights into market trends, investment strategies, and the evolving landscape of startups. My goal with this is to help you understand VC better so you can cast your line into the waters. I’ll use this week, to dive into the essence of ‘Venture Capital’, providing a comprehensive overview to demystify the term.

Venture Capital

Venture Capital at its core is a financial investment in startups or young companies with high growth potential. These investments are typically made by angel investors or VC firms. A startup can have many definitions. But, primarily is founded to develop a unique product or service, bring it to market, and rapidly scale. Often this is an innovative product/service that disrupts a pre-existing market or the startup aims to create a new market within a standing industry.

One common term you’ll hear in VC is ‘equity‘. When venture capitalists invest, they usually receive equity (or promised equity), or ownership shares, in the company. This means they become part-owners and their earnings depend on how well the company does. Another key concept that founders and VCs care about (or at least should) is the ‘exit strategy’. which is how a investor or founder plans to get a return on their investment, often through an M&A deal (Merger/Acquisition) or an IPO (Initial Public Offering). Many are familiar with the IPO route due to the association with the stock market.

Why is this important to understand? Because VC is a major driver of innovation and economic growth. It’s the fuel that helps many startups turn their innovative ideas into reality and at scale. From tech giants to small disruptive companies, VC plays a crucial role in cultivating the business landscape. If you are still asking questions, stay tuned we will dive in further as we go along. Below is one of my favorite quotes that try to apply to all areas of my life.