Navigating Startup Success: The Figma-Adobes Dynamics

This week on the Newcomer Podcast, we're joined by a very special guest: Danny Rimer, seasoned investor and longtime partner at Index Ventures, for a timely conversation around Figma’s highly anticipated IPO.

Danny takes us behind the scenes of Index’s early bet on Figma and its visionary CEO Dylan Field, sharing how the deal came together and what made the design platform stand out in a crowded startup landscape. From there, we zoom out to talk about the current venture capital climate — what’s changed, what’s stayed the same, and what the smartest investors are watching right now.

We also dig into AI’s evolving role in the startup ecosystem, the tension between hype and real value, and where Danny sees the next big opportunities emerging. Whether you're a founder, investor, or just love a good origin story, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

Timecodes:

00:00 Introduction to Danny Rimer

02:29 How Rimer met Figma and the beginnings of design as a category

16:42 Figma's failed Adobe deal and comeback

25:39 How Index approaches AI deals

31:00 AI's iPhone moment and looking beyond the chatbot

39:10 Shifts in the venture capital industry