This week's episode of Turpentine VC features Benchmark GPs Sarah Tavel and Eric Vishria. We discuss ideas that are central to Benchmark's beliefs in firm-building, including why platform teams exist to help the general partners more so than founders themselves. If you’re looking to improve your sourcing, tracking, and due diligence, check out: https://synaptic.com/turpentine
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SPONSORS:
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Synaptic unifies over one hundred real-time company performance metrics across alternative datasets like user traffic, employee data, app downloads, product reviews, and more. It’s your all-in-one source for alternative data that helps you make better investment decisions. To learn how Synaptic can improve your sourcing, tracking, and due diligence, visit https://synaptic.com/turpentine
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RELATED SHOWS:
If you like Turpentine VC, check out our show The Limited Partner with David Weisburd, where David talks to the investors behind the investors: https://link.chtbl.com/thelimitedpartner
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X / TWITTER:
@sarahtavel (Sarah)
@ericvishria (Eric)
@eriktorenberg (Erik)
@benchmark (Benchmark)
@TurpentineVC
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TIMESTAMPS:
(00:00) Episode Preview
(01:29) Benchmark in the history of venture capital
(05:08) The Benchmark DNA
(07:50) Learnings from Benchmark's expansion
(10:53) Sponsor: Synaptic
(11:55) The trade-offs of scaling
(13:00) How Benchmark thinks about macro
(15:08) Comparing the different Benchmark eras
(17:46) Partnership construction and combining skill sets and personalities
(29:38) On the investor and founder relationship
(33:58) Sponsor: Oracle
(39:10) How Benchmark remains one of the most relevant VC firms
(44:30) The right business model for venture scale
(48:24) the hallmark of a Benchmark company
(52:52) Learnings from consumer social
(1:08:43) What types of companies have enduring value or are truly defensible?
(1:15:09) On crypto
(1:23:47) Re-founding Benchmark
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This show is produced by Turpentine: a network of podcasts, newsletters, and more, covering technology, business, and culture — all from the perspective of industry insiders and experts. We’re launching new shows every week, and we’re looking for industry-leading sponsors — if you think that might be you and your company, email us at erik@turpentine.co.
