Trends with Friends From Copilots to Strip-Mining: Inside AI’s New VC Reality with Ed Sim of Boldstart Ventures
20 snips
Jul 24, 2025 
Ed Sim, a seasoned venture capitalist at Boldstart Ventures, shares his insights on the rapidly evolving startup landscape. He discusses how founders are abandoning old strategies and the crucial role of AI in shaping new ventures. The conversation dives into the fierce competition for talent, with big tech 'strip-mining' startups for skilled professionals. Ed also highlights the importance of infrastructure in the tech sector and offers a comparison of companies like BYD and Tesla in today's market.
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Speed and Team Matter Most
- Ship product fast and show a history of quick delivery even in large companies.
- Know your first hires clearly and ensure they commit early to maintain speed and momentum.
Moats Are Now Speed
- Moats are nearly non-existent; competition arrives within months due to rapid information flow.
- Speed of iteration becomes the critical moat in today's startup landscape.
Big Tech Strip-Mines Talent
- Big tech is strip-mining startups for talent instead of full acquisitions due to high costs and regulation.
- This causes trauma and major challenges for startups, forcing VCs to support founders as therapists too.