TLS22: Alyse Killeen on Building Stillmark, Investing in Bitcoin Companies, and Emerging Lightning Network Applications

Alyse Killeen is the Founding Partner at Stillmark, a Bitcoin focused VC firm.  

Alyse and I spoke about her focus on investing in Bitcoin companies, the things Alyse looks for in founders and startup pitches, and the particular segments of Bitcoin and the Lightning Network she is most excited about in 2022.  

→ Stillmark: https://www.stillmark.com/ 

The Lightning Round is sponsored by Voltage, where you can ask me questions over the Lightning Network.    

→ Voltage: https://voltage.cloud?utm_source=kevinrooke&utm_medium=Youtube&utm_campaign=1mo

→ Use code KEVINROOKE to get 50% off your first month's Lightning node    

At the end of every show I answer any questions listeners send in over the Lightning Network.    

To ask a question, send a message, or to support the show, download Fountain from the iOS or Google Play App Store and load your wallet with a few sats.    

→ Fountain: https://www.fountain.fm/

→ Listen to More Episodes: https://play.fountain.fm/show/P6XXuSPg6f2rj4ECB0fT

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Timestamps 

00:00 - Intro 

01:15 - Alyse Killeen Intro 

03:42 - Why Is Stillmark Focused on Bitcoin?  

08:33 - Investing in Bitcoin vs. Bitcoin Companies 

10:39 - Emerging Bitcoin Companies 

20:28 - Investing in Tokens vs. Equity 

23:03 - Is Bitcoin Innovation Constrained by Capital?  

25:30 - Can There Be Too Much Capital in Bitcoin Companies? 

29:22 - Down Rounds in VC Investing 

33:34 - Benefits of Investing In Bitcoin Startups 

38:14 - Web 2 Monopolies vs. Bitcoin Companies  

42:57 - Competitive Moats for Bitcoin Companies 

47:26 - Investing in the Lightning Network 

49:19 - Should Large Bitcoin Holders Fund Bitcoin Companies? 

54:04 - Deciding Which Founders To Invest In 

01:01:53 - New Lightning Payment Applications 

01:04:39 - Lightning Adoption & Earning Bitcoin 

01:11:08 - Bitcoin's Role in Web 3.0  

01:15:56 - What Areas of the Internet will Integrate Lightning? 

01:19:25 - How Will Newcomers Interact with Lightning? 

01:24:07 - The Lightning Round