"Turpentine VC" | Venture Capital and Investing

E4: Sam Lessin on Why the Seed & “Factory System” Era of Venture is Dead

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Aug 29, 2023
Sam Lessin, General Partner at Slow Ventures and former VP of Product at Facebook, discusses the end of the factory system in venture capital, the future of successful businesses, and flaws in the financing structure. They explore the evolution of venture capital, the consolidation of power in the tech industry, the impact of AI, VR, and crypto, and the shift towards niche communities and weird ventures.
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INSIGHT

The Venture Capital Factory System

  • Venture capital operated like a factory, packaging startups for IPOs.
  • This system has stalled due to overvaluation and poor public market performance.
ADVICE

Post-Factory Venture Capital

  • Focus on non-consensus, unique investment opportunities in overlooked industries.
  • Build sustainable businesses that prioritize profitability over constant fundraising.
INSIGHT

Bearish on YC and A16Z

  • Sam Lessin is bearish on both YC and A16Z's models.
  • He believes YC creates an overly efficient, overpriced market, while A16Z primarily indexes the market.
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