E108: What is the Future of Venture Capital? w/Charles Hudson

Charles Hudson, Managing Partner at Precursor Ventures sits down with David Weisburd to discuss how to support first-time fund managers, innovative strategies for sourcing deals in venture capital and tips for success on building relationships with limited partners. (0:00) Introduction and the role of stubbornness in entrepreneurial success (0:21) Merging cultural trends and storytelling in investment pitches (1:37) Founding Precursor Ventures and tackling adverse selection (3:04) Impact of startup experience on founder success (4:54) Evaluating valuations and portfolio construction at Precursor Ventures (7:20) Understanding founders' fundraising challenges (9:30) Navigating between vision and execution in startup pitches (10:50) Analyzing company growth and total addressable market (13:00) The relationship between founder feedback and startup success (14:02) Tracking Precursor's fund performance (16:03) Sponsor: Carta (16:49) Strategies for high returns at the pre-seed stage (18:03) Portfolio size, investment strategy, and the Carrot Fertility case study (21:08) Leveraging information for early-stage investing (22:25) The fine line between nonconsensus investing and trend chasing (24:10) Investment trends and the introduction of Screen Door (26:05) Insights from being a Limited Partner (27:13) Differentiation in pitches and investment strategies (29:53) Sponsor message (30:01) Discussing TAM expansion and supporting emerging managers (31:00) Navigating the challenges faced by VCs leaving established firms (34:36) Assessing the potential of GPs creating their own firms (35:22) Personal career growth and industry insights (37:03) Experiences and lessons from chairing the NVCA (38:30) Conclusion, contact information, and call for sponsors