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The Logan Bartlett Show

EP 112: Mike Maples (Founding Partner, Floodgate): What Makes Startups Win & The Future of Venture Capital

Aug 2, 2024
Mike Maples, an 8x Midas List investor and founding partner at Floodgate Fund, shares his insights on startup success and the future of venture capital. He explores how top startups redefine categories and discusses the significance of 'pattern-breaking' ideas. The conversation dives into pivotal moments in startup history, including the rise of Twitch and Tesla. Maples also highlights the traits of successful founders, emphasizing storytelling and community movements as key elements in creating impactful products.
02:03:48

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Mike Maples emphasizes the importance of 'pattern breaking' as startups redefine categories to create value and disrupt established markets.
  • He introduces 'inflections' as pivotal change events that empower startups, contrasting them with trends to highlight strategic advantages.

Deep dives

Frameworks for Startup Success

Mike Maples discusses the importance of frameworks in recognizing successful startups, emphasizing that startups create value by breaking existing patterns rather than compounding traditional business advantages. This approach, referred to as 'pattern breaking', highlights that startups often thrive by redefining the rules of their respective categories. For example, he contrasts traditional corporations that build competitive moats with startups that disrupt the status quo to create new markets. The conversation highlights Maples' belief that understanding these frameworks is crucial for venture capitalists and founders alike to identify and capitalize on unique opportunities in the startup landscape.

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