This Week in Startups ANGEL: Venrock’s Bryan Roberts on 25 years in VC, hitting wins early, avoiding bad habits | E1665
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Jan 25, 2023 Bryan Roberts, a seasoned venture capitalist at Venrock with over 25 years in the game, shares his insights on the wild world of investing. He reflects on early wins with Illumina and Athenahealth, and his experiences during the dot-com bubble. The discussion dives into the importance of creating optionality for startups, avoiding bad VC habits, and the controversial Theranos case. Additionally, Bryan offers advice on navigating disagreements with founders and the psychology behind making investment bets.
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First Investment
- Bryan Roberts's first investment was Illumina's Series A.
- He secured the deal partly due to his diligence during August, a time when many in venture capital were on vacation.
Elbow Grease
- Elbow grease is crucial in venture capital; work hard and help everyone in the ecosystem.
- Being helpful builds your reputation and leads to future opportunities.
Second Investment
- Roberts's second investment was in Athenahealth, a healthcare IT company.
- This led to further collaborations with the founders, highlighting the long-term benefits of successful investments.