Spotting Trends in AI, Robotics, and Space – Finn Murphy’s Investment Playbook on building Nebular as a Solo GP

In this episode of Unicorn Bakery, Mike Mahlkow sits down with Finn Murphy, General Partner at Nebular, to discuss how Finn identifies emerging trends and invests in founders building the future. Finn shares his philosophy of investing 12-18 months ahead of the market, focusing on areas like AI, robotics, space-based data centers, and quantum computing.

Finn discusses the challenges of being a solo GP, how he balances managing his fund while supporting founders, and why curiosity and a deep understanding of technology are essential to his approach. He also dives into the differences between the European and US startup ecosystems, the role of founders in driving innovation, and why building trust is essential in venture capital.

What you’ll learn:

The Nebular Approach to Venture Capital:

• How Finn invests in trends 18 months ahead of the market and supports founders working on cutting-edge ideas

• Why Nebular focuses on early-stage startups at the pre-seed and seed stages

Spotting Trends in Emerging Technologies:

• The importance of intellectual curiosity in identifying trends like AI applications, edge computing, and robotics

• How Finn evaluates founders working in niche, unexplored areas

The Role of a Solo GP:

• The challenges of running a venture fund solo, from fundraising to supporting portfolio companies

• Why building trust with founders is critical to winning deals and creating long-term relationships

US vs. European Startup Ecosystems:

• Key differences in funding, risk-taking, and founder mindsets between the US and Europe

• Why American investors tend to back founders earlier and take bigger risks compared to their European counterparts

Support and Accountability for Founders:

• Why Finn believes in being a partner to founders rather than trying to impose solutions

• How founders can hold themselves accountable and build trust with their investors

Talent and Culture in Startups:

• The importance of ownership and equity in attracting and retaining top talent

• Why creating a high-performance culture is essential for startup success

ALL ABOUT UNICORN BAKERY:

https://zez.am/unicornbakery 

Where to find Finn:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/finn-murphy-16160465/ 

Website: https://www.nebular.vc/ 

More about Mike:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikemahlkow/ 

Website: https://fastgen.com

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Chapters:

(00:00:00) Who is Finn Murphy and what does Nebular do?

(00:06:03) Business first vs. founder first - how is Finn meeting the right people?

(00:10:39) Finn's framework for prioritizing

(00:15:59) Advantages of a Solo-GP

(00:22:04) The European Ecosystem vs. the US-Ecosystem

(00:28:44) Which founder should stay in Europe/which one should try the US?

(00:36:00) The difference in terms of compensation

(00:40:46) Equity & Salary: Costs, differences, problems

(00:45:58) Overworking, 6-day-work-policy: The Learnings for Hiring

(00:50:21) Finn's "What gets you going?"