This Week in Startups VC School: Deal Memos + Sphere CEO Alex Wright-Gladstein (Climate) | E1442
Apr 24, 2022
In this engaging discussion, Alex Wright-Gladstein, the CEO of Sphere, delves into the innovative realm of climate-friendly retirement plans. He highlights the significant challenges in integrating sustainable options within 401k plans and the importance of divesting from fossil fuels. The conversation also uncovers how creating green mutual funds can align retirement investing with ethical practices. Alongside, there's invaluable advice on crafting effective deal memos to navigate the investment landscape, making it a rich episode for both investors and eco-conscious listeners.
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Calacanis's Uber Deal Memo
- Jason Calacanis was once a scout for Sequoia and was asked to write a deal memo for Uber.
- He initially resisted but eventually wrote "because taxis suck", which expanded into a deeper analysis.
Writing for Clarity
- Write deal memos to clarify your investment thesis.
- Reading and writing forces you to confront hard questions and highlight uncertainties.
Deal Memo vs. Pitch Deck
- Avoid flowery language in deal memos; focus on facts.
- Deal memos are for sober analysis, not marketing hype.