"Turpentine VC" | Venture Capital and Investing

E66: Why Inception Investing Beats Traditional Seed with Ed Sim of Boldstart

Nov 26, 2024

Ed Sim, founder and managing partner of Boldstart Ventures, shares insights on growing his firm from a $1 million to an $800 million portfolio. He discusses the innovative inception investing model, emphasizing early engagement with technical founders and the shifting dynamics of venture capital. Sim highlights the importance of quality over quantity in startup selection and the necessity of strong board relationships. The conversation also touches on the evolving tech landscape, particularly the impact of AI on investment strategies.

56:12

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Episode guests

Ed Sim

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Episode notes

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Boldstart Ventures focuses on inception stage enterprise investing by partnering early with technical founders for idea validation and team assembly.

The firm's growth from a $1 million fund to $800 million highlights the necessity of adapting funding strategies to market demands.

Ed Sim emphasizes the significance of discerning AI investments that provide real business solutions over merely supporting model providers.

Deep dives

Inception Stage Investing

The firm specializes in inception stage enterprise investing, focusing on engaging technical founders early in their process. By partnering before official incorporation, the firm aids in idea validation and assembling initial teams, which allows companies to hit the ground running. Check sizes typically range from $500,000 to $10 million, enabling founders to secure necessary early funding while building their foundations. This unique approach establishes strong relationships with founders, positioning the firm as a go-to source for capital and guidance.

Intro

2min

Evolving Venture Capital Strategies

12min

Strategic Insights into Inception Investing vs. Traditional Models

3min

Inception Investing: A New Approach

5min

Navigating Investment Strategies

10min

Navigating Fundraising Challenges in a Changing Market

5min

Navigating the New Tech Landscape

18min

This week on Turpentine VC, Erik Torenberg interviews Ed Sim, founder of boldstart, on growing the firm from a $1 million fund to $800 million in assets, with a focus on early-stage enterprise and AI investments. For full show notes, visit: https://highlightai.com/share/d0139578-d85f-4171-b879-059dd2813450

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LINKS:

boldstart ventures: https://boldstart.vc/

Chris Paik’s The End of Software: https://docs.google.com/document/d/103cGe8qixC7ZzFsRu5Ww2VEW5YgH9zQaiaqbBsZ1lcc/edit?tab=t.0

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FOLLOW:

@edsim

@eriktorenberg

@TurpentineVC

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