The Twenty Minute VC (20VC): Venture Capital | Startup Funding | The Pitch 20VC: Spark Capital's Alex Clayton on How The Best Growth Investors Source, Evaluate and Win Deals, Why Market Depth Is Crucial When Analysing Markets & Why Capital Is Only A Temporary Competitive Advantage
Mar 25, 2019
Alex Clayton, a Partner at Spark Capital, shares his journey from investment banking at Goldman Sachs to becoming a key player in growth-stage SaaS investments. He explores how to effectively source deals, emphasizing the significance of network-driven sourcing and the nuances between early-stage and growth investing. Alex discusses the importance of market depth in analyzing investments and shares insights on the dynamics between founders and investors. Additionally, he draws parallels between competitive sports and investment strategies, highlighting skills that translate from tennis to venture capital.
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Yelp IPO Introduction
- Alex Clayton's first job at Goldman Sachs involved Yelp's IPO, exposing him to venture capital.
- This experience sparked his interest in working with high-growth companies, leading him to Redpoint Ventures and later Spark Capital.
Sourcing in Growth Stage
- Evaluate every announced Series A/B for themes and growth.
- Look for rapid hiring as a key indicator of early-stage SaaS success, especially in sales and product roles.
Value-Driven Meetings
- Top growth-stage companies often don't need funding, so they prioritize meetings offering tangible value.
- Investors must provide value beyond capital, such as introductions or recruiting assistance, to secure meetings.
