This Week in Startups

ANGEL: Brad Feld on investing through 3 economic cycles, CEO/investor dynamics, and more | E1660

Jan 18, 2023

Brad Feld, Co-founder of Foundry Group, shares his extensive investment journey through tech's ups and downs. He discusses his early angel investments and the importance of mentorship. Feld reflects on surviving economic crises like the dot-com bubble and the Great Recession, emphasizing resilience and adaptive strategies for founders. He dives into the critical dynamics between investors and CEOs, especially during tough times, advocating for meaningful relationships and empowering leadership over micromanagement. His insights are invaluable for aspiring entrepreneurs navigating today’s challenges.

01:28:33

Creator website

Episode guests

Brad Feld

Highlights

AI Chapters

Episode notes

The Unraveling of SoftBank

01:58

Importance of Building a Portfolio and Persistence in Entrepreneurship

01:20

Lessons Learned from 2007 to 2010

01:23

The Right Time to Start a Company

01:25

Intro

3min

Lessons from a Veteran Investor

11min

Navigating Investment Relationships and Decision-Making Dynamics

5min

The Delicate Balance of Decision-Making and Obsession in Entrepreneurship

2min

Empowerment and Resilience in Leadership and Investment

3min

Lessons from the Internet Bubble

15min

Navigating Founders' Challenges and Maintaining Perspective in Entrepreneurship

5min

Navigating Challenges in Venture Capital and Leadership

14min

Navigating Economic Turbulence: Insights for Young Leaders

27min

10.

Navigating the Storm of Business Relationships

4min

(0:00) Jason Kicks off the show

(2:49) Brad Feld, Co-founder of Foundry, talks about starting out in investing

(13:30) LinkedIn Jobs - Post your first job for free at https://linkedin.com/angel

(14:56) Brad’s thesis for whom he’ll get in the “trenches” with

(20:48) MasterClass - Get 15% off an annual membership at https://masterclass.com/startups

(22:22) Fighting to the end + Investing through the dot-com bubble

(38:13) Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub - Apply in 5 minutes, no funding required, sign up at http://aka.ms/thisweekinstartups

(39:43) Surviving the GFC

(44:23) Brad’s perspective on the investor/CEO dynamic + being a leader in a down market

(1:00:02) Reflecting on the speculative asset bubble

(1:16:44) Looking forward into 2023

FOLLOW Brad: https://linktr.ee/bfeld

FOLLOW Jason: https://linktr.ee/calacanis

FOLLOW Molly: https://twitter.com/mollywood

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