20VC: Why 75% of Active Investors Will Disappear in the Next Few Years, The Death of "So So" Venture Firms is Coming, The Rise of Blackstone of Venture Firms and What That Does To Venture Returns, How the World of LPs is Broken and more with Kyle Harrison
Kyle Harrison, General Partner at Contrary and a seasoned venture capital expert, shares his insights on the shifting landscape of investment. He discusses the impending demise of 'so-so' venture firms, exploring what criteria lead to their downfall. Kyle highlights the emergence of dominant players reminiscent of Blackstone in venture capital and how increasing fund sizes impact returns. Additionally, his journey from filmmaking to tech investing reveals crucial lessons about market dynamics and the necessary evolution within VC firms.
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From Film to Venture
Kyle Harrison's path to venture capital was unexpected, starting with a film-focused creator marketplace.
This experience taught him the importance of being a resource for passionate individuals building businesses.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Do the Work
Adopt a "do the work" attitude in venture capital, actively seeking ways to help founders.
Don't just offer passive support; take initiative and demonstrate your value.
insights INSIGHT
TAM Arbitrage
Understanding market size better than others allows for higher price points and aggressive growth.
Focus on large markets, as even great founders struggle in small, unpromising markets.
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This book provides a sweeping history of the institutions that have organized knowledge in the West, from the great library of Alexandria to the digital networks of today. It explores how these institutions have evolved over time, influencing the way knowledge is created, preserved, and transmitted. The authors examine the library, monastery, university, Republic of Letters, disciplines, and laboratory as pivotal points in this evolution.
Kyle Harrison is a General Partner @ Contrary and one of my favorite writers on the venture space with his blog, Investing 101 2.0. Before joining Contrary, Kyle worked in the ranks of some of the biggest and best names in venture, starting with a spell at TCV before moving to Coatue and making his final stop at Index. Across firms, Kyle has led or participated in investments including Ramp, Pave, Anduril, Gitlab, Databricks and Snowflake to name a few.
In Today's Episode with Kyle Harrison:
1.) From Film Lover to Technology Investor:
How Kyle went from creating a professional services marketplace around film to joining the ranks of TCV and investing in breakout technology companies?
What was Kyle's biggest takeaway from TCV? How did it impact his mindset?
What was Kyle's biggest lesson from working with the Laffont's at Coatue? How did it change the way he thinks about price and market sizing?
Why was Index such a transformational school of venture for Kyle? How did that experience change how he thinks about what it takes to be a great investor?
2.) The Death of So So Venture Firms:
Why does Kyle believe many of the "so so" venture firms will die?
What does Kyle believe makes a venture firm "so so"? Who is vulnerable then?
How does Kyle think the lifespan and "death" of venture firms will change in the next decade?
3.) The Rise of "The Blackstone of Venture Firms":
How does Kyle define "the Blackstone of VCs"? Who are they?
With increasing fund sizes will we see VC returns denigrate to PE returns?
How is the world of family offices changing the venture environment? Will we see more or less money flood into venture over the coming years?
Of the incumbents, who has done "The Blackstone" model well? Why? Who has failed? Why?
4.) The Rise of Community in Venture:
What does "community" really mean to Kyle? Why does he believe it will play such a prominent role in the way the best invest in the future?
How have existing players failed to build, sustain and productize communities?
What are the best opportunities for new entrants to create and utilise communities to invest?
The Twenty Minute VC (20VC): Venture Capital | Startup Funding | The Pitch 