Ed Sim

Ed Sim, Founder and Managing Partner at Boldstart Ventures, dives into the competitive seed funding landscape, identifying three distinct types of seed rounds. He argues that too much early capital can hinder startups, urging founders to be cautious of high valuation offers. Sim also disagrees with the notion that growth is dead, outlining evolving expectations from multi-stage funds. Lastly, he discusses the future of IPOs, the AI investment craze, and the importance of strategic decision-making in a rapidly changing market.

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.

Ed Sim, founder of Boldstart, and Seyonne Kang, Partner at StepStone, join the hosts to discuss Q4 market predictions. They cover topics such as the challenges faced by venture firms, the impact of current market conditions on VC fundraising, factors affecting DPI for older funds, challenges faced by companies in the Q4 VC market, geography and concentration of startup funding, and predictions for Q4 market including uncertainties in startup companies and predictions of failures and markdowns.

Join Ed Sim, Founder of Boldstart Ventures, and Jamin Ball, Partner at Altimeter Capital, as they dissect the future of investing in 2024. They reveal the three critical mistakes growth investors often make and debate whether Figma has reshaped the M&A landscape. Discover what it takes for companies to go public, including essential growth metrics. Additionally, they explore upcoming IPOs, the dynamics of private company acquisitions, and the evolving role of AI in venture capital. Pure insights from seasoned experts!

Founder Ed Sim discusses inception stage investing, themes boldstart invests in, the 5 P’s of early stage investing, importance of board members, fundraising challenges, building customer relationships, and the evolution of boldstart ventures from $1M to $850M AUM.