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, Founding Partner at Boldstart Ventures, as he dives into the world of inception-stage investing. He discusses the shift in startup dynamics post-AI boom and how early-stage funding has evolved. Ed shares insights on identifying promising founding teams before incorporation and the emergence of 'discovery rounds.' He emphasizes the importance of proprietary data and why software moats are becoming rare. With anecdotes from his experiences, Ed offers honest advice for founders grappling with key decisions in their entrepreneurial journey.

Ed Sim, a seasoned venture capitalist at Boldstart Ventures, shares his insights on the rapidly evolving startup landscape. He discusses how founders are abandoning old strategies and the crucial role of AI in shaping new ventures. The conversation dives into the fierce competition for talent, with big tech 'strip-mining' startups for skilled professionals. Ed also highlights the importance of infrastructure in the tech sector and offers a comparison of companies like BYD and Tesla in today's market.