Mark Suster

Mark Suster, managing partner of Upfront Ventures, discusses the current state of venture fund fundraising and explores different sources of capital for emerging managers in the venture capital space. He also discusses the benefits of hosting events for LPs, the differences between raising funds from institutional LPs and family offices, and the decision-making process of big pensions and family offices when it comes to investing in emerging managers versus established firms.

Mark Suster, a General Partner at Upfront Ventures and a seasoned entrepreneur, shares key insights from his journey in venture capital. He discusses crucial fundraising lessons, emphasizing institutional relationships and the common pitfalls faced by emerging managers. Suster predicts a shift as private equity takes a more prominent exit role, questioning the future of IPOs and M&A. He also reflects on the emotional resilience required in both startups and investing and highlights the importance of evaluating deals thoughtfully amidst current market volatility.

Discussions on the 2024 venture market, secondary sales by VCs, IPOS, strip sales, continuation funds, and early stage fintech. Insights on firms like IVP and Kleiner Perkins, mistakes GPs make with LPs, and top recent investments in AI, healthcare, and defense technology.

Mark Suster, Managing Partner of Upfront Ventures, shares his disciplined investment strategies and discusses the significance of founder-market fit and market timing in venture capital. He highlights promising sectors like healthcare and space while reflecting on lessons learned from his CEO experience. Suster also addresses the challenges of fundraising, particularly the low transition rates from seed to Series A investments. Molly O’Shea adds depth to the conversation, exploring how empathy and historical understanding play roles in shaping the future of the industry.

Ian Cinnamon, co-founder and CEO of Apex Space, shares his journey in the satellite industry, highlighting the company’s efforts to innovate in satellite manufacturing in Los Angeles. He discusses the dramatic decrease in satellite launch costs and the implications for new startups. Guest host Mark Suster delves into the evolving landscape of space tech, emphasizing the critical role of commercial satellite infrastructure in everyday life. Together, they explore how Apex's achievements are paving the way for a space tech revolution.

In Today’s Episode We Discuss: David Skok: General Partner @ Matrix Partners: Why does David believe that all good products have at least one variable pricing axis? How can founders determine which variable they should choose for their product? What are the pros and cons? Chetan Puttagunta: General Partner @ Benchmark: Why does Chetan believe we have seen a strong decline in the per seat pricing model? What are the major drawbacks of it? What are we seeing replace it? What has Chetan seen work well amongst his portfolio?      Mark Suster: General Partner @ Upfront Ventures: What were Mark’s two biggest lessons on pricing from seeing the hyper-growth of Salesforce first hand? WHat does Mark advise founders when it comes to price anchoring and discounting? How does Mark view the sale of professional services with this in mind? Amanda Kleha: Chief Customer Officer @ Figma: What were Amanda’s biggest learnings from running the Zendesk pricing playbook? What does Amanda mean when she says that successful pricing is broke up into 3 separate product features?    Brad Birnbaum: Founder & CEO @ Kustomer:Why does Brad push back on the common suggestion of a “no man’s land in SaaS pricing”? Why is innovation in pricing actually detrimental to sales in most cases? Guy Podjarney, Founder & CEO @ Snyk: How does Guy think about having a large enough base to test pricing strategies? How does Guy think about the balance between freemium and paid? Does one have to come first? Read the full transcript on our blog. If you would like to find out more about the show and the guests presented, you can follow us on Twitter here: Jason Lemkin Harry Stebbings SaaStr

Mark Suster, a managing partner at Upfront Ventures, shares his insights on the current state of the venture capital market alongside Samir Kaji, CEO of Allocate. They dive into the challenges facing Series B and C fundraising amidst a cooler market. Both discuss the strategic importance of secondaries for liquidity and the evolving landscape of IPOs. Suster and Kaji also highlight crucial metrics and the need for adapting investment strategies as they navigate a transforming industry landscape.

Mark Suster, a partner at Upfront Ventures and seasoned entrepreneur, shares his insights on aligning board members and navigating market cycles in venture capital. He reflects on the challenges founders face in today's startup landscape and the importance of cohesive relationships with investors. The discussion highlights the three key variables VCs must consider and the power of being mission-aligned. Mark also emphasizes strategic planning for crisis management and leveraging data to overcome competition in a rapidly changing market.

Mark Suster, a partner at Upfront Ventures, shares his insights on the shifting landscape of venture capital and the importance of community as a competitive advantage. He discusses evaluating Robinhood's impressive earnings amidst market changes and Amazon's foray into department stores. Suster also emphasizes the significance of robust metrics in venture funding, exploring complexities like MOIC and the relevance of cash returns. The conversation highlights the dynamic nature of investment strategies and the vital role of engagement in startup success.

Mark Suster shares insights on battling ADHD, selling to Salesforce, good vs bad acquisitions, and venture capital predictions for 2024. The podcast delves into his personal journey, entrepreneurship challenges, and evolving career from a financial analyst to a venture capitalist at Upfront Ventures. It also explores the importance of sales and programming skills in the tech industry, navigating success and failure, and venture capital trends in Los Angeles.