Will Quist discusses Slow Ventures' unique venture thesis, the evolution of VC models, treating VC like a PhD program, funding new data sets, success in VC, franchise opportunities, and strategic decision-making in venture capital.

Will Quist is a Partner @ Slow Ventures. Over the last decade, the team at Slow Ventures have invested in the earliest rounds of over 500 companies including Robinhood, NextDoor, Airtable, Solana and many more. As for Will, prior to Slow he spent over 8 years at Industry Ventures and before industry, cut his teeth in the world of finance at Banc of America. In Todays Episode with Will Quist We Discuss: 1.) Entry into Venture: How Will made his way from 6th generation San Francisco to Partner @ Slow? What are 1-2 of the biggest takeaways from his early 1-1s with Don Valentine? What does Will know now that he wishes he had known when he started in venture with Industry? 2.) WTF Really is Venture Capital? Why does Will believe that 95% of venture capital today is not really venture capital? What is true venture capital in Will's mind? How does Will divide the world of VC into two with; venture classic and new venture? How are they different? How are their return profiles different? 3.) The Questions: Discovering Greatness: Why does Will believe “for the most part, investors across asset classes are just asking the same questions”? What are those questions? What different answers are each looking for? What are the 5 core questions that will needs to understand to determine conviction and accurately price an asset? How does Will think through and analyze the question when meeting founders of; “what needs to come true for this business to become a great business”? 4.) The Future of Venture Capital: How does Will predict the venture capital ecosystem will look in 5 and then 10 years? What are the most concerning traits of the venture ecosystem for Will today? Who will be the winners of the next decade? Who will be the losers? What happens to the crossover funds? What will happen to Tiger?

Will Quist, Partner at Slow Ventures, discusses the Slow PhD program, emphasizing the importance of pairing the right ideas with the right capital sources. He delves into the decoupling of great products from successful companies and the challenges of abundant venture capital. The conversation explores the significance of personal beliefs in investing philosophy, the relationship between great products and great companies, decision-making in venture capital, navigating entrepreneurship towards going public, defining purpose in VC, and challenges faced by hardware startups.

Join Jason Shuman, a Primary GP focused on impact investing, and Will Quist, a Partner at Slow Ventures known for his unique firm-building approach, as they delve into the world of non-consensus investing. They discuss the risks and opportunities of zigging while the market zags and reveal how to spot disruptive companies from day one. The conversation also touches on the evolving role of VCs, the significance of founder support, and how impact teams can drive seed stage success.

Join Jason Shuman, a contrarian investor known for his unique approach, and Will Quist, an investor focused on the startup-Venture Capital relationship, as they uncover the true value VCs bring to the table. They discuss the art of contrarian investing, emphasizing market timing and strategic clarity. The conversation dives into the complex interplay between startups and VCs, highlighting how strong relationships and alignment between investors and founders can either make or break a venture's success. Tune in for insights on navigating the venture capital landscape!