Venture Capital

Explore the key qualities of successful venture-backed founders, from sales expertise to unwavering vision. Learn about the importance of skills like fundraising, team building, and culture setting. Gain insights on navigating the challenges of building a startup, with valuable perspectives and practical advice. Discover the secrets to startup success from seasoned investors and entrepreneurs in this enlightening conversation on entrepreneurship.

Join Jon Bradshaw and Peter Harris as they predict the future of venture capital in 2024. They discuss down rounds, valuation reassessments, and the rise of AI solutions. Explore the impact of AI on job markets and the potential disruptions in traditional media formats. Tune in for insights on upcoming challenges and opportunities in the startup world.

Join hosts Jon Bradshaw and Peter Harris as they discuss 'Bad Moves Founders Make' in the startup world. They share stories of founder pitfalls, emphasize trust and transparency in relationships, and offer practical advice for navigating fundraising. Tune in for valuable insights and witty anecdotes on the highs and lows of entrepreneurship!

Explore the murky world of venture capital with Jon and Peter as they discuss bad moves made by VCs. From last-minute deal changes to delaying investments for lower valuations, they provide valuable insights on the dynamics between VCs and founders. The debate on ethical practices like bribing founders and the importance of incentivizing the founding team adds depth to this engaging conversation.

Amy Cook and Ryan Westwood, founders of Fullcast.com, discuss their entrepreneurial journey, the importance of focus and differentiation in business, building a strong team culture, and Fullcast's mission to improve sales teams' success rates. They also touch on their funding strategy and the value of building a network of supportive investors and stakeholders.

In this podcast, the hosts explore how VCs measure success in the ever-evolving venture capital landscape. They discuss benchmarks like beating the S&P 500 and striving for top quartile status. The hosts also delve into the nuances of financial indicators such as IRR and MOIC. Additionally, they shed light on important factors like hit rate, loss ratio, TVPI, and DPI. Personal insights on measuring success are shared by one of the hosts.

Welcome to another episode of Venture Capital podcast, where hosts John Bradshaw and Peter Harris delve into the intricacies of the startup world. In this episode, the hosts share their thoughts on a unique strategy to network within the startup ecosystem, emphasizing the importance of delegation for seasoned professionals. They discuss the challenges and benefits of empowering an admin to connect with key players, creating a ripple effect that streamlines networking efforts.The hosts also issue a disclaimer, making it clear that their discussions are not legal, financial, or investment advice. They then transition to a comprehensive exploration of a critical yet often misunderstood topic: option pools. Focusing on the dynamics of options, the hosts break down the concept, its role in compensation, and the tax advantages associated with using options to reward employees in startup environments.Moving forward, the hosts address various aspects of option pools, including their size, negotiation during fundraising rounds, and the percentages allocated to different stakeholders. They demystify the complexities surrounding stock options for employees, shedding light on the percentage range based on roles, company stages, and other factors.As the conversation unfolds, the hosts touch upon vesting schedules and their significance, stressing the importance of having a structured plan in place. They share insights into common pitfalls and misunderstandings related to stock options, guiding listeners on the intricacies of exercising, pricing, and potential risks involved.The episode reaches its climax as the hosts shift gears to discuss option pool refreshes, explaining when and why companies choose to replenish their option pools. Finally, the hosts cap off the episode with a fascinating exploration of how exits, whether through IPOs or acquisitions, impact individuals holding stock options. They navigate through automatic conversions, exercising options, and the potential financial outcomes for employees during exit events.Tune in for a deep dive into the often-overlooked world of option pools and gain valuable insights into navigating the startup landscape. Remember, this is not financial advice, but a candid conversation from industry experts. Subscribe to Venture Capital for more episodes and stay informed about the ever-evolving startup ecosystem.Follow the PodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/venturecapitalfm/Twitter: https://twitter.com/vcpodcastfmLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/venturecapitalfm/Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7BQimY8NJ6cr617lqtRr7N?si=ftylo2qHQiCgmT9dfloD_g&nd=1&dlsi=7b868f1b72094351Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/venture-capital/id1575351789Website: https://www.venturecapital.fm/Follow Jon BradshawLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrbradshaw/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrjonbradshaw/Twitter: https://twitter.com/mrjonbradshawFollow Peter HarrisTwitter: https://twitter.com/thevcstudentLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peterharris1Instagram: https://instagram.com/shodanpeteYoutube: https://youtu.be/Hy9DsuFzTH4

Learn how to get into venture capital by acquiring the necessary qualifications and skills. The podcast explores the importance of networking and being world-class in fundraising, deal sourcing, and picking winners. Discover the advantages of a career in venture capital, including wealth accumulation and intellectual stimulation. The challenges of the industry are also addressed. Other topics covered include focusing on a niche, getting hired in venture capital, and the role of personal relationships and demonstrable value.

Welcome to the Venture Capital Podcast with your hosts, Jon Bradshaw and Peter Harris. In this episode, Jon shares a fascinating story about a founder's experience with a venture capital firm and why the deal didn't go through. The episode is titled "Why Did The VC Pass," shedding light on the intricate dynamics within venture capital firms.Jon, representing the founder's perspective, narrates how a seemingly promising deal fell apart after discussions with a fund. The founder, excited about the potential investment, engaged with a junior partner and a mid-tier executive in the firm. Everything appeared positive until the unexpected rejection, citing reasons like being too late stage, concerns about valuation, and the market size.As Jon digs deeper, he unravels the internal politics at play within venture capital funds. He highlights how the managing partner's ego and the concept of attribution can significantly influence deal outcomes. Junior team members often find exciting opportunities, only to face challenges in getting them approved by managing partners who didn't source the deal themselves.Peter explores the delicate balance for junior members in venture funds, caught between the desire to get credit for their deals and the risk of facing consequences if things don't go as planned. The episode emphasizes the importance of understanding a venture capital firm's internal dynamics and navigating the politics to secure a deal successfully.Listeners gain valuable insights into the behind-the-scenes workings of venture capital, with Jon and Peter discussing the intricacies of deal-making, the significance of relationships within a firm, and the need for founders to navigate these dynamics strategically.As the hosts wrap up, they encourage listeners to share their experiences and thoughts in the comments, fostering a community discussion about similar situations. To stay updated on future episodes, visit venturecapital.fm and explore various subscription options on platforms like Apple and Spotify. If you found this episode insightful, the hosts welcome five or six-star reviews and appreciate comments about the advice provided.Join Jon and Peter as they pull back the curtain on the venture capital world, offering entrepreneurs and enthusiasts a deeper understanding of the complexities involved in securing VC funding.Follow the PodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/venturecapitalfm/Twitter: https://twitter.com/vcpodcastfmLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/venturecapitalfm/Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7BQimY8NJ6cr617lqtRr7N?si=ftylo2qHQiCgmT9dfloD_g&nd=1&dlsi=7b868f1b72094351Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/venture-capital/id1575351789Website: https://www.venturecapital.fm/Follow Jon BradshawLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrbradshaw/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrjonbradshaw/Twitter: https://twitter.com/mrjonbradshawFollow Peter HarrisTwitter: https://twitter.com/thevcstudentLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peterharris1Instagram: https://instagram.com/shodanpeteYoutube: https://youtu.be/Hy9DsuFzTH4

In this episode of the Venture Capital podcast, Jon Bradshaw and Peter Harris discuss the intricacies of interacting with venture capitalists (VCs) from the perspective of entrepreneurs.The conversation is sparked by a story shared by Peter about an entrepreneur who felt dismissed by a VC during a meeting. The entrepreneur, who was running a successful service business at a scaling point, sought advice but received little attention or insight from the VC, leaving him frustrated.Key Points Discussed:VCs and Time Management: VCs are time-constrained and prioritize deals they are actively chasing. If a VC is not pursuing an entrepreneur, it often indicates a lack of interest.Building Relationships with VCs: The importance of adding value to a relationship with a VC is emphasized. Entrepreneurs should focus on assisting VCs rather than directly seeking help or pitching ideas.Realistic Expectations: Entrepreneurs should understand that VCs might not always provide the desired advice or support, especially if the business isn't investable or doesn't align with the VC's interests.The Role of VCs: VCs are seen as more beneficial in fundraising efforts rather than operational or sales advice. Their strength lies in pattern recognition and networking rather than in-depth operational expertise.Founder-VC Dynamics: The conversation also touches on the complexities of the relationship between founders and VCs, highlighting that it can be adversarial or supportive, depending on various factors.Advice for Entrepreneurs: Founders are advised to approach VCs with a mindset of offering value, understanding their limited time, and being prepared for potentially harsh or unfiltered feedback.Entrepreneurial Challenges: The episode concludes with a discussion on the challenges entrepreneurs face, including the difficulty of receiving honest feedback and managing expectations in interactions with VCs.Please share your experiences with VCs and to tune in for future episodes for more insights on venture capital and entrepreneurship.Follow the PodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/venturecapitalfm/Twitter: https://twitter.com/vcpodcastfmLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/venturecapitalfm/Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7BQimY8NJ6cr617lqtRr7N?si=ftylo2qHQiCgmT9dfloD_g&nd=1&dlsi=7b868f1b72094351Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/venture-capital/id1575351789Website: https://www.venturecapital.fm/Follow Jon BradshawLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrbradshaw/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrjonbradshaw/Twitter: https://twitter.com/mrjonbradshawFollow Peter HarrisTwitter: https://twitter.com/thevcstudentLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peterharris1Instagram: https://instagram.com/shodanpeteYoutube: https://youtu.be/Hy9DsuFzTH4