The Twenty Minute VC (20VC): Venture Capital | Startup Funding | The Pitch

Luca Ferrari, Co-founder and CEO of Bending Spoons, shares the secrets behind his bootstrapped company’s incredible journey to 500 million downloads and $360 million in sales. He reflects on his early life and lessons from failures, emphasizing the value of humility and adaptability. Luca reveals his unique talent acquisition strategies, favoring practical assessments over traditional interviews, and discusses the importance of making strategic acquisitions. He also highlights his aspirations for Bending Spoons while addressing the evolving role of AI in the job market.

Chandra Narayanan, Founder and CEO of Sundial, previously led analytics at Facebook and served as Chief Data Scientist at Sequoia Capital. He shares his journey from weather analysis to tech giant analytics. Chandra dives into the essential traits for effective growth teams, discussing when to hire and the qualities to look for. He also highlights how analytics shaped Sequoia's investment strategies and the lessons learned from working at Facebook. Tune in to discover insights on hiring execs and the metrics that matter for scaling businesses.

Joe Lonsdale, the Founder and Managing Partner at 8VC and co-founder of Palantir Technologies, shares insights on entrepreneurial success and the challenges of America as a frontier nation. He critiques the 'woke mind virus' as a harmful ideology, linking it to issues in the education system. Lonsdale discusses TikTok's geopolitical implications and stresses the need for accountability in non-profits. He also touches on innovative strategies for venture capital in an AI-driven world, emphasizing the importance of unique expertise.

Brendon Cassidy, former Head of Sales at LinkedIn and VP at Talkdesk, shares insights from his illustrious sales career. He discusses how recruiting shaped his approach to sales and why traditional outbound techniques are outdated. Cassidy argues for inbound strategies driven by AI, emphasizing the need for a robust sales playbook. He also highlights the importance of hiring from personal networks and mastering onboarding to boost team performance. His insights challenge conventional sales wisdom, advocating for a customer-centric approach in today's dynamic market.

Peter Wagner, Founding Partner of Wing and former Managing Partner at Accel, shares invaluable insights from his extensive venture capital career. He emphasizes the importance of engaging with exceptional founders and discusses the current venture landscape's challenges. Wagner addresses misconceptions about venture returns and the coexistence of seed and multi-stage firms. He reflects on his biggest investing lessons, skepticism towards capital-intensive businesses, and the evolving dynamics of early-stage investing, providing a well-rounded view of the changing industry.

Nicolai Tangen, CEO of Norges Bank Investment Management, leads the globe's largest sovereign wealth fund with $1.55 trillion in assets. He shares insights from his unique childhood in a religious town and how being a loner shaped his financial success. Nicolai discusses the overwhelming dominance of US tech firms, the societal impacts of AI, and his skepticism about Bitcoin. He analyzes China's investment potential and reflects on Europe's competitive standing, while also emphasizing the importance of addressing climate change through strategic investments.

Frank Quattrone, Founder of Qatalyst and tech M&A pioneer, shares his vast expertise in this engaging conversation. He discusses why current regulations haven't killed M&A, offering insights into the real causes behind the market slowdown. Quattrone compares today's lack of IPO activity to the dot-com bust, speculating on when the window might reopen. He reveals intriguing lessons from over 600 deals, including insights from acquisitions of tech giants like Amazon and LinkedIn, emphasizing the need for strategic foresight in navigating future trends.

Sami Inkinen, co-founder and CEO of Virta Health, shares his inspiring journey from a humble Finnish farm to Silicon Valley, where he founded Trulia. He discusses the emotional aftermath of Trulia's IPO and the lessons learned from a challenging marriage adventure of rowing across the Pacific with his wife. Sami reflects on his parenting regrets and the dangers of tying personal identity to business success. Throughout, he emphasizes authenticity, resilience, and the importance of maintaining diverse identities amidst entrepreneurial challenges.

In this engaging discussion, Justin Ishbia, Founder and Managing Partner of Shore Capital Partners, shares his journey from law student to leading a top-performing private equity firm. He dives into the importance of family influences in shaping his business strategies and how luck intertwines with hard work in private equity success. Justin emphasizes the critical balance between personal health, family life, and career ambitions, while offering insights on nurturing talent beyond financial incentives and the unique challenges that first-time CEOs face.

Scott Williamson, former Chief Product Officer at GitLab, shares golden insights from his extensive career in product management. He emphasizes that a background in sales can be a solid foundation for product leaders and discusses the four core skills every PM should master: validation, building, business acumen, and communication. Scott reveals his rigorous hiring process and stresses that the best product teams are often made up of excellent writers. He also touches on balancing innovation with execution, making clear communication key to successful team dynamics.