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

Join Kevin Niparko, VP of Product at Twilio and former Head of Product at Segment, as he dives into the importance of writing for product managers. He emphasizes the role of product memes in communication, highlighting their creativity over traditional methods. Kevin shares invaluable insights from his time at Bridgewater, revealing how analytics sharpen product intuition. Discover his unique hiring strategies and the non-obvious traits he seeks in product candidates, along with his thoughts on balancing quick shipping with quality in product development.

Christian Lanng, founder and former CEO of unicorn Tradeshift, shares his hard-earned insights from his entrepreneurial journey. He candidly discusses the emotional toll of being a founder, revealing how burnout nearly took a toll on his life. Lanng critiques the myth that anyone can be a founder and unpacks the unspoken challenges of fundraising. He reflects on workplace politics, personal sacrifices, and why he believes U.S. startups have an edge over European ones. He also advocates for human-centered design in AI software, predicting a transformation in work experiences.

Marc Benioff, CEO of Salesforce, shares his visionary thoughts on the future of San Francisco, discussing potential changes to housing and policing. He reflects on the evolving relationship between money and happiness, offering insights on raising children in affluence. Benioff breaks down his five-step decision-making process and advocates for a hybrid work model that marries productivity and collaboration. His commitment to philanthropy shines through as he discusses initiatives like planting a trillion trees to address climate change.

Christian Kleinerman, SVP of Product at Snowflake and former product leader at Google and Microsoft, shares insights on today's generative AI landscape. He discusses the adoption speed of various sectors and challenges the notion that larger models are always better. Kleinerman emphasizes the importance of model size versus data quality, the evolving nature of AI models, and the pressing need for startups to adapt quickly. He also highlights the importance of optionality in AI, as well as the competitive edge smaller companies can have against industry giants.

Join Eric Paley, Managing Partner at Founder Collective, Mike Maples, Co-founder of Floodgate, and Jason Lemkin, Founder of SaaStr, as they dive into the changing venture capital landscape. They discuss why high startup valuations can be perilous, the pitfalls of following 'go fast' advice, and the significant risks for founders raising at inflated prices. With insights on market inefficiencies and strategic decision-making, they challenge the status quo, questioning if the seed model is still viable in today's market.

Miles Grimshaw, a General Partner at the prestigious Benchmark, shares his invaluable insights from years of venture capital experience. He discusses the five core pillars of successful VC, emphasizing the most critical aspects of sourcing, selecting, and servicing investments. Miles reveals his biggest lessons learned from missed opportunities like Figma and Plaid, highlighting the pitfalls of relying too heavily on data. He also delves into the transformative power of AI in business models and the emerging trends shaping the tech landscape.

Dive into the AI debate of model size versus data size! Experts discuss how these elements impact value creation for startups and incumbent companies. The conversation highlights the significance of diverse data sets and competitive strategies in accessing information. Discover the unique challenges faced by startups and established firms, and how agility can drive innovation in the tech landscape. Additionally, leadership insights unveil the future directions and financial strategies shaping the AI sector.

Suchit Dash, VP of Core Product Experience at Reddit and co-founder of Dubsmash, shares insights from his journey scaling Dubsmash to 43 million users in just 10 days. He discusses the importance of understanding user motivations and the pitfalls of retention challenges after rapid growth. Suchit also highlights the competitive edge TikTok had during Dubsmash's ascent, emphasizing the need for innovation in user engagement. With tips on product-market fit and building community, he offers valuable lessons for aspiring entrepreneurs in the consumer social landscape.

David Velez, Founder and CEO of Nubank, discusses the incredible journey of building one of the world's largest neobanks, with half of Brazil's adults as customers. He shares insights from his time at Sequoia Capital and highlights key factors behind Nubank's rapid growth. Velez explores how AI will revolutionize financial services and the valuable lessons Western fintech can learn from LATAM markets. He also touches on balancing leadership with fatherhood, providing a relatable glimpse into his personal life.

Doug Adamic, CRO at Brex, shares his journey from finance to a thriving sales career. He discusses the innate versus learned aspects of sales and emphasizes the importance of listening and discovering customer needs. Doug unveils why everyone in a company should contribute to demand generation and the common pitfalls in sales discovery. He also shares insights on balancing growth with sales performance, the role of executive involvement in closing deals, and strategies for maintaining team morale during tough quarters.