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

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

Latest episodes

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74 snips
Sep 13, 2024 • 1h 7min

20Product: What Facebook, Monzo and Deliveroo Do and Do Not Do To Build Great Products | How to Structure Product Teams For Success | Is Simple Always Better in Product and The Art vs Science of Product Design with Mike Hudack

Mike Hudack, Co-Founder and CEO of Sling, shares insights from his tenure at Facebook, Monzo, and Deliveroo. He discusses the balance of art and science in product design, emphasizing that simplicity should endure over time. Hudack reveals key lessons learned from leading ads at Facebook, reflecting on critical product missteps. He shares experiences from Deliveroo, highlighting the importance of intuition versus data. The conversation also touches on the dynamics of product prioritization and the role of collaboration in crafting successful consumer products.
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80 snips
Sep 11, 2024 • 1h 6min

20VC: Scaling ServiceNow to $5BN in ARR | Leadership Lessons from Doug Leone, Frank Slootman and Bill McDermott | VC Value Add: Is it Real and Why the Worst VCs are "Seagull VCs"

David Schneider, a General Partner at Coatue and a key figure in scaling ServiceNow, shares invaluable insights from his journey. He discusses the secrets behind growing ServiceNow to $5 billion in ARR and the common reasons companies plateau. The conversation also covers the transition from operator to VC, the challenges faced, and advice for founders on navigating board dynamics. The discussion critiques 'seagull VCs' and emphasizes the need for constructive feedback in leadership, making it a treasure trove of wisdom for entrepreneurs and investors alike.
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41 snips
Sep 9, 2024 • 1h 5min

20VC: Tinder Founder Sean Rad on Lessons Scaling Tinder to the Fastest Growing Consumer Social App in History | Leadership Lessons Scaling Tinder | The Future of Love, Dating and Social Media | The Secret to Your Relationship with Money and Marriage

Sean Rad, the visionary founder of Tinder and expert on meaningful connections, dives into the app's explosive growth and user acquisition strategies. He shares the serendipitous moment that sparked Tinder's creation. Rad emphasizes the importance of annual redesigns for consumer apps and the need for founders to detach their happiness from company performance. He also addresses the complexities of wealth, revealing how one's relationship with money evolves. Ultimately, Rad highlights that true fulfillment comes from genuine connections and purpose-driven living.
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171 snips
Sep 6, 2024 • 1h 1min

20VC: Why VC is a Ponzi Scheme Today | Why Most VCs are Bankers | Why Big VCs Ruin Startups | Why Incentives in VC are Broken | Why American Dynamism is a Tool for VCs to Raise Money with Nick Chirls, Asylum Ventures

Nick Chirls, Founder of Asylum Ventures, challenges the conventional VC model, calling it a Ponzi scheme driven by misaligned incentives. He advocates for treating founders as artists rather than mere financial assets, emphasizing the need for genuine support over transactions. Chirls discusses strategies for success in 2024, including the importance of investing in overlooked markets. He shares insights from his experiences, such as the advantages of buying common shares and fostering trust between investors and entrepreneurs.
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9 snips
Sep 4, 2024 • 1h

20VC: OpenAI's Newest Board Member, Zico Colter on The Biggest Bottlenecks to the Performance of Foundation Models | The Biggest Questions and Concerns in AI Safety | How to Regulate an AI-Centric World

Zico Colter, a Professor and Director of the Machine Learning Department at Carnegie Mellon University and an OpenAI board member, dives deep into AI's bottlenecks. He explores data utilization for model performance, challenges with current algorithms, and the future of compute as an essential resource. Colter also addresses misconceptions in AI safety that people overlook. Plus, he discusses the necessity of innovative approaches to data and the importance of global collaboration on safety standards in developing AI technologies.
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29 snips
Aug 30, 2024 • 42min

20Growth: Uber's Expansion Playbook for Scaling from 10 Cities to $10BN in Revenue | How Uber Acquired 1M Drivers | How Uber Solved the Chicken and The Egg Problem in New Markets and What Uber Would Be Like with Travis Still There with Scott Gorlick

Scott Gorlick, employee #99 at Uber, shares insights from his pivotal role in expanding Uber from 10 cities to a $10 billion revenue powerhouse. He reveals the driver acquisition strategies that helped secure over a million drivers, including the impact of referral bonuses. Scott discusses the city expansion tactics employed, showcasing the interplay of promotions and timing, and reflects on how under Travis Kalanick's leadership, Uber's direction might have differed today. His anecdotes highlight the challenges of rapid growth and the lessons learned in a fiercely competitive landscape.
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67 snips
Aug 28, 2024 • 52min

20VC: AI Scaling Myths: More Compute is not the Answer | The Core Bottlenecks in AI Today: Data, Algorithms and Compute | The Future of Models: Open vs Closed, Small vs Large with Arvind Narayanan, Professor of Computer Science @ Princeton

Arvind Narayanan, a Princeton Professor and expert in AI and cryptocurrency, debunks the myth that simply adding more compute enhances AI performance. He emphasizes that data quality and algorithms are critical bottlenecks, questioning the future of synthetic data. Arvind draws parallels between AI and crypto hype, expressing skepticism about commoditization. He explores the potential of various small models versus few large ones, while highlighting the ethical implications and challenges in assessing AI's real-world applications and advancements.
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63 snips
Aug 26, 2024 • 1h 5min

20VC: Why the IPO Market is not Closed | Why Revenue Multiples are BS and Founders Need to Change | Advice From Jack Ma, Jamie Dimon and Evan Spiegel | Lessons from Taking Snap & Alibaba Public with Imran Khan

Imran Khan, founder and Chief Investment Officer of Proem Asset Management, shares his expert insights on the IPO market, emphasizing its current stagnation and the inflated revenue expectations that hinder companies from going public. He discusses the unfortunate state of M&A and how founders must adapt their mindset towards acquisitions amidst regulatory challenges. Additionally, Imran explores the complex landscape of AI investments, reflecting on the lessons learned from taking Alibaba public, while offering valuable advice from entrepreneurs like Jack Ma and Jamie Dimon.
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189 snips
Aug 23, 2024 • 1h 4min

20Sales: How Snowflake Built a Sales Machine | Why You Have to Hire a CRO Pre-Product | Why Most Sales Reps Do Not Perform | Why Hiring Panels are BS in Interviews | Why Remote Sales Reps Do Not Care About Their Development with Chad Peets

Chad Peets, a renowned sales leader and recruiter with 25 years of experience, shares invaluable insights on building effective sales teams. He argues that SaaS companies need a Chief Revenue Officer before launching a product to ensure proper sales strategies. Chad exposes common pitfalls in hiring practices and explains why many sales reps underperform. He also stresses the importance of aligning sales and product marketing efforts and highlights how understanding personal motivations can enhance recruitment strategies.
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115 snips
Aug 21, 2024 • 1h 4min

20VC: Five Lessons Scaling Toast to $14BN Market Cap | The Biggest Mistakes Founders Make in Fundraising, Hiring and Selling with Aman Narang, CEO @ Toast

Aman Narang, Co-Founder and CEO of Toast, shares insights from scaling the vertical SaaS company to a $14BN market cap. He discusses critical mistakes founders make, emphasizing the need for early fundraising and hiring managers sooner. Aman reflects on crucial moments in Toast's growth, revealing the importance of quick decision-making and adaptability. He also addresses the challenges of navigating the restaurant tech industry and the transformative potential of AI and data in improving operational efficiencies.

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