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

In this lively discussion, Sarah Smith, a Partner at Bain Capital Ventures with a rich background from Facebook and Quora, dives into the intricacies of venture capital. She shares her journey from teaching music to leading investments in companies like Lime. Sarah explores market dynamics in the competitive micromobility space and tackles pressing issues like engineer compensation and the lack of diversity in venture firms. Her insights on mentorship and empowering female partners create a thought-provoking conversation on the industry's future.

David Rogier, Founder and CEO of Masterclass, shares insights from his impressive journey in the education sector. He emphasizes that startup founders have one core job: managing risk while raising VC. David argues against sending pitch decks ahead of meetings, explaining how it can backfire. He also discusses crucial questions founders should ask VCs and the importance of selecting the right investors for long-term success. Through personal anecdotes, he illustrates how his grandmother's lessons shaped his vision for transformative education.

Jeremy Liew, a Partner at Lightspeed Venture Partners and the first investor in Snapchat, shares insights from his extensive career in venture capital. He emphasizes that being right is more crucial than being contrarian while navigating the competitive funding landscape. Liew discusses common pitfalls for hyper-growth companies, underscores the need for diverse acquisition strategies, and highlights the importance of personal strengths and established networks in sourcing exceptional investment opportunities.

Dylan Field, Founder and CEO of Figma, shares his journey from the Thiel Fellowship to revolutionizing design collaboration. He discusses the four-year path leading to Figma’s launch, navigating VC expectations, and the philosophy of 'going slow to go fast' with funding. Dylan also emphasizes the importance of building trust with investors and highlights how the role of designers is evolving into strategic leadership. His insights on the future of design tools and the tech landscape promise to reshape how we think about creativity and accessibility in technology.

Dave Sobota, Vice President of Corporate Development at Instacart and former Google M&A leader, shares his journey from law to tech. He discusses the current M&A landscape and why he’s optimistic about future opportunities, despite clustering concerns. Sobota emphasizes the importance of trust and open communication between startups and corporate development, while giving insights on when to engage in M&A discussions. He also highlights lessons learned from major acquisitions like Waze and the strategic importance of post-acquisition integration.

Henry Ward, Founder and CEO of Carta, shares his journey in revolutionizing cap table management. He discusses why the best companies prioritize distribution over products and the nuances of evaluating executive capabilities during growth. Henry confronts the unfair blame dynamic between founders and executives, revealing how leadership strategies evolve. He also highlights the advantages of targeting small markets for unique opportunities, challenging conventional wisdom in startup funding and market dynamics.

Dayna Grayson, a Partner at NEA, brings a wealth of experience from her background in engineering and product design to venture capital. She shares her insights on sourcing investments, emphasizing the importance of building personal connections with founders. Dayna discusses balancing data and intuition in decision-making and how NEA's approach to unanimous voting shapes their strategy. The conversation also touches on evolving entrepreneurial expectations and the dynamics between boards and CEOs, highlighting the importance of collaboration.

Jeff Russakow, CEO of Boosted, a pioneering electric skateboard startup, shares his journey from leading enterprise companies to rethinking urban travel. He discusses the crucial question founders must ask when selecting investors and the common pitfalls they face. Jeff elaborates on the challenges of Series B fundraising, focusing on balancing unit economics with a long-term vision. He also critiques the notion that "hardware is hard," advocating for a richer understanding of product challenges and innovation in transportation.

Garry Tan, Co-founder and Managing Partner at Initialized Capital, shares insights from his extensive experience in early-stage venture capital. He emphasizes the critical role of trust and relationships for founders facing challenges, especially around product-market fit. Garry also discusses the evolution of ownership requirements as funds grow, revealing how his mindset has shifted from angel investing to handling larger stakes. He reflects on the importance of delivering constructive feedback and the need for technical expertise in driving innovation.

Joel Gascoigne, Co-founder and CEO of Buffer, discusses his journey from web developer to running a profitable social media management tool. He highlights the critical moments when founders risk losing control, emphasizing that fundraising decisions are more significant than many realize. Joel critiques the current VC landscape and advocates for alternative financing to ensure founder independence. The conversation also touches on team transparency and Buffer's future plans for sustainable growth and product diversification.