Topline

Tomasz Tunguz of Theory Ventures shares his 2024 predictions, discusses the changing landscape of AI, Microsoft's success in the AI industry, concerns about the venture capital industry size, and the metrics that matter for seed and Series A companies.

In 2023, we saw fractional leadership become increasingly popular. But will the pendulum swing in the opposite direction in 2024? Or is fractional leadership here to stay? Listen to this Thursday’s mini-episode to hear what our hosts think.

Our hosts cover a gamut of topics in our first episode of the new year. Since Harvard’s President, Claudine Gay, resigned due to her response towards anti-semitism on campus – should the experiences of current college students be considered when hiring? Next, we transition to a conversion on the rise of secondary sales to generate liquidity. Wrapping up the episode by exploring the balance between speed and thoughtfulness in decision-making, emphasizing the need to adapt decision-making approaches based on the stage of business growth. Want more TOPLINE? Read the recaps.

This week on Topline, the hosts talk about the Federal Reserve's update on interest rates, the economic outlook for the tech sector in 2024, a new paper by Winning by Design's that asks whether SaaS has lost go to market fit, and the cancellation of the Adobe and Figma merger.

On this week’s Topline Hotline, a listener wonders if gift giving is still a thing. Does it build psychological capital? And does it differ between employees vs customers? Listen to hear what Sam, AJ, and Asad have to say.  

This week, our hosts further reflect on 2023 from a business standpoint but also personal. This year was full of economic and individual challenges – including a discussion on business intuition and the skills best suited to survive a downturn with.  Buckle up though, we also learn that AJ has a past company’s logo tattooed on his chest, Asad once had pink and green hair with lots of piercings, and Sam spent a lot of time in Vegas as a young professional. Want more TOPLINE? Read the recaps.  

Making informed decisions is critical. In this week’s mini-episode, our hosts discuss how to stay informed about the global economy, specifically when resources are conflicting. 

The podcast discusses the relationship between correlation and causation, the closure of VC firm OpenView, strategies for stress and risk minimization, the importance of conviction and openness to change, predictions for 2024, and a book recommendation about the hedge fund industry.

Not every good salesperson makes a good sales leader. In this week’s mini-episode, our hosts discuss the challenges of having a Team Lead and offer insights to guide the decision.  

Our hosts discuss changes in work culture, productivity, and how to screen for work ethic during the hiring process. They explore the flaws of four-day work weeks and the challenges of maintaining a high level of productivity. Want more TOPLINE? Read the recaps.