1) A while ago I wrote up some thoughts on VCs:
Here are some updates:
https://twitter.com/SBF_Alameda/status/1291231303682027520
Here are some updates:
2) One really refreshing change over the last decade has been the transition to "founder-friendly" VCs.
What does this mean, and why did it happen?
What does this mean, and why did it happen?
3) What it means, roughly, is VCs seeing themselves as helping and supporting the companies, not running them; and terms/etc. starting to reflect that.
4) I'm not sure why it happened, but I have some guesses.
What are the biggest US companies today?
AAPL, MSFT, GOOG, FB, TSLA.
What are the biggest US companies today?
AAPL, MSFT, GOOG, FB, TSLA.
5) I think VCs have looked at those companies and tried to back-out what went well for them.
And one thing that they have in common is that for the most part the companies managed to drive their own success.
With a ton of support from others! But ultimately the team mattered.
And one thing that they have in common is that for the most part the companies managed to drive their own success.
With a ton of support from others! But ultimately the team mattered.
6) (I re-watched The Social Network recently. There were a lot of issues with the movie--its highest duty was to a tell a juicy story, not to tell the truth!
But I think it did reflect _some_ things well, and I think that the Zuckerberg/Parker/Thiel/VC dynamic is one of them.)
But I think it did reflect _some_ things well, and I think that the Zuckerberg/Parker/Thiel/VC dynamic is one of them.)
7) I think it's tempting to have the takeaway "you should let companies run themselves", and I think that's probably not quite right.
More what I'd say is:
If a company is run really well, you should let it run itself.
If not, then intervening makes more sense.
More what I'd say is:
If a company is run really well, you should let it run itself.
If not, then intervening makes more sense.
8) And so I think the story is different here for reclamation investments.
9) Another thing I've noticed:
it can be _really_ bad to hamstring a company, _unless_ you really know what you're doing.
There are exceptions to this! Acquisitions can cut off some options, but they create a ton more.
it can be _really_ bad to hamstring a company, _unless_ you really know what you're doing.
There are exceptions to this! Acquisitions can cut off some options, but they create a ton more.
10) But it's often bad for a company to sell too much of its equity.
Because at some point, it just doesn't have enough left for its employees. At some point the incentives don't work, and the team is working for a passive investor.
And that makes motivation *really* hard.
Because at some point, it just doesn't have enough left for its employees. At some point the incentives don't work, and the team is working for a passive investor.
And that makes motivation *really* hard.
11) The final thing, I think, is maintaining a great relationship between the team and their investors.
Without that, investments tend to be negative sum.
The biggest piece of this: do you believe in each other?
Without that, investments tend to be negative sum.
The biggest piece of this: do you believe in each other?
12) Does the team believe that the VC will fight for them?
Does the VC believe that the team will do well?
It's fine to have to do diligence on this!
But once you _have_ gotten to that point, you have to have some trust, or there's no point in investing.
Does the VC believe that the team will do well?
It's fine to have to do diligence on this!
But once you _have_ gotten to that point, you have to have some trust, or there's no point in investing.
13) Another thing:
There are lots of companies and tokens that are up a LOT this year.
Like 1,000%. Sometimes more.
I guess I used to worry about 20% changes in terms more than I do now.
There are lots of companies and tokens that are up a LOT this year.
Like 1,000%. Sometimes more.
I guess I used to worry about 20% changes in terms more than I do now.
14) And finally:
A lot of the things up a lot are not things that I was a fan of.
Many have done well anyway.
Some of that is luck, but some isn't.
And it's made me wonder why I thought about them wrong.
A lot of the things up a lot are not things that I was a fan of.
Many have done well anyway.
Some of that is luck, but some isn't.
And it's made me wonder why I thought about them wrong.
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