A VC: Musings of a VC in NYC

NOVEMBER 24, 2021

I remember about fifteen years ago, a well-known VC said to me “you need to sell a company within a few years of the founder leaving. ” I told that VC that my experience has been different on that measure and that I did not agree. Companies can’t sustain their innovation after a founder leaves.”

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A VC: Musings of a VC in NYC

MAY 5, 2021

There has been this narrative about investing in VC funds that you have to get into the top quartile (25%) or possibly the top decile (10%) in order to generate good returns. I have heard that for as long as I have been in VC and probably have written it here a few times. As you can see, investing in VC funds can be very profitable.

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A VC: Musings of a VC in NYC

APRIL 21, 2021

A well-known entrepreneur turned VC, who will go unnamed because I am not sure he would want me to share this conversation publicly, once told me “if you remove a founder, you must sell the company within a couple of years or it will start to decline in value.” It has to come from the top.

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Both Sides of the Table

DECEMBER 11, 2022

Between 2006–2008 I sold both companies that I had started and became a VC. SEEING THINGS FROM THE VC SIDE OF THE TABLE While I was a VC in 2007 & 2008 those were dead years because the market again evaporated due the the Global Financial Crisis (GFC). And the valuation party lasted until November 9th, 2021.

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Tomasz Tunguz

JULY 18, 2022

In 2021, PE buyouts constituted more than 20% of venture-backed M&A by dollars, doubling in the past decade. Record amounts of PE raised and sitting as dry powder ready to be invested, just like VC. The high-water mark underscored the importance of private equity sponsors as an exit avenue for startups in black Sharpie marker.

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TechCrunch

JANUARY 18, 2022

Although many VCs seem to be new to quantum technologies, some investors foresaw this movement several years ago and are now making their first quantum exits. The company was founded in 2015, and it went public in 2021 through a SPAC at a $2 billion valuation. Quantum startups map, as of October 2021. Take IonQ, a U.S.-based

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This is going to be BIG.

MAY 4, 2022

I’m the on-paper poster child for “who can get VC dollars”. Will the money have been worth it if you find yourself out on the street, fired from your own company, just a few years later—replaced by some guy that was in the same fraternity as your lead VC? I’d argue that the answer is no, but that’s easy for me to say, right?

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AsiaTechDaily

MARCH 30, 2023

billion) in 2021. billion) for VC by the end of 2022. Corporate investors, individuals and family offices, and financial institutions were the top sources of funding for PE, while government agencies and investment companies, sovereign wealth funds, and corporate investors were the top sources for VC. billion (MYR16.08

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A VC: Musings of a VC in NYC

MAY 7, 2021

USV TEAM POSTS: John Buttrick — May 4, 2021 alt.bank David Gabeau — Apr 29, 2021 Tokenized Natural Assets Samson Mesele — Apr 28, 2021 Joining Union Square Ventures. I backed the project this morning and I hope and expect she will do great with this Kickstarter project. Email readers can see the video here.

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A VC: Musings of a VC in NYC

FEBRUARY 1, 2021

USV TEAM POSTS: Andy Weissman — Jan 26, 2021 USV 2021 Fund. For one, making it drop dead simple for a homeowner to finance, order, and install rooftop solar and start getting paid for doing so feels like a winner to me.

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Both Sides of the Table

JULY 26, 2022

2021 saw phenomenal returns for our industry and it topped off more than a decade of unprecedented VC growth. Since 2021, Upfront returned more than $600 million to LPs and returned more than $1 billion since 2018. The more things change, the more they stay the same.

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A VC: Musings of a VC in NYC

JANUARY 1, 2023

This has already started to happen but because so much capital was raised in 2021 and the early part of 2022, it has taken longer for these companies to fail. Many leading VC firms have dedicated climate funds now and we see huge amounts of capital available for climate startups with strong teams and novel approaches.

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A VC: Musings of a VC in NYC

APRIL 13, 2021

” So began a five year investment partnership between Flatiron Partners (our VC firm) and Susan’s Latin American private equity business. USV TEAM POSTS: Albert Wenger — Apr 9, 2021 Mask Mandates Were Effective. I told her that there must be but I wouldn’t know how to find them.

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A VC: Musings of a VC in NYC

MAY 1, 2022

However, we were not able to do that in 2020 and 2021 so this was our first Portfolio Summit since 2019. Those of us who work in VC and startups can work remotely and get most everything we need done. Every year we invite the leaders of our portfolio companies to come to NYC and spend a couple of days with us and each other.

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A VC: Musings of a VC in NYC

MAY 23, 2023

fredwilson @cameron @tyler @BarrySilbert @Winter #Bitcoin pic.twitter.com/LGtDYef7U7 — Mr.Buidl (@MrBUIDL) May 21, 2021 I was reminded of that moment yesterday when, in our quarterly call with our Limited Partners at USV, we were asked if the regulatory pressure on web3 in the US would result in us cutting back our web3 investing.

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Revolution

MAY 11, 2023

We named this summit after a report we wrote with Pitchbook at the end of 2021 to explore the impact of the pandemic on investment patterns. The VC industry has a two-spotlight issue: On one hand, people love that we’re investing in next generation innovation, on the other, people see out of touch investors mouthing off on social media.

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A VC: Musings of a VC in NYC

JUNE 1, 2021

USV TEAM POSTS: John Buttrick — May 26, 2021 ADDI. We won’t know how this move to invest globally will impact returns and founder success. I am optimistic that it will be a positive change for both but only time will tell.

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AsiaTechDaily

JUNE 14, 2023

Kaya Founders, established in 2021, brings together a team of entrepreneurs and investors, including Paulo Campos, Lisa Gokongwei-Cheng, and Constantin Robertz. The post Philippine VC Firm Kaya Founders Raises $12M to Support Southeast Asian Startups first appeared on AsiaTechDaily - Asia's Leading Tech and Startup Media Platform.

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Hunter Walk

MAY 22, 2024

2021 We start Screendoor with some of our industry friends to back new VC firms with $90m+ of Institutional capital from leading endowments, foundations, and other long term supporters of the asset class. 2021-2023 Start investing in amazing new VC firms, often anchoring the raise as one of their largest funders.

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A VC: Musings of a VC in NYC

AUGUST 17, 2021

USV TEAM POSTS: Hanel Baveja — Aug 16, 2021 Measurement in Market Making Nick Grossman — Aug 12, 2021 Dune Analytics. I am sure that Hanel has already heard from a bunch of founders working on measuring carbon and will hear from more in the coming weeks and months. That’s excellent and how it should work in our view.

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A VC: Musings of a VC in NYC

OCTOBER 6, 2021

And yet, the House Ways and Means Committee is now suggesting eliminating the ability of these IRA holders to invest their IRAs in the highest returning assets available; VC funds, private equity, and private companies (page 689, section 138312). USV TEAM POSTS: Hannah Murdoch — Sep 27, 2021 Fiveable’s Series A.

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A VC: Musings of a VC in NYC

APRIL 22, 2021

USV TEAM POSTS: Hanel Baveja — Apr 20, 2021 Hacking Healthcare Albert Wenger — Apr 18, 2021 Carl Hart: Drug Use for Grown Ups (Book Review) Rebecca Kaden — Apr 16, 2021 soona. You just need to make room for them and ask them to join your board. Just do it.

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A VC: Musings of a VC in NYC

MARCH 24, 2021

USV TEAM POSTS: Albert Wenger — Mar 22, 2021 Preparing Communities for the Climate Crisis Nick Grossman — Mar 20, 2021 Bitcoin as Battery. And that is when resilience will be in short supply. So look for it in founders now, when it is less necessary.

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A VC: Musings of a VC in NYC

SEPTEMBER 30, 2021

— Sam Altman (@sama) September 26, 2021. — Jordan Cooper (@jordancooper) September 23, 2021. — Jordan Cooper (@jordancooper) September 23, 2021. USV TEAM POSTS: Hannah Murdoch — Sep 27, 2021 Fiveable’s Series A. I am not proclaiming the death of Silicon Valley.

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A VC: Musings of a VC in NYC

JANUARY 18, 2021

USV TEAM POSTS: Albert Wenger — Jan 8, 2021 SilviaTerra. Until we can look around the room and see at least one Black person for every six in the meeting, we haven’t done enough. Today is a good day to remind ourselves of that and recommit to the work that needs to happen.

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A VC: Musings of a VC in NYC

MARCH 30, 2021

USV TEAM POSTS: Albert Wenger — Mar 22, 2021 Preparing Communities for the Climate Crisis Nick Grossman — Mar 20, 2021 Bitcoin as Battery. It is rare in the crypto sector to find a team that has successfully launched a blockchain, a wallet, and a number of popular applications.

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A VC: Musings of a VC in NYC

JUNE 29, 2021

USV TEAM POSTS: Albert Wenger — Jun 29, 2021 VIAM. Disclosure: USV is an investor in Duolingo and we stand to profit from their IPO. This is not in any way an endorsement of the offering. Investors should read the S-1 and make up their own mind about it.

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A VC: Musings of a VC in NYC

JANUARY 13, 2021

USV TEAM POSTS: Albert Wenger — Jan 8, 2021 SilviaTerra. But I believe it will unleash all sorts of new behaviors and businesses that will be for the better. If you squint, you can see them coming.

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A VC: Musings of a VC in NYC

MARCH 31, 2021

I think that is a huge unlock for everyone and I am encouraging software engineers in NYC to consider doing TEALS during the 2021/2022 school year. USV TEAM POSTS: Albert Wenger — Mar 22, 2021 Preparing Communities for the Climate Crisis. You can learn more here. If you are interested, you can apply here.

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A VC: Musings of a VC in NYC

MAY 20, 2021

And yesterday, I claimed @fredwilson on Bitclout with this tweet: Claiming my Bitclout my public address is: BC1YLh1YEjhauU8cxmGAK59EFmGxbG65NmMrj92LfQfkjU2ZCgE7xUy #bitclout — Fred Wilson (@fredwilson) May 19, 2021. Nobody controls it other than you with your private keys.

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TechCrunch

MARCH 28, 2023

Image Credits: Andriy Onufriyenko (opens in a new window) / Getty Images The potential of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) investing is still largely untapped: A PwC study released last year estimated that ESG assets under management will increase by 84% between 2021 and 2026 to reach $33.9 Are solo GPs screwed?

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TechCrunch

MAY 1, 2021

Marketing in 2021 is emotional and not just transactional (2,200 words/9 minutes). 64% of VC firms still don’t have a single female partner. Black + Latinx female founders receive only 0.64% of VC funding, a slight uptick from the year prior. Announcing the Agenda for TC Sessions: Mobility 2021. Around TechCrunch.

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A VC: Musings of a VC in NYC

FEBRUARY 17, 2021

USV TEAM POSTS: Rebecca Kaden — Feb 10, 2021 SmartHop’s Series A. As we de-risk the investments of time and money that everyone is making in these startups, I believe that will draw more talent and more capital to the startup sector. And that is a good thing.

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A VC: Musings of a VC in NYC

DECEMBER 17, 2020

Dan Frommer , who many of you likely know from his writing at Recode, Quartz, Business Insider and other places on the web, has teamed up with my friends at Coefficient Capital to create a 120 page report called Consumer Trends 2021. This report does a good job of outlining what has happened and what the permanent changes are likely to be.

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TechCrunch

MAY 4, 2022

Adetola Onayemi was part of the negotiation team that saw the agreement take effect in January 2021. Trade has the least startup activity in a market that received $5 billion in VC funding last year. ” Onayemi launched Norebase with Tope Obanla in September 2021.

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A VC: Musings of a VC in NYC

AUGUST 5, 2021

USV TEAM POSTS: Albert Wenger — Jul 29, 2021 Transmutex Mona Alsubaei — Jul 28, 2021 The Growing Demand for Clean Electricity Lauren Young — Jul 28, 2021 Supporting Teams in their Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Efforts.

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A VC: Musings of a VC in NYC

NOVEMBER 29, 2021

USV TEAM POSTS: Nick Grossman — Nov 20, 2021 USV Algorand Transparency Statement, Q3 2021. Watching Paul, John, George, and Ringo work together for a month to make an incredible record was a reminder that when we sacrifice a little bit of our self and commit to a team dynamic, wonderful things can and do result.

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