Astor Perkins’ Post

https://lnkd.in/g7MmKSxM For folks in the pre-seed or seed stage, this #WallStreetJournal article is relevant to your fundraising. It defines #angel investing as an individual with check size $25k - $50k. This type of solo angels is being squeezed out by #VCs moving upstream to earlier stage startups. However, the Journal did not report on angel groups that can write larger check sizes by an order of magnitude. One conclusion that I agree with is that we (founders) are looking for intros, follow on capital, and share passion for our business from early investors.

Founders and aspiring founders take note. Learning from the best accelerates our progress towards being our best. “Enter Sequoia’s product-market fit framework, which comes at a time when venture funding has taken a nose-dive due to high interest rates and other economic pressures. Founders today need to do more with less, and get to product-market fit as efficiently as possible. Sequoia’s framework defines three product-market fit archetypes and outlines different ways of thinking about each one.” #entrepreneur #business #startups #productmarketfit #sequoia

So, why did we start 97212 Ventures? Towards the end of 2021, it was clear to me that the market had reached its peak, and that Israeli startups would need to go back to basics… running a capital efficient company with a focus on building a real business which brings value to customers and #investors. In parallel, I strongly believed that a new “product” was needed in the venture market for #Israeli #founders looking to go global. A platform-based fund that teams up with founders and larger VCs and provides strategic value in areas which are meaningful to founders and shareholders alike. We also saw our geographic location in NYC, as strategic, given the incredible growth of the Israeli tech community here. But there's so much more to it... Which is why I’m sharing a Medium post on what led to the formation of our founder-driven fund, our focus, and where we're headed. We're like a startup... learning what works on the go. If you have some ideas or thoughts on what you're looking for from your early-stage investor, please feel free to share. We're all about being your ideal long-term partner. #venturecapital #nyctech #israelinnovation

Why Founders Shouldn’t Think Like VCs In the world of startups, founders often find themselves at a crossroads, torn between following their instincts and seeking validation from others, particularly venture capitalists (VCs). However, there are compelling reasons why founders should resist the temptation to think like VCs, as outlined in the following points derived from the provided text: ➡️ Expertise over conformity: Founders possess unique insights and expertise in their domains that may diverge from mainstream opinions. By trusting their judgment, they pursue innovative solutions with potential for success. ➡️ Long-term vision vs. short-term gains: Founders prioritize creating sustainable value over rapid returns, aiming for enduring businesses. In essence, founders should trust their expertise and vision, charting their path to success fueled by innovation and commitment to customer value.

Here’s how Sequoia Capital teaches founders to find product-market fit The venture firm is making instructional materials from its selective startup accelerator available to the public for the first time. #startups #founders #product | FastCompany

“Sequoia Capital Teaches Founders to find Product-Market Fit~The venture firm is making instructional materials from its selective startup accelerator (Arc), available to the public for the first time.” “When Sequoia started Arc, an accelerator program for pre-seed & seed-stage startups, in 2022, it distilled its knowledge about company-building into curricular materials for founders. For founders, achieving product-market fit is the key to unlocking growth.” “Founders today need to do more with less, & get to product-market fit as efficiently as possible. Sequoia’s framework defines three product-market fit archetypes & outlines different ways of thinking about each one~(1) hair on fire problem, (2) hard fact, (3) future vision.” “Product-market fit isn’t a new idea: Sequoia Founder Don Valentine taught the concept, and venture investor Marc Andreessen popularized the phrase in a 2007 blog post~(The only thing that matters is getting to product/ market fit.)” ~Hamptons at Boca Raton, Florida

🦄 Many early-stage startups struggle to raise funds, I blame the society's and VC's obsession with the unicorns 🏦 For an investment to matter, VC funds are growing larger and need to invest substantially more per deal, which leads to the fact that VCs pursue a much more concentrated investment strategy. With the influx of new capital being deployed toward unicorns , early-stage startups have a more difficult time attracting early-stage appropriate amounts of funding. The new Seed is the old Series A, new Series A the old Series B. 🏠 Hence, Early-stage startups  looking to attract capital need to be much more mature and demonstrate stronger milestones before investors are willing to commit. which requires significant faith, perseverance and mental strength to bridge the financial gap between early-stage rounds before the company is ready to attract VC funding. 🤔 It makes me wonder  𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗶𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 💰💰💰 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝗮𝗽𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗶𝗻𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗮 𝗦𝗠𝗔𝗟𝗟 𝗻𝘂𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗯𝘂𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗮 𝗟𝗔𝗥𝗚𝗘 𝗻𝘂𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆-𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗽𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝗼𝗹𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺𝘀... 📷 Credit to the Morning Brew #FridayThoughts

💡 Why Founders Shouldn’t Think Like VCs 💻 In the world of startups, founders often find themselves at a crossroads, torn between following their instincts and seeking validation from others, particularly venture capitalists (VCs). However, there are compelling reasons why founders should resist the temptation to think like VCs, as outlined in the following points derived from the provided text: ➡️ Expertise over conformity: Founders possess unique insights and expertise in their domains that may diverge from mainstream opinions. By trusting their judgment, they pursue innovative solutions with potential for success. ➡️ Long-term vision vs. short-term gains: Founders prioritize creating sustainable value over rapid returns, aiming for enduring businesses. In essence, founders should trust their expertise and vision, charting their path to success fueled by innovation and commitment to customer value.

It's exciting to see how the venture capital scene is being shaken up by 20-something VCs. These young investors are bringing fresh perspectives, boundless energy, and a keen eye for emerging trends. Their unique insights are driving innovation and transforming the startup world in amazing ways. This isn't just about a change in who's at the table; it's about recognizing the value of diverse viewpoints and youthful enthusiasm in business. Young VCs are funding the next big ideas and actively shaping the future by backing startups that challenge the norm. #VC #Innovation #Startups #FutureOfBusiness #Entrepreneurship

Investing since 2018, Day One Captial is an active VC firm that backs early-stage startups. The network invests in tech-related startups that can easily generate 2-3x ROI within 2 years. The investors support technology-driven founders and support them with their entrepreneurial, corporate, and investor experience. Similarly, Day One Capital also arranges many additional events including startup accelerators and mentorship programs. The investment range of Day One Capital lies around €300,000 to €1.5M. Preferred Industries: Consumer, Gaming, Social, Healthcare. Total Investments: 27 Exits: 8 Notable Investments: Gamee, On Robot, and Statzup.