Tag: founder mindset

How Increased NATO Spending Affects European Defense Industry

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​Defense investments are experiencing a remarkable surge across both public and private markets. Venture capital funding in defense technology has reached unprecedented levels, with European defense and security tech startups securing a record $5.2 billion in 2024, marking a 24% increase from the previous year [here and here]. This trend is further underscored by NATO … Continue reading How Increased NATO Spending Affects European Defense Industry →

How to think about risk in Blockchain, Private Equity, Public Markets

Last night a dinner discussion turned again to private equity markets, blockchain, stablecoins, and money. The argument went that public markets had less risk because they have stricter audits, governance. In private equity, you also have to find a buyer and negotiate a price and terms of your private equity stake. Stocks that are traded … Continue reading How to think about risk in Blockchain, Private Equity, Public Markets →

Venture Capital is a Financial Product

When we due diligence emerging managers, not presenting an investible financial product is the fastest way to come to a "no". It's true that you have to make "good investments" (whatever that means), but unless you are only investing your own money, you need to offer a financial product that attracts LPs. HNIs and family … Continue reading Venture Capital is a Financial Product →

Venture Capital: Preparing for Failure.

Statistically, startups mostly fail. We love to think of ourselves as great investors. But Venture Capital fundamentals still didn't change: Fund returns are driven by outliers, and returns are concentrated in few firms. All VCs are constantly evolving and refining their thinking, processes, conviction. That's why we write long investment memos: Not because be need … Continue reading Venture Capital: Preparing for Failure. →

The Most Important Pricing Questions for Cost Saving and Efficiency Products

If your employees had magically one additional workday more per week than your competitor, what would you have them work on? If you would magically have $50,000 more budget per week, what would you spend it on? Many startups are struggling with pricing when their product or solution is saving cost or time (or both): … Continue reading The Most Important Pricing Questions for Cost Saving and Efficiency Products →

Huge Markets with No Revenue: Initial Product-Market-Fit

I had two pitches last week where the entrepreneurs were talking about huge billion Dollar markets ... but the initial "customers" they were talking to didn't feel the urgency and sales were lagging. "I know this is a huge market. There is a lot of research about it. We need to spend more money for … Continue reading Huge Markets with No Revenue: Initial Product-Market-Fit →