Craig Bristol Dixon’s Post

Forget pitch decks, revenue milestones, and growth metrics. Everything in fundraising is about the freaking story. There's a fixed number of VC funds that: - Invest in your category - Invest in your region - Invest in your stage So early-stage fundraising is about beating other startups by having the best narrative. You're competing against 50-100 other companies. These funds will only invest in a handful of them. They meet everyone and bet on the best stories. Here's what I mean: → A previous exit to Coinbase will have a different impact than an exit to a random company no one has heard of. → Having YC in your cap table makes raising your seed way easier – because you already have a top player validating your story. → If your pre-seed is all from unknown angels and VC's, your numbers need to be f**king incredible to raise the next round. Lesson: Good metrics are not always enough. You need to have the best narrative than all the available options. If your story makes the cut, you in. Traction is not everything when there is a limited number of spots available

Startups often burn through hundreds of millions, failing to achieve profitability, Product Market Fit, or simply missing the market timing—yet still manage to secure massive funding. Why? Despite abundant market studies, cautionary tales, and AI-driven forecasts, investors continue to place bold bets. Unlike the stock market, venture capital is about backing those who might turn the improbable into reality. I trimmed my pitch from 22 pages to 7 because, in truth, the details are secondary. Financial projections are easy to fabricate; it’s the vision—the dream—that investors truly buy into. #seis #eis #venturecapital #seedstage #fundrasing #premierleague #fantasyfootball Picture credit - One Smart Sheep

Advertising can distract you Andy Rachleff is a co-founder of Benchmark Capital, one of Silicon Valley’s top venture capital firms, where he made successful early investments in companies like eBay. He gained success through his keen eye for identifying promising startups and helping them scale. Currently, Rachleff is the co-founder and executive chairman of Wealthfront, a fintech company that simplifies investing and financial planning for individuals.

𝗥𝗮𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗖𝗮𝗽𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹: 𝗔 𝗙𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿’𝘀 𝗚𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗲 Securing seed capital is a pivotal milestone in a startup’s journey. Here are 3 essential insights from Raising Seed Capital by RRE Ventures to navigate the process effectively. Key Takeaways: 1️⃣ Understand Your Options: Seed funding sources include angel investors, venture capital, accelerators, crowdfunding, and even family and friends. Each option comes with unique benefits and trade-offs. 2️⃣ Be Prepared: Launch a minimum viable product (MVP), validate market assumptions, and secure early traction before approaching investors. Progress builds trust and confidence. 3️⃣ Structure Your Fundraising: Raise enough capital for 18 months of operations, targeting milestones that prepare you for the next round while limiting dilution to 10-25% equity per round. PS. check out 🔔 for a winning pitch deck the template created by Silicon Valley legend, Peter Thiel https://lnkd.in/ejp-Bhnu

𝗙𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 $𝟭𝟬 𝗠𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻—Together, We’ve Made It Happen! It hasn’t even been a month since we proudly announced crossing $100 million AUM. And now, we’ve hit $10 million AUM in just 30 days. This is one of the fastest growth surges we’ve ever achieved, and it’s all thanks to our community of smart investors, partners, and our amazing team members. This isn’t just a milestone. It’s a powerful testament to the trust, belief, and confidence you’ve placed in Koshex (YC-S21) to guide your financial journey. To every saver, investor, and dreamer who believes in building wealth the smart way—this one’s for you. But we’re not stopping here. With Koshex, the sky’s the limit! Let’s keep building, keep pushing & keep hitting more milestones. Aditya Prabhu Komal Kumar Gupta #Startups #Fintech #Wealthtech #Wealthmanagement #Assetmanagement #Investing

$𝟭𝟬 𝗠𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗨𝗠 𝗶𝗻 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝟯𝟬 𝗱𝗮𝘆𝘀 🚀 This growth is absolutely insane. We couldn’t have done it without our incredible users, partners, and team 🙌  Whether it’s saving, investing in mutual funds, or stacking digital gold, every step has counted toward this achievement. But guess what? We’re just getting started. Here’s to more smart investment moves and even bigger wins ahead ! #india #business #startups Koshex (YC-S21)

“The Biggest Problem with Large Seed Rounds - The purpose of a seed round is to test your insight with the minimum viable amount of time & capital. - Founders today raise $4M & do a bunch of stuff with no clear line of sight. - This hurts founders more than VCs.” Can’t agree more. There are founders raising not $4M, but $14M Seed today, esp in AI. Granted, GPUs are expensive; caution is nevertheless needed with a large Seed when you don’t yet have PMF. There were even large A rounds before PMF during 2020-22. (PS does “exit price inefficiency” mean “selling at rich prices to the biggest fool”? 😉)

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗹𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗩𝗖 𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗠𝗲𝗺𝗼𝘀 📄 🚀 The best investment memos don’t just explain why a VC funded a company—they show you how the world’s top firms think. I’ve compiled 17 iconic investment memos from firms like Sequoia, Benchmark, Bessemer, Lightspeed, and Redpoint that detail why they backed some of the most successful startups ever. Here’s what’s inside: 📌 Companies like YouTube, Pinterest, Shopify, DoorDash, Roblox, Ramp, and more. 📌 The logic behind their bets—market analysis, founder profiles, growth projections. 📌 Insights into hits (and misses) like FTX, because every lesson counts. I recently featured it in an article on Profuct Market Fit, my newsletter focused on resources for founders and investors. To make it easier for you to explore, I’ve just enabled a free trial so you can access the full list. Take a look here 👇 https://lnkd.in/dCJvuWry

🔍 Curious about the Q3 venture market? The season might’ve been quiet, but beneath the surface, there were exciting shifts! As global venture funding dipped by $200M, some surprising trends began to take shape, hinting at a potential bullish season ahead. 📈 If you’re gearing up for “money season” or just looking to understand where the market’s headed, don’t miss our list of Q3’s top 15 deals. Explore the big players and patterns that could shape your fundraising strategy moving forward! 👉 Read the full list here https://lnkd.in/eknB9S3N https://lnkd.in/eknB9S3N 

Decode by D2C Insider Super Angels Episode 8: Why Operator-Led Funds Are Changing the Game for Startup Investments Many of the best coaches in history have been players themselves. From the legendary Phil Jackson, who led the Chicago Bulls and LA Lakers to a record-setting eleven NBA championships, to Alex Ferguson who managed Manchester United through 38 trophies, coaches that have been athletes themselves can have a unique ability to outperform. A similar dynamic has been growing in venture capital and has the potential to entirely transform early-stage investing. In the world of venture capital, money is only one part of the equation. What truly drives a startup’s success is expertise and guidance. This is where operator-led funds, like ours, stand out. Here’s why: Insider Expertise: The fund is powered by experienced founders and operators who have built or are building successful consumer brands. They’ve been in the trenches, know the challenges, and can guide startups through it all. Strategic Value Addition: Operators don’t just invest—they actively mentor founders, helping them solve real business problems and scale effectively. Stronger Deal Flow: With access to networks of like-minded operators and ecosystem players, operator-led funds spot high-potential startups early, giving investors access to the best deals. De-Risking Investments: The due diligence process is driven by sectoral experts who understand the nuances of the industry, ensuring that only the most promising startups are backed. 💡 Takeaway: Operator-led funds are not just about financial returns—they’re about creating value for startups while reducing risks for investors. Decode, discover, and invest smarter with India's first Operator Led Fund - D2C Insider Super Angels - Apply to invest as a Super Angel: d2ci.co/super-angels-apply Startups apply to raise funding - d2ci.co/angels-deal-rfi #d2cinsider #superangels #angelinvesting #operatorfund #investmenttips