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Some personal news : I’m thrilled to share that I’ve joined @HustleFundVC.
about how a community of some of the great people in VC helped, and how the VC landscape has started to embrace operator angels -- because it has to.
In 2016, I emailed a high school friend, @nbt, who I knew was a rising star in VC.
He told me the buckets of VC: Find, Decide, Win, Help, Exit. As a 2x founder myself, I can empathize / want to turn that into tangible value.
I decided then that I want to be known for helping.
He told me the buckets of VC: Find, Decide, Win, Help, Exit. As a 2x founder myself, I can empathize / want to turn that into tangible value.
I decided then that I want to be known for helping.
Over the next few years, I met with dozens of VCs and angel friends to learn more about the landscape of VC.
#1 Who I should know and #2 who is *actually* helpful to founders.
Through that, I built an incredible network that’s the product of 4+ years of pretending I drink
.
#1 Who I should know and #2 who is *actually* helpful to founders.
Through that, I built an incredible network that’s the product of 4+ years of pretending I drink
.
But coffee chats only get you so far -- to actually break through, the message was clear:
“Figure out a path to proprietary deal flow, add value to founders, and start investing small checks.”
Shoutout to my old soccer teammate @chadbyers who was the first to tell me this.
“Figure out a path to proprietary deal flow, add value to founders, and start investing small checks.”
Shoutout to my old soccer teammate @chadbyers who was the first to tell me this.
@leepnet @MorganSchwanke @alexczarnecki @djrosent convinced me that I should start a Lyft syndicate -- it aligns with my desire to *help founders* by getting a group of value-add investors all on one line item on the cap table.
I went for it (s/o @paulthompson and @annimaniac) and reached out to hundreds of old contacts from Lyft to see if they’d be interested in joining.
Now, ~250 unique LPs have invested ~$2.5M in ~15 companies.
(I will still be running the Lyft syndicate) https://twitter.com/b_nicks11/status/1227976848534990855
Now, ~250 unique LPs have invested ~$2.5M in ~15 companies.
(I will still be running the Lyft syndicate) https://twitter.com/b_nicks11/status/1227976848534990855
The syndicate was the main reason that I got in to @firstround "Angel Track" program, which completely changed my trajectory.
I learned from and invested alongside @JeffChang30 @far33d @sunitasmohanty and other studs
.
Big s/o to @bencmejla for running an epic program.
I learned from and invested alongside @JeffChang30 @far33d @sunitasmohanty and other studs
. Big s/o to @bencmejla for running an epic program.
Through my AT friends, I heard about the amazing founders coming out of @beondeck .
@JuliaLipton connected me to @david__booth and @eriktorenberg, and soon after I joined the team.
On Deck is crushing it, and I have every VC’s worst trait -- FOMO -- having recently left.
@JuliaLipton connected me to @david__booth and @eriktorenberg, and soon after I joined the team.
On Deck is crushing it, and I have every VC’s worst trait -- FOMO -- having recently left.
3 months in, I realized that there was an opportunity for OD to create an experience for angels that mirrored ODF.
The angels in ODA could invest in the founders from ODF.
We all agreed -- it was perfect.
(As my 2.5 yr old daughter likes to say, "helping each other!")
The angels in ODA could invest in the founders from ODF.
We all agreed -- it was perfect.
(As my 2.5 yr old daughter likes to say, "helping each other!")
A couple of weeks later -- amidst a wild transition to becoming a father to my baby boy -- we launched ODA.
(
Baby Blake was 13 days old, so s/o to my wife -- who is not on twitter -- for holding it down. None of this is possible w/o her). https://twitter.com/beondeck/status/1283508002830479365
(
Baby Blake was 13 days old, so s/o to my wife -- who is not on twitter -- for holding it down. None of this is possible w/o her). https://twitter.com/beondeck/status/1283508002830479365
The program took off, and has since become a bright spot in the blossoming On Deck ecosystem, which has gone on to launch in other complementary verticals like Writing, No Code, Podcasts, Scale, Climate, with many more exciting verticals to come.
Over to @HustleFundVC
The first time @ericbahn and I talked (s/o @jwdanner), we went over time by a full hour and it was one of the most meaningful first conversations I’ve ever had.
That call led to 4 co-investments together in 6 months.
Turns out we have similar taste.
The first time @ericbahn and I talked (s/o @jwdanner), we went over time by a full hour and it was one of the most meaningful first conversations I’ve ever had.
That call led to 4 co-investments together in 6 months.
Turns out we have similar taste.
Most importantly, we are aligned.
@HustleFundVC *hustles* WITH founders, instead of asking founders to hustle FOR them.
Our styles match beautifully. https://twitter.com/dunkhippo33/status/1327008029745659904
@HustleFundVC *hustles* WITH founders, instead of asking founders to hustle FOR them.
Our styles match beautifully. https://twitter.com/dunkhippo33/status/1327008029745659904
They have already proven to be among the best “founder allies” and together we have some new ideas on how we can create unique value in the ecosystem.
With both downward and upward compression in the earliest stages, VCs have no choice but to get creative.
I'm here for it
.
With both downward and upward compression in the earliest stages, VCs have no choice but to get creative.
I'm here for it
.
I love the irony that an industry whose sole focus is innovation is so slow to innovate itself.
That’s why @HustleFundVC is so well-positioned.
The ecosystem is changing and they are steps ahead.
I am so grateful to have the opportunity to join them. https://twitter.com/dunkhippo33/status/1327009789197512704
That’s why @HustleFundVC is so well-positioned.
The ecosystem is changing and they are steps ahead.
I am so grateful to have the opportunity to join them. https://twitter.com/dunkhippo33/status/1327009789197512704
There are 50+ people who I should thank for their guidance along the way, but @annimaniac deserves a special shout out since she’s been such a close mentor, coach, and confidant. Talk about both an investor and a founder ally...she's A+.
Others who went way above and beyond in helping me navigate: @leepnet @lennysan, @julialipton, @chrisfhoward, @jeffmcrowe, @btrenchard, @phineasb, @sunitasmohanty @timsaekoo, @geoffdonaker
To the founders who have entrusted a precious spot on their cap table to me -- thank you!
To the founders who have entrusted a precious spot on their cap table to me -- thank you!
I consider myself incredibly privileged -- and lucky.
Privileged because I had an insane head start in this journey by having such a strong network to pull from, and lucky because my timing within this evolving ecosystem is fantastic.
Privileged because I had an insane head start in this journey by having such a strong network to pull from, and lucky because my timing within this evolving ecosystem is fantastic.
I intend to keep paying it forward -- particularly to get more female-identifying and BIPOC involved -- to leverage me to find a path of their own, where they can support founders in their circles. I'm a big believer that this is one tangible way to drive much needed change.
