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1/ I often say @stride_vc is "proudly anti-thematic" -- here's why.
2/ Fact: founders are much better at finding white space and developing unique insights than all of VC put together.
Our job is to be mentally plastic and be open to unusual ideas.
Our job is to be mentally plastic and be open to unusual ideas.
3/ Being thematic as an investor is powerful in developing a prepared mind but it can also be quite limiting.
There's nothing more boring than asking VCs "what are the hot trends" - we all say the same
At seed I find it more constraining than I find it effective.
There's nothing more boring than asking VCs "what are the hot trends" - we all say the same
At seed I find it more constraining than I find it effective.
4/ I am constantly surprised by the large underserved markets we discover that yield large opportunities.
Many segments that are unloved by VC actually offer the opportunity to build real market leaders that end up reshaping their industry meaningfully.
Many segments that are unloved by VC actually offer the opportunity to build real market leaders that end up reshaping their industry meaningfully.
5/ If you go after obvious themes you end up competing with a bunch of venture backed companies and fighting each other with $$$$.
Really hard to outcompete the Americans and increasingly Asians.
In enterprise -- local champions are mostly dead.
Really hard to outcompete the Americans and increasingly Asians.
In enterprise -- local champions are mostly dead.
6/ This is why we say "Dissenters Welcome".
We love people who challenge established thinking, eschew obvious themes and takes us down unexplored paths.
We love people who challenge established thinking, eschew obvious themes and takes us down unexplored paths.
7/ NB : thematic is powerful too; I'm not slamming in. Many strategies work well for making it venture, as long as you know what your angle is and create (sustainable) value.
