Blog

Three companies raised millions and solved real problems, but still shut down. After 200+ investments, here's why startups actually fail - and why it has nothing to do with founder talent.

The old VC playbook said concentrate your bets. But investor competition changed everything. Here's why diversification is now your best shot at 10,000x returns.

Co-investing with a16z or Sequoia in seed rounds won't predict success. But in late-stage rounds? The data tells a different story. Here's when VC signal actually matters.

Early-stage founders: thrive in crowded markets with counter-positioning, real unique advantages, and focused execution to outthink incumbents and grow faster.

You need portfolio to build credibility, but you need credibility to get into good deals. Here's how to survive the brutal first 20 and come out stronger.

Startup valuations don't increase with revenue like founders think. Learn why valuations move in staircases and what actually de-risks your business to increase valuation.

The best deals happen before the deck drops. Here's how to build real relationships with founders who aren't fundraising yet - without being pushy or transactional.

A trial project helps you find the right co-founder by testing compatibility first. Learn what to build, how long it should take, and what to watch for before forming your startup partnership.

Different funding stages require different evaluation strategies. Learn what matters at pre-seed, seed, and Series A—and how to deploy your capital strategically as an angel investor.

Stop picking co-founders over coffee chats. Learn how to use trial projects to test speed, ownership, and clarity before committing to a business partnership

Here's why companies like Databricks and Stripe capture most of their growth before IPO, and what retail investors can do to access private markets.

Learn why founders make the best angel investors. This guide shows how small angel checks ($1K-$5K) unlock investor networks, create valuable connections, and compound your startup success.

Should you invest through syndicates or build your own deal pipeline? Learn time commitments, deal sourcing, and which approach matches your goals.

When you're running a startup, everything feels urgent and important all the time. But that's no way to build a lasting business. The Eisenhower Matrix will help.

Most follow-on investing advice is wrong. Learn why 'always follow winners' fails and when 'bad signaling' fears actually matter. Data-driven insights for angel investors and founders.

There are ethical reasons to prioritize diversity when you're building your team. But there are also quantitative reasons to look outside your bubble when you hire.

Learn how to execute your first fund close like a pro. Complete guide covering timelines, required documents, banking setup, wire transfers, and common mistakes to avoid when closing your VC fund or SPV

Investing in startups is fun. The admin work? Less fun. Here's everything you need to know about managing your first VC close without losing your mind.

Your metrics aren’t enough. Learn a 4-step storytelling framework to craft a founder story that grabs attention, builds trust, and unlocks funding, partnerships, and growth.

Learn 3 essential dos and don'ts for investors using social media effectively. Discover how to amplify founders without taking credit, build trust through authentic content, and avoid common pitfalls that damage relationships with portfolio companies.

Angel investing minimums range from $50 (crowdfunding) to $1K+ (syndicates). Learn why starting small maximizes learning and how to scale your investments strategically.

Here's how Hustle Fund uses events to drive measurable progress for our business. The big lesson - in a sea of sameness, community is a huge competitive advantage.

Learn the right way to secure startup investment allocation when deals are competitive. Proven strategies for making the ask, adding value, and maintaining strong founder relationships.

Let's talk about what stock options are, a typical vesting schedule, what a 1-year cliff is, why people use this system, and why it works (even for VCs).

IRR stands for Internal Rate of Return. LPs use IRR to judge a VC fund's speed in deploying and returning capital. Here is one strategy to maximize your IRR.

Getting compliant used to be insanely expensive and time consuming. And it's also essential for startups trying to land enterprise deals. Then Delve changed the game.

Customer acquisition doesn't have to be complicated. This playbook shares 2 ways to think about finding customers for your startup.

LPs don't want to get capital called every 2 weeks. But you need money in the bank if you're going to fund deals quickly. Here are two workarounds.

Most VCs have a process. And this process can take time. But when does it flip from being "in review" to just being ghosted? And what can a founder do about it?

Getting ghosted by an LP is something that happens to every single fund manager. Often more than once. Here's how to deal with it when it happens to you.

Startup founders used to take on one of two roles at their company: building, or selling. Sometimes both. But AI is replacing both of those jobs. So founders need to pivot.

Early stage startup founders typically fundraise using a SAFE or convertible note. Let's break down the differences between the two, and how they impact your raise.

It seems like every other deck is pitching some version of an AI-powered HR tool, or sales tool, or healthcare platform. They all sound alike and are starting to blur together.

Notion's engineering team has implemented simple but effective AI hacks that help their team become more efficient and more focused. We're going to steal them.

Founders shouldn't give away more than 30% of their cap table before they raise their Series A. Here's how to avoid accidentally overselling.

Nailing a pitch to an investor isn't all about your business, your market, or even the opportunity. It's also got a lot to do with how the brain works.

Everyone in the startup world is drowning in work. We are all strapped for time, buried in tasks that feel urgent but not important. The solve? Virtual assistants.

Most of our lives follow linear laws. What you put in, that's what you get out. But not startup investing. Startup investing follows a power law.

Getting rejected by an investor is inevitable. But that rejection doesn't have to be a net negative. The way I see it, you have three options in how you reply.