Venture capital (VC) resides at the center of twenty-first century commerce. A titan in this moment of innovation, it boasts considerable powers, wielding them with a force that can as easily topple an industry as birth its successor. …

I discovered an interesting book, Narrative Economics, written by Robert Shiller. In it, he discusses how popular stories shape economic events. In light of the Coronavirus and the shockwaves that it is sending throughout our global economy, this book certainly makes for a timely, informative read. Further, I would submit…

Over the past year, there has been a real, fundamental shift in the conversation around startups. With the arrival of this moment comes a reevaluation of not only how to scrutinize companies but also how to build enduring businesses. Indeed, the era of unit economics has arrived, replacing the growth-at-all-costs…

Recently, Alex Danco wrote an excellent post about debt and startups. In his piece, he raises an interesting point:” Because equity is how we finance startups, therefore most startups fail”. This is a rare take, for many people would instinctively reject such a claim, one that runs counter to what…

I recently finished Concrete Economics, a book written by Stephen S. Cohen and J. Bradford DeLong. The book’s thesis is one of returning to pragmatism to remedy society’s most pressing challenges. I found this piece to be not only convincing but also timely, for today’s challenges, and especially tomorrow’s, underscore…

A common practice among venture capitalists is the creation and use of investment theses. An investment thesis reflects a conviction about and dedication to a particular sector and how the latter signals the presence of investment opportunities. An investment thesis can take many forms. …

Finding outsized returns in a changing entrepreneurial moment. — That folks want to break into venture capital is not at all surprising. Tales of wealth, prestige, and influence abound. But to the surprise of many, the work is hard, success is evasive, and the demands are great. That limited partners (LPs) demand outsized returns from an asset class lacking…

This thesis rests on the concept of duality. It holds that things are neither singular nor one-dimensional; instead, they are plural, multifaceted, and varied, undergirded by and drawing from collectively offsetting properties. The takeaway is simple: rarely are things fundamentally good or bad. Rather, they tend to operate under and…

Maybe the aforesaid line rings a bell. Maybe it doesn’t. But let’s hope that it does, for it’s truly an iconic line — one that was delivered by the equally iconic Jack Nicholson, who starred in A Few Good Men. If you haven’t seen the movie, thankfully, there’s still time…