Jens Lapinski: From Founding $200m Angel Fund to Backing 100x Return with One Investment Every Week

Jens Lapinski: From Founding $200m Angel Fund to Backing 100x Return with One Investment Every Week

This is episode 16 of the OpenVC Podcast. In this episode, Jens shares insights on identifying high-potential startups and managing a fast-paced investment strategy. He discusses strategic exits, coaching founders, and navigating challenges in early-stage ventures. Plus, he reveals the secret behind Angel Invest’s success and lessons from missed opportunities.

Posted by Harrison Faull Jens Lapinski | January 12, 2025
How to validate your startup idea - 7 methods explained

How to validate your startup idea - 7 methods explained

Market validation is the process of determining if there’s a need for your product in your target market. In this post, we break down 6 methodologies that will help you validate your startup idea and the market you want to address.

Posted by Shaun Gold | January 8, 2025
Series A explained

Series A explained

This article aims to help you understand everything you need to know about the series A stage: stage, check size, criteria, and more.

Posted by Shaun Gold | January 5, 2025
Bocar Dia: Scaling Hootsuite $0 to $150M and leading Forum Ventures with 75+ Investments an Year

Bocar Dia: Scaling Hootsuite $0 to $150M and leading Forum Ventures with 75+ Investments an Year

This is Episode 15 of the OpenVC Podcast. In this podcast, Bocar shares how he helped grow Hootsuite from a million users with no revenue to $150M in sales. Now a sales coach at Harvard and GP at Forum Ventures, he discusses go-to-market strategies for early-stage startups, resilience in entrepreneurship, and key lessons from his venture journey.

Posted by Harrison Faull Bocar Dia | December 27, 2024
How to create a start-up community in your city?

How to create a start-up community in your city?

Creating a community is one of the most rewarding experiences for founders. This post is a starting guide for anyone who wants to start a community locally. If you like gathering a group of people with shared interests, hosting events, and interacting with people from diverse backgrounds, this post is for you.

Posted by Vandit Jain | December 10, 2024
Liz Christo: From NetSuite Pioneer to Shaping the Future of VC at Stage 2 Capital

Liz Christo: From NetSuite Pioneer to Shaping the Future of VC at Stage 2 Capital

This is episode 14 of The OpenVC Podcast. In this episode, Liz Christo, General Partner at Stage 2 Capital, shares her journey from building a sales team at NetSuite to backing B2B software startups. She discusses her unique approach to venture capital, the importance of adaptability, and key lessons for founders post-Series A.

Posted by Harrison Faull Liz Christo | December 10, 2024
Introducing OVC Ventures: An Investment Syndicate Powered by OpenVC

Introducing OVC Ventures: An Investment Syndicate Powered by OpenVC

OpenVC is thrilled to announce the launch of OVC Ventures , an investment syndicate designed to leverage OpenVC’s extensive deal flow to identify and back the most promising startups.

Posted by Harrison Faull Stéphane Nasser | December 3, 2024
Dan Nguyen-Huu: Backed Databricks & Sumo Logic ($45bn), now GP at Decibel VC

Dan Nguyen-Huu: Backed Databricks & Sumo Logic ($45bn), now GP at Decibel VC

This is episode 13 of the OpenVC Podcast. In this episode, Dan Nguyen-Huu, General Partner at Decibel VC, shares his journey from UBS and Battery Ventures to backing major investments like Databricks and Sumo Logic. He dives into venture capital, market shifts, AI, and his vision for Decibel's future.

Posted by Harrison Faull Dan Nguyen-Huu | November 26, 2024
Dan Bowyer: From being a model and Boy Band Member to Leading a $50m AI-Focused Venture Fund

Dan Bowyer: From being a model and Boy Band Member to Leading a $50m AI-Focused Venture Fund

This is Episode 12 of the OpenVC Podcast. In this episode, Dan Bowyer, co-founder of Super Seed, shares how the UK’s largest AI and industrial automation seed fund deployed £50M+ to support emerging tech. He discusses building a venture fund, evaluating pitch decks, and navigating the challenges of being a VC.

Posted by Harrison Faull Dan Bowyer | November 12, 2024