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 FaullDan Bowyer | November 12, 2024
How to attract VCs: Inbound fundraising

How to attract VCs: Inbound fundraising

Inbound fundraising is the most powerful, yet most underutilized way to access investors. In this post, we'll cover everything you need to know about inbound fundraising.

Posted by Stéphane Nasser | November 7, 2024
Sweat equity for beginners

Sweat equity for beginners

"Sweat equity" designates a stake in a company acquired by an employee, a contractor, or an advisor in lieu of cash. So when you hear about "ESOP" or "advisory shares", they are all a type of sweat equity.

Posted by Shaun Gold | November 7, 2024
Why Founder-Led Sales is so powerful for startups

Why Founder-Led Sales is so powerful for startups

Founder-led companies outperform the rest. From Dropbox to Slack and Tesla, here's how founder-led sales give innovative companies a competitive edge.

Posted by Daniel Trujillo | November 1, 2024
Peter Livingston: From first hire at $4B IPO to investing $70M+ in 430+ startups

Peter Livingston: From first hire at $4B IPO to investing $70M+ in 430+ startups

This is episode 11 of The OpenVC Podcast. In this episode, Peter Livingston, founder of Unpopular Ventures, shares how his rolling fund and angel syndicate have invested $70M+ into 430+ startups globally. He dives into startup success, sector-agnostic investing, and the importance of trusting founders.

Posted by Harrison FaullPeter Livingston | October 29, 2024
Advisory Shares: A Guide for Startup Founders

Advisory Shares: A Guide for Startup Founders

In the tech startup sphere, advisory shares are a double-edged sword. Let's venture into the realm of startup advisory shares, addressing the whys, whos, and how muchs.

Posted by Shaun Gold | October 27, 2024
12 Best Startup Financial Model Templates [Free & Paid]

12 Best Startup Financial Model Templates [Free & Paid]

Need a financial model for your startup? Fear not. I have extensively compared the top 12 templates, free and paid, so you don't have to do it.

Posted by Stéphane Nasser | October 22, 2024
How Much Should Startup Founders Pay Themselves [2024]

How Much Should Startup Founders Pay Themselves [2024]

Founder compensation is a tricky topic. How much are you supposed to pay yourself? What will your investors think? And are you even allowed to compensate yourself when your team is subsisting on cold pizza and borrowing the Wi-Fi from the nearest office? This article breaks down the many dimensions of the "tech founder salary".

Posted by Shaun Gold | October 22, 2024
How to pick the right fundraising advisor

How to pick the right fundraising advisor

Should you use an external advisor to help raise funds for your startup? In this post, I want to give you the playbook on working with a fundraising advisor: is it a good idea for you, how to pick the right one, and what you should expect?

Posted by Jonathan Hollis | October 18, 2024