Writing.

Venture capital’s incentive structure has quietly shifted from building durable businesses to generating markups fast enough to raise the next fund.

The best non-technical operators were always high agency. What's changing is the ones who stand out now have something on top of it — curiosity and enough technical comfort to find and build their own leverage.

Every good story has a villain. Most startups do too. Sometimes it’s a competitor. Sometimes it’s an old dismissal. Sometimes it’s a past version of yourself. That quiet “I’ll show you” energy, when disciplined, can power the early work.

What do you want it to feel like to be around you? On the energy we project, the aura we exude, and how the world we experience is shaped by what we bring to it.

Loss of belief rarely announces itself. It erodes slowly, over time. At the earliest stages, a CEO’s belief in themselves shapes everything — and sometimes the most powerful intervention is simply telling someone, clearly and sincerely, I believe in you.

enture asks you to believe in the growth and durability of a business long before the evidence is obvious. At the early stages, that belief is a discipline. The feedback loops are slow. The outcomes are far away. The work happens in the waiting.

Gratitude is more than a Thanksgiving ritual. In the chaos of venture and the ups and downs of life, it acts as a daily anchor that keeps the highs in perspective and softens the lows. This week is the reminder. Every other week is the real practice.

A reflection on why real vulnerability, paired with grounded confidence, creates clarity, alignment, and stronger partnerships in startups and venture.

How AI is reshaping VC: speed without strategy isn’t leverage. The firms that win will think deeper, move faster, and stay intentional.

A practical framework for early-stage VCs to manage secondary sales: communicate early, sell 20–30% when a company becomes a fund returner, and do it off strong primary rounds.

A founder’s guide to startup failure—two sets of questions: a post mortem for analyzing the business, the other for self-reflection and personal growth. Designed to help founders learn, evolve, and build better next time.

Startup fundraising often comes down to a choice: accept a fast, preemptive VC offer or run a full process to maximize valuation and control. Each path has trade-offs—this post breaks down when to say yes, when to hold out, and how to use both to your advantage.

Globalization is fraying, tariffs are rising, and AI is the next global arms race. From trade wars to supply chains to geopolitical power plays, here are a few thoughts on the messy future we're all trying to navigate.

Lessons learned in 2024 about VC related to company building, fundraising, hiring, decision-making, and more.

Committing to writing every week in 2025 to gain clarity of thought, memorializing lessons learned, and exploring new concepts with rigor.

Round up for June!; >$4B of new funds announced; VC layoffs continue

2x European Fund Debuts, Persistence in VC, 2 Fund Debuts, Letter from Yale's CIO

$200M+ of new funds announced, VC Transitions Galore, GS/UPS Pension

Winning in VC, Growth Funds Galore, Kurzweil & Co to Launch New Fund

No new fund debuts, challenging fundraising environment, Cendana + Kline Hill

>$400M in new fund debuts, Seven Miracles of Venture Research, GGV Splits Firm

$350M Raised Across Three Debut Funds, Westbound's Fund II, Capital Calls on the Rise

Job descriptions across VC could use some help. While there are commonalities across firms regarding what an Associate does, it shouldn't manifest in a seemingly uninspired posting from

Through 2022 and 2023, I surveyed and spoke with over 50 GPs to be better informed on hiring and developing Associates ahead of expanding the team at Dynamo. I also

Three Fund Debuts, Homecoming at Thrive, QIA's new FoF

Raising in a Tough Environment, Overture VC Debut, Screendoor's New Partners

Even pre-seed companies without formal should create space for "mock Board meetings" to 1) foster healthy dialogue/debate, 2) drive strategic alignment, and 3) instill strong basic governance.

StepStone on Accessing VC, Carta VC Reg Playbook, David York from TTCP

VCs may not compound returns in the event of a portfolio company failure but can certainly compound reputation.

Darkmode and CBIV Debut, TVPI to DPI, Allocate '24 VC Outlook

The social pressures of VC are interesting and definitely makes generational firms the default. I believe it takes greater emotional and intellectual awareness to go against the grain and realize that one does NOT want to build a generational firm.

1am Gaming and INDIE Debut, LPs Questioning Venture Fund Valuations, Talent Moves Galore

Process and protocols are about how you do work in a way that produces consistent results. It's a key activity might seem boring but is important to the growth of a firm.

Zelda & Climactic Debut, VC Doesn’t Scale, OpenView

Rash of European Fund Announcements, Forum Ventures Report, Talent Moves Galore

Raising During the Holidays, Raja Doddala on Specialists vs Generalists, 6 Fund Debuts!

Fund Debuts x 7, DPI at Seed Funds, Beezer on DPI vs TVPI

Competitive Moats in VC, La Famiglia/General Catalyst, Ritual Capital’s Debut

Do entry valuations matter?, Rightsizing fund targets, Sapphire/CalSTRs

September 10, 2023 Building a fundraising process, Unicorn Funds/DPI, Cendana's new fund

TVPI/DPI benchmarks, changing SEC regulation, Transition VC's debut

Growing secondary interest, Zombie Funds, Yosemite VC debut

Apollo seeks to court family offices, family office reports, Big Sky Capital debut

Signal vs noise in EMs, the changing role of FoFs, Public Ventures debut

Tiger shedding LP stakes, Family Office Report, Springbank Collective debut

Sequoia's separation, a glimpse at VC returns, ownership > valuation

Tiger's "strip sale", venture debt after SVB, divesting from China