Write Cold Emails for Them, Not About You
I’ve replied to 3 cold emails from aspiring VCs in the last year. But I’ve received hundreds. Here’s what the ones that didn’t get a reply looked like: → “I’m really interested in learning more about VC and would love to pick your brain…” → “I have X years of banking experience and I’m looking to transition into venture…” → “I’d love 15 minutes of your time to hear about your career path…” I read every single one of these. I genuinely appreciate that someone took the time. But there was nothing for me to grab onto. The bottom line: These emails are written for the sender, not for the recipient. And that’s the problem. This week’s issue breaks down what the 3 emails that did get a reply had instead. Link in comments 👇
VC Hiring: Network Before Applications, Learn the Hidden Game
Each month I hear a handful of aspiring VCs give up on recruiting. They’ve interviewed with 25+ firms over 2 years with no offers. This makes me so upset to hear. Because in most cases it’s not that they weren’t good enough....
What Makes a Cold Email Worth Replying To
Writing cold emails is an art. I receive 10+ emails or DMs a week from aspiring VCs wanting to chat. So tomorrow morning I’m writing my newsletter about the cold emails I’ve actually replied to and why. Direct to your inbox at 9am...
Get My VC‑Breakthrough Resume & Pitch Deck
I don’t talk about this much but my annual newsletter tier includes the EXACT resume and why me pitch deck I used to break into VC. If you’re trying to get in, it’s the most useful thing I offer. 👉 https://t.co/IF78dodBhB
Must‑Read VC Guides Every New Investor Needs
10 venture capital guides I wish I had on day 1 of being in VC👇
VCs Vastly Underestimate Generational Unicorns Like Shopify
In Bessemer's original Shopify memo, the BEST case exit was $400 million. Shopify is worth $155 BILLION today. No VC model survives contact with a generational company. I imagine we will see this to an even greater extent over the next 5...
Choose Builder or Investor: No Sidelines in 2026
Wealth creation has never been more attainable than in 2026. Right now everyone has two choices: 1) Be the builder - use the tools like Claude code and codex. Find problems, build apps, help with ai migration 2) Be the investor...
Prepare Your References: The Hidden Deal‑Breaker in VC Hiring
An aspiring VC called me recently. She had made it through every round. The partner loved her. She was expecting an offer. What she didn't know was that there was one final step standing between her and that offer. And she had...
Own More of Winners, Not Just Find Them
a16z made a 312x return on Instagram. $250k invested. $78 million returned. In under 2 years (!) And it 𝑎𝑙𝑚𝑜𝑠𝑡 didn't matter. a16z had raised over $1B+ across its funds. At $250k checks, they'd need 12+ Instagrams just to break even. One of...
VC Interviews Now Demand Rapid, Unscripted Product Builds
I’ve spoken to 10 VC candidates in the last 3 months. Every single one had to build something from scratch in their interview. No spec. No tool recommendations. 2-5 days. Just: figure it out. The bar has shifted. I wrote about what’s...
VCs Thrive by Blocking Time, Limiting Calls to Tue‑Thu
VC is a constant game of context switching. A typical day as a VC looks like: Founder call>investor call>deal diligence>internal task>content creation>portco support>sourcing Blocking time to complete tasks is critical. For me, I ONLY schedule calls Tu-Th, Mo&Fri I’m heads down
Show Why You Belong: Viral “Why Me” Deck Wins Career
The reason I have a platform today is solely bc I shared how I broke into venture 5 years on Twitter. I created a 10 pg Why Me deck to convince my firm to hire me. The logic: If I wanted...
Publish a Thesis First; VC Doors Open Automatically
The easiest way to open doors in VC is to be known for something before anyone asks. A sector. A thesis. A point of view you publish. Visibility creates opportunities.
Predict VC Hires by Tracking Fund Launch Cycles
Not many people think about this but there's actually an insanely strategic way to get ahead of open VC roles and it's by tracking fund lifecycles. Firms hire at new fund launches. If you can predict those new fund launches, you...
Earn a VC’s Yes by Protecting Their Reputation
A VC’s job is to say yes. The ones who say yes are betting their reputation on you. Make it easy for them to believe.
Clear Guide to Running SPVs with Verivend
SPVs are one of the most powerful tools in private markets. Most people have no idea how they actually work. Entity formation. Legal docs. Compliance filings. Capital calls. K-1s. + more. Verivend put together the clearest breakdown I've seen on how to actually...
Choose Investors Wisely: Bad Checks Cost Control
Taking the wrong check is worse than taking no check. A bad investor will cost you board seats, control, and sleep. The cap table you build on the way up follows you the whole way.
Emerging VC Funds Offer Real Responsibility and Faster Learning
Everyone wants the Sequoia or a16z name on their resume. But IMO emerging funds are where you actually learn the most. Small team with real responsibility. Decisions that matter from day one.
Visibility Trumps
The best pitch deck won’t save you if no one knows you exist. Fundraising starts 6+ months before you need the money. Visibility is the strategy.
Create Your Own Venture Path, Don't Wait for VCs
Waiting for a VC firm to recognize your potential is the slowest path into venture. Build a thesis. Source a deal. Write publicly. Show up before you have the title. The door opens from the inside.
10 Venture Capital Firms Hiring Investors Now
10 venture capital firms HIRING investors right now 👇 ♻️ Repost to make VC more accessible.
Determination and Resourcefulness Fuel Tomorrow’s Winning Founders
Winning founders have two qualities: determination and resourcefulness. With that, I think you can achieve anything. It's my personal philosophy on life and it's how I got started at Harlem Capital 5 years ago. I created a 10-page deck and pitched them...
Seed and Series A Valuations Hit Record Highs
Carta data just released the latest fundraising benchmarks and I’m shocked. Median seed valuation came in at $23.4M post-money (all time high). Median series A valuation came in at $67.7M post-money (near all time high). 🤯
Avoid These 5 Common Mistakes Aspiring VCs Make
5 mistakes aspiring VCs keep making (and nobody tells them): 1. Leading with resume instead of edge 2. Thinking all VC firms are the same 3. Networking to find a job instead of to add value 4. Not translating operator experience into investment language 5....
VC Carry Is a Lottery; Startup Equity Beats It
I’ve never seen more Junior VC talent leave VC for tech startups than right now. And it makes sense. 65% of VC investments never return 1x capital. The carry math is tough: GPs don’t see a dollar of carry until LPs get their...
Mega‑fund Focus Forces Niche Managers to Specialize
LPs wrote $50 billion in checks to 6 firms. Andreessen Horowitz → $15B Thrive Capital → $10B Lightspeed → $9B General Catalyst → $8B Founders Fund → $4.6B Dragoneer Investment Group → $4.3B Meanwhile, new fund closings dropped nearly 50% in one year from 2,100 to 1,117. LPs...
Clarity of Vision Beats Labels in Startup Investing
I had the privilege of moderating a panel with a Midas List VC a few months back. One insight she shared has changed my view on investing. She said the number one thing she looks for is clarity of vision. That sounds...
Master VC Technicals in One Weekend with 7 Guides
7 VC guides to teach you the technicals in one weekend👇 ♻️ Repost to help someone VC recruiting right now.
Niche Creators Become Essential Distribution Hubs in AI Era
The amount of startups doubling down on niche creators for distribution is mind boggling (& the right call IMO). Distribution is king -more so now than ever in this AI world where products can be whipped up in hours.
Deal Success Depends on Info, Not Just Quality
What no one talks about in VC: Getting a deal over the line at your firm requires WAY more than just sourcing a good deal. It requires: 1) Getting the correct information about the startup 2) Pitching that information in a compelling way Many...
8-Step Checklist to Nail Any VC Interview
I just put together an 8-step VC interview prep checklist to help you nail any interview... Knowing where to start can be HARD. There are many resources online that will tell you different things. My simple checklist will help you get prepared...
Sourcing and Securing Cap Tables: Venture’s Toughest Challenges
Sourcing is the single hardest part about venture. Equally followed by actually getting on the cap table of the best companies.
Opening VC Doors: Democratizing Wealth Through Entrepreneurship
Entrepreneurship is one the greatest means to wealth creation and venture capital is one of the levers that fuels that, yet it’s gate kept by insiders… My goal has always been to change that.
Being a VC Is Mostly About Mastering Sales
Aspiring VCs - do you know VC is a ton of sales? Externally: - Pitching to LPs - Winning over founders & other VCs - Recruiting talent Internally: - Pitching new deals to your team - Proposing new firm initiatives - Suggesting new firm processes