500. AI Native VC, Achieving 50%+ Graduation from Seed to Series A, Why Access Is the Key to Success, and Why Network Driven Firms Can No Longer Compete (Ben Orthlieb)
Ben Orthlieb argues that traditional VC firms relying on network and brand are becoming obsolete, replaced by data-driven "AI native" funds that use proprietary intelligence platforms to identify exceptional founders. His firm operates more like a product company than a traditional VC, achieving remarkable 50%+ graduation rates from seed to Series A by algorithmically scoring deals and replacing human networking with systematic founder assessment.
Key takeaways
- •Replace network-driven deal sourcing with algorithmic intelligence that identifies signals and scores opportunities systematically.
- •Focus founder conversations on personal qualities and motivations rather than just business metrics, as most VCs neglect this crucial assessment area.
- •Build proprietary intelligence platforms that amplify human judgment with real-time market data, like tracking when top-tier VCs quietly enter new spaces.
- •Operate as a product company first, VC second—creating systematic processes and tools rather than relying on traditional relationship-based approaches.
- •Abandon sector-specific theses in favor of backing exceptional founders across verticals, using data to identify talent regardless of industry focus.
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Best moment
In the last six to twelve months a lot of the top 10 VCs have quietly made one or two bets in that space... that's an example of up to date information.
surprising that in the last six to twelve months a lot of the top 10 VCs
have quietly made one or two bets in that space. And so in some ways you get the information that tells you that space is reopening up in a way that the sort of top track hasn't caught up with. And so that's an example of, like, Chris's profile. I would bet on Chris amongst multiple generations of types of companies, but the insight on is this market, in this very specific case, is it this market open for VC land, was a nonomvu sensor that required up to date information.
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