5 clips
TThe Full Ratchet
Jon Callaghan reflects on True Ventures' track record of making contrarian early-stage investments that others dismissed. He shares examples of being criticized for investing in web 2.0, hardware companies like Fitbit in 2008, and early cloud infrastructure when conventional wisdom said these sectors wouldn't generate VC returns.
Jon Callaghan discusses how massive value opportunities exist in AI even if valuations are wrong by orders of magnitude. He explores True Ventures' nonconsensus approach to accessing AI investments without getting caught in overpriced, bubbly markets.
The Twenty Minute VC (20VC)
Anish Acharya from a16z argues against the popular belief that AI will replace all existing software. He contends that businesses will use AI to extend their core advantages rather than rebuild basic tools like payroll or CRM, and believes the software market is currently oversold due to excessive negativity about AI's impact.
SSeed to Scale
Josh Kopelman argues against pattern matching in venture capital, contending that the best investments come from raw, fragile, and contrarian ideas that can't be found through generalization. He questions whether the most skilled pattern matchers actually make the best investors.
An investor reflects on how a founder's contrarian perspective on the SMB cybersecurity market challenged conventional wisdom in 2019. The discussion highlights two key founder qualities: having unique market insights that go against prevailing views, and the grit to continuously iterate and make tough decisions about team composition as the company evolves.