POV
Not Every Company Is Built for the Big Leagues
Run the math before you buy the myth.
Two New Metrics that Might Keep Your Startup Alive in 2026
I’m skeptical of many startup “rules.” But trusting in exceptional founders has rarely led me too far astray.
The Two Laws Of Startup Physics
Fifteen years into my venture capital career, I’ve come to believe there are two undeniable laws of startup physics: 1) Capital compounds both positive and negative formulas. 2) All positive formulas compound at diminishing rates of return.
Set the Table if You Want to Be Served
A portfolio company recently sent us a spreadsheet of 200 investors they wanted introductions to, listed alphabetically. I applaud the comprehensiveness, but the request was ill-formed.
A Soft Pitch Can Trigger a Hard Pass
A word of warning to founders – if you’re talking to a VC, you are pitching.
Stunted Adolescence: The One Call You Need to Make Before Signing
If you are a founder staring at a term sheet with a dizzying valuation, I am urging you to do one specific piece of diligence before you sign.
The Stoic Founder
On the difference between conviction and stubbornness
Checkers (Execution) and Chess (Strategy)
You have to be a tactical animal to survive, so that you can become a strategic leader to win.
Creation Is Cheap. Editing Is the Superpower.
Founders are now editors-in-chief of UX, and they must be ruthless curators.
How to Pivot Without Breaking Your Startup
Change is inevitable. Chaos is optional.
The Most Expensive Education Gap in Startups
The tragedy is that M&A is a test you only get to take once.
5 Lessons from SharkNinja CEO Mark Barrocas
SharkNinja CEO Mark Barrocas recently spoke with Founder Collective GP Amanda Herson at Collective Future.
The Power Law Has Gone Fractal
There’s a lot of noise right now about $15B funds and $5B rounds. For most founders, that’s a distraction.
The “Aging” Trade-Off: Losing RAM, Gaining Hard Drive
Psychologists distinguish between two types of smarts: Fluid Intelligence and Crystallized Intelligence.
The Nexus: Why I’m Long NYC
When you build here, you aren’t just plugging into a “tech scene” – you are plugging into the actual machinery of the world.
How Due Diligence Is Changing for VCs at Seed
There’s so much to know and so many ways to know it, and yet it feels harder than ever.
The Brutal Math of Micro-Funds: Is the Solo GP Era Ending?
When Jack Altman merged his fund into Benchmark recently, it wasn’t just a partner announcement, it was a sign that change is afoot in this business.
Can AI Agents Have Human Instinct?
When everyone optimizes for the same signals, non-obvious founders and out-of-favor categories get screened out before the first meeting.
Eric Paley to Serve as Secretary of Economic Development for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
We’re proud to share that Eric Paley, our long-time partner and dear friend, has been appointed Secretary of Economic Development for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts by Governor Maura Healy.
From Startups to Stewardship: Eric Paley Brings Founder-First Values to Public Service
Eric has chosen to step away from Founder Collective to assume the role of Secretary of Economic Development for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Anyone who has ever met Eric will instantly know why he is an inspired choice and a perfect fit.
Search
How Due Diligence Is Changing for VCs at Seed
There’s so much to know and so many ways to know it, and yet it feels harder than ever.
The Brutal Math of Micro-Funds: Is the Solo GP Era Ending?
When Jack Altman merged his fund into Benchmark recently, it wasn’t just a partner announcement, it was a sign that change is afoot in this business.
The Stoic Founder
On the difference between conviction and stubbornness
Not Every Company Is Built for the Big Leagues
Run the math before you buy the myth.
Two New Metrics that Might Keep Your Startup Alive in 2026
I’m skeptical of many startup “rules.” But trusting in exceptional founders has rarely led me too far astray.
The Two Laws Of Startup Physics
Fifteen years into my venture capital career, I’ve come to believe there are two undeniable laws of startup physics: 1) Capital compounds both positive and negative formulas. 2) All positive formulas compound at diminishing rates of return.
Set the Table if You Want to Be Served
A portfolio company recently sent us a spreadsheet of 200 investors they wanted introductions to, listed alphabetically. I applaud the comprehensiveness, but the request was ill-formed.
A Soft Pitch Can Trigger a Hard Pass
A word of warning to founders – if you’re talking to a VC, you are pitching.
Stunted Adolescence: The One Call You Need to Make Before Signing
If you are a founder staring at a term sheet with a dizzying valuation, I am urging you to do one specific piece of diligence before you sign.
The Stoic Founder
On the difference between conviction and stubbornness
Checkers (Execution) and Chess (Strategy)
You have to be a tactical animal to survive, so that you can become a strategic leader to win.
Creation Is Cheap. Editing Is the Superpower.
Founders are now editors-in-chief of UX, and they must be ruthless curators.
How to Pivot Without Breaking Your Startup
Change is inevitable. Chaos is optional.
The Most Expensive Education Gap in Startups
The tragedy is that M&A is a test you only get to take once.
5 Lessons from SharkNinja CEO Mark Barrocas
SharkNinja CEO Mark Barrocas recently spoke with Founder Collective GP Amanda Herson at Collective Future.
The Power Law Has Gone Fractal
There’s a lot of noise right now about $15B funds and $5B rounds. For most founders, that’s a distraction.
The “Aging” Trade-Off: Losing RAM, Gaining Hard Drive
Psychologists distinguish between two types of smarts: Fluid Intelligence and Crystallized Intelligence.
The Nexus: Why I’m Long NYC
When you build here, you aren’t just plugging into a “tech scene” – you are plugging into the actual machinery of the world.
How Due Diligence Is Changing for VCs at Seed
There’s so much to know and so many ways to know it, and yet it feels harder than ever.
The Brutal Math of Micro-Funds: Is the Solo GP Era Ending?
When Jack Altman merged his fund into Benchmark recently, it wasn’t just a partner announcement, it was a sign that change is afoot in this business.
Can AI Agents Have Human Instinct?
When everyone optimizes for the same signals, non-obvious founders and out-of-favor categories get screened out before the first meeting.
Eric Paley to Serve as Secretary of Economic Development for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
We’re proud to share that Eric Paley, our long-time partner and dear friend, has been appointed Secretary of Economic Development for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts by Governor Maura Healy.
From Startups to Stewardship: Eric Paley Brings Founder-First Values to Public Service
Eric has chosen to step away from Founder Collective to assume the role of Secretary of Economic Development for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Anyone who has ever met Eric will instantly know why he is an inspired choice and a perfect fit.