20 VC 077 Part 2 Kamal Ravikant The Future Of Venture Capital

In a dynamic episode of "20 minutes VC," Kamal Ravikant, a seasoned entrepreneur and VC, shares his insights on the evolving venture capital landscape and the increasing power of entrepreneurs. He advocates for the importance of smaller funds and individual angels, citing examples from New York's vibrant startup scene and the influential roles of investors like Tim Ferriss and Rick Marini. Ravikant emphasizes the need for VCs to be value-additive, not just financially but through active involvement and support for startups. He also discusses the tech industry's challenges, warning against the allure of "startup glamor" and stressing the value of genuine passion and problem-solving in entrepreneurship. Ravikant's approach reflects a commitment to empowering founders and a strategic, conscientious investment philosophy that prioritizes substantial returns for limited partners.

• The episode is a continuation of a series featuring Kamal Ravikant, focusing on his views on the future of venture capital.
• Kamal's previous discussion on his technology career and advice for tech startups was mentioned.
• The episode includes a promotion for a competition to win Brad Feld's book, "Venture Deals."
• The importance of choosing the correct legal form for a business is highlighted to avoid unnecessary liabilities and taxes.

"Hello and welcome back to the 20 minutes VC and this very special feature on the legend that is Kamal Ravicant."

This quote is a greeting and introduction to the episode, which features Kamal Ravikant, a respected figure in the venture capital industry.

"But first, our amazing competition, very generously hosted by our dear friend and previous guest Brad Feld, is open."

This quote introduces a competition to win a book that is considered foundational in the venture capital industry.

"So don't make this classic mistake and start your company off on the right legal footing by visiting Vidarlaw at ww vidarlaw.com..."

This quote emphasizes the importance of legal considerations when starting a business to avoid common pitfalls.

• The rise of platforms like AngelList has democratized access to capital for entrepreneurs.
• Traditional venture capital firms faced criticism for their treatment of entrepreneurs and startups.
• There is a shift in power dynamics, with entrepreneurs gaining more influence over the investment process.

"I love it because we all have, if you talk to the old school people, everyone's got a history of being screwed over by VCs."

Kamal Ravikant expresses support for the democratization of investing, reflecting on past negative experiences entrepreneurs had with traditional VCs.

"So now with things like AngelList, they are competing for talent now, which is great."

This quote highlights the positive impact of platforms like AngelList, which create competition among investors for startup talent.

"Fundamentally, it's about giving the entrepreneur the power."

Kamal emphasizes that the shift in the venture capital industry is about empowering entrepreneurs, who are the primary creators of value in startups.

• Venture capitalists are beginning to offer more than just capital by providing value-added services to startups.
• The historical role of VCs often involved interference and control rather than support.
• There is a trend towards VCs assisting with talent recruitment and other supportive roles.

"The VC firms are starting doing their own. Like, we're going to help you recruiting. We're going to do this, we're going to do that."

Kamal discusses how VC firms are now offering additional services to startups, indicating a shift in the traditional VC role.

• Kamal Ravikant, as a new and nontraditional VC, shares his perspective on the future of the industry.
• He predicts the continued success of smaller funds and the importance of close relationships with entrepreneurs.
• The future may involve a blend of angels, angel networks, and VC firms working together.

"I think the future is actually the angeliques and angels and VCs."

Kamal speculates on the future of venture capital, suggesting that a combination of different types of investors will shape the industry.

"I'm going to know the up and coming stars here. And they're all young guys, twenties, thirties."

This quote shows Kamal's belief in the importance of being connected with the entrepreneurial community, especially with the newer, younger generation of entrepreneurs.

• In New York, Kamal Ravikant's favorite up-and-coming VC firm is vast VC.
• In the San Francisco Bay Area, there is a trend of one-partner funds starting, often by individuals who have made a name for themselves and are considered a real value add.
• Angel syndicates, such as those run by Tim Ferriss, Rick Marini, Jason Calacanis, and Lee Jacobs, are highly regarded by Ravikant for their hands-on approach and entrepreneurial background.
• Ravikant values investors like Rick Marini, who actively work to help companies succeed beyond just providing funding.

"In New York is my favorite here. And then outside of here, like just in San Francisco, in the Bay Area, in Silicon Valley, like just the Angels." "There's all these one partner funds starting where they're like really one guy, they got to make a name for themselves. They're real value add."

These quotes highlight Ravikant's preference for VC firms and angel investors in New York and the Bay Area who are deeply involved and add significant value to the companies they invest in.

• Value-add investors like Rick Marini are not only financially invested but also contribute actively to the company's operations and strategies.
• Rick Marini's involvement in companies is hands-on, making deals and providing strategic advice based on his experience.
• Kamal Ravikant admires investors who act as advisors and are incentivized to help the company succeed because of their financial stake.

"Rick wasn't just like, I think you should do that. Rick was like, okay, I'm talking to this person. I'm going to make that deal happen for you. I'm doing this." "Ultimately, anyone who puts money in your company, you should look at them as an advisor who's incentivized now because their money is in it."

These quotes emphasize the importance of investors who actively participate in the business and provide practical support, not just capital.

• Kamal Ravikant believes that the perception of entrepreneurship as glamorous is misleading; in reality, it involves hard work and dedication.
• Successful entrepreneurs, especially those with repeated successes, are characterized by their work ethic rather than a luxurious lifestyle.
• Ravikant suggests that genuine entrepreneurs are more likely to be found working on their products than attending conferences or networking events.

"There's nothing sexy about it, honestly. It's work." "Doers are not at a lot of the conferences. They're home coding. Those are the guys I want to meet."

These quotes convey Ravikant's view that true entrepreneurship is about the hard work behind the scenes, not the glamorized image often portrayed in media.

• Kamal Ravikant relies on his network and experience to distinguish between viable startups and those that are less likely to succeed.
• He assesses potential investments by asking about the company's product, team, burn rate, and distribution strategy.
• Ravikant is wary of those who have a naive approach to business, focusing instead on entrepreneurs with a solid understanding of building a business.

"I've been in long enough that I'm fortunate that I have friends. We all share deals with each other." "I want to understand their product. I want to understand their team. Why do they have this person, a team? What's the burn rate? Why is their burn rate like this? How are they going to distribute?"

These quotes reveal the criteria and network Kamal Ravikant uses to evaluate startups and their potential for success.

• The initial simplicity of successful ventures often becomes complicated as more people engage in similar activities.
• To stay ahead, one should build simple solutions that are personally compelling and address fundamental problems.
• Many attempts to solve problems are misguided, focusing on issues that are not genuine concerns.

"People make a ton of money in the beginning. Then it becomes complicated because everyone's doing it right. Then the next simple stuff, then the next simple stuff. You got to be ahead of the curve."

This quote highlights the pattern of initial success in simple ventures becoming complicated as they gain popularity, emphasizing the need to innovate continuously.

"I think the best things are build something simple that keeps you up at night, that eventually other people want, that solves a problem, that fundamentally solves a problem."

Kamal Ravikant stresses the importance of creating simple, passion-driven solutions that address real problems, which is essential for long-term success.

• Passion is critical when choosing a problem to solve; it should be something that deeply matters to the entrepreneur.
• If one has a personal connection and a genuine desire to solve a particular issue, they should pursue it, regardless of how niche it may seem.

"If it's your passion, if you grew up in the water bottle industry and your dad, you lived around water bottles and that's what you want to do, you think that everyone should have access to water bottles on demand, please do it."

Kamal Ravikant encourages entrepreneurs to pursue their genuine passions, even if it involves a seemingly trivial product like water bottles, because authentic passion is key to success.

• Kamal Ravikant lists several books that have had a significant impact on him, including works by Paulo Coelho, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, Ernest Hemingway, Stephen Cope, and Steven Pressfield.
• These books cover themes of personal legend, childhood perspective, the power of writing, life's purpose, and the creative struggle.

"There's the alchemist. Obviously, we've all read that. There's the little prince. There's feral to arms by Hemingway. That just showed me the devastating power of real writing. The great work of your life by Stephen Cope. And then Stephen Presswill's work about the war of art and turning."

Kamal Ravikant shares a list of books that have deeply influenced him, reflecting his diverse literary interests and the profound effects literature can have on an individual's perspective and craft.

• Kamal Ravikant expresses a desire to play more and work less, indicating a need for balance between professional and personal life.

"If I had more time, I would do x more because x. I would. Play more because I think I spent too much of my life working."

This quote reveals Kamal Ravikant's reflection on his work-life balance and the wish to allocate more time to leisure and play.

• James Altucher's content is highlighted as Kamal Ravikant's favorite, with a particular appreciation for Altucher's unique perspective.

"Just James altitude, man. He's the best."

Kamal Ravikant endorses James Altucher's newsletter or blog, indicating his admiration for Altucher's work and possibly his insights on life and entrepreneurship.

• Elon Musk is mentioned as an inspiring figure due to his innovation, big-picture thinking, and willingness to invest personally in his ventures.
• Kamal Ravikant also admires his brother, Naval Ravikant, for his vision in democratizing venture capital through AngelList, transforming an industry that is integral to technological progress.

"I don't know how good a leader Elon Musk is, but I'm very inspired by him." "My brother, Naval Ravikant, and I've seen him, the vision he had for helping truly democratizing venture capital and putting the hands in the power of the know."

Kamal Ravikant acknowledges Elon Musk's inspiration through his bold actions and Naval Ravikant's transformative impact on the venture capital industry, showing admiration for both their visions and accomplishments.

• Kamal Ravikant's most recent investment was in a company called Bolt, despite his usual aversion to uncapped notes.
• His decision was based on the founders' intelligence and their focus on solving a problem in the payments industry, which is an area of personal interest to him.

"My most recent investment was a company called Bolt. And normally, funny enough, it was an uncapped note. I never signed on do uncapped notes just on principle alone. But the founders are damn sharp, and it's a bet they're doing something in payments."

This quote explains Kamal Ravikant's rationale for his recent investment decision, highlighting the importance of the founders' capabilities and the relevance of the problem they are addressing in the payments sector.

• Kamal Ravikant emphasizes the importance of mutual value addition in investment relationships.
• He assesses the potential of companies to evolve in their respective spaces and the ability to overcome industry stagnation.
• Kamal is cautious about investing in ventures that do not promise significant returns, despite their social value, due to his fiduciary responsibility to his LPs (limited partners).

"So as I interviewed them, they interviewed me." "It's a space, I think that really needs to evolve." "I can't invest in things. I just like, I have a fiduciary responsibility to my lps that fundamentally it's to return a significant amount of money on the capital invested in the fund."

These quotes highlight the reciprocal evaluation process between investors and companies, the need for evolution in certain industries, and the investor's obligation to prioritize financial returns for their LPs.

• Kamal discusses the challenge of balancing social impact with the need to generate venture-level returns.
• He mentions Brian Sergitz as an example of someone who has successfully combined social impact with a strong business model.
• Kamal advises those seeking purely social impact to pursue nonprofit avenues or angel investors who are more flexible with their investment criteria.

"Yes and no. It depends on the company." "If you want venture money, you have to, in the end, convince people that this is going to return significant capital." "Don't go to vcs. Angels are doing their own money."

Kamal recognizes the complexity of impact investing and the necessity for social ventures to demonstrate potential for significant returns if they are to attract venture capital.

• Kamal reflects on the heightened sense of responsibility when investing others' money compared to personal funds.
• He shares his personal journey of overcoming financial hardship and emphasizes the importance of prudent financial management.
• Kamal contrasts the entrepreneurial mindset of saying "yes" to opportunities with the venture capitalist's need to be selective and say "no" to most opportunities.

"My job as a VC, that this is the weird thing, is to say no to everything and to find that occasional yes." "It's not your money. You took money from someone, so now your job is to actually allocate it to the best possible use for building the company."

These quotes illustrate the careful and discerning approach required in venture capitalism and the ethical considerations of managing investors' funds.

• The host underscores the importance of having proper legal foundations for startup teams.
• Services like Vidar Law are recommended for legal support in creating stock incentive plans and employment offer letters.
• The host acknowledges the value of Kamal's insights and promotes engagement with the episode's content.

"So make sure that your team has the proper legal foundations, whether it be incentivizing them with stock options and stock incentive plans." "To preparing at will employment offer letters there is only one place to go for this, and that's Vidar law."

This advice stresses the importance of legal considerations for startups, specifically regarding team incentives and employment agreements, and promotes a legal service provider.