Alexander Small’s Post

Investors are missing out on great deals because of poor relationships with founders. Remember, it's a two-way street. As I raise capital for Glitch and our AI that can interpret video (without using sound or SRT files—it's based on the actual video itself), most of my introductions come through other founders. One of the biggest benefits of being part of the Techstars network is its massive community, which can be leveraged for support and connections. But as I share my intro list with other founders, I'm often surprised by the number of warnings I receive: “Don't work with this investor—they're terrible!” TL;DR: The relationship between founders and investors is a two-way street. Both should strive to maintain positive connections, as bad relationships can have a lasting negative impact on future opportunities on both sides.

Insights from Reddit's IPO filing: 1️⃣ Sam Altman emerges as a significant shareholder, with 8.7% ownership, highlighting his impact in tech and AI. 2️⃣ Reddit's distinctive IPO approach, rewarding top users and facilitating individual investments through apps like Robinhood, mirrors a shifting tech landscape. Key Point: - Altman's investment cements his position at the AI-social media nexus and signals Reddit's AI expansion ambitions. - Tech investment landscape is evolving, emphasizing community dimension in the process.  #RedditIPO #AI #Tech #Innovation

Reddit IPO takes the market by storm, shares soaring up to 70% in a stellar debut, reaching a peak market cap of $10.9B! Amidst tech IPO drought, Reddit’s bold entry tests investor appetite, with its sights set on AI’s horizon through lucrative data licensing deals. Yet, eyes are also on the FTC’s interest in Reddit’s AI data practices. The platform remains confident, denying any unfair practices. Check Reuters article below to know how the 19-year-old company compares with the larger social media companies #technology #innovation #future #socialmedia #ipo #investing #investors #ipo #economy #finance #linkedin #artificialintelligence

Thursdays Tech Tip: 🤑 📉 Reddit IPO Could Reward Its Biggest Fans! This week's tech tip is more focused on something that caught my eye and took me by surprise. It is all about Reddit's upcoming IPO and the potential for the platform to reward its most active users with shares in the company! As someone who spends a healthy amount of time on Reddit (don't @ me!), I find this news fascinating. It would be a unique way for Reddit to recognize the contributions of its user base and create a more invested community. While Reddit isn't yet profitable, the company boasts a massive and engaged community, making it an attractive proposition for potential investors. This is an exciting development for Reddit and the broader social media landscape. It will be interesting to see how the company performs in the public markets and how its IPO impacts its future direction. 🚀 What are your thoughts about companies offering their high-valued users, skin in the game? Should equity be solely reserved for those who work on building the company out or do you feel there is value in sharing the love around the entire ecosystem that makes up that company? Share your thoughts below! #reddit #ipo #socialmedia #business #finance #equity #startups

Can Your Corporation Lead the Charge in Supporting Diverse Fund Managers? PayPal did it with their $100M Economic Opportunity Fund—could your company be next? Tomorrow on Swimming with Allocators, we chat with Lisha Bell about how she built this impactful initiative from the ground up and how other organizations can follow suit. We'll cover: - The role of corporate LPs in venture capital - Building internal support for diversity initiatives - The long-term impact on the VC ecosystem Tune in tomorrow for insights that could inspire transformative change within your organization and the greater tech ecosystem.

Add to the list of VC translations: “Can’t wait to add value” = Give us a few things that’ll take 5 minutes to accomplish, and won’t be super hard. Otherwise you’re on your own

So funny. But so true. Thanks to Burak Buyukdemir for originally posting this! (*At least with some investors!) #iim #iit #startup #stanford #startx #ucberkeley #berkeleyskydeck #falconx #techstars #500global #plugandplay #pearvc #ycombinator #foundersinstitute #startups #venturecapital #privateequity #entrepreneurship #neo

Wow. This guy doesn’t hold back! I can’t say he’s wrong. The Founder Side: I’ve heard so many innovators and entrepreneurs get super excited because a well know VC or angel got excited about their idea only to say no in one of the following ways - a few weeks or months later. It can be a roller coaster that leaves you reeling. The Funder Side: having spoken to investors who said what they really think (and got cancelled for doing so), I understand why they use these “read between the lines” messages to communicate.

It finally happened. Those who follow my content know that I talked a lot about Reddit, Inc. IPO. But today I won't talk about the extreme success of the #IPO (+48% during the first day). Today I want to focus on #startup investing and understand who actually made money by supporting #reddit. The graph below shows who invested, when, at what price per share. I do not know who still holds its shares, but let's assume all investors cashed out last week. The series F investors lost money. The series E investors (which was a follow on of the series C) probably made some money, but surely not the 3x returns they were looking for. The series D investors the same. Only the investors from Series B backwards made some money: - Sam Altam, the man behind the wheel at OpenAI, made somewhere around 3-5x - Sequoia Capital 5x - Advance Publications, the actually bought Reddit from its founders and then spin it off, more than 10x The power law in action and a reminder that "with greater risks come greater results".

As an ex equity trader, I'm someone who likes to move at speed so it's great to hear it loud & proud from Jeremy Henrickson (ex Ripplng, Coinbase) Often I see projects and decisions dragging on and on with endless meetings, email threads and unnecessary complexity. When I’m in the thick of it, I make the call right then and there and move everyone on quickly. I've seen how this approach accelerates our progress at The Virtual Hub Ltd. It's not about rushing into every decision. But about maintaining momentum and seizing opportunities as they arise. Sure, as Jeremy also says, not every decision can be made in a snap. Some require careful consideration and planning. But our commitment to swift, decisive action is what drives us forward. It's a mindset that promotes a culture of ‘getting things done’. No matter the size of your company, embracing a fast-paced decision-making tempo can transform how you operate. It also empowers your team to: → act decisively → innovate boldly → navigate challenges with confidence Let's lead the charge together! ✅ Follow me. 🔔 Hit the notifications bell. 🚀 Discover insights on building frictionless and digital-first workplaces! #leadership #decisionmaking #execution #culture