Artemios Achillopoulos’ Post

Absolutely True! spot on ! Nothing can be much worse if VCs [#Venture #Capitalist] are found wrong & obstacle for the growth of the #busienss! A #MBA from good business school becoming VC, does not necessarily mean that h/she can always bring positives for the business. To me, its important that #mindset of VCs and #Entrepreneurs should have nice blend when the question of critical #decisions and #strategy comes in. The role of VCs should be more of #advisory keeping the freedom for #founders/Entrepreneurs completely undistubed. Its a football match for unlimited time where strikers role cant be minimized by the defensive strategy of the match. #venturecapitalists #entrepreneurship #startup #Businessgrowth

If you overly assess, do not want, or desire, to assist start-ups, stop using the word "Venture". You're no different from a bank. Venture is a risk, going into the unknown with the possibility of success or failure. If you are not going to take the risk, stop calling yourself "Venture", and call yourself in reality, a lender or bank. If you don't want to risk your money, or have the money to risk, don't advertise to offer it, and call yourself a scary cat. A venture takes boldness, and you dare to lose, as much as you dare to succeed. If money is not a problem, which it should not be to a true Venture Investor (VI), if a project fail, or prosper, it was the venture that counts. Be a bank, or be a true venture investor. Stop confusing people and wasting peoples time if you're so worried about losing money. Stop overly assessing and concentrating on detail like a bank, or someone whose afraid, scary cat, and give to the project and be a true person of venture. Like I said before, if you don't have the money to risk, or are afraid to lose anything, stop offering what you don't have to lose, and stop using the name Venture, and be the bank/lender that you are. (I'm seeking $10,000,000, who will venture with me? I will return the amount plus interest if successful, as well as protect the principal throughout the term until goals are met. Simple, and to the point. Contact me at: [email protected])

Watch this! Pure GOLD from Vinod Khosla who knows a thing or two about #Entrepreneurs and #Startups. Great questions by Sam Altman OpenAI. Thank you for sharing Rubén D. Smart money comes with intelligence, experience and an entrepreneur-centric philosophy. I hate that so many times I encounter freshly graduated MBAs, junior "analysts" who - in their ignorance or arrogance - think they can select our startup for a pitch competition or advise me or our team about what we should be doing with our GTM plans. They have never started a company, never been in our shoes, never taken our risks, never had to live with no money in the bank and survive out of thin air. Or when I meet #angelinvestors or #VCs who have no clue about our space (obesity, mental health, AI, AR/VR/XR, gamification and DTx in our case) but have "feedback" or criticism to offer that has no basis in market reality and market opportunity. Sometimes I meet with men venture capitalists showing up with one or two junior women employees to the meeting just to show of. Gary, I am talking about you 😉 Most of the VCs we talk with don't understand what obesity is, the role of GLP-1s, what 1 billion - that's 1 in 8 people on the planet - people with obesity means as a potential market for things like clothing, groceries, beverages, financial services, travel, relationships, etc. or future trends like #FoodasMedicine. And - to be clear - it doesn't bother me if you don't know or don't understand the market. What bothers me is your arrogance and stupidity Mr. or Mrs. Venture Capitalist. Come with an open mind and try to learn from us. Do your homework. Be a partner. Don't be part of the 90% of VCs who don't add any value to a startups or the 70% who actually harm a startup! If you have a startup, entrepreneurial or venture capital story, please share so we can all learn and do better. John Lyotier Ashish Anand Ashissh Raichura Dhruv Adhia Alireza Davoodi Lynda Brown-Ganzert Suzanne Grant, CD Claire Dixon Andrea Galindo Geordie Rose Olivier Vincent Brendan Byrne Aaron Gani MARTA LUESMA MESEGUER Shane Bishop Geof Auchinleck Catherine Winckler Dan Desjardins, PhD Murari Srinivasan Gloria Lau Carmen Pauline Rios Benton 🎙Dr Roxie Mooney, DBA Andreea Borcea Jenny Hapgood P.S. If you are a #VC and want to learn how to treat entrepreneurs the right way and add value maybe you should talk with the people a16z Bio + Health, Flare Capital Partners, Sony Innovation Fund or Microsoft for Startups. #entrepreneurs #startups #smartmoney #angelinvestors #VC #investment #capital #donoharm

“90% of VCs add no value to startups, and 70% even harm them.” — Vinod Khosla In a blunt assessment of the VC world, Vinod Khosla, founder of Khosla Ventures, questions the real value that most venture capitalists bring to the table. After decades in the industry, he argues that most investors aren’t just unhelpful—they may actually hold startups back. This raises a critical question: can the wrong investor be a greater liability than no investor at all? What’s your take? Have you seen VCs truly make a difference, or are they often more of a hindrance than a help? Share your thoughts below. Join 100,000+ founders and VCs who receive these insights in my weekly newsletter: https://lnkd.in/dtifw4mC

It is important for founders to find the RIGHT INVESTORS. I have seen companies fail or almost fail because of having the wrong investors on their cap table or board. Having no investors is better than the wrong investors. This video gives a great explanation. #pitchdeck #investorpitch #founders #venturecapital #pitching #fundraising #pitch4impact #innovation #entrepreneurship 

This will almost certainly be controversial, but I believe the 70% even harm them number is too low. I see this all the time in emerging startup ecosystems. The "VCs" are not really venture investors, but private equity investors who are trying to be venture investors. They push the startups to create an early, predictable return on investment, rather than prioritizing growth. I know that the the "growth at any cost" model of Silicon Valley has downsides, but globally competitive companies are not built if the founder is focused on paying the investors a dividend in year 2. #startups #founders #entrepreneurship #usmac #globalinnovationdojo #investors

Brilliant Advice ! When deciding whose advice to trust, it's imperative to evaluate the source with a critical eye. I have firsthand experience with the frustration that comes from receiving guidance from board members who have never worked in real companies. Their lack of practical experience in the business world results in recommendations that are often detached from the daily realities professionals face, rendering their suggestions difficult to implement effectively. It's essential to seek insights from individuals with relevant experience who are grounded in the practicalities of running a business. This approach guarantees that the advice received is not only actionable but also truly reflective of the challenges and dynamics encountered in real-world situations. Trusting the right sources is crucial for effective decision-making and success.

Vinod Khosla 's statement highlights a harsh reality that many founders face: choosing the right investor is crucial, and the wrong one can indeed be more of a liability than an asset. From our perspective at Unbar.vc, the issue often stems from a lack of strategic alignment and insufficient operational support from the VC side. Our work with venture funds focuses on optimizing their processes and providing deeper due diligence, not just to mitigate risks, but to ensure they’re truly equipped to add value beyond capital. The funds that invest time in improving deal flow, conducting thorough due diligence, and offering tailored portfolio support are the ones that make a significant, positive impact. The key takeaway? VCs need to invest as much in their own capabilities as they do in the startups they fund. When VCs bring specialized expertise and strategic guidance to the table, they can be powerful enablers of growth rather than hindrances

I could not agree more! Vinod Khosla's words really strike a chord. It's eye-opening to realize how important it is to choose the right investors—people who truly support and elevate your vision rather than hinder it. The journey of building something new is challenging enough without added obstacles from those who are supposed to help. @Founders: Sometimes, the toughest but most important decision is to walk away from a deal that doesn't feel right. This is of course easier said than done especially in a challenging fundraising environment such as today's. However, trusting your instincts about who you partner with can make all the difference in the long run! #Startups #Entrepreneurship #VentureCapital #Investors #FounderLife #BusinessGrowth #TrustYourGut

I did a space on X and another on LinkedIn breaking down a study of nearly 1000 VCs who were interviewed and what they really looked at and for in investments. It is shocking. Remember that there is so much hype around VCs because they don’t exist without founders - but founders have always done just fine without VC funding. Less than .05% of startups receive venture funding in the US. And 75% of those VC-backed startups fail - it’s not buying you much better odds, unless they’re willing to fund you through a decade of loss or more. BUT 10% OF STARTUPS ALL SUCCEED, including those receiving no investment at all. They need you more than you need them. #venturecapital #VC #fundraising #startup #founder #entrepreneur #angelinvesting #factsmatter