Charlie O'Donnell’s Post

2 great organizations right here

Effective venture capitalists don't just invest in companies; they become valuable board members that help shape success. 🎯 Serving on boards is a critical yet often overlooked part of a VC's role, offering opportunities for growth and influence. 🧑💼 Many VCs are left without proper training in board governance, despite its importance post-investment. 💡 Mastering board duties can enhance a VC's brand, improve deal flow, and contribute to a company's success. 🚫 Common pitfalls include lack of preparation, poor communication, and failing to offer strategic guidance. #VentureCapital #BoardLeadership #StartupSuccess 🎯 Understanding board dynamics boosts credibility in the venture space. 🧑💼 Experienced VCs are in high demand as board members due to their value-added contributions. How Venture Capitalists Can Become Effective Board Members https://lnkd.in/g-CSAgzB

We at Saral Group interact with founders across diverse industries to discuss M&A transactions, capital raising, and strategic growth opportunities. These discussions are always enlightening, offering a mix of unique challenges and invaluable learning. However, only a select few truly stand out—those where the clarity of vision, scalability, and alignment with investor expectations are evident. In the context of VC funding, I’ve realized that understanding what really matters to VCs is crucial. It’s not just about a great idea but also clarity on market potential, founder resilience, and scalability. I recently came across an insightful Harvard Business Review article on how VCs approach investing, shedding light on their decision-making frameworks. The article may be dated but continues to hold significant relevance. For anyone navigating the world of VC funding—whether as a founder, advisor, or investor—this is a must-read. Understanding these perspectives can significantly elevate the quality of conversations and outcomes.

How Venture Capitalists Can Become Effective Board Members! Serving on boards is a vital part of what venture capitalists do. Being a successful venture capitalist isn’t just about making investments. It’s also about serving on boards of the companies you invest in. Yet the majority of venture education focuses on the first part of this process: deal sourcing, due diligence, selection, and winning the investment. Once the investment is made, that transition quickly catalyzes to serving on the board. However, many new investors are thrown into the deep end without first learning how to swim. Rarely is there a formal onboarding process to teach best practices and how to avoid common mistakes. The boardroom can be a daunting place. Becoming effective in this setting is arguably one of the most complex parts of an investor’s job. It’s also the part of the role with significant upside: If you can master the boardroom, you can help drive company performance. You can also build your brand as an investor, help secure future deal flow, recruit talent, and win competitive deals. And on a personal level, becoming an effective director can create positive, meaningful interactions that bring value and purpose to your investing practice. As an investor and active board member, I have lived through the apprenticeship model and learned to do this myself. In this article, I aim to equip newer investors with the tools and strategies to start building their board practice from the start. When newer VCs face their first board role, they should take the opportunity to build a more mindful and intentional practice in the boardroom. These actionable tips, when put into practice, can expand your influence, help you support your portfolio companies, and build meaning to your investing practice while deepening your relationships with stakeholders at the table. #venturecapital #boardofdirectors https://lnkd.in/dWX3vaBy

Calling on all aspiring VCs and angel investors. Are you ready to elevate your Venture game? Announcing a 3-part Masterclass - Venture Investing for Angels - on the core principles of angel investing. I'm thrilled to partner with Dexter Tiah, & Shu Chen on this. 📅 Dates: July 23, 30, and Aug 6 @ 8 pm (SG time) 📍 Platform: Zoom 🤝 Partner: INSEAD Capital Connectors Club. Register here ➡ https://lnkd.in/eGzxhPWW Building venture skills takes a long time. For Angel investors risking their capital, its expensive AND risky! I'll give you my top tips as a self-taught angel who's backed 2x Unicorns and invested $ MNs: 1️⃣ 1st Principles for Angel Investing. 2️⃣ Venture Math: Fundraising, Dilution and Valuations 3️⃣ Decision Frameworks: How to Evaluate Startups SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: For those of you in Singapore 🇸🇬 we're planning an in-person 1.5 day "Venture Fundamentals" Bootcamp (Aug 24 - 25). Stay tuned!

Angel investing is not for everyone. But if you are keen to find out more before dipping your toes into it, check out this excellent course by Jed N.!

Usual thoughtful post from Kyle on his Investing 101 blog about how few VC firms develop their junior talent successfully. https://lnkd.in/eZ7cm7Yp Also the case for a number of CVCs- given gcv works with about three-quarters of the 2,500+ active corporate venturing units we get a good sense of how much people invest in their bench and which ones go through the motions and remain stuck or fail at the inflection points. More than 500 will have sent colleagues or units through the gcv institute this year and the alumni network of graduates (next reunion 12 September) and the award winners from the gcv Rising Stars 🌟 and Emerging Leaders have helped lift an entire ecosystem- corporates with active CVCs outperform in their share price and free cash flow; entrepreneurs are more likely to exit profitably and less likely to go bankrupt and VCs are twice as likely to raise funds with corporate LPs . As Maija Palmer and her editorial team prepare their next awards peers and unit heads can nominate the stars and leaders from investment and platform teams and remind yourself on prior winners here (90% of earlier cohorts were subsequently promoted): https://lnkd.in/eYpDixzT

Every other Wednesday at the Utah Innovation Fund we have a guest speaker talk to our analysts about their career path and thoughts on investing or entrepreneurship. The insights our analysts glean from these conversations are priceless. A few weeks ago we had the privilege of hearing from Rob Hennefer, founder of Frame VC and a former investor at Ensign Peak Advisors. He talked about staying curious, assessing risk, forcing functions, time management, relationships, and conviction. If you are a current Utah Innovation Fund team member, please comment your key takeaways from interacting with Rob! #EmergingFundManagers #UtahStartups #Mentorship

🌟 Unlocking the Power of Venture Capitalists as Board Members 🌟 Many venture-backed startup founders know that the role of venture capitalists (VCs) extends beyond funding. Serving on boards is a crucial aspect of their involvement, offering them a unique vantage point to influence and drive success. But how can VCs truly excel in these roles? Here are some key insights from a Harvard Business Review article on how VCs can become effective board members: 📍 Brand Building: By actively participating in board activities, I have certainly seen that VCs can enhance their personal and professional brand. This visibility not only strengthens their reputation but also attracts more opportunities and deal flow. 📍 Strategic Influence: Effective board members leverage their expertise to guide startups in making strategic decisions. This involves understanding the nuances of the business and aligning with the company's vision. 📍 Performance Enhancement: VCs who are adept at board governance can significantly impact the performance of the companies they invest in. Their insights and guidance can steer startups towards sustainable growth and innovation. 📍 Seven Tips for Success: The article outlines seven actionable tips for VCs to navigate boardrooms successfully. While the specifics are detailed in the article, the essence is about being proactive, informed, and collaborative. These insights are a reminder of the symbiotic relationship between VCs and startups... indeed, where capital comes together with strategic partnership in order to propel a company to new heights. So tech founders, what strategies have you found effective in your board interactions? Any thoughts?💡 #VentureCapital #BoardLeadership #StartupSuccess