Hi,
In this episode, I ponder- to podcast, or not to podcast.
Also;
📸 - Social Snapshot- Founder Mode
📊 - Which industries are on top?
🎙️ - Episode 60- bootstrapping to $30M exit w. Nick Telson-Sillet
🆓 - A guide to nailing 1st calls with investors
Welcome to issue #96!
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A satirical glimpse into a day in the life of a hustler/founder by Jabroni Capital on Instagram.
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Episode 60: How Nick Telson-Sillett went from Bootstrapping to a $30M Exit
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This week I have Nick Telson-Sillett in the hot seat taking us through his journey, from bootstrapping Design My Night (and having to survive on stolen snacks) to a £30+ million exit, to raising venture capital for his SaaS venture, Trumpet, and building Sequel, an investment fund for professional athletes.
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Data Corner
Which sectors are shining?
2023 was a tough year for VC, but some sectors are bouncing back in 2024.
Here's a breakdown from team Carta comparing Q1-Q3 of 2023 vs. 2024:
𝗪𝗵𝗼’𝘀 𝗨𝗽: • Hardware: +85% • SaaS: +67% • Adtech: +53% • Medical Devices: +37%
𝗙𝗹𝗮𝘁 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀: • Healthtech: +2% • Fintech: -2%
𝗪𝗵𝗼’𝘀 𝗗𝗼𝘄𝗻: • Education: -31% • Gaming: -39% • Consumer: -44% • Energy: -45%
AI is everywhere and likely up 20%-30%.
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From Podcaster to VC: The New Trend in Tech Investing
So, we’re in a world where podcasts are the new black. Everyone’s got one, from your neighbor with a mic and a dream to heavyweights like Harry Stebbings, host of the 20VC podcast. If you haven't heard (welcome back from under your rock), he continues his pivot from podcaster to VC with the close of a $400M fund for European tech.
It’s got me wondering: Is this the new trajectory for podcasters? Start chatting about startups, and before you know it, boom—you’re running a fund worth hundreds of millions. Should I be calling up investors next, or maybe just celebrating that Fundraising Demystified hit 1,000 subscribers (humblebrag)? Either way, let’s unpack this whole podcaster-to-VC trend because it’s fascinating, and a little complicated.
The Podcaster-Venture Capital Pipeline
Podcasts like 20VC (and, not to toot my own horn, Fundraising Demystified) have become more than just casual entertainment. They’re legit sources of knowledge, where founders and investors get to speak candidly about what works, and what doesn’t. When you’re a podcaster with access to all this insight, it’s not surprising that eventually, you might think, “Hey, I know how this game works. Why not get in on the action?”
I wrote about why every founder should start a newsletter in a previous edition, but should every founder start a podcast?
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Podcast Fame ≠ VC Success
Let’s not pretend that just because you’ve got a mic, you’re destined to crush it in venture capital. Sure, podcasting opens doors. It builds relationships and offers a front-row seat to the hottest trends in the startup world. But running a fund? That requires deep pockets, a stomach for risk, and the ability to say "no" more often than "yes."
And not to mention, VC is already a tight-knit club. Do we really need more podcast-VC crossovers, or are we just creating another echo chamber where everyone is recycling the same ideas? The startup ecosystem thrives on diversity of thought, and if every investor has the same background (hosting a podcast, for instance), we could end up with lotsa groupthink—and nobody wants that.
The Good, the Bad, and the Podcasty
Still, this trend is fun. Podcasters-turned-VCs bring a fresh, media-savvy perspective. They know how to tell a story, they understand the pulse of the community, and they can leverage their networks in ways that traditional VCs might not. But there’s also a danger of podcasting turning into the next hype machine, where every startup that gets a mic in front of them is the next big thing—until they’re not.
At the end of the day, Harry Stebbings’ $400M fund is impressive, no doubt. And it’s a path that other podcasters might look to follow. But as for me? I think I’ll stick with what I know for now: talking about about access to capital on Fundraising Demystified.
Who knows—maybe one day I’ll jump into VC too. But for now, I’m just happy to keep hitting record and seeing where the conversation takes me.
So, will podcasters become the next big wave of VCs? Maybe. Or maybe we’ll just keep telling stories, asking questions, and hitting milestones like 1k subs. If you aren't part of the OG 1k, subscribe here and be part of the next 1k!
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