Andy Cloyd

A Venture Studio ignored venture and won. They built for Cashflow, not Venture. Here is how they did it: 20 years ago, an Atlanta-based venture studio operated with a unique approach. Instead of targeting VC or Private Equity, they  focused solely on cash-flow businesses like  professional service firms.  Here are 2 powerful lessons every studio can learn from their model: ------ 1. Funding Mechanism: A Line of Credit - Companies were funded via a line of credit, not equity capital.  - Portcos had to become cash flow neutral within 18 months—recycling capital quickly.  - Reduced funding needs = Faster scalability. This setup created discipline. Each month, portfolio founders had to justify every dollar spent. Want to hire McKinsey? Nope—do it internally.  Result? Founders learned to obsess over cash flow—an essential entrepreneurial muscle.  --- 2. Picking Founders Wisely  Successful founders were not running from bad employers. Instead, they were executives who always dreamed of building something but lacked the timing or resources earlier in life.  These proven leaders had:   - Strong networks   - Deep domain expertise   - Relentless drive to finally fulfill their vision  They thrived almost every time.  P.S. Which of these lessons resonates with you? 👇 Best, Matthew Burris

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Lately I’m hearing more founders being told to delay revenue to make early growth metrics look better for fundraising. I get the logic, but it just feels wrong. Early revenue is an important learning loop. Don’t stunt your business just to package it for VCs

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PSA: if you're curious about what careers in VC can - and do - look like, and how to get started, check out the Careers in VC collection on the Blume Ventures website which has a great compilation of written and video content specifically about this topic. Based on regular inbound requests by many young professionals that our team has received over the years, we've created what I believe to be best-in-class learning content about what working in VC is really like, how you can get started, and more importantly, how you should shift your mindset to ready yourself for a long and rewarding career in this industry. I recommend starting with the Youtube playlist Careers in VC followed by reading Venture Capital: A Deep Apprenticeship, Breaking Into VC: A Rough Guide and Compounding Careers in VC. Questions welcome in the comments below! https://lnkd.in/gviGfm3r

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Success in VC meetings isn't just about the call itself. It's about what you do before and after. Here's how to stand out: Before the Call: Send a reminder 24 hours in advance - Include your deck and any prep materials - Ensures your info is fresh in their mind Research the VC and prepare thoughtful questions - Show you've done your homework - Demonstrates genuine interest in their firm During the Call: Ask about their process and next steps - Shows you're serious and organized - Helps you plan your follow-up After the Call: Send a follow-up email within 24 hours - Recap key points discussed - Confirm next steps - Thank them for their time If applicable, send any additional info promised during the call Remember, only about 1% of founders nail the follow-up. Be in that 1%. These small actions can significantly boost your chances of securing that crucial second meeting. What's your go-to follow-up strategy after a VC call?

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A lesser talked about aspect of fundraising that I’m lately thinking about is *founder-fund fit*. Most times, we as investors tend to make a decision about the founder and their idea or company within 5 minutes of conversation (with list of checkboxes to tick off) - same applies on the other side too wherein founders tend to focus more on the round size, valuation and who-offers-first. While team, market size, and execution agency are all considered, sometimes VCs and founders lack clarity on what true founder-fund fit looks like for them. Here’s the catch: a myopic way of evaluation hurts both sides. Founders end up feeling they weren’t understood holistically, and VCs make hasty judgments based on surface-level patterns. Knowing what founder-fund fit looks like for you as a business and as an investor enables more honest, comfortable conversations. It requires deeper introspection from both parties. VCs need to ask: "Does this founder fit the persona we're looking for?" And founders must consider: "Does this fund fit the persona I want to take a decade-long journey with?" High levels of value alignment with their investors, empower companies to take more bets, experiment and ultimately generate outsized returns, since they have co-creators through the ups and downs of the journey. VC is a business of judgment, but it has to come from a place of self-awareness, not hidden biases or assumptions that overlook the nuances of true alignment.

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