4.4 • 637 Ratings
🗓️ 27 April 2016
⏱️ 24 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
John Frankel is the founding partner of ff Venture Capital and has been an early-stage investor since 1999. He has served on the boards of more than 35 companies and has led investments in more than 80 companies, including Cornerstone OnDemand (CSOD), Indiegogo, Ionic Security, Unikey, Socure, Skycatch, Plated, 500px, Distil Networks, and Bottlenose. Prior to founding ffVC, John worked at Goldman Sachs for 21 years in a variety of roles that involved technology development, reengineering and capital markets. At Goldman Sachs, he worked closely with some of the world’s leading hedge fund managers and developed a keen understanding of emerging technologies and portfolio risk/return management.
1.) How did John make the move from Oxford grad to NYC venture capitalist?
2.) How has the massive decrease in startup costs affected the seed funding environment? How does David identify the startups he invests in with the plethora that are now available?
3.) How much of an extent is portfolio a branding tool for VCs? In recent years we have seen the rise of the operational VC model with the likes of Andreesen, will this continue as a prominent model in VC?
4.) How as a seed investor does John advise his founders when chasing a valuation that will only lead to a down round? What is John's views on the dreaded down round?
5.) Many companies pivot in the process? Does John like to see pivots? If pivoting what is it important for founders to remember and focus on?
Items Mentioned In Today's Episode:
John's Fave Book: The Accidental Superpower
John's Most Recent Investment: Wade and Wendy
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0:00.0 | You are back with the 20-minute VC and your host Harry Stebbings, who you can add on Snapchat at H. Stebbings |
0:06.0 | to see the insides of the world's greatest and up-and-coming VCs and start-ups. |
0:11.0 | And joining me stay in the hot seat, I'm delighted to welcome a unique guest. |
0:15.0 | He is England-born, Oxford Educated, and now one of New York's leading seed funders. |
0:20.3 | I'm delighted to welcome John Frankel, |
0:22.5 | founding partner at FF Venture Capital. Having been an early stage investor since 1999, he's served |
0:29.0 | on the boards of more than 35 companies and has led investments in more than 80 companies, |
0:34.5 | including the lights of Cornerstone on demand, Indiegogo, Ionic Security, Skycatch, |
0:40.6 | and many, many more. And prior to founding FF, John worked at Goldman Sachs for 21 years, |
0:46.4 | where he worked closely with some of the world's leading hedge fund managers. I have to admit, |
0:50.8 | I absolutely love today's show as it's really a chance for me and John to geek out on the macro VC market, so if all you're going to love this one. |
0:58.8 | But before I introduce John, I want to thank the team at Lisa Mattresses. |
1:02.7 | I've been sleeping really well lately, and this isn't just due to the increase in mehito consumption. |
1:07.2 | I recently bought a Lisa mattress, and it is just incredible, engineered to perfection |
1:12.4 | with three unique layers, two inches of memory foam and two inches of latex light foam designed to keep |
1:18.6 | you cool at night. Perfect for the summer. I'm sure there are also many other reasons people get |
1:23.4 | hot in bed too, but this latex like foam will keep you cool. So to get your hands on one of these |
1:28.8 | perfectly crafted mattresses, which all are made in the US and UK, and can be shipped right to your |
1:34.7 | door if you live in the UK, US or Canada, then head over to Lisa.com forward slash VC. That's |
1:40.6 | L-E-E-E-S-A.com forward slash VC. And type in VC-75 at checkout to get a cracking $75 off. |
1:49.1 | I'd also urge you to sign up for the Matamock Daily for the best startup and VC articles |
1:53.7 | from my main man, Nick Frost, at Thinker on Twitter. |
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