I’m excited to share the latest episode of The Venture Variety Show. And this one feels particularly special because I’m collaborating with another Substack voice: Doug Levin, author of Lessons from a Startup Life.
Doug is not only a seasoned entrepreneur (best known as the founder of Black Duck Software) but also a Harvard lecturer, startup advisor and investor. In this episode, we dive into his perspectives on what founders need to know right now, from fundraising to exits, and how the AI boom since the launch of ChatGPT is reshaping the landscape.
Episode Highlights
🔶 Why investors today are drawn to small, nimble teams, especially in AI
🔶 How the explosion of AI startups post-ChatGPT mirrors (and differs from) past tech booms
🔶 Why product-market fit is not a one-time milestone but an evolving journey
🔶 Why founders should “always be thinking about the exit,” even in the earliest days
🔶 The growing importance of AI product managers and explainability in the funding process
Doug’s reflections on how thousands of startups have surged into the AI space—many of which are currently riding the wave of gen AI tools—really stood out to me. But even with all the hype, founders still need to learn the same basics of startup life: traction, differentiation and a smart plan.
Listen Now
🎧 Click on the video at the top to play the full episode. You can also follow The Venture Variety Show on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube.
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