Published Jan 6, 2025

20VC: How To Do a 10x Seed Fund in 2025 | Three Frameworks to Evaluate Startups an Founders | Lessons from Losing Billions Missing Airbnb and Pinterest & Investing Lessons from Charlie Munger with Mike Maples @ Floodgate

Mike Maples of Floodgate shares his wealth of venture capital insights, from achieving a 10x seed fund to evaluating startups through innovative frameworks. He delves into the art of timing exits, the peril of overfunding without product-market fit, and timeless investment lessons inspired by Charlie Munger.

Episode Highlights

Topics covered

Questions from this episode

- How do you know if you have product-market fit?
  Asked by 150 people
- How does AI change venture capital?
  Asked by 25 people
- How does artificial intelligence change venture capital?
  Asked by 13 people
- Do you have any advice from startup founders?
  Asked by 12 people
- How does AI change venture capital in the context of the episode Prof G Markets: Google’s Quantum Breakthrough & The World Cup Goes to Saudi Arabia and the clip AI Investment Opportunities?
  Asked by 10 people
- What does venture funding allow for in the episode How FOMO, Doom, and Ego Impact Your Money — ft. Morgan Housel | Prof G Markets and the clip Venture Capital Access?
  Asked by 8 people
- What is Vanta?
  Asked by 8 people
- How can startups secure capital?
  Asked by 7 people
- How can the venture ecosystem change?
  Asked by 7 people
- What is the main topic of the clip Musk's Power Play from the episode Prof G Markets: The Most Profitable Year in Banking History, Elon’s Tesla Stake, and Firing People?
  Asked by 6 people
- How do startup founders think as discussed in the episode The Art and Science of Biology's Future and the clip Contrarian Thinking?
  Asked by 5 people
- What is Vanta's compliance software?
  Asked by 5 people
- How has the startup landscape changed since the release of the a16z Podcast episode "Raising Money and Valuing Startups -- What Happens When Things Don't Go As Planned?" and the clip "Changing Perspectives"?
  Asked by 5 people
- What challenges do startups face?
  Asked by 5 people
- How do you evaluate startups effectively?
  Asked by 5 people

20VC: How To Do a 10x Seed Fund in 2025 | Three Frameworks to Evaluate Startups an Founders | Lessons from Losing Billions Missing Airbnb and Pinterest & Investing Lessons from Charlie Munger with Mike Maples @ Floodgate

Topics covered

Popular Clips

Optimism and Product Fit

Product Market Fit

Funding Constraints Matter

Seed Round Strategies

Investment Strategies Unpacked

Founder Future Fit

Founder Insights

Venture Investment Insights

Product Market Fit Dilemma

Government Accountability Reform

Selling Strategies

Follow-On Investing Insights

Follow-On Investing Insights

Investment Decision Dynamics

Questions from this episode

How do you know if you have product-market fit?

How does AI change venture capital?

How does artificial intelligence change venture capital?

Do you have any advice from startup founders?

How does AI change venture capital in the context of the episode Prof G Markets: Google’s Quantum Breakthrough & The World Cup Goes to Saudi Arabia and the clip AI Investment Opportunities?

What does venture funding allow for in the episode How FOMO, Doom, and Ego Impact Your Money — ft. Morgan Housel | Prof G Markets and the clip Venture Capital Access?

What is Vanta?

How can startups secure capital?

How can the venture ecosystem change?

What is the main topic of the clip Musk's Power Play from the episode Prof G Markets: The Most Profitable Year in Banking History, Elon’s Tesla Stake, and Firing People?

How do startup founders think as discussed in the episode The Art and Science of Biology's Future and the clip Contrarian Thinking?

What is Vanta's compliance software?

How has the startup landscape changed since the release of the a16z Podcast episode "Raising Money and Valuing Startups -- What Happens When Things Don't Go As Planned?" and the clip "Changing Perspectives"?

What challenges do startups face?

How do you evaluate startups effectively?

Episode Highlights

Seed Fund Strategies

Evaluating Startups

Exit Strategy Insights

Product-Market Fit Challenges

20VC: How To Do a 10x Seed Fund in 2025 | Three Frameworks to Evaluate Startups an Founders | Lessons from Losing Billions Missing Airbnb and Pinterest & Investing Lessons from Charlie Munger with Mike Maples @ Floodgate

Topics covered

Popular Clips

Questions from this episode

Episode Highlights

Seed Fund Strategies

Evaluating Startups

Exit Strategy InsightsMaples explores the intricacies of timing exits and leveraging market inefficiencies to maximize returns. He shares insights on strategic decision-making and the unpredictable nature of investment outcomes.

Exit Strategy Insights

Product-Market Fit ChallengesMike Maples discusses the critical importance of identifying true product-market fit and the risks associated with overfunding startups before achieving it. He shares insights on how constraints can drive better strategic alignment and value creation.

Product-Market Fit Challenges