Why Big Funds Back AI and Perplexity

\"You've just got to be tracking them. You've got to put a lot of effort into seeing the ones that you want to see in advance... you can't be looking at everything equally.\"

• Network with potential investors well before fundraising.
• Focus on VCs aligned with your vision.
• Prioritize building deep connections over broad outreach.

\"You don't want to be paying twice the price of someone else for the same risk. That feels like an idiot... as Jason said, six, nine months later, probably if it's a good deal, that's when you should be engaging.\"

• Consider market conditions before raising funds.
• Avoid overvaluation that could hinder future rounds.
• Plan fundraising strategically based on growth.

\"CEOs are trying to give folks shock therapy, and I don't know that anyone's listening, but hey, at least he said it ahead of time. Your job is at risk.\"

• Communicate the urgency of AI adoption.
• Provide training and resources for team adaptation.
• Lead by example in embracing AI.

\"I do believe we are in a world of fewer, bigger winners, and that rolls up and down the entire venture ecosystem.\"

• Focus on strategies leading to significant outcomes.
• Prioritize initiatives with massive growth potential.

\"I just think people that have budget will spend a lot to not lose their jobs. So if you're that one app for the CRO, the CMO... where if they spend six figures on you, the odds that they won't lose their job, you will find budget.\"

• Position AI products as essential solutions.
• Address customer fears to drive sales.
• Offer tangible value to secure budgets.

\"The only advice I gave to this particular CEO is... I said, of course, 100% of people returned to the office in 30 days and let everyone go except your S-tier engineers... because you don't need them.\"

• In-person collaboration can increase urgency.
• Retain top talent to drive AI adoption.
• Set clear expectations to accelerate change.

\"I think there's a ton to be done there. It takes someone who's not focused on the pure technical stuff and not focused on raising, you know, $500 billion, and it looks like this is that person.\"

• OpenAI's app strategy could create new AI markets.
• Non-technical leadership can drive innovation.

\"Microsoft laid off 33% of their company today. It's not enough. I'm not sure I need 80% of my team today.\"

• AI adoption can significantly reduce staffing needs.
• Evaluate which roles can be automated.
• Balance AI implementation with service quality.

\"I saw the data, the seed and the pre-seed are the belief in the team round, and the A is the show me the traction round, and, you know, belief is easy to manufacture and traction is hard.\"

• Focus on achieving tangible traction before raising Series A.
• Be prepared for tougher scrutiny from investors.
• Consider extending seed stage to build more momentum.

\"I just found out it's 120 million when I read it today. I didn't even know. I didn't even read the document. All I care about is my ownership.\"

• Prepare for rapid fundraising decisions.
• Build investor relationships ahead of time.
• Focus on key investment terms like ownership.