Bijal N.

I've been making this argument privately for months. Today we put it in writing. The market is rebalancing from valuations earned in a prior era to those with durability in a new one. This restructuring is largely supply-side, not demand-side. The players didn't leave but the incumbent cost structure did. The same conditions that look like a market in crisis from one vantage point look like the best early-stage entry point in a decade from another.

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🚀 a16z just raised $15B — and it says a lot about where Silicon Valley is headed. Andreessen Horowitz isn’t just raising capital — it’s reinforcing a very clear story it’s been telling for years. They’re arguably the best-marketed firm in venture capital, but more importantly, their narrative matches their actions. a16z doesn’t want to just back the future — it wants to build it, shape it, and own the ecosystem around it. What this means for founders 👇 • More capital for ambitious, category-defining companies • Strong signal that big, bold visions still win in Silicon Valley • Expect continued focus on platforms, infra, AI, biotech, defense, fintech — not small ideas What this means for smaller funds 👇 • Differentiation matters more than ever • Niche focus, hands-on support, and early conviction become the edge • You don’t compete with a16z by being bigger — you compete by being closer Silicon Valley continues to reward firms (and founders) who think at scale and execute with conviction. The takeaway? This isn’t about one fund getting bigger. It’s about the ecosystem doubling down on building the future — aggressively. Curious how founders and emerging managers are thinking about this shift 👇 #startups #investors #venture

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This week we’re officially launching Lore’s beta into the world. Lore was built for the kind of curiosity that doesn’t stop at a headline or a feed. It was built for those who follow the impulse to ask questions, connect ideas, and actually understand the stories, worlds, and culture we care about. Our first live feature, Rabbitholes, turns fragmented information into structured paths, helping curiosity become something you can build on instead of lose track of. This has been a long, quiet build shaped by fans, creators, and early users who believe the internet can be more thoughtful, more organized, and more human. Grateful to everyone who helped get this across the finish line. This is just the beginning!!! Here’s an early look at what’s coming next :)

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I very much struggled to accurately describe the relationship between a founder and a VC in the past years. Maybe until today, when I stumbled across a post by Pieter Kemps (who quotes his former partner Mohit): “The founder is the pilot, flying the plane. Constantly communicating with the ground staff, the control tower at the airport. The person in the tower? That’s the investor. Are we pilots? No.  Can we ever fly the plane better than the pilot? No. But: we do have a unique vantage point. We’ve seen thousands of planes take off, fly, and land. We see patterns across the best flights. We can spot potential collisions early. And we see other planes in the air — future partners, customers, acquirers. Different roles. Different visibility. Same destination.” Small addition from my side: While I agree that the founder (and pilot) may know the respective problem, product, team, customers (the flight environment) better: Sometimes, it helps as an investor (and control tower) to have been a 'pilot' before to really understand how much up-and-down a flight can be, which nicely adds to the discussion that we need more VC funds run by former entrepreneurs (👋🏻 10x Founders).

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Mark Rogerson MBE I agree. For established enterprise software businesses, the reality has always been the same: innovate or decline. Private equity can bring capital, focus and operational discipline, but sustained value creation still comes down to product relevance, continuous innovation and customer success. What has changed is the acceleration driven by AI. The opportunity is enormous, but so is the responsibility. In enterprise environments, the biggest risks remain security, accountability and reliability. These are not abstract concerns. They sit at the core of customer trust. My view is simple: if AI generates code, a human is still accountable for it. Even if something else has written it, someone must read it, understand it and take responsibility for it. That is not a technical limitation. It is a governance and safety requirement. Enterprise software buyers still buy from people they trust. Relationships matter. Reputation matters. And accountability matters even more in an AI enabled world. The businesses that win will be those that combine: • Continuous innovation • Rigorous oversight • Strong customer relationships • Clear ownership of outcomes Speed without control creates risk. Control without innovation creates stagnation. The balance is where long term value is built.

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Command the Room Like a Leader Using These Expert Tips Discover how vocal coaching can bridge the gap between your brilliant ideas and how you express them. Laura Sicola, founder of Vocal Impact Productions, shares insights on why speaking like a CEO is crucial, not just for attracting investors but for building trust with customers and employees. Learn her top strategies for commanding a room, connecting with your audience, and closing deals. Key Learning Points: - Establish Your Goal: Begin with the end in mind—clarify what you want your audience to think, understand, or feel. Impact them on cognitive, behavioral, and emotional levels. - Cultivate Your Prismatic Voice: Authentically adapt your communication style based on context. Identify the qualities you want your audience to see in you and tailor your approach accordingly. - Measure Your Baseline: Use video analysis to identify habits that may undermine your pitch. Assess both content and delivery to refine your message and enhance your impact. - Presentation Tips: Fine-tune your delivery with practical tips—meet your audience on their level, convey the "why" behind your story, and pay attention to punctuation for confident and authoritative communication. Read the full article for a transformative guide to elevating your communication skills and dominate any room! #LeadershipSkills #ExecutivePresence #CommunicationTips #BusinessSuccess #VocalCoaching

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