What I look for 🦄

July 24, 2023

Hi friends,

It’s been a long week. London, Toronto… I’m looking forward to being back in NY for a little bit. I can’t believe the summer is halfway over. If we haven’t connected in a while, hmu. Alright, that’s it. On with today’s post…

What do I look for in startups?

At Flybridge, we assess many factors when evaluating startups. I’ve picked up a number of tips from @bussgang and the rest of the team over the years. Here are five things we look for in assessing early-stage startups:

1) Miracle workers:

Sometimes, founders achieve feats that seem impossible. It could be hiring a former CTO from a renowned company, or securing a major contract with an industry giant. Miracles turn obstacles into opportunities.

2) Paranoid optimists:

There's a delicate balance between optimism and paranoia. Great founders believe everything will work out in the long run, while simultaneously developing backup plans. The “Panglossian Paradox.”

3) Pied Pipers:

Successful founders are people magnets like the folklore of Pied Piper. A Pied Piper attracts exceptional talent; highly skilled team members align with a startup's vision and culture. Good people drive great execution.

4) Growth mindsets:

Founders must be willing to learn from their mistakes. They surround themselves with A+ advisors and mentors. They develop mastery outside their initial areas of expertise. Great founders understand the juxtaposition of mindsets.

5) Charismatic Enigmas

The best founders uplift others without any hidden agenda or push for personal gain. Their ideas ignite a genuine passion in others, rather than being manipulative. Selling a dream doesn't require a sales pitch, it requires charisma.

Every investor has their own specific criteria—this is just a shortlist of a few we use at Flybridge (we use many more).

Thank you for reading.

Until next time,

Jesse

👋 Hi, I’m Jesse, a seed-stage VC at Flybridge. If you find a fast-growing niche or paradigm shift in the future of work, reply to this email with 1-2 short, compelling paragraphs. I answer as many emails as humanly possible.