In a roundtable conversation, a16z speedrun investors share the signals they value most, common mistakes, and plans to improve the application process for founders
Reading this now waiting to hear back for SR06. Good insight into the thought process. Would be great to read something like this again after the next round to get a feel for what y’all are seeing come in and best practices for applicants & lessons learned again on your end.
You mentioned that market size TAM is a factor. Of course, I expect you drill down to other signals, for determining an industry's attractiveness. This leads me to my first question for you: When you evaluate these markets, what specific factors or signals do you prioritise to identify those promising white spaces?
Overcoming a prevailing narrative that an industry's innovation cycle is "over" is a major hurdle.
In your experience, what is the most effective way to reframe that conversation?
How would you build a compelling case to convince investors to look past their pattern recognition and see the specific opportunity a founder has identified?
I'm very interested to learn more about your framework for this.
Great article, very illuminating! As far as planned improvements to the application process, I think something that would be really helpful to both you the partners and we the applicants would be a simple checklist in your review UI where you can quickly tick off the reason(s) why you’re rejecting the application. Something like:
This is amazing !!
Gold!
Don't be suprised if I get into SR006 💪🏼
Thank you for sharing. 👏🏾⚡
This is very insightful! Thank you.
1000000000
Very Helpful!!
Reading this now waiting to hear back for SR06. Good insight into the thought process. Would be great to read something like this again after the next round to get a feel for what y’all are seeing come in and best practices for applicants & lessons learned again on your end.
Thanks!
This is really helpful! Thank you!
So much learning! Thanks
You mentioned that market size TAM is a factor. Of course, I expect you drill down to other signals, for determining an industry's attractiveness. This leads me to my first question for you: When you evaluate these markets, what specific factors or signals do you prioritise to identify those promising white spaces?
Overcoming a prevailing narrative that an industry's innovation cycle is "over" is a major hurdle.
In your experience, what is the most effective way to reframe that conversation?
How would you build a compelling case to convince investors to look past their pattern recognition and see the specific opportunity a founder has identified?
I'm very interested to learn more about your framework for this.
Great article, very illuminating! As far as planned improvements to the application process, I think something that would be really helpful to both you the partners and we the applicants would be a simple checklist in your review UI where you can quickly tick off the reason(s) why you’re rejecting the application. Something like:
• Traction
• Team
• TAM
• Description
• Other