08 Takeaways: Charles Hudson, Precursor Ventures: macro, team vs market, fund size vs. outcomes
Highlights:
- Don’t forget the macro: Government regulations can lead to massive opportunities or failures. We discuss case studies of companies like Samsara, Movtive (fka KeepTrucking), Republic, and Zum, showing how regulatory shifts led to category-creating opportunities. Charles’ worst investment was wiped out due to changes in government regulation.
- Team vs market: We discussed the interplay between having the right team, idea, and timing for startup success. Charles evaluates opportunities 70% team and 30% idea. Both Aamir and I take a more balanced approach than Charles does.
- Fund size vs. outcomes: Reflecting on the past learning, "Your fund size is your strategy." We wonder what role that played in Charles’ decision to invest in the Athletic, later acquired by the NY Times for $550M.
Links:
- Follow Charles Hudson on Twitter: @chudson
- Read Charles’ blog on Substack
- Learn more about Precursor Ventures: Precursor Ventures
- Connect with Charles Hudson on LinkedIn: Charles Hudson
Connect with Us:
- Follow the First Funders Podcast
- Newsletter with behind-the-scenes access and key takeaways
- Twitter/X: @shaherose | @avirani
- Email us with feedback and suggestions on topics and guests
Disclaimer: This is for information purposes only. This is not investment advice.
Creators and Guests
Host
Aamir Virani
Helped 50+ orgs grow product and scale teams.Software Engineer ➡️ Product Manager ➡️ Founder (Nest Cam fka Dropcam) 🔀 Investor, CRE, Founder@pifgov 2021
Host
Shaherose Charania
Venture Investing at @CakeVentures and @joindvc | Always helping founders | Raised on Atari, MS-DOS, Bollywood & Hip Hop. 🇨🇦in 🇺🇸
Guest
Charles Hudson
Managing Partner @precursorvc. Fan of @chelseafc @lafc @lions and all things Michigan. Most days in Jackson Square in SF. I invest $250-500K at pre-seed or seed
