Christophe Lindstrom

Over the years, we at GFR Fund have solidified our investment thesis, which is that we invest in "emerging digitally native communities." These communities can be built around games, social media, and any consumer applications. Now, founders have many easy-to-use tools to build user communities, such as Discord, X/twitter, Instagram, etc, and we believe the founders should start building communities even before they launch a product. The communities can help founders: - reach PMF faster - acquire users cheaper - retain and engage users longer - build better UX/UI, and - hire early employees Below, you can see how RTFKT and Omeda Studios built the community and then worked with them to create a product the users really wanted. We would love to talk to the founders who think the community is essential in building a product!

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“When people aren't having any fun, they seldom produce good work.” — David Ogilvy I was delighted to be reminded of this classic Ogilvy-ism in our fabulous conversation with Russ Somers 👓 🎸, Chief Marketing Officer at Quantified.ai. His perspectives on AI implementation were enlightening, for sure, but what really struck me were his thoughts on the personal aspects of getting started. Russ emphasized the importance of play, discovery, and starting from a personal place rather than diving straight into work. This approach is often overlooked, to the detriment of the explorer, and the organization. One of Russ's key insight was the importance of avoiding complacency. It's easy to get comfortable and settle into routines, but true progress requires us to challenge ourselves and push beyond the familiar. For whatever reason (I call it “care”), folks tend to demand more excellence from solutions to personal concerns than to work-imposed ones. So starting with a personal project is an exceptional hack to invoke care. So, here’s the takeaway: to discover the value of GenAI, start personal. Real change happens when we stay engaged and keep pushing forward, and if you want to see real change with this powerful technology quickly, your biggest barrier is summoning your own activation energy. I’d love to hear your thoughts on this. Drop a comment below. And if you're interested in more practical insights, click the link in the comments to listen to the full podcast episode. It’s packed with valuable takeaways!

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We partnered with Walter Thompson, former TechCrunch editor to create Fund/Build/Scale as a podcast to provide actionable advice to ideation stage AI founders. The final episode of our 10 part series features Manish Chandra and Dheeraj Pandey, two Mayfield serial entrepreneurs who have built iconic consumer and enterprise companies - Poshmark and Nutanix. Their evergreen learnings should be a great guide to founders who are starting their journey: 1. Prioritize reducing friction from every process. 2. Embrace a design-first mentality from Day Zero. 3.It’s tricky, but you need to find the right balance between confidence and humility. 4. You are the face of the company, so “keep it 💯.” 5. Idea-stage founders have more freedom than CEOs of public companies.  6. Building a strong personal network is part of your job. Listen to podcast here: https://lnkd.in/esgqH7y3

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On the heels of the big Suno fundraise announcement today, I thought it would be timely to share this discussion around how AI will impact creative industries and talent from our recent panel at the Milken Institute Global Conference. As discussed, it is clear that Gen AI tools will greatly increase the number of people who experiment with creating content, most of whom could never have otherwise created this content and none of whom currently create this content professionally or commercially. This will 1,000,000x the amount of content produced and available for consumption. That said, I believe that general consumers will continue to gravitate toward the highest quality content. This goes for everything from written content, to music, to animation, film, and beyond. The idea that Suno song creation is replacing general music fans' time spent listening to music on Spotify or other DSPs is asinine. That said, it is clearly a fun tool to experiment with, allowing thousands of people who never could have otherwise created a song to create a song - I've used it quite a bit to prompt a handful of tech house kpop songs about living in Berlin. It will be interesting to see how much of their funding goes toward legal bills or more likely licensing the music which is currently being used to train their model. At Patron we’re most interested in companies looking to leverage Gen AI technologies to reshape how professional content creators build a business around their creative talent and output. We believe strongly that this represents a huge opportunity to turn static media formats into more interactive and replayable experiences, and to completely change how creative talent producing written content, webtoons/comics, songs, animation, video, and games can better earn a living off of their creative output. #MIGlobal #GenAI

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This is a must listen to for anyone B2B founder. How to figure out Product Market Fit. One of best frameworks I've seen in a while. https://lnkd.in/ghSmhVNB

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I had a lot of fun recording a podcast episode with Shiva Singh Sangwan. We discussed the evolution of Humba Ventures & Susa Ventures; tips for raising and building a fund; how to improve investment sourcing & picking; the role of luck in investing, and so on. https://lnkd.in/eiqsStej

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Yesterday I had the pleasure of chatting with Prashant Choubey on his podcast VC10X! We dove deep into the main differences between angel funds, angel syndicates and VC funds. It was an easy conversation with someone who knows about the space, creating amazing content 🤩 This episode is PACKED with practical tips that will give you the first steps on angel investing and also how to move to a portfolio approach if you have started investing already. Check out the other episodes while mine is being brewed (link in the comments below) 👇

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🔥 We’ve had an amazing response to our Wizly Amplify sessions since we started in January 2024 and are creating more exclusive sessions designed for Founders, CXOs, and Investors to interact and problem-solve with seasoned subject matter experts who work as fractional leaders on projects and advisory. 📅 For the next two sessions, I am calling on founders and leaders in the D2C space for our upcoming Breakfast with Wizly sessions coming up on May 7 & May 14. 🔔 Crafting a Profitable Growth Strategy for Your D2C Brand with ex Victoria’s Secret & Bath & Body Works GTM & Retail expert Sona Rai Aggarwal. Register to attend-https://lnkd.in/gFU3ybzp 🔔 Skyrocket the Bottomline for your D2C Business with Dyson’s ex-Head of Strategy Gemma Maguire. Register to attend- https://lu.ma/8kszdnnb Why join the Wizly Amplify Series?  Immerse yourself in a confidential, exclusive environment, where proprietary insights are exchanged freely. Engage with industry titans and visionary founders as you delve into structured discussions, drawing inspiration from real-world use cases and collaborating to generate actionable solutions. And yes, we also play games in some to help you intelligently think about balancing and pulling the right levers as you grow your business. ​*Wizly Amplify is a series of exclusive closed-door sessions designed for Founders, CXOs, and Investors to interact with seasoned subject matter experts to discuss and help solve specific business problems, creating a dynamic platform for collaborative problem-solving. Chatham House rules apply for the sessions where we curate the guest list to ensure attendees can brainstorm ideas that trigger actionable solutions with the right people. #growth #challenges #scaling #d2c #founders

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Diving deep into our past, we've thrived for 300,000 years in the warmth of family and tribe. But now, we're lost 80% of the time in the digital maze we've built, the virtual world. https://lnkd.in/gx4KhSJg #VR #AI #metaverse

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Prime Coalition has long taken a different tack to climate finance compared to its for-profit brethren. It makes the usual venture-style investments in startups through Azolla Ventures and also helps philanthropists direct their money to climate-related projects that it deems high impact. Trellis Climate follows the latter model with a focus on middle stages, where capital has grown scarce. #climatetech #climateVC #climatefinance

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Early stage investors often weight investment criteria heavily on technological innovation, market size, and management teams. Great tech requires a solid management team to thrive. In my opinion, the best management teams hustle and work hard; learn, evolve, and survive; and are honest, upfront, and transparent with their stakeholders. The foregoing describes Cayley Pater and 🌱 Andy Ives at Made Trade. Made Trade is an impact venture that continues to grow and succeed in an unpredictable funding market. If you bet heavily on management teams, Cayley Pater and 🌱 Andy Ives are a bet worth considering. They are also good for a laugh, which, while not an investable quality, makes business interactions fun!

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I sat down with Rebecca Lynn, Co-Founder of Canvas Ventures, an early-stage VC fund with almost $900 Million AUM. She's a 25-year fintech veteran and 5x Forbes Midas list honoree. In this Fintech Leaders episode, we discuss: - Data-driven marketing and go-to-market strategies - How startups should think about preparing for M&A opportunities   - What great entrepreneurs have in common - The areas of fintech where AI is making an actual difference   - Challenges of building a VC fund from scratch … and a lot more!

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“You can have a great product, but a compelling story puts the company in motion” - Ben Horowitz Understanding your company’s narrative is crucial when looking for investment. 🚀🚀🚀 Particularly in DeepTech where a good narrative makes complex ideas easy to grasp and compelling to hear. It involves more than throwing together some facts and figures; it’s about finding a message that resonates with your audience on a deeper level. It should never be a one-off effort. It should always be a continuous process of refinement through iteration, collaboration, and honest feedback. 🔁 What problem are you trying to solve? Have you asked your customers? Have you solicited honest feedback? In the end, it's about answering the all-important question… Why should they care? 🤘 #narrative #venturebuilder #deeptech Cambridge Future Tech

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Reaching out to potential investors is critical in securing the funding your startup needs to thrive. A well-crafted investor outreach strategy can make all the difference. 1. Identify the Right Investors Start by researching and identifying investors with a history of investing in your industry and stage. Look for those whose investment philosophy aligns with your business model and growth potential. Leverage platforms like LinkedIn, AngelList, and Crunchbase. 2. Craft a Compelling Narrative Your story matters. Create a compelling narrative that highlights your startup’s mission, vision, and the problem you’re solving. Explain why your solution is unique and how it addresses a significant market need. Make sure this narrative is consistent across all your communication materials. 3. Build a Targeted Outreach List Once you’ve identified potential investors, build a targeted outreach list. Include details about their previous investments, interests, and any mutual connections. Personalize your outreach efforts to show that you’ve done your homework and are genuinely interested in partnering with them. 4. Leverage Your Network Use your existing network to get warm introductions to potential investors. A personal introduction from a mutual contact can significantly increase your chances of getting a meeting. Attend industry events, join entrepreneurial communities, and actively participate in networking opportunities. 5. Prepare High-Quality Materials Ensure your pitch deck, business plan, and financial projections are polished and ready to impress. Highlight key metrics, market opportunities, and your team’s strengths. Use clear, concise language and compelling visuals to make your case. 6. Utilize Multiple Channels Reach out through various channels. Tailor your approach to each channel, keeping your messages professional and engaging. Follow up appropriately without being too pushy. 7. Be Persistent but Respectful Persistence is key, but respect the investor’s time and boundaries. If you don’t get a response, follow up after a reasonable period. Show that you’re serious and committed but also considerate and professional. 8. Schedule Regular Updates Keep potential investors informed about your progress, even if they haven’t committed. Regular updates on milestones, product developments, and market achievements can keep them engaged and interested in your startup’s journey. 9. Practice Your Pitch Be prepared to pitch at any time. Practice delivering your pitch confidently and concisely, anticipating questions and objections. 10. Seek Feedback and Iterate After each investor interaction, seek feedback and refine your approach. Continuous improvement is crucial in perfecting your outreach strategy and increasing your chances of success. Are you raising funds? We, at A1 Advisory can help. Reach out to me. #StartupFunding #InvestorOutreach #Entrepreneurship #BusinessStrategy #VentureCapital #StartupGrowth #InvestmentPitch #Networking

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Amongst the most successful VCs in consumer in the past decade has been Kirsten Green at Forerunner So I asked her all about how startups can navigate the 70% reduction in consumer investing & why now might be the best time for VCs to look harder at the category. I loved this discussion. I always learn something from Kirsten. Click below to watch / listen https://lnkd.in/g3kiMPD5

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The sports venture ecosystem is booming! New startups, huge growth verticals and emerging leagues. Knowing how to navigate it all takes a tremendous amount of first had experience and industry knowledge. Why it's important is because founder and investors want to know where to look for deals, capital availability and outsized returns. We have really carved out a unique swim lane at Champion Venture Partners. -We don't do startups. We invest in growth stage companies, post product market fit and ready to scale. -If you can't have some control in the outcome then you are just gambling. This is exactly why (just like other huge firms deploy KPMG or similar) we deploy a Sports Mgmt Co, lead by Kyle Auffray, to jump into the fray and add value, -We bring on the best talent in the industry that these companies couldn't normally afford. -We let retail investors play right alongside the big hitters in sports deals they only dream they could play in -Liquidity points that are unheard of in this space and a secondaries trading platform We know how to navigate it all and do a damn good job being experts in our industry. So if you are a growth stage founder, jump in here: https://lnkd.in/gQ-3DhQ9 If you are an investor want to know where to look, just reach out!

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His career started when someone said to him, “well, have you thought about venture capital? We don’t think that you’d be any good at it.” The rest is history. Today’s Alt Goes Mainstream episode features one of the legends of the venture capital industry. Peter Barris joined New Enterprise Associates (NEA) in 1992 after a storied operating career as President and COO at Legent Corporation and an executive at GE Information Services. He served as Managing General Partner and Chairman of NEA from 1999 to March 2024. Under Peter's leadership, NEA saw tremendous success, growing into one of the world's largest venture capital firms and raising the largest-ever venture capital fund a number of times. Today, NEA's AUM stands over $25B. Peter was responsible for investing in a number of foundational and industry-transforming technology companies, including Salesforce, UUNET, Groupon, WebMD, Workday, CareerBuilder, Tempus AI, and more. We had a fascinating discussion about the early days of venture capital and how the industry has evolved. We covered: * The inside story of how almost every other Partner said no but Peter's investment turned out to be a 75x return. * What's the “best characteristic and the death characteristic” of an entrepreneur? * In today's hypercompetitive market do VCs have enough time to make good decisions? * Why the world of venture capital is about influence. * What does it mean to earn an entrepreneur’s trust as a VC? * Why VCs with operating backgrounds can bring unique value to startups. * How NEA came up with the term "Venture Growth Equity." * How can a VC tell that a founder is good at experimentation and that they have the good judgment? * Why specialization and domain expertise are prerequisites in today’s venture industry. Thanks to Ultimus Fund Solutions for sponsoring this episode of the Alt Goes Mainstream podcast. Thanks Peter for coming on the show. It was an honor and a pleasure to hear your views on the evolution of an industry and for you to share your wisdom and experiences. https://lnkd.in/eEJGEFWe

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😊 I was thrilled, and very proud, watching my friend Tristan Elizabeth Gribbin, pitch her company, Flow - Meditation for modern life, at the annual AWE tech conference in Los Angeles. 🙏 Meditation isn't just a trend; it's a scientifically-backed practice with powerful benefits. Regular meditation can reduce anxiety by up to 39% and decrease symptoms of depression by 30%. It also boosts focus - a 10 minute daily session improves attention spans by 16%. Remarkably, it can even reduce the risk of heart disease by 48%. Namaste! 📺 Check out Tristan pitching in the YouTube video she has linked below. Fast-forward to 12:15 in the video. #innovation #creativity #leadership #managment #venturecapital

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