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The Value of Being the First Investor: Insights from Ash Fontana

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Manage episode 422939988 series 3517181
Content provided by DayOne.fm. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by DayOne.fm or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://player.fm/legal.

Episode Summary:

In this episode of First Cheque hosts Cheryl Mack and Maxine Minter sit down with the distinguished investor Ash Fontana to explore the intricacies of early-stage investing and the evolving landscape of artificial intelligence (AI). The conversation delves into Fontana's diverse experiences, ranging from his formative years building web-based marketplaces to his critical role in establishing the AI investment frontier.

Fontana shares a captivating narrative of his investment philosophy, advocating for the significance of first-check investments in shaping the trajectories of startups. With an emphasis on determining the long-term competitive advantages of AI ventures, the discussion uncovers the importance of specialization and the strategic deployment of venture funds amidst a rapidly transforming technology sector. Key themes revolve around adapting venture capital models, the intersection of network building, and the fortune of investment careers, providing listeners with a wealth of actionable insights.

Key Takeaways:

  • First Cheque investments are critical in establishing a startup's potential and culture.
  • AI investments should focus on companies that exhibit a sustainable competitive advantage, potentially characterized by data network effects.
  • Venture Capital (VC) requires specialisation, especially in fast-evolving fields like AI, to keep pace with rapid advancements and make informed investment decisions.
  • The traditional VC model faces criticism for its performance and lack of innovation; exploring models with lower fees and higher carry could better align incentives.
  • Building and maintaining a robust network is essential for success and longevity in the venture capital industry.

Notable Quotes:

  • "The existence proof of adding value is that you allowed the entity through which all subsequent value is created to exist."
  • "As soon as you're competing, you're losing. You should just aim to be in non-competitive situations."
  • "I invest in technology cycles, not market cycles."
  • "I find it really hard to work for other people and in big companies, but I would have worked for a big growth stage or growth stage fund, like Insight, Summit, Bain, one of them."
  • "The bigger the network you can build, the better, the more useful you will be, and therefore, the more lucky you will get."

Resources:

Thanks to our sponsors for helping to make this episode of First Cheque possible:

Vanta: Join 7,000 global companies like Atlassian and Dovetail that use Vanta to build trust and prove security in real-time. Get 10% off

Scendar: Scendar is the OG startup accounting firm in Australia. Free 1-hour consultation about your Business' growth plans and finance needs. https://dayone.fm/scendar

Turo: Turo is the world's largest carsharing marketplace and it's the perfect app for travel. Download the Turo app and book cars from $38/day Download the Turo app and book cars from $38/day. https://dayone.fm/turo

  continue reading

21 episodes

Artwork
iconShare
 
Manage episode 422939988 series 3517181
Content provided by DayOne.fm. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by DayOne.fm or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://player.fm/legal.

Episode Summary:

In this episode of First Cheque hosts Cheryl Mack and Maxine Minter sit down with the distinguished investor Ash Fontana to explore the intricacies of early-stage investing and the evolving landscape of artificial intelligence (AI). The conversation delves into Fontana's diverse experiences, ranging from his formative years building web-based marketplaces to his critical role in establishing the AI investment frontier.

Fontana shares a captivating narrative of his investment philosophy, advocating for the significance of first-check investments in shaping the trajectories of startups. With an emphasis on determining the long-term competitive advantages of AI ventures, the discussion uncovers the importance of specialization and the strategic deployment of venture funds amidst a rapidly transforming technology sector. Key themes revolve around adapting venture capital models, the intersection of network building, and the fortune of investment careers, providing listeners with a wealth of actionable insights.

Key Takeaways:

  • First Cheque investments are critical in establishing a startup's potential and culture.
  • AI investments should focus on companies that exhibit a sustainable competitive advantage, potentially characterized by data network effects.
  • Venture Capital (VC) requires specialisation, especially in fast-evolving fields like AI, to keep pace with rapid advancements and make informed investment decisions.
  • The traditional VC model faces criticism for its performance and lack of innovation; exploring models with lower fees and higher carry could better align incentives.
  • Building and maintaining a robust network is essential for success and longevity in the venture capital industry.

Notable Quotes:

  • "The existence proof of adding value is that you allowed the entity through which all subsequent value is created to exist."
  • "As soon as you're competing, you're losing. You should just aim to be in non-competitive situations."
  • "I invest in technology cycles, not market cycles."
  • "I find it really hard to work for other people and in big companies, but I would have worked for a big growth stage or growth stage fund, like Insight, Summit, Bain, one of them."
  • "The bigger the network you can build, the better, the more useful you will be, and therefore, the more lucky you will get."

Resources:

Thanks to our sponsors for helping to make this episode of First Cheque possible:

Vanta: Join 7,000 global companies like Atlassian and Dovetail that use Vanta to build trust and prove security in real-time. Get 10% off

Scendar: Scendar is the OG startup accounting firm in Australia. Free 1-hour consultation about your Business' growth plans and finance needs. https://dayone.fm/scendar

Turo: Turo is the world's largest carsharing marketplace and it's the perfect app for travel. Download the Turo app and book cars from $38/day Download the Turo app and book cars from $38/day. https://dayone.fm/turo

  continue reading

21 episodes

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