Last year when testifying before Congress I mentioned the need for IPO reforms. Startups are staying private longer than ever and large M&A is essentially closed with deals being blocked. It's more important than ever that we give the public the opportunity to get involved and benefit earlier in a companies lifecycle. And we need to make an easier path for investors to get liquidity so more money can be infused into the ecosystem to increase innovation.

If you are frustrated with a process at work, rather than seethe, do this: Write a short, bullet-pointed note to your boss identifying the problem, explaining why it's a problem, and proposing a solution. This will do two things: 1. Increase the odds the process is improved, and 2. Mark you out as someone who gives a sh*t about the organization, and who is therefore worthy of extra attention / investment

We raised 2 different rounds because we sent investor updates. 1/ @fcollective led our seed and @parulia reached out after getting a year of our updates 2/ PSG led our Series C after @tjmahony forwarded on of our updates to them. Its your job as CEO to do things nobody else can do, and that includes sending investor updates

I’m kicking off a search for a Chief of Staff to join me @firstround in San Francisco. This is a role we’ve had at First Round for more than a decade. It’s a rare opportunity for someone who’s interested in both startups and investing to learn about both from the inside. You’ll be my right hand in everything I do, from running customer references before we invest to supporting founders after we do. Former Chiefs of Staff have gone on to lead operations at a venture firm (@natewcollins), build at a breakout startup (@juliagovberg), invest full-time (@almostcmb), and everything in between. I’m looking for someone who’s a learn-it-all, unreasonably organized and proactive, as well as unusually high-agency. They should be able to manage me more than the other way around. This person should also consider themselves a “work enthusiast,” as one of our founders likes to say. I’d really appreciate getting the word out and anyone can apply below. Application is here: jobs.ashbyhq.com/firstround/…

Want to do something absolutely miserable? Nov 21-23 Asheville NC 50+ miles of hiking in <24 hours Small group of entrepreneurs, we might fail, that's ok. If interested- DM me

Dear founder, Are you letting god flow through you?

#Brookfield stuffed a brand-new PE vehicle with its own PubCo portfolio investments and those companies are already under credit stress. Crazy @UnicusResearch #CDK (software for auto dealerships) #DexKo (auto parts) #BrandSafway (scaffolding). See a theme here? @OfficialBBrooks Amazing scoop @ArroyoNieto bloomberg.com/news/articles/…

Mental Health is real. Men need to hear they're loved and respected sometimes also.

A reminder that men’s mental health matters

As men we put too much pressure on ourselves, whether it’s being providers, the person to lean on or feeling like we have to take on everything alone. I was there a few years ago. The weight eats at you. It doesn’t matter how things look from the outside, you never know what someone’s dealing with. And as a society we’ve failed men in this regard, whether it’s court systems, interactions with police and more, we tell men to ask for help but often punish them when they do. Prayers for Marshawn Kneeland and his family. Men, please try asking for help from a friend if you can. If you need an outsider to talk with, my DMs are always open. Sending love.

Trigger warning: this post addresses mental health and suicide. This is very sad and hits home. Marshawn attended my first alma mater, Western Michigan University, and was from Grand Rapids. We don’t get many pro-level players at WMU, so I followed his career with interest. From the outside, he seemed on top of the world. His rookie contract at age 23 was just shy of $7 million. He had a beautiful girlfriend and scored his first NFL touchdown a few nights ago. Then, this… The details are awful: a welfare check, a police chase, fleeing on foot, a goodbye text, and a graphic, disturbing ending. Why did this happen? How did this happen? What the hell? He was an NFL player with all the resources and help in the world at his fingertips. Mental health is real and serious. At nearly 40, I know now what I didn’t at Marshawn’s age, 24. Life and the world will eventually get you. There’s no way around it. At some point, you’ll find yourself in a dark place. Most of you reading this are entrepreneurs, parents, middle-aged. You’re fighting every day to avoid burnout and stay afloat in business, family, and life. When your day comes, and it’s coming, no one can save you if you don’t invite help. You won’t find your way out alone. Don’t run from help. Run to it. If Marshawn had turned around and embraced those cops instead of running. If he had answered his girlfriend’s calls instead of silencing them. If he had called the national suicide hotline. He’d be here right now. This is a reminder for everyone reading this. If life could get someone like Marshawn, who had everything going and every resource at his disposal, it can get any of us. When your day comes, remember: It’s not as bad as it seems, and you’re not alone. Please remember the number ‘988’, the national suicide and crisis lifeline.

This is an interesting point of view. Reminded me of this observation. In the past people who talked about VC as an “access” game were certain FoFs. I always thought it was self-serving talk to attract LPs bc they supposedly had access to top VCs who would continue to perform. The top VCs never talked that way. But now they do. That should be a red flag.

We built DSQ Technology to take advantage of the unique strengths of the United States of America and of Pittsburgh. Diverse Economy: If Pennsylvania or Georgia is slowing, another state (often Texas or Florida) is growing. This means we aren't especially affected by regional swings. Long Term Population Growth: Because we are focused on the waste industry, as long as total population and consumption continues to increase, our market continues to grow. This means we are somewhat protected from cyclical up/down trends in any one industry. No Commodity Exposure: We also made the strategic decision to stay out of commodities. Example, Cardboard prices can be $109/ton one year and $29/ton the next. Pittsburgh: Housing is affordable. 4 seasons are interesting. Technology is a thing here. Also nothing huge exciting/rapidly transformative here, slow growth environment with blue collar roots & ethic. Yes, silly government can't stop doing counterproductive things...but we're mostly immune to their impact.

I'm probably gonna regret this but…we're gonna help 500 founders close their rounds this year. There's over $1T of capital in @boardyai's network looking to meet the most ambitious founders. After speaking with 4,000+ founders this week, there are too many incredible ones raising right now to ignore. Founders from across the world, many of whom have gone through prestigious programs (@ycombinator, @thielfellowship, @hf0, @Techstars, etc) and had multiple exits before. Our initial goal was to support 100 founders but we're upping it to 500. It'll cost a lot of tokens and likely stretch the team, but Boardy told me this morning he's ready. Founders, apply here: go.boardy.ai/500founders Investors, apply here: go.boardy.ai/100investors

Hey Brandon , @OfficialBBrooks You brought up some fabulous points ! And for you @thejobchick . Please to have made your acquaintance . I look forward to hearing more of what you have to say ! I believe that #AI is somewhere in the 3-4 inning- early mid innings after the parabolic 3 year move .... The easy money has been made ALREADY but now phase two of #AI ensues ! It will be exciting and will compress time frames even more . But we are no where close to the 7 th inning stretch yet but the lower quality names will falter . The wheat and chaff will be separated ! There will be losers and winners as always !

Read through this. Replies & quote tweets. Even people who invest in funds don’t know how they work. Wild. This really isn’t how it works, it becomes a hurdle & those fees aren’t going into GPs pockets mostly. No one gets rich off the fees.

Great chat today with a great panel @WorldStrategist @davevermilion @anasalhajji @GrantCardone @GaryCardone @DuaneHope5 @infraa_ @paul__mangione @JustinBrady @OfficialBBrooks

Merger Monday strong! RFK be damned. #KimberlyClark buying #Tylenol @OfficialBBrooks $KMB $KVUE wsj.com/business/retail/kimb…

Be Kind to someone today. Happy Monday.

almost consensus that the majority of gains from technological progress will accumulate in private, not public, markets and that many of these gains will be from non-equity structures it isn't obvious at all that a "venture fund" is best positioned to prosecute this trade.

If you're interested in reading my historical posts and being kept up to date on the book I'm writing then you should subscribe to my Substack. Over 250 pieces of content...and more to come. (Any help spreading the word would be appreciated!) Link is in the comments: