Introducing Not Boring Capital: A Venture Fund that Tells Stories
Hatched by Kazuki Nakayashiki
Sep 01, 2023
4 min read
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Introducing Not Boring Capital: A Venture Fund that Tells Stories
Not Boring Capital is not your average venture fund. With $8 million in investments, they focus on companies with compelling stories to tell and help amplify their narratives. The fund primarily invests in Seed through Series B companies, occasionally dipping into pre-seed and growth-stage investments. What sets Not Boring Capital apart is their unique approach, where investing and writing go hand in hand.
Packy McCormick, the founder of Not Boring Capital, believes that his writing has made him a better investor and vice versa. This symbiotic relationship between investing and writing creates an unbeatable flywheel. By investing in companies with stories worth telling, Packy and his team can leverage their writing prowess to help these companies gain visibility and traction.
One of the leading verticals for Not Boring Capital is fintech. With six investments totaling $525k, fintech has been a focal point for the fund. However, they are not limited to this vertical and explore opportunities across various industries. Not Boring Capital follows a three-pronged investment strategy:
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Core Investments: These investments have the potential to deliver substantial returns and are expected to make up about 75% of the total dollars invested. The bull case scenario for these companies can significantly contribute to the fund's success.
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Explore Investments: Not Boring Capital also makes smaller investments to secure a seat in the next funding round or increase deal flow. While these investments may not individually generate substantial returns, they provide high upside potential. These exploratory investments typically account for 5-10% of the fund's invested dollars.
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Growth Investments: To balance the risk profile, Not Boring Capital allocates a portion of its investments to later-stage or safer opportunities. These investments have a lower ceiling but offer a higher floor, ensuring a more stable return. Around 20% of the fund's invested dollars are dedicated to growth investments, which collectively have the potential to return the entire fund.
Not Boring Capital's unique approach to investing and storytelling has attracted attention and garnered a substantial following. This is evident in the success stories of companies within their portfolio. The symbiotic relationship between Not Boring Capital, their portfolio companies, and their readers creates a virtuous circle. Not Boring Capital's portfolio companies benefit from the support and exposure provided by the readers, who, in turn, find value in the insights shared by these companies.
Packy McCormick, the founder of Not Boring Capital, has always had a passion for three things: meeting and talking to smart people, reading and writing, and investing. These three pillars are the foundation of his career and have been instrumental in his success. The ability to connect with intelligent individuals, continuously learn through reading and writing, and make strategic investments has been a winning formula for Packy.
In a separate piece on writing wisdom, Packy shares valuable insights that most writers only learn after five years of practice. He emphasizes the importance of developing a writing habit and sticking with it. Consistency is key, and those who persevere in their writing journey eventually find success.
Packy also advises writers to diversify their platforms. Relying on a single content platform is risky, as these platforms have the ultimate say in what gets published and promoted. By spreading their work across multiple platforms, writers can mitigate the risk of relying on a single platform's decision-making.
Regular writing not only hones one's writing skills but also clarifies thinking. Clear thinking leads to clear communication, enabling writers to convey their ideas with precision. Writing also sparks creativity and helps generate new ideas. As writers explore different topics, they often stumble upon potential business ideas that can be developed further.
Packy highlights the monetization potential of writing. Successful creators who earn six or seven figures often rely on various revenue streams such as freelancing, consulting, newsletters, courses, books, templates, membership communities, and coaching. Writing forms the foundation for these income-generating ventures, making it a valuable skill.
In conclusion, Not Boring Capital is revolutionizing venture investing by incorporating storytelling and writing into their investment strategy. They invest in companies with stories to tell and leverage their writing expertise to help these companies amplify their narratives. Packy McCormick's success can be attributed to his passion for meeting smart people, reading and writing, and making strategic investments. By adopting a diversified writing approach and continuously honing their skills, writers can unlock their full potential and turn their ideas into lucrative opportunities.
Actionable Advice:
- Cultivate a writing habit and commit to it consistently. Success in writing is a result of long-term dedication.
- Explore multiple content platforms to mitigate the risk of relying on a single platform's decisions.
- View writing as a catalyst for generating business ideas and explore different avenues for monetization, such as freelancing, consulting, and creating digital products.
Sources
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