E1071 Ask Jason: Black Lives Matter, Post-COVID tech hubs, Founder/VC disputes & more

TL;DR

In this episode of This Week in Startups, Jason Calacanis answers a variety of questions related to topics such as Black Lives Matter, building an Instagram competitor, remote work, angel investing, and founder-VC disputes.

Transcript

hey everybody hey everybody it's another ass Jason you guys are asking me a ton of questions in our new super secret slack room don't tell anybody but if you go to this week at startups comm slash slack you can join me and tens of thousands of other founders talking about building companies and investing in them every day it is an awesome time and ... Read More

Key Insights

• ❓ Advocacy for Black Lives Matter and efforts to address diversity in the startup ecosystem are crucial.
• 🥺 Building an Instagram competitor that shares revenue with creators could lead to positive change in social media dynamics.
• 💦 Remote work has the potential to revolutionize the startup landscape and increase access to talent.
• ⛓️ Diversifying manufacturing by reshoring to the US can improve supply chain resilience.
• ❓ Pre-selling a SaaS product can be a valuable strategy for generating early traction and feedback.
• 🪜 Being a great syndicate member involves providing support to founders and adding value to the ecosystem.
• 🤩 VC-founder disputes are not uncommon, but effective communication and mutual respect are key to maintaining healthy relationships.

Questions & Answers

Q: Are you considering making a statement regarding Black Lives Matter, and how are you handling this within your team?

Jason expresses his support for the movement and discusses his efforts to address diversity and representation in startup investing through programs like Founder University.

Q: Where do you see the greatest opportunity for startups in the reshoring of manufacturing to the United States?

Jason highlights the need for startups to consider manufacturing in the US, particularly in industries like PPE and pharmaceuticals, to reduce dependency on other countries and ensure supply chain resilience.

Q: How can I pre-sell a SaaS product effectively?

Jason advises reaching out to potential customers and offering exclusive access, discounts, or other incentives to gain their support and feedback.

Q: How can I be a great syndicate member in the future?

Jason emphasizes the importance of being supportive to founders and providing value rather than being an annoyance. He also suggests considering joining established syndicates to gain experience and exposure to deals.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Jason discusses the importance of supporting Black Lives Matter and his efforts to address diversity and representation in the startup ecosystem.

• He advocates for the creation of an Instagram competitor that shares revenue with creators to provide a more equitable platform.

• Jason highlights the potential of remote work and the need for startups to consider manufacturing in the United States.

• He offers advice on pre-selling a SaaS product and becoming a successful syndicate member.