In the ever-shifting seas of venture capital, the tide of change waits for no one. It is incumbent upon the investor and entrepreneur alike to navigate these waters with a vigilant eye on the horizon where new trends rise and fall with the constancy of the moon’s pull. As John Montague, a venture lawyer seasoned by more than ten years in the discipline—including a tenure at the venerated Locke Lord—I have come to appreciate the rigorous pursuit of knowledge as the keel that steadies one’s course in these waters.
It is in the venture capital blogs that one may uncover the charts and maps of insight—unvarnished, direct, and invaluable. With the precision of a craftsman, I have selected a compendium of these blogs that merit the attention of those who seek not just to sail, but to chart new territories in the vast expanse of venture capital. Herein, you will find those that stand as lighthouses of VC wisdom, those that explore the niches as a seasoned fisherman knows his secret coves, and those that, with singular format and perspective, cut through the swell like a well-trimmed sloop in a freshening breeze.
In this dialogue, I shall endeavor to provide you with the bearings for a journey through the must-read narratives of venture capital. Let us set sail with clear eyes and full sails as we venture into the heart of the industry’s most thought-provoking commentary.
Key Takeaways
- Discover the top 10 must-read venture capital blogs for startups, featuring a diverse range of perspectives and success stories.
- Explore visionary ventures, startup success stories, SaaS industry expertise and female perspective in VC to gain valuable insight into the future of technology.
- Stay updated with VC blogs through Feedly & newsletters to stay on top of trends & developments within the industry.
Top Picks for VC Insights
Venture capital blogs can provide a wealth of knowledge, acting as guiding lights for those navigating the complex world of startups and investments. Our venture capital blog offers a diverse range of perspectives, industry trends, and success stories that cater to various interests and needs.
We’ll be exploring five pivotal venture capital blogs:
- Visionary Ventures
- Startup Success Stories
- The Entrepreneur’s Advisor
- SaaS Industry Expertise
- Female Perspective in VC
These blogs are packed with unique insights and invaluable information, positioning them as essential reading for those engaged in the venture capital industry.
Visionary Ventures
Andreessen Horowitz’s blog, also known as a16z, is a treasure trove of thought-provoking content on the future of technology and startups. Spearheaded by the founding partner and ex-Adobe Vice President, Marc Andreessen, this influential blog is a game-changer in the venture capital industry. Its diverse range of topics and resources for entrepreneurs make it an essential read for those interested in the future of the tech industry.
Visionary Ventures delivers a comprehensive perspective on the dynamic landscape of technology and startups. It features:
- Investment strategies
- Successful startups
- Visionary business models
- Silicon Valley insights
The Venture Capital Journal is an excellent resource for entrepreneurs, venture capital lawyer, and investors seeking to stay ahead of the curve in the competitive venture capital world, offering valuable insights into venture investing.
Startup Success Stories
First Round Review, a blog by First Round Capital, is an invaluable resource for entrepreneurs seeking insights and advice from successful companies and industry leaders. The blog features articles structured like company departments, making it easy to navigate and find relevant content. With catchy headlines and in-depth analysis, First Round Review offers practical guidance and leadership advice for entrepreneurs at every stage of their journey.
Some of the amazing people featured in First Round Review include founding partners of new VC firms and CEOs of successful startups. These individuals share their personal stories, experiences, and lessons learned, providing a unique viewpoint on the challenges and opportunities that early-stage companies encounter. This blog is a must-read for anyone interested in learning from the best in the startup world.
The Entrepreneur’s Advisor
Both Sides of the Table, by Mark Suster, is a goldmine of practical advice and insights on entrepreneurship and investing strategies. Having transitioned from a 2x entrepreneur to a general partner at Upfront Ventures, Suster presents a unique viewpoint on the startup ecosystem. His blog covers a wide range of topics, from the intricacies of fundraising to leadership advice and industry trends.
Reading Both Sides of the Table feels like having a personal mentor guiding you through the challenges and triumphs of entrepreneurship. Leveraging Suster’s expertise and firsthand experience, this blog serves as a priceless resource for those aiming to navigate the world of startups and venture capital.
SaaS Industry Expertise
SaaStr, founded by Jason Lemkin, is the go-to blog for those interested in the world of Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) companies. With a focus on the latest SaaS products and industry trends, SaaStr provides valuable insights and advice for SaaS companies looking to grow and thrive in a competitive market.
Lemkin’s thorough analysis spans a broad spectrum of topics, encompassing:
- Fundraising
- Scaling
- Customer success
- Product development
The blog also features interviews with successful startup founders, offering an inside look at the challenges and triumphs faced by SaaS companies. For anyone involved in the SaaS industry, SaaStr is an essential read.
Female Perspective in VC
The Barefoot VC, by Jalak Jobanputra, offers a fresh perspective on investment strategies and thought processes in the male-dominated venture capital industry. As the founder of FuturePerfect Ventures, an early-stage vc firm, Jobanputra brings her unique insights and experiences to her barefoot vc blog, making it a valuable resource for those seeking a different viewpoint on the world of VC.
Jobanputra opens a window into the VC world from a female perspective through her personal stories and insights into the challenges encountered by early-stage startups. By sharing her journey and wisdom, Jobanputra empowers other women in the industry and inspires readers to challenge the status quo in venture capital.
Niche VC Blogs Worth Following
While the top picks for VC insights offer a broad overview of the venture capital industry, niche blogs provide unique insights into specific topics or industries. We will now explore five niche VC blogs, which are worth following due to their specialized focus and insightful perspectives. These blogs include:
- Tech Trends Analysis
- Impact of Pandemics on VC
- Cultivating Company Culture
- Data-Driven Startup Management
- Growth Strategies for Early-Stage Companies
Tech Trends Analysis
Benedict Evans’ blog is a must-read for anyone interested in staying updated on the latest technology trends and developments. With in-depth analysis and well-researched articles, Evans offers a wealth of information on emerging technologies and their potential implications for various industries.
As an experienced analyst and venture capitalist at Andreessen Horowitz, Evans provides valuable foresight into the direction of the technology industry. His annual presentations on trends in technology, internet, and mobile provide entrepreneurs and investors with the knowledge they need to make informed decisions in today’s fast-paced world.
Readers of Evans’ blog gain a competitive advantage in the rapidly changing world of technology by staying abreast with the latest trends and developments.
Impact of Pandemics on VC
Hunter Walk’s blog provides engaging content on the effects of the pandemic on the venture capital industry, with a focus on adapting and thriving in challenging times. As the world grapples with the ongoing global health crisis, understanding its impact on the VC landscape is essential for investors and entrepreneurs alike.
Walk’s blog presents insightful observations on the changes instigated by the pandemic, including shifts in investment focus and the necessity to reassess performance and due diligence. By examining the pandemic’s influence on the VC industry, Walk’s blog equips readers with the knowledge and strategies needed to navigate this unprecedented situation and emerge stronger than before.
Cultivating Company Culture
A Smart Bear, by Jason Cohen, is a blog that covers a variety of topics, such as subscription forecasting, marketing, and company culture. With a focus on the importance of cultivating a strong company culture, Cohen’s blog offers valuable advice for startup founders and investors looking to create a thriving, successful business.
Cohen emphasizes the need for startups to prioritize defining and shaping their culture from the outset to ensure long-term success. By sharing his insights and experiences, Cohen empowers readers with the tools and knowledge necessary to build a powerful and positive company culture that drives growth and innovation.
Data-Driven Startup Management
Tomasz Tunguz’s blog features daily data-driven posts on topics like:
- startup management
- fundraising
- benchmarks
- team building
As a partner at Redpoint, Tunguz brings his credibility and expertise to his blog, offering valuable insights and guidance for startups looking to leverage data for success.
Tunguz furnishes readers with the knowledge and strategies required to make informed decisions and foster growth, by maintaining a data-centric blog that addresses the most pressing questions for startups and venture capital. With topics ranging from utilizing data analytics to optimizing operational efficiency, Tunguz’s blog is an essential resource for startups seeking to harness the power of data to secure their success.
Growth Strategies for Early-Stage Companies
This is Going to be BIG, by Charlie O’Donnell, offers advice on growth strategies and insights for early-stage companies from a partner at Brooklyn Bridge Ventures. With over two decades of experience in the New York City startup and innovation community, O’Donnell brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to his blog.
O’Donnell’s blog spans a wide array of topics, from fundraising tips to market analysis, proving essential for early-stage companies seeking growth and success. By sharing his insights and experiences, O’Donnell empowers startup founders and investors with the tools and strategies necessary to navigate the challenges and opportunities faced by early-stage companies.
VC Blogs with Unique Formats
In a sea of similar content, some venture capital blogs stand out for their innovative formats and unique content presentation. We will now spotlight three VC blogs with unique formats that distinguish them from the rest: First Round Review, The Gong Show, and Hi, I’m David G. Cohen.
First Round Review
As mentioned earlier, First Round Review’s features that make it an engaging and informative resource for entrepreneurs and investors include:
- Its guest post-based format
- Organization by company departments
- Long-form articles and interviews with founders
- Actionable insights and real-world experiences in the venture capital space
These features make it a unique and valuable addition to the VC blog landscape.
The Gong Show
Andrew Parker’s blog, The Gong Show, stands out for its “thesis” posts, which detail Parker’s investments and the reasoning behind them. By offering a glimpse into the decision-making process of a venture capitalist, The Gong Show provides a unique perspective on the world of VC and the factors that influence investment choices.
Hi, I’m David G. Cohen
David G. Cohen’s blog offers practical advice and insights for growing a startup, with categories like “Ask-The-Angel” and “Startups” that focus on different aspects of entrepreneurship. Additionally, Cohen also hosts a podcast called “Give First,” providing valuable insights for startups through engaging interviews with various guests.
Cohen’s own blog amalgamates blog content with podcast episodes, providing readers with a diverse array of formats and channels to engage and learn from.
Tips for Staying Updated with VC Blogs
Keeping updated on the latest content from a multitude of venture capital blogs can seem like a daunting task. Thankfully, there are tools and strategies that can help you manage your VC blog updates more efficiently.
One such tool is Feedly, which allows you to:
- Subscribe to and organize RSS feeds from your favorite VC blogs in one convenient location
- Monitor the latest posts
- Arrange your reading list in order of priority
Using Feedly enables you to stay updated and manage your reading efficiently.
Alongside Feedly, subscribing to VC blog newsletters serves as another efficient method to keep updated on the industry’s latest developments and insights. By receiving regular email updates, you can ensure that you never miss an essential post from your favorite VC blogs.
Summary
In conclusion, venture capital blogs offer a wealth of knowledge and insights for entrepreneurs and investors alike. By staying updated on the latest industry trends and expert advice, you can make informed decisions and navigate the complex world of startups and investments with confidence. Whether you prefer top picks for VC insights, niche blogs, or unique formats, there is a VC blog out there to suit your interests and needs. So dive in, explore, and let these blogs be your guiding light on the path to startup success.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are some essential VC blogs for entrepreneurs and investors?
Essential VC blogs for entrepreneurs and investors include Visionary Ventures, Startup Success Stories, The Entrepreneur’s Advisor, SaaS Industry Expertise, and Female Perspective in VC.
How can I stay updated on the latest content from VC blogs?
Stay up-to-date with the latest content from VC blogs by subscribing to RSS feeds or newsletters via Feedly or other similar tools.
What unique insights can be found in niche VC blogs?
Niche VC blogs offer an invaluable insight into specialized topics, from tech trends to pandemic-induced disruptions and startup growth strategies.
Are there any innovative formats in VC blogs that stand out from the rest?
Yes, some innovative formats in VC blogs stand out from the rest, such as First Round Review, The Gong Show, and Hi, I’m David G. Cohen.
How can I subscribe to VC blog newsletters?
Subscribe to VC blog newsletters by visiting the websites and signing up with your email address.
