Fred Wilson

Principles are our summary of their public statements.

• Align success with the founder

  Capital allocation

  Investors should find ways to treat a founder's profitable exit as a victory, even if the absolute dollar amount is small for the fund.

  2 more supporting quotes are in the member records.

  Source The Demo Dating, 2006  (opens in a new tab)

• Avoid unnecessary bridge loans

  Fundraising

  Founders should only take bridge loans if necessary, as new investors may view them as a sign of financial weakness.

  Supporting quotes

  • “I believe you need to design a financing strategy that aims high but has a well crafted downside scenario.”

  2 more supporting quotes are in the member records.

• Ensure Data Accuracy for Trust

  Product

  Use precise matching methods like fingerprinting before automating purchases to avoid customer dissatisfaction from incorrect results.

  3 more supporting quotes are in the member records.

  Source T, 2009  (opens in a new tab)

• Balance Strategics with VCs

  Fundraising

  While corporate partners offer market traction, relying too heavily on them can be dangerous during economic slowdowns compared to traditional VCs.

  2 more supporting quotes are in the member records.

  Source The Corporate I, 2007  (opens in a new tab)

• Train your tools for better results

  Productivity

  Algorithmic tools often require active user feedback and training periods before they become truly effective and reliable.

  2 more supporting quotes are in the member records.

  Source Inbox Zero, 2010  (opens in a new tab)