Frederique Dame

New Thesis - Beyond Language: An Introduction to The Transformational Potential of LxMs A core tenet of the new firm I am building is to generate sectoral theses in areas that I believe can lead to outlier returns. Over the years, I have been fascinated by novel foundational technology catalyzed by open ecosystems - and the impact they can have on areas beyond language. In this post, I introduce the concept of LxMs - a new thesis I am developing - and how they will impact various sectors. Follow along our series for in-depth insights and case studies on how LxMs are transforming various industries. We will explore how these advanced models are revolutionizing fields such as scientific intelligence (biology, chemistry), industrial intelligence (robotics, manufacturing) and gaming (design, engines, modeling, simulation). Read our intro and stay tuned for our subsequent posts. Huge props to Archit Gadhok for co-piloting this with me!

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Exciting update! I’m on Intro, ready to help founders and product leaders scale platforms and drive profitable growth. Currently, Founding Partner at IntuitionAI and Elephant Venture Partners transforming customer-focused innovation and investments. As former CPO of SmartAsset (a Y Combinator Top 100 Company), I helped triple revenue to $100M+ maximizing profitability and achieve a $1B+ valuation. Previously, I drove Audible’s 10X global growth on Amazon. Former PhD and 40 Under 40 Brand Innovator. Let’s discuss:  ✔️ Scaling subscription platforms ✔️ Product-led growth strategies ✔️ AI & ML integration ✔️ Revenue optimization ✔️ Customer centric innovation ✔️ High-growth team building ✔️ B2B/B2C strategies ✔️ Overcoming imposter syndrome Looking forward to sharing insights on scaling and product growth. Honored to be alongside world-class experts like Gontran Mabetomoka (VC, Tech Investor, Serial Entrepreneur), Philipp Schaaf (Fintech COO, scaled companies to $1B+ valuations), Cyril Grislain (22 Exits, Turnaround Specialist), CeCe Cheng (Founder of ShareWell, VC at First Round & Makers Fund), Scott Walker (Director of #1 Netflix hit The Frozen Ground), and Meghan Caiazzo (9-figure CPG Founder, Wine and Spirits Expert). 20% of proceeds go to CareForChildren.org Book a session: intro.co/aniketgune

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Why do so many first-time founders build B2C products, while second-time founders often pivot to B2B? Jacques Marco [founder of Axis] calls the 'consumer bias'. B2C feels accessible when you’re starting out. You’re solving a problem you’ve lived yourself, and the path to market seems straightforward: Build something great, get users, and scale. It’s intuitive, exciting, and often how many founders get their first taste of entrepreneurship. But experience changes perspective. Second-time founders have felt the burn of consumer acquisition costs, retention battles, and the unpredictable behavior of markets. They’ve seen how B2B—though slower to get off the ground—offers more predictable revenue, longer-term contracts, and a deeper, more structured relationship with customers. It’s not that one is better than the other—it’s that every journey reshapes how you approach the next. Curious—if you’re a founder, how has your perspective shifted over time? Did you start in B2C or B2B, and would you do it differently the second time around?

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Insightful look into bioplatform strategy, and what it takes to raise a Series A from my partner, Omri Amirav-Drory: https://lnkd.in/dFv7GbF6

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Solid advice to founders from the co-founder and CEO of Databricks, Ali Ghodsi 👇 Target other startups first. Ali draws on Geoffrey Moore’s book Crossing the Chasm, which identifies five key groups in the tech adoption cycle: 1️⃣ Innovators 2️⃣ Early adopters 3️⃣ Early majority 4️⃣ Late majority 5️⃣ Laggards Ali’s advice is especially relevant for AI-focused founders, given the myriad of risks (security, privacy, explainability, and so on) that come with putting generative AI models into production. It is difficult to target established, traditional companies—the laggards—as an initial market. These large enterprises come with a labyrinth of security requirements, bureaucratic red tape, and drawn-out sales cycles. Beginning with other startups increases the likelihood that a product will be adopted and provides a powerful way to collect early user feedback. Establishing this data flywheel can help an AI startup differentiate their model and iterate their way to product-market fit. Salesforce and Dropbox used this particular playbook. Once you've proven your model with startups, then you can set your sights on enterprise 🚀

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"When was the last time you cried?" That's what Ara Katz, Co-Founder & Co-CEO of Seed Health, loves to ask in interviews. She wants to know what moves you. In more than 200 interviews with some of the most successful founders on the planet, I've never encountered this question. It's an incredible example of digging into the essence of a candidate's humanity and understanding what truly motivates them. Often, who you're working with is far more important than what you're doing. This week on Inc. Magazine For Starters, I had the pleasure of hosting Ara and digging into the mission behind Seed Health: to lead the field of translating breakthrough science into innovations that impact every aspect of our health related to the microbiome. With 800%+ revenue growth in the last 3 years, Seed Health has quickly become one of the most trusted and beloved synbiotic brands on the market. Ara embodies the core values of a great entrepreneur. She questions all that we believe to be true and has a vision for the future that others may not yet understand. In this episode we cover why she believes science isn’t finished until it's widely understood, how Seed has crafted their brand identity through a deep respect for the interconnectivity of art and science, and SO much more. Listen here: bit.ly/3A6rn6k

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Starting a new fun project with Victor Lee - an AMA series with early stage founders. There are many podcast shows featuring successful, famous entrepreneurs. But what about those who are still relatively early in their journey, perhaps just one step ahead? The zero-to-one founders who have recently cracked the product-market fit and raised Seed or Series A capital. They may not have figured out everything yet, but they have fresh, relatable tips and advice to share. We’ll invite early-stage founders for a one-hour AMA session. Afterwards, we’ll create a public webpage featuring each Q&A session with media clips and transcriptions. This will be 100% free and open to the public. Our first AMA (June 11 1pm PST) will feature Will Drewery, whose company (Diagon) recently raised $5.1 million in Seed funding. We’ll get to know Will better and cover topics such as tips on raising funding in this tough environment. It will be a fun AMA, and you can register for free using the link below. RSVP now!

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I really like this PMF Framework from Sequoia. https://lnkd.in/gT2nWttx

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This is our biggest-ever EWOR announcement yet! Petter Made (Co-Founder @ SumUp) and Quinten Selhorst (Co-Founder @ felyx) are joining the EWOR team full-time as Partners. From the beginning, we built EWOR by founders for founders. Having some of Europe’s most exceptional entrepreneurs join us full-time is the right step. Petter co-founded SumUp, a company that scaled to a valuation of ���8 billion and over 3,500 employees. Quinten founded felyx, which raised €80 million and grew to 500 employees before being acquired by a private equity firm for an undisclosed amount. I have been working with Petter and Quinten for some time now in stealth mode and feel incredibly fortunate to learn from and work with such exceptional founders. They are joining Paul, who founded Adjust (acquired) and grew it to €120M ARR and a €1.2 billion valution; Florian, who founded united-domains GmbH (acquired by 1&1) and neubau kompass (market leader); Alexander, who built ProGlove into a €500 million company (acquired); and me; as well as the Leadership Team which further includes Berna who built Novid20 (acquired), Lian (2x Stanford and ex-CLO), and Marcel (serial entrepreneur and a material scientists / quantum phycisist). At EWOR, we are rebels, nerds, and visionaries, who empower rebels, nerds and visionaries to do their thing: Building unicorn, decacorn and centicorn ventures. In my opinion, there is too little hands-on pre-seed capital in Europe and I feel incredibly grateful to be part of changing this as I write this post. We work with and support companies that can have a significant impact on GDP, given their technological potential and the calibre of their founders. EWOR Fellows have raised Europe’s biggest-ever pre-seed by a first-time founder, had multiple 9-figure exits prior to joining the Fellowship with their new ventures, and collective created over €420 million in company value (in less than 2 years!). Today, an EWOR Fellow raises on average more than €2M after the Grand Pitch. With Petter and Quinten on board, I have never felt more confident in helping EWOR Fellows leave a GDP-relevant impact with their companies. In our press release, Petter says: “I want to leave a dent in the universe by supporting the most extraordinary minds. With EWOR, I can do exactly that.” And Quinten says: "EWOR is about quality over quantity. We work with a maximum of 5 co-founding teams per partner a year, ensuring that each fellow receives direct, one-on-one coaching from seasoned founders and investors.” Thank you, Yahoo for covering this and sharing this with 200,000,000 readers! https://lnkd.in/dUg5Enxm

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"Platform" in VCs often feels undefined, and different at every firm. But one thing is clear: firms with dedicated platform teams are seeing higher investment returns. What is 'Platform' in VC? Think of it as a support engine for portfolio companies. Platform teams accelerate growth by providing: 1) Strategy & Growth 2) Talent Partner 3) Marketing & Brand Partner 4) Business Development & Partnerships Lead 5) Community Manager 6) Operations & Scaling Partner 7) Fundraising & Capital Advisor Platform in Venture Studios vs. VC Funds: The big difference? Timeframe. Venture Studio Platform: Involved from concept to exit, guiding startups from the very first spark of an idea. VC Platform: Steps in after the startup is funded, focusing on scaling and growth but not the initial concept phase. Both play critical roles—but understanding these distinctions helps founders and investors make the most of their platform relationships.

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Tomorrow! If you're in NYC, come by for the latest edition of The Feedback Loop. John Frankel of ff Venture Capital is back, joining me to hear a batch of startup founders give their 1 minute pitch. Then, we'll deliver unfiltered feedback about their storytelling and their concept. Because the thing that can hold even the best founders back from reaching the height of their startup's potential? The pitch! And that's what The Feedback Loop is all about. RSVP: https://lu.ma/3ntscsfe

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In a startup's early days, founders often skip detailed compensation planning, instead choosing round numbers and moving on. This is an admirable sentiment. But over the long term, founder compensation design can matter a lot to the company, so it's worth taking some time to think this through. Here are some benchmarks and suggestions for founder compensation across: 1. Salary 2. Equity Split 3. Vesting https://lnkd.in/gcDXehXx

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After working with over 200 employees, 10 joint-ventures and 5 exits, here’s my simple framework to set-up any collaboration for success: 1. Why: Clarify the reason why we’re working together. What is the project? And why are we doing it? 2. Value: What is each party contributing to the project? What are each party’s responsibilities? 3. Success: Clarify how success looks like in 3, 6, 12, 24, 48 months from now for the overall project and how we measure success of each party involved. I like the traffic light system (green for great, yellow for ok, and red for bad outcomes) 4. Compensation: How is each party winning based on the project and our contribution? 5. Termination: Agree ahead of time how lack of success looks like in each scenario (green we’re all happy, yellow we explore / analyse how to get to green, red we stop) and how it works when we stop working together. These are not exchaustive but just a list with the essentials in my opinion. This works in a lot of different types of relationships, could be an employee, a contractor, or even other partnerships and even M&A contexts. Wondering about the key elements you’ve seen are important to set-up any collaboration for success?

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I was struck by the research statistic Female-founded startups that receive VC funding are 63% more likely to appreciate in value than their all-male counterparts. Yet when financed by all-male VCs compared to gender-diverse VCs, Female-founded startups perform 24% worse. It’s another great data point that reminds us how important it is for founders and VCs to find the deals that align and are right for one another. [And no, this does not mean that all male VCs do not invest in female founders, that is NOT the takeaway] A good founder-investor fit is one of the most critical components of startup success. It's not just about securing funds—it’s about finding partners who align with your company’s vision, culture, and growth needs. Here are 5 key reasons why it’s important to get this alignment right: 1. Shared Vision and Long-Term Alignment Business Goals: Investors who don’t share the same long-term vision can lead to friction during critical decision-making points. Misalignment here can lead to conflicting priorities and ultimately undermine a startup’s trajectory. 2. Cultural Compatibility Operational Culture: Have a compatible approach to decision-making, problem-solving, and risk-taking. Values and Ethics: An investor who does not share core values may push for initiatives that undermine what the founder is trying to build. 3. Support Style and Expertise Hands-On vs. Hands-Off & Network Access: Investors can offer critical introductions to other players in the industry. If they aren't willing to make those connections, the value they bring beyond money is significantly limited. 4. Risk Appetite and Growth Expectations Growth vs. Stability: Founders need to align with investors whose risk appetite matches their own, to prevent conflicting decisions on when and how to grow. Exit Strategy: Whether aiming for acquisition, IPO, or staying private, having an investor whose preferred exit strategy matches yours is vital. Finding the right investor fit is about much more than the funding amount. It’s about alignment across multiple dimensions—vision, culture, values, support style, risk appetite, and interpersonal chemistry. Yet when just trying to find the money is such an obstacle, what can you do? That's where we support female founders to get investor ready and secure the right investment. We have over 250 VC Partners looking to be introduced to fantastic female founders, with a wider network of tens of thousands of VCs. If you like this post, 🔁 Reshare it, and if you want more like this, 📬 subscribe to our newsletter! ✨https://lnkd.in/efEQSb7H

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If I asked you, “When someone turns in a work assignment, how accurate is it? 80%, 90%, 95% or perhaps 100%?” We don’t think this way about coworkers’ spreadsheets. But we will probably think this way about AI & this will very likely change the way product managers on-board users. When was the last time you signed up for a SaaS & wondered : Would the data be accurate? Would the database corrupt my data? Would the report be correct? But today, with every AI software now tucking a disclaimer at the bottom of the page, we will be wondering. “Gemini may display inaccurate info, including about people, so double-check its responses” & “ChatGPT/Claude can make mistakes. Check important info” are two examples. In the early days of this epoch, mistakes will be common. Over time, less so, as accuracies improve. The more important the work, the greater peoples’ need to be confident the AI is correct. We will demand much better than human error rates. Self-driving cars provide an extreme example of this trust fall. Waymo & Cruise have published data arguing self-driving cars are 65-94% safer. Yet, 2/3 of Americans surveyed by the AAA fear them. We suffer from a cognitive bias : work performed by a human is likely more trustworthy because we understand the biases & the limitations. AIs are a Schrodinger’s cat stuffed in a black box. We don’t comprehend how the box works (yet), nor can we believe our eyes if the feline is dead or alive when we see it. New product on-boarding will need to mitigate this bias. One path may be starting with low-value tasks where the software-maker has tested exhaustively the potential inputs & outputs. Another tactic may be to provide a human-in-the-loop to check the AI’s work. Citations, references, & other forms of fact-checking will be a core part of the product experience. Independent testing might be another path. As with any new colleague, the first impressions & a series of small wins will determine the person’s trust. Severe errors in the future will erode confidence, that must be rebuilt - likely with the help of human support teams who will explain, develop tests for the future, & assure users. I recently asked a financial LLM to analyze NVIDIA’s annual report. A question about the company’s increase in dividend amount vaporized its credibility, raising the question : is it less work to do the analysis myself than to check the AI’s work? That will be the trust fall for AI. Will the software catch us if we trust it?

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This is a must listen to for anyone B2B founder. How to figure out Product Market Fit. One of best frameworks I've seen in a while. https://lnkd.in/ghSmhVNB

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On Founder Mode. Paul Graham, a legendary figure in the startup ecosystem and co-founder of Y Combinator, has once again stirred up discussion with his latest essay introducing the concept of "Founder Mode." As with most of his ideas, this one is gaining rapid traction, but the concept itself is still in its early stages of definition. So, what exactly is “Founder Mode”? In Paul’s own words, it’s not yet a well-defined term: "There are as far as I know no books specifically about founder mode. Business schools don't know it exists... I hope in a few years founder mode will be as well understood as manager mode.” He distinguishes “founder mode” from “manager mode,” with a strong stance that the traditional “manager mode” — often characterized by hiring capable people and giving them autonomy — can sometimes fail: “What this often turns out to mean is: hire professional fakers and let them drive the company into the ground.” A particularly striking point in his essay is how founders often feel like they’re being gaslit. They are told they need to manage their companies like traditional managers, but when they do, it doesn’t work. As Paul puts it, founders “feel like they're being gaslit from both sides.” While his critique raises important questions, there’s also a risk of oversimplification. The suggestion that managers can be "fakers" and that founders are being victimized by gaslighting sets up a dynamic that may inadvertently encourage poor behavior or decision-making by some founders. We may soon hear startup leaders justifying questionable decisions or erratic behavior with the simple excuse: "I’m in Founder Mode." There’s no doubt that running a company as a founder differs from managing one. But we need a more nuanced conversation about this topic. The startup ecosystem deserves better research and deeper analysis to truly understand the dynamics of founder-led companies, beyond the binary framing of founders vs. managers. What are your thoughts? How do you interpret “Founder Mode,” and where do you see its potential strengths and pitfalls?

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Conducting Impactful Product Reviews: Steering Your Product Towards Success 🚀 In my dual role as an advisor and operator, I've observed that product reviews—crucial meetings intended to guide product direction—are often underutilized. Here’s how you can make these reviews more impactful: 1. Whether you are solving for Pre or Post Product-Market Fit (PMF): Harping on these four aspects consistently improves the team's muscle to define these well. Customer Definition: Know who you're building for. 🎯 Problem Identification: Use frameworks like BELT to precisely identify customer problems. https://lnkd.in/dJERFbre Value Proposition Hypothesis: Explore multiple value propositions to increase the odds of success. 🔍 Success Metrics: Establish clear and measurable success metrics, along with check metrics to track progress. 2. Assessing Risk of Impact and effort: The balance of risk and impact dictates the level of confidence required before shipping a product. Itamar Gilad’s confidence meter is a practical tool to quantitatively align team expectations on the necessary confidence levels. Remember, not all products require the same degree of certainty. ⚖️ 3. Purpose of the Review - Discovery or Delivery: If the focus is on discovery, prioritize finding a compelling value proposition supported by solid insights. 🕵️‍♂️ For delivery, concentrate on reviewing the design and development stages to ensure they meet planned objectives. 🛠️ Leveraging these strategies in product reviews can significantly enhance your team's ability to make informed decisions, align on priorities, and ultimately drive your product towards success. If you are running a startup or scale-up, especially in consumer products, I encourage you to check out the product review brief that is now a Reforge artifact. We used this artifact at PropertyGuru and other companies to create impactful products (https://lnkd.in/gGDTHHhN). This concise, two-page document is highly effective, especially if you are just starting with this process. It is a forcing function to think clearly and rigorously. The artifact when combined with a consistent ritual creates non linear impact. #ProductManagement #Leadership #Innovation #BusinessStrategy #ProductDevelopment #Reforge.

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Hi, my name is Lane, Founder & Managing Partner of Founder VC. Over the past two years, I've been on a mission to prove that it is possible to add measurable value to startups. -I've meticulously logged over 600 meetings with early-stage startup founders, resulting in New Zealand's largest database of what works (and what doesn't). -I've worked with six scale-stage startup founders on investment readiness, capital strategy, and sales and marketing automation, all of which strongly correlate to a higher likelihood of securing growth funding. -I've provided long-term consulting and executive recruitment services for Round B+ VC-funded global edtechs, driving sustained growth with a list of the best global edtech talent. All to answer a single, burning question: Is it possible to add measurable value to startups of all stages? They told me it was impossible to add value beyond capital, that the only value you can add is money. What they failed to understand is that the best way to get something done is to tell a startup founder that it can't be. The harsh reality is that securing the necessary capital for startup growth is a daunting challenge. Did you know that only 1% of global startup founders raise venture capital, and 90% of those fail to raise a second round? That it takes the average startup founder 5-7 years longer to find product-market fit than anticipated? This is where Founder VC steps in. At Founder VC, we help startup founders make and raise money. 🚀 🌟 Startup. Scale Up. Stay Up. 🌟 Founder VC offers personalized, satisfaction-guaranteed programs from the world’s top talent, designed to mitigate the deadliest risks at each stage of a startup's lifecycle. 📈 Founder-Defined Success We tailor success metrics to each founder's vision, ensuring your journey aligns with your unique goals. 🔍 Transparent Pathways Our structured, visualized capital pathways reduce risk by embedding support structures at key milestones. ✅ Guaranteed Results We deliver tangible results with our satisfaction-guaranteed programs, offering guidance on capital pathways, product marketing, product-market fit, sales, and fundraising. 🏆 Masterclass Talent Gain on-demand access to proven startup founders and operators for top-tier advice and support. 💡 Solutions for Every Stage 💡 Startup Solutions: Micro-courses providing practical, guaranteed guidance on capital pathways, product marketing, and more. Scale Up Solutions: Year-long accelerator programs to automate sales, supercharge revenue, uplift valuation, and secure growth funding. Stay Up Solutions: Executive coaching from the world’s leading startup advisors to drive sustained growth. Founder VC's mission is to offer funding solutions that significantly increase the survival and success rates of startup founders. It is my personal honour to dedicate the next decade of my life to this mission. 10 years is a long time, and I'm just getting started. 🔥 🪩 foundervc.org 📧 hello@foundervc.org

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