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What happens when an “outsider” refuses the rules and builds his own lane inside Silicon Valley’s most competitive ecosystem? We sit down with Gabriel Jorison, founder of Lobster Capital, to trace the leap from Paris to San Francisco, the years of founder grind, and the playbook that turned a small fund into one of the most trusted names around Y Combinator.
Gabe pulls back the curtain on why he focused exclusively on YC, how he earned access without alumni status, and why a traction-first thesis beats pedigree and hype. We explore his decision to launch the largest independent media brand covering YC, the way consistent storytelling compounds into founder trust, and how that trust converts into allocations at the top of each batch. He also shares the art of saying no—declining buzzy deals when retention, acquisition quality, or revenue momentum don’t hold up—even when FOMO is loud.
We get candid about AI. Gabe explains why he initially avoided “wrapper” plays, what changed his mind, and why not using AI today is a red flag. Expect a sharp view on moats: models are engines you can swap, but the real defensibility sits in brand, distribution, UX, and proprietary data. For operators and emerging managers, he details fund mechanics, standard 2-and-20 structure, timelines, and real paths to liquidity through secondaries. For founders, he lays out the practical help Lobster brings beyond capital, from pattern-matching across 100+ YC startups to hands-on media and distribution support.
You’ll come away with a clear set of principles: go where the density of talent is highest, measure teams by traction, build a media flywheel, and stay humble enough to change your mind fast. If that sparks your next move, subscribe, share this with a friend who needs it, and leave a quick review so we can keep bringing you the most actionable conversations in venture.
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By Devin RobinsonSend us a text
đź’» Start your 30-day free trial of Fund Flow OS
🚀 FREE Fund Foundations 101 Course
What happens when an “outsider” refuses the rules and builds his own lane inside Silicon Valley’s most competitive ecosystem? We sit down with Gabriel Jorison, founder of Lobster Capital, to trace the leap from Paris to San Francisco, the years of founder grind, and the playbook that turned a small fund into one of the most trusted names around Y Combinator.
Gabe pulls back the curtain on why he focused exclusively on YC, how he earned access without alumni status, and why a traction-first thesis beats pedigree and hype. We explore his decision to launch the largest independent media brand covering YC, the way consistent storytelling compounds into founder trust, and how that trust converts into allocations at the top of each batch. He also shares the art of saying no—declining buzzy deals when retention, acquisition quality, or revenue momentum don’t hold up—even when FOMO is loud.
We get candid about AI. Gabe explains why he initially avoided “wrapper” plays, what changed his mind, and why not using AI today is a red flag. Expect a sharp view on moats: models are engines you can swap, but the real defensibility sits in brand, distribution, UX, and proprietary data. For operators and emerging managers, he details fund mechanics, standard 2-and-20 structure, timelines, and real paths to liquidity through secondaries. For founders, he lays out the practical help Lobster brings beyond capital, from pattern-matching across 100+ YC startups to hands-on media and distribution support.
You’ll come away with a clear set of principles: go where the density of talent is highest, measure teams by traction, build a media flywheel, and stay humble enough to change your mind fast. If that sparks your next move, subscribe, share this with a friend who needs it, and leave a quick review so we can keep bringing you the most actionable conversations in venture.
Get the Free Capital Raising Course
Get Fund Flow Os
Join the Free Capital Raising Community
Apply to the Founder's Circle
Follow me on instagram
Connect with me on Linkedin