VC in the CEE

Ep 5 - Paweł Maj


Listen Later


🎙️ Get ready for an insightful dive into the world of venture capital and angel investing with today's guest, Paweł Maj. With over 20 years of experience as a Polish Business Angel and VC investor, Paweł brings a wealth of knowledge from his tenure at renowned funds like Skyline Ventures, bValue, and Warsaw Equity Group. As a board member of over 30 startups and companies, Paweł is a prominent figure in the Polish VC ecosystem, renowned for his thought-provoking articles and data-driven insights shared on platforms like LinkedIn and Medium.


Discover:

  • The divergent approaches to evaluating startups as a VC fund versus a Business Angel.
  • The metrics that founders of B2B SaaS startups should always have in the back of their heads
  • The evolving investor mindset towards sustainable growth and its implications for startup strategies.
  • The reason why investors are not willing to share negative feedback on team due diligence with the founders.
  • Critical factors founders must consider regarding their cap table to maintain attractiveness to investors.
  • Paweł's candid reflections on why he did not invest in LiveChat and the dual-edged sword of public LP funding for fund managers.


Links to the articles that were discussed during the interview:

  • https://medium.com/@pawel_maj/100-uzasadnie%C5%84-vcs-dlaczego-nie-zainwestuj%C4%85-fd823912020d
  • https://medium.com/@pawel_maj/an-uninvestable-startup-46feb1f8f8a8
  • https://medium.com/@pawel_maj/300-questions-every-vc-will-ask-a-startup-7aecab846fbc


Paweł's book recommendations:

  • Scott Kupor - Secrets of Sand Hill Road: Venture Capital and How to Get It
  • Szymon Janiak - Start-up i Venture Capital


During our conversation, Paweł offers a vivid analogy for the dynamic between VC funds and startups, likening it to "a relationship with a divorce at the end". I believe this is the best description of this connection I have heard in a long time.


Without further ado, let's dive into today's engaging conversation filled with invaluable insights for both investors and entrepreneurs alike! 🚀

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

VC in the CEEBy Adrian Kondrat