In this episode of Nothing Ventured, host Aarish Shah welcomes Maya Ghayad, a partner at ID4 Ventures, to discuss the evolving landscape of the venture capital industry. With nearly a decade of experience, Maya shares her insights on the significant changes happening within VC, including the phenomenon known as "the death of the middle." They explore the challenges early-stage founders face when navigating valuations, the importance of thorough diligence, and the necessity of an entrepreneur-friendly approach. Maya emphasises the value of understanding a founder's perspective and highlights how investors should support rather than overshadow them. Tune in for a deep dive into the future of European tech investment and the essential dynamics between founders and their investors.

Timestamps:

00:00:00 - Introduction to Maya Ghayad and ID4 Ventures

00:01:00 - The Changing Landscape of VC: The Death of the Middle

00:03:00 - Current State of Fundraising for VC Funds

00:04:30 - Emerging Managers and Their Challenges

00:07:00 - The Importance of Due Diligence in VC

00:10:00 - Valuation Challenges for Founders

00:12:00 - The Role of Entrepreneur-Friendly Investing

00:14:00 - Metrics That Matter for Startups

00:16:30 - Navigating the Fundraising Process

00:18:00 - The Value of Accelerators in Today's Market

00:20:00 - Sector-Specific Insights: Space Tech and Beyond

00:22:00 - The Balance Between Founder Autonomy and Investor Guidance

00:24:00 - The Importance of Community and Talent in Startups

00:26:00 - The Impact of Dilution on Founders

00:28:00 - The Future of Accelerators and Their Relevance

00:30:00 - Conclusion and Final Thoughts on VC Dynamics]

Find Maya Ghayad online at:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maya-gayad-37b69033/

Twitter: https://x.com/Maya_Ghayad

Id4 Ventures: http://www.id4.vc/

This episode is sponsored by EmergeOne, fractional CFOs for venture backed tech startups from Seed to Series B.

Get in touch at https://emergeone.co.uk/contact-us/ or join the CFO team at https://emergeone.co.uk/join-the-cfo-team/

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