The Hard Part with Evan McCann

Yuri Sagalov from Wayfinder Ventures

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Yuri Sagalov is the Managing Partner of Wayfinder Ventures.


Takeaways

  • Yuri's immigrant experience includes stops in Russia, Israel, Canada and now the US.
  • Getting into YC S10 and how YC has changed.
  • His startup AeroFS's acquisition process.
  • Joining YC as a Part-Time Partner.
  • Why startups have become a mainstream career path.
  • Why it is more glamorous to be a founder versus an investor.
  • His start in angel investing with huge wins like Flexport and Pebble.
  • How angel investing has changed over the last few years.
  • Why velocity is one of the key predictors of success in startups.
  • How Wayfinder was started.
  • The initialization of seed investing and openings for newer funds and theses.
  • How Yuri adds value and attracts founders who want him on their cap table.
  • The artisanal approach to venture.
  • Why referrals are his biggest deal flow channel.
  • Contrairian views in VC.


    • Chapters

    00:00 Yuri's Immigrant Journey and Its Impact

    02:09 The Entrepreneurial Spirit: Founding AeroFS

    05:04 Navigating the Acquisition Process

    06:48 The Evolution of Y Combinator

    10:07 The Changing Landscape of Startups

    12:47 The Glamour of Being a Founder

    16:07 Angel Investing: A Personal Journey

    20:46 Key Traits for Early-Stage Investments

    23:55 The Genesis of Wayfinder

    24:49 Adapting to the Competitive Landscape

    27:04 Evolving Investment Strategies

    30:04 The Changing Landscape of Seed Funding

    33:23 The Role of Founders in Investment Decisions

    36:29 Supporting Founders: Balancing Guidance and Autonomy

    38:31 Common Challenges Faced by Startups

    40:53 Finding and Evaluating Potential Investments

    42:37 Contrarian Views in Venture Capital

    45:05 Personal and Professional Excitement

    49:25 Navigating Hard Times in the Startup World


    Keywords

    immigration, entrepreneurship, Y Combinator, startup culture, angel investing, founder identity, acquisition process, Wayfinder, investment strategies, startup ecosystem, investment strategies, seed funding, founder support, startup challenges, venture capital, AI, emerging markets, investment evaluation, community support, contrarian views

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    The Hard Part with Evan McCannBy Evan McCann