Phil Black, co-founder of True Ventures, reflects on Walmart's $3 billion acquisition of Jet.com shortly after he publicly called Jet.com a struggling unicorn.
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“That would have, they could have had that for a dollar if they just would have waited.”
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More from Phil Black
AssertionNot checkable as stated
The primary VC funding gap is the $3M to $7M Series B
“Right now in today's funding market, I, you know, to me, the gap that has been present for a while has been what we've referred to as the rational B round, you know, and that historically has been kind of a three to five, five to seven million dollar round of …”
Phil BlackSep 4, 2017▶ 16:0120VC: True Ventures Founder, Phil Black on 4 Major Risk Categories for Startups, Why The Funding Gap Is At The "Rational B" Round & Why VCs Must Start Small But Think Big
Disclosure
Phil Black named Jet.com, Zenefits, and Magic Leap as struggling unicorns
“So I had a Twitter post about this about, I don't know, nine months ago. And I said my three favorite unicorns that I think are in trouble were at that time, jet.com, Zenefits, and Magic Leap.”
Phil BlackSep 4, 2017▶ 20:5020VC: True Ventures Founder, Phil Black on 4 Major Risk Categories for Startups, Why The Funding Gap Is At The "Rational B" Round & Why VCs Must Start Small But Think Big
Insight
Bridge rounds work for product delays, not market or team failures
“If it really is, you know, it took a little longer for the product, but it's awesome. We just need three more months before we can have that customer traction. I think that the bridge round is probably going to be fine. If it's, well, we need six more months b…”
Phil BlackSep 4, 2017▶ 13:0720VC: True Ventures Founder, Phil Black on 4 Major Risk Categories for Startups, Why The Funding Gap Is At The "Rational B" Round & Why VCs Must Start Small But Think Big
Opinion
Convertible notes and SAFEs are like alcohol: use only in moderation
“Oh, they're okay, but it's kind of like alcohol, and it should only be used in moderation.”
Phil BlackSep 4, 2017▶ 19:1920VC: True Ventures Founder, Phil Black on 4 Major Risk Categories for Startups, Why The Funding Gap Is At The "Rational B" Round & Why VCs Must Start Small But Think Big
Insight
Founders spend large early rounds over 12 to 18 months regardless
“The problem with saying, well, we'll just raise a whole bunch more on the first round is that it's human nature. You don't divide that number by 36 and spend accordingly. You tend to just Divide that number again by that 12 or that 18. And so then you're spend…”
Phil BlackSep 4, 2017▶ 10:2920VC: True Ventures Founder, Phil Black on 4 Major Risk Categories for Startups, Why The Funding Gap Is At The "Rational B" Round & Why VCs Must Start Small But Think Big
PredictionHeld up
True Ventures will never invest in another fitness step-counter startup
“We're never going to go after another fitness counter, a step counter kind of idea. That's old and in the market now.”
Phil BlackSep 4, 2017▶ 17:3320VC: True Ventures Founder, Phil Black on 4 Major Risk Categories for Startups, Why The Funding Gap Is At The "Rational B" Round & Why VCs Must Start Small But Think Big
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