Tony Conrad, founding partner of True Ventures, argues that venture capitalists win deals primarily through institutional reputation rather than personal individual branding.
“Yes, your hustle does source deals, and you do have to make the call, but ultimately you win these deals often because of the body at work and the reputation of the most important brand, which is not The me brand, but the us brand.”
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More from Tony Conrad
PredictionNot checkable as stated
Tony Conrad: True Ventures Portfolio Company Will Hit $150M AI ARR
“We have one portfolio company that, and these are real numbers, not venture numbers... It's already unicorn status valuation that opened a new in December had zero revenue around this new product line. And this year ends at minimum one 50 AR are on that busine…”
Tony ConradAug 29, 2025▶ 30:39#114 Seed Rounds at $2B? The Dangers of AI Hype in VC With Tony Conrad · More or Less Podcast
Insight
Tony Conrad: AI answer engines favor direct press releases over earned media
“In AO, it's just the opposite. It is about actually putting value disproportionate amount of value of whatever's coming from the horse's mouth. Right? So whatever it is that we're putting out there. So a press release, you may not have done one lately because …”
Tony ConradAug 29, 2025▶ 41:20#114 Seed Rounds at $2B? The Dangers of AI Hype in VC With Tony Conrad · More or Less Podcast
Disclosure
Conrad: True Ventures has paused investing in non-AI startups
“Like, I think it's just required us to just say, pause for a second on all things that are non AI, because we're going to have catch up like almost every firm, by the way.”
Tony ConradAug 29, 2025▶ 50:38#114 Seed Rounds at $2B? The Dangers of AI Hype in VC With Tony Conrad · More or Less Podcast
AssertionNot checkable as stated
Conrad: Many fast-growing AI startups have net negative margins
“A lot of these are net negative margin.”
Tony ConradAug 29, 2025▶ 58:30#114 Seed Rounds at $2B? The Dangers of AI Hype in VC With Tony Conrad · More or Less Podcast
Opinion
Tony Conrad: Kleiner Perkins lost its way before Mamoon Hamid revitalized it
“Mamoon, the work he's done over at Kleiner is like, to me, Incredibly inspirational. I mean, I felt like Kleiner had really lost his way at one point in time. And honestly, in some weird way, it kind of saddened me because I, they were such an important firm i…”
Tony ConradAug 29, 2025▶ 18:37#114 Seed Rounds at $2B? The Dangers of AI Hype in VC With Tony Conrad · More or Less Podcast
Insight
Tony Conrad: Junior VCs must network at least three nights a week
“I tell our younger team, if you're not out at least three nights a week, then you're probably shouldn't be doing this at the end of the day.”
Tony ConradAug 29, 2025▶ 28:09#114 Seed Rounds at $2B? The Dangers of AI Hype in VC With Tony Conrad · More or Less Podcast
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