If you're a founder dealing with a behind-the-scenes look at how we use portfolio, stop what you're doing and read this. Seriously.
People always ask me how we manage our portfolio of 11 companies. The answer is a disciplined system built around portfolio construction. I'm giving you a transparent, behind-the-scenes look at our exact process, templates, and the software we use to track everything.
Why Most Approaches Fail
Let me be direct: about 70% of the approaches I see to a behind-the-scenes look at how we use portfolio are fundamentally flawed. Not slightly off. Fundamentally flawed.
The root cause is usually one of three things:
- Copying what big companies do without understanding why they do it. What works for Google doesn't work for a 10-person startup.
- Over-engineering the solution when a simple approach would work better. I've seen teams spend six months building something that could have been done in two weeks.
- Ignoring the human element. Technology is the easy part. Getting people to actually use it is where the real challenge lives.
What I've Learned From 117 Companies
After investing in 200+ startups and running two companies to successful exits, I've developed a pretty clear picture of what works with a behind-the-scenes look at how we use portfolio.
The biggest misconception is that you need to timing is everything in this game. That's backwards. The companies that win are the ones that you need to move fast and break things.
I remember sitting with the Anthropic team early on and discussing how they thought about a behind-the-scenes look at how we use portfolio. Their approach was counterintuitive but brilliant.
Lessons From the Trenches
I want to share a few specific lessons I've picked up over the years. These aren't theoretical. They come from real companies, real failures, and real successes.
Lesson 1: The best time to start thinking about a behind-the-scenes look at how we use portfolio was yesterday. The second best time is now. Don't wait until you have the perfect plan.
Lesson 2: Hire for attitude, train for skill. The best a behind-the-scenes look at how we use portfolio practitioners I've met weren't the most technically gifted. They were the most curious and persistent.
Lesson 3: Your competitors are probably getting this wrong too. That's your opportunity. While everyone else is following the same playbook, you can zig when they zag.
This connects to broader themes around portfolio construction, secondary markets, term sheets, follow-on investing, dilution that I've been thinking about a lot lately.
Wrapping Up
I've shared a lot here, and I know it can feel overwhelming. But here's the thing about a behind-the-scenes look at how we use portfolio: you don't need to get everything right on day one. You just need to get started and keep improving.
The founders in my portfolio who excel at a behind-the-scenes look at how we use portfolio share one trait: they're relentlessly practical. They don't chase perfection. They chase progress.
That's the mindset I'd encourage you to adopt. Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can. And keep pushing forward.
As always, I'm rooting for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do all experts agree with this view?
No, and that's fine. The best ideas in business are often contrarian. I share my perspective based on my experience and data, but I encourage you to seek out opposing viewpoints and form your own conclusions.
How can I apply this thinking to my own situation?
Start by identifying the core principle behind the opinion, not the specific example. Then ask yourself: does this principle apply to my context? If yes, test it in a small, low-risk way before going all in.
What experience informs this perspective?
This perspective comes from over a decade of building companies in Silicon Valley, two successful exits (RemoteTeam to Gusto, MovieLaLa to Gfycat), and investing in 200+ startups including Anthropic, OpenAI, and Scale AI. I write about what I've lived.