🎉 STAY TUNED FOR A NEW AMA EXPERIENCE LAUNCHING SOON

Thanks for the amazing feedback on our iOS app! We’re building on it to create a brand-new, all-in-one AMA experience, launching soon. You’ll be the first to know—get ready for an exciting new way to connect with experts online!

👋 YC CEO, Apple SVP + many others as AMA guests next year!

We’re launching a series of university-led AMAs in February next year. In partnership with students at schools across the US, we will be hosting AMAs with:

• Garry Tan, CEO at Y Combinator

• Eddie Cue, SVP of Services at Apple

• Scott Galloway, Professor of Marketing at NYU

• among many other business and tech luminaries.

If you’re a student who would like to host an AMA next year, feel free to reply directly to this email and let's chat!

⭐ Our Favorite Answers from 2024 AMAs
(edited for clarity)

What advice would you give to an earlier version of yourself?

WILL DREWERY: I’d advise myself to trust my instincts more and worry less about others’ opinions. I spent too much time stressing over what investors or my parents might think about my choices, like starting a venture or leaving a company. When you find your calling, everything feels more natural—I wish I’d embraced that earlier.

How did you meet your co-founders and what challenges did you have to overcome?

MIKE KAPPS: For my first company, I had a co-founder, but we had a falling out, leaving me to run it mostly alone. A strong senior team with stock options supported me, but I should’ve done more diligence on compatibility, vision, and values, which could’ve saved time and effort. For my second company, Sanii, we took months aligning goals, asking tough questions, doing reference checks, and it’s been great.

What are the main attributes you look at when evaluating a company?

AHMED MIRZA: At the pre-seed stage, it’s all about the team. Do the founders have credibility, founder-market fit, and validation of the problem? Are they coachable? I often feel like a therapist, discussing personal topics like relationships, mental health, and daily struggles. If a founder isn’t ready for mentorship—due to a chip on their shoulder or other reasons—we won’t invest. Team always comes first.

What are some VC red flags founders should be aware of?

DAVID YI: When valuation talks begin, some VCs won’t challenge it, which can feel dismissive. But the ones who ask, “Why this valuation?” show real interest—they’re ensuring it’s the right deal. Also, VCs rarely ideate with founders. If I’m not brainstorming or getting creative, it’s likely I’m not interested. I prefer to say no quickly rather than fake enthusiasm.

Can you build a startup as a solo founder?

FAY WELLS: Being a solo founder is tough—you lack a thought partner, and the pressure is all on you when things go sideways. However, solo founders often show grit and determination, and I’ve backed them before. Key factors include how long they’ve worked on the problem, any pivots, and the strength of their advisors or board. While multiple founders offer diverse skills, they also bring decision-making and cultural challenges.

What are the secrets for a successful funrdaise?

BRENT MURRI: At M13, we primarily invest at seed and Series A, with Series A as our focus. I specialize in commerce and adjacent spaces, backing software tools for e-commerce merchants and DTC marketplaces. Series A companies typically have $2M+ ARR, improving cohorts, 100%+ net revenue retention, and sophisticated merchant customers. We also assess intangibles like the team, customer feedback, and community chatter.

📺 Check Out all 2024 AMAs

Missed any of our previous AMAs? No worries! You can catch up on all the guests here.

• Will Drewery, Founder and CEO at Diagon (AI-powered procurement platform)

• Gaurav Seth, Founder and CEO at PierSight Space (maritime surveillance using satellites)

• Tejes Srivalsan, Founder and CEO at Poppin (event-based social media)

• Christie Marchese, Founder and CEO at Kinema (film distribution platform)

• Michael Kapps, Founder and CEO at Sanii (longevity and lifestyle for the elderly)

• Ahmed Mirza, Investor at Techstars Los Angeles (leading startup accelerator)

• Clara Hong, Founder and CEO at Smore (B2B form building platform)

• Luiza Justus, Founder and CCO at Supersocial (gaming for the metaverse)

• Mark Linao, General Partner at Progression Fund (early stage consumer VC)

• David Yi, General Partner at Ethos Fund (early stage VC in Vietnam and the US)

• Fay Wells, Angel Investor and VC in Residence at Techstars

• Christian Dorffer, General Partner at Defiance Capital (early stage VC fund in AI)

• Brent Murri, Partner at M13 (leading consumer VC fund)

• Jorge Garcia, Founder and CEO at Linker Finance (financial platform for community banks)

• Bodin Scepanovic, Partner at SparkLabs Saudi Arabia (startup accelerator in the Middle East)

• Adam Lebovitz, Consumer Investor at BAM Ventures (early stage fund in LA)

• Lucas James, Founder at MenloIQ (Gamified AI Sales Trainer)

• Shane Neman, Investor at Neman Ventures (backer of Impossible Foods, Flexport, Athletic Greens, and more)

• Mike Chen & Lena Zhang, Founders at Cohere Commerce (B2B reviews for CPG buyers and sellers)

• Oscar Wong from Gold House Ventures (startup accelerator focused on AAPI founders)

📬 Contact Us

Have suggestions for future guests, feedback on the sessions, or just want to say hi? We’d love to hear from you! Reply directly to this email or send us a note here.

You can also join our Discord server here.