Dez Fleming @DezFleming Twitter profile

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Dez Fleming

3 years

I run a newsletter called All Things Venture that's focused on highlighting a founder's journey at the earliest stage I've interviewed +20 founders and in every interview I ask "What advice do you have for any aspiring entrepreneur?" Here's what they shared🧵🧵

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Dez Fleming

@DezFleming

2 years

1st Job (Banking): I get to wear a tie to work?? SICK 2nd Job (Consulting): No tie in office??SICK 3rd Job (Startup): Hoodie in office?? This is AMAZING 4th Job (VC): What do you mean wearing Birkenstocks to an external meeting is unprofessional?

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Dez Fleming

@DezFleming

2 years

Most first time founders don't realize how structured of a process fundraising from VCs is Our industry gatekeeps a lot of valuable information which is stupid & counter to the optimistic visions we preach I put together a fundraising strategy deck for first time founders...

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Dez Fleming

@DezFleming

2 years

Some stuff I’m indexing to as a new/younger VC: - Monitoring public equities in my coverage area (I.e fintech) to understand rev multiples + biz models - actively learning about history of innovation & tech - prioritizing long term relationships over short term interactions

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Dez Fleming

@DezFleming

3 months

Was challenged tonight at a dinner w/ other founders, investors, and operators to share what the bar is for a Series A so here’s my take: - $1M ARR at a minimum - 3 - 5x YoY growth - 2x burn multiple (or improving YoY toward that) - 70-80% gross margins - Compelling story &…

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Dez Fleming

@DezFleming

1 year

How much do you think this costs? (Parents of Twitter, do not participate)

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Dez Fleming

@DezFleming

1 year

NYC > SF NYC > SF NYC > SF NYC > SF NYC > SF

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Dez Fleming

@DezFleming

2 years

2% of VC dollars go to black founders 3% of GPs identify as black Never been a better time to affect change Had the opportunity to host a dinner a few weeks ago for black founders, investors, and operators focused on improving those numbers We are the change we seek!!

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Dez Fleming

@DezFleming

2 years

that I hope provides some transparency into the process for anyone thinking of starting a company or fundraising soon You can check it out here -

Fundraising Strategy for First Time Founders

Hey Everyone - This document is intended to be used as a guide to help first time founders absolutely crush their fundraising process. Raising money from VCs, from anyone - is hard But it’s a process...

docs.google.com

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Dez Fleming

@DezFleming

1 year

Had an incredible weekend out in Utah. First solo trip I’ve ever done. Comfortably hitting blacks, absolutely crushing blues. Very excited to keep getting better

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Dez Fleming

@DezFleming

1 year

First day back in 2023. Fired up to help founders. Fired up to make connections. Fired up to make an impact.Don't think VC industry of the past 50 years will look like the VC we have in the next 5 years. Build while you climb, lift others up along the way. Let's get to WORK!!!!!

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Dez Fleming

@DezFleming

2 years

Firmly believe that successful startups & VC are just like sports - Everyday is an opportunity to get better - High performing teams do the little things consistently & near perfection - Mental toughness/mindset are important to navigate the ups n downs

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Dez Fleming

@DezFleming

1 year

Why why why why why why why don’t I get a calendly link from my doctors office. Like my guys and gals, I am at WORK everyday from 9-6. Ya receptionists doesn’t wanna hit my voicemail. I don’t wanna listen to my voicemail. Throw that thang on calendly and help me help YOU

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Dez Fleming

@DezFleming

1 year

NYC based Seed stage founders. I’m running an experiment here. If you’re looking to raise in < 6 months, & want zero judgement feedback on your pitch. I’m happy to meet with you no questions asked this Sunday. My only ask is we meet in person. Feel free to DM me if you’re down

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Dez Fleming

@DezFleming

7 months

I'm hosting a private, invite only event for Black & Hispanic Founders, Operators, and Investors on 10/12. 2x founder @Porter_Braswell & GP & Co-Founder of Equal Ventures @kerby are our guest speakers. Goal is to have some of the best up & coming people in NYC, all in one room...

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Dez Fleming

@DezFleming

2 years

Let's goooooooo!!! 🚀🚀 1st deal that I worked on here @FirstMarkCap beyond excited for this journey and to partner with the Sastrify team

Adam Nelson

@adamn

2 years

So excited to be partnering w/ @Sastrify . I've been a software procurement nerd since my first days building the GTM strategy at Dropbox...grateful to be able to partner with a team that clearly aligns with our vision for the future and has built amazing momentum.

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Dez Fleming

@DezFleming

2 years

@justingordon212 👋hola squad!! my name is Dez I'm an active angel investor as well as spend my day job here at Firstmark!! Always happy to chat & be a sounding board, and more than happy to make time especially at those "waaay to early" stages

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Dez Fleming

@DezFleming

3 months

Tim Cook on the cover of Vogue @facebook up 100% YoY @browsercompany showing up everywhere @DylanAbruscato making crypto fun @scale_AI up 3x YoY to $750M ARR at least Apple Vision Pro now out in the wild Blackrock's bitcoin ETFs trading $200M+ daily Tech is kinda hot rn

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Dez Fleming

@DezFleming

1 year

All Things Venture: Hype Cycles

Hype Cycles

All Things Venture #085

apexventurestudio.substack.com

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Dez Fleming

@DezFleming

2 years

What does it mean to have a MOVEMENT not a moment? In 2021, the largest year of VC deployment on record, < 2% of captial went to Black founders I recently had the opportunity to host 40 Black Founders & Investors all focused on changing those numbers for good

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Dez Fleming

@DezFleming

2 years

Keep pushing our industry to be better in all aspects: 2% of funding going to black led companies is abysmal 2% of funding going to latino led companies is abysmal 2% of funding going to women only led companies is abysmal

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Dez Fleming

@DezFleming

9 months

One reflection after completing my 2nd year in VC... it's a long game w/ most things outside of your control But your daily habits (which are incredibly powerful AND in your control) are controllable inputs for success

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Dez Fleming

@DezFleming

2 years

Hosting our first, FirstMark Fintech Night w/ @CharleyMa @aunimh @elipoaquino @adamn We’ve got an incredible group of founders, operators, and investors all sharing insights and tactical advice on how to raise $$$, angel invest, and going from 0 to 1 All right here in NYC!!

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Dez Fleming

@DezFleming

1 year

I just heard Flowers by Miley Cyrus this weekend and god damn is it my JAM

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Dez Fleming

@DezFleming

2 years

@vhmth Tbh SF needs a little less arcteryx a little more swaaaaaag baby

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Dez Fleming

@DezFleming

2 years

My personal opinion is that the modern (i.e digitally connected) VC network is a failure if we aren't helping more founders, from more backgrounds, and making them more informed about the journey ahead

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Dez Fleming

@DezFleming

3 months

My partner @adamn are gearing up to host another Fintech Driven event to kickoff the year pretty soon. Will be another private, invite only event but always looking for great people to join. Would love to get more people outside of our networks involved. DMs open!

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Dez Fleming

@DezFleming

4 months

World needs more builders less bankers; telling every smart young person I meet in 2024 to go risk on & swing for the fences. No sense in climbing a corporate ladder at globocorpvampiresquidbankinginstitution unless you truly LOVE deals and finance. Tech & entrepreneurship is…

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Dez Fleming

@DezFleming

2 years

Vibes are high right now

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Dez Fleming

@DezFleming

7 months

Keys to creating a billion dollar company: Step 1: Find a nice juicy vertical Step 2: Build a killer software tool for said vertical Step 3: Layer in payments, banking, or lending Step 4: Tell me & @adamn about it

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Dez Fleming

@DezFleming

4 months

Imagine this, it’s the year 2030. You’re 36 years old. You’ve got two kids under the age of three and a third one is on the way. You live in suburbia. New Jersey, in fact. You commute to the city four times a week (you kinda hate it, but hey someone’s gotta do it.) Life is busy.…

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Dez Fleming

@DezFleming

2 years

Gm, nyc

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Dez Fleming

@DezFleming

2 years

Passed the 1 year mark in VC & wrote about my reflections🎉🎉🎉 Thankful for the opp to learn from the entire team @FirstMarkCap & to be in the trenches every day w/ @adamn Excited to keep meeting & supporting founders & growing the NYC ecoystem!!

What I Learned in my First Year as a VC

All Things Venture #077

apexventurestudio.substack.com

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Dez Fleming

@DezFleming

9 months

I don’t take the opportunity of working in VC for granted at all. It is a privilege to work with founders day in and day out & to hear their vision for the future No one is perfect but the least our industry can do is bring effort, energy, and authenticity in every interaction

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Dez Fleming

@DezFleming

2 years

A quote from today's Startup Spotlight on @PartyRound "The best way to change the world is by building a startup and the greatest time to do so is now." Had a blast interviewing @jordihays & getting to learn about their focus, mission & journey!!

Startup Spotlight: Party Round

All Things Venture #058

apexventurestudio.substack.com

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Dez Fleming

@DezFleming

2 years

It's a high level summary, but VC is a network and relationship based business so equipping more founders with the institutional knowledge of this network is critical More informed founders = more billion $ opportunities

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Dez Fleming

@DezFleming

1 year

Working at a startup changed my life. Working at a startup helped me "break in" to VC. I think it's the single highest ROI activity you can make if you're in your twenties and looking to make an impact both personally and professionally

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Dez Fleming

@DezFleming

2 years

@ShaanVP I will cook 99% of people in this thread

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Dez Fleming

@DezFleming

2 years

In 2021 Visa processed ~357x more transactions than Ethereum If you're wondering what that looks like - Here's a visual representation with the total transaction volume on Ethereum expressed as Rick Ross's face

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Dez Fleming

@DezFleming

1 year

Friendly reminder for anyone recruiting for their 1st VC job. The best way to stand out, is to DO the job before you get THE job. You don't need anyone's permission to do the core components of being a new VC. Put founders first, develop relationships w/ them and...

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Dez Fleming

@DezFleming

2 years

When the VC associates who all start at the same time together see each announce their first deal

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Dez Fleming

@DezFleming

2 years

The future may not be evenly distributed but information, opportunity, and access all can be Be the change you seek and lets do the damn work!!!

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Dez Fleming

@DezFleming

2 years

@MacConwell not ya boyyyyy - hit my line founders

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Dez Fleming

@DezFleming

2 years

This is @TheoWllms he is at Salesforce Ventures, he is part of the future of what it means to be/work in VC, he is a father, a husband, and works his ass off everyday to support founders Show my man Theo some love!!!!!

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Dez Fleming

@DezFleming

2 years

Vibes are high right now pt. 2

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Dez Fleming

@DezFleming

1 year

@Jad_AE It's a sport for highly competitive unathletic people of which finance has a bunch of

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Dez Fleming

@DezFleming

2 years

@HarryStebbings Agree strongly w/ @HarryStebbings Dropping this fundraising guide (which emphasizes storytelling) for any first time founders lurking in the comments

Fundraising Strategy for First Time Founders

Hey Everyone - This document is intended to be used as a guide to help first time founders absolutely crush their fundraising process. Raising money from VCs, from anyone - is hard But it’s a process...

docs.google.com

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Dez Fleming

@DezFleming

2 years

The NYT bought Wordle Spotify bought Heardle Bouta start Turtle and sell it to Animal Planet reaaaal quick

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Dez Fleming

@DezFleming

11 months

My ideal cold email - written in 30 seconds - responded to in 15 seconds - no calendly back and forth - from a series A founder w/ $10M ARR - raising at a $20 post - they tell me they love me - building in fintech or vertical SaaS - includes a ricky bobby reference

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Dez Fleming

@DezFleming

2 years

yeah NYC is expensive, crowded, and dirty but on my walk home I passed an artisanal soap store with a live folk band so take that

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Dez Fleming

@DezFleming

2 years

To all of my VC friends who I've met this past year A) I love ya'll, ya'll are awesome B) Take a look at the doc - if you see something you disagree w/, call me out Let's all do the work to keep supporting founders in any way we can and...

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Dez Fleming

@DezFleming

1 year

Met 2 founder friends last wknd. Very beginning of their journey & very excited for them. Why? B/c they know the risks, have a plan to de-risk via structured experiments, & burned their ships (i.e no plan B). Literally moving to Alaska to solve a climate problem. Gotta love it

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Dez Fleming

@DezFleming

3 months

VC markets are prioritizing efficiency. A tale of two cities is emerging. Last week the stark contrast between the news on Bilt & Brex is a great example of this dynamic playing out in real time

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Dez Fleming

@DezFleming

6 months

Just used @Footprint_HQ in the wild, cool stuff @EliWachs

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Dez Fleming

@DezFleming

2 months

My current life mission is to alternate between aggressive rap music and fun house music, send 100 emails an hour, and try and find a Series A company growing 10-15% MoM with accelerating CMGR

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Dez Fleming

@DezFleming

1 year

Very excited to host another Fintech Driven event with @zachperret from @Plaid - my favorite part about the tech/venture ecosystem is the open, collaborative, “glass half full” mindset & dedication to paying it forward this group has - can’t be beat!!!!!

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Dez Fleming

@DezFleming

2 years

Fired up right now bc I got off the phone w/ a fantastic operator thinking about her next role All the right credentials, ready to take the leap at the earliest stages but said (paraphrasing), "I'm not 100% sure if I'm qualified for the opportunity..."

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Dez Fleming

@DezFleming

1 year

Put founders first, work as hard as they do, and good things will happen 🤝🏾

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Dez Fleming

@DezFleming

2 years

Millennials: One day I’d like to own my own home, have my kids go to college, and generally be debt free The US Economy;

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Dez Fleming

@DezFleming

1 year

Absolutely zero substitute for hard work. You can’t skip levels. Lots of days will suck. But there’s also no reason why you can’t achieve the goals you aspire to. Foot on gas. Hit the extra gear. Go the extra mile - f around and find out how great YOU can be

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Dez Fleming

@DezFleming

2 years

Can’t wait till younger Gen Z discovers Polo, calls it vintage, and I make an absolute BAG reselling my 9th grade wardrobe on Depop

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Dez Fleming

@DezFleming

5 months

Hosting our first Alternative Capital Demo Day, here @FirstMarkCap bringing together founders, investors, and operators rethinking the future state of alternative assets and how to capitalize, scale, and compound these businesses @adamn kicking things off!!

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Dez Fleming

@DezFleming

2 years

Starting a thread on the history of Founders that have demonstrated domain expertise and/or an unfair advantage/edge in their biz from day 1

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Dez Fleming

@DezFleming

1 year

S/O to all the strangers on the internet who respond to cold DMs and outreach, yall the real MVPs

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Dez Fleming

@DezFleming

1 year

All I want for Christmas is a recurring revenue stream as predictable and timeless as Mariah’s royalties from this damn song

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Dez Fleming

@DezFleming

1 year

Continuing on this journey to understand the founding moments for the top 25 largest VC backed public companies. Just finished reading up on Atlassian ($40Bn), Snowflake ($47Bn), Workday ($51Bn), Shopify ($56Bn), and Palo Alto Networks ($58Bn)

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Dez Fleming

@DezFleming

2 years

My parents made me go to a magnet school for science & technology in high school I had no interest bc I played sports competitively & the rival high school was 10x better sports wise Today, I got a pitch deck from a magnet school classmate Parents made the right choice lmao

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Dez Fleming

@DezFleming

2 years

Had an incredible time hosting the kick off of Fintech Driven - thank you to everyone who came out & thank you to @eglyman for dropping some gems on company building!! Let me or @adamn know who we should bring next!!!

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Dez Fleming

@DezFleming

11 months

Had an incredible day. Met w/ a founding team in Grand Central this AM. Had a zoom call spontaneously turn to a walk in talk in Union Square. Finished the night meeting emerging founders/operators in Dumbo. No other place in the world this density of opportunity. NYC is buzzing.

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Dez Fleming

@DezFleming

1 year

Proximity matters, ambition matters, tolerance matters, luck matters, failure matters. There are so many variables to success and so much randomness in its achievement that my overriding belief and advice for anyone is - why not you?

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Dez Fleming

@DezFleming

1 year

@levie I am basically nostradamus, a little EARLY but not wrong

Dez Fleming

@DezFleming

2 years

Calling it now - at least ONE candidate in 2024 is going to go full tilt on crypto and issue NFTs for something

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Dez Fleming

@DezFleming

1 year

Being at home in Texas is wild compared to New York b/c status symbols go from how many shades of black can you wear & how discreet but expensive is your jewelry to how blue are your wrangler jeans and how lifted is your F-150

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Dez Fleming

@DezFleming

1 year

Live at the NY Marathon - let’s go!!!

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Dez Fleming

@DezFleming

2 years

21 savage rhymed spizzin, twizzin, agaizzin, and frienzzinds - on a song with probably +100M streams, so you really can’t tell me anything in life just ain’t possible

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Dez Fleming

@DezFleming

6 months

I'm on pace to meet ~400 companies this year & have met with dozens of operators who have ambitions to start a VC backed company People ask me all the time, "What makes a company VC backable?" The simplest answer is, any company that can get to a minimum of $100M+ ARR

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Dez Fleming

@DezFleming

1 year

GF and I try to set intentions for every new year. Tried something new this year where we wanted to summarize those intentions in one word. Mine is “Focus”, hers is “Move” Hope everyone has a fantastic time tonight, and carries the positive energy into 2023

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Dez Fleming

@DezFleming

2 years

What is Web 3's role be in the future of commerce? How does luck play a role in a founder's career? What "aha" moments lead to conviction in an idea? I got into all of that & more in an interview with @anna_merzi one of the co-founders of @novel_commerce

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Dez Fleming

@DezFleming

4 months

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSIIIIRRRRRRR

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Dez Fleming

@DezFleming

6 months

I know that being in VC is the right career for me b/c I am 110% ENERGIZED after talking w/ founders. Default optimism is my love language & I respect anyone who is taking a swing at entrepreneurship, big or small. You do not need permission from the world to affect change

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Dez Fleming

@DezFleming

1 year

Content marketing is eating paid marketing’s lunch right now. Totally anecdotal but left and right you see brands like @Airbnb @brexHQ @capitalxyz and a whole host of all others looking to share stories w/ fixed costs of production vs marginal costs (i.e paid ads)

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Dez Fleming

@DezFleming

3 months

10 questions I asked myself a year ago on what matters most to VCs when assessing founders & their entrepreneurial ideas

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Dez Fleming

@DezFleming

11 months

Firmly believe that marketing as a skill set is under appreciated. The ability to consistently, clearly, and succinctly communicate the value you provide and/or capture attention is so important esp. in a world where the barriers to entry for new products is increasingly zero

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Dez Fleming

@DezFleming

2 years

LES is the heart of NY right now

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Dez Fleming

@DezFleming

9 months

If you laugh, if you cry, if you think. That’s a good day. Did all three so far this AM. I’m thankful for the opportunities I have in life. I recognize I am lucky. Life is random but I want to make the most of the hand I was dealt. Be kind, be positive, help others where you can

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Dez Fleming

@DezFleming

9 months

Run your own race. See where your limit is. Make an impact on others. Be positive and uplift the vibes. Don’t be afraid to be different, ask the dumb questions. Speak up, because your voice deserves to be heard. Play for fun. Play to win. Be authentic to who you are.

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Dez Fleming

@DezFleming

2 years

Support founders, amplify founders, get out of the way. Go check out @okra_HQ and learn more about their ambitions to be the @Plaid of Nigeria and beyond!!

Startup Spotlight: Okra

All Things Venture #053

apexventurestudio.substack.com

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Dez Fleming

@DezFleming

1 year

Every time I walk by the Salt Bae restaurant in Union Square I’m reminded that if you build an audience or go viral literal money falls from the sky

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Dez Fleming

@DezFleming

2 years

Had a founder friend send the most thoughtful handwritten note as he gears up to launch his company For me, this is what VC is all about Help ppl make their VISION, a REALITY Be an advocate, a friend, a support system and you’ll win and be in a position to HELP win!!

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Dez Fleming

@DezFleming

9 days

I saw the best minds of my generation destroyed by madness; starving for exits. dying to reaccelerate growth, searching for answers of why didn't I join stripe in 2015

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Dez Fleming

@DezFleming

2 years

Product Market Fit is kinda like sitting in an Adirondack chair with a loaf of bread being surrounded by ducks

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Dez Fleming

@DezFleming

2 years

Creating things with the homies > consuming things with the homies

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Dez Fleming

@DezFleming

2 years

What backgrounds make someone a successful VC? How do founder's build an unfair advantage? What role does community play in businesses today? I had the chance to chat about all of this w/ my colleague @lisamxu in my latest All Things Venture article

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Dez Fleming

@DezFleming

1 year

The existence of Shopify, Squarespace, Wix, & BigCommerce show that large markets can support multiple “winners”; obviously some will & can take the lion’s share of an outcome but competition is a validation of the opportunity

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Dez Fleming

@DezFleming

2 years

Back at it again w/ another All Things Venture interview, this time with @cdurbinxyz 1 of the co-founders of @decentxyz . We talked about: - Building a decentralized record label - Combining NFTs and royalties - His advice for founders in Web3

Startup Spotlight: Decent

All Things Venture: #043

apexventurestudio.substack.com

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Dez Fleming

@DezFleming

1 year

@jamesbarone1 $100!!! A smooth Benjamin. GONE and useless in 6 months or less

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Dez Fleming

@DezFleming

2 years

GM, the NBA is BAAAAAACK BABY

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Dez Fleming

@DezFleming

8 months

The thing I am chasing in this journey of VC, is to be right. To look back 10 years from now, 20 years from now and know that you had a prepared mind, know that you took the risk, and knew that it was unlikely to succeed but you had faith anyways, odds & expectations be damned

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Dez Fleming

@DezFleming

2 years

What is your least favorite app UX and why is it Resy?

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Dez Fleming

@DezFleming

6 months

Show up everyday. Take the longest view in the room. Compete, but don't be an asshole. Take care with people. Be kind. Be optimistic. Admit it when you make mistakes. Don't take what you do on a daily basis for granted. Recognize VC is a privilege. Rinse & repeat.

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Dez Fleming

@DezFleming

8 months

We are in the middle of rebundling of financial svcs. As of today you can embed: - Payments: Stripe, Finix - Banking: Unit, Solid - Lending: Oatfi, Kanmon, Lendflow - Wealth Mgmt: Legion, Uprise - Treasury Mgmt: Treasure Infra leads, app layer follows. Future is software first

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