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samir kaji
@Samirkaji
CEO of Allocate (Allocate.co) Host of the Venture Unlocked podcast, ventureunlocked.substack.com. My opinions are mine, and not related to Allocate.
Menlo Park, CA
ventureunlocked.substack.com
Joined April 2009
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  • Pinned
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    samir kaji
    @Samirkaji
    Mar 21
    I talk to thousands of LPs every year. Here's what I'm seeing right now when it comes to how they're approaching VC. 1) Late-stage co-investments have never been hotter. The top 5-7 names have effectively *unlimited* demand. And that supply/demand imbalance has created three
    39K
  • user avatar
    samir kaji
    @Samirkaji
    May 21, 2021
    I can attest that I’ve learned more in 90 days running a startup than I did in 6 years between undergrad and my mba.
  • user avatar
    samir kaji
    @Samirkaji
    Mar 10, 2023
    Crazy day. After 22 years between SVB and FRB, I'm still at shock. My wife also works at SVB right now. The news today was huge, and here is what I've pieced together across 100's of conversations yesterday/today. 🧵
    1.8M
  • user avatar
    samir kaji
    @Samirkaji
    Mar 9, 2023
    A lot of panic re: SVB (you should see my phone/emails!). A bank run driven by panic is the real risk here, not the action of selling LT securities at loss I have no inside information as I left SVB in 2012, but know enough about banking to piece together. Quick 🧵
    1M
  • user avatar
    samir kaji
    @Samirkaji
    Apr 30, 2022
    VC and tech twitter has really deteriorated to a point where shit-posting is like 80% of the material.
  • user avatar
    samir kaji
    @Samirkaji
    May 8, 2020
    Writing effective cold emails is an underrated, but insanely effectively skill to learn early on in a career.
  • user avatar
    samir kaji
    @Samirkaji
    May 7, 2022
    I just logged on to Twitter and see doom and gloom in VC/Tech Twitter, including some long threads. As a founder (or investor), wartime operating is where you make your hay. I've been through 3 cycles. Relax.
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    samir kaji
    @Samirkaji
    Dec 28, 2020
    Emerging managers, what stack are you using to run your firm? Fund admin: Audit/tax: Legal: Banking: LP pipeline: Crm: Email: Deal pipe: Other: We will combine and report on most common
  • user avatar
    samir kaji
    @Samirkaji
    Jun 13, 2019
    Becoming a new seed VC: Perception: Investing in cool startups,having status, making a ton of $$$ Reality: Constant juggle of fundraising (and rejections) and IR, endless pitch mtgs, solving port problems,working with service providers, being in neg cash flow
  • user avatar
    samir kaji
    @Samirkaji
    Mar 18, 2022
    I never really understood age-ism (either direction) in startup or vc land. But it is still prevalent I’m now 46 and have more energy and ambition than i did when i was 30.
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    samir kaji
    @Samirkaji
    Mar 13, 2023
    Wow. Really @WSJ ? "I'm not saying 12 white men would have avoided this mess, but the company may have been distracted by diversity demands" How was this published?
    user avatar
    Jessica Lessin
    The Information
    @Jessicalessin
    Mar 13, 2023
    For @WSJ to say flat out that SVB could have failed because they added non-white men to their board shows how far behind the times (and certifiably stupid) this publication really is. It makes me so angry and very sad. WSJ readers and staff deserve better.
    340K
  • user avatar
    samir kaji
    @Samirkaji
    Feb 2, 2021
    Big personal news. After 21 years in banking, I'm moving on and starting a new chapter as an entrepreneur. Excited to tell everyone about it soon!
    I’m starting a new career journey
    From samirkaji.medium.com
  • user avatar
    samir kaji
    @Samirkaji
    Jul 8, 2020
    Another career tip to learn early: Learn to write. Hone the skill every day. Get comfortable writing to bigger (and more public) groups. If forces cohesive thought, enables effective one to many interactions, and can be therapeutic once you get highly proficient
  • user avatar
    samir kaji
    @Samirkaji
    Jun 26, 2019
    My convo with a HNW LP the other day: LP: I'm tired of looking at seed funds. Most won't lead, and just follow signals or trends. Me: Have you heard of "XYZ" fund? they are independent thinkers & are raising: LP: Nice, how much have they closed, and who else is in? Sigh