Bitget App
Trade smarter
Buy cryptoMarketsTradeFuturesEarnSquareMore
Startups need to reconsider their strategies for achieving sales and gaining traction, says venture capitalist Tim Chen

Startups need to reconsider their strategies for achieving sales and gaining traction, says venture capitalist Tim Chen

Bitget-RWA2025/10/29 19:33
By:Bitget-RWA
Listen via Apple Podcasts Listen via Spotify

Following the sale of a small startup and facing rejection from every venture capital firm he approached, Tim Chen started making angel investments, which eventually led him to launch his own fund.  

Today, as the sole investor at Essence VC, he has just wrapped up his fourth fund, raising $41 million “almost effortlessly.” What sets Chen apart? He’s technical enough to challenge PhD founders on implementation specifics, while also grasping the business forces that help startups dominate their sectors. 

On this episode of TechCrunch’s Equity podcast, Julie Bort interviews Tim Chen to discuss the emergence of solo VCs and the people reshaping the conventional venture capital landscape. 

Tune in to the full episode to learn about: 

  • Why the YC approach of “growth at any price” falls short for infrastructure startups, and what Chen advises technical founders to prioritize instead 
  • The pivotal shift Chen encouraged in one of his portfolio companies that dramatically altered their path 
  • How Chen’s experience as a “small exit founder” shaped his perspective on venture capital, and why he believes the industry has its priorities reversed 
0

Disclaimer: The content of this article solely reflects the author's opinion and does not represent the platform in any capacity. This article is not intended to serve as a reference for making investment decisions.

PoolX: Earn new token airdrops
Lock your assets and earn 10%+ APR
Lock now!

You may also like

X Financial Shifts to Risk-First Approach: Third Quarter Revenue Drops 13.7% Amid Strategic Change

- X Financial reported 23.9% YoY revenue growth to RMB1.96B in Q3 2025, but saw 13.7% sequential decline due to cautious lending and risk prioritization. - Net income rose 12.1% annually to RMB421M but fell 20.2% sequentially, driven by higher credit provisions and operating costs. - Share repurchases under $100M buyback program totaled $67.9M, with $48M remaining as the company emphasizes disciplined risk management. - Strategic pivot to risk mitigation contrasts with broader fintech sector caution, refle

Bitget-RWA2025/11/23 08:04
X Financial Shifts to Risk-First Approach: Third Quarter Revenue Drops 13.7% Amid Strategic Change

Ethereum News Today: Ethereum Faces $2,800 Test—Will It Surge to $3,000 or Retreat to $2,300?

- Ethereum tests $2,800 resistance, key threshold for November, with potential to rebound toward $3,000 if breakout succeeds. - Recent $55.7M inflow into ETH ETFs, led by Fidelity’s FBETH, signals cautious institutional interest after nine-day outflow streak. - Technical indicators show improved momentum with RSI rebound and MACD stabilization, but $2,800 remains critical for further gains. - Derivatives data and Coinbase’s ETH-backed lending expansion hint at conditional recovery, though liquidation risks

Bitget-RWA2025/11/23 07:08
Ethereum News Today: Ethereum Faces $2,800 Test—Will It Surge to $3,000 or Retreat to $2,300?

Ethereum Updates: Centralized DNS Compromise Highlights DeFi Weaknesses as Aerodrome Suffers $1 Million Loss

- Aerodrome Finance suffered a DNS hijacking attack on Nov 22, 2025, redirecting users to phishing sites that siphoned over $1M in assets through deceptive transaction approvals. - Attackers exploited vulnerabilities in centralized domain registrar Box Domains, forcing users to approve unlimited access to NFTs and stablecoins via two-stage signature requests. - The protocol shut down compromised domains, urged ENS-based access, and revoked recent token approvals, marking its second major front-end breach i

Bitget-RWA2025/11/23 07:08
Ethereum Updates: Centralized DNS Compromise Highlights DeFi Weaknesses as Aerodrome Suffers $1 Million Loss

Trump and Mamdani’s Bet on Affordability: Uniting Opposing Ideologies

- Trump and Mamdani's Nov. 21 meeting highlights clashing ideologies on affordability and governance, with New York's $1.286T economy at stake. - Both leaders share focus on cost-of-living crises but differ sharply on solutions, with Trump threatening federal funding cuts and Mamdani advocating rent freezes. - Experts see the dialogue as critical for redefining strained city-federal relations, emphasizing urban centers' role as economic engines. - Mamdani's corporate tax proposals clash with Trump's deregu

Bitget-RWA2025/11/23 06:52
Trump and Mamdani’s Bet on Affordability: Uniting Opposing Ideologies