The Learning Corner by Precursor

Mia Farnham, Charles Hudson
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Welcome to the Learning Corner, a weekly Precursor Ventures podcast, where members of the Precursor team walk through their favorite articles and news snippets across the venture ecosystem.

  1. 4 DAYS AGO

    Episode #65: I See Dead VCs, Tech Media Echo Chambers, VC-Backed Startups' Status Collapse

    This week features Beezer Clarkson from Sapphire Partners discussing her analysis on venture's first substantial firm contraction in 20+ years, with fewer than half of existing VC firms actively investing. We examine Om Malik's critique of access journalism dominating tech media, where velocity trumps substance. Finally, Michael Dempsey's essay argues that VC-backed startups have undergone the same status collapse as investment banking, becoming the unremarkable default path for ambitious talent rather than a signal of contrarian vision.

    26 min

  2. 29 JAN

    Episode #64: Hubristic Fundraising's Hidden Costs, VCs Can't Win Talent, SaaS Death Greatly Exaggerated

    This week we discuss Jason Lemkin's analysis of Brex's $5.15B exit and how hubristic fundraising creates impossible success benchmarks, Auren Hoffman's controversial claim that VCs overpromise their ability to help with hiring in today's AI talent war, and Saanya Ojha's defense of SaaS business models against claims of obsolescence. We explore why massive valuations attract mercenaries over missionaries, whether venture capital firms can truly move the needle on talent acquisition, and how vendor fatigue and data moats protect incumbents from AI disruption. Join us as we challenge conventional wisdom on fundraising strategy, investor value-add, and the future of enterprise software.

    21 min

  3. 22 JAN

    Episode #63: Sequoia Breaks Portfolio Conflict Rules, Pre-Seed Is Dead?, FAANG to Startup Regret

    This week we discuss Sequoia's groundbreaking decision to invest in Anthropic despite existing stakes in OpenAI and xAI, challenging traditional VC taboos around backing competitors. We explore why pre-seed fundraising has fundamentally changed, with most founders now needing $300K ARR just to get meetings. Finally, we examine a candid reflection from an ex-Amazon employee who regretted leaving FAANG for a startup, highlighting the mission-driven intensity required to succeed in early-stage companies.

    23 min

  4. 15 JAN

    Episode #62: Firm Over Fund, Relevance Decays, The Privilege of Belief

    This week we explore David Haber's framework on why most investors run funds but few build lasting firms, and what it takes to create a defensible moat in venture capital. Sarah Guo reminds us that relevance decays without constant market engagement, especially in the compressed timelines of AI companies where first principles thinking matters more than inherited pattern matching. We close with Michael Dempsey's piece on the privilege of belief in early-stage investing, examining what steadfast conviction looks like when operating with incomplete or no data. From institutional durability to personal conviction, we unpack what separates temporary success from lasting impact in venture.

    19 min

  5. 8 JAN

    Episode #61: AI-Generated Reddit Hoax, Tech Career Crisis, Venture FOMO Reality

    This week we unpack the viral AI food delivery hoax that fooled thousands on Reddit and what it reveals about misinformation in 2026. We discuss the crisis of career fulfillment in tech as layoffs continue while startups struggle to find talent. Finally, Roger Ehrenberg shares an honest take on the insecurities every venture investor faces and why playing your own game matters more than ever.

    22 min

  6. 18/12/2025

    Episode #60: The 2025 Venture Review feat. Hunter Walk (Homebrew, Screendoor) and Peter Walker (Carta)

    This end‑of‑year episode of The Learning Corner by Precursor brings together our first podcast guests, Hunter Walk (Homebrew, Screendoor) and Peter Walker (Carta) for a wide‑ranging conversation on how venture capital has evolved in 2025. We unpack ballooning early‑stage valuations, the distortion created by media attention, and how few companies actually sit at the top of the market. We also discuss today’s exit landscape, growing pressure for liquidity, the rise of secondaries, and what recent IPOs and M&A activity mean for funds of different sizes. We close by examining what early‑stage venture really looks like today, from changing GP‑LP dynamics to faster paths to scale and the push to build more with smaller teams.

    33 min

  7. 11/12/2025

    Episode #59: Pivots Rarely Work, Missionary Founders, Does Seattle Hate AI?

    In this week’s episode, we break down Ben Casnocha’s shift in thinking on whether good ideas matter more than good founders, Aaron Harris’ challenge to the “missionary founder” trope, and Jonathon Ready’s exploration of why AI is getting eye rolls from engineers in Seattle. We discuss how these takes intersect with early-stage investing and what signals we should be looking for as the startup landscape keeps evolving.

    18 min

  8. 04/12/2025

    Episode #58: Charles Schwab Acquisition of Forge Global, Holding "Venture Zombies" Forever, What Is Burnout Actually?

    In this episode of The Learning Corner by Precursor, Mia Farnham is joined by Charles Hudson and Missy Martin to unpack three timely reads. First, we explore Charles Schwab’s $660M acquisition of Forge Global and what it signals about the mainstreaming of alternative assets for retail investors. Next, we dig into TechCrunch’s coverage of “venture zombies” and the rise of “hold forever” investors acquiring stalled startups. Finally, we reflect on a powerful essay by Sinéad O’Sullivan that reframes burnout as an identity collapse—not a productivity issue—and what that means for founders, operators, and investors alike.

    24 min
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About

Welcome to the Learning Corner, a weekly Precursor Ventures podcast, where members of the Precursor team walk through their favorite articles and news snippets across the venture ecosystem.

Information

  • Creator
    Mia Farnham, Charles Hudson
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    66
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 The Learning Corner by Precursor
  • Show Website
    The Learning Corner by Precursor

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