Why Founders Fail and the Investors Who See it Coming | David Hornik | Ep 17

Описание: In this episode of Inside the Silicon Mind, David Hornik, Founder of Lobby Capital and long-time venture capitalist, pulls back the curtain on what truly drives great investing - relationships, empathy, and trust.

From the creation of The Lobby gathering to building Lobby Capital, David shares how the most successful investors don’t just fund companies - they build enduring partnerships. He discusses how the AI boom is reshaping venture capital, why sustainable competitive advantage matters more than hype, and what red flags he watches for in early-stage founders.

This conversation goes beyond term sheets - exploring the human side of venture, the art of listening, and what it takes to build a career (and community) grounded in genuine curiosity and care.

Episode Highlights:
00:00 The Essence of Venture Capital
03:00 David Hornik's Journey to Venture Capital
05:52 The Lobby: Building Connections
08:40 The Role of a VC Beyond Funding
12:05 Legal Background: A Unique Advantage
14:44 Understanding Founder-VC Dynamics
18:03 The Shift in Market Dynamics
20:44 AI's Impact on Venture Capital
23:48 Challenges for New Founders in AI
27:30 The Evolution of a CEO
28:37 The Importance of Problem-Solving
30:29 Identifying the Right Founders
32:25 Red Flags in Funding
33:43 Convincing LPs to Invest
35:44 The Significance of Deal Flow
37:57 Navigating the Series A Challenge
40:03 Balancing Empathy in Decision-Making
43:05 Building Long-Term Relationships
47:27 The Love for the Venture Industry
48:40 Recommended Reads for Founders

Book Recommendations:
Give and Take, by Adam Grant
The Biggest Bluff, by Maria Konnikova

Follow David on LinkedIn:
  / davidhornik  

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About Inside the Silicon Mind Podcast:

Inside the Silicon Mind is your ultimate masterclass in high-stakes innovation, business strategy, and the Silicon Valley mindset. Hosted by Firas Sozan, we interview visionary Founders, CEOs, and Venture Capitalists rewriting the rules of technology.

Whether you’re an entrepreneur, software engineer, or investor, this channel delivers battle-tested tactics to help you dominate. We dive deep into:

Founder Grit: Navigating the "Zero to One" startup journey.
The AI Revolution: Insights on Generative AI, LLMs, and the future of work.
Cybersecurity & Trust: Defensive strategies against deepfakes and invisible threats.
Scaling & GTM: Lessons from giants like Snowflake, Microsoft, and Google on building billion-dollar wins.

If you enjoy shows like 20VC, The Diary of a CEO, or Masters of Scale, you’ll find your competitive edge here. We pull back the curtain on the make-or-break moments defining the world’s elite minds.

Stay curious. Stay consistent. Stay Inside the Silicon Mind.
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#venturecapital #startups #founders #entrepreneurship #investing