Marc Cohen Marc Cohen

To connect or not to connect, that is the question

Three weeks ago I received a connection request from a famous entrepreneur and internet personality.

Three weeks ago I received a connection request from a famous entrepreneur and internet personality.

I only connect with people I actually have some kind of connection with so I told them this and asked for a quick 15-minute call. I am a fan of their content and told them I would continue to be even if they declined.

They declined (politely). We're not connected.

What would you have done? If you would have connected, why?

#founders #startups #venturecapital #buildinginpublic #investinginpublic

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Marc Cohen Marc Cohen

Evening update - 22 May 23

Today I…

#TodayI

Cycled to work.
Shared about my father-in-law passing.
Was pitched by Matthias Plunser of WXplr.
Had a postponement due to poor internet connectivity.
Chatted with Simon Livesey about Volt Vision.
Was pitched by an early-stage London robotics startup.
Was pitched by Roger Planas of 51Trips.
Found that the aggregate cost of Sure Business's fibre is little different from Starlink's and Sure will lock you into a long-term contract so I'm sticking with Starlink.

#founders #startups #venturecapital #buildinginpublic #investinginpublic

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Marc Cohen Marc Cohen

Ezra Khedouri Shaul

My father-in-law, Ezra Khedouri Shaul, passed last Sunday. He was 88.

My father-in-law, Ezra Khedouri Shaul, passed last Sunday. He was 88.

He grew up in Baghdad, Iraq. When he was a teenager he and his family had to leave Iraq fast because of increasing violence towards the Jewish population.

He was a lecturer in Biochemistry in the UK and US, including having guest lectured at Harvard.

He was a loving, warm, caring man.

I miss him.

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Marc Cohen Marc Cohen

Evening update - 18 May 23

Today I…

#TodayI

Took the kids to school.
Asked for advice about how to say no.
Was pitched by Jemima Bunbury and Bella Levin of BLEND.
Had a call with Tom Manterfield of Hiphops.
Had a postponement.
Attended Focal demo day.
Had a call with Oliver Beavers of PHOSPHOR.
Collected the kids from school.

#TomorrowI

Am heading to the UK for my father-in-law's funeral. He passed on Sunday. I plan to post about him this coming Monday.

#founders #startups #venturecapital #buildinginpublic #investinginpublic

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Marc Cohen Marc Cohen

How to say no politely - advice requested

Asking for advice - how do you say no to things you know will be a poor use of your time?

Asking for advice - how do you say no to things you know will be a poor use of your time?

Can you just say out loud, "I'd love to help but this isn't the best use of my time right now"?

I struggle with this - I like helping, I don't want to hurt people's feelings, I don't want to ignore and I don't want to mislead.

Help me, please!

#founders #startups #venturecapital #buildinginpublic #investinginpublic

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Marc Cohen Marc Cohen

Evening update - 12 May 23

Today I…

#TodayI

Shared that my podcast with Greg Mccallum of Founders Unplugged was live.
Had a quick call with Daniel Sozonov of Unison.
Tried and failed to return clothes and collect shoes for my wife.
Was pitched by Sam Tendall and Dan Thomas of Smashed Grapes.
Shared that Focal demo day was fast approaching.
Chatted with Mike Martin of True.
Was pitched by Oliver Beavers of PHOSPHOR.
Was nominated for a UK Business Angels Association award.

#NextWeek

I will be in the UK.

Have a great weekend everyone!

#founders #startups #venturecapital #buildinginpublic #investinginpublic

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Marc Cohen Marc Cohen

Focal demo day is next Thursday

I've been through 1,900 applications ( 😱 ) to help select the 20 that will be pitching.

Focal demo day is next Thursday 18th from 2-4pm.

I've been through 1,900 applications ( 😱 ) to help select the 20 that will be pitching.

This is a chance to invest alongside great VCs like Lightspeed, GV (Google Ventures), 20VC, MMC, Ascension, Eka Ventures and even me! Capital obviously at risk.

Register here at https://www.gofocal.vc/

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Marc Cohen Marc Cohen

Founders Unplugged with Greg Mccallum

Watch us chatting about the investing process, the infectious passion of founders and the future.

A great pleasure to be a guest on Founders Unplugged, thank you Greg Mccallum for having me on.

Watch us chatting about the investing process, the infectious passion of founders and the future.

Then I turn the tables on Greg and ask him to tell us something we don't know about him and we explore Judaism, dad jokes and family.

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Marc Cohen Marc Cohen

Evening update- 11 May 23

Today I…

#TodayI

Shared that my podcast with Greg Mccallum of Founders Unplugged will go live at 5.30pm tomorrow.
Cycled to work.
Had my Important not Urgent day.
Posted how to figure out how big your raise should be.
Booked my diary up for Cambridge on Monday.
Bumped into Paul Matthews of Ravenscroft Group.
Caught up with Euan Cameron of Willo®.
Was pitched by Yanis Mellata of Kosy Office.
Bumped into both Wendy Dorey and Martyn Dorey in the space of a few minutes.

#LaterI

Am seeing Phil McNulty speak at Guernsey Literary Festival.

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Marc Cohen Marc Cohen

How much to raise

Founders, here are some ways to consider how much you should try to raise at Pre-Seed or Seed:

Founders, here are some ways to consider how much you should try to raise at Pre-Seed or Seed:

1. Consider what you want to achieve by the next raise and how quickly. How much money will get you there? At some point there are diminishing returns on additional funds.

2. Are you a security blanket or a back-to-the-wall person? Some people perform better knowing they have room to manoeuvre and some when they know it's all or nothing. If you're the former try and raise more and if the latter, less.

3. Consider dilution. More raised means more dilution. Too many founders over-index on this. While it does make a difference, the most important thing is maximising your chance of success.

4. How large a raise will the market take? Consider the size of the opportunity and how attractive it might seem to investors.

Put it all together and you will have a good idea of how much to raise.

#founders #startups #venturecapital #buildinginpublic #investinginpublic

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Marc Cohen Marc Cohen

Evening update - 10 May 23

Today I…

#TodayI

Shared that hitting 50 makes me more motivated than ever.
Had a site meeting for our house build with DLM Architects Ltd and Infinity Construction.
Had a call with an investor.
Chatted with Sam Stone of MassMutual Ventures.
Had a pitch postponed.
Asked who I should meet in Cambridge.
Was pitched by Tom Manterfield of Hiphops.
Collected my kids from school and took them for their regular injections.
Came back to the office.

#LaterI

Am going to see David Dimbleby as part of Guernsey Literary Festival.

#founders #startups #venturecapital #buildinginpublic #investinginpublic

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Marc Cohen Marc Cohen

Who should I meet in Cambridge

I will be in Cambridge on Monday. Who should I meet? Who are the great founders and investors who are based there?

I will be in Cambridge on Monday. Who should I meet? Who are the great founders and investors who are based there?

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Marc Cohen Marc Cohen

Evening update - 5 May 23

Today I…

#TodayI

Cycled to work while listening to Fred Destin on the Mental Health at Work podcast. Thank you Jan Deruyck for the recommendation.
Wished Greg Mccallum happy birthday.
Shared that you should trust your gut but figure it out.
Had coffee with Barrie Baxter of Brixx Software.
Had a late breakfast with Graham McCormack.
Was pitched by Gaia Ines Fassò of Ikigai Data.
Had a cancellation.
Chatted with Hugo Conceição Silva of Pi Labs.
Collected my son from the airport

#LaterI

Am going for pizza at Les Douvres with my family.

Have a great long weekend everyone.

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Marc Cohen Marc Cohen

Trust your gut but figure it out

It's hard figuring out who to invest in. I have an investment framework. I know what I'm looking for in founders. I know what I'm looking for in a business.

Trust your gut but figure it out.

It's hard figuring out who to invest in. I have an investment framework. I know what I'm looking for in founders. I know what I'm looking for in a business.

Sometimes, sometimes, there is something outside of that and my gut says yes! And sometimes my gut says no.

Typically I go with that. It's telling me that for a reason.

Then I spend time on self-reflection and figure out why the hell my gut is saying that.

Most of the time I learn something new that matters to me. I then pull that back into my investment framework and make changes to my investment process and questions I need to ask to reflect that.

Occasionally I realise I have a bias that is incorrect and need to get over.

You can take this into any part of your life. Your gut typically tells you things for a reason.

Whatever it is, don't just trust your gut, figure it out.

#founders #startups #venturecapital #buildinginpublic #investinginpublic

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