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PODCAST

The Learning Corner by Precursor

Mia Farnham, Charles Hudson

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.

business investing

All Episodes

00:22:43

Episode #66: AI Fatigue Is Real, Patient Capital Will...

The Learning Corner by Precursor ·

2026/02/12

This week on The Learning Corner, Mia and Charles unpack why AI is making engineers more productive but more exhausted, exploring the hidden cost of constant tool evaluation and "thinking atrophy." They then dig into a provocative argument that venture capital's traditional model is fundamentally breaking down and why the future looks more like permanent capital than ten year fund structures. Finally, they walk through Julia Maltby's tactical guide on building a GP reference list that actually

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00:25:59

Episode #65: I See Dead VCs, Tech Media Echo...

The Learning Corner by Precursor ·

2026/02/05

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

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00:20:31

Episode #64: Hubristic Fundraising's Hidden Costs,...

The Learning Corner by Precursor ·

2026/01/29

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

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00:23:06

Episode #63: Sequoia Breaks Portfolio Conflict Rules,...

The Learning Corner by Precursor ·

2026/01/22

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

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00:19:28

Episode #62: Firm Over Fund, Relevance Decays, The...

The Learning Corner by Precursor ·

2026/01/15

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

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00:21:53

Episode #61: AI-Generated Reddit Hoax, Tech Career...

The Learning Corner by Precursor ·

2026/01/08

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.

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00:32:47

Episode #60: The 2025 Venture Review feat. Hunter...

The Learning Corner by Precursor ·

2025/12/18

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

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00:17:50

Episode #59: Pivots Rarely Work, Missionary Founders,...

The Learning Corner by Precursor ·

2025/12/11

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.

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00:24:19

Episode #58: Charles Schwab Acquisition of Forge...

The Learning Corner by Precursor ·

2025/12/04

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

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00:17:23

Episode #57: Founder update signals, AI is a bubble...

The Learning Corner by Precursor ·

2025/11/20

This week on The Learning Corner by Precursor, Mia Farnham and Charles Hudson dive into three thought-provoking reads shaking up the venture ecosystem:First, we break down Ben Zises’ take on why consistent founder updates may signal future success — and why that doesn’t always align with our own portfolio data. Next, we explore M.G. Siegler’s “Hey, There’s a Bubble” and what today’s AI funding frenzy reveals about hype cycles, economic dissonance, and the uneasy optimism baked into

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00:17:07

Episode #56: VC is Hard, Unconcentrated Fund Math,...

The Learning Corner by Precursor ·

2025/11/13

We kick things off with a short but sharp post from Ben Choi reminding us that “VC is hard”—not just because of performance pressure, but because navigating fund dynamics and relationships is a game in itself. Then we dive into a provocative piece by Stefano Bernardi questioning the obsession with concentrated funds, and unpack why diversification often outperforms even the best instincts. Finally, we revisit the Cluely hype cycle, with CEO Roy Lee reflecting on the downside of viral traction and

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00:21:33

Episode #55: Unsafe SAFEs, 15 Charts on the Future of...

The Learning Corner by Precursor ·

2025/11/06

This week on The Learning Corner, Mia and Charles break down four of the most thought-provoking reads shaping the tech and venture ecosystem right now:• Unsafe SAFEs in the Age of AI: Jason Lemkin calls out a troubling new trend where founders in hyped AI deals walk away with investor cash—without building a thing. • 15 Charts That Explain How Tech and Venture Are Changing in 2025: Ruben Dominguez drops a chart-heavy update covering everything from AI app churn to why so many junior VCs leave the

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00:15:37

Episode #54: Teaching Students to Challenge AI, Is AI...

The Learning Corner by Precursor ·

2025/10/30

First up, we dive into “Beyond True or False: Teaching Students to Interrogate AI Unreliability”, a Substack by Nick Potkalitsky, which proposes a new framework—borrowed from literary theory—for teaching students to critically evaluate AI-generated content. We discuss how this lens can help people move beyond simple trust/distrust binaries and become better co-creators with AI.Then, we explore “Is AI the New Shadow Bank? (Yes…)”, a piece that draws parallels between today’s AI economy and the

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00:20:40

Episode #53: The Magic of DTC, Power of Iteration...

The Learning Corner by Precursor ·

2025/10/23

We’re digging into three thought-provoking topics shaping the current startup and investing landscape:🧼 Coterie’s $650M Exit & the Return of DTC M&A – We break down Brian Sugar’s “One Brand is Luck, Two is Strategy,” and why pure-play DTC brands with strong economics and customer devotion are back on the radar for modern acquirers. ⚡️ Iteration Speed & the Path to Series A – Hadley Harris of Eniac Ventures shares why iteration speed is the best predictor of Series A readiness, and how founders

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00:23:15

Episode #52: Goldman Sachs Acquires Industry...

The Learning Corner by Precursor ·

2025/10/16

This week on The Learning Corner, Mia and Charles discuss Goldman Sachs’ acquisition of Industry Ventures and what it signals for the venture ecosystem, Maria Gonzalez Blanch’s take on “brain obesity” in the age of AI, and a recent post from Erica Wenger about friends investing in friends. We break down what it means for community, trust, and evolving norms in tech.

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00:19:06

Episode #51: Three Venture Paths, When Great People...

The Learning Corner by Precursor ·

2025/10/09

In this week’s episode of The Learning Corner by Precursor, Mia and Charles explore three themes shaping today’s startup and VC landscape:The Three Lanes of Modern Venture – What type of fund are you really building? John Vrionis lays out three distinct approaches VCs are taking today. When Great People Leave – How do strong leaders navigate inevitable departures? Lessons from Taps Notes on leadership, transitions, and grace. The Solo Founder Debate – If solo founders can succeed, why don’t

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00:23:32

Episode #50: What Does ARR Mean?, High Agency in...

The Learning Corner by Precursor ·

2025/10/02

We start with a Fortune article on how founders are using “creative accounting” to boost ARR, once the gold standard for SaaS success and now a much murkier metric in the AI era. What used to be a reliable sign of recurring revenue has drifted into “vibe revenue,” and we talk about what that means for investors and founders trying to benchmark growth.Next, we dive into Jasmine Sun’s blog on Silicon Valley’s cultural lexicon, “high agency,” “NPCs,” “996,” “taste,” and “decel/doomer.” These memes

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00:18:25

Episode #49: Making Money on AI, Consumer Deserves...

The Learning Corner by Precursor ·

2025/09/25

We explore Jerry Neumann's "AI Will Not Make You Rich," which argues that transformative technologies like AI may not deliver lasting competitive advantages, using economist Carlota Perez's tech wave framework to examine whether we're in the "frenzy" or "irruption" stage of AI development.Next, we dive into the curious disconnect in consumer tech markets, where VC funding has dropped from 15% to 5% of venture dollars despite consumer companies significantly outperforming the Nasdaq-100. Charles

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00:20:27

Episode #48: VCs are Cockroaches, Engineers Fixing...

The Learning Corner by Precursor ·

2025/09/18

This week on The Learning Corner, Mia and Charles explore three compelling venture capital topics: (1) Micah Rosenbloom's comparison of VCs to "cockroaches" and why fund consolidation remains unlikely despite market pressures, (2) the emerging trend of software engineers being paid to fix AI-generated "vibe-coded" projects that need human expertise to become functional, and (3) new Pitchbook data revealing how serial founders maintain a significant 2-3x fundraising advantage over first-time

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00:17:48

Episode #47: We Are The Enemy, The AI Productivity...

The Learning Corner by Precursor ·

2025/09/11

First, we dive into “We Have Met the Enemy and He Is Us” by Euclid Ventures, which explores how venture capital is drifting from its roots as a market for independent thinkers. Next up is “The AI Productivity Paradox” from Sequoia’s Inference, which explores why widespread AI adoption hasn’t translated into real productivity gains. Lastly, we break down the recent Reuters story about Anthropic’s $1.5 billion settlement in a landmark author copyright case. Soon after we recorded, the Judge

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