92 - Diaspora Founders, Benefits of FAANG Experience, and Pattern Matching in VC with Borys Musielak, SMOK VC
A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of meeting wi…
December 14, 202454m 2s
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Show Notes
A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of meeting with SMOK's Borys Musielak. We discussed early-stage funding, the unique strengths of CEE diaspora founders, and how FAANG experience can be both an advantage and a challenge for entrepreneurs. Tune in to learn more!
What did we cover?
- What does SMOK VC do?
- Why focus on CEE diaspora founders?
- What’s the difference between CEE founders and U.S. founders?
- Why doesn’t FAANG always produce good startup material?
- How much of SMOK’s deal flow comes from LinkedIn?
- What’s the most ridiculous pitch Borys has heard?
- Why is pattern matching important in VC?
- How can someone get into VC?
- Does founder-led growth actually exist?
- What was the biggest opportunity Borys missed?
- What is SMOK VC’s request for startups?
- What advice does Borys have for all early-stage founders?