Not Another CEO Podcast

THE FIRST EPISODE OF INVESTORS UNFILTERED!

What do venture capitalists really look for in founders, and how can CEOs build strong, lasting relationships with their investors? In this episode, Chip Hazard, Co-Founder and General Partner at Flybridge, offers an inside look at how VCs think about evaluating founders, funding opportunities, and long-term partnerships. He shares the traits that consistently stand out and explains how these factors matter as much as business metrics, especially in the early stages.

Chip also unpacks the evolution of fundraising, from vision-driven early rounds to later stages where metrics and revenue quality become critical. He reflects on the dynamics of board relationships, the importance of clear alignment on strategy, and why constructive feedback and ongoing communication are vital to scaling effectively.
 
Takeaways:
  • Ambition is Key: Chip emphasizes the importance of passion and ambition in founders. He's looking for those with domain expertise and unconventional thinking.
  • Alignment on Strategy: For founders, aligning on strategy with investors is crucial. Chip notes that understanding an investor’s vision for the company can prevent conflicts and foster a positive partnership.
  • Ongoing Communication: Chip discusses the importance of consistent communication between founders and investors, particularly in the early stages. Regular check-ins on strategy, challenges, and progress help maintain alignment and support.
  • Insightful Board Interactions: The role of a board is to offer perspective and support strategic decision-making. Chip highlights that effective board meetings should align on strategy and not create unnecessary work for the company.
  • Balancing Metrics and Vision: As companies evolve from pre-seed to later stages, the focus shifts from purely vision and team to include metrics and financial performance.
  • The Value of Constructive Feedback: Constructive, honest feedback is essential. Chip stresses that a good VC relationship involves recognizing challenges, offering guidance, and maintaining trust without dictating to the founder.

Quote of the Show:
  • “ Startups win on speed. They don’t have anything else other than the ability to execute fast." - Chip Hazard

Links:

Ways to Tune In:

#NotAnotherCEO #BusinessSuccess #Flybridge

Chapters:
00:00 Intro
02:11 The Key Traits of Successful Founders
04:09 Assessing Founders Beyond the Pitch
06:04 Stages of Investment and What VCs Look For
15:36 Working with Founders Post-Investment
22:08 The Importance of External Perspectives
25:52 Challenges in Board Dynamics
30:37 Aligning with Venture Capitalists
37:55 Geographical Differences in Startups
40:13 Reflections and Regrets in Venture Capital
43:18 The Passion for Investing
45:47 Outro

Creators and Guests

Host
David Politis
Producer
Alex Fischer

What is Not Another CEO Podcast?

Our mission is to bend the curve for Founders and CEOs.

At Not Another CEO, we know there’s no formula for running a business. Leadership is forged through unique journeys, real challenges, and hard lessons. Our exclusive content showcases unfiltered stories and practical guidance from those who’ve crawled through the trenches. Our platform offers the largest library of CEO insights and how-to guides, sourced directly from a diverse community of leaders.

Find our full video library, detailed playbooks, deep dives, and lessons learned on our Substack here ➡️ https://notanotherceo.substack.com/