venture capital

I won’t expand on the onion theory itself, but it roughly follows the following sequential steps:

Team Risk: Is the team capable of executing their vision? Will the team work together effectively?

Building Risk: Can they develop a viable product?

Market Risk: Is there a substantial market for the product? Will customers use and pay for it?

Go-To-Market... See more

As a founder, the goal then becomes to metaphorically peel each layer of the onion — Each fundraising milestone turning into a set of risks being evaluated and sidelined. The earliest investors become the partners to help figure out what to focus on. Good pre-seed angels and investors are often described as “having taste” for good startups — In... See more

But the window doesn’t last long. As Paik thinks of it, “each time a new shift occurs, it is analogous to the formation of an unstable radioactive isotope. The radioactivity throws off a huge amount of energy in the form of capturable enterprise value, but is subject to half-life decay. Over time, the isotope decays and eventually becomes lead, at... See more