Even though the success rates for startups today are sobering, there is reason to be optimistic. As our guest today, Venture Capitalist <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnfrankel/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">John Frankel</a> sees it: “Cycles happen. We've gone through a downturn and I think we're now at an inflection point. We’re already starting to see some companies raise money at high valuations.”
John founded <a href="https://ffvc.com/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">ff Venture Capital</a> in 2008 and has since funded over 150 seed and early-stage companies that in turn have created thousands of jobs and impacted the lives of millions. 
He joins us to share his motivation for founding a VC firm, his investment philosophy, and his perspective on today’s startup landscape.
Our conversation delves into: 
<ul>
<li>John's advice for founders</li>
<li>What his firm looks for in early stage startups</li>
<li>The significance of resilience and adaptability for early-stage founders</li>
<li>His current fascination with applied AI, including drones, robotics, and financial services tech</li>
</ul>
 This episode provides valuable insights and practical advice for early-stage founders navigating the challenging yet promising startup world.
——— Stay connected with our host, <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/kateadams22/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Kate Adams, here on LinkedIn</a>!

A VC’s Optimistic Outlook on Today’s Startup Landscape

Even though the success rates for startups today are sobering, there is reason to be optimistic. As our guest today, Venture Capitalist John Frankel sees it: “Cycles happen. We've gone through a downturn and I think we're now at an inflection point. We’re already starting to see some companies raise money at high valuations.” John founded [&hellip;]