OSS Ventures’ Post

𝗦𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟮𝟬𝟭𝟵 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀! According to recent data by Carta, just over half of the startups launched five years ago are still live today. So we wanted to check in: What are the 2019 founders in our portfolio up to? Alive, kicking and 𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀! Podimo expands its unique content creation across Europe with the acquisition of leading Dutch podcast production house Tonny Media and Flowers-Software GmbH just raised EUR 6m in fresh financing to further enhance the product that digitalises the finances of their 500+ SME clients We are thrilled to be investing in and partnering with these fantastic founders! Already looking forward to seeing what they will have accomplished in another five years! 🚀 Check out the links in the comments for all the details and the data. #CollectiveVentures #VentureCapital #Startup

COMING UP: Startup Hustle comes early starting this week! This Wednesday, Andrew Plato, Founder & CEO of Zenaciti, sits down with us to layout the best strategies for building TRUST in employees and customers. A new episode streams tomorrow, November 6, 7AM. #StartupHustle

Which Wins in Startups: Brilliant Ideas or Flawless Execution? Sunil Paul, Co-Founder and CEO of Spring Free EV, touches on a fundamental truth in the startup world: ideas evolve. The initial spark rarely remains unchanged; it transforms through relentless iteration and refinement. Sunil's reflections on his journey also highlight the immense satisfaction that comes from being hands-on in the creation process. There's something uniquely rewarding about being deeply involved, rather than just overseeing from a venture capital standpoint. The joy of working alongside passionate, creative individuals, each contributing their unique perspectives and skills, cannot be overstated. What part of the innovation process do we find most fulfilling? How are we engaging with our teams? Are we creating space for creativity to flourish and for ideas to evolve through hands-on iteration? Watch the Full Episode: https://cutt.ly/Sw5iygnB

If you've seen Shark Tank, you might think this is how you should set the valuation for your startup. But here's what to do instead: Here's the link to the episode: https://lnkd.in/g775pNYQ

I'm not turning my family into a startup, but hear me out... Startups are high-performing machines – imagine a family that operates on that level 🤷♂️ Was telling fellow #BusinessDad Nathan Blecharczyk, Co-Founder of Airbnb, my thoughts on this in the latest episode ↓ 

Lately, I've been engaged in numerous conversations about creator economies, and it's a topic that has been covered by several guests on Perception Paradox. One of my recent conversations was with James Song. Not only is James an artist and creator himself, but he's also actively involved in the startup ecosystem. James and I share a similar journey and have worn similar hats for quite some time. From startups to accelerators to creation itself. Our episode together is set to release on May 27th. However, if you're eager to learn more about what's happening in the creator's economy, you can dive into his fresh newsletter. Check out the link in the comments below. #CreatorEconomy #UnderdogFounders #StartupEcosystem #Artist #PerceptionParadox"

Work-Life Balance Redefined For me, work-life balance isn’t about separating work from life—it’s about finding joy and purpose through what you do. Work becomes meaningful when it adds value to others’ lives, uplifts communities, and creates a ripple effect of happiness—not just for today, but for generations to come. True balance is achieved when your work aligns with your mission, and your family becomes an integral part of that journey, contributing to and sharing in the joy and peace it brings. Let’s work for a better, happier and healthier world—together.

In today's episode of the The Daily CTO , I sit down with Kim Burgaard, CTO at DeepCast, to talk about a vital topic for early-stage startups: making strategic compromises that fuel growth without sacrificing stability. Kim shares 4 strategies that every startup CTO should consider to balance speed with quality—especially in resource-limited settings. Set Clear, Immediate Goals – Focus on short-term, achievable goals to drive progress without exhaustive planning. Use Essential QA Tools Only – Implement minimal QA, like crash detection, to balance speed with basic reliability. Scale "Just-in-Time" – Add processes as pain points arise, prioritizing flexibility over upfront structure. Track Key Metrics, Not Full Monitoring – Monitor essential metrics, accepting minor risks to maintain agility and resource efficiency. Check out the episode & please subscribe if you want more! #TheDailyCTO #TechLeadership #StartupGrowth

If you feel like the ‘unicorn or bust’ playbook isn’t for you, then this episode definitely will be. Rand Fishkin is a multi-time founder and published author of Lost and Founder. He founded Moz, raised $29M in VC, grew to $50M in revenue and exited for $70M. But he ultimately realized that the VC-backed life wasn’t for him. So he went on to start SparkToro, a profitable 3-person startup that does $2M in revenue and takes only 30 hours a week of work. For those of us in the VC-backed startup world, it’s a totally different way to play the game. It won’t make you a billionaire. But it very well may make you $10M— with less stress, less work, and less risk. If you want a transparent account of the pros/cons of a venture-backed vs a bootstrapped startup, check this episode out. Listen to the full episode here:

Is balancing personal and professional life in the startup world a myth? In this episode of #CubeHacks, Sumit Duseja, CFA and Dr. Priyanka Gupta deep into the highs, trade-offs, and realities of juggling priorities in the fast-paced startup ecosystem. Watch now to gain insights that resonate with every entrepreneur’s journey. #Incubez #IncubezOTT #StartupIndia #StartupAdvice #StartupInspiration #StartupStory #WorkLifeBalance #StartupLife #EntrepreneurLife #StartupMentor