a16z crypto show Surviving Market Cycles & Startup Lessons for Founders
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Aug 29, 2025 
Arianna Simpson, General Partner at a16z crypto, shares her decade-long investment journey in the volatile world of crypto. She discusses vital lessons from previous market cycles and highlights what founders must know to navigate the ups and downs. Key topics include the rise of stablecoins, the intersection of AI and crypto, and the challenges founders face, like co-founder disputes and dealing with copycat competitors. With a wealth of insight, Arianna offers practical advice on scaling, fundraising, and maintaining commitment in an ever-changing landscape.
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Back Tenacious Founders For The Long Run
- Look for founders who are tenacious and committed for the long haul when evaluating teams.
- Prioritize founders obsessed with mission over those chasing quick liquidity.
Fundraise With A Deck And Smaller Ask
- Always prepare fundraising materials and set a realistic target lower than you actually want.
- Aim to oversubscribe smaller raises instead of publicly asking for outsized sums and raising nothing.
Fundraising Is Back To Reasonable Ground
- The market sits between 2021 euphoria and 2022-23 troughs, making today reasonable for fundraising.
- Only exceptional teams or metrics still attract outsized terms.