The Full Ratchet (TFR): Venture Capital and Startup Investing Demystified Investor Stories 467: Investors from Techstars, Redpoint, and Andreessen Horowitz on Strategy, Writing, and Building an Edge in Venture (Cohen, Effron, Simpson)
Mar 23, 2026
Arianna Simpson, Andreessen Horowitz partner and crypto thinker, shares how writing builds a distinct investing presence. David Cohen, Techstars CEO and accelerator builder, emphasizes choosing a focused strategy and mastering it. Jacob Effron of Redpoint highlights finding and compounding what energizes you. The conversation centers on strategy, writing to shape a career, and building durable advantages in venture.
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Pick A Strategy And Stick With It
- Pick a clear investing strategy and stick to it to build long-term skill and differentiation.
- David Cohen says many investors mistake a network for strategy, so define what uniquely sets you apart and compound it over time.
Do What Gives You Energy And Compound It
- Find the activities in venture that give you energy and align with your strengths, then double down on them.
- Jacob Effron warns against copying others (content, podcasts, dinners) because compounding returns favor what you actually enjoy.
Write Publicly To Accelerate Your Career
- Write regularly to build your brand, clarify thinking, and surface career opportunities tied to your perspective.
- Arianna Simpson traces many career wins to writing and tweeting early, and notes few people do it despite its high leverage.