E307: Why Size Is the Enemy of Venture Returns w/Glenn Solomon

18 snips

Feb 18, 2026

Glenn Solomon, Managing Partner at Notable Capital and nearly 30 years in early-stage VC, explains why staying small and focused beats mega-fund chasing. He covers the barbell market, why sub-$100M rounds create edge, building a high-touch 42-person platform for a few founders, Anthropic’s enterprise bet, AI attacking labor markets, and why size can be the enemy of returns.

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INSIGHT

Barbell Structure Of Modern Venture

Venture funding is a barbell: most dollars now flow into mega rounds while a much smaller pool funds sub-$100M early-stage deals.
Notable focuses exclusively on seed to Series A/B rounds to exploit the under-capitalized early-stage half of the market.

ADVICE

Invest Over A Multi-Year Window

Maintain time diversification by investing over a multi-year window to smooth vintage risk.
Expect early-stage investments often take 5–10+ years to mature, so invest with multi-year horizons.

ADVICE

Prioritize High-Touch Founder Support

Build a platform team to deliver unscalable founder support and become their first call.
Limit new investments so each founder feels like your only founder and receives high-touch help.

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How do you compete with Sequoia and Andreessen while running a $650M fund and still expect to outperform? In this episode, I sit down with Glenn Solomon, Managing Partner at Notable Capital, to break down how focused early-stage investing can outperform mega-platform venture funds. Glenn explains why 70%+ of venture dollars now go into mega-rounds over $100M, why Notable stays disciplined at seed and Series A, and how delivering “unscalable” founder support creates real edge. We also go deep on Anthropic, the so-called “software apocalypse,” AGI narratives, and where durable alpha exists in an AI-dominated world.

Highlights:

Why $350B in venture funding hides a barbell market structure
How focusing on sub-$100M rounds creates structural edge
Why size is often the enemy of return
Building a 42-person team to serve 8–10 new founders per year
The case for consistent top-quartile vs. volatile top-1% returns
Anthropic’s enterprise-first positioning and labor market opportunity
Why AI is attacking multi-trillion-dollar labor markets—not just software
The pendulum effect behind the “software apocalypse”
Why distribution and proprietary data still matter in SaaS
AGI as a phase, not a binary event
Where net-new opportunity sits above infrastructure
The danger of chasing “shiny objects” without conviction

Guest Bio:

Glenn Solomon has been a venture capitalist for nearly 30 years and has spent the last 18 years building what is now Notable Capital, the U.S.-focused team that previously operated as GGV Capital before separating in 2023. Glenn invests in early-stage software companies across enterprise infrastructure, cybersecurity, data, and AI. A Stanford graduate and former three-time NCAA national championship tennis team member, Glenn brings a disciplined, team-first mindset to venture investing. He is known for deep sector expertise, strong founder relationships, and a focus on delivering consistent, high-conviction returns through concentrated early-stage ownership.

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Sponsor:

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Stay Connected with Glenn Solomon:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/glennsolomon/

Questions or topics you want us to discuss on How I Invest? Email us at david@weisburdcapital.com.

Disclaimer:

This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment, financial, legal, or tax advice. Nothing in this episode should be interpreted as an offer to buy or sell any securities or to participate in any investment strategy. All opinions expressed by the host and guests are their own and do not represent the views of Weisburd Capital. Participants may hold positions or have financial interests in the companies, funds, or investments discussed. Any references to specific investments are for illustrative purposes only. Investing involves risk, including the potential loss of capital. Past performance is not indicative of future results, and any forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties. Any third-party data or opinions have not been independently verified. Listeners should conduct their own research and consult their own advisors before making any investment decisions.

(0:00) Introduction (1:35) Impact of the hot M&A and IPO market on investment strategies (2:43) Advantages and disadvantages of a $650 million fund and budget concentration for impact (5:38) Delivering unique value to founders and competing with large funds (9:40) Investment in Anthropic, AI market landscape, and opportunities (15:21) AI's disruption in the software market and incumbent adaptations (18:46) Investing strategies in a post-AGI world and AGI phase opportunities (24:58) Timeless career advice for investors and the importance of sector expertise (27:21) Closing remarks