How Design VCs Spot Unicorns, The Growth Equation, and Why Great Products Fail With Andy Budd

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Conscious Tech

Sera Tajima

59 episodes

1 week ago

Deeptech intel from the investors and founders building breakthrough climate technologies. Hosted by Sera Tajima, deep tech investor with a portfolio of startups valued at $3.6B+ co-invested alongside VCs like Lowercarbon Capital and Planet A Ventures.

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How Design VCs Spot Unicorns, The Growth Equation, and Why Great Products Fail With Andy Budd

Conscious Tech

1 hour 20 minutes 58 seconds

5 months ago

How Design VCs Spot Unicorns, The Growth Equation, and Why Great Products Fail With Andy Budd

I came across Andy Budd and his background immediately intrigued me. Andy is a design leader turned VC and startup advisor at SeedCamp (pre-seed fund). He ran an agency for 15 years. The company is now employee owned, which allowed him to pivot towards investment and coaching design leaders. We chat about the unique advantages designers bring to Venture Capital.

Andy shares how his UX background helps him evaluate product-market fit, why designers often misunderstand the "Field of Dreams fallacy," and practical fundraising strategies for founders.

Discover when startups should hire designers, how European and American VC landscapes differ, and why the best product doesn't always win. Whether you're a designer considering VC or a founder looking to raise capital, Andy's experience transitioning from agency owner to investor offers valuable perspective on connecting product value to business growth.

Episode Sponsor ⭐️

Growthmates

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Connect for more good energy ⚡️

➕ Conscious Tech: https://seratajima.substack.com

➕ LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/seratajima⁠

➕ Advising: https://www.seratajima.com/advising

Chapters 📖

[00:00:00] Introduction to Andy Budd: From Design Agency to Seedcamp VC

[00:01:37] Designer's Advantage in VC: Evaluating Product-Market Fit

[00:04:13] Silicon Valley vs European VC: Capital, Competition, Risk Tolerance

[00:08:15] Breaking into VC: The Unconventional Path from Agency Owner

[00:11:51] The Field of Dreams Fallacy: Why the Best Products Often Fail

[00:15:44] Design as Competitive Advantage: Beyond Technical Capabilities

[00:21:14] When to Hire Designers: Timing Your First Design Investment

[00:30:49] Building Growth Design Teams: Navy SEAL Squads for Startups

[00:37:33] VC vs Bootstrapping: Path for Bay Area vs European Founders

[00:42:06] Fundraising Strategy: Creating FOMO and Timeline Management

[00:52:02] Equity Allocation: Optimal Ownership Strategies for Tech Founders

[00:57:22] What Makes a Great VC: Spotting Trends in London, Berlin, Singapore

[01:04:04] Redefining Success: Beyond Silicon Valley Metrics and Wealth

[01:17:03] Paths to VC: Options for Technologists

Where to find Andy Budd 🔎

Website: https://www.andybudd.com/

Linkedin: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/andybudd/

Book: https://andybudd.com/book

___________________________________________________________

I'm Sera Tajima, Startup Advisor & Climate Tech Investor. 🤙

I talk about:

→ Product Growth Strategy (Growth, Design, AI)

→ Climate Tech

→ Venture Capital