In this episode of Inside the Fund, Jeff Becker from Antler shares his journey from selling copiers to becoming a venture capitalist. He discusses the importance of community for founders, the residency model at Antler, and the dynamics of fundraising. Jeff emphasizes the significance of resilience in founders, the balance between valuation and value, and the evolving landscape of deep tech companies. He also reflects on personal insights regarding mental health and the importance of support structures for founders. 00:00 The Loneliness of Founding 02:45 Jeff Becker's Journey to Antler 05:55 The Importance of Community in Startups 08:51 The Residency Model at Antler 11:44 Fundraising Dynamics and Challenges 14:44 Identifying Magical Founders 17:42 The Vibe Check in Venture Capital 20:52 Resilience in Founders 23:53 Valuation vs. Value in Fundraising 26:48 Lessons Learned the Hard Way 29:51 The Role of Team in Success 32:56 The Power Law in Venture Capital 35:53 The Evolution of Inception Stage Investing 38:33 The Importance of Founder Market Fit 41:33 The Future of Deep Tech Companies 44:47 Personal Insights and Mental Health 47:41 The Importance of Support Structures 50:42 The Balance of Work and Life 53:45 The Importance of Reflection 56:37 The Reality of Early Stage Investing 59:18 Final Thoughts and Reflections Helena's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/helenafogarty Jeff's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffreylbecker/ 🎬 Shot at 28th&Park in New York City Learn more at: https://28thpark.com/ 📸 Follow us: https://www.instagram.com/28thpark/ Inside the Fund is sponsored by Bamboo X, the leading technical and design recruiting partner to startups from Seed to IPO. To learn more about Bamboo X: https://bamboo-x.com/