Somesh Dash of IVP joins Nick on a special Crisis Coverage installment to discuss Late Stage Impacts and Prioritizing Mental Health. In this episode, we cover:
- Quick background and what led you to venture/IVP?
- Overview of the firm and your focus?
- Covid impact on later stages
- The 2008 crisis… ’08 was still strong for C round funding, steep dropoff in 2009, stayed pretty low in 2010, returning to fairly strong levels in 2011… thoughts on timing, severity and duration of impact on later stage funding?
- Directional impact on average valuations at late stage?
- Thoughts on exits?
- What do you think happens in the secondary market?
- What do you think happens with the well-funded, late stage companies in markets that are highly dependent on social interaction, mobility, travel, etc.?
- Reasonable to complete deep diligence in a completely remote environment?!
- You’ve been w/ IVP since ’05… best recollections of changes in strategy made at IVP in ’08/’09?
- Suggestions on how early-stage VCs should adapt the playbook?
- Best moves startups made to survive and/or thrive at that time?
- Biggest mistakes you’ve seen CEOs make?
- Investment in Lyra’s Series C….
- Mental health now more than ever… expectations for industry amidst WFH/social distancing?
- Tips for delivering hard news? — furloughs, layoffs.. especially remotely
- Suggestions for leaders to help their people through this?
- How to keep team morale high?
- How are you adapting communication or work habits at IVP to better keep engagement of your people, your portcos and your LPs?