20VC: Why Large Seed Rounds Increase the Chances of Success | When to Sell in Venture | Why Multi-Stage Firms Do Not Do The Work | Is Europe Totally F****** and Why AI Means London Can Compete with the US with Hussein Kanji
This interview podcast features Harry Stebbings interviewing Hussein Kanji, founder and managing partner of Hoxton Ventures, a leading European early-stage seed firm. The conversation centers on Kanji's venture capital investment strategies, focusing on his approach to fundraising, portfolio construction, and navigating the European venture landscape. Key takeaways include Kanji's advice to emerging managers to set a short timeframe for fundraising and begin investing quickly, his emphasis on doubling down on promising companies, and his observation that a correlation exists between funding amounts and a company's probability of success, with an average of $300 million needed to reach unicorn status. The discussion also touches upon the challenges and opportunities in the European venture market, particularly concerning the size of funding rounds and the need for greater capitalization of European companies to compete globally. Ultimately, the podcast offers insights into the intricacies of venture capital, particularly within the European context.