Why CEOs need to think more like athletes, with investor Byron Deeter

Venture investor Byron Deeter shares his transition from operating a cloud software startup to a two-decade career at Bessemer Venture Partners, emphasizing the necessity of backing exceptional teams over attempting to fix struggling ones. The discussion highlights the "anti-portfolio"—a practice of documenting missed investment opportunities to learn from past errors—and the strategic importance of securing "hard" customers early to validate product-market fit. Deeter advocates for a holistic approach to leadership, introducing the STRIVE framework to address the physical and mental health of founders, which he views as a critical competitive advantage in high-stakes environments. By prioritizing long-term vision and maintaining deep, trust-based relationships with founders, investors can better navigate market volatility and support the development of iconic, century-defining companies like Anthropic.