Ever heard that saying “A dull knife is more dangerous than a sharp one”? The same holds true for razors (i.e. STORY).

A thirst for ideas is where all VCs start. And if you want to be a successful VC, you’ll need to attract great ideas.

Venture capitalists seek out founders with ideas they believe will triumph. They have various philosophies for attracting these founders, and they write about their philosophies, publish think pieces, and podcasts.

As VCs articulate and refine their investment philosophies, they naturally distill complex ideas into simpler, more memorable concepts.

This process of simplification often leads to the creation of ‘razors’ – mental models or heuristics that encapsulate their approach.

These razors emerge as VCs seek to communicate their unique perspectives and decision-making frameworks more effectively to founders and the broader startup ecosystem.

What’s a Razor?

Perhaps the most famous razor is Occam’s Razor, which states that the simplest explanation is usually the correct one.

In the startup and VC world, razors have evolved to mean concise mental models or heuristics that help simplify complex decision-making processes.

They provide a framework for assessing opportunities, evaluating founders, and navigating the unpredictable terrain of early-stage investments.

The Makers of Better Razors

Mark Andreessen introduced the world to techno-optimism. Nick Maples conceptualized thunder lizards, referring to how small startups can have outsized returns, like Godzilla’s outsized impact on his city. Ha.

Our humble contribution is repurposing a game called the nine-dot problem for one of our clients. To solve the nine-dot problem, which involves connecting nine dots with four straight lines, you have to not see the dots as a square but literally think outside the box, extending the four lines beyond the invisible square’s boundaries. That captures the sort of founders they want, and serves as a visual shorthand for who they are and what they stand for.

Breaking and Creating Frames

Like the nine-dot problem, the world of startups is all about breaking frames, creating new ones, being bold, and habitually leaping into the unknown.

By coining a “razor,” our clients do a few things at once: it shows they are the sort of people who “think outside the box,” they attract the sort of people who think like they do, and they give others a way of expressing something that was previously hard to express – which gives both attention and credibility.

But, to make a new razor, you need to be able to see beyond the existing frames and show how they can be broken. But that’s not the end of your job… once you’ve broken the old frame, you have to create a new one.

Crafting a New Razor

It’s simple: gather everything you’ve learned in the field—identify the traits of successful founders and businesses, and then condense this knowledge into a memorable, impactful meme. 

Well, it’s simple, but not easy.

For a quick example, we recently used “Starship captains,” a nod to Star Trek, to describe the ideal founder for one of our clients. Their ideal founder, in their unique experience, is someone who not only sets a definitive “north star,” but also inspires their entire team to boldly go… 

Memes like that are not just talking points or attention-grabbers; they simplify complex realities, helping founders in navigating the inherently unpredictable terrain of startups and business.

We all wield two swords: our ideas and our relationships. Providing simpler ways to grasp these elements gives founders a distinct advantage. By being the person that provides this advantage, you set yourself apart in the industry beyond any concrete metric.

We Love Doing This Sort of Thing

Try this: reflect on your successes and how these have propelled you forward. Compress and transform these reflections into memorable razors that others might spread for you.  

If this sounds daunting, let’s connect. We’ll discuss your experiences, break them down, and explore ideas for memes that can deliver significant value to your network. It’s a really fun process.

Remember, in venture capital, a sharp razor is the fine line between business-as-usual and astronomical success.