Ed S. (@edsuh) contrasts two VC mindsets: most venture investors act reactively, engaging only around raises and sidelining opportunities they can’t join, while the best VCs patiently cultivate relationships, provide help without immediate returns, and build conviction over months or years to secure future or proprietary rounds.
Ed S. (@edsuh, 2026-05-24) says most VCs are reactive: they engage companies only when those startups are actively raising, wave off rounds they can’t get into, and put companies on the back burner between financings, behaving like short-term sales reps.
Most VCs are reactive. They process companies only when they’re actively raising, wave off rounds they can’t get into, and back burner companies between financings. They think like short term sales reps.
The best VCs play a much longer game.
They’re patient. They keep showing up. They help without an immediate financing attached. They build relationships & conviction over months or years.
That’s how you earn a seat in the next round, or create a proprietary one yourself.