Slack is much quieter than usual this morning, with my colleagues flying home to cities as far-flung as Taipei, Paris, and London. I just took a streetcar home, which should keep my expense report simple. The Moscone Center did not look like we’re experiencing a downturn in tech; the Expo Hall and demo booths were buzzing, and attendees were networking with enthusiasm in the hallways.
The Buzz at TechCrunch Disrupt
Business cards may be making a comeback, as attendees were eager to connect with one another. It’s great to see the excitement and energy of the startup community coming together at our event. If you missed out on some of the keynotes or panels, don’t worry – we’ll have plenty of recaps and summaries available soon.
Taking the BS Out of Your TAM
Next week, I’ll be sharing a recap of the panel I moderated, "Taking the BS Out of Your TAM." In this conversation with Kara Nortman (Upfront Ventures), Aydin Senkut (Felicis Ventures), and Deena Shakir (Lux Capital), we explored the many mistakes first-time founders make when calculating the size of their market and pinned down the information investors are actually looking for. Everyone had actionable insights to share, and more than one attendee stopped me in the hallways afterward to let me know how much they appreciated our frank discussion.
2023 VC Predictions: Finding an Exit from the ‘Messy Middle’
Eric Tarczynski, managing partner and founder of Contrary Capital, says we are entering a "messy middle" era for venture capital. He writes in a TC+ guest post that companies can no longer raise $5 million to $10 million seed rounds with nothing but a deck and the assumption that revenue multiples will skyrocket beyond historical norms.
Looking ahead to 2023, Tarczynski foresees an environment where "the VC landscape has started to bifurcate," as "slow M&A activity and no IPOs" and "good companies in ‘safe’ industries" temper investor expectations.
2023 VC Predictions: Finding an Exit from the ‘Messy Middle’
Eric Tarczynski, managing partner and founder of Contrary Capital, says we are entering a "messy middle" era for venture capital. He writes in a TC+ guest post that companies can no longer raise $5 million to $10 million seed rounds with nothing but a deck and the assumption that revenue multiples will skyrocket beyond historical norms.
Looking ahead to 2023, Tarczynski foresees an environment where "the VC landscape has started to bifurcate," as "slow M&A activity and no IPOs" and "good companies in ‘safe’ industries" temper investor expectations.
How to Combine PLG and Enterprise Sales
Kate Ahlering, chief revenue officer at Calendly, says that combining product-led growth (PLG) with enterprise sales can raise retention and acquisition to the next level. In this TC+ guest post, she lays out multiple strategies for implementing a "hybrid GTM strategy," which includes suggestions for leveraging PLG data and optimizing success metrics.
Related Topics:
- Cloud infrastructure
- EC roundup
- Immigration law
- Product-led growth strategy
- Startups
- TechCrunch Disrupt 2022
- Venture
Walter Thompson is the Managing Editor, Contributions, TC+, overseeing TechCrunch’s guest contributor program. Previously, he worked at a number of startups in various roles and as City Editor of Hoodline. He is the host of "The Golden City," a podcast about San Francisco.
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Walter Thompson
Managing Editor, Contributions, TC+
