20VC: How To Test The Strength Of Co-Founder Relations, The Dangers Of Raising A Large Series A & Why The Biggest Challenge For Consumer Companies Is Finding The Second Big Hit with Rishi Garg, Partner @ Mayfield Fund

Rishi Garg is a General Partner @ Mayfield Fund, where he focuses on new media platforms, disruptive financial services and new marketplaces. Prior to joining Mayfield, Rishi was as Vice President of Corporate Development and Strategy at Twitter where he led the company’s most active M&A program, including the acquisitions of Periscope, TellApart, TapCommerce, and many others. Prior to Twitter, Rishi was the first Head of Corporate Development at Square. Rishi was also the Founder of a leading venture-backed startup, FanSnap and has also held roles at Google, Highland Capital Partners and Morgan Stanley.

In Today’s Episode You Will Learn:

1.) How Rishi made his way into VC following time at Twitter and Square?

2.) How does Rishi look to analyse the state of co-founder relationships? What questions get to the core issues? What are the signs that encourage and worry Rishi?

3.) To what extent does a co-founder leaving the company concern Rishi? In what circumstance is this understandable? How should this process be played out?

4.) How much of a role should VCs play post-investment in the relationship of the founders? What are the dangers of this? How should VCs balance helpful and over involved?

5.) Why is Rishi anti the rise of the very large Series? What are the inherent dangers of this? How does he convey this concern to founders?

Items Mentioned In Today’s Show:

Rishi’s Fave Book: The Tibetan Book of Living & Dying, Malcolm X

Rishi's Fave Blog or Newsletter: Wait But Why

As always you can follow Harry, The Twenty Minute VC, Rishi on Twitter here!