Join Howard Lindzon and Michael Parekh as they dive deep into the world of venture capital with Mike Maples Jr., founding partner at Floodgate Partners. This insightful conversation covers the evolution of VC from Web 2.0 to the era of AI, the importance of pattern-breaking in startup success, and the changing dynamics of founder-investor relationships. Key topics include: • The origins of Floodgate and Mike's journey in VC • The concept of "pattern breaking" in startup investing • The transition from mass computation to mass connectivity to mass cognition • The importance of valuation and return potential in seed investing • The future of AI and its impact on various industries • The delicate balance of being "founder friendly" while serving LPs • The potential for AI to create new consumer-focused breakthrough companies —  Recorded live on Tuesday, September 17th — Skip Ahead: (00:00) Introduction and Mike's background (05:40) The origins of Floodgate and early investments (14:15) Navigating the venture capital landscape (27:15) The role of founders in startups (32:30) The future of AI and its impact on various industries (38:08) What people miss about seed investing (44:14) Defining a circle of confidence and looking back on missed opportunities (50:40) What we're optimistic about: cognition and LLM's (01:01:53) The potential for AI in creating new consumer companies (01:08:04) Final thoughts on the future of venture capital (01:14:04) Founder-friendly investing —  Where To Find Howard and Friends:  • Howard - https://stocktwits.com/howardlindzon • Michael - https://stocktwits.com/MParekh • Mike Maples Jr. - https://x.com/m2jr • Production and Marketing - https://penname.co/ —  Trends with Friends is brought to you by Stocktwits: https://stocktwits.com/ —  Disclaimer: All opinions expressed on this show are solely the opinions of the hosts’ and guests’ and do not reflect the opinions of Stocktwits, Inc. or its affiliates. The hosts are not SEC or FINRA registered advisors or professionals. The content of this show is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Please consult with your financial advisor before making any investment decision. Read the full terms & conditions here: https://stocktwits.com/c/uncategorized/2024/02/21/stocktwits-newsletter-disclaimer/