All Caps Capital

I had one of the most eye opening conversations with a VP at Microsoft. Somehow, I (Ahmed) had the chance to sit down with Scott Hanselman, VP of Developer Communities at Microsoft, for a podcast episode that completely changed how I think about content, community, and curiosity. Scott is a community-building expert, leading developer relations at Microsoft and growing his own audience to nearly 700,000 followers across his platforms. He shared timeless insights on his content philosophy, including: - Building communities authentically - The importance of having fun - Following your curiosity across disciplines But it wasn’t just about content. Scott also dropped some incredible life advice—wisdom I still reflect on daily. It was a conversation packed with gems, and honestly, I wish I’d had even more time to dive deeper! Catch the full episode on all platforms—links in comments below 👇

If I were an emerging fund, this is how I would start thinking… Are VCs genuinely positioning themselves at the forefront of the next wave of innovation? The venture world likes to think of itself as forward-thinking, yet some of the most promising founders are influenced by gateway entrepreneur creators that are building in public. If venture firms want to seed a relationship with tomorrow’s success stories, they’ll need to show up in the places where these young builders learn, network, and exchange ideas. Founders aren’t necessarily getting younger, but they’re definitely getting exposed to startups earlier. Creators like Alex Hormozi, Daniel Dalen, and Marcus Milione have turned their platforms into launch pads for business-minded teens and twenty-somethings. When you add the engaging content incubators like Founders, Inc. and the success of Y Combinator, starting a company no longer feels like a wild leap—it’s a tangible option. A decade ago, dropping out of college for a startup was seen as risky. But there is no longer a stigma for building a company, it is seen as a badge of honor now. Yet many VC firms remain absent on the very platforms where these innovators are starting to learn and build. Giants like Sequoia Capital or Andreessen Horowitz might lean on brand recognition, but emerging VCs can’t just wait on inbound traffic while TikTok feeds and YouTube channels teach thousands how to launch in public. According to Deloitte (2023), 44% of Gen Z wants to start a business, and a YPulse survey shows 76% rely on social media for career advice (entrepreneurship included). With AI, no-code, and a culture of open knowledge-sharing, it makes sense why startup interest has shot up—even among high schoolers. We like to think that Founders Inc. has it figured out. They are a prime example: they blend social videos with hands-on hackathons, transforming casual viewers into active participants. It proves that both established and emerging programs can forge ties much earlier in a founder’s journey. At All Caps, our goal is to become part of that conversation early on. If you’re willing to break down the often-intimidating world of startups into digestible, real conversations; over time, that effort can create a lasting connection. That, ultimately, is the advantage of investing in influence early. Today’s curious onlooker might not be ready to launch a unicorn, but in a few years, they could be steering the next big thing—and actively seeking trusted partners. By showing up authentically on the same platforms they use, emerging VCs can become part of their story before it even begins. Most importantly, there’s that one kid, hungry to start building but unsure where to turn. We need more accessible spaces with collaboration and growth—especially ones that embrace diverse faces and experiences. Innovating the world requires understanding every corner of it, and everyone deserves the chance to create something that matters. #VCInsights

🚨 New Episode that is overdue 🚨 Not too long ago we had the chance to chat with Carter Steffes, co-founder and partner of New Era Ventures, who’s building his fund IN HIS 20s. 💼 Carter shares: 🌟 how he’s backing Gen Z founders across the country 🌍 parallels between building a startup and a fund 🔥 breaking credibility barriers as a young buck Carter is one of the most genuine we have had on the All Caps podcast, and we are excited to get the opportunity to share this jam out session. Tune in now! 🎙️ #startups #venturecapital #genzfounders #podcast https://lnkd.in/gfgYd3rM

Stop blindly building startups based on YC's "Request for Startups" list just because it seems trendy or fundable. If you're not genuinely curious about the domain, you won’t last. The list is valuable for exposing builders to emerging trends and inspiring new passions. But chasing it solely to get into YC or land a big fundraise is the wrong mindset. Founding a startup is a battle—you need a deep passion for solving problems in that space to thrive. Approach the list as a chance to learn, explore, and discover what truly excites you. Passion is what makes you bulletproof in the arena. (Sidenote tho, Stablecoins looking pretty, pretty lit.) Photo Credit: Y Combinator & Greg Isenberg

It’s almost 2025, which means you can literally build a tech startup with just your laptop and no technical background. No team, no budget—just you, your idea, and the insane tools we have at our fingertips now. AI tools like ChatGPT, Replit, Cursor, Bolt, Claude, and V0 make it easier than ever to ship something. The workflow is simple: 1️⃣ Have an idea. 2️⃣ Build it. 3️⃣ Put it out there (YouTube, Product Hunt, and social media for free marketing). 4️⃣ Learn from user feedback. 5️⃣ Iterate and reship. We’ve been experimenting with this ourselves at All Caps, and it’s crazy how much you can get done when you just start. The first version doesn’t need to be perfect—it just needs to exist.

29 days left. That’s it. The year is basically over, but 29 days is more than enough time to start on that idea you’ve been sitting on. We overthink everything. Is our idea unique enough? What if someone else is already doing this? But look at this TechCrunch article by Julie Bort about Y Combinator, the startup school powerhouse, and we'll help you read in between the lines to fix this analysis paralysis mindset... Turns out, YC regularly backs startups that look eerily similar to each other. Whole batches of them. And you know what? It works. Why? 1️⃣ Competition makes you better. Having someone chasing the same goal doesn’t make your idea worthless—it makes you work harder. 2️⃣ The market decides. If others are building in the same space, it means demand exists. People want the problem solved. 3️⃣ It’s not about being first. Nobody remembers who had the idea. They remember who executed it best. TechCrunch pulled this research together using data from Deckmatch and their new tool, AlphaLens. The scope is wild—4,936 companies/products across 20 years and 39 YC batches. We even grabbed a couple of screenshots from their analysis to highlight the clear overlap: startups tackling the same problems with nearly identical solutions in the same spaces. Honestly, we'd love to add our own visuals, but DeckMatch hasn’t sent us the open-source Google Sheet they mentioned (Deckmatch, if you’re reading this, slide those docs our way please!) Here’s the thing: YC, one of the best startup schools out there, isn’t afraid of competition or overlap. They’re not even all that focused on originality. From what we can see they are focused on execution. That’s the mindset to take into these next 29 days. Execute! Forget the perfectly balanced plan. Forget waiting for January 1st. Just start. Build something small. Test it. Fail. Learn from it. Keep going. So, the question we are asking ourselves—and you: What can you do in the next 29 days to move your idea forward? Small steps count. You’ve got time. Make it count. TechCrunch article: https://lnkd.in/g8GwGi_j Deckmatch analysis with their product, AlphaLens: https://lnkd.in/g6KsNRS9

Our latest podcast episode with Danielle Strachman, General Partner and Co-Founder of the 1517 Fund, just dropped! 🌟 Danielle, who used to be a school principal but is now funding unconventional founders, shares her incredible journey and insights: 💡 Tackling imposter syndrome: How to turn self-doubt into a superpower. 🎓 Alternative education: Discover unique paths to success beyond traditional routes. 🐸 Startup pitch: Danielle pitches to Murph and Ahk on the spot! Let's go! Tune in! #podcast #startups #venturecapital #innovation

Innovative ideas that make a social impact on the communities around us is what the world needs more of today. OneCourt is a startup out of Seattle, WA changing the way that the low-vision and blind community interact with sports through haptic technology. We got to catch up with Antyush Bollini, the COO of OneCourt and talk shop on: 🌟 - The inspiration behind OneCourt's groundbreaking technology 🔍 - The importance of customer validation and securing pilots 🤹♂️ - Navigating the startup ecosystem with partnerships and growth strategies ⚖ - Striking the perfect balance between obsession and well-being in entrepreneurship 🎓🛤️ - Pursuing professional careers vs. staying in school and building Plus, find out how Antyush ALMOST met Stevie Wonder. Tune in to get inspired and learn how OneCourt is changing the game for sports fans everywhere!