What if you could read the minds of the most successful venture capitalists?
You could tap directly into their wisdom and expertise, gain valuable insights into their investment strategies and keep up with the early investment game.
You can. Just follow them on the platform previously known as Twitter.
Here’s a roundup of the top 20 venture capital and angel investor accounts you should follow on Twitter.
@HarryStebbings – Harry Stebbings
Harry Stebbings is a venture capitalist from the UK, famous for his “The Twenty Minute VC” podcast, which he started with just $50 and zero contacts in the industry. Since then, he has produced over 2,850 episodes with some of the biggest names in business, most recently with Brian Halligan, the co-founder of HubSpot.
He launched his own VC fund back in 2020, called 20VC. Some of his most notable investments include Linktree and Athenian. In 2019, he made it onto the Forbes 30 Under 30 in Europe list in the finance category.
On his Twitter profile, he provides behind-the-scenes glimpses into the life of a VC, and shares inspirational stories of investments and business development deals.
Sometimes people say WTF, you have a podcast and then raised $140M.
What no one sees;
2,850 episodes recorded.
7 years without a weekend off.
Countless missed birthdays and family occasions.
Overnight success, I think not. 😂
— Harry Stebbings (@HarryStebbings) September 17, 2021
@indievc – Indievc
Indievc is a smaller Twitter account that shares motivational and inspirational posts in the venture capital space. They quote major publications and smaller influencers to get important conversations started.
They are great at shining a light on the flaws of the VC landscape, and will really make you think. Just because a trend is really taking off, does it mean you need to jump on it immediately?
Give them a follow if you are looking for a sound niche voice in your feed. For example, you will come across a gem like this that you aren’t all that likely to see from some of the bigger account in the space:
Sent privately from one of the most active angels in the game
“I’m so over the capital being pushed into so many companies with the expectation to build at a pace that will just kill them. It makes zero sense! Most of those investors don’t even understand the actual business!”
— indievc (@indievc) May 17, 2018
@ganeumann – Jerry Neumann
Jerry Neumann is the venture capitalist behind Neu Venture Capital, where he invests in and advises early-stage companies. He was named one of the 100 best early-stage investors by Business Insider.
You can attend his courses on entrepreneurship and innovation at Columbia Business School.
He has worked at Deloitte and IBM, and he used to run the venture capital division of the Omnicom Group.
He is also the co-author of “Founder Vs Investor: The Honest Truth About Venture Capital from Startup to IPO”. You can read more of his stuff on his blog, Reaction Wheel.
His Twitter profile is home to some very clever insights you should definitely check out. Case in point:
OK. V4 (and last iteration on Twitter). Pretty happy with this except the leaves are overlapping and necessarily incomplete. Thank you for the help pic.twitter.com/8h0zg0Cp01
— Jerry Neumann (@ganeumann) June 24, 2019
@Travis_Jamison – Travis Jamison
Repeat founder turned full-time investor & part-time wisdom seeker. He’s the owner of Smash Digital, Investing.io and several other companies, with partnerships in countless others.
Travis Jamison’s career trajectory has taken him from being an entrepreneur managing various businesses to an investor who now focuses on more involved and strategic forms of investment, particularly through Smash.vc and Investing.io.
The community he fosters here is aimed at venture capitalists or other like-minded individuals who share a passion for the intersection of entrepreneurship and investing.
Like this one:
On BTC ETFs and the expected inflows.
For weeks I’ve been saying:
> “and how is that not already priced in?”Looks like it was.
Markets front-ran it all.
It’s not enough to ask “will this create more inflows?”
You have to ask “and who doesn’t know that?”
2nd level thinking pic.twitter.com/ku0bPYSkmK
— Travis Jamison (@Travis_Jamison) January 24, 2024
@VCBrags – VCs Congratulating Themselves
VCs Congratulating Themselves share news, jokes, puns and motivational posts from other VCs and entrepreneurs.
They are run by the team behind Brags Ventures, a VC firm with a great sense of humor.
If you are looking for a laugh or want to kill some time between meetings, their profile is a great space to do it in. You will also unintentionally pick up quite a few useful pointers about time management, overcoming challenges and dealing with snide comments.
They currently have just over 235K followers, so you are highly likely to come into contact with useful contacts in the venture capital space.
Plus, you can try out others’ deal closing tactics as well:
— VCs Congratulating Themselves 👏👏👏 (@VCBrags) July 10, 2023
@dunkhippo33 – Elizabeth Yin
Elizabeth Yin is the co-founder of Hustle Fund, an early-stage VC fund investing in hilariously-early founders, as they themselves would put it. They are the creators of Angel Squad, which teaches regular people how to angel invest.
She calls herself an entrepreneur-investor, and offers lots of useful advice on starting and running a tech startup on her blog and her Twitter.
If you want to follow someone honest and real who isn’t going to sugarcoat the life of an entrepreneur and investor for you, she’s a great choice. You’ll learn a lot about the day-to-day struggles and how best to overcome them.
Generative AI — hype or the real deal? Now or in 5 years?
I thought I’d do a super deep dive on this over the holidays by becoming a cartoonist.
Plus: what AI company would I start based on these findings?
Read on >>
— Elizabeth Yin 💛 (@dunkhippo33) January 24, 2024
@zachcoelius – Zach Coelius
Zach Coelius is a venture capitalist and angel investor. He is a managing director at Coelius Capital, which primarily invests in B2B software companies. However, he’s happy to look at anything, especially if it’s unusual and weird, as he himself would put it.
He is well-known for the user manual he wrote for anyone who wants to approach him. His Rolling Fund allows new investors and angels to become a part of his funds.
On his Twitter profile, he is honest and sometimes brutal. He talks about all things VC, offering valuable advice, and speaks out about current issues in his hometown of San Francisco.
Fyi.
Shit is getting really ugly in the venture capital markets.
Firms are walking from signed term sheets.
The new multiples from the public markets are ripping through the late cycle insanity of the last year.
As of today it’s looking quite bad.
— Zach Coelius (@zachcoelius) May 20, 2022
@rrhoover – Ryan Hoover
Ryan Hoover is most widely known as the founder and CEO of Product Hunt. He is also the founder of Weekend Fund, an early stage fund backing your next favorite thing, to pun the Product Hunt value proposition.
He also writes for Signature Block, a newsletter for anyone interested in starting a fund or becoming a full-time investor.
His Twitter profile is home to lots of personal insights and experiences, and you’ll have a lot of fun following someone as successful on their journey.
Don’t overthink it pic.twitter.com/iGKXvRLZOv
— Ryan Hoover (@rrhoover) July 10, 2023
@eladgil – Elad Gil
Elad Gil is an early stage tech VC with an impressive tech resume. He used to work at Google, he used to be a VP at Twitter after they acquired Mixer Labs, a company he co-founded. He has invested in major companies and is advisor to the likes of Airtable, Figma, Pinterest and Stripe.
He is also currently working with a lot of AI companies.
He is the author of the High Growth Handbook: Scaling Startups from 10 to 10,000 People.
His Twitter profile is a goldmine of useful information for any founder or investor. You’ll certainly pick up a lot of nuggets from him.
A founder I know was going to meet with a big name and asked for advice for meeting.
Tips
1. Start the meeting with agenda so person realize you will make good use of their time & show you prepped
2. Come with something useful for them. Intro they may not have within your…— Elad Gil (@eladgil) December 18, 2023
@DavidSacks – David Sacks
David Sacks is an entrepreneur and investor, currently the general partner and co-founder of Craft Ventures, B2B software investors.
He is the former COO of PayPal and the founder and CEO of Yammer. His most famous angel investments include Uber, SpaceX and Facebook.
His Twitter profile is a great place to go for comments and latest industry news in the tech and SaaS spaces, but he won’t shy away from expressing his opinion on the current political situation or whatever Elon Musk is doing.
When @elonmusk made necessary business changes at Twitter, the media reacted with hysterical melodrama: he was “starving” employees; the site was facing “imminent collapse.” But when Twitter Files exposed state censorship and Hamilton68 fraud, they react with defeaning silence.
— David Sacks (@DavidSacks) January 30, 2023
@kirstenagreen – Kirsten Green
Kirsten is the founder of Forerunner Ventures and has spearheaded efforts to raise more than $2B to be invested in over 150 companies, including Dollar Shave Club and Warby Parker.
She has a keen eye for spotting up-and-coming e-commerce and consumer brands.
As her tagline says, she’s fascinated with consumer behavior, so her tweets revolve around these sectors, making her Twitter account a goldmine of tips, tricks, and advice for e-commerce entrepreneurs.
1/ We @ForerunnerVC see a new category emerging, the Digitally-Native Franchise — a play on the historic franchise model but reinvented with tech & AI driven platforms for solopreneurs to grow their own businesses with structure and support to drive success.
— Kirsten Green (@kirstenagreen) June 9, 2023
@dannyrimer – Danny Rimer
Danny Rimer is a Swiss-born VC investor and co-founder of Forerunner Ventures. He topped the Forbes’ Midas List Europe in 2022 thanks to being one of the largest financial backers of Figma, a collaborative design tool valued at $20 billion the same year.
Danny’s other notable investments include Dropbox, Etsy, Farfetch, and Patreon.
His Twitter is brimming with meaningful conversations about starting and building a tech startup, the corner stones of the modern venture capital community.
Enjoyed our conversation @cookie, thank you!. These current market conditions will push founders and VCs alike to readjust expectations, but long term will position the entire ecosystem for another sustainable 10-year run https://t.co/TB3q2IuSwH
— danny rimer (@dannyrimer) July 18, 2022
@pmarca – Marc Andreessen
A serial entrepreneur and co-founder of Andreessen Horowitz, a renowned VC company, Marc is one of the internet pioneers.
He’s a co-author of Mozaic, the first web browser with a graphical user interface, and co-founder of Netscape, a popular browser in the 1990s.
As a software engineer, his feed is packed with tech and AI-oriented resources, but he’s no stranger to sharing some first-hand entrepreneurial tricks of the trade.
Mosquito nets are a triple threat — dangerous to people, dangerous to fish, and dangerous to fishing ecosystems and the communities they feed. https://t.co/Zw0Igq7eMs https://t.co/kuiDeSrhEA pic.twitter.com/0cHtJfjA6m
— Marc Andreessen 🇺🇸 (@pmarca) January 20, 2024
@fredwilson – Fred Wilson
Fred Wilson started his VC journey back in 1986. He’s the co-founder of Union Square Ventures, famous for backing giants like Twitter, Tumblr, and Foursquare.
You’ll find VC musings and business advice on both his Twitter feed and his blog, AVC.
Similarly, his tweets are a collection of personal and curated content on diverse business and investment topics.
“A bad pitch is one where you do all the talking. A good one is where the investors are tripping over themselves to ask questions. So what does this imply? Keep your pitch geared towards being intriguing rather than trying to answer every question upfront.”
Entire post below: https://t.co/mkUe9X92py— Fred Wilson (@fredwilson) May 14, 2021
@TimDraper – Tim Draper
Tim Draper is a venture capitalist and founder of Draper Associates, DFJ, and Draper Venture Network. Through his venture capital firm, he funded some of the most successful tech companies, such as Tesla, Twitter, SpaceX, Hotmail, Baidu, and many others.
His investment portfolio boasts more than 15 startups valued at $1 billion or more.
He’s also a vocal proponent of Bitcoin, having purchased the first batch of the cryptocurrency in 2014.
Awesome idea from Billy Draper #founders https://t.co/LcCQN0Af6w
— Tim Draper (@TimDraper) August 30, 2023
@mcuban – Mark Cuban
An influential figure in the VC sphere and owner of the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks, Mark Cuban has made investments in a wide range of companies.
What stands out is his commitment to supporting businesses owned by women and minorities, as well as mission-driven companies.
He has invested more than $20 million throughout his tenure on Tank Shark, which makes him one of the most prolific funders on the show.
Really enjoyed my interview about negotiating with @fbinegotiator Recorded live on Fireside. Check it out !Watch the replay: https://t.co/RiM72QMxFH
— Mark Cuban (@mcuban) June 30, 2023
@sama – Sam Altman
Like many venture capitalists, Sam Altman wears many hats. He’s a programmer, investor, and entrepreneur, currently in the spotlight as the co-founder and CEO of OpenAI.
During his time as a partner and chairman at Y Combinator, he invested and still owns equity in hundreds of startups.
Some of his most notable investment ventures include $375 million in Helion Energy and $180 million in Retro Biosciences.
i failed pretty hard at my first startup–it sucked!–and am doing pretty well on my second.
the thing i wish someone told me during the first one is that no one else thinks about your failures as much as you do, and that as long as don’t psych yourself out you can try again.
— Sam Altman (@sama) February 5, 2023
@sether – Seth Levine
As a co-founder at Foundry Group, Seth Levine has been behind numerous investments in forward-thinking tech companies.
With a successful investment career spanning over two decades, he’s been supporting promising entrepreneurs to reach their full potential.
Apart from backing them financially, Seth also acts as their mentor and advisor, helping them navigate the challenges inherent in scaling businesses.
Looking forward to the full episode of the Contrarian Podcast with @cryptobullfund dropping tomorrow! Check out this quick clip about investment decision making from the show. pic.twitter.com/rX8ovUQnC4
— seth (@sether) October 10, 2023
@richminer – Rich Miner
The mobile industry pioneer and leader of the East Coast investment team, Rich Miner, is co-founder of Android, partner at Google Ventures, and investor in various tech companies such as Hubspot, Stamped, and ThinkNear.
He’s a sure bet for all those who want to learn about starting a business, growing it, and getting funding.
With 30 years of experience in the field, the extensive know-how he generously shares with others on Twitter could be helpful for learning the ropes and honing the pitch deck.
Excited to work with @navierboat! Gets people around much faster + reduces car commuting/congestion/emissions/etc. (Yes, they had us at “electric flying boat”.)https://t.co/V9LJftvqH3 pic.twitter.com/8uyoIRkvbP
— Patrick Collison (@patrickc) January 17, 2024
@eileentso – Eileen Burbidge
Eileen Burbidge is a founding partner at the early investment firm Passion Capital with roles at tech giants like Apple and Yahoo on her resume.
She knows the startup game inside and out and is willing to help new entrepreneurs accomplish their goals.
Having led investments in more than 96 startups since 2011, her Twitter followers will have access to a vast amount of experience and knowledge.
“having a baby this way is magical. It’s utterly miraculous and no less an experience of wonder & privilege than more traditional ways. Any sadness I had about not passing on my genes was washed away when I held my daughter… She is the most wonderful thing I’ve ever created.” https://t.co/bulMbOWrg6
— Eileen Burbidge (@eileentso) January 20, 2024
How Do You Find More Valuable Venture Capitalist Twitter Accounts?
So the venture capitalists on this list weren’t enough? Here’s how to find more.
Start by following the most successful VC firms, like Bessemer Venture Partners and venture capital news accounts. These entities often retweet or share insights from their partners, associates, and emerging voices in the industry.
By sliding into their networks, you’re introduced to plenty of influential figures you might not have encountered otherwise.
Engage With Relevant Hashtags
Hashtags like #startups or #venturecapital are bustling hubs of activity, by both venture capitalist and early stage internet entrepreneur. Take part in the discussion with valuable contributions and you can quickly get noticed.
The point is to make Twitter’s algorithm your friend. As you engage with and follow more VC-related content, the platform will naturally suggest similar profiles under its ‘Who to Follow’ section.
It’s like having a personal curator, constantly introducing you to the next big name in the investment world.
3 Tips To Connect And Pitch Investors On Twitter
Twitter, with its real-time interactions and global reach, seems like an attractive opportunity for startups seeking funding. But is it really a realistic idea to engage venture capitalists on this platform?
The answer is a resounding yes, but with a few caveats.
1. Don’t Pitch, Be Curious
Firstly, it’s essential to understand that Twitter isn’t a pitch deck.
It’s a platform to build relationships, showcase expertise, and share your startup’s journey. By consistently sharing valuable content, engaging with industry trends, and showcasing your brand’s unique value proposition, you can pique the interest of potential investors.
2. Don’t Bullshit People
Second, you have to engage with VCs and angel investors authentically. Respond to their tweets, share your insights on topics they’re discussing, and be genuine in your interactions. Over time, this can lead to direct messages, virtual meetings, and even face-to-face interactions.
3. Transition To Real Life
However, while Twitter can be the starting point, it’s important to transition these online interactions to more formal channels when discussing funding specifics. An initial tweet can lead to an email exchange, which might culminate in a formal pitch meeting.
Your Turn
Twitter isn’t just a place to voice your opinion, hear what your peers have to say, and endlessly scroll through memes. It’s also an excellent platform to expand your entrepreneurial horizons.
While the platform is currently going through sometimes questionable changes, there’s still valuable conversations to be had. You now have a list of people you can follow to get started in curating an excellent source of quality data.
Of course, if Twitter isn’t your thing, you can also try following investor blogs.
