Here are a19s, we've invested around the thesis that knowing the future is a pretty fucking surefire way to make money. That's why now - two years after founding the firm - we are delighted to announce the first new member of our family. In the next hot talent that we brought to AdCap, we were looking for less of a financier and more a soothsayer. Someone who had a track record of foretelling the hottest new technological trends in which to invest; the voice at the table who was routinely two steps ahead.

James and I are confident we found that person in Adventure Capitalists' new digital prophet - Kilian McMahon.

I remember the first conversation I ever had with Kilian. We were having our Monday partner meeting at Tarallucci e Vino when he walked right up to our table and declared confidently, "I'm going to play guitar with ...

On the limo ride home from Burning Man, I was talking to a set of fresh entrepreneurs on the problems they were facing. In between updating my Mattermark dashboard and updating my DraftKings lineup, I listened to some of their problems. Classic issues every startup founder has to face.

Competing for top shelf talent. Finding product/market fit. Landing the marquee reference customers.

After letting them yammer a bit, I slammed shut my Air and stared at them for a long moment.

"Guys," I said, "you know the firm's position on this."

One of the ones bogarting the Pelligrino in the back sighed and replied snarkily, "Let me guess Rob.  Be more like Apple?"

"Yes," I declared. "You need to be more like Apple."

"But Rob!" one cried, "I don't see how constant comparisons to a $650 billion consumer electronics company is supposed to help my 5-person SaaS ...

There comes a time when board meetings become more for real. It happens gradually at first and then it happens suddenly, so we've compiled a few helpful tips to help smooth the transition.

Slides

You need to begin by calibrating our minds to the latest data on your business. Try not to use too many slides but pack every detail you can on each one. Some of our favorite slides are the ones where you feel like you have no idea what the slide even says because it's so full of great information.

Help us by covering everything, no matter how nuanced. This is, by far, the best way to maximize our ability to steer your ship.

Maximize Time With Investors

We understand your business better than anyone. It is up to you to extract as much wisdom from our minds as possible. Maximizing your time with us ...