JOHN COWAN - Venture Capital 2.0 (Page 2)

What Carta's Peter Walker Won't Say, But I Will

members – 5 min read

The Venture Model Isn't Broken Because Founders Raised Too Much—It's Broken Because 46% of Seed Rounds Are Now Bridge Rounds to Nowhere

Jun 4, 2025

JOHN COWAN

Bridge to Nowhere: How the Seed-Stage Loop Exposes Venture Capital’s Structural Crisis

members – 4 min read

Seed-stage startups are increasingly stuck in funding limbo, with record bridge rounds replacing Series A progression. This isn’t a founder failure—it’s part of the systemic breakdown in venture capital structure.

May 23, 2025

JOHN COWAN

Why I Left Canada — And Why I Still Believe It Can Lead

public – 4 min read

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My journey from National Party candidate to international founder, arguing that Canada’s brain drain is reversible with pragmatic, pro-builder policies—and that Canada has a rare 100-year opportunity to lead the next economic era.

Apr 25, 2025

JOHN COWAN

How Venture Studios Deliver What Corporate Investors and VCs Can’t

members – 9 min read

Discover why venture studios are emerging as the preferred innovation vehicle for corporates and institutional investors seeking alignment, speed, and ROI.

Apr 23, 2025

JOHN COWAN

A Live Dilution Model Every Software Founder Should Understand Before Fundraising

members – 4 min read

A founder prepares to raise venture capital—unaware that each round chips away at ownership, control, and future leverage. This case study breaks down a dilution model that reveals the hidden costs behind every funding milestone. Read before you raise.

Apr 7, 2025

JOHN COWAN

Assessing Startup Stock Allocation

members – 5 min read

Startup equity allocation is one of the most consequential decisions founders face. This article introduces a simple spreadsheet tool for founders and venture studio operators to help navigate a tricky subject.

Mar 23, 2025

JOHN COWAN

Beyond Accounting: Why Venture Studios Must Separate Financial Oversight from Investment Strategy

members – 6 min read

This article highlights the importance of independent CFO oversight in venture studios to prevent conflicts of interest and proposes a governance framework for Venture Studio Operators

Mar 17, 2025

JOHN COWAN

Broligarchy Endgame: Total Monopoly Through Government-Backed Intelligent Infrastructure

public – 3 min read

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This multi-part essay explores Silicon Valley’s meteoric rise in influence over public infrastructure, the monopolization of autonomous systems, and what can be done to prevent a new era of digital feudalism in the wake of the current regime’s ambition to run America like a private corporation.

Mar 5, 2025

JOHN COWAN

2025 Strategic Framework for Venture Studios - Part I: Venture Reciprocity Re-revisited

members – 8 min read

Welcome to the 2025 Venture Studio Framework. Part I further elaborates on Venture Reciprocity, addressing why traditional models fail. Part II outlines optimal governance and multi-state operations. Part III unveils revenue-based financing as the key to sustainable growth.

Jan 28, 2025

JOHN COWAN

2025 Venture Capital Industry Forecast

public – 6 min read

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In 2024, capital concentration among dominant VC firms reached unprecedented levels. As inefficiencies widen, 2025 will mark a recalibration of early-stage investing, with venture studios emerging as a sustainable model to fill funding gaps and challenge the Power Law Cartel.

Dec 28, 2024

JOHN COWAN

Alternative Financing Strategies for Venture Studio Managers: Analyzing Safer Returns

paid – 7 min read

Venture studios face challenges with traditional VC models tied to long-term illiquidity and Power Law returns. This analysis explores the potential of the Safer model—a revenue-based financing approach

Dec 1, 2024

JOHN COWAN

Analysis: Wefunder's New Hybrid Investment Instrument

members – 14 min read

Subscribe now to learn about Wefunder’s new SAFE+Revenue Loan and explore how it could impact startup financing and which tech segments are best suited to take advantage of it.

Nov 23, 2024

JOHN COWAN