Our Perspectives
Writings
October 9, 2026Rohit Sharma
The Importance of Earning Founder Trust
Ashley introduced us to Viswa. Viswa introduced two more. Rohit Sharma on how trust travels through founders, why 70+ have built with True more than once, and the cycle behind the network.
October 6, 2026Mike Montano
Building Software as Fast as You Can Think
True Partner Mike Montano built a Mac app on a 45-minute flight home. Custom software isn't just for big teams anymore because the math on build vs. buy is shifting.
September 24, 2026Mike Montano
Go back as an IC
Management is losing value and building is gaining it. Mike Montano on becoming an IC again after running a 3,000-person engineering org at Twitter, and why founders should hire managers, directors and VPs to build.
September 22, 2026Puneet Agarwal
Connected Stack 2026: What Has to Be Built Next
True Partner Puneet Agarwal reflects on our second annual Connected Stack event exploring the future of enterprise AI and where the real opportunities are.
August 27, 2026Julie Walker
Wrapping Up Our 2026 True Ventures Fellowship
Julie Walker of True's founder experience team reflects on our 2026 fellowship, a summer built around AI fluency and what eleven fellows shipped inside True companies.
July 30, 2026True Team
Remembering Our Friend Om Malik
True Ventures remembers Om Malik — the first founder we funded, our Partner and friend, and one of the clearest voices in technology of this era.
July 22, 2026Keerthi Nalabotu
The Foundation of an AI-Native Firm
Twenty years of venture is a lot of inherited wisdom. Here's how we built the foundation of an AI-native firm, and what we learned turning institutional knowledge into actionable intelligence.
July 7, 2026Madeline Minshew
True’s AI Workflow Summit: 140 Builders, Hands on Keyboards All Day
"Wait, show me exactly how you did that." 140 builders, laptops open, real AI workflows — no keynotes. A recap of the True Ventures AI Workflow Summit in SF, where founders, operators, and builders came together to demo and try new builds.
June 9, 2026Rohit Sharma
The Experiment That Started ICEYE
A tent, scaffolding, and a question: 'What if?' That's how ICEYE started. Now 70+ micro-SAR satellites circle the planet, making the invisible visible. True Partner Rohit Sharma looks back at the team’s ingenuity from start to (unfinished).
April 21, 2026Soul Dayan
Quantum is early. It’s also closer than most people think.
A day in Santa Fe made one thing clear: the "quantum moment" is still years away, but the application layer, the software stack, and the quantum-AI intersection are already shipping. Soul Dayan on where True is spending time across the quantum stack — and why early is the right time to build.
April 14, 2026The True Team
True North Newsletter: Your agent stack is an attack surface
Our team gets a front row seat to the tech ecosystem's most influential founders — and the insights they're gaining along the way as they build new stacks, agentic workflows, and the companies of tomorrow. Here's our latest edition of True North, our newsletter for early-stage startup founders, builders, and our community of teams and supporters.
April 6, 2026Madeline Minshew
The Human Connection: Why Our Founder Community Matters More Than Ever
"The answer is in the room." 450+ founders building right now. Twenty years of showing up for each other. Head of Platform Madeline Minshew on why the human stuff is what actually matters most when supporting Founders and their teams, especially right now.
Archive
2026
2025
Consensus Never Built the FutureJon CallaghanThe Vintage of a Lifetime: Recapping the Inaugural Connected Stack of Enterprise AIJon CallaghanThe Tragedy of the Common: How AI Will Restore Value to Startup EquityJon CallaghanAI Transformation for Consumer Brands: A Case Study With Madison ReedAmy ErrettOur Letter on the AI Action Plan in the U.S.Gus ColdebellaShaping New AI Policy in the U.S.Gus ColdebellaHiring Your First Marketing Leader: Easy button, or no?Helen MinNext-Gen AI Design: What We Can Learn From Today’s AI Design LeadersMikaela Lipsky
2024
AI Anticipation & Mental LoadDave BalterSupport These Orgs Driving Social and Environmental Change This Giving TuesdayChristiaan Vorkink2024 True Holiday Gift GuideThe True TeamAI, Thinking Beyond Incremental ImprovementsRohit SharmaEvolving the Writing Workflow With AI-Powered LexNatasha SharmaTrue Talk Entrepreneurship Event Series Heads to Atlanta and DetroitClarence BetheaPreparing Youth to Be Leaders of Social Change With Vocal JusticeChristiaan VorkinkCap Table and 409A Management Basics for FoundersJim StewartHiring and Building Out Your Startup Leadership TeamMadeline MinshewLeveraging Your Startup’s Origin StoryLaura VrcekTrue Leadership Summit in San Francisco: Supporting Your Whole TeamCaroline Ciaramitaro and Mikaela LipskyDistraction-Free Creativity With AI Writing Workspace StrutToni SchneiderReal Estate Negotiation for Startup Office SpaceJim StewartTrue Talk Los Angeles: Unfiltered Insights on the Ups and Downs of the Founder JourneyMikaela LipskyNext-Gen Technology Trends: Habits, Money, and (Of Course) AICaroline CiaramitaroFreewriting and Form Breaks: Dave Balter’s Take on Founder CommunicationsLaura Vrcek
2023
2023 at True: Our Year in ReviewJon Callaghan and Phil Black2023 True Holiday Gift GuideThe True TeamBest practices for pitching contributed articles to the mediaBrooke Van NattaThe Bay Area Org Reclaiming Storefronts in the Name of CommunityChristiaan VorkinkNurture, don’t network: getting the most out of industry eventsBryan MasonTrue Leadership Summit in London: Our Platform Expands PresenceThe True TeamOur Master List of Interview Questions for Sales Development RepsLars NilssonThe Startup Boilerplate: An Opportunity for AlignmentLaura VrcekWordPress Turns 20The True TeamTrue Climate Action GuideThe True TeamThe Power of Intellectual PartnershipsPriscilla TylerReuniting the True Ventures Fellowship Community & What’s NextCaroline CiaramitaroThe Crypto Clarity CrisisGus ColdebellaTrue People & Product Leadership SummitsThe True TeamThe Product Is the PlatformAnn Crady WeissBlack Outside’s Alex Bailey on Connecting Black Youth to NatureChristiaan Vorkink
2022
2022 at True: Year in ReviewJon Callaghan and Phil BlackHandshake’s Journey to the White House and BeyondToni SchneiderTrue Holiday Gift Guide 2022The True TeamWhen to Hire a VP of Sales for Your SaaS BusinessLars NilssonAmeelio’s entrepreneurial approach to criminal justice reformChristiaan VorkinkPitching an investor for the first time? Here’s how to capture attention, plus a few misconceptionsClarence BetheaHow to Conduct Effective Stay Interviews for Talent RetentionThe True TeamCatalyzing Social Impact Through Trueventures.orgChristiaan VorkinkHenrietta Moon on Carbo Culture’s Quest to Trap Atmospheric CO2Priscilla TylerExecutive Coaching: Is it worth all the hype?Madeline MinshewWomen Founders, We Want to Meet YouAnn Crady WeissPreparing for Series A Fundraising: A Guide for Startup FoundersPriscilla Tyler
2021
2021 at True: Our Year in ReviewJon Callaghan and Phil BlackCast’s Rachel Skelly on Reimagining the Fine Jewelry IndustryThe True TeamDitto’s Data Syncing Solution for the Deskless WorkforceOm Malik2021 True Holiday Gift GuideThe True TeamDrive Revenue Early With These 5 HiresLars NilssonCelebrating LGBTQ+ Team Members Across the True PortfolioMadeline MinshewCreating Online Communities (Without Forcing It) to Combat Our LonelinessMadeline MinshewWhat Founders Have Learned a Year Into Remote WorkThe True Team
2020
2020 at True: Our Year in ReviewJon Callaghan and Phil BlackApps and Ideas for Renewing Mind and BodyThe True TeamTrue Holiday Gift GuideThe True TeamVC Responsibilities and Our Interest in Climate TechnologiesPriscilla TylerOpportunities at the Intersection of Biology, Software, and AutomationAdam D'AugelliBest Practices for Distributed Teams: Automattic Shares AllMadeline MinshewUpsie Upgrades: Minnesota Startup to Be Welcomed by St. Paul MayorChristiaan VorkinkThe Why Behind Wellness Apps: An Interview With Kevin RoseThe True Team
2019
2019: Our Year in Review [infographic]Jon CallaghanImportant Attributes of Modern Consumer BrandsAdam D'AugelliHow to Tell Your Story: A Simple Framework for StartupsOm MalikWhat’s Working: Submittable’s In-Office DaycareThe True TeamFounder-Focused Investing in Human Health and BiologyAdam D'AugelliDoes Direct Mail Still Work? True’s Sales Advisor Weighs InLars NilssonTrue Alignment: Introducing Our New Brand IdentityJeff VeenSwoot Creates Social Space for Podcast ListeningJon CallaghanWhy We Believe in Toronto’s Founders and Startup SceneTony ConradGive Robots the Repetitive, Tedious WorkRohit SharmaEnsuring a Gender-Diverse Talent PipelineThe True TeamCareer Advancement Tips From Helpshift CEO Linda CrawfordTrue Ventures2018: Our Year in Review [infographic]Jon Callaghan
2018
Emotional Intelligence in Action [video]True VenturesWhat’s Working: Suicide Detection and Prevention With VoiTrue VenturesToday’s Best Consumer Brands Act Like Software StartupsPriscilla Tyler and Natasha SharmaWhat’s Working: Peloton’s Retail Showroom StrategyTrue VenturesWhat’s Working: Scaling a Mission-Aligned Team at HandshakeThe True TeamThe Perfect StartupToni SchneiderWhat’s Working: Madison Reed’s Unconventional Approach to BeautyTrue Ventures3 Women Founders Share Career Obstacles They OvercameAnn Crady Weiss
2017
2017: Our Year in Review [infographic]True VenturesMyVR Is Picking Up Where the Vacation Rental Industry Left OffJon CallaghanA Company Culture Primer for Early Stage Startups [True U Videos]True VenturesHow Hodinkee Reimagined the Watch IndustryTony ConradTactical Advice for Better Board MeetingsJon CallaghanSupercharge Your B2B Sales Strategy [True U Videos]True VenturesA Grassroots Women’s Group Blooms at Portland-Based Urban AirshipPriscilla TylerBrad Olson Shares How Peloton Cultivates Emotional LoyaltyTrue VenturesWhy Emotional Intelligence Matters in Venture CapitalJon CallaghanFounder Perspectives: Changing Your Company NameTrue VenturesThe Myth of the Silicon Valley LocalePuneet AgarwalA Guide for Giving Better FeedbackRohit SharmaTrue Insights: RevelationsOm MalikWhat’s Working: Demand Gen at DuoTrue VenturesThe Tech Behind TeamsTony ConradMy Advice for Women Founders Seeking FundingAnn Crady WeissCommunity Spotlight: The Priya Haji FellowshipTrue VenturesTrue Insights: VoiceOm MalikWe Stand TogetherTrue VenturesTrue Insights: Onward and UpOm Malik2015 TEC Fellows: Then and NowChristiaan Vorkink
2016
True Insights: Opt for OptimismOm Malik2016: Our Year in Review [infographic]True Ventures2013 TEC Fellows: Then and NowChristiaan Vorkink2011 TEC Fellows: Then and NowChristiaan Vorkink2009 TEC Fellows: Then and NowChristiaan VorkinkWhy I Became a Venture PartnerAnn Crady WeissPeloton Arrives in Palo AltoJon CallaghanThoughts on Pokemon GoJon CallaghanDiversity and Unconscious Bias in TechTrue VenturesTrue University Day Two RecapTrue VenturesTrue University Day One RecapTrue VenturesClass is in session: True U 2016Christiaan VorkinkTrue Impact 2016: Compass Family ServicesChristiaan VorkinkTrue HealthcareAdam D'AugelliHiring Finance Help – How do I Find Great Candidates?Jim StewartThank you, BillJon CallaghanJust Do ItTony ConradI Need Finance Help – What Role Should I Hire?Jim StewartLet’s Fix Startup Board MeetingsJon CallaghanLeadership and Management WisdomTrue VenturesTrue Entrepreneur Corps: 2015 [video]Christiaan Vorkink2015: Our Year in Review [infographic]True Ventures
2015
10 Signs You May Need Finance HelpJim StewartLife at 200 Employees: Ten Insights from Namely CEO Matt StrazTrue VenturesAccount Based Sales Development: A New Methodology in Lead Execution, Target Outbound, and Pipeline GenerationLars NilssonABR – Always Be Raising!Phil BlackTrue University Day Two RecapTrue VenturesTrue University Day One RecapTrue VenturesTrue University 2015 Commences!Christiaan VorkinkWorking With Atoms: Thoughts on Building Next-Generation Connected Device StartupsAdam D'AugelliThe Brands They Are A-Changin’Jon Callaghan
2014
2014: Our Year in Review [infographic]True VenturesFounder Camp 2014Christiaan VorkinkThe Workplace of the Future: Skills, Recruiting and AssessmentTrue VenturesFundraising 101True VenturesTrue Infrastructure Summit 2014 Wrap UpPuneet AgarwalVirtual Reality: A Place for Us AllTony ConradWhy We’re Excited About iOS 8 and How to Get the Most Out of ItTrue VenturesHow Founders HireTrue VenturesStone Soup and Senior HiresJon CallaghanRemembering PriyaChristiaan Vorkink6.5 Advisors for Each Employee: The Perfect RatioTony ConradTrue Ventures and Open Source [Infographic]Puneet AgarwalTrue University 2014 YearbookChristiaan VorkinkTrue ImpactJon CallaghanTrue University and the Power of CommunityChristiaan VorkinkMoments, Memories and Narrative—the Power of the ClipJon CallaghanHacking WeatherPuneet AgarwalTrue AtomsAdam D'AugelliThe Magic of the Off-siteJon CallaghanOm and Keila: How WhatsApp is DifferentTrue Ventures
2013
2013: Our Year in Review [infographic]True VenturesTrue Ventures and The Hardware Revolution [infographic]Phil BlackFounder Camp 2013Adam D'AugelliFlat Design = Skinny Jeans: An Interview with Jeff Veen and Tony ConradLiz MansfieldTrue Infrastructure SummitPuneet AgarwalB2B Inside Sales Do’s and Don’tsLars NilssonBreaking AwayTony ConradEnterprise Startups: Why Business Model Innovation is as Important as Product InnovationPuneet AgarwalStinson Beach 2013Phil BlackThe Hardware Revolution is Upon Us and Why it MattersJon Callaghan#TRU02 Arrives!True VenturesTrue University 2013 YearbookTrue VenturesFundraising Tips: The Power of Context and StoryAdam D'AugelliWhy we (still) don’t invest in convertible debtJon CallaghanCES 2013: Software’s Coming-Out PartyAdam D'Augelli
2012
True Ventures 2012: Our Year in Review [infographic]Jon CallaghanVenture Capital 2012: A Year in ReviewJon CallaghanThe Enterprise Isn’t Sexy Again; It’s Been Sexy for AwhilePuneet AgarwalTrue is a Quarterly Contributor!Phil BlackWeekly Founder WisdomTrue VenturesWeekly Founder WisdomTrue VenturesConnecting people never goes out of styleJon CallaghanWeekly Founder WisdomTrue VenturesWeekly Founder WisdomTrue Venturesit’s still about the foundersTrue VenturesWeekly Founder WisdomTrue VenturesWeekly Founder WisdomTrue VenturesWeekly Founder WisdomTrue VenturesThe Importance of MissionJon CallaghanUse your own filterChristiaan VorkinkA Day in the LifeChristiaan VorkinkCoffee and SOLAR PowerChristiaan VorkinkEngaging and Inspiring Our Community at True UniversityTrue VenturesGameifying Culture with TastemakerXJon CallaghanWhite House open access petition reaches 25,000True VenturesThe Future of Science (Re-post from TechCrunch)True VenturesShowyou and the disruption of TVPhil BlackFarewell and Hello to the Typekit spaceTrue VenturesStartups Win at SXSWAdam D'AugelliEncouraging Senate Bill S. 1933 and what it means for startupsJon CallaghanNSF Innovation Corps: Feeding the Spark of Innovation in the U.S.John Burke
2011
2011 in Review [infographic]Jon CallaghanTech City UK VisitJon CallaghanTry a Startup after CollegeTrue VenturesCode YellowTrue VenturesTrue Ventures – There is An App For That!Phil BlackFinal days at Pier 38Jon CallaghanTEC 2011: Inspiring Young EntrepreneursChristiaan VorkinkTrueU: Gettin’ SchooledTrue VenturesWeek 4: You LearnTrue VenturesMeet Deadlines or Die Trying: A Parallel Between Deadlines and Lean Startup PrinciplesTrue VenturesInnovations in AdvertisingTrue Ventures#ambitionTrue VenturesMaking LemonadeTrue VenturesImpromptu Breakout Session on HardwareTrue VenturesScaling Lessons Learned from About.meTrue VenturesWhy I Joined the Board of the NVCAJon CallaghanSuper Neural – True Founder Camp IV – Spring 2011True VenturesWe Are All at Founder Camp!True VenturesOm Malik on Industry Trends & Favorite AppsTrue VenturesUsing Personal Metrics for Greater ProductivityTrue VenturesWhat is Founder Wisdom?True VenturesThe Future of Mobile NotificationsTrue VenturesOld Media vs. New Media: What’s on the HorizonTrue VenturesEmail is (still) the killer appJon CallaghanBest practices for online community growthTrue Ventures5 Tips for Young EntrepreneursTrue VenturesInnovation in Legal and Law Without WallsJon Callaghan
2010
What makes a good syndicate, anyway?Jon CallaghanThe Future of Customer Service is SocialTrue Ventures365 days, $10 Million, 3 Rounds, 2 Companies, all with 5 Magic SlidesTrue VenturesLittle Things To Stay TinyTrue VenturesSo You Want to Work for a Startup? Part TwoTrue VenturesBig Data Gets BiggerTrue VenturesLean to Fat (LTF): Making the TransitionPuneet AgarwalHiten Shah of KISSmetrics: A Case Study on PivotsTrue VenturesVenture Capital Outside of Silicon ValleyJohn BurkeTrue Founder Camp: Founders, Speakers, and Drinks afterwardsTrue VenturesThe True Meaning of True Founder CampAdam D'AugelliFounders Come FirstJon CallaghanThinking Outside the Consumer Web BoxPuneet AgarwalThe Holy Grail of Retail & the Next Wave of Monetization on the WebTrue VenturesSo You Want to Work for a StartupTrue VenturesPhysical Web: How Apps Can Move Atoms & Bend TimeJon CallaghanThoughts on Y-Combinator Demo DayAdam D'AugelliFrom the TEC Blog: Oh, the Places You’ll Go!True VenturesIt’s about Time.True VenturesRemoving the Change of Control Provision from our Seed DealsPhil BlackCan Mobile Save Print Publishing?True VenturesAn Entrepreneur’s Guide to Self ManagementTrue VenturesSeries B Lessons LearnedTrue VenturesOn the Road with TechStars BoulderChristiaan VorkinkSteve Blank is Right About the Need for Lean VCsJon CallaghanPutting a Bow on TEC 2.0Christiaan VorkinkTop 11 Startup Lessons Learned TEC 2010True VenturesTEC Week 8: I’m All InTrue VenturesWant to Know? Ask True.True VenturesInterface (Il)literacy: Learning How to Read & Write in the 21st CenturyTrue VenturesTEC Week 7: Cooking up a Good StartupTrue VenturesYou Eat What You MeasureTrue VenturesWeek 6 of TEC: Chapter 6: Geeking Out About DesignTrue VenturesWeek 5 of TEC: Success = MAX (cash/ burn rate * time it takes to iterate)True VenturesNext Week: Heading up to StinsonJon CallaghanWeek 4 of TEC: Executable Poetry (From the True Ventures TEC Program Blog)True VenturesOut of AfricaTrue VenturesChapter 2: Social Media-Obsessed Cat LadyTrue VenturesTrue Ventures Featured on Mark Suster’s This Week in VCTrue VenturesWomen 2.0 Summer Labs Program Hosted at True Ventures’ San Francisco Pier 38 OfficeTrue VenturesThe Importance of RonTrue VenturesSimplicity, Clarity, Alignment: Welcome Series SeedJon CallaghanJoin Us For A Glass or Three To Celebrate True’s Best VC Crunchies NominationTony ConradLooking Back on 2009Jon Callaghan
2009
Venture is Back, BabyJon CallaghanHappy Thanksgiving from TrueJon CallaghanNextTony ConradFortune Favors the BoldPhil BlackSeth Sternberg: From Nothing to Something at MeeboJon CallaghanStart@SparkJon CallaghanListen to Reid Hoffman: Let Our Startups Bail Us OutJon CallaghanThank you Bart SchachterJon CallaghanEntrepreneurs Can Lead Us Out of the Crisis – WSJJon CallaghanMore on Friedman, Connie’s got the right take at PEHubJon CallaghanStart Up Risk Takers – Friedman in Today’s NYTJon CallaghanWill the Downturn Reinvent Venture Capital?Jon CallaghanVideo: More about InnovationJon CallaghanYour Ideas to Help Us Avert the Innovation CrisisJon Callaghantrueventures is live on TwitterJon Callaghan