by Chris Heivly | May 21, 2026 | My Thoughts
[This originally ran at INC.com here and my own blog in 2013. I have updated this post for all the right reasons.] Some teams impress us by coming on strong. Some build their case slowly. But all the teams we invest in have certain things in common. At the time, I was...
by Chris Heivly | Apr 6, 2023 | Community
Do you just assume the startup community leadership mantel because of your day job? Startup ecosystem leadership is one of the most difficult aspects of building your local community. Were you assigned? Does a startup exit qualify you? Do organizers of startup events...
by Chris Heivly | Apr 8, 2015 | My Thoughts
Fake it till you make it does not work in many circumstances. This is no reference to that restaurant scene in When Harry Met Sally where Meg Ryan “faked it” for Billy Crystal. This is actually much more serious. We have control over some things and no...
by Chris Heivly | Sep 8, 2014 | People
What is the one thing about fundraising every founder should know? Here is Alex Osadzinski. I met Alex a little over a year ago when he popped into the TSF offices here in Durham. After 7+ years as a Venture Partner at Trinity Ventures as well as a number of...
by Chris Heivly | Jul 15, 2014 | INC
I wrote this piece over a year ago but lately this issue seems to have come up again. You’ve come to my place, at my invitation, so that we can talk about your idea. We drink a little coffee, we trade pleasantries, and then, when the talk becomes serious, you...
