Josh Ockenden
@joshockenden.bsky.social
Building OpenRound.VC // focused on improving investor relations for founders.
Occasional angel investor into Climatech.
Technically a former pro skier.
Occasional angel investor into Climatech.
Technically a former pro skier.
Any outreach starting with "I was impressed with your innovative approach to (insert recent company)..." Straight to spam.
May 19, 2025 at 12:04 PM
Any outreach starting with "I was impressed with your innovative approach to (insert recent company)..." Straight to spam.
Would you prefer to look in a database to find investor names, or be able to enrich your own dataset?
Thinking of releasing our agentic research pipeline so people can just improve their own lists.
openround.vc
Thinking of releasing our agentic research pipeline so people can just improve their own lists.
openround.vc
April 22, 2025 at 11:25 AM
Would you prefer to look in a database to find investor names, or be able to enrich your own dataset?
Thinking of releasing our agentic research pipeline so people can just improve their own lists.
openround.vc
Thinking of releasing our agentic research pipeline so people can just improve their own lists.
openround.vc
Founder mode is more about being excited to work on a project than the hustle culture.
The ‘hustle’ is the passion that doesn’t see 9-5 being the only operational hours.
Regardless of whether you are even in a startup.
Work on something you’re passionate about…
Today, not tomorrow.
The ‘hustle’ is the passion that doesn’t see 9-5 being the only operational hours.
Regardless of whether you are even in a startup.
Work on something you’re passionate about…
Today, not tomorrow.
April 21, 2025 at 5:56 PM
Founder mode is more about being excited to work on a project than the hustle culture.
The ‘hustle’ is the passion that doesn’t see 9-5 being the only operational hours.
Regardless of whether you are even in a startup.
Work on something you’re passionate about…
Today, not tomorrow.
The ‘hustle’ is the passion that doesn’t see 9-5 being the only operational hours.
Regardless of whether you are even in a startup.
Work on something you’re passionate about…
Today, not tomorrow.
If you sell a service, you outline the service, and then clients pay.
If you sell a product, users will ask for 1,001 new things or possibilities…before not purchasing.
Don’t get drawn into thinking you need new features…work out what users want to pay for from the start.
#startuplife
If you sell a product, users will ask for 1,001 new things or possibilities…before not purchasing.
Don’t get drawn into thinking you need new features…work out what users want to pay for from the start.
#startuplife
April 15, 2025 at 8:05 AM
If you sell a service, you outline the service, and then clients pay.
If you sell a product, users will ask for 1,001 new things or possibilities…before not purchasing.
Don’t get drawn into thinking you need new features…work out what users want to pay for from the start.
#startuplife
If you sell a product, users will ask for 1,001 new things or possibilities…before not purchasing.
Don’t get drawn into thinking you need new features…work out what users want to pay for from the start.
#startuplife
You know what’s terrifying, hearing a user say they found you via a GPT search.
Who’s this hype LLM, and how do I thank them!
Who’s this hype LLM, and how do I thank them!
April 3, 2025 at 10:14 PM
You know what’s terrifying, hearing a user say they found you via a GPT search.
Who’s this hype LLM, and how do I thank them!
Who’s this hype LLM, and how do I thank them!
3rd call in a row with seed - growth stage investors complaining about Pre-Seed investors, trying to break down Pre-Seed deals like they are mature companies.
Instead of investing in founders.
Maybe EU investors might help correct their own market…one to watch.
Instead of investing in founders.
Maybe EU investors might help correct their own market…one to watch.
April 1, 2025 at 9:40 AM
3rd call in a row with seed - growth stage investors complaining about Pre-Seed investors, trying to break down Pre-Seed deals like they are mature companies.
Instead of investing in founders.
Maybe EU investors might help correct their own market…one to watch.
Instead of investing in founders.
Maybe EU investors might help correct their own market…one to watch.
- 2025 in a nutshell so far -
“Yeah we aren’t going to build an agent”
…1 hour later…
“100% Agentic will be a much better use case for us.”
#founder #startup #investorrelations
“Yeah we aren’t going to build an agent”
…1 hour later…
“100% Agentic will be a much better use case for us.”
#founder #startup #investorrelations
March 6, 2025 at 4:47 PM
- 2025 in a nutshell so far -
“Yeah we aren’t going to build an agent”
…1 hour later…
“100% Agentic will be a much better use case for us.”
#founder #startup #investorrelations
“Yeah we aren’t going to build an agent”
…1 hour later…
“100% Agentic will be a much better use case for us.”
#founder #startup #investorrelations
Quick hack for founders doing Saturday investor research.
Openround.vc just released a bespoke investor list for startups.
Married with fund lifecycle data + thesis. So you know which investors are actively deploying in your space. Ranked to you.
Get more focused.
#fundraising #vc #foundermode
Openround.vc just released a bespoke investor list for startups.
Married with fund lifecycle data + thesis. So you know which investors are actively deploying in your space. Ranked to you.
Get more focused.
#fundraising #vc #foundermode
Find Active Investors, Specific To Your Startup | OpenRound
Know who is actively deploying in your space. Get personalised investor maps powered with fund lifecycle data plus, thesis summaries. Fundraise smarter today!
Openround.vc
February 15, 2025 at 8:46 AM
Quick hack for founders doing Saturday investor research.
Openround.vc just released a bespoke investor list for startups.
Married with fund lifecycle data + thesis. So you know which investors are actively deploying in your space. Ranked to you.
Get more focused.
#fundraising #vc #foundermode
Openround.vc just released a bespoke investor list for startups.
Married with fund lifecycle data + thesis. So you know which investors are actively deploying in your space. Ranked to you.
Get more focused.
#fundraising #vc #foundermode
Weekend founder mode engaged!
Want to know which VC has cash to invest vs spending your time as they fundraise themselves?
Https://openround.vc just launched bespoke investor lists. Not just where they spent previously; but where funds are pointed now!
#fundraising #founder #vc
Want to know which VC has cash to invest vs spending your time as they fundraise themselves?
Https://openround.vc just launched bespoke investor lists. Not just where they spent previously; but where funds are pointed now!
#fundraising #founder #vc
February 8, 2025 at 10:47 PM
Weekend founder mode engaged!
Want to know which VC has cash to invest vs spending your time as they fundraise themselves?
Https://openround.vc just launched bespoke investor lists. Not just where they spent previously; but where funds are pointed now!
#fundraising #founder #vc
Want to know which VC has cash to invest vs spending your time as they fundraise themselves?
Https://openround.vc just launched bespoke investor lists. Not just where they spent previously; but where funds are pointed now!
#fundraising #founder #vc
Perplexity using R1 is actually a bit evil genius meets university challenge wiz kid.
If our parents semi struggle with the concept like instagram…brains may stop trying to contemplate the unlock currently going on via AI integrations and knowledge summaries.
If our parents semi struggle with the concept like instagram…brains may stop trying to contemplate the unlock currently going on via AI integrations and knowledge summaries.
February 4, 2025 at 7:18 PM
Perplexity using R1 is actually a bit evil genius meets university challenge wiz kid.
If our parents semi struggle with the concept like instagram…brains may stop trying to contemplate the unlock currently going on via AI integrations and knowledge summaries.
If our parents semi struggle with the concept like instagram…brains may stop trying to contemplate the unlock currently going on via AI integrations and knowledge summaries.
Hack for founders to work out if the VC they’re speaking to has cash to deploy or maybe is fundraising themselves…
Fund life cycle data and thesis where available added to @OpenRoundVC ‘s investor database.
#investorrelations #vc #research #shortcut #hack #fundraising
#foundermode
Fund life cycle data and thesis where available added to @OpenRoundVC ‘s investor database.
#investorrelations #vc #research #shortcut #hack #fundraising
#foundermode
February 1, 2025 at 4:58 AM
Hack for founders to work out if the VC they’re speaking to has cash to deploy or maybe is fundraising themselves…
Fund life cycle data and thesis where available added to @OpenRoundVC ‘s investor database.
#investorrelations #vc #research #shortcut #hack #fundraising
#foundermode
Fund life cycle data and thesis where available added to @OpenRoundVC ‘s investor database.
#investorrelations #vc #research #shortcut #hack #fundraising
#foundermode
Love Mondays when you get to deploy an update.
You can now check fund context, including fund lifecycle data to see if the VC you’re speaking to has cash or is maybe out fundraising themselves.
@ openround.vc
You can now check fund context, including fund lifecycle data to see if the VC you’re speaking to has cash or is maybe out fundraising themselves.
@ openround.vc
January 27, 2025 at 11:38 PM
Love Mondays when you get to deploy an update.
You can now check fund context, including fund lifecycle data to see if the VC you’re speaking to has cash or is maybe out fundraising themselves.
@ openround.vc
You can now check fund context, including fund lifecycle data to see if the VC you’re speaking to has cash or is maybe out fundraising themselves.
@ openround.vc
Quick hack to work out whether the VC fund you are talking to has capital to deploy...
Was their last Fund raised in the last 2-3 years, and was its thesis relevant to your startup? Simple.
Beware the zombie fund! 🧟, massive time drain.
#founder #fundraising #investorrelations #vc
Was their last Fund raised in the last 2-3 years, and was its thesis relevant to your startup? Simple.
Beware the zombie fund! 🧟, massive time drain.
#founder #fundraising #investorrelations #vc
January 16, 2025 at 9:58 AM
Quick hack to work out whether the VC fund you are talking to has capital to deploy...
Was their last Fund raised in the last 2-3 years, and was its thesis relevant to your startup? Simple.
Beware the zombie fund! 🧟, massive time drain.
#founder #fundraising #investorrelations #vc
Was their last Fund raised in the last 2-3 years, and was its thesis relevant to your startup? Simple.
Beware the zombie fund! 🧟, massive time drain.
#founder #fundraising #investorrelations #vc
Weird unlock having a newborn with a 3am feed schedule and a start up; is the 90 minutes of work you can log at the same time.
There for the family, in two ways.
🐦 🐦 🪨
#founderlife #dadlife #startuplife
There for the family, in two ways.
🐦 🐦 🪨
#founderlife #dadlife #startuplife
January 10, 2025 at 4:41 AM
Weird unlock having a newborn with a 3am feed schedule and a start up; is the 90 minutes of work you can log at the same time.
There for the family, in two ways.
🐦 🐦 🪨
#founderlife #dadlife #startuplife
There for the family, in two ways.
🐦 🐦 🪨
#founderlife #dadlife #startuplife
Speed is often the most talked about metric, but moving should be the most celebrated.
Moving from 0, actually starting to gain customer traction, becoming revenue generating, pushing that update.
These are the things that start your narrative as a startup.
#founderlife #startupjourney
Moving from 0, actually starting to gain customer traction, becoming revenue generating, pushing that update.
These are the things that start your narrative as a startup.
#founderlife #startupjourney
January 7, 2025 at 3:39 PM
Speed is often the most talked about metric, but moving should be the most celebrated.
Moving from 0, actually starting to gain customer traction, becoming revenue generating, pushing that update.
These are the things that start your narrative as a startup.
#founderlife #startupjourney
Moving from 0, actually starting to gain customer traction, becoming revenue generating, pushing that update.
These are the things that start your narrative as a startup.
#founderlife #startupjourney
Inbox 0 hack for Founders who like to store, keep, and file away...the straggler emails that don't quite find a home at the end of the year.
Create new mailbox (under a zArchive section) "YYYY - Inbox"
Bulk move to new "YYYY - Inbox"
Inbox 0. - ✅
#founderlife #crm #investorrelations
Create new mailbox (under a zArchive section) "YYYY - Inbox"
Bulk move to new "YYYY - Inbox"
Inbox 0. - ✅
#founderlife #crm #investorrelations
December 19, 2024 at 12:41 PM
Inbox 0 hack for Founders who like to store, keep, and file away...the straggler emails that don't quite find a home at the end of the year.
Create new mailbox (under a zArchive section) "YYYY - Inbox"
Bulk move to new "YYYY - Inbox"
Inbox 0. - ✅
#founderlife #crm #investorrelations
Create new mailbox (under a zArchive section) "YYYY - Inbox"
Bulk move to new "YYYY - Inbox"
Inbox 0. - ✅
#founderlife #crm #investorrelations
One thing we all want to do as founders is make sure others know exactly what we are doing and fixing…but frankly they want a snippet to say “so and so is doing XYZ”.
The same is for investors;
narrative = a glimmer of greatness backed by unique insight.
#founderlife #investorrelations
The same is for investors;
narrative = a glimmer of greatness backed by unique insight.
#founderlife #investorrelations
December 11, 2024 at 9:37 PM
One thing we all want to do as founders is make sure others know exactly what we are doing and fixing…but frankly they want a snippet to say “so and so is doing XYZ”.
The same is for investors;
narrative = a glimmer of greatness backed by unique insight.
#founderlife #investorrelations
The same is for investors;
narrative = a glimmer of greatness backed by unique insight.
#founderlife #investorrelations
No greater ‘look’ to spot than a solo parent staring at someone who’s inconsiderately parked in the parent parking space at a supermarket without a kid with them…
Butter.Knife.
Butter.Knife.
December 8, 2024 at 12:19 PM
No greater ‘look’ to spot than a solo parent staring at someone who’s inconsiderately parked in the parent parking space at a supermarket without a kid with them…
Butter.Knife.
Butter.Knife.
Raising $XM, because your competitor did…doesn’t make it market rate.
Your competitor raised that valuation likely due to either:
1) Incredibly detailed insight
2) They had the network/background to make backing it at that valuation possible
#investorrelations #fundraising #startups
Your competitor raised that valuation likely due to either:
1) Incredibly detailed insight
2) They had the network/background to make backing it at that valuation possible
#investorrelations #fundraising #startups
December 3, 2024 at 1:54 PM
Raising $XM, because your competitor did…doesn’t make it market rate.
Your competitor raised that valuation likely due to either:
1) Incredibly detailed insight
2) They had the network/background to make backing it at that valuation possible
#investorrelations #fundraising #startups
Your competitor raised that valuation likely due to either:
1) Incredibly detailed insight
2) They had the network/background to make backing it at that valuation possible
#investorrelations #fundraising #startups
Saying “so if we only achieve 1% of the market we will earn $xM’s”
Isn’t proof you have a solution to win, it’s proof you need to do more research to plan how you might take a small proportion of that 1%.
Fundraising is narrative via insight; not assumption lacking insight.
#investorrelations
Isn’t proof you have a solution to win, it’s proof you need to do more research to plan how you might take a small proportion of that 1%.
Fundraising is narrative via insight; not assumption lacking insight.
#investorrelations
December 2, 2024 at 10:52 AM
Saying “so if we only achieve 1% of the market we will earn $xM’s”
Isn’t proof you have a solution to win, it’s proof you need to do more research to plan how you might take a small proportion of that 1%.
Fundraising is narrative via insight; not assumption lacking insight.
#investorrelations
Isn’t proof you have a solution to win, it’s proof you need to do more research to plan how you might take a small proportion of that 1%.
Fundraising is narrative via insight; not assumption lacking insight.
#investorrelations
True PMF - being multi generational.
i.e my 2 year old daughter walking around with a buzz lightyear.
Pixar nailed it.
i.e my 2 year old daughter walking around with a buzz lightyear.
Pixar nailed it.
November 28, 2024 at 3:45 PM
True PMF - being multi generational.
i.e my 2 year old daughter walking around with a buzz lightyear.
Pixar nailed it.
i.e my 2 year old daughter walking around with a buzz lightyear.
Pixar nailed it.
PROMPT:
INT Day. Crowded room of demon VC’s in a sauna designed like Botticellis rings of hell inspired by Dante’s inferno.
Inspiration: legs out of wood, eyes that aren’t eyes, and sock shoes with no toes…because, you know; sauna.
#VCArt
INT Day. Crowded room of demon VC’s in a sauna designed like Botticellis rings of hell inspired by Dante’s inferno.
Inspiration: legs out of wood, eyes that aren’t eyes, and sock shoes with no toes…because, you know; sauna.
#VCArt
November 27, 2024 at 11:57 PM
PROMPT:
INT Day. Crowded room of demon VC’s in a sauna designed like Botticellis rings of hell inspired by Dante’s inferno.
Inspiration: legs out of wood, eyes that aren’t eyes, and sock shoes with no toes…because, you know; sauna.
#VCArt
INT Day. Crowded room of demon VC’s in a sauna designed like Botticellis rings of hell inspired by Dante’s inferno.
Inspiration: legs out of wood, eyes that aren’t eyes, and sock shoes with no toes…because, you know; sauna.
#VCArt
Are we moving away from winner take all in tech? And shifting to winner take a generation?
Baby Boomers - email
Gen X - Facebook
Millenials - Instagram/whatsapp/discord et al.
Gen Z - keeping Snapchat alive as a communication method.
Seems like a shift to me.
Baby Boomers - email
Gen X - Facebook
Millenials - Instagram/whatsapp/discord et al.
Gen Z - keeping Snapchat alive as a communication method.
Seems like a shift to me.
November 27, 2024 at 11:09 AM
Are we moving away from winner take all in tech? And shifting to winner take a generation?
Baby Boomers - email
Gen X - Facebook
Millenials - Instagram/whatsapp/discord et al.
Gen Z - keeping Snapchat alive as a communication method.
Seems like a shift to me.
Baby Boomers - email
Gen X - Facebook
Millenials - Instagram/whatsapp/discord et al.
Gen Z - keeping Snapchat alive as a communication method.
Seems like a shift to me.
Pitchdecks won’t get you funding, having deep insight into a solution will.
Articulating a unique insight into a problem space that is large enough for venture math. That’s step 1.
Step 2, having a strong enough team to build conviction.
Step 3, scale.
Articulating a unique insight into a problem space that is large enough for venture math. That’s step 1.
Step 2, having a strong enough team to build conviction.
Step 3, scale.
November 26, 2024 at 2:36 PM
Pitchdecks won’t get you funding, having deep insight into a solution will.
Articulating a unique insight into a problem space that is large enough for venture math. That’s step 1.
Step 2, having a strong enough team to build conviction.
Step 3, scale.
Articulating a unique insight into a problem space that is large enough for venture math. That’s step 1.
Step 2, having a strong enough team to build conviction.
Step 3, scale.