EP 84: The Mike Maples Interview: How a legendary VC finds the best startups and founders

In this insightful interview, Mike Maples, renowned VC and author of "Pattern Breakers," shares his wisdom on what makes startups thrive. We dive deep into the patterns of successful founders, the mission behind Elon Musk’s Cybertruck, and why you shouldn’t try to think of a startup idea. Mike also offers a compelling perspective on the transformative power of AI and why timing is the most challenging aspect to get right in the startup world. We also discuss Silicon Valley’s evolving political landscape, Meta’s challenges, and essential advice for both fund managers and founders. Show notes:(0:00) Intro(3:19) The genesis of Mike's book: Pattern Breakers(7:35) Patterns of successful startups(12:15) Common thread between great founders(14:38) Elon Musk's Cybertruck: Mision vs Practicality (16:02) BEST startup insight: Don't try to think of a startup(23:10) LLM startups as edge cases(26:48) AI is a sea change(30:11) Timing is the hardest thing to get right(34:02) Silicon Valley’s political shift(44:38) Meta can’t win with either political side(46:16) Advice for fund managers(51:29) Advice for foundersOther episodes you might enjoy:EP 74 - How To Fix Google's WOKE AI DisasterEP 63 - Lessons From Networking In Silicon ValleyEP 59 - Why We Moved to London, The Elon Musk Book, Should You Get An MBA