Everybody Hates Fintech

I’m pretty sure I made this same meme a few years ago about the exact opposite of this. Fintech was hot and that would have been the best time to be investing in AI. Now AI is hot and it’s the best time to be investing in…?

It’s not the hype around AI that has snapped me into that conclusion as much as how everyone is out on Fintech right now. Consumer Fintech even more so. A company named Tally, a once almost-unicorn who had raised +$150M from Andreessen and others, shut down yesterday and feels like a good characterization of the scene. I’ve heard of similar woes from founders raising for anything besides AI, but Fintech seems to be getting especially less love.

This isn’t new commentary. It’s hard out there for not-AI. It’s also August.

The helpful point - if you have the stones for it - is that this is typically a good time to go the opposite direction. Fintech companies that survive today may be hot tomorrow.

Maybe it’s not Fintech, but historically it feels like it’s probably not AI. At least in the early stages.

[Insert exceptions and mental side-stepping here as you see fit]

Investing is hard, but like I said - it’s worth taking a moment to check in on your zig-zag vs. zag-zig strategy.

Sandhill Exclusive Content 

New LIVE Event Tomorrow 👇

Join us for an in-depth discussion on Tomorrow, August 14, at 12 PM ET on India's vibrant early-stage startup ecosystem. Here’s a bit more on our three panelists:

• ​Sajith Pai VC @ Blume Ventures, India - Sajith is a Partner with Blume Ventures, a leading Indian seed fund. At Blume Sajith covers India consumer and India B2B (Classplus, Leverage Edu are notable portcos). He is also known for his writings hosted at sajithpai.com and the indusvalleyreport.com

• ​Kushal Bhagia Founder @ All In Capital - Kushal is the Founder and CEO of All In Capital, an early-stage VC firm focused on backing innovative startups. Previously the CEO of FirstCheque, Kushal is a key figure in India's venture capital scene, known for his sharp investment insight and commitment to empowering entrepreneurs.

• ​Anmol Maini Co Founder @ Untitled Ventures - Anmol is the co-founder and partner at Untitled Ventures - an early stage venture fund investing in Indian founders. He has previously worked as an engineer with Startups in the US and writes a newsletter on the Indian startup ecosystem.

Looking ahead to September 👀

​​Hear from a few crazy young founders who went straight from high school and headed for the startup big leagues! ​Join us live on Wednesday, September 4th at 3 PM EST to delve into the fascinating journeys of two young multi-time founders, Samuel Hall, Founder @ Wafer and ​Henry Kutrieb, Founder @ KickBot.

​After graduating from the same high school, they bypassed traditional routes and transitioned straight into entrepreneurship, and the rest is history! Shoutout to the team at Sacra for putting these together.

Curious about YC’s Newly Announce Fall Cohort 👀

Missed our conversation last week? Check out the recording below. Walter Chen and I sat down to discuss some of the biggest news in Venture—YC’s first-ever fall cohort.

Talk soon,
Adam

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