Startups, Steer or Sink: Welcome to the Brackish Era
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In this special edition of KP Unpacked, Jeff and KP dive into the heart of KP’s viral Sunday Scaries post: Brackish Waters – The Startup Survival Zone.
KP breaks down why traditional lines between VC and PE are blurring — and what it means for how startups should build, fund, and scale in today’s climate. From hybrid capital models to real-world disruption via AI and robotics, this episode is a must-listen for founders, investors, and corporate leaders alike.
You’ll hear:
- What “brackish waters” really mean for capital strategy
- Why VC volatility and PE predictability are no longer your only options
- How firms like General Catalyst and Thrive Capital are changing the game
- Case studies like Lumina’s new playbook for AI-powered M&A
- Why this might be the most important episode we’ve ever recorded
💡 Bonus: KP reveals how some of the biggest wins in the next decade will come from founders who know how to steer in murky waters.
👇 Resources Mentioned:
- KP’s Sunday Scaries Post
- Catalyst Community - Join the Conversation
- Book by KP Reddy - Creating the Intangible Enterprise
Sounds like you? Join the waitlist at https://kpreddy.co/
Check out one of our Catalyst conversation starters, AEC Needs More High-Agency Thinkers
Hope to see you there!
Chapters
1. Introduction to KP Unpacked (00:00:00)
2. Origins of Sunday Scaries (00:01:40)
3. Comparing Startup and Corporate Books (00:05:27)
4. Brackish Waters: The Startup Survival Zone (00:09:04)
5. VC as Saltwater Oceans: Unpredictability (00:16:10)
6. PE as Freshwater: The Predictable Flow (00:22:00)
7. The Trillion Dollar Opportunity Explained (00:26:54)
8. Case Study: Lumina's Innovative Approach (00:34:25)
9. Corporate Disruption Through Acquisition (00:42:15)
10. The New AI-Enabled Business Models (00:49:10)
11. Key Takeaways and Future Outlook (00:52:30)
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