Here are the best things I read, watched, or listened to last week.

#1 Cause of Startup Death? ☠️ Read or die!

Founder Wrapped just Dropped 😂 Better than Spotify!

Nobody Talks about Founder Market Fit 🍵 You should be.

A Gift List for the person who won’t stop talking about the Martha Stewart Doc 🤣 From the mind of Nate Rosen

Burn Is Dead, Profitability Is King: Navigating the VC Game in 2025

Hey everyone,

Let’s talk about money—specifically, VC money. The landscape is shifting fast, and if you’re raising capital in 2025, you need to know what you’re walking into. Spoiler: It’s not all doom and gloom, but you’ve gotta bring your A-game. Here’s the scoop:

💰 Smaller Checks, Bigger Expectations
VCs are being choosier than ever. That means:

• Your pitch has to be airtight (no fluff, just facts).

• Traction > Vision. They want to see proof you can scale, not just hear about your "game-changing idea."

• Profitable growth is the new sexy. Burn rates are out; efficient scaling is in.

🎯 AI, Climate, and FinTech Are Hot

• AI is still the darling of VCs, but niche use cases (like AI in healthcare or education) are getting more attention.

• Climate tech is booming as funds align with ESG goals. If you’re solving a big sustainability problem, VCs are all ears.

• FinTech is evolving—no one wants another basic payments platform, but innovative takes on financial inclusion are 🔥.

🚀 Founder-VC Relationships Are Key

• Cold emails? Meh. Warm intros? 💯. Your network is more important than ever—build it before you need it.

• VCs aren’t just cutting checks; they’re asking: “Can I actually help this team succeed?” Don’t just sell your company—sell your ability to collaborate.

📉 Seed Rounds Are Shrinking

• Rounds are smaller but still happening. Expect valuations to be lower and terms to favor investors.

• Pro tip: Focus on milestone-based fundraising. Show progress and unlock more capital as you go.

The TL;DR: This is not the year to wing it. Nail your fundamentals, build relationships, and show that you can thrive in a tougher market. As always, the best founders will rise to the top.

Now go get that bag. 🤑

Cheers,
Steve

Who Better to Learn From Than Founders Who’ve Already Been There?

Growth isn’t about working harder—it’s about finally seeing what you’re missing.

Workspace6 connects you with 7, 8, and 9-figure founders who’ve already solved the challenges keeping you stuck.

They’ll show you the plays you haven’t run, the mistakes you don’t have to make, and the shortcuts you didn’t know existed. It’s not guesswork when you’re surrounded by people who’ve been there and scaled past it.

Inside Workspace6, you’ll operate with clarity, confidence, and a network that pushes you to win. The only thing standing between you and your next breakthrough? Getting in the room.

Your first 30 days? Just $1. After that, $99/month.

Small price. Massive upside. Ready to unlock what’s next?

Join Workspace6 Now

That’s it for this week! Thanks for reading this far.

Peace 👋

Steve

Founder Tenzo & Commerce Chronicles

PS: If you made it this far, feel free to share it with friends!

PSS: If you want to sponsor Commerce Chronicles - we’re offering extremely good starting rates. Hit me up!