Bipul Sinha

During yesterday's LibreQoS APNIC webinar, I posed the question: won't more bandwidth solve these problems? As Herbert Wolverson said, yes, more bandwidth is good, but, still these problems remain if queueing is done incorrectly. Here's my take on why bandwidth alone is not as good as bandwidth + good queueing policies: Generally it was believed that 'data is important, so don't throw it away; hang on to it and send it later'. In practice, this has proven to be suboptimal as two issues may emerge: 1) latency increases for some flows due to heavy demand from other flows using the same bottleneck link, 2) even a single flow can have excessive latency due to aspects of typical TCP behavior (referred to bufferbloat) when the buffers grew large enough that the data being buffered was retransmitted anyway. It turns out that not all data is equally important. Active Queue Management is the art of deciding priorities, both in deciding what data to throw away, but also in allowing some later arriving data to be transmitted ahead of data in another connection that arrived before it. These problems have been studied, and good solutions have been found by using certain queueing policies in routers and switches, referred to as “fq_codel’ and “cake”. These track the different flows not by classifying the data, but by watching the behavior. Flows that send relatively little data (DNS lookups), or at a measured pace (video chat) have priority over flows that send a lot of data as quickly as possible (App and System updates, Video and ISO downloads).

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I had a lot of fun recording a podcast episode with Shiva Singh Sangwan. We discussed the evolution of Humba Ventures & Susa Ventures; tips for raising and building a fund; how to improve investment sourcing & picking; the role of luck in investing, and so on. https://lnkd.in/eiqsStej

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I first met Mike Maples, Jr in 2010, when Founders Network was just an idea. Over the years, Mike and his team at Floodgate (special shoutout to Arjun Chopra) have been great mentors, sharing their insights and guiding our founders. Most recently, their advice played a pivotal role in helping us launch Founders Network Fund. Today, Mike shared the key ideas with FN'ers from his new book Pattern Breakers (https://a.co/d/buKBd5O ), which explores the insights he’s gained from backing companies like Twitter, Twitch, and Okta -- and which put him on the Forbes Midas List 8x. This is the most important book on startups in the last ten years, according to Steve Blank. My notes on the key concepts of his talk: 1) Inflections – "not a trend but a change event that represents a turning point in our ability to provide empowerment." e.g. The GPS chip in iPhone 4s 2) Insights – "a non-consensus and right insight about the future that's powerful and non obvious and leverages inflections." e.g. Lyft = GPS + strangers driving you 3) Founder future fit – "Living in the future before other people live in the future and then try to build what's missing in the future." If you're a founder, check out the book. Grateful for the impact Mike and Arjun continue to have on both me and the Founders Network community!

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Looking forward to meeting women entrepreneurs who are on their journey to create some pathbreaking ideas and inspiring others to do the same. #advaitawomenentrepreneurs #womeninbusiness #entrepreneurship #womenentrepreneurs #EmpowerWomen #womenleaders #businesswomen

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Worth reading: Situationsl Awareness by Leopold Aschenbrenner PDF : https://lnkd.in/gkxQ3yMD Web site: https://lnkd.in/gyJUCBhb Interesting perspective, time of course will tell.

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In an era where innovation outpaces regulation, how can entrepreneurs embed social responsibility into the DNA of their startups? 🌐💡 Recent conversations and insightful pieces, particularly one by Lyel Resner and Dr. Wilneida Negrón, have sparked a profound consideration in my thinking: the imperative for responsible innovation in tech ventures. They posit a tantalizing question - what if the tech giants of tomorrow were built on the foundations of public interest and social responsibility today? Diving into this thought experiment reveals more than just an ethical proposition; it opens up a paradigm where businesses can be both profitable and purposeful. Embedding social responsibility from the outset could guide ventures to prioritize long-term societal well-being over short-term gains. Imagine a future where companies are not just evaluated by their financial performance but also by their contribution to solving societal issues. The notion is ambitious but certainly not unattainable. This approach challenges us as entrepreneurs, investors, and innovators to rethink our roles in shaping the future of technology. It's a call to action to pioneer a new wave of responsible businesses that are equipped to address, rather than exacerbate, global challenges. Let’s discuss: How can we as part of the startup ecosystem integrate these principles into our work from day zero? Your thoughts could light up paths not yet traveled. 🚀🌍

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Looking forward to diving into the state of the late-stage venture market at TechCrunch Disrupt next week with Karthik Subramanian. With late-stage companies facing tougher paths to exit, we’ll be debating whether the market is actually rebounding, sharing our thoughts on the outlook for future IPOs, and discussing how founders can navigate these shifting dynamics. Hope to see you there! #TCDisrupt #VC

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Wow, great stuff on this first episode. I got the run down from Ataes Aggarwal and Arya Satish, and I see that critically important business and life topics will be covered in this podcast series. Follow, tune in, and spread the word. PSA: Some super thoughtful and practical content to be had here with this podcast. 🙌

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Fascinating conversation with James Joaquin + Vinod Khosla on venture, founders and investing with intention for returns and a positive future. With a fun bit on the “shoes of AI”.

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PE - 3 ideas for the next 3 years - just like every traditional company needs to be a SaaS company, every SaaS company needs to ultimately be an AI company - ramp up revenue growth but always protect the profits - today is the time to innovate (i.e. not re-invent) your business model & strategy - importantly, this applies not only to PE portfolio companies but also to PE firms to get the best IRR --- #pe #privateequity #business #strategy #saas

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How companies purchase software is rapidly evolving, with cloud marketplaces expected to reach $100B in 2026, up from $15B in 2023. Simply put, if you are building and selling cloud software today, it's imperative that you can sell through a cloud marketplace. The journey, however, can be a little confusing, and management can be even harder. With 3x growth last year and 3/4th of our business now flowing through a cloud marketplace, CloudZero switched to Clazar earlier this year to handle our rapid growth, and I couldn't be more thrilled. Trunal B. and Aayush Bahuguna have a big vision for how cloud marketplaces will evolve and how software will be bought and sold in the future. No matter where you are on your journey, learning from them what's coming next is worth your time.

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Great Insights from Vinod Khosla's Talk on Investor Value: 🔸 90% of Investors add No value, and 70% actually add negative value. Real value comes from experience, not credentials. 1. Simply having an MBA or working at a venture firm doesn’t qualify someone to guide entrepreneurs. 2. Those who haven't built a large company or gone through the uncertainties and traumas of entrepreneurship are often unqualified to advise. 3. If you’ve never been in the trenches making tough trade-offs, you can’t effectively help an entrepreneur. 🔸 Pick investors who can help – not those just with experience in stability. 4. Investors who are comfortable with uncertainty and first-principles thinking. 5. Look for investors who prioritize learning and adaptability over rigid experience. 6. Do not choose an investor who only understands incremental change, not disruptive innovation. Khosla’s Final Advice to Entrepreneurs: 7. Don’t Overvalue Experience: Just because someone has worked in a big company or has a prestigious title doesn’t mean they’re equipped to handle the fast-moving, unpredictable nature of startups. 8. Look for Problem Solvers: Investors who can deconstruct challenges to their fundamental components and find creative solutions are more valuable than those offering "tried and tested" advice that doesn’t fit your unique situation. 9. Adaptability Over Stability: The best investors will challenge your thinking, help you discover new approaches, and aren’t afraid of making bold decisions—just like you need to be as an entrepreneur. Apply first principles when choosing. Choose wisely!! https://lnkd.in/gV6rG6NJ #FirstPrinciplesThinking #Entrepreneurship#StartupAdvice #InvestorInsights #LearningOverExperience #BoldDecisions

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🔑 The Power of a Written Exercise in Interviewing Revenue Leaders 📝 Hiring the right revenue leader can make or break an organization. As we search for smart folks to drive our revenue growth at Vanta, one approach has consistently proven to be a game-changer: the written exercise. 🔍 Why a Written Exercise? Clarity of Thought: A well designed exercise reveals a candidate's ability to articulate complex ideas clearly and concisely. This skill is vital for revenue leaders who must communicate strategies across diverse teams and stakeholders. Strategic Insight: Through real-world scenarios, candidates demonstrate their strategic thinking and problem-solving abilities. This helps us gauge their approach to challenges and opportunities unique to our business. Analytical Prowess: Written exercises allow candidates to showcase their analytical skills. By dissecting data and presenting actionable insights, we can see how they drive decisions that lead to growth. Cultural Fit: How a candidate approaches a written task can also give us a glimpse into their work ethic, attention to detail, and alignment with our company values and culture. Elliot Goldwater has really nailed this practice, and it's incredible how much the exercise can swing a process towards or away from a candidate. 👥 Have you implemented written exercises in your hiring process? What has been your experience? #RevenueGrowth #Leadership #HiringTrends #Interviewing #TalentAcquisition #Strategy

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DePIN & RWAs dominance isn't as far off as most people think. Across every innovative cycle, three fundamental pillars emerge: foundational technology development, proliferation of infrastructure, and a surge in application development. As we venture into the third cycle, DePIN and RWA protocols are poised to become market leaders paralleling the dominance witnessed by infrastructure projects from 2015 to 2024.

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PE - AI & the Future of GTM at PE-backed Portfolio Companies AI for GTM (sales, marketing, CS) can transform business operations, enhance customer experiences, and drive growth at PE backed portfolio companies. The significance of AI technology is in its potential to address human resource challenges, streamline sales processes, and elevate overall efficiency in an increasingly digital marketplace. The Future of GTM at PE-backed Companies: - AI is the Future of GTM: the integration of AI is shifting traditional sales roles (and CS), making processes more efficient - Option for Buyers: AI acting as an efficient sales or CS rep will be an option, but not required and buyers can still talk to the person - AI Can Function Like Reps: as virtual sales or customer success or support reps - Real-Time Learning: AI can process data to create detailed buyer profiles instantly - Enhanced Buyer Experience: The AI engages buyers with accurate, immediate responses, improving satisfaction - Cognitive Abilities: AI acting as a sales rep will possess advanced memory and cognition skills, allowing them to recall past interactions and adjust their approach based on prior conversations, enhancing personalization - Behavioral Shift: B2B buyer behavior is evolving, with buyers increasingly comfortable or even preferring to interact with AI for pre-sales information and support, potentially shifting preferences away from human SDRs and AEs (and CS reps) at least in the initial stages of engagement Business Impact: - Competitive Necessity: Companies that delay adopting AI risk falling behind competitors who leverage these technologies to optimize their go-to-market strategies - Business Growth: GTM AI helps PE-backed companies tackle talent challenges effectively - Cost-Effective: AI solutions can significantly reduce hiring costs while maintaining service quality - First-Mover Advantage: companies adopting AI technologies early can gain a competitive edge. - Efficiency Gains: AI can streamline sales processes by handling repetitive tasks, allowing human reps to focus on complex deals - this shift can lead to significant productivity improvements - Data Integration: AI will pull from various data sources (including your CRM and Marketing Automation System), ensuring that they have the most current and relevant information to assist customers effectively - Tailored Training: AI can be trained on specific sales methodologies, providing flexibility in approach and enhancing their effectiveness in various selling scenarios - Long-Term Investment: Investing in AI technology now will yield long-term benefits as these systems continue to learn and improve, becoming more integral to business operations. ------------------ #pe #privateequity #tech #ceo #cro #saas #gtm #growth #middlemarket #boardofdirectors #board #revenue #revenuegrowth #investing #investment #finance #business

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In this episode, Amit Raja Naik chats with Spencer Kimball, Co-founder & CEO of Cockroach Labs, to uncover how CockroachDB is reshaping database architecture with unmatched resilience and scalability. ✅ The evolution of cloud-native databases ✅ Challenges and wins in scaling a tech startup ✅ Spencer’s take on the future of distributed systems 📌 If you're into tech innovation, this episode is a must-watch - https://lnkd.in/gfa8QpNA 🔔 Like, comment, and subscribe for more insights from the brightest minds in tech! #CockroachLabs #TechTalks #CloudDatabases #TechInnovation #DistributedSystems

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Founderville believes one of the most significant opportunities is emerging in legacy system applications. We look for manual tasks to leverage AI for efficient automation. Rather than chasing massive TAM, which will be addressed by larger VCs, we focus on smaller market domains that won't be chased as hard. Think of "boring" processes that require human intervention or manualized tasks. Those are opportunities. Keep your eyes open if you have deep domain expertise in a non-automated and fragmented industry. #entrepreneurs #venturecapital #startups #saas

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