Accepting venture money raises expectations. You have a company plan to deliver, targets to hit and hard choices about where to spend time and money.
Sales, finance, product and people leaders share that responsibility. Each faces different decisions, with the same pressure to deliver. Experience from someone who has worked through a similar problem can help you consider what to try and what to avoid.
FounderNexus is now Venture Executive Network (VEN), an operational support community for leadership teams of venture-backed companies. We help you make better-informed decisions and execute at venture speed and scale.
What we learned through FounderNexus
FounderNexus brought founders together to share what they tried, what happened and what they would change. A useful session can still arrive at the wrong time, so we learned to start with each member's top one or two priorities. Through the Nexus Partner role, we arranged support around those needs.
Members asked whether their leadership colleagues could get the same support. We expanded the community to include those leaders. Venture Executive Network describes who we serve today.
How VEN supports venture-backed leadership teams
Your Nexus Partner
Each member has a Nexus Partner who gets to know their responsibilities and priorities. In a 15-minute monthly call, you discuss your top one or two challenges, what you have tried and what is in the way.
Your Partner helps arrange the right peer sessions, 1:1 conversations, introductions and resources. They share context before an introduction and follow up on what helped and what you need next. You can ask for additional support between check-ins as your work changes.
Peer sessions
Peer sessions bring small groups together around a current challenge. We match participants by topic and operating experience so you can compare how others handled a similar problem and what they would change. You bring your own experience, too.
We form sessions around members' current deliverables and arrange timing around your needs and availability. A typical peer session lasts about 60 minutes.
Peer 1:1s
A peer 1:1 gives you time to work through the details with one other leader. Your Nexus Partner can help find someone with experience relevant to your question, so you can explore their approach and discuss your own situation.
Operational advisors
Our operational advisors have built companies and led functions. They bring experience in areas including sales, product and technology, finance and hiring.
Advisors join peer sessions or meet with you 1:1 when their experience fits your question. Your Nexus Partner helps arrange the connection. Introductions depend on fit and availability.
Suppose a large customer asks for custom work that would delay a promised release. You bring the question to your Partner, who could arrange a peer 1:1 or involve an operational advisor. You compare how they weighed the revenue, roadmap and customer commitments before making your own call.
You decide what to act on. VEN complements your board, coach and existing peer network. Each leader joins individually, with their own Nexus Partner and priorities.
What this means for current members
Your Nexus Partner support, sessions, billing, membership terms and login process stay the same. Keep bringing your current challenges to your Partner. If a colleague could use the support, you can introduce them.
Tell us what you're working on
Companies must have raised at least $1M from venture capital. Eligible prospects receive two free trial sessions.
Tell us your role and one current challenge. We can talk about whether VEN fits your work.
The form is an inquiry. Membership has a separate individual application.