Hi friends!
I'm trying something new for my weekly newsletter. Rather than a copy-paste of my most recent essay that I already published on my website, you can expect updates following a consistent format: (1) quick life updates (2) things about VC, startups, the creator economy, or the metaverse (3) links to interesting things I’ve stumbled upon. My goal with this newsletter is to write more consistently and get my creative juices flowing again.
Quick update: Last week I finished a five-week writing course called Write of Passage. Let me tell you—this course changed the way I viewed writing. I came in having constant writer’s block while staring at a blank page and feeling the need to edit everything I write down along the way. I was a paralyzed perfectionist. I came out writing what I already knew and interested me in a way that it feels like having a conversation.
The mindset shift was game-changing.
It made me resurrect this newsletter after a year of not writing online at all. Now here I am, ready to share.
Community Rounds
A few weeks ago, I wrote an essay about how startups should consider raising a community round. Last week, the community round platform, WeFunder, launched communityround.com to help educate more startups about raising a community round in addition to traditional VC rounds.
Levels is one of those startups that was able to raise $5M in under 6 hours by sending one email to their existing customers. Now that’s fast! Even at the speed startups move. Here's a video from their Head of Legal about the experience.
If you or anyone you know has a startup and is interested in learning more about it, please reach out. I'd be happy to help and answer any questions you may have.
The Metaverse
Credit: CB Insights, April 2022
CB Insights released a new research brief about how the metaverse could be tech’s next trillion-dollar opportunity. The brief breaks down the different layers of the metaverse: infrastructure (network & computing), access/interface (hardware), virtualization tools, virtual worlds, economic infrastructure, and experiences.
As a VR startup founder, I'm particularly excited about how so many folks are seeing the opportunity in this space. The metaverse is much more than virtual worlds, NFTs, and crypto! Check the article out.
The “Minimum Viable Lift” (MVL)
Credit: Unsplash
At the end of 2020, I gave myself a personal challenge to write 100 words each day for 100 days. I stopped on day 16. I realized how difficult it was to create consistently and keep the momentum going.
After five weeks of Write of Passage, I feared I would fall into the same pattern. That I would lose the momentum to continue writing, editing, and publishing every week.
This time, I’m taking a different approach.
When my momentum falls to a standstill, I’m asking myself what is my “Minimum Viable Lift” (MVL) to get me writing again? Perhaps it’s writing an atomic essay that’s 250 words or less. Or posting a thread on Twitter. Or spending 25 minutes writing whatever comes to mind. Maybe it’s all of them. Whatever it is, my MVL will bring me back on track.
What’s your MVL?
Next week, I'm starting a new writing course called Ship30for30 where I'll write one atomic essay (250 words) per day for 30 days. I'm committed to making this online writing thing a habit. Please help keep me accountable! If you're interested in following my journey, I'll be posting my essays on Twitter. You can also join me! Here’s my affiliate link if so. 😉
Chat with you all next week!
Cheers,
Neilda
Love the format Neilda. Great job on this week’s edition!