The Goldman Sachs 5% Formula
#124 Angelinvesting.it - From idea to Series A - Weekly Newsletter
3 minutes to reflect
The CEO of Goldman Sachs drops this: "It used to take 6 people and 2 weeks to prepare an initial prospectus for a company's IPO. Now 95% of the work is done by AI in minutes."
Nothing shocking there. But then he continues: "That 5% the machine can't do? That's everything that matters now."
For an investment banker, that 5% is the Rolodex built over decades. It's reading between the lines when a CEO says "we're exploring options." It's knowing exactly when to push and when to pull back in a negotiation.
My 5%? Building an authentic network that money can't buy. Relationships where founders call me first with their next idea. Where I can make one introduction and unlock a Series A round.
**Here's the question that will define your next decade: What's your 5%?
Is it your eye for design that turns good into unforgettable? Your ability to make a nervous client feel like they're talking to their best friend? Your knack for seeing patterns where others see chaos?
Figure it out. Then use AI to make that 5% absolutely unstoppable. While everyone else panics about being replaced, you'll be becoming irreplaceable.
2 resources to advance to pro
SEO? No GEO
A16Z VC predicts Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) will become an $80+ billion industry. Here's why: your customers aren't googling anymore - they're asking ChatGPT "What's the best CRM for a 50-person startup?" and getting 3 specific recommendations without clicking a single link. SEO optimized for Google's algorithm; GEO optimizes for how AI agents discover and recommend your product. The companies cracking this code now will own their categories when AI becomes the default way people find solutions. Check the full article: https://a16z.com/geo-over-seo/
Just as a reminder: AI is mainly about energy. We really have an issue!
1 reason to smile (for me)
Peace and love from Ibiza 🕶️🌞
Have a great weekend,
Simone