How do you stay current with your VC portfolio's sectors? Task complete?

1 Follow the leaders

One of the best ways to learn about your VC portfolio's sectors is to follow the leaders and influencers who are shaping them. These could be founders, executives, analysts, journalists, bloggers, podcasters, or researchers who have deep expertise and insights into the sectors you are interested in. You can follow them on social media platforms like Twitter, LinkedIn, or Clubhouse, subscribe to their newsletters or podcasts, or read their blogs or books. By following the leaders, you can get access to their opinions, insights, tips, recommendations, and predictions that can help you understand the opportunities and challenges in your VC portfolio's sectors.

2 Use sector-specific platforms

Another way to stay current with your VC portfolio's sectors is to use sector-specific platforms that aggregate and curate relevant content and data for you. These platforms can help you discover and filter the most important news, trends, research, reports, events, and resources that are related to your VC portfolio's sectors. Some examples of sector-specific platforms are CB Insights, PitchBook, Crunchbase, Sifted, TechCrunch, and VentureBeat. You can also use platforms like Feedly, Flipboard, or Pocket to create your own personalized feeds based on your interests and preferences.

3 Join online communities

A third way to stay current with your VC portfolio's sectors is to join online communities where you can interact with other people who share your passion and curiosity for the sectors you are investing in. Online communities can be a great source of information, feedback, advice, support, and inspiration for your VC portfolio's sectors. You can join online communities on platforms like Reddit, Quora, Hacker News, Product Hunt, or Indie Hackers, or on niche forums, groups, or networks that are dedicated to your VC portfolio's sectors. By joining online communities, you can ask questions, share insights, learn from others, and build relationships with potential partners, customers, or mentors.

4 Attend events and webinars

A fourth way to stay current with your VC portfolio's sectors is to attend events and webinars that are relevant to your VC portfolio's sectors. Events and webinars can help you learn from experts, network with peers, discover new opportunities, and get inspired by the latest innovations and best practices in your VC portfolio's sectors. You can attend events and webinars online or offline, depending on your availability and preferences. Some examples of events and webinars that are relevant to your VC portfolio's sectors are TechCrunch Disrupt, SaaStr, Web Summit, Startup Grind, and Y Combinator Demo Day.

5 Talk to your portfolio companies

A fifth way to stay current with your VC portfolio's sectors is to talk to your portfolio companies regularly and learn from their experiences, challenges, and achievements. Your portfolio companies are the ones who are living and breathing the sectors you are investing in, and they can provide you with valuable insights, feedback, and data that can help you understand the market conditions, customer needs, and competitive advantages in your VC portfolio's sectors. You can talk to your portfolio companies through calls, emails, reports, or meetings, and ask them questions, offer them support, and celebrate their successes.

6 Learn new skills and concepts

A sixth way to stay current with your VC portfolio's sectors is to learn new skills and concepts that are relevant to your VC portfolio's sectors. As a venture capitalist, you need to have a broad and deep knowledge of the sectors you are investing in, and that means you need to constantly update and expand your skill set and conceptual framework. You can learn new skills and concepts by taking online courses, reading books, watching videos, or listening to podcasts that cover topics related to your VC portfolio's sectors. Some examples of skills and concepts that are relevant to your VC portfolio's sectors are data science, artificial intelligence, blockchain, design thinking, and growth hacking.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?