In the (slightly odd) words of VC supremo and podcaster Harry Stebbings: “Don’t dilute the chance to relationship-build.”
Admittedly, he wasn’t tweeting about love — it was something to do with startup team building — but we should heed the sentiment on Valentine’s Day.
As it’s time for some warm outreach to that special founder in your life, we’ve pulled together a list of gift ideas, including everything from listening to their podcast to touching grass.
Maximise shareholder value
Like any startup, a relationship requires serious investment if it’s to have any hope of working out. Why not demonstrate your market value with a highly-detailed slideshow on everything you’ve brought to the relationship.
Support their thought leadership
Your founder partner has gone out on a limb on LinkedIn with a passionate essay on how to optimise the sales funnel. Yes, it’s cringe — but it’s a good day to dish out thumbs-up reactions freely.
Listen to their podcast
Your partner is proud of a new podcast interview on how they overcame the odds to get to $1m ARR. Humour them and listen to it (ideally on 2x speed).
Use AI to clone yourself
What about personalising an AI chatbot so that it's a digi-clone of you? An AI double makes a thoughtful gift, “so that even when you don't see your partner for days because they’re working too much, you can still talk to them,” says UK-based founder and investor Hailey Eustace.
Tech-assisted sex
Tech is ruining sex — think of all the Netflix watching and iPhone scrolling you do when you could be doing something else. But tech may ultimately save sex. One example: drone-delivered condoms in Ireland. A founder would appreciate this effort.
Touch grass at an ‘unplugged cabin’
Take the founder somewhere with no laptop charging points (it’s called “nature”). “Probably best to get them a night at that ‘unplugged cabin’ where they can’t be on their phone. Might be grounds for divorce though,” suggests Isabel Woodford, ex-Sifted colleague turned star Financial Times columnist.
A bridge loan
No further explanation required, it’s tough out there.
With thanks to Barcelona-based PR guru Christopher Spillane, who suggested this idea.
