I'm John Donboli, and friends and colleagues call me JD. I live in San Diego, California. I am a business owner and a student of venture capital and startup investing.

Where I am today

I am building toward an investment practice focused on early-stage companies. I want to be clear about that phrase: it describes a direction, not a track record. This site is where I develop and share my thinking in public, so that it can be tested and improved by people who know the field.

What I write about

My writing covers the practical mechanics of early-stage investing: how I evaluate an early-stage startup, why power laws shape venture returns, how SAFEs, notes and priced rounds differ, and a first-pass due diligence checklist. I also write about brand building and working with creators.

In conversation

A free series for first-time founders

I also created The First Raise Series, a free six-part learning series that walks first-time founders through whether to raise money, what investors look for, and how a first raise works.

How to reach me

If you are a founder, an investor, or someone working on venture and startup topics and would like to compare notes, use the contact page or find me on LinkedIn.