Partner intelligence
Fred Wilson
Partner · Union Square Ventures
Fred Wilson invests at Union Square Ventures.
The research behind this profile
57public sources read
Updated 2026-09-19
- 38Interviews
- 10Podcasts
- 6Other sources
- 1Official pages
- 1Writing
How a memo for Fred is made
- 01
Investor profile
Partner intelligence built from Fred's talks, podcasts, writing and portfolio.
- What they look for in founders
- How they make decisions
- Communication style
- Thesis and red flags
- Portfolio patterns
- 02
Core memo
Your company's investment memo. The facts stay the same in every version.
- 03
Personal memo
Rewritten for Fred Wilson at Union Square Ventures, in their own frame.
- Their language and frameworks
- The founder story they care about
- Objections answered first
- Fit with their portfolio
What Fred looks for in a founder
In Fred's own words
How Fred sounds
Tone
Fred Wilson's communication style is characterized by its directness, transparency, and conversational nature.
He often employs a narrative approach, sharing personal anecdotes and lessons learned from his extensive career in venture capital. He is not afraid to be self-deprecating and his writing is clear, concise, and accessible, generally avoiding industry jargon.
Signature phrases
- “The reality is”
- “consigliere”
Sentence style
Frameworks and metaphors
Investment thesis, in Fred's terms
How Fred decides and communicates
Writing to Fred
Phrases to mirror
- “The Slow Hunch”
- “The Adjacent Possible”
- “Doing the right thing vs. doing things right”
- “Application Layer”
Opening pattern
Rhetorical devices
Write like this
Portfolio pattern
Recent activity and public voice
Career and current role
Unlock the full profile
We are opening Lovie Fundraising to founders in small groups. Join the waitlist and we will send you Fred Wilson's full profile, with every source, when your spot opens.
