In early-stage VC, capital alone is no longer enough—media and visibility are becoming key differentiators.
19.03.2026
Has Media Become Part of the Product in Early-Stage VC?
Note: The following contributions are personal impulses from Max Eckel. They represent individual reflections and are intended to stimulate discussion and further thought.
Has media become part of the product in early-stage VC? It’s widely believed that as an early-stage VC, you need proprietary access to founders. You want to be the first call when someone decides to start a company. And to earn your spot on the cap table, money alone is often not enough.
The most ambitious founders usually want clear benefits beyond capital. Media and personal brand have become major vehicles for that. Because in early-stage investing, distribution is becoming part of the value proposition. There is a real argument that some of the most successful VCs are, by now, also media companies that monetize their media work through venture investing.
Harry Stebbings and 20VC are probably the clearest example:
Building a podcast with highly influential guests did more than create attention. It signaled access. It signaled reach. It showed founders that he knows the people who matter, can open doors, and can put your startup in front of thousands of relevant listeners. And... chances are, you know who he is.
That is also a simple explanation for why it is becoming increasingly important for VCs to be active on platforms like LinkedIn and X. If access to founders is the game, visibility helps. And being able to get 10 new potential hires or sales leads with a single LinkedIn post is a clear value add.
Favikon recently ranked Germany’s VCs by their impact on LinkedIn. 3 of the Top 20 are WHU alumni: Uwe Horstmann, Filip Felician Dames, and Christian Meermann. Beyond having superior access to the talent pool of their own alma mater, they are playing the personal brand game very successfully.
Still, I would not say every VC needs to become an influencer. They do need a wedge. They do need trust. And they do need some form of distribution. Media is one way to get there. Not the only one.