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Nicholas Chirls

Nicholas Chirls

Venture Capital Partner focused on early-stage investments

Brooklyn, New York
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Joined July 2025
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Summary

Nicholas Chirls is a seasoned venture capitalist and co-founder of two prominent early-stage investment firms, Notation Capital and Asylum Ventures. He has a distinct philosophy that prioritizes treating founders as 'artists' rather than 'assets,' advocating for small, founder-centric firms that provide calm, trust, and support. His work reflects a deep-seated belief in backing innovative entrepreneurs who are driven by a creative compulsion to build something new. asylum+3
Chirls has a critical perspective on the industrialization of venture capital, drawing parallels between the current VC ecosystem and his past experiences on Wall Street. He argues that many large VC firms have become overly focused on assets under management, leading to a lack of genuine creativity and an emphasis on incremental investments. He champions 'courage' and 'non-consensus investing' as the last remaining competitive advantages in the venture business, believing it fosters historic returns and stronger founder relationships. thetwentyminutevc+2
His career trajectory showcases a transition from traditional finance at Lehman Brothers to a deep engagement with the startup ecosystem. He co-founded TwoSeed, led investments at betaworks, and then co-founded Notation Capital, demonstrating a consistent drive to be involved in the creation and growth of early-stage companies. This journey is marked by a personal quest for meaningful work and a rejection of environments that stifle creativity. svbtle+1
Nicholas is also a prolific writer, sharing his insights on the venture capital landscape, investment strategies, and the challenges faced by founders through his personal blog and Medium. His writings often delve into the philosophical underpinnings of startup investing, offering guidance and critique on market trends and industry practices. svbtle+1

Work

Education

Writing

Nicholas Chirls: Why Big VCs Ruin Startups, VC is a Ponzi Scheme Today & Most VCs are Bankers

January 1, 2024

A podcast interview discussing why he believes venture capital is currently broken, how to make money in VC in 2024, and lessons from his investment experiences. He criticizes the industrialization of venture capital and emphasizes the need for courage in investing.

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The Current State of 'Seed' Investing

August 1, 2015

A blog post providing insights into what founders should expect from seed investors, highlighting the evolving landscape of seed-stage venture capital.

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On Negotiating Valuations…

February 1, 2015

Discusses the impact of VC portfolio construction on startups and the inevitable process of negotiating valuations with founders.

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Notation Capital

February 1, 2015

Announcing the launch of Notation Capital, a pre-seed venture capital firm based in Brooklyn, NY, and its vision for investing in early-stage companies.

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Saying No v. Hearing No

January 1, 2014

Reflects on his decision to leave his investing role at betaworks to build and run Alphaworks, exploring the urge to create something new.

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Perspective and Environment

August 1, 2013

A personal reflection on leaving Lehman Brothers, traveling, attending grad school in Hong Kong, and returning to NYC to build a startup, emphasizing the importance of renewing connection with humanity.

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Notes

MRMackenzie Regentsaid that if they were raising a pre-seed round,
NCNicholas Chirls
would be among their first choices as a lead investor.

Sep 11, 2025