The new venture capital edge isn’t capital, it’s attention

This article summarizes an episode of 20VC’s video series featuring Jake Paul and Geoffrey Woo, co-founders of Anti Fund.

Anti Fund Co-founders. From left to right: Jake Paul, Geoffrey Woo / Photo Credit: Geoffrey Woo

Jake Paul is one of the most influential creators of the digital era, with over 70 million followers across his platforms. After transitioning from YouTube stardom, he co-founded Anti Fund alongside Geoffrey Woo, making investments in companies like Ramp, Anduril, Cognition, and Olipop.

Together, they believe attention now beats capital as a lasting competitive advantage. As AI automates traditional knowledge work, they argue that cultural fluency changes how investors compete for startups, earn trust, and drive revenue.

The change in startup investing

Understanding this new advantage requires looking at how the industry previously operated. Startup investors traditionally competed by hiring massive teams to process financial data faster than rivals.

Woo adds that AI instantly commoditizes this hard work, shifting the ultimate advantage from mathematical analysis to cultural intuition.

As software handles financial analysis, human taste becomes the primary differentiator. Woo argues that as AI makes traditional coding and financial analysis into “metered intelligence,” investors now stand out through cultural vibe.

He notes that “software and the classic smart people stuff get commoditized and the attention, the taste, and the culture side get more and more important.”

Defending paid growth
Trusting this cultural intuition also changes how funds view customer acquisition. This view directly challenges the old venture capital belief that organic and free growth is the only valid metric.

Woo actively rejects veterans who dismiss paid advertising, pointing to massive historical successes to prove them wrong.

Referencing Bill Gurley’s criticism of paid marketing, Woo completely disagreed, noting that “Uber burnt tens of billions of dollars on straight-up marketing and just got to profitability.”

Turning investor help into clear results

Moving beyond customer acquisition, this cultural leverage reshapes how investors support their companies. Instead of delayed emails and weak responses, Anti Fund uses its internet fame to completely bypass traditional gatekeeping and accelerate early sales.

Bypassing corporate hierarchies
This modern approach to support relies heavily on visibility and recognition. Internet fame draws immediate attention from top decision-makers.

Woo asserts that they are a phone call away from any billionaire in the world, asking founders, “Would you rather have a Jake Paul introduction or some random boomer suited [venture capitalist] make that intro?”

Turning cultural knowledge into a repeatable system

Finding the money value in public drama

Mixing technology and national security