Sarah Drinkwater – Medium

Sarah Drinkwater

On my mind; very early March 2025

I’m spending this Sunday researching [weird industry] for Common Magic’s latest commitment; it’s a nuts + exciting time to be thinking…

1d ago

On my mind; very early March 2025

1d ago

Raising Common Magic I

Yesterday I did final close on Common Magic I. I’ve had a few other first-time funds ask for advice; I know very little so far but this is…

Dec 10, 2024

Raising Common Magic I

Dec 10, 2024

Open questions going into 2025

Last week I saw South Park Commons do something cool; release a list of open questions the team had about the future. Like them, I find the…

Dec 2, 2024

Open questions going into 2025

Dec 2, 2024

Memes and mimeticism; reflections on venture capital one year in

I’m trying to get better at publishing half-formed thoughts as a way of forcing ideas down onto the page. This one is a chance to noodle on…

Jul 30, 2024

Memes and mimeticism; reflections on venture capital one year in

Jul 30, 2024

Things I didn’t know about angel investing that you might want to know

A few years ago, I put together a one pager to send out to Big Tech execs, startup founders, doctors, lawyers etc who ask me how to start…

Mar 25, 2024

Mar 25, 2024

Common Magic is hiring a ~Venture Fellow~

Hi! I’m Sarah, solo general partner at Common Magic, an early stage microfund investing in products with community at their core. I’m…

Mar 11, 2024

Mar 11, 2024

Why I no longer speak at International Women’s Day events

I very rarely use Facebook these days but sometimes I get a notification about the flashback feature that makes me pause. Like:

Mar 8, 2024

Why I no longer speak at International Women’s Day events

Mar 8, 2024

Data and agency: introducing the Data Empowerment Fund

Last week I had a brainwave about one of my angel portfolio companies.

Feb 28, 2024

Data and agency: introducing the Data Empowerment Fund

Feb 28, 2024

On infectious generosity

Last night I went to the launch of Chris Anderson’s new book Infectious Generosity. It tells many stories including one of mine.

Feb 20, 2024

On infectious generosity

Feb 20, 2024

The best companies* build worlds

Six months into investing full-time through my fund Common Magic. Wow. 2023 has been wild. I’m not sure I’ve ever been so broke, busy and…

Dec 7, 2023

The best companies* build worlds

Dec 7, 2023

Who “owns” community inside a company? Exploring hiring, metrics and alignment at early stage.

Who leads, owns and contributes to building community around a product or company?

Aug 22, 2023

Who “owns” community inside a company? Exploring hiring, metrics and alignment at early stage.

Aug 22, 2023

How I invest at Common Magic (or, rather, things I believe to be true)

With my fund Common Magic newly live, I want to make it really easy for founders to know if my fund could be a fit for them.

Aug 2, 2023

How I invest at Common Magic (or, rather, things I believe to be true)

Aug 2, 2023

4 things I learnt from the Rise of Virtual Communities

Quick takeaways from Amber Atherton’s June 12 London launch, hosted by me at Common Magic and Protein.

Jun 15, 2023

4 things I learnt from the Rise of Virtual Communities

Jun 15, 2023

Introducing Common Magic

Today, I’m launching an early-stage solo fund focused on products with community at their core.

Jun 5, 2023

Introducing Common Magic

Jun 5, 2023

Published in
Better Programming

How to run a generative AI hackathon

Because this weekend we did and it was great.

Jul 6, 2023

How to run a generative AI hackathon

Jul 6, 2023

Published in
Venture

Products with Community at Their Core

I’ve never understood the concept of “product led growth”. There’s something about how the phrase centres the product that makes me…

Jan 10, 2023

Products with Community at Their Core

Jan 10, 2023

Thinking about the future in a Greek Butlins; notes from WPP Stream

Back in the day (before: covid, moving to the US & back, becoming a parent and leaving Google) I went to WPP’s Stream a few times, a…

Oct 24, 2022

Oct 24, 2022

Belief systems + web3 (…and magic)

Context: most weeks, I go to Gitcoin’s Public Library, a nourishing Wednesday chat where a different host proposes an obsession or idea and…

Jul 27, 2022

Belief systems + web3 (…and magic)

Jul 27, 2022

My angel investing thesis

Background: I made a Notion listing what I care about in terms of angel investing. Cross-posting here for those who follow my Medium.

Jul 6, 2022

Jul 6, 2022

If capital is a tool, we need new tools. What is the future of funding?

TL;DR: right now, I’m fascinated by the topic of the “future of funding (including VC)”. I’ve been building a curated collection on…

Jun 21, 2022

Jun 21, 2022

Sarah Drinkwater

Sarah Drinkwater

Solo GP Common Magic, investing in products with community at their core. Into communities, the best uses of technologies, London, looks and books.

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