I finally watched The Odyssey on the BFI IMAX screen – the largest 70mm screen in the UK. Months of patience to get the right ticket and see it in proper IMAX. Worth the wait.

But the experience got me thinking about venture capital. There are some surprisingly strong parallels between a great epic and investing in startups: patience, vision, execution, people, selection, and navigating the unexpected turns. Five thoughts from the film, and what each one says about investing.

1. Patience is part of the investment thesis.

I waited months to see The Odyssey in proper IMAX. The wait made the experience far more valuable.

In VC, the ability not to invest can be as important as the ability to invest. The best opportunities don’t necessarily arrive when you have capital available.

In both cinema and investing, the right moment is worth waiting for.

2. Vision gets you interested. Execution gets you there.

A compelling vision grabs attention. The Odyssey’s grand scale and bold vision are breathtaking. But it’s the direction, script and execution that bring it to life – great stories need careful direction, pacing and editing to truly land.

In startups, the distance between a great idea and a great company is execution. Ideas are everywhere. It’s the disciplined, relentless execution that creates real value.

A compelling story opens the door. Execution makes it a reality.

3. You’re not just investing in the story. You’re investing in the people telling it.

Great casting brings a script to life. The right people can turn a good story into something extraordinary.

In startups, it’s the founders who make the difference. The same idea can lead to very different outcomes depending on who is executing it. And VC is a long-term relationship: you’re backing people you will work with, learn from and support for years.

Great people turn bold ideas into real impact.

4. Not every opportunity deserves the biggest screen.

The Odyssey was designed for scale – and IMAX is the right setting. Some stories are simply better experienced on the biggest screen. But not every film needs IMAX. Similarly, not every startup belongs in your portfolio.

The job isn’t to see every opportunity. It’s to recognise the rare ones that deserve your time, capital and conviction.

Less noise. More of what truly matters.

5. Every Odyssey has unexpected turns.

The destination may be clear. The route rarely is. Odysseus knew where he wanted to get to – but the journey took unexpected turns. Startups are much the same.

The original plan won’t survive intact. Markets shift. Products evolve. Setbacks happen. New opportunities appear. Conviction means staying with the destination without being wedded to the route. Great investors have the judgement to adapt, the patience to persevere, and the humility to change course when needed.

Different paths. Same destination. Greater wisdom.

Because in both cinema and venture, the journey is rarely quite what you expected when you started.

Originally shared on LinkedIn, with the five slides