vc_pathways: Recent Episodes
Michael Skok
In collaboration with the Harvard Business School, our goal is to demystify and humanize the world of venture capital. Michael Skok, serial entrepreneur turned venture capitalist, will explore the truths, myths and legends of the industry. Would you like to blow up the black box of venture capital, and understand what it really takes to be a great VC? How valuable would it be for you to get inside the heads of legendary VCs, to learn about how they build their teams and who they choose to fund? During each episode, guests will share their experiences, the varied pathways they took into VC, and the triumphs and learnings along the way. Whether you are a founder, funder, or anyone interested in the world of venture capital, vc_pathways is the podcast for you! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------This podcast is for general information purposes only and does not constitute accounting, legal, tax, or other professional advice, and any reliance on the information provided in this podcast is done at your own risk. The views and opinions expressed within the podcast are solely the views of the contributors and do not reflect the opinions or beliefs of Harvard University, Underscore.VC Management Company, LLC or any of its affiliated funds, or any other venture capital funds associated with any contributors to the podcast. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by any such persons or entities, including the contributors. Listeners of the podcast should not act upon the content or information of the podcast without first seeking appropriate advice from an accountant, financial planner, lawyer or other professional. Under no circumstances should any material shared in this podcast be considered an offer, solicitation of an offer, or a recommendation to purchase or sell any securities, nor does it constitute investment advice or an endorsement with respect to any investment strategy or company. The opinions expressed are as of the date of publication and are subject to change without notice. Harvard University and contributors on the podcast make no representations or warranties as to the accuracy, timeliness, suitability, completeness, or relevance of any information shared on the podcast, whether linked to the podcast or incorporated herein, and any liability therefor, is expressly disclaimed by Harvard University and the contributors. © 2022 Michael Skok. This podcast, VC Pathways, is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License, which allows non-commercial distribution and reproduction of this podcast, provided that the original creator and source are credited. The license allows you to remix, transform, or build upon the material, provided that you must distribute your contributions under the same license as the original. For the complete terms of the license please see: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/.
Brad Feld is a partner and co-founder of Foundry, and has been an early-stage investor and entrepreneur for over 35 years. Brad is also a co-founder of Techstars and, with his wife Amy Batchelor, runs the Anchor Point Foundation. Highlights from his conversation with Michael include:
- another interesting pathway into VC
- why five breakfast meetings is the key to growing your network
- advice for how to cut through the noise of the industry
- a look at recent VC trends and what it means for those pursuing the field today
- the importance of showing up, engaging, and following up
- the difference between being an advisor and being a mentor
- a closing reflection on not just finding balance, but seeking harmony in life
We plan to publish episodes bi-weekly, so don't forget to subscribe!
Comments, feedback, questions, guest suggestions?
Connect with Michael on LinkedIN, or on the vc_pathways website.
For the first interview of the season, Michael sits down with Paul Maeder, founder and General Partner at Highland Capital Partners. Paul has over thirty-five years of experience in venture capital having invested in and been a director of over 35 public and private companies, including 2U, Carbon Black, and VistaPrint.
This “trial run” recording captured so many amazing sound bites, we decided to make it our first full episode. Highlights from the conversation include:
- why you shouldn’t expect to get rich as a VC anymore
- the number one skill needed to be a successful VC and how it might affect your waist line
- a great analogy that explains why VC’s hate pizza
- why most companies never stop fundraising
We plan to publish episodes bi-weekly, so don't forget to subscribe!
Comments, feedback, questions, guest suggestions?
Connect with Michael on LinkedIN, or on the vc_pathways website.
A quick intro to VC Pathways led by our host Michael Skok. Michael is renowned for his passion in helping others, especially in the startup and venture capital communities. With a 40-year career from a pioneer technologist to a prominent entrepreneur and trusted investor, he has demonstrated a drive to innovate, inspire, and empower others.
Michael’s investments and strong belief in open source and the power of community, led him to co-found Underscore.vc with a now 1,800-strong Core Community featuring successful creators, founders, and builders that have created billions of dollars of value. He is also an Executive Fellow at the Harvard Business School leading the VC_pathways program, and teaches the Startup Secrets series at the Harvard Innovation Lab. In this welcome episode we will talk about:
- the origin of the podcast
- our goals for the series
- the types of guests we have lined up
- how Michael’s experience and expertise will bring a unique perspective to the VC Pathway journey
We plan to publish episodes bi-weekly, so don't forget to subscribe!
Comments, feedback, questions, guest suggestions?
Connect with Michael on LinkedIN, or on the vc_pathways website.