The Sure Shot Entrepreneur: Recent Episodes
Gopi Rangan
Successful entrepreneurs begin with the support of a few #earlybelievers. Gopi Rangan, founding partner at Sure Ventures, interviews venture capital investors in the Silicon Valley and beyond. Guests share insider stories on how they invest in early stage startups. Do you want to learn from real-life challenges, inspiring missions and important decisions by CEOs, founders, VCs, angels, and advisors? Listen to https://podcast.sure.ventures.
Sudarshan Sridharan, General Partner of SF1, shares his journey from building founder communities and operating startups to launching an early-stage venture capital firm focused on AI-native companies. He explains how he evaluates founders, why competence, integrity, and ambition matter more than polished pitches, and how artificial intelligence is reshaping the markets attracting venture capital. Throughout the conversation, Sudarshan offers practical advice on earning investor trust, building meaningful relationships, and creating long-term value as both a founder and an investor.
In this episode, you'll learn:[03:10] How Sudarshan built founder communities, started companies, and launched SF1 while still in his early twenties.
[11:40] Why competence, integrity, and market size are the three questions he asks when evaluating founders.
[18:20] Why clarity of thought matters more than having every answer during a fundraising conversation.
[27:45] How AI is creating new venture opportunities across infrastructure, robotics, defense, energy, and life sciences.
[35:30] Why founders should build investor relationships long before they need capital.
[43:15] How Sudarshan supports founders beyond writing the first check.
About Sudarshan SridharanSudarshan Sridharan is a General Partner of SF1, an early-stage venture capital firm investing in AI-native founders building category-defining companies. Before founding SF1, he built startups, invested as an angel, and created founder communities that connected entrepreneurs with investors and experienced operators. His investment philosophy centers on backing founders with exceptional ambition, integrity, and clarity of thought while helping them build enduring companies through long-term partnership.
About SF1SF1 is an early-stage venture capital firm that partners with AI-native founders building generational companies from inception to IPO. The firm invests at the earliest stages, backing entrepreneurs developing transformative technologies across artificial intelligence and enterprise software. SF1 is built around long-term partnerships with founders, supporting them beyond capital through recruiting, fundraising, strategic introductions, and company building. The firm's investment philosophy emphasizes founder quality, clarity of thought, integrity, and the ability to execute in large, evolving markets.
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Amir Kabir, Founder and Managing Partner at Overlook Ventures, discusses his journey from entrepreneur to venture capitalist and explains why he founded Overlook Ventures to invest at the earliest stages of company building. He shares his investment philosophy around founder quality, intellectual honesty, unique market insight, and the emerging opportunity around AI, autonomy, and risk infrastructure. Throughout the conversation, Amir offers practical advice for founders on validating problems, building venture-scale businesses, and standing out in an increasingly crowded AI landscape.
In this episode, you'll learn:[02:15] How Amir's journey from entrepreneur to venture capitalist shaped the investment philosophy behind Overlook Ventures.
[07:10] AI, autonomy, and the "infrastructure of risk" represent the next frontier for startup innovation.
[14:50] Why founders should focus on solving real problems and developing unique insights instead of building products in search of a market.
[20:50] How Amir evaluates founders by uncovering the unique knowledge and conviction that drive them to solve a particular problem.
[27:55] The most common reasons Amir says "no" to startups, and why intellectual honesty often beats polished answers.
[30:45] Venture capital is shifting toward specialized funds. What does that mean for founders raising capital today?
The nonprofit organization Amir is passionate about: Presidential Leadership Scholars
About Amir KabirAmir Kabir is the Founder and Managing Partner of Overlook Ventures, an early-stage venture capital firm investing at the inception, pre-seed, and seed stages. Previously, he helped build Munich Re Ventures and has spent years investing across insurance technology, financial services, AI, and risk infrastructure. Today, he focuses on companies building the next generation of AI safety, governance, autonomy, and regulated-market infrastructure.
About Overlook VenturesOverlook Ventures is an early-stage venture capital firm founded by Amir Kabir that invests at the inception, pre-seed, and seed stages. The firm focuses on what Amir describes as the "infrastructure of risk"—backing founders building across AI, autonomy, cybersecurity, insurance, financial services, and regulated markets. Overlook partners with entrepreneurs developing the technologies that make AI systems more trustworthy, secure, and accountable, while helping modernize how risk is measured, managed, and transferred. The firm typically invests early and supports founders with strategic guidance, customer introductions, and deep industry expertise.
Portfolio companies include: Strala, Crabi, Soteris, Soma, Prediction Guard, Mesh, Pax Markets, Asymmetric Security, Eloquent AI, Seedless, Flyra, and IronGrid.
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Justin Smith-Lorenzetti, Founder and Managing Director, Intact Private Capital, shares his journey from leading innovation initiatives within Intact Insurance to helping build a global investment platform managing more than $1.6 billion in assets. Drawing on lessons from investments across insurtech, mobility, AI, and financial services, he explains how Intact approaches startup and LP investing. Justin also offers practical advice for founders and investors, arguing that focus and conviction matter more than ever in today's AI-driven world.
In this episode, you'll learn:
[02:08] How Justin accidentally became a venture capitalist
[06:55] How Intact Private Capital invests from idea to IPO
[09:11] The evolution of insurtech over the last decade
[11:26] Why Coterie and Shepherd stood out as investments
[16:56] What Justin looks for in founders across every stage
[20:23] Why founders choose investors—not the other way around
[23:15] How Intact makes high-conviction investment decisions
[25:17] What Justin looks for as an LP investing in venture funds
[29:57] His advice for founders building in the AI era
[32:17] What venture capital can do better
The nonprofit organization Justin is passionate about: The Barry F. Lorenzetti Foundation
About Justin Smith-LorenzettiJustin Smith-Lorenzetti is the Founder and Managing Director at Intact Private Capital, where he oversees venture, growth, and fund investments across insurance, financial services, mobility, and emerging technology. Since helping launch Intact's venture investing activities more than a decade ago, he has backed companies ranging from Turo to leading insurtech startups. Justin is widely recognized as one of Canada's most active investors in the insurance technology ecosystem and serves on the boards of multiple venture-backed companies.
About Intact Private CapitalIntact Private Capital is the private investment arm of Intact Financial Corporation, one of North America's leading property and casualty insurance companies. The firm manages approximately $1.6 billion across venture capital, growth equity, and fund investment strategies. Leveraging Intact's deep industry expertise and global network, the team invests in companies across insurance, financial services, mobility, AI, and adjacent sectors, supporting founders from the earliest stages through IPO.
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David Zhou, co-founder of The Side Letter and host of Superclusters, shares lessons from his journey as a founder, venture investor, LP, and educator. He explains how sophisticated limited partners evaluate venture funds, why consistent decision-making frameworks matter, and how emerging managers can stand out in an increasingly crowded market.
David discusses common mistakes new LPs make, the metrics that matter when evaluating venture performance, and why successful investors develop discipline around both entering and exiting investments. He also shares practical advice for fund managers seeking LP support, emphasizing the importance of understanding investor motivations before ever making a pitch.
In this episode, you'll learn:
[02:35] How David accidentally became an entrepreneur and investor
[03:42] Why venture capital appeals to people who love imagining the future
[06:52] The story behind Superclusters and educating emerging LPs
[11:21] Common mistakes first-time LPs make when evaluating funds
[15:25] Why investors need consistent frameworks instead of chasing excitement
[23:04] Which venture fund metrics actually matter and when
[30:24] The three disciplines every great fund manager needs
[32:25] Why the first LP meeting should never be a pitch
[35:22] How to identify and build a unique competitive advantage
[39:57] Understanding the motivations behind different types of LPs
[44:03] How The Side Letter helps LPs make better investment decisions
The nonprofit organization David is passionate about: Friends of Children with Special Needs
About David Zhou
David Zhou is the co-founder of The Side Letter, a platform that helps limited partners source, evaluate, and understand venture capital funds. He is also the host of Superclusters, a podcast focused on helping emerging LPs learn from experienced investors and better navigate the venture capital ecosystem.
Before becoming an LP and venture ecosystem educator, David was a founder and venture investor. Through his writing, investing, and podcasting, he has become a respected voice on venture fund evaluation, LP decision-making, and emerging manager investing.
About The Side Letter
The Side Letter is a platform built to help limited partners make more informed venture capital investment decisions. The company provides LPs with tools, research, data, and educational resources designed to improve fund sourcing, diligence, and portfolio construction.
By helping investors access better information and stronger evaluation frameworks, The Side Letter aims to reduce information asymmetry within the venture capital ecosystem and empower a new generation of sophisticated LPs.
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Christina Quinn, General Partner at SSC Venture Partners, shares practical lessons from investing in first-time founders and supporting Boston College entrepreneurs through venture funding and accelerator programs. She explains how SSC Venture Partners combines community, mentorship, and early-stage capital to help founders navigate the difficult early years of company building. Christina also discusses the qualities she consistently looks for in entrepreneurs, including adaptability, resilience, initiative, and self-awareness.
In this episode, you'll learn:[01:59] Christina Quinn’s unconventional path into venture capital
[05:36] How SSC Venture Partners supports Boston College founders
[10:30] Why SSC invests at the true pre-seed stage
[15:52] The founder traits Christina values most
[18:14] How to tell real founder obsession from startup hype
[21:01] The GiveCard story and mission-driven entrepreneurship
[26:07] Common reasons founders get rejected
[30:06] Advice for founders before pitching investors
The nonprofit organization Christina is passionate about: Artists for Humanity
About Christina QuinnChristina Quinn is a General Partner at SSC Venture Partners, where she focuses on backing early-stage founders connected to the Boston College ecosystem. Before entering venture capital, Christina built a career in marketing, communications, and private equity, developing expertise in storytelling, fundraising, and brand strategy. She previously worked with emerging venture managers through Coolwater Capital and has become known for her founder-first approach to investing, particularly with first-time entrepreneurs building mission-driven businesses.
About SSC Venture PartnersSSC Venture Partners is an affinity-based venture capital firm and startup accelerator focused on founders connected to the Boston College ecosystem. Founded originally as a nonprofit accelerator program, SSC has evolved into an early-stage venture platform supporting entrepreneurs through mentorship, community, and pre-seed capital. The firm invests across sectors and emphasizes founder development, resilience, and long-term company building. In addition to its venture fund, SSC operates accelerator programs designed to help first-time founders navigate product development, customer discovery, fundraising, and team building.
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Ian Sandler, COO of Insight Partners and co-founder of Riley’s Way Foundation, engages in a deeply personal and wide-ranging conversation on leadership, venture capital, and building meaningful impact. Ian reflects on his unconventional career path, his philosophy on building organizations, and how a personal tragedy shaped his mission to empower the next generation of kind leaders. He also shares practical advice for founders and young leaders on dreaming big, understanding themselves, and building networks that matter.
In this episode:
[00:58] Ian Sandler’s background and upbringing
[03:59] From law to “wimpy entrepreneur”
[06:05] Building and scaling at Insight Partners
[09:27] Balancing venture capital with purpose
[12:35] What makes great investors today
[17:12] The story behind Riley’s Way Foundation
[31:33] Advice for young leaders: dream big, self-care, network
[36:17] The future of Riley’s Way Foundation
The nonprofit organization Ian is passionate about: Riley’s Way Foundation
About Ian SandlerIan Sandler is the Chief Operating Officer at Insight Partners, where he oversees the firm’s non-investment operations and helps scale new strategic initiatives. Over a career spanning roles at Morgan Stanley, The Carlyle Group, and Citadel, he has built a reputation as a “builder of businesses” who specializes in identifying talent and turning ideas into scalable platforms. In parallel, he is the co-founder of Riley’s Way Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to developing kind, community-driven young leaders.
About Insight PartnersFounded in 1995, Insight Partners is a global venture capital and private equity firm focused on high-growth software, internet, and technology companies. The firm manages over $90 billion in assets and has invested in more than 875 companies worldwide, supporting founders from early-stage growth through IPO. Its approach combines capital with hands-on operational support through its “Onsite” team, helping companies scale revenue, build talent, and execute go-to-market strategies.
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Gilad Shai, Managing Director at BMI Capital International, reveals the harsh realities and hidden opportunities in the InsurTech ecosystem. From launching InsurTech LA with 10 people in 2015 to watching billion-dollar valuations evaporate 90% post-IPO, Gilad shares unfiltered insights on why most InsurTech startups are stuck in "purgatory" and what it really takes to succeed in insurance innovation.
In this episode, you'll learn:
[01:13] Building the InsurTech LA community
[05:26] The evolution of InsurTech over the past decade
[10:50] Are we early or late in InsurTech?
[15:01] Why innovation in insurance is harder than it looks
[19:43] Advice for founders entering InsurTech
[23:05] IPO failures and M&A realities
The nonprofit organization Gilad is passionate about: Gift of Life
About Gilad ShaiGilad Shai is a Managing Director at BMI Capital International. A Global InsurTech expert and lead advisor at BMI, Gilad has over 20 years of professional experience. He invests directly and is an active advisory board member in several organizations. Gilad's experience spans multiple industries and company sizes. He worked for large brands Intel, Hearst, Yahoo!, and Farmers insurance and has launched several startups. Gilad is a host, a speaker, and an author on the InsurTech subject. He has been organizing InsurTech LA events and hosting guest speakers since 2017. He has given keynote presentations and moderated panels at major global conferences in NYC, London, Chicago, Vegas, and Tel Aviv. Gilad co-authored The InsurTech book, published by Wiley, and featured in Financial Times and other media outlets and podcasts.
About BMI Capital InternationalBMI Capital International is an investment firm focused on the intersection of insurance and technology. The firm specializes in identifying and supporting innovative solutions that transform how insurance products are created, distributed, and managed. BMI Capital provides strategic capital and industry expertise to help portfolio companies navigate the complex insurance ecosystem and achieve meaningful scale.
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Debjit Mukerji, Partner at NGP Capital, explains why deep tech’s defining moment has finally arrived. Drawing on a thesis-driven approach, he shares how he evaluates companies at the intersection where “atoms meet bits”, backing founders building in the physical world. Debjit breaks down the convergence of three powerful forces—labor shortages, generative AI’s expansion into industrial use cases, and faster hardware development cycles—that are unlocking a new era of opportunity for physical technology companies.
In this episode, you'll learn:
[05:28] Why venture capital?
[07:40] Inside NGP Capital’s deep tech focus
[11:05] Why now is the moment for deep tech
[17:02] What Debjit looks for in founders
[19:17] The Tractian story: founder intensity
[31:39] Key deep tech trends: Robotics & AI
[35:43] What makes a great deep tech pitch
The nonprofit organization Debjit is passionate about: MedShare
About Debjit Mukerji
Debjit Mukerji is a Partner at NGP Capital, where he focuses on Deep Tech investments across robotics, AI, and industrial systems.
With over two decades in venture capital, Debjit brings a strong technical foundation, holding a PhD in mechanical engineering from Stanford University. His career has spanned roles across multiple leading firms and industrial technology platforms, where he has consistently focused on translating breakthrough research into real-world impact.
He is particularly passionate about backing founders building at the intersection of software and the physical world—where innovation is hardest, but most enduring.
About NGP Capital
NGP Capital is a global venture capital firm dedicated to investing in Deep Tech companies. With a focus on “digital-physical convergence,” the firm backs startups that apply AI, software, and hardware to transform physical industries.
NGP Capital invests primarily at the Series A and B stages, with a global footprint spanning North America, Europe, and beyond. The firm partners closely with founders building in sectors such as robotics, industrial software, space technology, and connected systems, supporting companies that aim to redefine how the physical world operates.
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Danielle Strachman and Michael Gibson, Founders and General Partners at the 1517 Fund, discuss their unconventional approach to venture capital. The firm backs ambitious founders, many of whom choose to leave college early to pursue breakthrough ideas.
Drawing on their experience building the Thiel Fellowship, Danielle and Michael explain how working closely with hundreds of young innovators shaped their belief in character driven investing. They share how they identify talent before traditional signals appear and why curiosity, conviction, and “hyper fluency” matter more than credentials.
In this episode, you'll learn:
[01:03] Danielle Strachman and Michael Gibson on building the Thiel Fellowship and founding 1517 Fund
[07:56] Lessons from working with hundreds of Thiel Fellows and identifying exceptional young builders
[14:32] Why leaving college early can be an acceleration, not a dropout
[18:47] The story behind the name 1517 Fund
[23:41] How 1517 evaluates founders and why character matters more than credentials
[29:06] Investing in frontier technologies that sound like science fiction
[36:58] Advice for young builders and how founders can connect with the 1517 community
The nonprofit organization Danielle is passionate about: Foresight Institute
About Danielle StrachmanDanielle Strachman is Co Founder and General Partner at 1517 Fund. She has spent more than a decade working with young entrepreneurs and unconventional builders.
In 2010 she joined the founding team of the Thiel Fellowship, where she led the design and operations of the program. During that time she worked with founders such as Vitalik Buterin and Ritesh Agarwal.
Before that, Danielle founded and directed Innovations Academy in San Diego, a K–8 charter school focused on student led and project based learning.
At 1517 Fund, she focuses on identifying ambitious young builders and helping them turn early ideas into companies.
About Michael GibsonMichael Gibson is Co Founder and General Partner at 1517 Fund.
In 2010 he helped launch the Thiel Fellowship with Peter Thiel. The program was built on a simple belief. Exceptional founders can appear without credentials and often in unexpected places.
Michael frequently challenges the influence of credential driven institutions across education, government, and industry. His work focuses on supporting founders who push the edges of science and technology.
About 1517 Fund
1517 Fund is an early-stage venture capital firm founded in 2015 by Danielle Strachman and Michael Gibson.
The firm backs young founders, uncredentialed builders, and renegade scientists working on ambitious ideas. Its philosophy grew out of the success of the Thiel Fellowship, which helped launch companies such as Ethereum, Figma, Luminar Technologies, OYO Rooms, and Longevity Fund.
The name 1517 references the year Martin Luther sparked the Reformation. In the same spirit, the firm challenges the modern belief that credentials and diplomas are required to build important things.
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Jessica Karr, Founder and Managing Partner at Coyote Ventures, shares how she backs AI-driven startups focused on improving health access, outcomes, and equity. Drawing from her six years at Impossible Foods, where she helped build a product from prototype to global phenomenon, Jessica explains how she brings a product innovator's lens to healthcare's most overlooked problems: women's health, racial disparities, rural access, and aging care. Jessica demonstrates why solving for equity isn't just morally right; it's economically smart through better outcomes and cost savings. She also discusses how her Health Equity Innovator Summit has become the convergence point where founders, health systems, payers, and policymakers forge the partnerships that turn healthcare's biggest gaps into its biggest opportunities.
In this episode, you'll learn:
[02:40] Jessica’s journey from Texas to San Francisco and her early work in R&D at Impossible Foods
[04:55] The idea behind plant based meat and how innovation can reshape consumer behavior
[07:30] Why Jessica started Coyote Ventures and how the firm focuses on overlooked areas of healthcare
[10:35] How AI driven digital health platforms can improve patient outcomes between doctor visits
[13:15] What Coyote Ventures looks for when evaluating seed and pre seed healthcare startups
[18:55] How AI is changing healthcare products and operations
[22:35] Advice for founders building healthcare startups in a complex and relationship driven system
[28:45] The Health Equity Innovator Summit
The nonprofit organization Jessica is passionate about: Reproductive Freedom for All
About Jessica Karr
Jessica Karr is the Founder and Managing Partner of Coyote Ventures, an early stage venture capital firm focused on improving healthcare access and outcomes. She previously worked in research and development at Impossible Foods, where she helped develop early prototypes of the company’s plant based meat products and contributed to patents. After earning her MBA and working closely with startups, Jessica launched Coyote Ventures to back founders building innovative healthcare solutions, especially in areas that have historically been underserved.
About Coyote Ventures
Coyote Ventures is an early stage venture capital firm investing in digital health and healthcare technology companies that improve access, outcomes, and equity in healthcare. The firm focuses on areas such as women’s health, mental health, caregiving, aging, and other underserved segments of the healthcare system. Coyote Ventures invests in AI driven platforms and digital health solutions that help patients, healthcare providers, and payers deliver better care at scale. Portfolio companies include Alvee, Betterleave, Flex, Gabbi, Hera Biotech, Magnolia, Malama Health, Maude among others.
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Kapil Surlaker, VP of Engineering, Data and AI Infrastructure at LinkedIn, joins guest host Bhaskar Ghosh for a technical and thoughtful discussion on how AI is reshaping enterprise. Kapil shares how LinkedIn built strong data foundations over more than a decade, and how that foundation enabled generative and agentic AI use cases. He reflects on building Espresso, a distributed database created out of necessity, and explains why he would not build it again today. The conversation explores AI infrastructure, model flexibility, privacy guardrails, and operational responsibility. His message to leaders is clear. Reinvent yourself continuously, or risk becoming irrelevant.
In this episode, you'll learn:
[04:07] From personalization to hiring agents
[08:30] Modern AI infrastructure and model flexibility
[14:58] Why LinkedIn built Espresso
[23:08] AI can write code but you own the pager
[26:33] Data as a success layer
[30:06] Privacy, governance, and guardrails in the AI age
[37:56] Reinvent or go extinct
About Kapil Surlaker
Kapil Surlaker is a seasoned technology leader who has worked across distributed systems, large-scale databases, and AI infrastructure. He began his career at Oracle building foundational database technologies before joining LinkedIn during its hypergrowth phase. At LinkedIn, he played a central role in building Espresso, a massively scalable distributed document database, and later led AI and data platform modernization efforts that powered personalization, ads, search, and emerging generative AI use cases. His work spans infrastructure, privacy engineering, governance systems, and enterprise AI transformation.
About Bhaskar "BG" Ghosh
Bhaskar "BG" Ghosh is an engineer, operator and investor, currently building and raising capital in the emerging investment category of AI-powered services for high TAM legacy verticals. Previously BG was a General Partner at SF venture firm 8VC where he led the core early-phase enterprise s/w investments in AI and Data, incubated disruptive businesses in AI-enabled Services and Infra, and supported a large family of founders in trenches and on boards. BG spent his formative Silicon Valley years building core tech and teams during the hyper-scaling phases of LinkedIn Data, Yahoo Ads, Oracle RDBMS and Nerdwallet marketplaces.
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Aman Verjee, Founder and General Partner at Practical Venture Capital, shares his view of how venture capital has evolved over the past two decades and why secondary markets now play a critical role in the ecosystem. Drawing from his time at PayPal, eBay, and Sonos, Aman explains how companies today stay private far longer than they used to, what that means for early investors and employees, and how thoughtfully structured secondary transactions can reduce friction and misalignment on the cap table. He also challenges popular narratives around tech bubbles, walking through historical examples to explain why today’s AI-driven market looks fundamentally different.
In this episode, you'll learn:
[01:11] Aman’s journey from Wall Street to Practical VC
[03:40] What made the early PayPal team exceptional
[06:32] Follow the customer, not the original plan
[10:44] Why are startups staying private longer today?
[11:17] What secondary transactions actually are
[18:41] How founders should handle secondary requests
[26:11] Are we in a tech bubble today?
The nonprofit organization Aman is passionate about: AYSO (American Youth Soccer Organization)
About Aman Verjee
Aman Verjee is the Founder and General Partner of Practical Venture Capital, a secondary-focused fund providing liquidity to early investors in late-stage private companies. Before launching Practical VC, Aman spent over a decade in finance and operations roles at PayPal and eBay, joining PayPal in 2001 before its IPO and witnessing its transformation from a money-beaming mobile app to the dominant payment platform for eBay. Earlier, he worked in investment banking in New York after studying economics at Stanford and constitutional law at Harvard Law School. Aman was recruited to PayPal by Peter Thiel and worked directly for David Sachs during the company's pivotal early years. Now partnering with Dave McClure, he focuses on Series C and D investments in SaaS and FinTech companies with $200M+ in revenue and clear paths to liquidity within 5-7 years. He's also writing a book on the history of financial bubbles and co-hosts the Trading Places podcast, analyzing private company valuations.
About Practical Venture Capital
Practical Venture Capital is a secondary-focused venture firm that provides liquidity solutions for early investors, employees, and funds. Operating with a 7-year fund structure instead of the traditional 10-15 years, Practical VC targets 20-40% discounts to last-round valuations in Series C and D companies with $200M+ in revenue and clear paths to exit. The firm specializes in SaaS and FinTech but has made exceptions for exceptional opportunities like SpaceX, now their biggest winner despite violating their typical investment criteria. Founded by Aman Verjee and Dave McClure, Practical VC evaluates roughly 50 companies at any given time, making 5-10 investments annually. The firm also offers SPVs for deals that don't fit their main fund and covers LATAM opportunities through an operating partner in Argentina. Their approach recognizes that modern venture capital requires new liquidity solutions as companies like SpaceX (23 years private), Airbnb (17 years), and Palantir (20 years) redefine what "patient capital" means.
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Jonathan Crystal, Managing Partner at Crystal Venture Partners, talks about investing in early-stage AI-driven insurtech companies. After leading his family's insurance brokerage to a successful exit, Jonathan launched his $33M fund when he realized AI was the catalyst insurance had been waiting for. He explains why entrepreneurship means "dooming yourself to years of terror," and why the best investments happen when founders identify problems before revenue models. With investments in companies like Bright Harbor, which helps families navigate disaster recovery, Jonathan explains how domain expertise enables conviction at day one—when there's no product, just a founder with an audacious vision.
In this episode, you'll learn:
[02:14] From Texas to Princeton to building an insurance dynasty in New York
[04:04] Why insurance rewards creativity and curious minds
[07:24] The brutal truth: 99% of a VC's job is saying no
[10:31] Exiting the family business and finding the "why now" moment for venture
[12:10] The ChatGPT revelation that launched Crystal Venture Partners
[14:13] Investment thesis: $1-3M checks at day one for transformational companies
[19:11] Why building a venture company means years of terror—and that's the test
[21:59] Bright Harbor case study: From revenue model questions to product-market fit during LA fires
[25:30] Most common reason for no: "We're not your best source of capital"
[29:40] Finding investment opportunities in unusual areas
The nonprofit organization Jonathan is passionate about: 12/64
About Jonathan Crystal
Jonathan Crystal is the Managing Partner of Crystal Venture Partners, a $33 million early-stage venture fund focused on AI-driven transformation in the insurance industry. Before entering venture capital, Jonathan spent 20 years as an operator in the insurance brokerage business, ultimately serving as CFO of Crystal and Company, a top-25 national insurance brokerage firm founded by his family. He led the firm to a successful exit to Alliant Insurance Services in 2018. Jonathan brings deep domain expertise and company-building experience to his investments. He backs seasoned, often serial entrepreneurs building transformational companies, writing $1-3 million checks as early as day one. His portfolio includes companies like Bright Harbor, Sixfold AI, NevadoAI, Comulate, and Corvus Insurance.
About Crystal Venture Partners
Crystal Venture Partners is a $33 million early-stage venture capital firm founded in 2022 to capitalize on the AI transformation of the insurance industry. The firm writes $1-3 million first checks, often as the first institutional investor or alongside other first institutional investments. Crystal Venture Partners invests in 4-6 companies annually from a pipeline of 300+ opportunities, maintaining a highly selective approach with domain expertise enabling conviction at the earliest stages—sometimes backing founders on day one before product development. The firm's portfolio of 10 companies has shown strong momentum, with over half securing follow-on financing in multiple rounds within a year of initial investment. Led by Jonathan Crystal, who brings two decades of insurance industry operating experience, the firm specializes in identifying transformational opportunities where AI can create and capture significant value in risk management and insurance markets.
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Amias Gerety, Partner at QED Investors, brings an unconventional perspective to venture capital shaped by his eight years at the US Treasury Department during the financial crisis. A mechanical thinker, Amias applies an essentialist approach to understanding how businesses work. He explains why QED looks for companies that triple every six months at Series A, how inverted AI creates new opportunities in financial services, and why the best advice for founders remains timeless: build something people want and charge more than it costs to make. With insights on the AI bubble, the application layer renaissance, and why saying no 99 times out of 100 is the real job of a VC, Amias offers a masterclass in disciplined, thesis-driven investing.
In this episode, you'll learn:
[01:24] Amias's unique path from politics and Treasury to venture capital
[05:13] The lever theory: how government and VC create systemic change
[07:12] Why mechanical thinking and first principles matter in VC
[14:48] QED's investment sweet spot: Series A and series B with undeniable momentum
[19:25] What product-market fit really means and how to recognize it
[22:14] Inverted AI: Why the world needs financial services for the AI economy
[26:43] The AI bubble paradox: overvalued companies, transformative technology
[32:57] Why early-stage founders should ignore the macro and focus on customers
[34:31] The brutal math of venture
The nonprofit organization Amias is passionate about: Easterseals
About Amias Gerety
Amias Gerety is a Partner at QED Investors, where he focuses on FinTech and InsurTech investments. Before joining QED in 2017, Amias spent eight years at the US Treasury Department from the first day of the Obama administration through its final day. During his tenure, he helped write the Dodd-Frank Act and built the Financial Stability Oversight Council, the organization responsible for monitoring systemic risk in the US financial system. His government experience during the financial crisis gives him a unique perspective on market dynamics and regulatory frameworks. A mechanical thinker who approaches investments with an essentialist mindset, Amias has invested in companies like Kin Insurance, Prosper, and Tint. He previously worked as a management consultant and with Save the Children in East Africa.
About QED Investors
QED Investors is one of the most successful venture capital firms focused on FinTech investments globally. As a multi-stage, global firm with a $650 million early-stage fund and $300 million growth fund, QED specializes in Series A and B investments in companies demonstrating exceptional momentum and product-market fit. The firm requires portfolio companies to show dramatic growth—expecting tripling in six months for Series A and tripling in a year for Series B investments. QED's partners bring deep domain expertise from building and scaling financial services companies, with a particular focus on companies that are reshaping financial services through technology. The firm is known for its rigorous, thesis-driven approach to investing and its high conviction in backing founders who have found authentic product-market fit in large, expanding markets.
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Steve Kim, Partner at Verdis Investment Management, shares his unique take on venture capital investment through a data-driven, diversified portfolio strategy. With a focus on early-stage investments and emerging managers, Steve discusses why diversification is key to optimizing venture returns and building enduring funds. He offers insights from his transition from technology leadership to investments, his commitment to backing emerging managers, and how this strategy benefits both LPs and founders in the long run.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
[01:18] Steve's background and transition into venture capital
[06:15] Using data to drive decisions in venture investments
[09:06] Comparing concentrated and diversified portfolio strategies
[15:30] Understanding and meeting founders' needs
[20:00] The role and support of emerging managers in venture capital
[30:00] Evolution of the venture capital ecosystem and future perspectives
The nonprofit organization Steve is passionate about: International Baccalaureate
About Steve KimSteve Kim is a Partner at Verdis Investment Management, where he champions a data-driven and diversified approach to venture capital investments. With over two decades of experience, Steve backs emerging managers at the earliest stages, leveraging data to optimize returns while reducing risk. His career began in technology, where he held leadership roles at companies like Walt Disney and Alcatel before transitioning to investments.
About Verdis Investment ManagementVerdis Investment Management, LLC (“Verdis”) is a Registered Investment Advisor under the Investment Advisors Act of 1940. Registration as an Investment Advisor does not imply any level of skill or training. The views expressed in this episode reflect those of Verdis as of the date of recording. Any views are subject to change at any time based on market or other conditions, and Verdis disclaims any responsibility to update such views. This commentary is not intended to be a forecast of future events, a guarantee of future results or investment advice. Because investment decisions are based on numerous factors, these views may not be relied upon as an indication of trading intent on behalf of any portfolio or strategy. The information contained herein has been prepared from sources believed to be reliable but is not guaranteed by Verdis as to its accuracy or completeness. This information does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, an interest in any jurisdiction in which it is unlawful to make such an offer or solicitation. Certain information contained herein has been obtained from other parties. While such sources are believed to be reliable, neither Verdis nor its respective affiliates assume any responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of such information presented.
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Stephen Wemple, Principal at Spero Ventures, shares how he backs mission-driven founders building enduring companies aligned with purpose and profit. From investing in hardware startups like Telo Trucks to backing social impact ventures such as Juno, Stephen explains why conviction and alignment between founders and investors matter more than ever. He reflects on his journey from Fulbright Fellow in Vietnam to venture capitalist in Silicon Valley, the lessons he’s learned from working with founders, and how smaller, concentrated funds like Spero bring focus and depth back to early-stage investing.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
[01:00] - Stephen’s journey from Fulbright Fellow in Vietnam to venture capitalist at Spero Ventures
[04:30] - How Spero spun out of Omidyar Network to back purpose-driven founders
[08:10] - Investing early—with proof points that show real-world traction
[11:10] - Why mission and authenticity matter more than hype in founder evaluation
[14:00] - The story behind Spero’s investment in Juno and the value of long-term relationships
[17:00] - How founders should work with junior investors inside VC firms
[19:00] - Why conviction and alignment matter when founders choose their investors
[22:00] - Stephen’s take on the concentration of capital and the future of small, focused funds
Nonprofit highlight: AchieveKids
About Stephen WempleStephen Wemple is a Principal at Spero Ventures, where he invests in mission-driven founders building companies for a healthier, more sustainable, and fulfilling future. He has led investments across sectors such as healthcare, climate, and frontier technologies, backing founders who combine purpose with commercial ambition.
Stephen began his career in early-stage venture capital, investing in emerging markets across Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America, and South Asia. A Fulbright Fellow in Vietnam, he worked with the U.S. State Department to support entrepreneurship initiatives before joining Spero Ventures in its formative years. Stephen believes the best entrepreneurs are those who find and stay true to their mission.
About Spero VenturesSpero Ventures is a Silicon Valley-based early-stage venture capital firm that backs mission-driven founders building companies for a healthy, sustainable, and fulfilling future. The firm leads or co-leads seed and Series A rounds with $2–4 million investments and maintains a concentrated portfolio to closely support each founder. Its team, which includes former operators from Tesla, eBay, and Stripe, has invested in companies like Juno (child disability insurance), Telo Trucks (electric pickup trucks), Tiny Health (gut health solutions), Euclid Power (renewable energy software), and Gencove (genome sequencing platform), reflecting its belief that purpose-driven startups can create both outsized impact and venture-scale returns.
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Itamar Novick, founder and General Partner at Recursive Ventures, explains how a repeat-founder’s playbook shapes better early-stage investing. Itamar draws on 25 years of startup experience (including executive roles at Gigya and Life360) to describe the firm’s disciplined pre-seed focus, how he evaluates founders and markets, and why AI applications built on first-party data will create the next wave of meaningful enterprise value. He shares concrete advice on what founders should share with VCs before/during the first meeting, how Recursive filters opportunities, what makes an investable TAM, and the common reasons he passes after initial interest.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
[03:18] The journey from founder to VC and back again
[07:42] How Recursive defines “pre-seed” and why focus matters
[12:51] What Itamar looks forward to in the first call with a founder
[18:34] Data defensibility and AI applications: where value is created
[25:07] The math and reasons behind saying no
[31:40] What founders misunderstand about TAM sizing
[36:58] Staying emotionally resilient as a founder
The nonprofit Itamar supports: Anti-Defamation League (ADL)
About Itamar NovickItamar Novick is the founder and General Partner at Recursive Ventures, a pre-seed focused venture firm investing in AI-driven applications and data-advantaged software products. Before becoming an investor, Itamar spent over two decades as a founder and operator, including leadership roles at Gigya (acquired by SAP) and Life360. His approach to venture blends hands-on operator judgment with disciplined portfolio construction and deep founder support.
About Recursive VenturesRecursive Ventures is a founder-GP led fund specializing in pre-seed and seed companies building AI-powered applications with strong data defensibility. The firm operates with a focused portfolio model, quick decision cycles, and direct founder support — avoiding the AUM-driven growth strategies common in larger firms. Recursive backs founders who combine technical depth, market insight, and authentic obsession. Portfolio companies include Life360, Ring, Tile, DataJoy, Armory, Placer.ai, Deel, May Mobility, Akash Network, Tomato AI, Anjuna Security, Harmony.ai among others.
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Adam Draper, Founder and Managing Director at Boost VC, shares stories of his family’s pivotal role in shaping Silicon Valley, from his grandfather’s pioneering work at Sutter Hill Ventures to his father’s global expansion of Draper Associates. Building on that legacy, Adam created Boost VC to back founders tackling endeavors of consequence — companies so bold they’re often dismissed as “too risky” by traditional investors. He explains how pre-seed investing differs from later-stage venture capital and why he loves supporting technically ambitious founders in frontier industries, crypto, space, and deep tech. He also reflects on how curiosity, not consensus, has guided some of Boost VC’s biggest wins. Adam offers candid insights on founder evaluation, the power of weirdness, and how taking risks can often lead to the safest path to freedom.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
[01:00] The Draper legacy: how one family helped shape venture capital
[05:45] From steel to startups: the early days of Silicon Valley
[10:45] Adam’s first startup and lessons from failure
[13:30] Why Boost VC bets on “endeavors of consequence”
[16:00] How Adam thinks about risk, luck, and curiosity in investing
[18:30] The weird founder advantage: high agency and obsession as signals
[22:45] How Adam evaluates founders beyond the pitch deck
[27:00] Rethinking risk: why the boldest path can be the safest
The nonprofit Adam supports: The Ocean Cleanup
About Adam DraperAdam Draper is the Founder and Managing Director of Boost VC, a pre-seed venture firm in Silicon Valley that invests in founders building the future—across crypto, space, deep tech, and frontier science. A fourth-generation entrepreneur and third-generation venture capitalist, Adam has backed more than 300 startups including Coinbase, Amplitude, and Radiant Nuclear. Known for his enthusiasm for “weird ideas,” Adam is passionate about helping founders take bold risks and build enduring companies.
About Boost VCBoost VC is a Silicon Valley-based pre-seed venture capital firm dedicated to supporting founders building transformative technologies in crypto, deep tech, and frontier industries. Founded in 2012, Boost VC has invested in over 400 companies worldwide. The firm averages roughly one deal per week and deploys around $500 K in its lead pre-seed rounds, along with $50 K fellowship checks for emerging founders.
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Maryam Haque, Founding Executive Director of Venture Forward, discusses how she is helping to open doors to venture capital for people from all backgrounds. She traces her journey from Mississippi to Silicon Valley and highlights the structural barriers that kept venture capital concentrated for decades. Maryam offers a grounded view of the current market dynamics, the growing importance of education and mentorship for emerging managers, and how programs like VC University and the GP Masterclass help build a stronger, more inclusive industry.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
[01:55] From Mississippi to Silicon Valley: Maryam’s unexpected path into venture capital
[04:18] The origins of Venture Forward and its mission to democratize access to VC
[07:13] Why venture capital lacked diversity for so long
[09:17] The champions who sparked change and why progress takes time
[12:46] How Venture Forward educates and supports emerging managers
[15:16] The scale of Venture Forward’s programs and the launch of the GP Masterclass
[18:00] The story of Chingona Ventures and how early support creates lasting impact
[20:54] What successful emerging managers do differently
[24:43] Why starting a fund is harder than it looks—and what most underestimate
[25:47] The future of venture: specialization, innovation, and realistic optimism
The nonprofit organization Maryam is passionate about: PBS
About Maryam HaqueMaryam Haque is the Founding Executive Director of Venture Forward, a nonprofit organization dedicated to democratizing access to venture capital. She has over 15 years of experience in the venture ecosystem, including leadership roles at the National Venture Capital Association (NVCA) and Dow Jones VentureSource. Maryam is passionate about broadening participation in venture capital, supporting emerging fund managers, and advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion across the industry.
About Venture ForwardVenture Forward is a Silicon Valley-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit launched under the NVCA to foster a more accessible, inclusive, and sustainable venture capital ecosystem. The organization supports individuals from all backgrounds through education, mentorship, and community programs such as VC University, Emerging Manager Office Hours, and the GP Masterclass. Its mission is to empower the next generation of investors, strengthen venture firms, and drive lasting change in the innovation economy.
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Tim Guleri, Managing Partner at Sierra Ventures, reflects on 25 years in venture capital and his journey from Chandigarh to Silicon Valley. He shares how hands-on experience as a founder shapes his investing philosophy, why early-stage VCs must guide founders toward long-term fundamentals, and why raising too much capital too soon can hurt a company. Tim explains Sierra’s disciplined approach to partnering with entrepreneurs, the power of unique customer insight, and his hope that America preserves its structural advantage in entrepreneurship.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
[02:10] From Chandigarh to Silicon Valley: Tim’s path to venture and entrepreneurship
[04:09] Lessons from Scopus and Octane: Why lived experience matters more than spreadsheets
[06:07] How venture “reinvents itself” and demands a learning mindset
[11:43] Sierra Ventures’ early-stage focus and flexible check sizes
[14:33] Why raising the maximum check can backfire
[16:44] The Eudia story: Hundreds of customer interviews and unique insights win conviction
[23:07] How Sierra selects only ~2 deals per partner each year
[27:26] Tim’s message to Washington: Don’t overregulate America’s greatest gift—entrepreneurship
The nonprofit organization Tim is passionate about: American India Foundation
About Tim GuleriTim Guleri is a Managing Partner at Sierra Ventures, where he focuses on AI, enterprise software, and emerging technologies. A successful founder turned investor, Tim led Scopus Technology to an IPO and later founded Octane Software, which was acquired for $3B. Since 2001, he has been a hands-on venture capitalist, backing transformative companies and guiding founders with lessons from both entrepreneurial wins and mistakes.
About Sierra VenturesSierra Ventures is a Silicon Valley-based early-stage venture capital firm with over $2B in assets under management and more than four decades of experience. Specializing in enterprise infrastructure and emerging technologies, Sierra partners with founders at seed and Series A stages, providing flexible capital, operational expertise, and trusted connections to help startups scale into market leaders. Portfolio companies include Eudia, Yalo, Spectro Cloud, Endor Labs, Phenom People, Planera, Quintessent, Cimulate, among others.
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Bhaskar Ghosh, Partner at 8VC, reflects on his journey from Calcutta to Silicon Valley, spanning influential roles at Oracle, Yahoo, LinkedIn, and NerdWallet before moving into venture capital. Now a leader at 8VC, BG introduces his “geometry framework” (persona, product, budget) for enterprise startups, shares insights on the opportunities in generative AI and data infrastructure, and talks about why managing uncertainty is the core skill in zero-to-one journeys. He also emphasizes intentional networking, the long-term nature of venture relationships, and his deep passion for music through his support for Ragas Live.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
[01:56] BG’s early journey from Calcutta to Silicon Valley and his career in academia, Yahoo, Oracle, LinkedIn, and NerdWallet
[06:10] Why he calls himself a “secondhand entrepreneur” and what excites him most about venture capital
[11:22] 8VC’s focus areas and why incubation is core to the firm’s strategy
[14:05] The “geometry framework” for evaluating enterprise startups: persona, product, budget
[19:30] Where BG sees opportunity in generative AI: orchestration, knowledge graphs, semantic layers, observability
[25:12] Why networking must be intentional and based on service, not transactions
[28:34] BG’s advice to founders on standing out and building authentic investor relationships
The non-profit Bhaskar is passionate about: SACSA (Society for Arts and Culture of South Asia)
About Bhaskar Ghosh
Bhaskar Ghosh (BG) is a Partner at 8VC, where he leads investments in enterprise software, AI, data infrastructure, fintech, and healthcare, while incubating multiple startups. Previously, he held senior roles at Oracle and Yahoo, was the founding head of data infrastructure at LinkedIn, and served as CTO at NerdWallet, helping scale it to IPO. BG holds a PhD in Computer Science from Yale and is passionate about helping founders navigate zero-to-one journeys. Outside venture, he is deeply engaged in Indian classical music and supports community initiatives like Ragas Live.
About 8VC
8VC is a venture capital firm with approximately $7B in assets under management, investing in transformative technologies across enterprise software, AI, healthcare, logistics, fintech, and defense. With offices in Austin and San Francisco, 8VC partners with early-stage founders and also dedicates significant capital to incubation—building new companies alongside entrepreneurs. Its mission is to back ambitious founders solving global problems with scalable, science-driven solutions. 8VC’s portfolio includes category-defining startups that are shaping industries and tackling global challenges, including DataHub, Yugabyte, LightBeam, Tezi, OpenGov, Nile, AI21 Labs, AMP, Bedrock Robotics, 180° Insurance, Cambium, Candid Health among others.
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Zach Noorani, Partner at Foundation Capital, shares hard-earned insights from more than a decade in venture capital. He talks about why the most important question investors wrestle with is differentiation, why authentic conversations with founders matter more than polished pitches, and how the best founders demonstrate velocity of learning. Zach also reflects on the evolving nature of venture—how the industry has become more professionalized, what excites him about the new wave of innovation, and why empathy and due process matter in society as much as in business.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
[01:40] From Salem to Stanford to Silicon Valley: Zach’s journey into venture capital
[03:38] Why venture is a “blank canvas” and not a zero-sum game
[05:46] Foundation Capital’s early-stage focus and Zach’s typical check size
[06:58] “There’s no time too early”: When founders should reach out—and what Zach looks for
[09:43] What really happens in the first meeting (and why it’s about participation, not just Q&A)
[12:54] Should founders ditch the pitch deck? Zach’s advice might surprise you
[16:40] The Push Cash story: How one founder showed true differentiation from day one
[19:34] Why Zach says no—even after initial interest—and what makes a $10B story possible
[22:42] How venture has professionalized—and why AI brings back the excitement
About Zach Noorani
Zach Noorani is a Partner at Foundation Capital, where he invests in early-stage fintech and enterprise startups. With over 14 years of experience in venture capital, Zach has a background that spans corporate VC at Capital One and a passion for supporting founders who demonstrate velocity of learning and unique insight. Based in Los Angeles, Zach focuses on inception-to-Series A companies and has led investments in several innovative fintech ventures.
About Foundation Capital
Foundation Capital is a Silicon Valley-based venture capital firm with over 30 years of experience backing early-stage companies. The firm partners with founders from inception through Series A, providing hands-on support to help build transformative businesses. Foundation Capital’s portfolio includes category-defining companies across fintech, enterprise, and emerging technologies.
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Jacques Benkoski, General Partner at US Venture Partners, shares lessons from decades of experience as an operator, CEO, and VC. He challenges common startup myths and offers a framework for market entry that emphasizes strategy over luck. Jacques explains why focus—not speed—is the key to building category leadership, and why the venture ecosystem has become noisier, faster, and harder to navigate. He also opens up about the psychological toll of startup leadership and why founders need thought partners, not just capital.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
[01:00] From Belgium to Israel to Silicon Valley: Jacques’ global path into tech and AI
[05:20] “This time it’s different” is rarely true—how founders should think about hype cycles
[11:00] Why more capital doesn’t mean an easier path for founders
[13:30] The venture industry is now a volume business—but founders need depth, not scale
[15:00] What founders get wrong about market entry—and why randomness is the enemy
[17:30] Focused beats first: how Medigate won in cybersecurity by narrowing in on medical devices
[30:00] The importance of reflection, walking without your phone, and finding a mentor
[37:00] Jacques' nonprofit passion: creating dialogue between communities in conflict
The nonprofit organization Jacques is passionate about: Technion
About Jacques Benkoski
Jacques Benkoski is a General Partner at US Venture Partners (USVP), where he invests in enterprise software, AI, and cybersecurity startups. He has over 20 years of experience as a VC, following a successful career as a startup CEO and tech executive. Jacques is also the author of Market Entry Strategy, a hands-on guide for founders navigating early customer acquisition. A passionate advocate for founder wellbeing and long-term thinking, Jacques mentors entrepreneurs around the world.
About U.S. Venture Partners
U.S. Venture Partners (USVP) is a leading Silicon Valley venture capital firm with a strong focus on early-stage companies in enterprise software, cybersecurity, and healthcare. With more than $4 billion raised since its founding in 1981, USVP has backed over 500 companies including Box, Guidewire, Trusteer, and Medigate. The firm brings decades of operational expertise and deep sector insight to help founders scale with clarity and discipline.
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Amit Garg, co-founder and managing partner at Tau Ventures, shares how he backs startups at the intersection of healthcare, enterprise, and automation.. Drawing from his experiences as an operator, VC, and nonprofit founder, Amit offers a pragmatic and deeply thoughtful perspective on what makes a venture-backable company, and why doing the right thing can (and should) drive valuation.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
[04:40] Why Amit believes _“VC is one of the most intellectually fulfilling jobs in the world”_—and how it blends empathy and long-term conviction
[11:40] Betting on uncomfortable timing: Tau backed Iterative Health before AI in gastrointestinal innovation was trendy
[17:40] "I value humility more than confidence." Amit’s surprising lens on what makes a founder trustworthy (and fundable)
[21:30] Understanding how to extend your runway to 24 months is the key to success in early-stage startups.
[25:20] What founders must understand about true VC alignment
[29:49] Value vs. valuation: The myth founders must unlearn to avoid being misled by hype-driven fundraising
The nonprofit organization Amit is passionate about: Hospital for Hope
About Amit Garg
Amit Garg is the Co-founder and Managing Partner at Tau Ventures, a Silicon Valley-based early-stage venture capital firm. With a background in engineering, product, and investing, Amit has built a career around intersecting deep tech with human impact. Prior to founding Tau Ventures, he worked at Google, Norwest Venture Partners, and Samsung NEXT. He’s also the co-founder of Hospital for Hope, a nonprofit hospital in rural India. Amit brings a global, grounded, and mission-driven lens to evaluating startups, with particular focus on AI, digital health, and enterprise infrastructure.
About Tau Ventures
Tau Ventures is a seed-focused venture capital firm investing in startups at the intersection of AI, healthcare, automation, and enterprise infrastructure. Founded by operators-turned-investors, the firm applies deep technical understanding and pragmatic business insight to back early-stage teams tackling real-world challenges. Tau operates with a lean fund model, high conviction, and a focus on value creation over hype. Its portfolio includes startups applying cutting-edge technology to improve healthcare diagnostics, workflow automation, and infrastructure scalability. Tau’s portfolio companies include 1Password, Absci, Alpaca Health, Autonomize AI, Iterative Health, Vecna Robotics among others.
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Dave McClure, founder of Practical Venture Capital and co-founder of 500 Startups, dives deep into the growing role of secondaries in venture capital. Dave explains how today’s longer startup cycles and liquidity droughts have created opportunities (and confusion) around secondary markets. He breaks down what secondaries actually are, how Practical VC operates, and key trends shaking up the system. With his trademark candor, Dave also shares hard truths for both founders and VCs navigating this next chapter of private markets.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
[03:55] Dave’s journey to becoming an investor
[06:30] The early evolution of accelerators and why “lots of little bets” took off
[09:50] How cloud, open source, and low CAC changed the startup funding game
[12:49] Why startup liquidity timelines have doubled—and what that means for founders and LPs
[14:56] What secondaries really are (hint: not just one thing)
[19:31] Does venture’s illiquidity attract the right kind of investors—or just the most patient?
[22:06] The discipline of public markets vs. the opacity of private ones
[26:37] What Practical VC looks for in a secondary opportunity (and the $50M–$100M revenue rule)
[29:14] How Dave screens funds and companies for possible exits
[33:37] What’s exciting (and worrying) about secondaries, stablecoins, and emerging markets
The nonprofit organization Dave is passionate about: New Story
About Dave McClure
Dave McClure is the founder of Practical Venture Capital, a firm focused on liquidity through venture secondaries. Previously, he co-founded 500 Startups, one of the world’s most active early-stage venture funds. A PayPal alumni and self-described nerd turned investor, Dave has worked across engineering, marketing, and venture roles, investing in hundreds of startups globally. He’s known for his honest insights and bold bets on opportunities before they’re ‘cool’.
About Practical Venture Capital
Practical Venture Capital is a Silicon Valley-based VC secondary firm providing liquidity to GPs, LPs, and founders through targeted secondary investments. Specializing in fund-level and company-level secondaries, Practical VC aims to shorten the venture capital time horizon by backing mature, revenue-generating companies with clear exit paths. The firm focuses on portfolios nearing liquidity and brings a flexible, creative approach to valuation, pricing, and structure.
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Brian Frank, the founder and general partner at FTW Ventures, shares why he left his founder career to invest in startups solving real-world problems starting with the global food system. He explores the climate risks, supply chain fragility, and health challenges driving the need for innovation in food and agriculture. From AI and biotech to automation, Brian highlights where the biggest opportunities lie. He also offers candid advice for founders navigating slow-moving, regulation-heavy industries and calls for a more collaborative, mission-aligned approach to venture capital.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
[03:35] How startup success as a student got Brian hooked on innovation early
[05:54] Why Brian left startup life after seven companies to support founders solving global problems
[09:18] The urgent reasons our food system needs reinvention—from climate to national security
[12:33] FTW Ventures investment philosophy and focus areas
[22:50] Hard truths for founders in food and agriculture
[31:13] The story of a founder who proved his market, didn’t wait for funding, and built trust
[37:05] What needs to change in VC: stop party rounds, leave space for small funds, invest with purpose
The nonprofit organization Brian is passionate about: World Central Kitchen
About Brian Frank
Brian Frank is the founder and general partner at FTW Ventures, a venture capital firm focused on technology solutions in food, agriculture, and health. A serial entrepreneur with a background in computer science and product development, Brian has launched and scaled seven startups. He brings that hands-on experience to founders tackling real-world challenges, backing science-backed and mission-driven companies that aim to improve life on the planet.
About FTW Ventures
FTW Ventures is a Silicon Valley-based venture capital firm investing in the future of food, agriculture, and human health. With a thesis grounded in problem-first investing, FTW backs early-stage startups applying biotechnology, artificial intelligence, automation, and sustainable systems to global challenges. Their portfolio includes companies advancing biomanufacturing, food-as-medicine, CRISPR-based crop innovation, and more—pursuing returns across people, planet, and profit. Companies in FTW’s portfolio include Boston Bioprocess, ALTR, Sylvan Health, FreshFry, Izote Biosciences, Arise, Quorum Bio, Earthodic, Heritable, Brilliant Harvest, VoltAir, Geltor, Spoiler Alert, Plantible Foods, Galley, Phytoform, Nfinite Nanotech, Yali Bio, and Debut Biotechnology.
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Geoff Ralston, founder of SAIF (Safe Artificial Intelligence Fund), and former President of Y Combinator, shares his vision for building a safer AI future. Geoff discusses the risks and promise of AI as a force beyond traditional tools, posing AI as a set of entities that will reshape the way we work, live, and relate to each other. He talks about biosafety, interpretability, and misinformation as key focus areas for innovation. Geoff also shares advice for founders navigating this fast-evolving landscape and reflects on how thoughtful investment today can shape the future of humanity.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
[02:05] Why Geoff believes AI is not ‘just’ a tool but a cognitive force reshaping humanity
[06:29] The subtle but profound difference between tools and intelligent agents
[13:56] Who wins and who loses in an AI-driven future, and what roles must investors play?
[20:36] Can we still design a utopian future with AI?
[24:06] The types of founders Geoff wants to back through SAIF
[26:30] Why mission-aligned safety startups still need product-market fit
[28:46] What happens when AI does everything—and what humans will still choose to do
The nonprofit organization Geoff is passionate about: AI Venture Lab
About Geoff Ralston
Geoff Ralston is the founder of SAIF (Safe Artificial Intelligence Fund) and former President of Y Combinator. A longtime startup investor, entrepreneur, and thought leader, Geoff previously founded Imagine K12, an edtech accelerator later merged with YC. With decades of experience launching and scaling category-defining startups, Geoff now focuses on funding companies that ensure AI becomes a force for good, addressing challenges around safety, security, and the future of human work.
About SAIF
SAIF (Safe Artificial Intelligence Fund) is a venture capital firm dedicated to building a safer future with AI. Founded by Geoff Ralston, SAIF invests in startups focused on AI safety, biosafety, interpretability, and information integrity. The firm supports mission-driven founders creating scalable solutions to counteract risks and ensure that AI technologies empower rather than endanger society.
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Nadav Eylath, founder and managing partner of at.inc, shares his philosophy of early-stage investing rooted in trust, long-term thinking, and technical rigor. Nadav talks about backing founders at the very inception of their startup journey—sometimes even before they’ve left their jobs. He explains how asking questions like “What kind of company will this be in 30 years?” leads to deeper conviction and better partnerships. Nadav also shares his views on why venture capital needs to evolve and how a flexible, founder-first approach can reshape the industry.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
[01:49] From building treehouses to model airplanes: Nadav’s early love for tech and tinkering
[03:26] How informal advising turned into full-time investing
[04:57] The meaning behind the name at.inc and how it reflects the firm’s thesis
[10:01] “What kind of company will this be in 30 years?”—the power of visionary questions
[13:30] Building conviction: fast no’s, thoughtful yes’s
[15:51] How early-stage founders can build a relationship with Nadav
[20:14] Why Nadav says no: timing and fit
[24:07] How venture capital should evolve to serve today’s founders
The nonprofit organization Nadav is passionate about: Tel Aviv University
About Nadav EylathNadav Eylath is the founder and managing partner of at.inc, a venture capital firm that invests at the very inception of startups. With a background in data science, marketing, and company-building, Nadav brings an operator’s empathy and a long-term investor’s lens to early-stage ventures. His career spans roles at startups acquired by companies like Intuit, as well as over a decade of deliberate, hands-on venture investing. Nadav’s approach is grounded in trust, curiosity, and a passion for helping founders bring technically ambitious and globally relevant ideas to life.
About at.incat.inc—short for “at incorporation or at inception”—is a Silicon Valley-based venture capital firm that backs startups from day zero. The firm invests in deeply technical companies with global potential, often writing the first check when founders are just forming their ideas. Generalist by design, at.inc partners with entrepreneurs across sectors, emphasizing long-term vision, high trust, and a hands-on approach. With a focused investment pace and founder-first philosophy, at.inc supports startups throughout their full journey, from inception to global scale.
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Tomoko Ishikura, Managing Partner at Kicker Ventures, shares her unique perspective on investing in the future of healthcare. She talks about building a venture firm rooted in empathy, humility, and measurable impact. Tomoko explains how Kicker Ventures seeks science-backed innovations that move the heart, not just the market, and why strong communities are vital for startup success. She offers candid advice for founders on articulating impact, leaning into community support, and navigating a healthcare landscape that's increasingly collaborative.
In this episode, you’ll learn:[02:00] Why Silicon Valley’s "uncertainty and possibility" drew Tomoko from Japan
[04:06] Venture capital as a humble act of early belief—and why VCs are deeply interdependent
[06:46] Kicker Ventures' mission to create a happier and healthier world through science-backed innovation
[12:31] What founders must do in the first meeting to excite impact-driven investors
[19:19] Why founders should build strong communities early and ask for help
[26:00] Tomoko’s call to eliminate barriers to global innovation and unlock hidden talent worldwide
The non-profit organization Tomoko is passionate about: Kadampa Meditation Center SF
About Tomoko IshikuraTomoko Ishikura is the Managing Partner at Kicker Ventures, where she leads investments in science-backed innovations shaping the future of healthcare. Originally trained as a pharmacist and molecular biologist, Tomoko transitioned into business development, consulting, and now venture capital. Drawing from her global experience across Japan and Silicon Valley, Tomoko brings a distinctive focus on empathy, impact, and community-driven success to the startup ecosystem.
About Kicker VenturesKicker Ventures is a San Francisco-based venture capital firm investing in transformative solutions for the future of healthcare. Kicker backs science-backed innovations that foster happiness, empower individuals, amplify the work of health professionals and researchers, and create meaningful human connections. With a deep commitment to measurable impact, Kicker Ventures partners with visionary founders reimagining health and wellbeing for future generations.
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Mahesh Ram, serial entrepreneur and former Head of AI at Zoom, shares his journey from building pioneering companies in education and AI to helping launch FUNDA, a vibrant founder-to-founder community. He discusses the evolution of AI-first startups, lessons from working closely with Zoom founder Eric Yuan, and what it takes to build enduring tech companies today. Mahesh offers real-world advice on how founders can navigate the rapidly changing startup landscape, with a deep focus on customer obsession, rapid product iteration, and embedding technology into core workflows.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
[01:50] How Mahesh went from immigrant kid in New York to serial entrepreneur in Silicon Valley
[06:50] Why Mahesh believes frustration often leads to the best startup ideas
[10:55] Inside Zoom’s AI journey—and how Mahesh helped launch AI Companion at record speed
[13:14] Lessons on leadership from Eric Yuan: customer obsession and quality over cost
[20:41] Mahesh’s advice to AI-first founders: ship fast, sell faster, and validate deeply
[24:23] What separates point solutions from workflow-embedded companies
[27:03] Mahesh’s nuanced take on AI’s societal risks—and why we’re not ready
[31:25] What is Funda? Why a grassroots founder community is booming
The nonprofit organization that Mahesh supports: UStrive
About Mahesh RamMahesh Ram is a serial entrepreneur and expert in artificial intelligence, most recently serving as Head of AI at Zoom. He was co-founder and CEO of Solvvy, a pioneering AI startup in customer experience, acquired by Zoom. Prior to that, he led GlobalEnglish, a business English learning platform used by millions worldwide. Mahesh advises founders, invests in early-stage startups, and is a founding member of FUNDA, a growing grassroots community of founders of Indian origin. He is deeply passionate about education, technology, and building systems that simplify complex problems.
About FUNDAFunda is a pay-it-forward community for founders of Indian origin, designed to support early-stage entrepreneurs through collaboration, connection, and shared experience. Built by founders for founders, Funda now includes over 1,250 members across Silicon Valley, Texas, and India. The community offers peer support, curated events, and access to a trusted network—entirely volunteer-driven and mission-focused.
About UStriveMahesh actively volunteers with UStrive, a nonprofit providing free virtual mentoring for high school and college students with financial need. The platform matches students with mentors to help navigate college admissions and financial aid processes—removing barriers to higher education for underserved youth.
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Andrew Cleland, Chief Investment Officer at Techstars, shares how the world’s leading accelerator invests in early-stage startups. He breaks down what makes a great founder, how Techstars selects startups from tens of thousands of applicants, and why a strong technical differentiator is crucial. Andrew reveals the most common reasons startups get rejected and how Techstars mentors founders to avoid early mistakes. He also talks about the biggest themes shaping the future of venture capital.
In this episode, you’ll learn:[03:00] How Andrew’s background in consulting, startups, and venture capital led him to Techstars
[07:34] How Techstars selects startups from thousands of applications—what matters most
[14:01] The #1 mistake founders make when applying to Techstars, and how to avoid
[20:50] Why founders need to build investor relationships early when thinking about fundraising
[26:04] Why the VC industry needs more transparency—and how that benefits founders
The non-profit organization Andrew is passionate about: Magic Bus
About Andrew ClelandAndrew Cleland is the Chief Investment Officer at Techstars, where he oversees investment strategy, fundraising, and portfolio growth across Techstars’ global network of accelerators. With over two decades in venture capital and early-stage investing, he previously led investments at Comcast Ventures and Time Warner Investments. An INSEAD MBA graduate, Andrew has backed dozens of high-growth startups and is focused on empowering the next generation of global founders.
About TechstarsTechstars is one of the world’s leading startup accelerators, backing thousands of early-stage companies across 50+ accelerator programs worldwide. Since 2006, Techstars has helped launch 20+ unicorns, including SendGrid, DigitalOcean, Uber, Twilio, DataRobot and Outreach. The program provides mentorship, funding, and global networks to help startups scale fast.
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Stephen Crook, Executive Director at Achieve Kids, explains how the organization supports students with special needs through individualized education, behavioral support, and vocational training. For over 60 years, Achieve Kids has provided a structured and supportive environment where students can develop independence. By working closely with school districts, educators, and families, the organization helps students transition back into public schools or the workforce. Stephen also shares the challenges and rewards of leading a nonprofit in special education, the impact of mentorship on student success, and how Achieve Kids partners with 35+ school districts to fulfill its mission.
Stephen Crook, Executive Director at AchieveKids, explains how the organization supports students with special needs through individualized education, behavioral support, and vocational training. For over 60 years, AchieveKids has provided a structured and supportive environment where students can develop independence. By working closely with school districts, educators, and families, the organization helps students transition back into public schools or the workforce. In this special Podcasthon episode, Stephen also shares the challenges and rewards of leading a nonprofit in special education, the impact of mentorship on student success, and how AchieveKids partners with 35+ school districts to fulfill its mission.
In this episode, you'll learn:
[03:00] How Stephen’s journey from psychology research to teaching led him to AchieveKids
[07:34] What makes AchieveKids different from traditional special education programs
[14:01] A powerful success story of a student overcoming severe behavioral challenges
[20:50] Why teacher shortages threaten special education and what’s being done about it
[23:09] The biggest challenges families face when seeking support for their children
[26:04] The future of AchieveKids and how the program is expanding to meet growing needs
About Stephen CrookStephen Crook is the Executive Director of AchieveKids, a nonprofit school serving students with special needs. With a background in developmental psychology, teaching, and school administration, he has dedicated his career to improving special education programs and advocating for students with disabilities. Before joining AchieveKids, Stephen worked as a therapeutic teacher and school director, helping students with significant behavioral and emotional needs gain the skills to succeed in school and beyond.
About AchieveKidsAchieveKids is a nonprofit school that serves students ages 5 to 22 with autism, intellectual disabilities, emotional needs, and developmental challenges. With campuses in Palo Alto and East San Jose, AchieveKids partners with 35+ school districts to provide individualized education, behavioral support, mental health services, and vocational training. The goal is to help every student transition into a more independent and fulfilling life.
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Allen Taylor, Managing Partner at Endeavor Catalyst, shares how Endeavor is fueling the rise of world-class startups in emerging markets—places often overlooked by traditional venture capital. Allen reveals how Endeavor identifies and supports high-potential founders before investing, why scaling talent is just as critical as scaling products, and how global ecosystems are evolving to produce unicorns from regions like Latin America, the Middle East, and Sub-Saharan Africa. He also shares practical advice for founders operating outside established innovation hubs and highlights how Endeavor’s unique investment model flips traditional venture capital on its head.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
[03:00] How Allen’s international career led him to Endeavor and a global mission to support entrepreneurs in overlooked markets
[05:55] Why talent is everywhere—but opportunity isn’t—and how Endeavor flips the script on where billion-dollar companies are built
[09:50] The contrarian strategy that made Endeavor Catalyst one of the most successful global venture funds
[15:31] What does it take to become an Endeavor startup?
[25:48] The biggest challenges founders face outside major tech hubs—and why scaling talent is the hardest part of growth
[29:04] Why Allen is bullish on Latin America, the Middle East, and Sub-Saharan Africa as the next breakout regions for global innovation
The non-profit organization Allen is passionate about: Kauffman Fellows
About Allen TaylorAllen Taylor is the Managing Partner at Endeavor Catalyst, the venture capital fund supporting Endeavor’s global community of high-impact entrepreneurs. With nearly 20 years at Endeavor, Allen has helped drive the organization's global expansion and innovative investment model, which backs companies across Latin America, the Middle East, Africa, and beyond. Previously, Allen worked in international development and studied in Argentina, igniting his passion for supporting global entrepreneurship. Allen is also a Kauffman Fellow and serves on the board of the Kauffman Fellows Program.
About Endeavor CatalystEndeavor Catalyst is the co-investment fund of Endeavor, the leading global community of high-impact entrepreneurs. Since 2012, Endeavor Catalyst has invested in over 300 companies across 30+ countries, backing founders who are building transformative businesses in emerging and underserved markets. With a rules-based model, Endeavor Catalyst automatically invests alongside professional VCs when Endeavor Entrepreneurs raise Series A, B, or C rounds. Its portfolio includes Latin America’s first unicorn, Mercado Libre, and pioneering companies like Nubank and InstaDeep.
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Connor Ryan, Partner at Bridge Venture Fund, shares his insights on investing in overlooked markets and the importance of sustainable unit economics. He explains why he prioritizes revenue quality over aggressive growth, the difference between projected and demonstrated product-market fit, and how Bridge Venture Fund supports startups tackling inefficiencies in industries like legal tech and sports sponsorship analytics. Connor also discusses the asymmetric risks in venture capital and how VCs can better support founders, even when things don’t go as planned.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
[02:27] From private equity to venture capital—Connor’s unconventional path and why he invests in overlooked industries
[07:06] How Bridge Venture Fund identifies overlooked industries ripe for innovation
[12:28] The two key questions Connor asks in every pitch meeting
[16:52] How legal tech startups like CaseText are transforming traditional workflows
[17:32] Why non-lead VCs like Bridge Venture Fund have to move fast but still maintain rigorous diligence
[22:38] The most common reason Connor passes on startups: weak unit economics and misleading LTV/CAC assumptions
[27:49] Connor’s perspective on venture capital’s asymmetric risk and why founders bear the brunt of failure
The non-profit organization that Connor is passionate about: World Wildlife Fund
About Connor Ryan
Connor Ryan is a Partner at Bridge Venture Fund, where he focuses on investing in startups serving overlooked and underserved industries. Before joining Bridge, he worked in private equity and investment banking, gaining deep insights into business model sustainability and market inefficiencies. Connor holds an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management and is passionate about supporting founders who bring real innovation to lagging industries.
About Bridge Venture Fund
Bridge Venture Fund is a Chicago-based early-stage VC firm investing in startups that serve industries underserved by innovation. With a focus on sustainable unit economics and market-defining solutions, the firm has backed companies in legal tech, sports sponsorship analytics, retail, and more. Notable investments include CaseText (acquired by Thomson Reuters) and Trajektory.
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David Hornik, founding partner at Lobby Capital, shares insights from his 25-year journey in the industry. David discusses the evolution of venture capital, the growing importance of relationships over transactions, and his structured yet practical approach to investing. He highlights how liquidity challenges impact founders and early investors. David also shares his take on what makes a startup truly investable and why understanding a problem deeply is more valuable than chasing market trends.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
[06:14] How venture capital has evolved from a simple early- vs. late-stage VC model to today's fragmented landscape with seed, pre-seed, and late-stage funds
[09:57] Entrepreneurship was for misfits in the 90’s; it’s now a top career choice.
[19:06] Networking is a key driver for startup connections and investment in venture capital.
[26:23] How David evaluates startups
[32:21] Common reasons for saying no to a startups
[35:07] Why even great VCs miss billion-dollar opportunities
The non-profit organization that David is passionate about: Institute of Contemporary Art in San Francisco
About David Hornik
David Hornik is the founding partner of Lobby Capital, a Silicon Valley-based venture firm focused on Series A investments. With nearly 25 years in venture capital, he previously spent two decades at August Capital. A seasoned investor, he has backed companies like Fastly, Splunk, and MaintainX. David also created Lobby, a renowned invite-only conference fostering deep founder-investor relationships. In addition to investing, he teaches entrepreneurship at Stanford and Harvard. Known for his relationship-driven approach, he emphasizes market potential, customer validation, and founder expertise when evaluating startups. He and his wife support the Institute of Contemporary Art in San Francisco.
About Lobby Capital
Lobby Capital is a Silicon Valley-based venture firm founded on decades of experience and a powerful network of entrepreneurs, investors, and industry leaders. Emerging from the renowned Lobby Conference community, the firm takes a people-first, hands-on approach to Series A investing. By providing deep expertise, strategic connections, and dedicated support, Lobby Capital helps founders scale and build transformative companies. With a strong belief that great businesses are built by great people, the firm leverages relationships to drive venture success and long-term impact. Its portfolio companies include Vantage Discovery, Kolena, Apera AI, Ownify, Procyon.ai, Faros AI, The Easy Company, Sprout Labs, Better Trucks, ForeVR Games among others.
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Pablo Srugo, partner at Mistral Venture Partners and host of The Product Market Fit Show, shares his journey from co-founding startups like Gymtrack to becoming a venture capitalist focused on seed-stage investments. He reflects on the lessons learned through his and other founders' entrepreneurial highs and lows, including raising $6 million for a wearable tech company and navigating the challenges of a failed acquisition.
Now, as an investor, Pablo emphasizes the importance of founder passion, solving top-priority customer problems, and the "why" behind ventures. He discusses what makes founders stand out, noting that only 10% of first meetings turn into investments. With vivid examples, like a company scaling to $90M in revenue before a dramatic downturn, Pablo provides an authentic look into the messy realities of early-stage investing.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
[01:50] Meet Pablo Srugo: From startup hustler to VC
[06:24] Why some founders make poor investors and vice versa
[09:08] The art of letting go: The ability to step back as an investor
[13:05] How a compelling founder’s personal story and origin drives VC decision-making
[16:49] Pablo’s focus on team, market fit, and value proposition
[23:40] Value creation vs. noise: Understanding and delivering clear value is the most critical factor in gaining an investor’s conviction to invest.
[30:25] Lessons from missed opportunities: Pablo passed on a startup that later scaled 30x and learned the importance of truly understanding the Ideal Customer Profile (ICP).
[35:48] The Product Market Fit Show dissects the zero-to-one journey of successful founders and shares lessons from those who failed despite early traction.
Felipe Camposano, Managing Partner at Taram Capital, shares his journey as a pioneer in Chile's venture capital ecosystem and his efforts to support startups across Latin America. He discusses his transition from entrepreneur to investor, emphasizing his focus on mission-driven founders and leveraging networks for deal sourcing and evaluation. Felipe highlights Taram Capital’s unique approach to scaling startups through corporate partnerships, the importance of founder obsession with solving problems, and the critical role of localization in the region. He also shares insights from portfolio companies like YAPP and Webdox, showcasing the value of strong teams and founder-led growth.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
[02:05] Felipe’s Path to VC: From entrepreneur to investor, Felipe reflects on early lessons in founder selection at Fundación Chile.
[07:36] Evolving the Chilean VC Landscape: Launching one of Chile's first VC funds to support local entrepreneurs and regional expansion.
[10:31] The Genesis of Taram Capital: Leveraging corporate partnerships to help startups scale their go-to-market strategies.
[13:15] Focus Areas for Investment: B2B SaaS, fintech, e-commerce, and data-driven solutions with a localization focus.
[17:40] Investing with Fewer but Deeper Relationships: Building a network-driven approach to founder evaluation and support.
[26:24] Spotlight on Portfolio Companies: YAPP simplifies health-tech connections; Webdox fosters business growth collaborative contract management.
The non-profit organization Felipe is passionate about: ChileFlorida.org
About Felipe Camposano
Felipe Camposano is the Managing Partner at Taram Capital and Strategic Planning Chair at ASEM-BIO (The Chilean Biotechnology Association). He co-founded Lucien Biotech, holds board seats at DICTUC’s Agro Biotech Center, and previously directed New Business Development at Fundación Chile. Felipe founded INTRA, an enterprise knowledge management firm, and co-founded NEXION, offering tech development services in China. He has advised CORFO and ProChile, taught technology marketing at Universidad Católica, written for BioNexa, and holds patents recognized with innovation awards. His career spans venture creation, investment, and international business development across Latin America and beyond.
About Taram Capital
Taram Capital is a Santiago-based early-stage venture capital firm specializing in early-stage investments in software, information technology, and healthcare. With a primary focus on Chile and the United States, Taram has made investments in companies such as Andes STR, Keirón, Regcheq, Dentalink, TaskHuman, Radar (Financial Services), SimpliRoute, Lirmi, LAP Global, and Webdox.
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Neil Devani, founder of Necessary Ventures, shares his journey from healthcare and healthcare policy to venture capital, focusing on mission-driven startups tackling societal challenges. He discusses his investment strategy, offering insights into evaluating startups for transformative potential, talent retention, capital efficiency, and impactful storytelling. Neil highlights the importance of customer empathy and avoiding gratuitous technology. He also advocates for quality over speed during venture deals, emphasizing the importance of long-term founder-VC alignment. With a thoughtful approach to impact and innovation, Neil provides actionable advice for navigating the VC landscape.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
[01:49] How Neil’s early frustrations with the U.S. healthcare system inspired a desire to address systemic issues through technology and startups.
[08:43] Creating Necessary Ventures with a mission to invest in companies addressing major societal challenges with innovative solutions.
[11:38] Necessary Ventures investment strategy and philosophy: Mission-driven companies are prioritized for their competitive advantages in talent retention, capital efficiency, and market visibility.
[14:37] The importance of avoiding "gratuitous" uses of technology and focusing on practical, impactful applications.
[19:33] Speed vs. quality in venture capital: Prioritize long-term founder/VC alignment over short-term funding speed.
[23:13] Have deep customer empathy and offer a solution providing transformative value to win over investors.
[28:48] The future of Necessary Ventures: Fostering a unique approach to creating and measuring impact and value-add to startups.
The non-profit organization Neil is passionate about: Upsolve
About Neil Devani
Neil Devani is the founder and managing partner of Necessary Ventures, where he prioritizes investments in companies tackling complex challenges, particularly in healthcare, financial services, and education. His portfolio also includes startups in emerging technologies such as machine learning and robotics. Beyond investing, Neil serves as an advisor to various companies, nonprofits, and venture funds. He holds a J.D. from Stanford Law School, attended medical school at Drexel University, and earned a B.S. from Pennsylvania State University.
About Necessary Ventures
Necessary Ventures is a Silicon Valley-based venture capital firm specializing in seed to early-stage investments in AI, healthcare, and machine learning. The firm focuses primarily on companies in North America and Europe, with a particular emphasis on San Francisco, London, and New York. Its portfolio includes companies such as Plural Energy, Unlearn.AI, Readout AI, Magrathea, Rubi Laboratories, and Mooch, among others.
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Dave Anderson, founding general partner at Beat Ventures, discusses his approach to investing in tech startups targeting overlooked legacy industries. He highlights the role of AI in revolutionizing these industries, giving examples of predictive AI application in meat processing and generative AI in finance. Dave stresses the importance of building Silicon Valley networks for funding and hiring while maintaining close customer relationships for execution. Drawing from his unconventional journey into venture capital, he calls for more diversity in the industry to open up opportunities for both founders and investors.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
[04:40] Challenges legacy industries face in adopting new technology
[09:15] Beat Ventures’ focus on niche markets with high growth potential
[14:22] The importance of networking in Silicon Valley and proximity to customers
[19:08] How democratized technology is fostering diverse founders and investors
[21:47] Notable AI innovations transforming legacy industries
The non-profit organization Dave is passionate about: San Francisco School Board
About Dave Anderson
Dave Anderson is a Founding Partner and General Partner at Beat Ventures. Dave previously served as an Associate at Toyota AI Ventures. Prior to that, he co-founded Bamboo Detroit, the city’s first and largest co-working space for entrepreneurs, and was the director of venture services at NextEnergy, an early-stage technology incubator. An electrical engineer with experience in advanced battery systems, Dave worked with Bosch Battery Systems and General Dynamics Land Systems. He’s recognized as one of Crain Detroit Business’s 20 in their 20s and featured by Huffington Post and ABC’s 20/20. He holds an electrical engineering degree from the University of Michigan and an MBA from Harvard Business School, where he helped launch HBS Accelerate.
About Beat Ventures
Beat Ventures is a San Francisco-based VC firm investing in AI-driven companies that enhance human performance in overlooked legacy industries. Focused on pre-seed and seed stages, Beat Ventures supports startups using applied AI to complement human ingenuity, rather than replace it. The firm believes the future's most impactful companies will blend technology and human creativity to advance business and society. Its portfolio includes Volur, Stack AI, Truewind, Bitpart AI, Treehouse, Fishtail, Theo AI, Bolo AI, Poka Labs, Safe, Dropverse, and Clockwork.
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Yiğit Ihlamur, co-founder and general partner at Vela Partners, shares his unique venture capital approach, which combines data analysis with personal connections to identify exceptional founders. At Vela Partners, an algorithmic scan of companies helps narrow down investment choices, but final decisions hinge on assessing founder resilience and motivation during meetings. Yiğit explains that, typically, he has already decided to invest by the time he meets a founder; the meeting confirms his conviction. He also discusses AI’s role in shaping the future of productivity tools and offers valuable advice to founders on preparation and authenticity when seeking investment.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
[02:06] Yiğit's journey from Google to venture capital, and his unique approach to combining engineering and venture investing.
[06:27] How Vela Partners integrates artificial intelligence and quant-driven algorithms to identify high-potential startups
[10:21] The significance of a balanced quantitative and qualitative assessment in VC investing
[12:41] How AI is enabling the next generation of productivity tools
[19:08] Articulate your personal story, intrinsic motivation, and ability to articulate your commitment to solving a particular problem.
[24:07] What should startups do to attract algorithm-driven funds like Vela Partners?
[27:02] Slow decision-making pace in VC is a problem
The nonprofit organizations Yiğit is passionate about: American College Institute (ACI) in Turkey
About Yiğit Ihlamur
Yiğit Ihlamur is a co-founder, general partner, and Chief Technology Officer at Vela Partners, a venture capital firm specializing in AI and product-led solutions. Prior to Vela, Yiğit had an impactful career at Google, where he led initiatives for Gmail, Chrome, and Google Workspace, focusing on product-led growth strategies such as self-service signups, activation, and pricing flows. Starting in Google's European headquarters, he initially worked on technical support for IT admins and created productivity tools for internal teams. Yiğit is passionate about advancing human productivity through technology. Outside his professional pursuits, he enjoys kitesurfing, skiing, running, and spending time with his family.
About Vela Partners
Vela Partners is a Silicon Valley-based venture capital firm specializing in product-led, AI-native startups from inception to Series A. Acting as an "AI startup investing in other AI startups," Vela leverages its proprietary AI to guide investment decisions and enhance its own returns. The firm’s investor-focused tools drive its fund’s performance, while self-service tools for entrepreneurs expand Vela’s brand and distribution channels. Its portfolio includes innovative companies like Vieu, Cartken, Goooods, Nominal, LeakSignal, Base Operations, Cerby, Lightup, Vartana, and Axiom Cloud, among others.
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Jessie Guo, an investment partner at Next Legacy Partners, shares her journey from early life in the northern China town of Dingxiang to a chance meeting with co-founder Russ Hall and joining the team at Next Legacy Partners. The firm supports mission-driven, early-stage tech startups and funds. Jessie discusses their approach to backing both emerging and established managers, highlighting the importance of diversity, discipline, and conviction in choosing investments.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
[02:15] Evolution, mission and core focus of Next Legacy Partners
[09:10] The venture ecosystem expansion; new opportunities for emerging managers
[12:30] Differences between Next Legacy’s emerging and established manager portfolios
[19:32] The importance of differentiation in forming the conviction to back emerging managers
[26:50] Two key areas for improvement in venture capital
The nonprofit organizations Jessie is passionate about: Venture Forward, Alzheimer's Foundation of America
About Jessie Guo
Jessie Guo is an Investment Partner at Next Legacy Partners, focusing on Flagship and Emerging Leaders strategies. A Kauffman Fellow, Jessie also serves on the permanent board of Bridge Funding Global, supporting women and underserved emerging managers. She brings deep expertise in venture capital, having worked at CICC and China Renaissance, where she led private equity and venture capital investments and helped establish CICC’s fund of funds and wealth management businesses. Jessie earned both her bachelor’s and master’s in Finance from Peking University and an MBA with top honors from UC Davis.
About Next Legacy Partners
Next Legacy Partners is a Silicon Valley-based venture capital and private equity firm dedicated to achieving meaningful returns by backing top early-stage venture capital firms and high-potential founders. Focused on democratizing access to venture capital, Next Legacy Partners invests on behalf of philanthropists, athletes, and changemakers, giving them entry into exclusive venture funds and companies. The firm’s mission extends beyond financial returns, aiming to drive positive impact. Next Legacy investments include: Affinity, Instil, Babylist, Rubrik, Lime, Kitopi, NorthOne, Flexport among others.
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Lochan Alagh, co-founder of VC Nest, shares her journey from India to Silicon Valley, her work with nonprofits, and her transition into entrepreneurship and venture capital. She explains how VC Nest is addressing gaps in the VC ecosystem by supporting emerging fund managers through collaboration, networking, education, and thought leadership. Lochan emphasizes the need to prioritize founder support over just maximizing returns, fostering a healthier venture capital landscape.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
[1:51] Lochan’s inspiring journey from India to Silicon Valley
[9:19] How venture capital drives innovation
[12:19] Key challenges for emerging fund managers: fundraising, deal sourcing, and increasing competition
[17:56] The pillars of VC Nest: focused events, curated VC-startup mixers, educational series, and thought leadership
[22:50] Emerging fund managers are identifying future unicorns but still struggle with institutional backing (TechCrunch: 30 out of 34 unicorns were funded by emerging managers).
The nonprofit organizations Lochan is passionate about: IIT Bay Area Alumni Association, Overseas Volunteer for a Better India (OVBI)
About Lochan Alagh
Lochan Alagh is the co-founder and managing partner at VC Nest, a platform dedicated to supporting emerging venture capital fund managers and innovative startups. Before VC Nest, Lochan served as Executive Director at FalconX, where she fostered global innovation by forging strategic partnerships with accelerators and helping B2B startups establish a presence in Silicon Valley. She is also the Vice President of the IIT Roorkee Alumni Association (Bay Area Chapter), where she focuses on strengthening the alumni community. Previously, she led business strategy and operations at Cloud Harmonics, a rapidly growing startup, until its acquisition by Ingram Micro. Passionate about community service, Lochan is involved with nonprofits such as Overseas Volunteer for a Better India, working on water conservation initiatives, and New Leaders Council, which trains young progressives to become civic leaders. Additionally, she serves as a board member and secretary for the IIT Bay Area Alumni Association (2022-2024).
About VC Nest
VC Nest is a Silicon Valley-based platform designed to empower emerging venture capital fund managers and foster the growth of the VC-startup ecosystem. It offers a range of resources, including networking opportunities, educational events, and fundraising support to help fund managers thrive. With a focus on collaboration and knowledge sharing, VC Nest provides fund managers with insider strategies on fundraising, access to Fund of Funds, and connections with fellow VCs. Additionally, it offers technology infrastructure, portfolio startup workstations, and actionable insights to drive the growth and success of both funds and startups.
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Shreesha Ramdas, a successful serial entrepreneur and angel investor, shares his investment approach, which focuses on the individual stories of entrepreneurs rather than just their business ideas. He discusses the changing face of entrepreneurship in India and highlights the significance of community for founders through the story of how Funda, a thriving community of founders, investors, and operators, came to life.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
[2:17] “Silicon Valley—what I call Disneyland for tech—completely transformed my mindset.” - Shreesha Ramdas
[5:36] New challenges for Indian entrepreneurs building global solutions
[13:36] Founder stories matter
[19:30] Funda: Building a strong community where founders can learn from each other
The nonprofit organization Rajan is passionate about: Funda
About Shreesha Ramdas
Shreesha Ramdas is a seasoned entrepreneur with a proven track record of launching and scaling products in highly competitive markets. He is the CEO and Founder of Lumber, a workforce management platform tailored for the construction industry. Previously, Shreesha was the CEO and Co-Founder of Strikedeck, a customer success automation company that was acquired by Medallia. Before Strikedeck, he served as GM of the Marketing Cloud at CallidusCloud and Co-Founder of LeadFormix, which was acquired by CallidusCloud. Shreesha also held leadership roles at Yodlee, OuterJoin, Catalytic Software, MW2 Consulting, and Tata. In addition to his entrepreneurial ventures, he actively invests in and advises several growth companies, including Workato, Enact, RevvSales, and others.
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Rajan Maruthavanan, Cofounder and Managing Partner at Upekkha, shares deep insights into the dynamics of building B2B startups from India for global markets, particularly in the US. He discusses the strengths and challenges of Indian founders, such as thriving in vertical, niche markets versus struggling with infrastructure and dev tools for global adoption. Rajan emphasizes the importance of founders learning how to take advice and shares his thoughts on the key skills needed for founder success.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
[3:57] Building a new type of VC firm: The Upekkha story
[7:36] Why Indian startups struggle to break into the US market
[14:43] The Power of annual contract value (ACV): How ACV shapes startup strategy
[19:03] The vertical advantage: Why Indian founders succeed in niche Markets
[22:03] How biases and bad advice can trap founders into their biggest pitfalls
[28:07] Changing the VC game by improving founder success rates
The nonprofit organization Rajan is passionate about: Sitare Foundation
About Rajan Maruthavanan
Rajan Maruthavanan is the Cofounder and Managing Partner at Upekkha, with extensive expertise in guiding early-stage startups through their critical zero-to-one phase to achieve product-market fit. At Upekkha, he has made over 120 pre-seed investments in SaaS startups and assisted numerous founders with M&A activities in DeepTech and B2B SaaS over the past eight years. Previously, Rajan was an Operator and Head of Product for QuickBooks Global at Intuit, where he managed the India GST strategy and led iCombinator, Intuit’s internal accelerator. He also organized two notable conferences: SaaSx in Chennai (2014-2016) and StartupBridgeIndia at Stanford (2016-2019). Earlier in his career, he co-founded and served as CTO of a computer vision startup, developing a SIFT vector-based visual search for Nokia phones.
About Upekkha
Upekkha, established in 2017, is an AI SaaS accelerator dedicated to helping Indian founders create global software brands. Currently in its 13th cohort, Upekkha has collaborated with over 165 startups and cultivated a network of more than 300 SaaS entrepreneurs. The firm has a diverse portfolio including companies like iMocha, Almabase, Kloudle, and Cloudbankin. Notably, about 25% of its startups hail from tier-II cities, such as Pune, Kochi, Bhopal, Chandigarh, Raipur, Vadodara, Jabalpur, Warangal, Coimbatore, and Trichy.
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Raed Masri and Rama Chakaki, general partners at Transform VC, discuss their unique approach to venture capital, focusing on impact-driven investments and supporting diverse, underrepresented founders. Drawing from their diverse backgrounds as entrepreneurs and investors, they discuss how they evaluate startups, form investment convictions, and challenge traditional industry norms. Raed and Rama also provide practical advice for founders seeking to make the most of their early meetings with venture capitalists.
In this episode, you'll learn:
[3:12] Moving beyond traditional Silicon Valley thinking to embrace global perspectives and diversity.
[7:21] Why Transform VC prioritizes founders who are deeply obsessed with their customers and solving real-world problems.
[11:15] How VCs build conviction through multiple interactions with founders
[17:54] Bridging the gap for underrepresented founders; what the industry can do to better support these entrepreneurs
[22:28] Practical tips for founders to maximize early meetings with investors
[24:41] Measuring impact in startups: Key criteria and questions for founders to consider when demonstrating their social or environmental impact.
The nonprofit organization Rama is passionate about: VIP Fund
About Raed Masri
Raed Masri is the founder and general director at Transform VC. Raed is a seasoned technology entrepreneur turned top-performing venture capitalist. As the founder of Transform VC, a Silicon Valley firm that has backed multiple deep tech startups, including four unicorns, Raed focuses on identifying untapped founders who can achieve transformative impact and exceptional returns. With a track record that includes two companies with 20x outcomes and three failed ventures, he brings a wealth of experience to his role as a hands-on investor. Raed aims to support 1,000 mindful tech founders to each impact a billion lives and make a billion dollars through deep tech for social and climate impact. He holds an Engineering degree from Carleton University and an MBA from Cornell University.
About Rama Chakaki
Rama Chakaki is a general partner at Transform VC. Rama is an impact-driven tech entrepreneur, investor, and philanthropist. As a partner at Transform VC, she supports tech founders using deep tech for climate and social impact, with a mission to empower 1,000 founders to impact a billion lives and make a billion dollars. Rama has been a key figure in developing the social entrepreneurship ecosystem in the Middle East and leads the VIP.fund, an edTech nonprofit aiding youth affected by conflict. Her work has been recognized in publications like Forbes, Bloomberg, and Arab Women Rising. She holds degrees in Computer Engineering and Engineering Management from George Washington University.
About Transform VC
Transform VC is a Silicon Valley-based venture capital firm that invests in, creates and builds sustainable businesses with a long-term investment view. They focus on mission-driven, determined, and authentic founders who use deep tech and network effects for social and climate impact.
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Aaron Webster, Managing Director at Cameron Ventures, shares his experience in the dynamic world of venture capital, with a focus on InsurTech, FinTech and Enterprise Technology investments at seed and Series A. He explains the evolving trends within these sectors and emphasizes the critical role of data infrastructure in driving innovation. Aaron shares insights into what he looks for in potential investments, particularly the importance of strong data management and the integration of technology with business models.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
[2:39] How Aaron's career in corporate shaped his approach to technology, business and startup investing
[7:55] Key elements of InsurTech 2.0: The shift from distribution to infrastructure and data management.
[12:40] The excitement around data infrastructure plays in the insurance space and why having good data is crucial.
[14:41] How Cameron Ventures sources and evaluates startups, with a focus on team dynamics and problem-solving capabilities.
[18:35] Common reasons for getting a 'No' from VCs and the importance of character and realistic valuations.
[21:48] Advice for founders in the current market, including the significance of understanding market trends and valuation issues
[23:07] The role of venture capital in pushing the economy forward
The non-profit organizations that Aaron is passionate about: United Way Oklahoma, Payne Education Center
About Aaron Webster
Aaron Webster is the managing director at Cameron Ventures. He backs founders who are building the new tech stacks for financial services and benefits and has been instrumental in Cameron’s investment in Castellum.AI, jawnt, YellowBird, Coverdash, XP Health, Certificial, and others startups.
About Cameron Ventures
Cameron Ventures is an Oklahoma-based early-stage venture capital firm with affiliate operating companies that serve customers across the United States, primarily in insurance, banking and asset management. The Cameron team is able to empower its portfolio companies with access to financial and strategic capital, seasoned real-world management teams and a substantial customer base. Companies in Cameron’s portfolio include NewRetirement, Coverdash, Castellum.AI, Certificial, jawnt, YellowBird, Method Financial, Surround Insurance, XP Health, among others.
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Ben Black, co-founder and managing director of Akkadian Ventures, shares insights into the venture capital secondary market. He highlights the distinct approach Akkadian Ventures takes, focusing on businesses with proven customer economics and strong technology moats. Ben elaborates on their strategy of gradually increasing positions and leveraging discounts from secondary investments. He also discusses the evolution and growing importance of secondary markets as startups stay private longer and new liquidity models develop. Ben also talks about Raise Global, a platform he founded to support emerging venture managers.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
[1:39] Silicon Valley thrives on meritocracy, where anyone with ambition, talent, and hard work can quickly connect and succeed regardless of their background.
[4:41] To succeed, emerging managers must proactively create their own opportunities, rather than waiting for them to be given.
[6:46] What is the venture capital secondary market? How is it developing, and what impact does it have on the broader VC ecosystem? What does the future hold for secondary investments?
[12:27] Key strategies for investing in the secondaries market
[22:00] The evolution and impact of Raise since its inception.
The non-profit organizations that Ben is passionate about: Mind The Gap
About Ben Black
Ben Black is a co-founder and managing director at Akkadian Ventures. He has extensive venture capital experience, having previously worked as an investor at Maveron, Rosewood Capital, New Cycle Capital. As an entrepreneur, Black served as vice president of corporate development at Harris Interactive, driving its transformation into a leading internet-based market research firm and leading to a successful IPO. He also co-founded Raise Global to facilitate connections between emerging fund managers and capital partners, enhancing investment opportunities in the venture space.
About Akkadian Ventures
Akkadian Ventures is a Silicon Valley-based direct secondary investment firm that offers liquidity to early employees and investors of venture-backed businesses. For more than a decade, Akkadian has pioneered secondary and opportunistic investments in growth-stage technology companies.
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Venktesh Shukla, Founder and General Partner at Monta Vista Capital, shares his journey from a reluctant immigrant to a successful entrepreneur and venture capitalist. He outlines his investment strategy at Monta Vista Capital, emphasizing deep due diligence, expert validation, adaptability, continuous learning, and leveraging networks. Additionally, he highlights the significant role of TiE (The IndUS Entrepreneurs) in promoting entrepreneurship, particularly among Indian and South Asian communities, and the importance of supportive ecosystems in fostering innovation and economic growth.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
[1:36] Driven into venture capital by a desire to focus on product and customer engagement
[6:53] Presenting unique and intriguing aspects of your field or venture appeals to VC's intellectual curiosity.
[8:36] Monta Vista investment philosophy: high conviction, concentrated investments; relying heavily on deep domain experts to validate investment opportunities.
[14:09] The founder’s motivation to tackle a market problem should be backed by concrete market insights.
[19:52] The IndUS Entrepreneurs - a comprehensive support system that has had a profound impact on the global entrepreneurial landscape, contributing to significant successes within the Indian community in Silicon Valley and beyond.
The non-profit organizations that Venktesh is passionate about: Foundation for Excellence
About Venktesh Shukla
Venktesh Shukla is the Founder and General Partner of Monta Vista Capital and also the Founding Chair of TiE Angels. Prior to investing, Venktesh drove rapid growth in sales, marketing, and general management roles, collaborating with over 50 startups. As a former president of TiE, he strengthened Silicon Valley’s tech startup network and continues to volunteer, connecting entrepreneurs with key customers. Passionate about supporting Indian startups, Venk influences policy through the Government of India's Startup Advisory Council and supports students through the Foundation for Excellence.
About Monta Vista Capital
Monta Vista Capital is a Silicon Valley-based venture capital firm focused on early stage B2B companies. Portfolio companies include StrikeReady, Uhnder, minds.ai, ConstructN, XY Retail, Eridan, Boomerang, Motorq, Sparkz among others.
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Gayathri Radhakrishnan, partner at Hitachi Ventures, shares profound insights from her journey and perspectives on venture capital and technology. Gayathri reflects on her early life in India and how her competitive spirit and supportive family shaped her path to challenging norms in male-dominated fields. She delves into her focus on impactful investments in AI, utilizing Hitachi Ventures' corporate strengths to strategically nurture startups. Gayathri values founder passion, problem understanding, and openness to feedback, and her advice to founders stresses preparation, boldness, and leveraging networks for lasting partnerships and growth.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
[1:54] The making of Gayathri Radhakrishnan: Challenging norms and building a strong sense of confidence and competitiveness.
[10:32] The responsibility and impact that venture capital has on shaping future generations
[14:10] Impact of corporate venture capital, when done right: Hitachi Ventures’ commitment to patient capital with a 10-year fund cycle further underscores their long-term support for startups.
[18:21] Trends and opportunities: Entrepreneurs should explore opportunities where AI can revolutionize industrial processes, enhance safety and efficiency, and contribute to sustainable practices.
[23:37] Passionately understand your problem, stay open to feedback, and ensure your solution has real-world validation and market potential.
[28:20] Aim for follow-up meetings and leverage the investor's network for potential introductions.
[35:15] What’s the immediate threat posed by AI?
The non-profit organizations that Gayathri is passionate about: SV2
About Gayathri Radhakrishnan
Gayathri Radhakrishnan is currently Partner at Hitachi Ventures, focusing on AI investments in Manufacturing, Healthcare, and Automotive. With over 20 years in technology, she has held roles at Dell, Corning, and Micron Ventures, and served as a Partner at Earlybird Venture Capital. Gayathri holds an MS in EE from The Ohio State University, an MBA from INSEAD, and is a Kauffman Fellow. She has driven strategy at Dell’s Software Group and mentored startups at TechRanch Austin and Techstars Cloud.
About Hitachi Ventures
Hitachi Ventures is the global venture capital arm of Hitachi Group. Hitachi Ventures invests in innovative companies that address society’s key technological challenges in areas like IT, industrial automation (robotics, sensor technology and IoT), cloud services (data management, cybersecurity), mobility (autonomous driving, mobility services, smart infrastructure and security services), energy, smart medicine (AIfor digital imaging, smart diagnostics, remote care), smart city, smart infrastructure and more. It’s portfolio includes companies such as Samsara Eco, Trustwise AI, WEKA, StrikeReady, Archetype AI, WASE, Cure51, Proscia, Thea Energy, Captura among others.
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Dan Kimerling, founder and managing partner at Deciens, talks about key principles that shape his current approaches to startup investments. He explains Deciens' strategy of leading financing deals with a concentrated portfolio, allowing for deep partnerships with entrepreneurs. Dan critiques the average venture capital returns and promotes a bold, non-orthodox strategy to achieve exceptional outcomes. He emphasizes the importance of alignment with entrepreneurs and LPs, advocating for a venture capital model that values courage, commitment, and long-term relationships over diversification and transactional interactions.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
[1:48] How growing up in Edison, New Jersey, influenced Dan Kimerling’s personal and professional life.
[4:07] Deciens’ philosophy: Concentrated, bold, partnership-driven investments.
[7:42] Founders seek genuine partnerships with VCs.
[15:54] Achieving greatness requires personal courage, not group consensus.
[18:28] Success in VC means investing in non-consensus deals with a robust framework.
[29:28] Strategies for better alignment among VCs, entrepreneurs, and LPs.
The non-profit organizations that Dan is passionate about: Albuquerque Community Foundation
About Dan Kimerling
Dan Kimerling is the founder and managing partner at Deciens. He is passionate about leading investments in transformative companies at their earliest stages and sits on the board of many Deciens portfolio companies, including Chipper, Therma, and Treasury Prime. He co-founded Standard Treasury, which was acquired by Silicon Valley Bank, where he led API Banking and Global Research. Earlier, he was an analyst at TechCrunch. Dan graduated with honors from the University of Chicago with an A.B. and A.M., studied mathematical finance at Booth, and received several awards. He was named to Forbes’ "30 under 30," is a Kauffman Fellow, and is active in the Young Presidents’ Organization.
About Deciens
Deciens is a venture capital firm dedicated to supporting early-stage founders revolutionizing financial services. The firm identifies visionary entrepreneurs at the inception of their journey, offering extensive support beyond funding to realize their visions. Deciens collaborates strategically with industry leaders such as Chipper Cash, Africa's largest fintech; Treasury Prime, a frontrunner in banking-as-a-service; and Therma, an innovator in industrial energy management. Through these partnerships, Deciens champions entrepreneurs driving the digital transformation of traditional institutions.
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Vishal Tripathi, investor at Next Legacy Partners, delves into venture capital dynamics, spotlighting Next Legacy Partners' unique blend of philanthropy and athlete-focused strategies. Vishal shares his journey into venture capital, underscoring the industry’s allure for innovation and human connection. He also discusses key insights including the importance for emerging managers to define their unique differentiation and adapt to investor preferences, evaluation criteria for managers, AI's transformative role, and the need for VC innovation amid challenges like prolonged private company timelines.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
[1:20] Venture capital allows you to engage with and learn from driven entrepreneurs at the forefront of innovation.
[5:14] Next Legacy Partners mission: linking philanthropy, athletes, and cultural figures with venture capital.
[6:49] Define your unique differentiation as an emerging manager.
[10:27] Emerging managers should align their strategy with their unique strengths and personal approach, remaining open-minded instead of adhering to any one-size-fits-all model.
[21:39] Emerging trends in venture capital, including AI's transformative impact and the need for innovation to address challenges like liquidity and evolving market conditions.
[28:03] VCs should prioritize founders as their primary customers and focus their efforts on adding value to them.
The non-profit organizations that Vishal is passionate about: Anjali, Smile Foundation
About Vishal Tripathi
Vishal Tripathi is an investor at Next Legacy Partners. Vishal analyzes and oversees venture capital funds and industries at Next Legacy, leveraging prior roles as a portfolio manager at Plexo Capital. With a background in financial engineering and quantitative research at J.P. Morgan, he brings extensive expertise in capital allocation and early-stage venture capital. Beyond his professional endeavors, Vishal finds enjoyment in reading DC comics, watching UK panel shows, developing computer games, and avidly following Cricket and Chess.
About Next Legacy Partners
Next Legacy Partners is a venture capital firm formed from the merger of Legacy Venture and Next Play Capital. It stands out with its dual mission to connect the philanthropic world with venture capital (Legacy Venture's focus) and to bridge athletes and cultural luminaries with venture capital (Next Play Capital's focus). Next Legacy Partners is highly community-driven and distinctively focuses on established large funds, direct investments into startups, and emerging leaders in the venture capital industry.
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Atlas Berry, founder and general partner at Mission One Capital, delves into funding mission-driven founders who focus on frontier technology solutions to sustainability challenges. Atlas discusses the significance of sustainability to him personally, highlights the specific areas of climate tech his venture capital firm targets, and explores current trends in the industry. He provides deep insights into sustainability opportunities and shares valuable advice for entrepreneurs interested in this sector.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
[1:41] 'Jason Bourne meets banking': The fascinating early career journey of Atlas Berry.
[5:22] How corporate development experience paved the way for a venture capital role.
[6:33] The inception of Mission One Capital: Identifying software-driven solutions to climate issues.
[12:17] Guidance for founders tackling climate and sustainability challenges: Understand the problems in these areas and respecting regulatory constraints.
[16:35] The importance of addressing human issues for successful sustainability solutions.
[20:22] Emerging trends in climate tech, including energy, mobility, carbon markets, circularity, and environmental management.
[26:00] Why timing is crucial in evaluating sustainability-focused investment opportunities.
The non-profit organizations that Atlas is passionate about: The Nature Conservancy
About Atlas Berry
Atlas Berry is the founder and general partner at Mission One Capital. He began his career in investment banking at JPMorgan, working in Mergers & Acquisitions across New York, Johannesburg, and London. Notably, Atlas established the venture arm for the Grammy-award-winning rock band Linkin Park, where he led investments in high-profile companies such as Lyft, Robinhood, and Impossible Foods. Additionally, he is a two-time TEDx keynote speaker, has mentored at Techstars and the MIT Startup Accelerator, and has served on the Technology Advisory Boards for New York City and Delta Airlines.
About Mission One Capital
Mission One Capital is a Silicon Valley-based early-stage venture capital firm specializing in ClimateTech and Equitable Access startups. The firm invests in seed-stage companies dedicated to creating a more sustainable and equitable future. Its portfolio includes innovative companies such as Zevvy, Twice, Helio, Cloverly, CHI, Derapi, UPFRONT, Carbonara, and others.
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Chris McKelvy, founder of K. Ventures and military veteran, recounts his journey from the military to tech companies like Oculus VR and Meta, culminating in his venture capital firm. Chris talks about his early involvement in JFK family's non-profit initiatives and getting inspired to start K. Ventures, focusing on the disabilities community. Chris also shares useful tips for founders on preparing for meetings with VC and encourages VCs to address societal challenges.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
[1:45] Transferring military leadership skills to tech and investing for social impact
[4:14] K. Ventures takes a unique approach to disabilities by investing seed capital in startups serving this community.
[6:22] Startup opportunities: The disabilities community is the largest underrepresented group in the world.
[9:23] It takes a lot of mentorship and support to learn the craft of being an entrepreneur.
[16:27] Feel comfortable in the way that you want to talk about your business and yourself.
[19:18] VCs are guided by their belief in the founding team's ability to lead and create something groundbreaking.
[22:35] More investors need to really think about the hard societal problems
The non-profit organizations that Chris is passionate about: Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. Foundation, iMentor
About Chris McKelvy
Chris McKelvy is the founder and managing partner at K. Ventures. He has a diverse background spanning tech, business, non-profits, and the military. Notably, he led Oculus VR's partnerships & e-sports division, instrumental in its $2B acquisition by Facebook. Chris orchestrated multimillion-dollar partnerships with tech giants like NVIDIA, AMD, Intel, Unreal, and Ubisoft. A combat veteran with the 101st Airborne Division and graduate of Army Ranger school, he holds degrees from Harvard and Syracuse. Additionally, he served proudly as Vice Chairman of the Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. Foundation for over eight years.
About K. Ventures
K. Ventures is a Massachusetts-based venture capital firm with a mission to catalyze the next generation of disability care. The firm invests in early-stage technology companies serving those with intellectual, developmental and learning disabilities. This includes down syndrome, autism, ADHD and dyslexia as well as other overlooked conditions. Portfolio companies include Juno, Juniper, Mightier, Finni Health, and NeuroNav.
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Alexa Binns, a seasoned investor and marketer, takes us through her remarkable journey from non-profit roots to establishing herself as a venture capital investor, overseeing her family office alongside her three sisters. Drawing from her dual roles as an angel investor and limited partner, Alexa provides invaluable insights for founders and venture capitalists alike, enriching the conversation with her wealth of experience and perspective.
In this episode:
[2:03] Alexa’s path to venture capital: Discover how Alexa transitioned from her role in a non-profit organization to making her mark in the competitive world of venture capital.
[8:26] Three critical aspects that every founder should understand about angel investors to optimize their interactions and avoid common pitfalls.
[12:38] The significant impact of new emerging managers on the venture capital landscape and what this means for the industry.
[16:40] The "Three S’s" – sourcing, selecting, and stewardship – essential criteria for assessing and choosing the best emerging fund managers.
[22:33] The current state of investment in female founders: are they receiving the funding they rightfully deserve?
[28:11] Swimming with Allocators podcast, where limited partners share their decision-making processes in VC investments.
The non-profit organization that Alexa is passionate about: Norman Lear Center USC
About Alexa Binns
Alexa Binns is a seasoned investor and marketer, known for her acute ability to identify emerging trends and technologies. Over her career, she has risen from associate to partner in venture capital, making significant investments at firms such as Maven, Halogen, and Spacecadet. Some of her notable angel investments include Chipper Cash, Sana Benefits, and The Flex Co.
In addition to her investing prowess, Alexa brings a decade of operational experience, having developed both digital and physical products for high-profile clients including Planned Parenthood, MTV, Disney, and Target. She excels in innovative marketing strategies; her accomplishments range from writing a master’s thesis on building a brand on YouTube to helping sell the Twitch influencer marketing platform NoScope. She was also nominated for a Mashable Award for her work with Foursquare and pioneered some of the first advertising campaigns on Twitter.
Alexa also co-hosts Swimming with Allocators, a venture podcast that offers insights from the limited partner (LP) perspective. Alongside Earnest Sweat, she interviews top allocators and industry leaders weekly, exploring their strategies and perspectives on the next decade of venture capital.
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Vijay Reddy, partner at Mayfield, talks about the latest innovations and trends shaping the artificial intelligence (AI) landscape. He shares his venture capital journey and describes Mayfield's unique focus on cognitive plumbing and Cognition-as-a-Service (CaaS), unraveling what these concepts entail. Vijay also offers practical advice for startup founders keen on tapping into the myriad opportunities within the realm of AI.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
[1:24] From a 10th grade circuits and chips enthusiast to technology executive and founder
[5:50] Vijay’s evolution as a venture capital investor fueled by technology curiosity
[13:41] Debate about AI being a good or bad thing - it’s not worthy!
[15:04] Get these 3 things right for success with an AI-first startup.
The non-profit organization that Vijay is passionate about: Upward
About Vijay Reddy
Vijay Reddy is a partner at Mayfield with over a decade of AI and deeptech investing experience. Prior, Vijay was an investor at Clear Ventures and Intel Capital. He witnessed AI's rise from its inception, and with a founder-first approach, he has invested across the AI stack, backing companies like SambaNova, DataRobot, and BabbleLabs. He began his career as an entrepreneur, co-founding a startup after leaving his PhD program, and has held senior roles at Broadcom and Intel.
About Mayfield
Mayfield is a Silicon Valley-based venture capital firm that invests in AI-first companies
at the Seed, Series A and Series B stages. The firm has raised 20 U.S. funds since 1969, and currently has $3 billion under management. Mayfield takes pride in an investment team that has a founder DNA and operates from a shared set of beliefs and partners for the long term with entrepreneurs pursuing big ideas. Companies in Mayfield’s portfolio include: Outreach, seekout, alchemy, auradine, chemix, crunchbase, Gutsy, LexCheck, OwnID, Qwiet, Vijil, VERSA Networks among others.
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Philip Edmundson, founder of Corvus Insurance (recently acquired by Travelers), shares the captivating journey of Corvus, from its inception to its recent acquisition. He discusses the company's unique approach to cyber risk and its mission to revolutionize commercial insurance with advanced data science and an AI-driven approach. Philip also discusses opportunities for innovation in insurance, and gives insights into crucial startup matters such as early team building and selecting the right investors.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
[2:45] From ‘78 to 2024: How has the insurance industry evolved?
[5:03] The genesis of Corvus, and reasons for focusing on cyber insurance
[13:25] Hiring the first set of team members: lessons and tips for founders
[19:20] Notable achievements and challenges faced while building Corvus
[26:31] Advice on choosing the right investors for your startup.
[33:51] Areas of opportunity for insurtech entrepreneurs to innovate.
The non-profit organization that Phil is passionate about: Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology
About Philip Edmundson
Philip Edmundson is the founder and CEO of the insurtech company Corvus Insurance. With a background in insurance broking and tech entrepreneurship, Philip started Corvus in 2017, aiming to enhance insurance underwriting and assist policyholders in risk reduction through data and technology. Philip emphasizes that insurance should go beyond risk transfer. Before Corvus, he co-founded William Gallagher Associates, acquired by Arthur J Gallagher, and played key roles in industry networks.
About Corvus Insurance
Corvus Insurance (now a subsidiary of Travelers Insurance) is an insurance company that focuses on cyber risk, loss prevention, and mitigating adverse events using data-driven and AI-powered tools. The Corvus mission is to make the world safer from cyber threats. The company delivers insights to broker partners, helping to make them smarter about the complex risks their clients face.
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Tommy Leep, founding partner at Jetstream, shares insights on climate tech investing and nurturing startups for a sustainable future. He delves into climate tech trends, opportunities for startups, and challenges that early-stage investors face (such as greenwashing). Tommy also advises founders on articulating their vision, avoiding the "founders' curse of knowledge" and the importance of sales skills.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
[2:05] Startups attract people who love to be part of disruptive innovation.
[4:53] Finding purpose in setbacks: the story of how Jetstream started
[9:59] Trends and opportunities in climate tech investing.
[14:03] Building a startup in the climate tech space
[19:47] Founders’ curse of knowledge - what is it? How can founders avoid the curse of knowledge?
[25:21] There’s something special about a founder who can influence an investor to make subjective decisions.
About Tommy Leep
Tommy Leep is the founder of Jetstream. He is a seasoned entrepreneur, investor, and business advisor with experience in startup funding and growth. He held key roles at Floodgate and Rothenberg Ventures before delving into venture capitalism. With experience at Meraki, Inc., Intuit, and Yahoo! Music, he brings a diverse skill set. Tommy advises startups like Around, Payable, and Patreon, and formerly led Rothenberg Ventures' SF office. He's also advised Orchestra Inc. (now part of Dropbox).
About Jetstream
Jetstream is a venture capital firm investing in pre-seed climate, sustainability, and biodiversity startups. Companies in Jetstream’s startup portfolio include Verdi, Pachama, Windborne Systems, Glacier, Albebo, Lightship, Pathways, Cecil, Wildgrid among others.
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Eric Sippel of Sippel Farb Family Office delves into the intricacies of investing in emerging managers. Eric outlines his meticulous emerging manager selection criteria, emphasizing his preference for specialists over generalists. He highlights key challenges of identifying good VCs as a Limited Partner (LP), and offers insights into the shifting venture capital landscape. In addition, he discusses the importance of supporting underrepresented venture capitalists for enhanced portfolio returns.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
[1:33] Venture’s main appeal is the ability to disrupt and create positive change.
[4:25] Is it hard to find a good VC to invest in as an LP? Why is that so?
[12:54] Eric Sippel’s emerging manager selection rubric; 3S (sourcing, selection, and stewardship/value add) - which is the most important S?
[26:18] What happens in the first, second meeting with an emerging manager? What questions should VCs expect from Eric?
[33:03] Investing in underrepresented VCs isn’t just ‘good’. It’s critical to having a broader aperture for outsized portfolio returns.
The non-profit organization that Eric is passionate about: Goodwill San Francisco Bay
About Eric Sippel
Eric Sippel invests in emerging managers through his family office, Sippel Farb Family Office. He’s also a philanthropist and current chair of Bay Area Goodwill.
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Aakar Vachhani, Managing Partner at Fairview Capital Partners, explores the crucial role of limited partners (LPs) in the venture capital ecosystem. He delves into the distinctive characteristics of venture capital as an asset class and sheds light on Fairview's role as a fund of funds, culture, investment strategy, areas of focus, and bullish stance on emerging managers. Additionally, he shares insights on trending topics that could influence the future of the venture capital industry.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
[6:15] Fairview employs a dual investment strategy to cover both established and niche areas in private markets.
[13:02] New, appropriately sized VC firms focusing on specific stages have the opportunity to generate significant returns.
[16:53] The venture capital landscape has undergone substantial changes in the past 30 years.
[27:00] Technology's pervasive influence creates vast opportunities for disruption across various industries.
[32:34] Advice for investors, especially emerging managers: Be a great investor and entrepreneur; value collaboration and sharing best practices with peers.
The non-profit organizations that Aakar is passionate about: San Francisco Achievers, New Breath Foundation
About Aakar Vachhani
Aakar Vachhani is a Managing Partner at Fairview Capital Partners and a key member of Fairview’s investment committee. In this role, he actively engages in research, due diligence, investment monitoring, and business development for Fairview's venture capital and private equity portfolios, as well as direct co-investment initiatives. He established and leads Fairview's San Francisco office.
Before joining Fairview, Aakar worked with Cambridge Associates, a prominent investment advisor catering to foundations, endowments, and corporate/government entities. Earlier in his career, he gained experience at MK Capital, a multi-stage venture capital firm with a specific sector focus on software and cloud services.
About Fairview Capital Partners
Fairview Capital Partners is a Connecticut-based investment management firm specializing in cutting-edge segments of the private markets. Founded nearly three decades ago, Fairview has evolved into one of the largest minority-owned investment firms in the United States, managing over $10 billion in fund capitalization. With a clientele including leading foundations, endowments, pension plans, and family offices, Fairview Capital's innovative and inclusive approach, coupled with its entrepreneurial spirit, continues to make an indelible mark on the venture capital industry.
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Lorenzo Thione, Managing Director at Gaingels, shares his journey from Italy to the U.S. and the pivotal life event inspiring his advocacy for inclusive venture capital representation. He delves into Gaingels' investment philosophy, emphasizing its focus on supporting diverse founders and investors. Lorenzo also offers insights for today's founders, spotlighting game-changing technologies like artificial intelligence.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
[3:50] Underrepresented communities of founders and investors significantly influence the growth of the venture capital ecosystem
[9:26] How Gaingels provides universal access to the wealth creation potential of venture capital
[16:59] Cloud technology revolutionized starting companies in the last decade, while artificial intelligence is the current game changer
[24:09] Principles behind Gaingels investment approach
[28:53] Why founders should establish relationships with investors before pitching
The non-profit organization that Lorenzo is passionate about: StartOut
About Lorenzo Thione
Lorenzo Thione is a Managing Director at Gaingels. He is a serial entrepreneur and investor, known for his diverse contributions at the intersection of technology, art, commerce, and social impact. A Tony Award-winning Broadway producer for "Hadestown" and co-creator/producer of the George Takei musical "Allegiance," he also directed/produced its record-breaking 2016 film. Lorenzo co-founded Social Edge and previously co-founded Powerset (acquired by Microsoft in 2008) and Artify. A prominent LGBT advocate, he co-founded and is board chair emeritus of StartOut, a leading non-profit fostering LGBT entrepreneurship. Lorenzo is an active investor, board member, and advisor to numerous startups.
About Gaingels
Gaingels is a Vermont-based LGBTQIA+/Allies private investment syndicate, dedicated to fostering diversity and inclusion within the venture capital ecosystem. With over 2000 individual members, including accredited investors, Gaingels actively supports innovation economy companies committed to building diverse and inclusive leadership. Their unique approach involves members contributing beyond financial investment, providing introductions, advice, and connections to portfolio companies. Some of the companies it has backed include: Shimmer, Leap AI, Base Operations, Overplay, Abbey Cross, Zette, Magma, Cambium, kinship among others.
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Anne Dwane, a Partner at Village Global, shares her commitment to supporting amazing entrepreneurs working on big ideas. Leveraging her background as an entrepreneur-turned-investor, Anne underscores the significance of establishing networks early and explores the feasibility of launching a company during economic downturns. Moreover, she sheds light on the dynamic role of venture capitalists, particularly within a VC industry confronted by distinctive challenges.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
[2:00] Invest in your networks early.
[5:54] Starting a company during an economic downturn: is it a good idea?
[9:43] The multifaceted role of VCs as super connectors and coaches.
[16:20] The best founders identify opportunities in the current world and articulate a clear vision of how to navigate toward a better future.
[25:34] Founders deserve investors who are wholeheartedly committed and thoroughly convinced of the startup's potential for success.
The non-profit organization that Anne is passionate about: UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital's Center for Child Protection
About Anne Dwane
Anne Dwane, Co-Founder & Partner at Village Global, has a wealth of experience with a background that includes tech company founding, venture-backed CEO positions, and executive roles in public companies. Over her 20-year career, she has successfully managed P & Ls and excelled in scaling operations from startup to IPO and building effective teams. Notable achievements include leading companies to successful acquisitions by Monster and Chegg, as well as managing P&L responsibilities for Chegg before and after its IPO (valued at $1 billion). Currently, she serves on the board of Harvard Business Publishing.
About Village Global
Village Global is a Silicon Valley-based venture capital firm dedicated to supporting amazing entrepreneurs working on big ideas. With a typical investment range of $250,000 to $1.5 million, the firm goes beyond funding, offering founders access to a vibrant community, expert guidance, and transformative introductions. Chaired by Reid Hoffman and backed by esteemed visionaries such as Jeff Bezos, Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, Anne Wojcicki, and more, Village Global has an impressive portfolio that includes companies like Excarta, Simply Homes, Juno, Evisort, Siena AI, Canopy, Risk Ledger, OpenCover, Boost Capital, Atmosfy, among others.
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Patrick Mork, founder and CEO of LEAP, shares his career journey and underscores the pivotal role of coaching in nurturing founder success. Drawing from his extensive leadership and coaching experience, Patrick imparts valuable advice to founders and leaders, addressing the intricacies of entrepreneurship and leadership. Topics covered include professional development, navigating career maneuvers, building a purpose-driven business, and prioritizing company culture. He also offers insights on finding the most suitable coach.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
[2:18] Patrick’s real-life story of maneuvering the challenges of an inevitable career change.
[7:19] Unexpected paths can lead to entrepreneurial success.
[10:10] True fulfillment in business comes from building a purpose-driven business that addresses societal challenges.
[15:57] What's the difference between therapy and coaching?
[19:20] How coaching helps with self-awareness, self-confidence, psychological safety and communication.
[26:03] Whatever the size of the company, company culture should never be an afterthought.
The non-profit organization that Patrick is passionate about: Cousteau
About Patrick Mork
Patrick Mork is the founder and CEO of LEAP. He is a startup CEO coach, motivational speaker and author of Step Back and LEAP. An ex-Google executive and serial tech maven, Patrick previously worked for a renowned company in Silicon Valley as Chief Marketing Officer. During his tenure at Google, he built and led the marketing team that created and launched the Google play brand. He founded LEAP as a way of helping early-stage companies to reinvent themselves by creating cultures that empower their employees to do work that gives them meaning and purpose.
About LEAP
LEAP is a Chile-based cultural transformation company that helps leaders build company cultures of meaning and purpose. Prior to starting LEAP he spent over 20 years in various marketing leadership roles in several high profile technology startups and at Google where he built and led the marketing team that launched the Google Play brand.
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Justin Dyer, Chief Investment Officer at AWM Capital, shares insights into AWM's venture strategies and human-centered approach to athlete wealth management. He talks about the critical role of networks in VC and gives useful tips for choosing the right limited partner.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
[6:13] AWM Capital's human-centered approach to athlete wealth management
[9:14] Venture capital's role in family office asset allocation
[16:15] The pivotal role of networks in venture capital
[19:36] Assessing venture funds, navigating both the easy and challenging aspects
[28:13] Tips on selecting the best Limited Partner for your company
The non-profit organization that Justin is passionate about: RAISE Global
About Justin Dyer
Justin Dyer is the Chief Investment Officer, Director of Wealth Strategy, and Partner at AWM Capital. He leads AWM’s investment committee, research teams and investment operations. He has served on LP Advisory Committees and has been on the selection committee for the RAISE Global Conference, which is the premier community for forward-thinking venture capital investors and emerging fund managers.
About AWM Capital
AWM Capital is a multi-family office serving professional athletes, entrepreneurs, and business professionals, with a deeply-rooted belief that wealth goes beyond the financial.
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Steve Pretre, partner at World Innovation Lab (WiL), takes us on an extraordinary journey from his upbringing in Silicon Valley to becoming a key player in the insurtech and venture capital worlds. He shares the thrilling journey of starting Metromile and leading it through the IPO stage, highlighting some of the biggest challenges of starting an insurtech startup. Steve also dispels the skepticism about corporate venture capital firms (CVCs).
In this episode, you’ll learn:
[3:47] Discover invaluable lessons from the pioneers of the insurtech industry
[7:40] The story of Metromile: “I was excited and naive enough to think that we could pull that off.” - Steve Pretre
[15:43] Early-stage investing isn't just about funds but also about providing strategic support to startups
[22:40] Insights into corporate venture capital and why alignment of goals is paramount
[27:18] The importance of staying true to your business vision and not blindly following VC advice
The non-profit organization that Steve is passionate about: Woodside Wildebeests
About Steve Pretre
Steve Pretre is a partner at World Innovation Lab. He is a veteran of multiple successful startups and has deep operating experience across product development, marketing, and strategic planning. Prior to joining World Innovation Lab, Steve was the co-founder and CEO of Metromile, an early innovator that paved the path for the current wave of insurance startups. He also held executive roles at Asurion, leading their mobile applications business unit as the company grew.
About World Innovation Lab
World Innovation Lab is a venture capital fund supported by various governments and global corporations. WiL invests in companies looking to expand into new markets. They assist US startups in entering Japan and Asia and support Japanese startups in global expansion. Notable recent direct investments include Algolia, Asana, Automation Anywhere, Auth0, DataRobot, Kong, Mercari, MURAL, TransferWise, and Unqork. WiL also supports established and emerging venture funds. Additionally, they collaborate with corporate investors to enhance innovation through new business creation, startup partnerships, and cultural change. WiL acts as a bridge between startups and corporations in key innovation hubs globally, initially focusing on Japan and the US.
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Miles Dieffenbach, Director of Investments at Carnegie Mellon University Endowment, offers valuable insights, personal anecdotes, and perspectives on the fundamentals of venture capital. He covers topics such as GP commit, navigating the denominator effect, and the broader economic trends that impact the venture capital industry.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
[4:51] How venture capital drives innovation and the crucial role of limited partners (LPs) in this process
[14:25] Factors LPs consider when selecting fund managers
[22:05] Identifying positive signs of fund growth and red flags that LPs watch out for
[27:56] The evolving role of allocators in the future of venture capital and how founders need to rethink what capital and VC relationships mean to them
[32:28] Dive into the ongoing debate surrounding GP commit
The non-profit organization that Miles is passionate about: CMU
About Miles Dieffenbach
Miles Dieffenbach is the Director of Investment at Carnegie Mellon University Endowment He manages the $3.6 billion endowment across a comprehensive global portfolio of all major asset classes, including private equity, venture capital, public equities, hedge funds, real estate, distressed opportunities and fixed income.
Fun fact: Miles initially planned on being a professional footballer. He served as Penn State Varsity Football Captain and had a short stint as offensive guard at Pittsburgh Steelers. He jokingly remarks that he feels like he’s playing a similar role as the director of investments.
About Carnegie Mellon University Endowment
Carnegie Mellon University Endowment is an endowment based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The fund provides a permanent source of income to support the university's missions. It also provides a stable, predictable, and growing stream of resources for current use in achieving the academic goals of the university, while preserving the purchasing power of the fund for future generations. The investment office evaluates, selects, and monitors current and prospective investments in which to allocate the university's endowment assets. The fund’s assets are managed by the executive management team.
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Aram Verdiyan, Partner at Accolade Partners, offers a comprehensive exploration of the LP landscape and the strategies that drive success in the world of venture capital. Aram emphasizes the importance of building strong relationships with VCs and sheds light on how general partners (GPs) think. He also discusses his views on returns generation, comparing concentrated and diversified investments.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
[4:07] Accolade’s contrarian portfolio building: leading with concentrated investments
[13:06] Why does it take so long to invest in a VC fund?
[22:19] Most common questions from General Partners to LPs
[24:32] Fund size should be the output, not an input
[29:39] Blockchain investing versus traditional investing
[34:05] Focusing on real valuations will make venture capital better.
The non-profit organization that Aram is passionate about: AGBU
About Aram Verdiyan
Aram Verdiyan is a partner at Accolade Partners. Previously, he worked on the investment team at Andreessen Horowitz and before that in BD, sales and marketing at Aviatrix, a cloud native enterprise software company.
About Accolade Partners
Accolade Partners is a DC-based fund of funds organized primarily to invest in a diversified portfolio of top-tier venture capital and growth equity funds principally investing in technology and healthcare. Accolade’s investment focus is the United States. The fund of funds has invested in many VC firms including Equal Ventures, Zeev Ventures, Wonder Ventures, Notation Capital, Mucker Capital among others.
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Theresa Blissing, founder of Accelerating Insurance and the Asia InsurTech Podcast, delves into the transformative potential of emerging technologies in the insurance sector. She offers valuable insights for founders aiming for success in the insurance industry, irrespective of their operational geography. Additionally, she sheds light on noteworthy trends, opportunities, and challenges facing insurtech startups, with a particular focus on the dynamic landscape in Asia.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
[1:54] Getting into insurance - Theresa Blissing’s life-changing mission
[5:43] Insurance is everywhere
[8:27] Future of Insurance in Asia: Diversity and Nuances
[21:33] Stay on top of how technology is helping reshape the insurance industry on the Asia InsurTech Podcast.
The non-profit organization that Theresa is passionate about: Girl Gone International
About Theresa Blissing
Theresa Blissing is the founder and director of Accelerating Insurance, an innovation advisory firm in Southeast Asia. With a decade at multinational insurer Generali and a leadership role at German consultancy Detecon, she brings extensive industry experience. Theresa is also a trailblazer in big data and analytics within insurance, contributing to some of the first academic studies on its adoption in Southeast Asia.
As a thought leader, Theresa founded the Asia InsurTech Podcast and InsurTech Mentors, creating unique platforms for industry experts across Asia. Her commitment to knowledge sharing extends to speaking engagements at conferences like Asia Insurance Review, Techsauce, Uniglobal, and InsurTech Insight, as well as lecturing at institutions such as the Singapore College of Insurance and Thammasat University.
About Accelerating Insurance
Accelerating Insurance is an insurance consultancy that navigates the insurance landscape, helping insurers cut through the noise, understand emerging trends, and demystify technology. By closely monitoring InsurTech developments and sharing success stories, Accelerating Insurance contributes to reshaping the future of insurance, advocating for meaningful change in both technology and the people driving innovation.
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Chris Douvos, founder of Ahoy Capital, discusses venture capital investing as a limited partner (LP). He explores how venture capital fits in an investor's portfolio, shares his investment philosophy, and reveals how he identifies nonconformist VC investors, especially emerging managers. Chris also reflects on recent VC landscape changes and offers insights to better the industry's future and its potential impact.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
[2:28] Pre-2005 venture capital: An enigma mastered by just a few hundred experts. What's evolved?
[9:03] Contrarian view: Concentrated VC portfolios triumph over diversification.
[13:15] Ahoy's portfolio: Home to unique ventures.
[18:26] Nurturing LP/VC connections.
[23:47] Standing out in the world of 'chaos capital' as a VC investor
The non-profit organization that Chris is passionate about: Habitat for Humanity
About Chris Douvos
Chris Douvos founded Ahoy Capital in 2018 with a focus on building a boutique firm committed to investment excellence and fostering strong partnerships. With nearly two decades of experience in venture capital, Chris is a pioneering figure in the micro-VC movement. He excels in identifying and nurturing emerging funds, facilitating transparent dialogue between capital providers and consumers, and shares his insights through his blog, SuperLP. His expertise is not limited to capital; he is also sought after for his advisory role on numerous manager's boards. Chris is a frequent speaker at industry conferences and business schools, and he serves as a valuable resource for tech and business media.
Before establishing Ahoy Capital, Chris led investment efforts at Venture Investment Associates and The Investment Fund for Foundations. He honed his skills in illiquid investing while working with Princeton University's endowment and started his career as a strategy consultant at Monitor Company.
Fun Fact: Chris is known for his exclusive brick oven pizza parties, attended by LPs, GPs, and entrepreneurs in Silicon Valley.
About Ahoy Capital
Ahoy Capital is a Silicon Valley-based boutique fund manager that scours the innovation ecosystem in search of attractive risk-adjusted returns while maintaining a high level of engagement with its Partners. Focusing on investments in both early-stage venture capital funds and start-up companies, Ahoy Capital seeks outstanding opportunities in the application of emerging disruptive technologies, as well as the development of nascent frontier ideas that will continue to have profound effects on the ways in which people live and work.
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Priya Ramachandran, founder and managing partner at Foster Ventures, recounts her remarkable odyssey from the tech world in India to her venture capital journey in the heart of Silicon Valley. She candidly discusses her evolution as a VC, starting as an angel investor, and passionately elaborates on the core values and principles that underpin the foundation of Foster Ventures. Priya also expresses her enthusiasm for the imminent surge of innovation poised to emerge from the dynamic cross-border US-India startup ecosystem.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
[2:42] The advantages and responsibilities of angel investing
[9:25] Key considerations when choosing an investor in the pre-seed to seed stage
[14:27] The path to achieving startup success: crafting a precise problem statement, building with integrity, and maintaining agility during implementation.
[18:58] Founder's dilemma: balancing speed with the importance of doing things right
[27:19] Fostering a robust US-India startup ecosystem will take true community building
The non-profit organization that Priya is passionate about: SaaSBOOMi
About Priya Ramachandran
Priya Priya Ramachandran is the Founder and Managing Partner of Foster Ventures. As an Operator and a GTM expert, Priya works with cross-border companies and helps entrepreneurs with product market fit, international market entry advice and introductions. Before starting Foster Ventures, Priya was with BoldCap, BetterCloud, Coupa, Intel Security and LogiGear Corporation leading various strategic operational roles with a focus on Product Strategy, Customer Strategy & Adoption and Customer Success. Priya is also an active mentor at SaaSBOOMi with a focus on enabling and empowering cross-border founders.
About Foster Ventures
Foster Ventures is a Silicon Valley-based early-stage venture capital firm with a focus on B2B Enterprise SaaS. As an operator-led VC, Foster works with early-stage startups, supporting founders building global products. Portfolio companies include vitrina, rocketlane, atomicwork, lyric, SimpliContract among others.
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Eric Ver Ploeg, founding partner of Tunitas Ventures, talks about how his seed-stage venture firm is helping entrepreneurs raise the best possible Series A. He shares his inspiring career journey into venture capital and expounds on the three key things he looks for in a potential investment. Additionally, he offers insights into the transformative shifts within the venture capital landscape, shedding light on the evolution of his personal viewpoints.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
[3:24] One of the hardest and most aspirationally awesome things that a human can do is start a company.
[7:16] Even an experienced entrepreneur needs help raising series A.
[10:54] What does it mean to create a category-defining company today?
[16:00] Back to the basics: defensibility and unit economics
[23:30] How has the venture capital industry evolved and how have your perspectives changed?
The non-profit organization that Eric is passionate about: StartX
About Eric Ver Ploeg
Eric Ver Ploeg is a founding partner at Tunitas Ventures, building on a successful angel investment track record. Eric is a 2x venture-backed startup founder, where he raised rounds from Kleiner Perkins, Mayfield, JMI Equity, VantagePoint, and others. He spent 11 years as Partner at large multi-stage venture firms, where he was a board member of 25+ startups, and had a vote in ~500 Series A to Pre-IPO investment decisions leading to ~130 investments.
About Tunitas Ventures
Tunitas Ventures is a Silicon Valley-based seed- stage venture firm that focuses on helping companies raise future Series A from the best possible investor. The firm invests across all technology sectors (except Healthcare/Life Sciences). Portfolio companies include InspectHOA, blotout, GO2, Via.Delivery, among others.
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Scott Barclay, Managing Director at Insight Partners, delves into the potential of software to revolutionize healthcare's flawed systems. He explores the dynamics of VC firms operating across various stages in the ecosystem, weighing the pros and cons of seed-stage investments for larger firms. Additionally, Scott shares insights on why now is an opportune time to embark on AI endeavors.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
[3:47] What approaches is Insight Partners employing to establish the most scalable framework as a leading global software investor?
[7:32] A VC's reputation is built on their interactions with founders, regardless of whether or not they get on the founder’s cap table.
[11:29] Genuine success narratives within healthcare emerge at the crossroads of empathetic product development and high-quality go-to-market strategies.
[16:10] 2023 to 2025 will be a phenomenal time to start something in AI.
[24:56] Certain occasions demand the recognition that achieving greatness requires strategic boldness and the willingness to take early leaps.
The non-profit organization that Scott is passionate about: Camp Jabberwocky
About Scott Barclay
Scott Barclay is a managing director for the health practice at Insight Partners. He’s focused on how teams—armed with technical prowess and an earned empathy to the problem—can build something greater than themselves in healthcare with software and data. Previously, Scott was a partner at DCVC, an angel investor, and an operator at Surescripts. He has been instrumental in Insight’s investment in UnoBravo, Kintsugi, Trialjectory, IDOVEN, AiVF among others.
About Insight Partners
Insight Partners is a New York-based global software investor that partners with growth-stage technology and software companies, with a deep focus in Fintech, Cybersecurity, AI/ML, DevOps, and Healthcare sectors. Insight’s portfolio companies include wiz, Calm, Checkout, Divvy, Kaseya, Espressive, ncino, onetrust, Pluralsight, among others.
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Oren Zeev, Founding Partner at Zeev Ventures, shares his one-man VC experience, and lessons from investing in so many successful companies. Oren reveals the secrets behind his renowned Silicon Valley builder-investor approach. He also gives his perspectives on the dynamic role of a VC in supporting founders, as well as his thoughts on trends shaping the venture capital industry.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
[4:20] The essence of being a VC lies not in having strong opinions, but in serving as the strongest support system for founders.
[6:30] Why great VCs refrain from saying: "Let me know how I can help you."
[12:06] Ultimately, a startup’s success depends on the compelling nature of its product(s).
[16:30] Don’t rely solely on a candidate's provided references when recruiting.
[20:25] For founders, unsolicited advice is unnecessary.
[25:57] Venture capital is not broken!
The non-profit organization that Oren is passionate about: ICON
About Oren Zeev
Oren Zeev is the founder of Zeev Ventures, a one-man VC firm that invests in growth-stage companies. He also serves as a board member at Houzz, HomeLight, Tipalti, TripActions, Next Insurance, among others. Oren is a former board of Audible (went public and then acquired by AMZN) and of Chegg, (NYSE: CHGG) where he was the main investor and one of the two main early backers respectively, a former board member of RedKix (acquired by Facegook) and a former chairman of Loop Commerce (acquired by Synchrony Bank). Prior to that, he was a general partner at Apax Partners from 1995 to 2007.
About Zeev Ventures
Zeev Ventures is a Silicon Valley-based early-stage venture fund that invests in technology, financial, e-commerce, and consumer service sectors. Its portfolio companies include: Trustmi, Sentra, Caramel, ShipIn, groundcover, GrowthSpace, HomeLight among others.
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David York, a founder and managing director of Top Tier Capital Partners, provides invaluable insights into the intricacies of fund of funds (FOF). Delving into the dynamic nature of FOFs within the venture capital ecosystem, he sheds light on three distinct methods of investing in venture capital. Furthermore, David offers a comprehensive overview of his meticulous evaluation process for VC firms, highlighting the formidable challenges that investors encounter when selecting the most promising ventures.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
[6:47] 3 ways of how to become ‘the money behind the money’.
[11:05] Why is it difficult to evaluate VC firms?
[20:35] What goes into starting a VC firm? What are the benefits of using FOFs in your VC journey?
[26:00] Missing opportunities, how to handle NOs as a VC, and the importance of relationships in venture capital.
[28:44] Future of venture capital: will venture capital become a more attractive asset class?
The non-profit organization that David is passionate about: NESsT
About David York
David York is a founder & Managing director at Top Tier Capital Partners. He leads the Corporate Development team and is responsible for the management, development & growth of the firm’s offerings, and is a member of the Investment and Management Committees at the firm.
David has 30+ years of industry knowledge and networks, which uniquely equip him to be a liaison and international ambassador not only for Top Tier’s brand, but also the broader venture community. Previously, he led the fund of funds business at Paul Capital Partners, before spinning it out and founding Top Tier. Prior to Paul Capital, he spent seventeen years on Wall Street running various trading desks.
David is also a board member in various for-profit and nonprofit organizations. He’s on the Board of Directors of NESsT, a 23-year-old Social Development Enterprise and Impact Investing non-profit investment firm focused on the development of social entrepreneurs in Central European and Latin American countries.
About Top Tier Capital Partners
Top Tier Capital Partners is a venture capital specialist managing niche-focused funds of funds, secondaries, and co-investment strategies. The firm makes primary and secondary investments in venture capital funds and co-invests in select portfolio companies.
Top Tier’s history is marked with investments in renowned VC firms such as Kleiner Perkins, Andreessen Horowitz, Atlas Ventures, Abingworth, Initialized, Accel, and A.Capital Ventures, and its current portfolio companies include Paro, Prime Roots,
Plus One Robotics, Komprise, Career Karma, Talkdesk, LaunchDarkly, among many others.
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Ruth Foxe Blader, a Partner at Anthemis Group, discusses her international focus on investing in FinTech and InsurTech startups. She emphasizes the need for investors to see beyond founders' storytelling and communication skills, and instead evaluate their potential to execute their mission. Ruth also highlights emerging generative AI trends and her outlook on the future of financial services.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
[4:13] Venture capital is a game of exceptions and contrarian thinking.
[9:27] Founder's genuine obsession with their idea creates infectious passion.
[13:30] Great entrepreneurs recognize their strengths and hire accordingly to achieve their mission.
[18:31] Aggressive realism is crucial for founders and investors in the challenging venture market.
[22:47] Generative AI has the potential to bring about transformative changes eagerly awaited by the market.
The non-profit organization that Ruth is passionate about: WVC:E
About Ruth Foxe Blader
Ruth Foxe Blader is a Partner at Anthemis and thought leader in fintech and insurtech. At Anthemis, Ruth leads strategic investment efforts across Europe and North America. Ruth specializes in technology-enabled business models, insurance technology, risk transfer, early stage investing, product strategy and digital transformation.
Prior to joining Anthemis, Ruth worked for Allianz SE and was a founding member of the AllianzX team, where she led investments in startups including Lemonade, MoneyFarm, Argus Cyber Security and SimpleSurance.
About Anthemis Group
Anthemis Group is a global multi-stage investment platform that deploys human, intellectual and financial capital diversely and inclusively to affect change and build resiliency in the financial system. By creating fertile ground for a diverse group of startups, investors, entrepreneurs, institutions, academics, and visionaries to converge, Anthemis believes they can solve the financial systems’ most pressing challenges faster, better and for the benefit of all. Its portfolio companies include Elevate, Rize Ag, Project Admission, TreasurySpring, Flyby Robotics, Agreena, Flock, Kasheesh among others.
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Charles Moldow, a general partner at Foundation Capital, shares his remarkable journey from being a Wall Street analyst to becoming an entrepreneur and eventually transitioning into his current role as an investor over two decades ago. His captivating anecdotes leave you eager for more, whether he's recounting stories about his father's wisdom on the internet or recalling a memorable encounter with an exceptional entrepreneur. Charles also delves into the exciting market trends within insurtech and offers valuable insights into the areas to focus attention for fruitful opportunities.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
[2:20] Charles Moldow's early entrepreneurial ventures during the dynamic evolution of the internet.
[7:58] The role of a VC in sometimes discouraging founders to protect them from their own pitfalls.
[13:01] The revealing nature of a founder's personal life story, showcasing their unique abilities.
[19:54] "Don't prepare to impress me. Just share your authentic truth." - Charles Moldow
[23:43] The importance for entrepreneurs to explore the vast array of promising opportunities for leveraging technology in the insurance industry.
The non-profit organization that Charles is passionate about: safespace
About Charles Moldow
Charles Moldow is a general partner at Foundation Capital. At Foundation, he identifies technology trends and new user experiences that will change the financial services landscape. His thesis investing has him focused on fintech, insurtech and proptech opportunities with a crypto overlay to everything he evaluates. Since he joined Foundation Capital in 2005, he’s made seventeen successful investments, five of which have gone public and twelve have been acquired. Charles’ public portfolio includes early-stage investments that have led to notable IPOs with DOMA (IPO 2021), Rover (IPO 2021), LendingClub (IPO 2014), OnDeck (IPO 2014) and Everyday Health (2014).
Fun fact: Charles moonlights as AAA Little League coach and family vacation planner.
Learn more about Charles here.
About Foundation Capital
Foundation Capital is a Silicon Valley-based early-stage venture capital firm that’s dedicated to the proposition that one entrepreneur's idea, with the right support, can become a business that changes the world. The firm is made up of former entrepreneurs who set out to create the firm they wanted as founders.
Foundation Capital is currently invested in more than 60 high-growth ventures in the areas of consumer, information technology, software, digital energy, financial technology, and marketing technology. These investments include AdRoll, Beepi, Bolt Threads, DogVacay, Kik, ForgeRock, Lending Home, Localytics, and Visier. The firm's twenty-six IPOs include Lending Club, OnDeck, Chegg, Sunrun, MobileIron, Control4, TubeMogul, Envestnet, Financial Engines, Netflix, NetZero, Responsys and Silver Spring Networks.
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Munjal Shah, the co-founder and CEO of Hippocratic AI, highlights how a personal health event propelled him into the healthcare industry. He elucidates the potential of AI technologies to offer intelligent, secure, and cost-effective solutions for the significant challenges encountered by traditional industries. Furthermore, Munjal delves into the pivotal role that startups play in shaping the future of AI.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
[6:38] AI - a net good or a net bad?
[10:25] Challenges of integrating AI solutions into healthcare management. Who’s better positioned to provide these solutions - startups or big companies?
[14:31] Lessons on raising startup capital from 20+ fundraising experiences
[21:36] Networking advice: Start early and offer value to your networks
[24:54] Similarities and differences between investing in startups as an angel investor versus investing in funds as an LP
The non-profit organization that Munjal is passionate about: South Asian Heart Center
About Munjal Shah
Munjal Shah is a co-founder and CEO at Hippocratic AI. He is a serial entrepreneur, startup advisor, and investor who has built / helped build numerous other technology and AI startups. He previously served as CEO & co-founder of Health IQ, Like.com, & Andale. Munjal Munjal is also an advisor/investor in several companies including Blindsight, PatientPing, LiftLabs, Counsyl, Honor Health, Retrace.ai, Interaxon, Wildflower, Reify Health, Scopley, Pubmatic and more.
About Hippocratic AI
Hippocratic AI is building a safety-focused large language model (LLM) for the healthcare industry. It’s founded by hospital administrators, doctors, medicare experts, payor experts, and AI & LLM researchers. The company raised a $50MM seed round from A16z and General Catalyst.
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David Gritz, co-founder and managing director at InsurTech New York, and Bryan Falchuk, founder and managing partner at Insurance Evolution Partners, discuss the dynamic roles of different players in the insurance ecosystem. David and Bryan also give useful tips for founders to effectively manage the landscape and be successful.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
4:32 Are insurtech startups effectively paying the insurance industry’s huge technology debt?
9:50 Why there shouldn’t be a divide between incumbent carriers and startups
15:34 Innovation and value creation in insurance is possible when startups and incumbents collaborate.
22:24 InsurTech NY’s role in the evolution of insurtech
26:36 What are startups and insurance companies doing to prepare for the future?
The non-profit organization that David is passionate about: Female Founders in FinTech Foundation
About David Gritz
David Gritz is a co-founder and managing director at InsurTech New York, working to build NYC as the global hub for InsurTech activity. He previously served as the Innovation Director at SVIA and led product for Zero, a loss control InsurTech acquired by EverestRe.
About Bryan Falchuk
Bryan Flachuk is the founder and managing partner at Insurance Evolution Partners and the President & CEO of The Property & Liability Resource Bureau (PLRB). His other roles include: mentor at InsurTech New York; an innovation, motivation & success expert; insurance thought leader; 4x best-selling author and 3x @TEDx speaker.
David and Bryan are both co-authors of a book series called ‘Future of Insurance’.
About InsurTech NY
InsurTech NY is a resource center for the insurance innovation community in the New York metropolitan region and beyond. Its mission is to help support the insurance industry take advantage of the latest digital technology to improve efficiencies and increase revenue, and be ready for the inevitable digital transformation. They do this through their public events, corporate innovation program, competition, accelerator, MGA lab and the venture fund.
About Insurance Evolution Partners
Insurance Evolution Partners is an insurance consultancy that advises carriers and their partners on how to navigate an evolving industry facing disruption and change.
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Tanvi Narain, an investor at Counterpart Ventures, shares her venture capital journey and the insights gained from her first investment. She offers advice on how to prepare for entry into the VC realm and provides a new perspective on the industry. Additionally, she discusses the role of women in corporate venture capital.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
2:35 Significant stepping stones that helped Tanvi transition from being an operator to a venture capitalist
6:37 As an investor, you’re helping founders to build change from the ground up.
8:50 Be valuable to your networks to succeed in venture capital
17:33 Are you building a product or a platform? Will it be there for a long time?
20:10 Women in Corporate Venture is a rising trend.
The non-profit organization that Tanvi is passionate about: Transition Play
About Guest Speaker
Tanvi Narain is an investor at Counterpart Ventures, where she sources new FinTech investment opportunities that fit the fund’s B2B strategy. Prior to joining Counterpart, Tanvi worked at Plaid where she managed a range of growth stage fintech customers; advising them on products opportunities & go-to-market strategies.She previously spent 6 years in financial services and payments at Discover Financial and Visa where she held roles in marketing and product management.
About Counterpart Ventures
Counterpart Ventures is a Silicon Valley-based life cycle VC fund, focused on investing in B2B SaaS, mobility, and marketplace technologies that target nontrivial problems or fill missing gaps in large markets. Its portfolio companies include Dori, Upflowy, Remofirst, Cloudbeds, VComply, Intricately among others.
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Fernando Pontaza, co-founder and managing general partner at Invariantes Fund, recounts the inception of Invariantes, Guatemala's first early-stage venture capital fund. He offers insights into the growth of the Latin American VC market and shares his experiences as a multi-asset class portfolio manager.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
[2:11] Insights from pioneering Guatemala’s first venture capital fund
[7:08] Investing in both venture fund investments and startup investments: the Invariantes model
[13:34] Investors who maintain a long-term perspective seek professional relationships to add value beyond just investing.
[20:21] More education is needed to demystify the venture capital asset class
The non-profit organization that Fernando is passionate about: Volcano Summit
About Guest Speaker
Fernando Pontaza is a Co-Founder and Managing General Partner at Invariantes Fund - Guatemala’s first, homegrown, early-stage VC fund. He’s been directly involved in every step, from constituting the fund, designing the deck, raising capital, evaluating deals to everything in between. After over 10 years in finance and a decade of managing portfolios he has learned an enormous amount about the power of creating wealth.
About Invariantes Fund
Invariantes Fund is an early stage venture fund investing in technology companies that leverage software as infrastructure. The fund is based in Guatemala City and invests in the United States and Latin America.
Portfolio companies include: Picker, Hamama, Favor, Monkey Foods, Revere VC, Reforge, Axiom Space, Symba, Vinovest among others.
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Adrian Fenty, managing general partner at MaC Venture Capital, discusses his journey from being D.C. mayor to becoming a venture capitalist. He highlights the similarities between politics and venture capital and shares insights on MaC's unique approach to investment opportunities.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
2:01 Lessons about business from a former politician
10:39 Why ‘hire great people’ is universal advice across industries
15:09 Networks are unbeatable when it comes to looking for amazing people to work with.
18:30 Lessons from failure can produce value in future endeavors.
22:26 Importance of diversity in the VC ecosystem, including the participation of minorities and women
About Guest Speaker
Adrian Fenty is a managing general partner at Mac Venture Capital. Prior to founding MaC, Adrian was co-founder and Managing Partner at M. Ventures and Special Advisor to Andreessen Horowitz. He began his tech career as a consultant to Rosetta Stone, EverFi and several software startups.
Fenty is a former two-term city Council member and Mayor in his hometown, Washington DC.
About MaC Venture Capital
MaC Venture Capital is an early-stage venture capital firm focused on finding ideas, technology, and products that can become infectious. The firm invests in technology companies that benefit from shifts in cultural trends and behaviors in an increasingly diverse global marketplace. MaC VC is the result of the merger between successful LosAngeles and Bay Area-based Seed funds, Cross Culture Ventures, and M Ventures.
Portfolio companies include: Fursure, Preveta, Archetype, Starfish Space, WARP, Spartan Radar, Spill, Blaze, UTVATE among others.
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Alex Edelson, founder and general partner at Slipstream Investors, shares his journey as a limited partner and recounts the genesis of Slipstream. He talks about the importance of evaluating VCs based on their portfolio construction, unique strengths, and feedback from founders, and highlights lessons from common mistakes emerging managers do.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
[6:32] 3 key characteristics of emerging managers that LPs compete for
[10:56] What the best LPs do to remain top of mind of fund managers
[16:18] Lessons from common VC mistakes
The non-profit organization that Alex is passionate about: Bridge Funding Global
About Guest Speaker
Alex Edelson is the Founder and General Partner at Slipstream Investors. Before starting Slipstream, Alex was the Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel at QED Investors and Nigel Morris's Chief of Staff.
About Slipstream Investors
Slipstream Investors is a DC-based VC fund of funds that invests in pre-seed and seed funds, many of which are emerging managers, and in their breakout portfolio companies.
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Jamie Rhode, Principal at Verdis Investment Management, sheds light on the opaque world of LPs. Jamie shares insights into how data is utilized at Verdis to make informed decisions about fund allocation strategy. She offers valuable advice for building successful GP/LP relationships, and ofers her views on prevailing trends in the venture capital industry.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
[9:34] How Verdis chooses VC firms to invest in
[16:10] California is home to the majority of U.S. unicorns, followed by New York, according to Verdis data
[25:07] Leaning on diversification to increase the chances of getting big winners
[31:29] Advice for GPs intending to work with a family office
The non-profit organizations that Jamie is passionate about: Cradles to Crayons
About Guest Speaker
Jamie Rhode is Principal at Verdis Investment Management. She joined Verdis from Bloomberg, where she held roles in both equity research and credit analysis. There, she created, managed and leveraged an extensive library of statutory and financial and market data for buy and sell-side clients that use Bloomberg to make investment decisions.
A licensed Chartered Financial Analyst, she earned her bachelor’s degree in Finance and Marketing from Drexel University’s College of Business Administration.
Fun fact: Jamie is an Eagles fan. Go Birds!!
About Verdis Investment Management
Verdis Investment Management is a single family office investing globally from their base outside of Philadelphia. Verdis was established in 2004, building on a rich legacy that has spanned three centuries. The family office is focused on venture capital, private equity and hedge fund investment sourcing and due diligence.
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Manu Kumar, Founder and Chief Firestarter of K9 Ventures, talks about how he balances being an investor and a founder. He shares unique insights from his experience founding Carta, HiHello and his other startups, and lessons from his high-conviction type of investing.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
[3:32] Why solo GPs prioritize deal quality over quantity, and best ways to catch their attention
[9:08] Entrepreneurs need to have strong conviction in their idea and show that they will take the leap, leave everything else and start their company.
[14:59] Carta’s tough time raising capital; investors thought it was “essentially replacing spreadsheets”
[19:07] Why recruiting a founder rarely works
About Guest Speaker
Dr. Manu Kumar is the Founder and Chief Firestarter of K9 Ventures, Co-Founder and CEO at HiHello, and the Co-founder, Investor, and Board Observer at Carta. He’s also a board member in several companies, including Everlaw, enuma, Nexkey, Bugsee, Traptic, Crave.io Inc., Avoma, Forethought Technologies, Workona Inc., HiHello, Invisible AI, and Daughters of Rosie.
Manu is a self-confessed entrepreneur at heart. He started his first company (SneakerLabs, Inc.) at the age of 20 with $5,000 from a summer internship.
About K9 Ventures
K9 Ventures is a Silicon Valley-based venture capital firm that invests in concept-stage and seed-stage technology startups in the San Francisco Bay Area. K9 Ventures has made more than 74 investments. More than 25% of them are diversity investments. The firm’s most notable exits include Lyft, Twilio, and Osmo. Companies in its current portfolio include Teleo, Invisible AI, Avoma, Forethought, Nexkey, Everlaw among others.
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David Thacker, General Partner at Greylock, shares insights from his career journey. He previously led product development at high-growth tech companies such as Google and LinkedIn and now invests in consumer and B2B2C tech startups. He discusses changes in the venture capital industry and their impact on fundraising for founders.
In this episode, you'll learn:
3:45 Make calculated bets during slow periods to capitalize on contrarian perspectives.
12:16 Founders who start their company to solve a problem understood through a lived experience are able to build some of the best startups.
18:30 How has investment decision-making changed since and after the pandemic?
21:38 Is venture capital still patient?
The non-profit organization that David is passionate about: Tipping Point
About Guest Speaker
David Thacker is a General Partner at Greylock, where he invests in technology startups that focus on solving significant challenges through exceptional product design. He has been at the forefront of Greylock's investments in companies such as Curated, Instawork, Pragma, Wealthsimple, and AmplifyMD, to name a few. Prior to joining Greylock, David had an impressive career as a technologist, having held key product leadership roles at renowned companies like Google and LinkedIn.
About Greylock
Greylock is a Silicon Valley-based venture capital firm that invests in entrepreneurs that focus on consumer and enterprise software companies. The firm has invested in market-defining companies, including Airbnb, AppDynamics, Apptio, Arista Networks (NYSE: ANET), Cloudera, Docker, Dropbox, Facebook (Nasdaq: FB), LinkedIn (NYSE: LNKD), Medium, Nextdoor, Palo Alto Networks (NYSE: PANW),Pandora (NYSE: P), Pure Storage, and Workday (NYSE: WDAY).
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Eric Woo, co-founder and CEO at Revere VC, talks about how Revere is pioneering ‘the Morningstar for venture capital’. Eric shares examples of how VC can become more transparent and more data driven, and gives advice on how to navigate a more complicated future VC world.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
[3:23] The value of venture capital in the eyes of a limited partner
[8:31] How do you know you have good access to venture funds as an LP?
[13:14] Revere’s playbook for removing barriers to the free flow of capital from the LP side
[22:41] Looking past the down cycle into the future of VC
The non-profit organization that Eric is passionate about: NVCA Venture Forward
About Guest Speaker
Eric Woo is a co-founder and CEO at Revere VC, and is an acknowledged thought leader in the VC emerging managers ecosystem. At Revere, he leads product development and investment analysis & due diligence efforts. Previously, Eric was Head of Institutional Capital at AngelList, where he worked closely with investors to curate early-stage fund and deal opportunities, and developed systematic and data-driven strategies for institutional investors.
About Revere VC
Revere VC is a Silicon Valley-based venture capital firm that empowers investment advisors, wealth managers, and allocators with the tools to expand their venture capital programs. Revere is best known for creating the industry’s first standardized framework for evaluating fund managers.
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Richard Kerby, co-founder and general partner at Equal Ventures, shares the journey of Equal Ventures and thought behind Emerging Managers Circle. He provides insights into the investment decision-making process at multi-partner venture capital firms and offers advice on how to position your business for success. Finally, he discusses the issue of diversity in the VC industry.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
[2:55] New York’s is becoming an increasingly attractive hub for startup ecosystem players.
[6:56] Equal Ventures investment philosophy and process; and why consensus doesn't lead to great investment decision making.
[17:09] The hype days are gone. You can’t just tell a story and try to raise money without a real business.
[18:26] Emerging Managers Circle benefits to emerging GPs as they pursue their dreams of starting their own firms.
[21:03] How more diversity at the LP and GP levels can unlock the hidden potential of the startup ecosystem
The non-profit organization that Richard is passionate about: BLCK VC, BVCC
About Guest Speaker
Richard Kerby is Co-founder and General Partner at Equal Ventures. Prior to co-founding Equal Ventures, Richard was an investor at Venrock, where he led seed-stage and Series A stage investments in 6Sense, Amino Apps, Beckon, Burner, Luxe Valet, and Salsify.
Prior to joining Venrock, Richard was an investor at Institutional Venture Partners (IVP),where he focused on identifying and evaluating later-stage investments. While at IVP, Richard worked with IVP portfolio companies such as Dropbox, FleetMatics, PopSugar, Shazam, and Yext. Prior to joining IVP, Richard worked in the Investment Banking Division of Credit Suisse.
About Equal Ventures
Equal Ventures is a New York-based early stage venture capital firm that backs founders and businesses that are disrupting legacy markets. Its core focus areas are retail, care, insurance, supply chain and climate. Portfolio companies include wrapbook, gerry, ODYSSEY, MVMNT, WeeCare, SmartHop, ThreeFlow among others.
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Karthee Madasamy, founder and managing partner at MFV Partners, talks about how deep tech is affecting and transforming traditional industries. Karthee shares important lessons for deep tech founders to help them move from proving the underlying technology to building scalable businesses. He also explains the MFV Partners investment philosophy and what founders can expect when they work with MFV.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
[1:45] Genuine continuous fascination with new technology is crucial to success in deep tech.
[10:23] Fundamental questions that any investor would ask when assessing the business model of a deep tech startup.
[13:40] Showing that you clearly understand what the problem is and how you’re going to solve it is a sure way of getting to a second meeting with the investor.
[23:44] Deep tech founders need investors who appreciate the technology and who can help them to prepare for the next stage in their journey.
[25:52] How can more transparency around how to invest in VC funds help the VC ecosystem?
About Guest Speaker
Karthee Madasamy is the founder and managing partner at Mobile Foundation Ventures (MFV) Partners. Karthee invests in frontier-tech startups in robotics, Artificial Intelligence, Quantum Computing,Autonomous Platforms, and Internet of Things. Before MFV, Karthee spent 11 years as a Managing Director at Qualcomm Ventures where he invested across the US, Israel, and India. He started Qualcomm Ventures' investment activities in both Israel and India. Some of his notable investments include Waze (acquired by Google), Validity Sensors (acquired by Synaptics), and BORQS (NASDAQ IPO), among others. Before Qualcomm Ventures, Karthee led technical and product marketing roles in three semiconductor and wireless startups in Silicon Valley.
About MFV Partners
MFV Partners is a Silicon Valley-based early-stage deep tech venture fund based. Founded in 2018, MFV backs visionary deep tech entrepreneurs aiming to transform large industries like Auto, Manufacturing, Energy, Agriculture and Healthcare.
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Ryan Falvey, co-founder and managing partner at Restive Ventures, talks about how he founded his firm on the premise of helping to unblock the path for fintech founders as they grow and scale their businesses. Ryan highlights the huge untapped opportunities in the U.S. for fintech startups, and explains why there should be more venture capital money flowing in emerging markets.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
[4:04] Can fintech startups still do anything transformational in the U.S. financial services market?
[9:22] What does “this is too early” from an investor really mean?
[11:20] When does Restive Ventures nod ‘we want to invest in your company’ and when and why does it say ‘no’?
[20:41] What happens if one partner really loves your idea and the others don’t like it that much? How can you overcome this hurdle as a founder?
[22:35] Interesting trends for Fintech entrepreneurs. Is it a good time to start something?
The non-profit organization that Ryan is passionate about: SaverLife
About Guest Speaker
Ryan Falvey is a Co-Founder & Managing Partner at Restive Ventures (formerly Financial Venture Studio). He has spent the last 15 years identifying, supporting and leading market-changing innovations in technology. Since 2015, he’s invested in 40 early-stage fintech firms, which have grown to represent approximately $3 billion in aggregate equity value. Prior to founding Financial Venture Studio, Ryan led the development of the Financial Solutions Lab, a partnership between JPMorgan Chase and the Financial Health Network. Before managing the Lab, Ryan worked with leading tech firms to develop payment solutions at Silicon Valley Bank. He also served as Strategy Group Lead at Enclude Solutions, overseeing global strategy consulting work around mobile-enabled financial products.
About Restive Ventures
Restive Ventures is a Silicon Valley-based venture capital firm on a mission to help entrepreneurs build the world’s best fintech companies. Its portfolio companies include Canary, FairPlay, Power, Daylight, Ivella, Additional Wealth, FarmRaise among others.
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Semil Shah, General Partner at Haystack Ventures, talks about fundraising in a changing VC environment. Semil highlights ways for founders to raise investors’ interest in their companies, and explains why founders should occasionally imagine a future where they won’t have to raise more capital.
In this episode, you'll learn:
[4:56] Ask investors questions to make the conversation more interesting.
[8:10] Build something and let investors reach out to you.
[12:23] Do the risks you’ve taken show that you really want to be in the game?
[18:14] Enterprise value will drive startup fundraising in the future.
The non-profit organization that Semil is passionate about: Humane Society Silicon Valley (HSSV)
About Guest Speaker
Semil Shah is the founding general partner at Haystack Ventures. Semil has also been a Venture Partner at Lightspeed Venture Partners since 2018. In 2022, he was featured on the inaugural Midas Seed List (in partnership with Forbes Magazine) as one of the top 25 seed investors worldwide.
Fun fact: Before Semil got into investing, he had a winding career path that took him to an early-stage startup, to the galleys of the NY restaurant scene, and even a butcher shop.
About Haystack Ventures
Haystack Ventures is a Silicon Valley-based venture capital firm that backs outlier founders at the earliest stages. Haystack has been a fortunate investor in 200+ companies, including DoorDash, Instacart, Hashicorp, Figma, Opendoor, Carta, Applied Intuition, Filecoin, Ironclad and more.
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Tom Ferguson, managing partner at Burnt Island Ventures, talks about water investing: trends, opportunities and challenges. Tom shares lessons from his experience working with entrepreneurs in the water sector. He also explains the methodology Burnt Island Ventures uses to assess potential investments while avoiding the biases that often hinder great founders from meeting investors.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
[6:50] Water is a tricky industry. You need to have non-obvious insights for your business idea to take off.
[10:58] How sitting on the real pain point results in an outrageous founder-market fit
[17:07] Quality of written communication is a leading indicator of future success in entrepreneurship.
The non-profit organization that Tom is passionate about: Imagine H2O
About Guest Speaker
Tom Ferguson is the founder and managing partner at Burnt Island Ventures. Previously, Tom ran the Accelerator at Imagine H2O for 5+ years, seeing hundreds of water startups a year.
About Burnt Island Ventures
Burnt Island Ventures is a Silicon Valley-based early-stage venture fund that finds, funds and supports the best of water entrepreneurs. Its portfolio companies include Daupler, Aclarity, Spout, 2SWater, SewerAI among others.
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Samara Hernandez, founding partner at Chingona Ventures, talks about investing in underrepresented and overlooked badass founders from different backgrounds. Samara explains her 5Ps framework of evaluating startups and gives her thoughts on how access to capital for underrepresented founders has changed. She also gives her advice to founders as they maneuver the current market downturn.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
[5:34] Underrepresented founders don't need more advice. They need capital.
[7:45] Is it now easier for founders of overlooked backgrounds to get venture dollars?
[12:44] 5Ps of evaluating whether a company is investible or not
[21:20] Downturns are a reality check for startups.
The non-profit organization that Samara is passionate about: Latinx VC
About Guest Speaker
Samara Hernandez is a founding partner at Chingona Ventures. Prior to founding Chingona, Samara was an early stage investor at MATH Venture Partners, where she led new investment review, diligence and execution. Samara previously worked at Goldman Sachs in sales as well as advising on portfolio construction and consulting on business practices.
Samara is actively involved in the Chicago tech community and is passionate about helping underrepresented groups get into STEM education, venture capital and entrepreneurship. She co-founded the Latinx Founders Collective organization to bring together Latinx founders, investors, and community leaders to support the entrepreneurial ecosystem. In addition, she is an active member of Latinx VCs, a San-Francisco based group of experienced venture investors coming together to connect, engage, and foster the Latinx VC ecosystem.
About Chingona VenturesChingona Ventures is a Chicago-based venture capital firm that invests in badass founders at the earliest stages of technology and technology-enabled companies all over the U.S. Chingona Ventures focuses on industries that are massively changing and founders whose backgrounds uniquely position them to create businesses in growth markets that are often overlooked. Companies in its portfolio include: Certiverse, Elevate, Tiny Organics, SUMA Wealth, Innovare, Olivex, Paerpay, Scout, She Matters, Cartwheel among others.
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Chris Kim, the co-founder and managing partner at Union Labs, talks about supporting deeptech entrepreneurs with empathy. Chris shares his journey as a serial entrepreneur, angel investor and venture capitalist. He explains, with real-life examples, why the founder’s character ultimately matters and shares his thoughts on high-speed fundraising deals.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
[4:56] VCs who can share their operator experience empathetically can be of great value to deeptech founders.
[8:17] The founder’s character ultimately matters.
[13:52] Cool technology is great, but can you present a well thought out process to the vision?
[16:21] Brilliant founders are total nerds on their topics, and they influence everyone they meet with their passion.
[19:37] How high-speed fundraising can undermine founder/investor relationship building
The non-profit organization Chris is passionate about: Korean American Community Foundation
About Guest Speaker
Chris Kim is the co-founder and managing partner at Union Labs. Chris has been a serial entrepreneur and angel investor before starting Union Labs. Previously, he was the CTO for smart home security company August Home (acquired by Assa Abloy) and prior to that he managed cybersecurity and consumer e-commerce products at Bank of America, eBay and various other startups.
About Union Labs
Union Labs is a Silicon Valley-based deeptech seed-stage venture capital firm that invests in exceptional founders from diverse backgrounds who are applying deep technologies to solve hard problems in the physical world. Union’s core focus areas include: Industrial IoT, Consumer IoT, Health, Climate Tech, Insurtech, Cyber Security, AI/Machine Learning, Autonomous Technology and Manufacturing. Union labs portfolio companies include: Urban Machine, Rendered AI, EncircleLabs, camect, butlr., zerofy, Antimatter among others.
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Edward Suh, founding partner at Alpine VC, talks about focusing on metrics and data to remove biases when looking for investment opportunities. Edward elaborates how his quant-based investment philosophy helps him to objectively find hidden gems (underprivileged and overlooked entrepreneurs) that are building scalable early-stage startups.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
[1:27] Getting into venture capital as a service-oriented person
[8:13] Can metrics and data be used reliably to evaluate early-stage startups?
[12:44] How does what has happened with your product relate to your personality as a founder? And why do investors care?
[16:35] Build a product that won’t tap out quickly.
[20:23] Clarity in synthesizing the metrics early on and having a compelling vision for the company is a huge plus for a founder when talking with a VC.
The non-profit organization Edward Suh is passionate about: Gold House
About Guest SpeakerEdward Suh is a founding partner at Alpine VC. He is a consumer tech VC who’s keen on using metrics and data to increase diversity in the venture capital system. Edward built internal data platforms for Goodwater Capital and Redpoint, where he worked previously, that helped to identify and flag companies on the basis of their metrics. He now uses the same metrics-based approach in his new firm to evaluate investment opportunities.
About Alpine VCAlpine VC is a new seed-focused fund that predominantly invests in consumer as well as consumerized enterprise companies globally.
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Guy Kawasaki, chief evangelist at Canva and previously at Apple, talks about defying the odds to become a remarkable person. Guy shares his interesting career story and lots of lessons along that journey. He also talks about the mission behind his podcast ‘Remarkable People’.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
2:08 Defy the statistics if you want to stand out.
6:22 Fall in love with stuff and you’ll have a golden touch on them.
13:00 Every successful person certainly has many missed swings that they don’t talk much about.
22:55 Remarkable people and experiences are everywhere. Keep your eyes and ears wide open.
The non-profit organization that Guy is passionate about: Digital Nest - Watsonville
About Guest Speaker
Guy Kawasaki is the chief evangelist of Canva and the creator of Guy Kawasaki’s Remarkable People podcast. He is an executive fellow of the Haas School of Business (UC Berkeley), and adjunct professor of the University of New South Wales. He was the chief evangelist of Apple and a trustee of the Wikimedia Foundation. He has written Wise Guy, The Art of the Start 2.0, The Art of Social Media, Enchantment, and eleven other books. Kawasaki has a BA from Stanford University, an MBA from UCLA, and an honorary doctorate from Babson College.
Next EpisodeIn our next episode, we welcome Edward Suh, founding partner at Alpine VC, to talk about focusing on metrics and data to remove biases when looking for investment opportunities.
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Mike Smerklo, co-founder and managing director at Next Coast Ventures, shares his journey and lessons learned through his experiences as an entrepreneur and now an investor. Mike gives practical examples of how founders can prudently build a relationship with investors right from the first meeting.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
[7:14] Learning to silence “Mr.Monkey” in order to succeed as an entrepreneur
[12:48] Why going after a bad market doesn’t work even for great entrepreneurs
[18:11] Are you obsessed about your idea but are always ready to take feedback?
[20:43] Doing a bit of research on investors before meeting them can help a founder to avoid getting unnecessary no’s.
The non-profit organization Mike is passionate about: Mr. Monkey and Me
About Guest Speaker
Mike Smerklo is a Co Founder & Managing Director at Next Coast Ventures. Formerly, Mike was CEO of ServiceSource (SREV) and prior to that served as Director of Business Development at Opsware. He’s also the author of “Mr. Monkey And Me,” a book which looks into the psychology and mental rigor of starting, growing and operating a successful business.
About Next Coast VenturesNext Coast Ventures is an Austin-headquartered venture capital firm. Next Coast’s thematic investing approach targets Texas and other emerging technology hubs. As one of the fastest-growing venture capital firms in Texas, the firm has invested in several standout technology companies across the U.S. Next Coast’s portfolio companies include Navegate, Everlywell, Bridgespan, Tenfold/Callinize, Submittable, Brain Check, among others.
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Jasleen Kaur, an investor at Nyca Partners, talks about how she evaluates potential investments across wealth tech, SMB technology, and ESG areas. Jasleen advises founders on how to treat regulation during the very early stages of building their startups. She also gives her views on how overvaluation is affecting the VC/startups ecosystem.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
5:49 Is early-stage investing harder than later-stage investing?
8:34 Don’t be afraid to ‘dumb it down’ when explaining what your company does.
15:58 Do founders need to worry about regulations in the seed and series A stages?
19:14 Fundamental things the overvaluation game is missing
21:18 You are not necessarily subject to the current downturn if…
The non-profit organization Jasleen is passionate about: Curry Senior Center San Francisco
About Guest SpeakerJasleen Kaur is a Principal at Nyca Partners. Prior to joining Nyca, Jasleen was a Principal at CE Innovation Capital, focused on investing in Fintech and Enterprise Software, and prior to that worked at JPMorgan in the Technology Investment Banking Group. She has worked across both New York and San Francisco throughout her career.
About Nyca PartnersNyca Partners is a New York-based venture capital and advisory firm that focuses on the fintech sector. Nyca connects innovative companies to financial institutions and technology companies as well as entrepreneurs, VCs, and its strategic Limited Partner base.
Portfolio companies include April, IMTC, Fidel API, RenoFi, Cowbell, Propel, Truv, Sardine, Additional Wealth, Tint.ai among others.
Next EpisodeIn our next episode, we invite Mike Smerklo, co-founder and managing director at Next Coast Ventures, to share his journey and lessons learned through his experiences as an entrepreneur and now an investor.
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Taylor Clauson, the Founder and Managing Partner at Abstraction Capital, talks about how he builds conviction from the founder’s ‘why story’. Taylor highlights the challenges faced by technical founders outside Silicon Valley and New York, and discusses what really affects alpha in a founder.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
4:42 Why the ‘why story’ is more important than the pitch deck
8:50 Bangalore is closer to San Francisco than Sacramento is
15:17 There’s always a chance to turn a ‘no’ into a ‘yes’.
20:13 “I'm bullish on overlooked founders” - Taylor Clauson
The non-profit organizations Taylor is passionate about: Big Brothers Big Sisters
About Guest SpeakerTaylor Clauson is the Founder and Managing Partner of Abstraction Capital. Taylor invests in early-stage B2B companies that are building tools for developer productivity and software infrastructure. He spent 7 years at a Kansas-City based firm called OpenAir Equity Partners, investing in and building IoT and data companies. Also, he is a Kauffman fellow, class 23.
About Abstraction CapitalAbstraction Capital is a Kansas-based early-stage venture capital firm building tools for developers and software infrastructure. Abstraction also focuses on companies building dev tools and workflow automation that reduces the time required to build, deploy, and measure the performance of the software.
Next EpisodeIn our next episode, we welcome Jasleen Kaur, an investor at Nyca Partners, to talk about how she finds investment opportunities across wealth tech, SMB technology, and ESG areas.
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Ariana Thacker, founding partner at Conscience VC, dispels some myths about venture capital. Ariana talks about how entrepreneurial experience influences the investment playbook. She also shares her thoughts on the founder qualities she thinks are more important post-COVID.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
6:52 Is a bit more entrepreneurial experience a drawback?
9:45 Why founders with non-traditional paths into venture are becoming more interesting to VCs
12:01 Do you need an investor network for your company to get in front of investors?
15:23 Barrier to entry litmus test
19:05 Founder’s resourcefulness vs geographic location: Which is more important?
The non-profit organization that Ariana is passionate about: Society of Women Engineers
About Guest SpeakerAriana Thacker is the Founding Partner at Conscience VC. Ariana is a technical investor with technical expertise spanning Fortune 500 companies to early-stage start-ups. She is also a community leader for diversity. She allocates 50% of her portfolio to diverse and female founders. Ariana tenured as President of Society of Women Engineers and is the founder of congressionally-recognized philanthropic organization.
Fun fact: Ariana writes poetry & rap
About Conscience VCConscience VC is a Miami-based early-stage fund pioneering the intersection of consumer and science. Portfolio companies include Shapeways, Nimbus, Wave Life, Aqua Cultured Foods, Last Gameboard, Harmony Baby Nutrition among others.
Next EpisodeIn our next episode, we welcome Taylor Clauson, the Founder and Managing Partner at Abstraction Capital, to talk about how he builds conviction from the founder’s ‘why story’.
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Andrew Scott, a founding partner at 7percent Ventures, talks about distilling the essence of your vision and your business into the deck. Andrew shares wisdom that he’s gained from his experience working with entrepreneurs across different geographies. He also gives his perspective of how the startup ecosystem in Europe needs to change.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
[2:11] How the venture ecosystem is growing in Europe
[7:34] Why taking money from the wrong investor is the worst thing a founder can do
[14:15] Tips on how to make your pitch deck say less but be more impactful
[19:50] Essential components of strong investor-founder relationships
The non-profit organizations Andrew is passionate about: The International Conclave of Entrepreneurs (ICE)
About Guest SpeakerAndrew Scott is a founding partner at 7percent Ventures. Currently based in London & Lisbon, Andrew has been an investor since 2014, has 20 years’ experience in technology, and is a founder of 6 startups. His specialisms include D2C, social & market networks, B2B SaaS and quantum computing.
Andrew is also co-founder of ICE, a non-profit global network of tech founders and investors, established in 2009.
About 7percent Ventures7percent Ventures is a London-based venture capital firm that invests in early stage tech startups which represent billion dollar opportunities. The firm focuses on next generation early stage tech investing, bridging Europe and the USA. 7percent portfolio companies include Challau, Earnr, Neurolabs, Gensyn, Hybryd, Volta, Versadex, among others.
Next EpisodeComing up in Episode 96, we welcome Taylor Clauson, the managing partner at Abstraction Capital to talk about the importance of telling your why story.
Subscribe to our podcast and stay tuned for our next episode that will drop next Tuesday.
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Kfir Kachlon, the Co-founder and General Partner at 91 Ventures, shares his journey from being a lawyer to investing in deep tech startups. Kfir explains why he likes debating hard questions with founding teams. In addition, he points out key things founders need to do when pitching for the investor to see their startup as a great investment.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
5:24 The product may change, but the character and abilities of the founding team is something you can bank on.
7:04 How mentorship makes accelerator programs all worth it.
11:34 How to convincing an investor that your startup is a good investment for him and his LPs
15:01 Hard questions expose the behavior, dynamics and vibe of the founding team.
The non-profit organizations Kfir is passionate about: Magen David Adom in Israel
About Guest SpeakerKfir Kachlon is the Co-founder and General Partner at 91 Ventures. He is an early-stage investor focused on supporting brilliant teams who are building industry-defining tech startups. Kfir previously founded AnD Ventures, an early-stage VC firm focused on the Israeli startup ecosystem.
Prior to founding AnD Ventures, he was a senior member of OurCrowd’s investments team and the FrontierTech and AgriFood technologies lead at OurCrowd, where he led dozens of investments in cutting-edge technologies.
About 91 Ventures91 Ventures is a new Israeli early-stage venture capital firm focused on deep tech startups.
Next EpisodeComing up in Episode 95, we welcome Andrew Scott, founding partner at 7percent Ventures.
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Jake Gibson, the Founding Partner at Better Tomorrow Ventures, gives a refreshing view of how FinTech is going to touch every part of the world. Jake discusses how the market downturn has impacted startups and gives a FinTech VC’s point of view on key Web3 trends.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
1:32 It's way too early to say anything like ‘FinTech is overdone’ or ‘FinTech is dead’.
13:50 Does a playbook exist for raising startup capital in the current market downturn?
19:48 Web 3: many entrepreneurs following the hype, investors looking for impact
24:41 Why ‘move fast and break things’ is not a good strategy for FinTech startups
The non-profit organizations Jake is passionate about: GiveWell
About Guest SpeakerJake Gibson is the Founding Partner at Better Tomorrow Ventures (BTV). Jake is one of the most active and most experienced FinTech venture capital investors. He's based in Silicon Valley and invests in very early-stage startups. Previously, he was an active angel investor and before that an investor at 500 FinTech. He is also the co-founder of NerdWallet, which is one of the earliest fintech startups. He served there as COO from 2010 to 2014. The personal finance company went public in 2021.
About Better Tomorrow VenturesBetter Tomorrow Ventures (BTV) is a Silicon Valley-based early-stage fintech-focused fund that leads rounds in pre-seed and seed-stage companies globally. BTV is currently investing out of its second fund, driven by the “Everything is FinTech” theme. Companies in its portfolio include Unit, Salsa, Amitruck, Vitt, Creditbook, FarmRaise, CloudTrucks among others.
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Maryanna Saenko, Co-founder and Partner at Future Ventures, talks about what attracts caring investors to venture capital. Maryanna shares examples of her successful investments in deep tech and gives useful tips to help technical founders convince the investor in the first meeting.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
4:13 How can caring venture capitalists help in creating a more verdant future that is more equitable for all?
11:28 Why you should understand your investor’s fund term/investment timeline
13:45 Bring your technical team to the first meeting
24:06 Tips for increasing transparency within the venture capital industry
The non-profit organizations Maryanna is passionate about: World Central Kitchen, CARE
About Guest SpeakerMaryanna Saenko is a co-founder of Future Ventures, an early-stage venture capital firm that invests in frontier technologies across diverse industries. Maryanna has an interest in robotics, quantum computing, biotechnology, aerospace, and the future of food. Previously she was at Khosla Ventures, and prior to that at DFJ, where she focused on frontier technology investments. She was also an investment partner at Airbus Ventures where she led a series of venture investments strategically aligned with Airbus’ future-of-aerospace initiatives. Before Airbus, Maryanna was a consultant at Lux Research and a research engineer at Cabot Corporation.
About Future VenturesFuture Ventures is a Silicon Valley-based venture capital firm that invests in early-stage founder-led, mission-driven companies at the cutting edge of disruptive technology and new industry formation. The firm’s areas of focus include commercial space exploration, deep learning, quantum computing, robotics, AI, blockchain, sustainable transportation, synthetic biology and clean meat. Recent Future Ventures’ investments include: 64xBio, Alice Technologies, Beeflow, Cambrian, Commonwealth Fusion Systems, Copernic Catalysts, Deep Genomics, Doloromics, Earthshot Labs, Faeth, Gameto, Ockam, Opentrons, and Verdant Robotics.
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Ayush Jain, a Senior Associate at Revolution’s Rise of The Rest seed fund, shares his career journey from engineering to product management to investing in entrepreneurs that are outside the traditional tech hubs. Ayush highlights some important trends that are disrupting the healthcare industry. He also explains why the “failing fast” mantra that people ascribe to entrepreneurship can be misleading.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
5:13 How Revolution is making capital more accessible outside of San Francisco, Boston and New York
8:57 Perseverance stems from conviction in a problem you're solving.
17:04 What major trends are driving entrepreneurship within the healthcare sector?
Non-profit that Ayush is passionate about: Minds Matter
About Guest SpeakerAyush Jain is a Senior Associate at Revolution’s Rise of the Rest Seed Fund (ROTR Seed). Ayush is responsible for investment sourcing, execution, and portfolio support. Before joining Revolution, he held lead roles in R&D, Global Marketing, and Global Product Management at Stryker and J&J. He previously spent several years in the MedTech space, at startups and Fortune 500 companies. Ayush designed, developed, and launched 3 breakthroughs, life-saving implants to treat brain aneurysms and peripheral vascular disease, which now collectively generate $300M+ in global revenues. Ayush also served as the Co-President of Minds Matter San Francisco, an education non-profit serving over 100 low-income high school students, where he raised $1M+ while leading the organization’s 350 volunteers.
About Rise Of The RestRevolution’s Rise of the Rest Seed Fund (ROTR Seed) is a venture capital fund that invests catalytic capital in the most promising seed-stage companies located outside of Silicon Valley, New York City, and Boston. ROTR Seed sources and vets the best seed-stage opportunities in cities across the country through Rise of the Rest Road Trips and the yearly Rise of the Rest Summit.
The fund has invested in many companies, among them Medzoomer, Insurate, Qwick, Dimension Inx, gennev, flytedesk, MEGH Computing, Lumenari, kidizen, ripple, Qoins, Stord and Branch.
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Gale Wilkinson, founder and managing partner at Vitalize Venture Capital, shares her wisdom on building startups with entrepreneurs. Gale talks about investing in the future of work and future of learning technologies, and highlights the questions she asks founders to understand their north star.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
5:02 What investors are looking for when they ask “Why did you pick this business?”
6:08 How the virtual experience trend is driving innovation
11:40 Themes that influence how we think about the future of work
16:39 Benefits of angel network to investors and founders
The non-profit organization that Gale is passionate about: Chicago Blend
About Guest SpeakerGale Wilkinson is an angel investor and the Founder and Managing Partner at Vitalize, a seed fund and angel community investing in future of work + learning software. Gale is also a startup advisor and is currently a founding Board member of Chicago Blend, an organization focused on increasing diversity in VC and startups. Previously, Gale founded IrishAngels, one of the largest angel groups in the world. She also founded two failed startups, consulted for new product launches with Nielsen, and was part of the strategy team at Orbitz.
About Vitalize Venture CapitalVitalize Venture Capital is a Chicago-based early-stage B2B software fund and 300+ member angel community investing in the high-potential future of work and future of learning technologies. Vitalize has offices in Chicago, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. Portfolio companies include: CloudEagle, NOWHERE, The Mom Project, Toucan, Zingtree, Abstract, Enklu among others.
Learn more about Vitalize Venture Capital on Vitalize’s YouTube channel and The VITALIZE Podcast.
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Joan Schmit, professor of risk and insurance at the Wisconsin School of Business, talks about risk management in business. As the program lead of Creative Destruction Lab-Wisconsin Risk Stream (CDL Risk), Professor Schmit discusses the objectives of the program, and gives examples of how connecting mentors and entrepreneurs through it is helping to improve society.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
7:58 What’s the role of startups and founders in shaping the future of risk management
13:18 Benefits of CDL Risk mentorship to entrepreneurs focused on risk and insurance
17:56 How can you participate in CDL’s mentorship program? Who are the mentors?
Non-profit organization that Joan is passionate about: World Central Kitchen
About Guest SpeakerProfessor Joan Schmit holds the American Family Insurance Distinguished Chair in Risk Management and Insurance at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, where she has been on the faculty since 1988. Professor Schmit has published extensively in insurance and legal journals. Among her areas of expertise include insurance regulation, microinsurance, reputation risk, enterprise risk management, and the interaction of law and economics in an insurance and risk management context. She is a lead with the Creative Destruction Lab-Risk, focusing on the Risk stream. With a goal of “transforming society’s ability to manage risk,” the stream is designed for seed-stage organizations with ventures focused on risk.
About Creative Destruction LabCreative Destruction Lab is a nonprofit organization that delivers an objectives-based program for massively scalable, seed-stage, science- and technology-based companies. Currently, CDL runs 16 Streams in 10 locations globally (five sites in Canada, three in the United States, and two in Europe). Ventures who are accepted to the program work with mentors to sharpen objectives, prioritize time and resources, and raise capital.
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Schwark Satyavolu, a General Partner at Trinity Ventures, shares lessons from his many years of experience as a founder, operator, technology executive, and now an investor. Schwark talks about unwillingly getting into FinTech when he was building Yodlee, and how he got into investing in crypto startups. He also gives an interesting explanation as to why he likes investing in naive fast learners.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
1:52 The 2000 bubble burst forced me to (unwillingly) get into FinTech - Schwark
6:19 A similar thing that happened to FinTech is happening to crypto
19:31 Why naive fast learners succeed in building big companies
22:57 Should you pause your startup building until the prevailing macroeconomic volatility eases?
The non-profit organizations that Schwark is passionate about: Asha, Pratham
About Guest SpeakerSchwark Satyavolu is a General Partner at Trinity Ventures. A decades-long financial services insider, Schwark is a serial entrepreneur and inventor with 15 patents. He focuses on fintech, AI and security startups that are laying the fundamental building blocks for the technology-based ecosystems of the future.
Before joining Trinity, Schwark co-founded two fintech companies, Yodlee (YDLE) and Truaxis. He also ran a $200 million division of Mastercard and served as a public company executive at LifeLock (acquired by Symantec).
About Trinity VenturesTrinity Ventures is a Silicon Valley-based venture capital firm that invests in passionate entrepreneurs who are transforming revolutionary ideas into reality.
Trinity focuses on early-stage investments in social commerce and entertainment, digital media, Saas, and cloud and infrastructure. The firm has invested in leading companies such as Aruba Networks, 21Vianet, Blue Nile, LoopNet, Photobucket, SciQuest, Starbucks, BeachMint, Infoblox, Trion Worlds and Zulily.
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Winter Mead, the founder and CEO of Coolwater Capital, tells us about Coolwater, a new organization that’s changing the way venture capital investors build new firms. Winter takes us behind the scenes to show us how venture capital works and how LPs think about the industry.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
3:25 - 7:41 Why supporting emerging managers is critical to the growth of the venture capital ecosystem
8:36 - 19:29 How limited partners choose VCs
20:17 - 26:32 Why the venture capital ecosystem needs more innovation.
Non-profit organization that Winter is passionate about: First Graduate
About Guest SpeakerWinter Mead is the Founder and CEO of Coolwater Capital. Winter’s mission is to enable capital markets by bringing transparency to venture capital. He has worked as a Limited Partner specializing in venture capital, and invested approximately $1-billion across 80 firms. He has been involved with two leading industry organizations: as a member of the National Venture Capital Association (NVCA) and at the committee level of the Institutional Limited Partners Association (ILPA).
Winter has authored the book “How To Raise A Venture Capital Fund: The Essential Guide on Fundraising and Understanding Limited Partners”, an enlightening read for any emerging VC.
About Coolwater CapitalCoolwater Capital (formerly Oper8r) is one of the world’s leading VC accelerators, striving to build the next generation of institutional VCs with their programs and resources. Coolwater views its core benefit for aspiring fund managers as demystifying the world of limited partners.
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Andy Kangpan, a Principal at Two Sigma Ventures, shares his experience supporting founders building enterprise software, cybersecurity, and crypto startups. Andy talks about the growth of decentralized finance (DeFi) and gives real-life risk management tips for entrepreneurs and investors wishing to venture into DeFi.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
4:17 - 7:47 Risk-taking for venture capital investors means thoughtfully making calculated bets on ideas that have a clear path to sustainability.
8:37 - 11:17 Ideas for finding unique insights into quickly growing nascent spaces
12:13 - 16:27 Decentralized finance represents a big paradigm shift, but are we there yet?
16:35 - 20:33 How risky is decentralized finance as an asset class? What should founders know before venturing into this field?
The non-profit organization that Andy is passionate about: NYU Entrepreneurship Institute
About Guest SpeakerAndy Kangpan is a Principal at Two Sigma Ventures. He currently focuses on investments in enterprise software, cybersecurity, and crypto. Andy has been an operator, advisor and investor. Prior to joining Two Sigma, he was an investor with ff Venture Capital where he invested in early-stage companies building innovative technologies in areas such as robotics and machine learning.
Fun fact: In his spare time, Andy enjoys skateboarding, gaming, devouring science fiction, and going to concerts around the city.
About Two Sigma VenturesTwo Sigma Ventures is a New York City-based venture capital firm investing in transformative companies harnessing information growth and computing power to change the world. The firm supports data- and computing-driven transformation in every industry - from infrastructure tools and healthcare to real estate and consumer hardware. Its portfolio companies include Anomalo, Brella, Carbon, Enveda, Firedome, GitLab, Odeko, Remote, Radar among others.
Next Week’s EpisodeComing up next week in Episode 87, we welcome Winter Mead, the founder and CEO of Coolwater Capital. Coolwater is a new organization that is changing the way venture capital investors build new firms. Winter will take us behind the scenes to show us how venture capital works, how LPs think about the industry and what Coolwater is doing to revolutionize the sector.
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Paige Doherty, a founding partner at Behind Genius Ventures, shares her lessons from setting up her VC firm and writing her book ‘Seed to Venture’ about the venture process. Paige elaborates on her investment discipline and why she likes investing early in the future of work and future of play startups.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
1:32 - 5:14 Entrepreneurs who are customer centric and who have a high build velocity are able to make proper shifts when things change rapidly.
5:38 - 10:53 Seed to Venture: A book about the world of venture, what it is, why it matters and how it works.
17:24 - 23:33 Socratic discussion of the market, entrepreneur, and opportunity makes the investment decision simpler.
Non-profit organization that Paige is passionate about: All Raise
About Guest SpeakerPaige Doherty is a Founding Partner at Behind Genius Ventures, investing in early-stage companies at the future of work and the future of play. She’s the author of Seed to Harvest, an illustrated children's book for adults about venture.
Previously, Paige was a developer success engineer at WorkOS and TVC Capital. She also served as chief of staff at a stealth ecommerce startup, spent three years at Northrop Grumman in systems testing/product management, tutored SDSU students in calculus, and developed web & social content for various businesses.
About Behind Genius VenturesBehind Genius Ventures is a next-gen venture capital firm that invests in product-led growth companies at the pre-seed/seed stage that are centered around the Future of Work and Future of Play. The firm has started investing its $5 million first fund in core investments including Pallet (a job site for independent creators), gamified fitness startup Aviron, and FYPM. Early backers of Behind Genius Ventures include Union Square Ventures’ Andy Weissman, Free- style’s Jenny Lefcourt, Bain Capital Ventures and Tribe Capital.
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Jonathan Heiliger, General Partner at Vertex Ventures, talks about how the startup ecosystem has changed, and explains why founders DO/DON’T need to be in Silicon Valley. Jonathan also sheds light on the problem of matchmaking. He proposes solutions for ensuring that founders meet and partner with investors who are fit for them.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
4:27 - 14:53 A lot has changed in the startup ecosystem but Silicon Valley hasn’t lost its culture of supporting people.
16:05 - 22:33 What founders should expect when they work with investors and partners who run a concentrated portfolio.
24:28 - 28:13 Diversity in technology hubs is critical to maximizing the technology revolution’s potential
Non-profit organization that Jonathan is passionate about: VC OpenDoor
About Guest SpeakerJonathan Heiliger is a General Partner at Vertex Ventures. Jonathan currently serves on the board of directors of Webmonsters, in addition to Vertex portfolio companies PerimeterX, CloudAcademy, and SpaceIQ. He has individually invested in and actively helped several companies, including Cloudera, Coravin, Diffbot, Dropbox, Square, and ThousandEyes.
Prior to founding Vertex Ventures, Jonathan started the seed practice at North Bridge Venture Partners where he was General Partner (2012- 2014) and led global infrastructure, site architecture, and internal systems at Facebook (2007- 2012). Previously, Jonathan held executive engineering roles at Wal-Mart and Danger (acquired by Microsoft), was COO for Loudcloud (Opsware), and co-founder and CTO of GlobalCenter.
Fun fact: Jonathan started rebelling against his parents when he was nine years old by staying up all night to game, hack, and program a new computer.
About Vertex VenturesVertex Ventures is a global network of operator-investors who manage portfolios in the U.S., China, Israel, India and Southeast Asia. Vertex is a trusted partner to some of the world’s most enterprising founders who seek to disrupt large markets. The firm supports entrepreneurs with unmatched operating experience and deep access to the capital, talent, partners and customers they need to build truly global businesses. Its portfolio includes LaunchDarkly, PerimeterX, Very Good Security (VGS), Desktop Metal, testlio, and many more.
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Mark Suster, General Partner at Upfront Ventures, talks about how he transitioned from being an entrepreneur to investing in startups. Mark elaborates his Lines and Dots technique for evaluating founders. He also points out some fundraising mistakes to avoid, especially when the capital market is undergoing correction.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
6:26 - 9:54 Entrepreneurs need different kinds of help at different stages of their company.
11:03 - 14:54 Cadence, ability to hire talent, and ability to ship code are tell-tale signs of a successful founder.
15:03 - 21:13 Taking fundraising as part of your day job, and allocating time for it, is critical to building a strong company.
23:03 - 25:16 Don’t optimize for short-term valuation. Inevitably, everybody ends up raising capital downstream even if they thought they were not going to.
Non-profit organization that Mark is passionate about: Defy Ventures
About Guest SpeakerMark Suster is a General Partner at Upfront Ventures. Previously, Mark was the founder & CEO of Koral (Acquired by Salesforce.com in 2007) and BuildOnline (acquired by The Sword Group). Upfront Ventures backed both startups. Mark became VP, Products at Salesforce.com after the acquisition of his company. He had been working with Upfront partners for 8 years prior to joining as a General Partner, to help fund like-minded entrepreneurs. Mark writes a blog, Both Sides of the Table, in which he shares his views on tech trends and offers advice to start-up founders.
Fun fact: Ask Mark about triathlons
About Upfront VenturesUpfront Ventures is an LA-based venture capital firm that focuses on early-stage technology companies. Founded in 1996 in Los Angeles with investing professionals based in LA, San Francisco, and Paris, Upfront has backed standout teams across all technology sectors, including Ring (acq. by Amazon), TrueCar (NASDAQ: TRUE), Bird, MakerStudios (acq by Disney), GOAT, Apeel Sciences, thredUP, Invoca and Kyriba (acq by Bridgepoint). Upfront invests about half of its capital in the fast-growing Southern California ecosystem, with the balance across the country as well as investments in Europe and Israel.
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Michael Cardamone, CEO and managing partner at Forum Ventures (formerly Acceleprise), demystifies the effects of public market volatility on startups. Michael gives his perspectives on the recent market downturn, and his advice for founders building B2B SaaS companies on how to manage market volatility. He also gives more details about how he looks at opportunities when he invests in startups.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
4:14 - 10:35 What benefits does a founder gain from working with a sector-dedicated accelerator over a generalist accelerator?
11:50 - 20:06 Key things for startup founders to do to weather market downturn
21:47 - 26:38 How can innovative startups harness the power of community?
Non-profit organization that Michael is passionate about: Big Brothers Big Sisters
About Guest SpeakerMichael Cardamone is the CEO and managing partner at Forum Ventures (formerly Acceleprise). In addition, he is an angel investor in the pre-seed or seed rounds of Flexport, Naturebox, and Station; among others. Michael hustles hard for his portfolio companies, providing hands-on support and mentorship every day in person or on Slack while making key connections to dozens of customers, investors, and key partners.
About Forum VenturesForum Ventures (formerly Acceleprise) is a B2B SaaS-focused seed fund, pre-seed accelerator program, and community with offices in San Francisco, NYC and Toronto. Forum for Founders, the accelerator program, is a flagship 15-week pre-seed program designed to give founders personalized guidance, support from a growing SaaS community, plus the capital to get their companies to the next level. Companies in Forum's portfolio include: FirstBase, Fireflies.ai, Indio, Oncue, Courier, People Data Labs, Roots Automation, Inscribe, Sote, Silq, VendorPM and CoProcure.
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Matt Harris, Partner at Bain Capital Ventures, talks of how he wanted to become a big fish in a small pond when he started investing in fintech. How has that turned out for him two decades later? Matt elaborates his practical approach when evaluating new investments, and gives tips for managing a startup’s expenses to ensure sustainability.
In this episode, you'll learn:
3:50 - 6:16 Great investors are optimistic and empathetic when listening to founders’ stories.
6:51 - 15:06 Pros and cons of investing across stages in a single sector
25:40 - 29:41 Why should founders be careful about what P&L components to beef up?
29:49 - 32:17 Decentralization is taking over centralized systems, and it’s not just in financial services.
Non-profit organization that Matt is passionate about: Endeavor
About Guest SpeakerMatt Harris is a Partner at Bain Capital Ventures, and he focuses on investments in financial technology and services. Matt sees a huge amount of revenue, profit and market cap shifting from regulated financial institutions to entrepreneur-led insurgents, across payments, lending, capital markets, real estate and insurance. He has invested in companies like acorns, BlockFi, defi solutions, Digital Currency Group, Corvus, FINIX, hi Marley, Justworks, Passport, roofstock, and many others.
Fun fact: Matt is obsessed with military history. Someday he'll write a book connecting the strategy and tactics of insurgency with what he has learned about entrepreneurship.
About Bain Capital VenturesBain Capital Ventures is a Silicon Valley-based venture capital firm that invests in seed to growth-stage startups that use tech to disrupt existing markets or create entirely new ones. BCV leverages the global platform of Bain Capital to help founders access networks, partners and customers that are pivotal on the path to scale. Companies in BCV’s portfolio include Archive, soona, Topography Health, Clockwise, Arc Technologies, Ankorstore, Cogsy, acorns, Clari, Vesta, BlockFi, defi solutions, Digital Currency Group, Corvus, FINIX, hi Marley, Justworks, Passport, and roofstock.
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Vikrant Shaurya, the CEO and founder of bestsellingbook.com, shares his unusual entrepreneurial journey. Vikrant narrates how he got early believers to support him in building his first company after dropping out of college. He talks of how he has used the lessons he learned from his initial entrepreneurial failure to build a world-renowned publishing company.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
1:44 - 7:18 I dropped out of engineering college the day I read Rich Dad Poor Dad - Vikrant Shaurya
7:30 - 15:25 Explore your potential when young and don’t fear to fail
17:47 - 24:02 As an entrepreneur, you have a unique chance to change lives on a daily basis
About Guest SpeakerVikrant Shaurya is the CEO and founder of bestsellingbook.com. He’s also the author of two #1 bestsellers: P.O.W.E.R: The Success Mantra, and How to Write a Bestseller: Become a Bestselling Author, Attract High-Value Clients, and Skyrocket Your Authority. Vikrant is the most-viewed author for “eBook Publishing” on Quora and is recognized by the National Academy of Bestselling Authors.
About Bestsellingbook.comBestsellingbook.com is a professional publishing service that includes ideating, writing, editing, publishing, and marketing books to become #1 bestsellers on the likes of Amazon, The Wallstreet Journal, and USA Today in just six months or less.
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Nuno Gonçalves Pedro, founder and managing partner at Chamaeleon, talks about founding his new VC firm and how they’re using technology to manage investment processes. Nuno reiterates the importance of entrepreneurs spending more time to know investors before meeting them. He also shares useful dialogue tips for founders to continually improve how they communicate with investors.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- 5:31 - 15:56 How due diligence in a technology-augmented VC firm looks like
- 15:58 - 19:47 Know more about whoever you are meeting with on the investor’s side
- 19:48 - 24:52 Stop talking only about your product; have a fun human-to-human dialogue with investors
Non-profit organization that Nuno is passionate about: West to West, Partnership for Children & Youth
About Guest SpeakerNuno Gonçalves Pedro is the founder and managing partner at Chamaeleon. He focuses on consumer software, consumer hardware and horizontal SaaS. Formerly, he was the founder and managing partner at Strive Capital, the first ever early-stage VC quant firm and fund in the US, and senior expert and member of Asia-Pacific TMT leadership team at McKinsey & Co. He co-hosts Tech DECIPHERED, a podcast that deciphers the meaning of entrepreneur and investor views on big tech, VC and start-up news.
About ChamaeleonChamaeleon is a Silicon Valley-based venture capital firm that invests globally in product-led early-stage startups offering consumer software/hardware, SaaS, PaaS, Blockchain, and deep & frontier tech. Chamaeleon partners have invested in companies like Gusto, Rubrik, App Annie, Enish, Virta Health, DraftKings, RobinHood, Advertio, Bepro, jscrambler, AI Spera, keepsafe, mindprober, and others.
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Sam Toole, Principal at Primary Venture Partners, talks about opportunities for building healthcare solutions, and how building a healthcare business is different from other businesses. Sam also highlights common mistakes that founders make when engaging with pre-partner level investors.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- 6:02 - 11:01 Regulatory and infrastructure changes that are accelerating opportunities for tech-focused founders focused on healthcare
- 11:12 - 15:05 What does your impatience to solve the problem mean to investors?
- 16:35 - 19:22 How to ensure that your relationships with pre-partner level venture capital investors result in good outcomes for your startup.
Non-profit organization that Sam is passionate about: Surfrider Foundation
About Guest SpeakerSam Toole is a Principal at Primary Venture Partners, where he spearheads new enterprise and healthcare investments. Before making the shift to investing, Sam was an operator and entrepreneur for 10 years. Most recently, Sam was General Manager at Nomad Health, a healthcare labor marketplace. He started at Nomad Health as their sixth employee on the sales side, helping the company build relationships with hundreds of healthcare organizations. In college, Sam launched two businesses: a surf school and an e-commerce company.
About Primary Venture PartnersPrimary Venture Partners is a New York-based venture capital firm focused exclusively on investing in NYC founders creating transformational startups in the healthcare, e-commerce and fintech sectors. Primary’s portfolio includes ARK, Balanced, Bedrock, Bravely, Black Crow, Bravely, Dandy, Flock, Fly Machine, Jukebox Health, K Health, Lili, Marker, Olive, Perry, ROUND, Spark, Upfront, Zenlytic, Jet, Chief, Mirror, Noom, Latch, Alloy and many more.
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Chris Wake, Founder of Atypical Ventures, talks about investing in engineers with empathy. Chris shares his unconventional ways of finding technical founders, and gives examples of startups reimagining and transforming the world through scientific innovations.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
6:55 - 12:33 How having empathy unlocks technical entrepreneurs’ potential to build innovations that are truly transformative
13:14 - 17:18 It’s okay to create new value from nerdy adventures: Chris Wake’s personal story
17:33 - 25:44 What layer of the problem space are you tackling, and why is it the right place for you to be?
Non-profit organization that Chris is passionate about: Have Dreams
About Guest SpeakerChris Wake is the Founder of Atypical Ventures, which he founded in 2019 after many startup experiences over the years in Silicon Valley and elsewhere. He focuses on foundational technologies with the potential to create new markets. Besides, he is an Associate at Creative Destruction Lab, an advisor at Swift Navigation, Vercel (formerly ZEIT), Descartes Labs, Mythic AI, among others, and he also mentors founders that build companies with Antler.
Fun Fact: Chris is a nerd. He reads IEEE and a number of technical trade publications just for fun.
About Atypical VenturesAtypical Ventures is a New York-based venture capital firm that invests first or early in engineers with empathy turning breakthrough innovations into transformative, enduring businesses. Atypical is driven by the belief that embracing the unfamiliar and often uncomfortable, individually and organizationally, is the clear path to growth. Its portfolio companies include: OASIS, ribbonhealth.com, pienso, instant.org, nextmv, LOGICINK, Recycleye, Skopos, phosphorus.io, and Buddy Insurance.
Next Week’s EpisodeComing up next week in Episode 78, we welcome a special guest, Sam Toole, Principal at Primary Venture Partners, to talk about investing in healthcare technology.
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Zain Jaffer, Partner at Blue Field Capital, shares his journey through entrepreneurship and how he switched to investments. Zain talks about how being a former founder helps him to support the founders he backs as they scale their companies. He also highlights the need for founders and investors to focus beyond first-world problems and solve for real impact.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- 4:24 - 10:58 Distinct advantages and challenges of working with investors who were once founders
- 11:14 - 15:24 Why good VCs look for unlimited ambition in founders
- 15:29 - 22:39 What’s the relationship between your existence and the company’s mission?
- 23:12 - 29:02 How can venture capital have a more meaningful impact on people's lives outside Silicon Valley?
Non-profit organization that Zain is passionate about: The Zain Jaffer Foundation
About Guest SpeakerZain Jaffer is a Partner at Blue Field Capital. Zain is an accomplished investor and entrepreneur. He previously founded Vungle, led the company to become the fastest growing company in the advertising industry, and sold it to Blackstone for $780M. Zain invests in PropTech startups that have a promising long-term substantial upside.
Fun Fact: Zain is a recipient of prestigious awards such as “Forbes 30 Under 30”, “Inc. Magazine’s 35 Under 35” and the “SF Business Times Tech & Innovation Award”.
About Blue Field CapitalBlue Field Capital is a Utah-based investment firm that focuses on real estate and PropTech startups. Blue Field Capital partners with founders at the Seed and Pre-Series A stages when there is a clear product-market fit. Its portfolio companies include AuditMate, DigiBuild, Roost, Canopy, Insidemaps, Dreamspace, BASKING, stake, stayflexi, and Poplar.
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Dan Rosen, Founder and General Partner at Commerce Ventures, talks about the evolution of fintech over the last two decades. Dan shares real-life examples of innovative fintech entrepreneurs building solutions that touch customers and businesses in a meaningful way, and his thoughts on whether or not now is still a good time to start a company in the fintech space.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
4:57 - 9:06 Why many of the early investments in FinTech were in enablers and infrastructure
9:27 - 13:28 Having domain expertise is good, but passionate outsiders are doing equally great in modern FinTech
13:46 - 18:35 How telling your journey first connects you with the right investor
19:04 - 21:35 Have we reached peak FinTech, or is there more to go?
About Guest SpeakerDan Rosen is the Founder and General Partner at Commerce Ventures. Dan is one of the original FinTech VCs and has been investing in tech startups for 20 years. He focuses on technology innovations in the payments, financial services and insurance fields, serves on the boards of Blooom, ClickSWITCH, Kin and Socure, and participates as an observer on several other portfolio boards, such as BillGO and MX Technologies.
Fun Fact: Dan funded his adolescent baseball card and comic book collecting habits by delivering the Boston Globe newspaper early each morning (rain or shine).
About Commerce VenturesCommerce Ventures is a Silicon Valley-based early stage venture capital firm focused on investing and empowering the next generation of technology innovators in the retail and financial services industries. Portfolio companies include: bill.com. BILLGO, ClickSWITCH, InAUTH, Kin, MARQETA, Blooom, Theatro, Boomtown, Vestwell, Mulberry and Socure.
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Heather Hartnett, General Partner and CEO of Human Ventures, shares how she identifies ‘futurists’ to back them until the market sees their value. Heather talks about supporting early-stage entrepreneurs through ‘Humans in the Wild’ (the firm’s business incubator) and explains how valuation affects a startup’s future.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
3:45 - 7:44 Why VCs like to invest in ‘futurists’
9:29 - 13:54 How ‘Humans in the Wild’ helps early-stage founders to transform raw ideas into the next big idea
14:26 - 17:33 Why should founders be mindful of which firms they choose to come into their earliest rounds?
17:33 - 23:55 The dangers of startup over-valuation
Non-profit organization that Heather is passionate about: David Lynch Foundation
About Guest SpeakerHeather Hartnett is the General Partner and CEO of Human Ventures. Under Heather’s leadership, Human Ventures has invested in and co-built more than 30 companies, with key investments including Reserve (acquired), TheSkimm, Current, Tiny Organics and Clark (acquired).
Prior to founding Human, Heather’s venture capital career spanned across various roles at firms including Lightspeed Venture Partners, CityLight Capital, and Claremont Creek Ventures. She also led the development at David Lynch Foundation, crystalizing her professional expertise and operations with the largest family offices and sophisticated investment firms. Heather is a member of the Kauffman Fellows program and a frequent Forbes contributor on the topic of venture capital.
About Human VenturesHuman Ventures is a New York City-based venture capital firm that invests in Model Businesses with ambitious founders who are creating and building innovative technology companies that aim to make life easier and more fulfilling. The firm comprises an early-stage fund and venture studio. Its portfolio includes: Paloma Health, The Muse, Tiny Organics, Current, AmbassCo, Bikky, Day One, Hello.me, Kindred, Lupii, Spora Health, Quantime and Tia.
Next Week’s EpisodeComing up next week in Episode 75, we welcome a special guest, Dan Rosen, Founder and General Partner at Commerce Ventures, to talk about fintech investing, and how fintech has evolved over the last two decades.
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Charles Hudson, Managing Partner and Founder of Precursor Ventures, talks about how he founded Precursor Ventures and why he is unafraid to back unproven first-time entrepreneurs. Charles gives useful tips for founders embarking on finding product-market fit, and shares his thoughts on bridge funding.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
3:57 - 8:21 Starting early in venture capital as an undergraduate; what you enjoy, and what you miss
8:49 - 11:37 Why Precursor is unafraid to back unproven, first-time entrepreneurs
11:50 - 16:10 $1m pre-seed funding can quickly vanish due to lack of clarity on the product-market fit.
16:26 - 18:07 How bridge funding can be helpful to entrepreneurs
Non-profit that Charles is passionate about: San Francisco-Marin Food Bank
About Guest SpeakerCharles Hudson is the Managing Partner and Founder of Precursor Ventures. For more than three decades, Charles has made seed-stage investments in startups in the internet and mobile spaces. Prior to founding Precursor, he identified investment opportunities in mobile infrastructure, mobile applications, and marketplaces as a Partner at Uncork Capital. Before that, he co-founded Bionic Panda Games (a mobile games startup), held business development roles for Gaia Interactive, Google, and Serious Business, was a Product Manager for IronPort Systems, and worked at In-Q-Tel, CIA’s venture capital fund.
About Precursor VenturesPrecursor Ventures is a Silicon Valley-based venture capital firm that seeks to invest in a company's first round of institutional investment and focuses on investments in B2B software applications, B2C software and services, and connected hardware. Precursor’s portfolio includes: AnyRoad, Afriex, Arternal, Ascent Autism, Bloom, Bobbie, Documate, Nomad, Encantos, Healthie, Knack, Sagelink, and Zeta.
Next Week’s EpisodeComing up next week in Episode 74, we welcome a special guest, Heather Harnett, CEO and Founding Partner of Human Ventures, to talk about how she identifies ‘futurists’ to back them until the market sees their value.
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Julieta Moradei, Partner at Hometeam Ventures, talks about their vision "to close the housing gap" through investing in ambitious founders developing revolutionary technology for the construction industry. Julieta shares an inspiring story of how they created Hometeam Ventures from a non-profit, about being a first-time fund manager, and authentic examples of startups making phenomenal innovations to improve the construction life cycle.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
6:01 - 9:46 How working with an AEC-based non-profit inspired our unique journey into venture capital
10:07 - 14:04 Why is the construction and housing industry hungry for innovation?
14:15 - 21:57 Your personality and reputation is everything in VC
27:46 - 31:14 How a 3D printing startup is changing lives through affordable housing
Non-profit that Julieta is passionate about: New Story Charity
About Guest SpeakerJulieta Moradei is a Partner at Hometeam Ventures. She drives dealflow and operations of the fund. Prior, Julieta led R&D at New Story Charity, where she formed 50+ partnerships with key academic and industry leaders to pioneer groundbreaking solutions for affordable housing. This includes a partnership with ICON, which built the world's first 3D printed community. Julieta’s industry research focuses on circular economy, automated drone inspection, resiliency, and sustainability.
About Hometeam VenturesHometeam Ventures is a Silicon Valley-based venture capital firm that invests in and scales double bottom line startups that improve the construction life cycle by reducing cost, increasing speed, and improving quality, resulting in more adequate housing globally. Hometeam focuses on BIM & Digital twins, Finance, Project & Job Site Management, Supply Chain Optimization, Industrialized Construction (3D printing, modular, prefab), Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning. Portfolio companies include AirWorks, ICON, and REDIST.
Next Week’s EpisodeComing up next week in Episode 73, we welcome a special guest, Charles Hudson, Managing Partner and Founder of Precursor Ventures, to talk about why Precursor is unafraid to back unproven, first-time entrepreneurs. Charles explains how he finds the most promising investment opportunities in mobile infrastructure.
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Lucas Timberlake, a Partner at Fintech Ventures Fund, talks about investing in game-changing fintech and insurtech startups. Lucas explains why he looks for founders who are coachable and knowledgeable about the regulatory requirements for their business and shares an unconventional pitch story about one of his recent investments.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
2:53 - 6:41 Fintech Ventures Fund’s unique equity-plus-debt approach to supporting early-stage startups
8:21 - 10:55 A unique ‘on-the-go’ pitch story where an entrepreneur pitched in the middle of a street
10:55 - 15:52 Investors look for a well-thought-out idea, not just a well-baked pitch.
16:06 - 22:20 Why it’s important to think through how to manage the regulatory process before meeting a fintech or insurtech investor
Non-profit that Lucas is passionate about: Children's Cancer Association
About Guest SpeakerLucas Timberlake is a Partner at Fintech Ventures Fund. Lucas’ experience in venture capital, private equity, and investment banking spans over a decade. He was instrumental in company acquisitions that created the largest parking management company in the U.S. while working with Antarctica Capital.
About Fintech Ventures FundFintech Ventures Fund is an Atlanta-based early-stage (pre-seed/seed) venture capital fund, focused exclusively on fintech and insurtech. Fintech Ventures can also structure customized credit facilities of up to $1,500,000 for its portfolio companies through a closely-held affiliate. Portfolio company founders have secured over $700 million in cumulative equity and debt financing from more than 30 institutional co-investors from the fund’s initial investment. Fintech’s portfolio includes Marble, Startsure, Artis, AVINEW, BattleFace, FUNDTHATFLIP, IOU Financial, Groundfloor, Steady, Vint, MAXREWARDS, PAXAFE, and LQD Business Finance.
Next Week’s EpisodeComing up next week in Episode 72, we welcome a special guest, Julieta Moradei, Partner at Hometeam Ventures, to talk about their vision "to cut housing costs by half" through investing in founders bringing breakthrough technology to the construction and housing industry.
Subscribe to our podcast and stay tuned for our next episode that will drop next Tuesday.
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Patrick Eggen, Founding General Partner at Counterpart Ventures, talks about the different facets of corporate venture capital (CVC), where it has a real edge in the startup world, and why entrepreneurs should work with CVC investors. Patrick debunks some myths around CVC and shares his observations on how CVC and venture capital has evolved over the last decade.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
1:46 - 6:44 The advantages of being early in corporate venture capital
7:55 - 13:19 How Counterpart Ventures has maintained an edge in the venture capital world
14:23 - 18:34 Myths about corporate venture capital
19:28 - 27:24 What founders need to know before meeting a corporate venture capital investor
Cause that Patrick is passionate about: Pediatric surgery research at UCSF
About Guest SpeakerPatrick Eggen is the Founding General Partner at Counterpart Ventures. He has held key thought leadership around core investment themes ranging from hardware, software, adjacent verticals, and frontier tech. In his 13 years of direct venture investment experience, Patrick has been involved in 100+ transactions and 30+ exits. He actively sourced or served as a Board Member/Observer for Qualcomm Ventures investments in Clarifai, Cloudflare, Matterport, Noom, OpenSignal, Particle, Plivo, Sense360, Sparta Science, and Swift Nav.
About Counterpart VenturesCounterpart Ventures is a San Francisco-based life cycle venture capital fund investing in B2B SaaS, mobility, and marketplace technologies that target nontrivial problems or fill missing gaps in large markets. Counterpart’s portfolio includes: Zoom, Cruise, Matterport, ANNEX CLOUD, AptEdge, Cloudbeds, Glidian, Particle, and RPA Labs.
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Jacob Haar, Founder and Managing Partner at Community Investment Management, talks about debt capital and its social impact on financial inclusion. Jacob shares CIM’s inspiring mission of improving inequality through innovation lending, clarifies how equity and debt investors view startup investment opportunities differently, and gives founders useful tips for approaching venture debt investors.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
1:21 - 6:16 How international development experience inspired Jacob to become a credit capital investor and the type of companies he invests in.
8:43 - 13:50 When is the right time for a founder to talk to a credit investor?
14:05 - 16:44 The future of debt investing and opportunities in underserved communities and emerging markets
18:58 - 27:54 How debt investors evaluate founders for credit: focused on risk but concerned about growth too.
Non-profit that Jacob is passionate about: Jusoor
About Guest SpeakerJacob Haar is the Founder and Managing Partner of Community Investment Capital, and leads the firm's investment and operations. Before founding CIM, Jacob led debt investments in micro, small, and medium enterprise (MSME) lenders in emerging markets and since then, has invested in innovative FinTech companies that enable underserved communities to access capital in the United States and in emerging and frontier markets.
About Community Investment ManagementCommunity Investment Management (CIM) is a San Francisco-based institutional impact investment firm that provides strategic debt capital to underserved communities and markets to advance financial inclusion and promote economic development. CIM’s portfolio includes: HoneyBee, Rho Business Banking, Brigit, Salary Finance, Camino Financial, Founders First Capital Partners and Kenzie Academy.
Next Week’s EpisodeComing up next week in Episode 70, we have a special guest, Patrick Eggen, Co-Founder and Partner at Counterpart Ventures, to talk about his contrarian approach to investing and why he invests in founders that target non-trivial problems.
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Alexa von Tobel, founder and managing partner at Inspired Capital, shares how she built her first startup LearnVest at 23 and later co-founded Inspired Capital to improve access to startup capital. Alexa looks for tenacious and highly committed founders with an ‘always be learning’ attitude.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
3:55 - 10:56 Did dropping out of Harvard Business School to start a company in the middle of a global financial crisis pay off?
11:23 - 13:48 How Alexa's entrepreneurial experience fueled her desire to make capital more accessible to founders
13:57 - 15:15 How can entrepreneurs hone their brand narrative to thrive in the future of the fundraising world?
18:33 - 25:21 What’s an Inspired company, identifying the founder’s WHY and their ‘Tsunami’
Non-profit that Alexa is passionate about: Every Mother Counts
About Alexa von TobelAlexa von Tobel is the Founder and Managing Partner of Inspired Capital. Alexa is a successful entrepreneur who started LearnVest, a fintech company that raised nearly $75 million in venture capital before it was acquired by Northwestern Mutual in 2015. She is a Certified Financial Planner™ and New York Times-bestselling author of Financially Fearless and Financially Forward. She also hosts The Founders Project with Alexa von Tobel, a weekly podcast with Inc. that highlights top entrepreneurs.
About Inspired CapitalInspired Capital is a New York City-based, women-led venture capital firm that invests in exceptional founders and seed to Series-A startups with strong underlying technology and category-defining visions. Inspired Capital's portfolio includes Finix, Habi, Chief, Orum, Canvas, Rho, DANDY, Lean Financial, Teamshare, and Skythe. Prior to founding Inspired, Alexa and her business partners have built a long track record of both professional and angel investments in standout companies, including Uber, Chime, and Airtable.
Next Week’s EpisodeComing up next week in Episode 69, we have a special guest, Jacob Haar, Founder and Managing Partner of Community Investment Management, who will talk about debt capital and its impact on financial inclusion.
Subscribe to our podcast and stay tuned for our next episode that will drop next Tuesday.
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Gautam Godhwani, Managing Partner at Good Startup, talks about the shift in consumer demand from animal protein to alternative protein. Gautam gives examples of startups that are changing the way food is consumed and shares insightful tips for entrepreneurs seeking to disrupt this sector.
In this episode, we discuss:
3:33 - 8:55 Articulating the WHY behind your startup helps investors support you effectively
9:13 - 15:46 Focus on impact: the mission behind Good Startup
15:47 - 19:16 How is innovation different in industry-based sectors compared to software-focused sectors?
19:17 - 26:02 Three key areas most investors will want to cover in their first meeting to determine whether they are going to invest
Non-profit that Gautam is passionate about: India Community Center
About Guest SpeakerGautam Godhwani is a veteran entrepreneur who has founded world-renowned startups including AtWeb (acquired by Netscape in 1998), SimplyHired (acquired by Recruit Holdings Co. in 2016), and Habitera. Gautam also co-founded the Indian Community Center to bring the Indian community in the San Francisco bay area closer together. Gautam worked at HP, IBM, and Microsoft before the dot-com era.
About Good StartupGood Startup is a Singapore-based venture capital firm investing in entrepreneurs building the next generation of alternative protein companies globally. The mission of Good Startup is to remove animals from the food system. Startups in its portfolio include Nowadays, Rebellyous Foods, JUST, Clara Foods, Motif, OMeat, TuttleTree, BREVEL, and Novel Farms.
Subscribe to our podcast and stay tuned for our next episode that will drop next Tuesday.
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David Forsberg, Founder and Managing Partner at Ascent Energy Ventures, talks about automation trends in the energy sector. David shares his perspective of how venture capital fits in the broader set of asset classes, what's holding back entrepreneurship and investments within the energy sector, and offers some advice for founders who are fundraising.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
5:16 - 8:04 Why do many traditional Silicon Valley players stay away from the energy industry?
8:07 - 12:42 Why automation cannot succeed without robust data collection
12:45 - 19:17 How can founders approach investors when grappling with complicated information?
19:23 - 21:35 Why blanket emails won’t work for fundraising
Non-profit that David is passionate about: Regis Jesuit High School
About Guest SpeakerDavid Forsberg is the Founder and Managing Partner at Ascent Energy Ventures, a Denver, Colorado-based venture capital firm investing in the digital transformation of the energy industry.
David focuses on energy tech companies solving global energy problems to create a more efficient and automated industry. Through his investment career in quantitative finance, managing algorithmic execution and systematic investment models, David has firsthand experience and expertise with industry-wide automation.
Next Week’s EpisodeIn next week’s episode, we have a special guest, Gautam Godhwani, Managing Partner at Good Startup, where we chat about investment in alternative proteins.
Subscribe to our podcast and stay tuned for our next episode that will drop next Tuesday.
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In this week's episode, Nick Moran, the Founder and General Partner at New Stack Ventures, shares his insights into his firm’s focus: investing in outsiders. Nick gives authentic examples, explains what he looks for in founders and why it’s different from other Silicon Valley venture capital firms.
In this episode, you will learn:
2:23 - 5:54 Getting into venture capital as an outsider
5:57 - 8:52 Why having creative insights is more important than building the standard Silicon Valley profile to attract investors
10:20 - 20:35 Is commitment to the problem combined with flexibility to customers’ needs the sure-shot to startup success?
21:01 - 27:24 How can founders prepare for the first meeting with New Stack Ventures?
Non-profit that Nick is passionate about: Wounded Warriors Project
About Guest SpeakerNick Moran is the Founder and General Partner at New Stack Ventures. Nick is a proud supporter and evangelist for early-stage startups that don’t fit the traditional Silicon Valley profile. He has held positions in mergers and acquisitions, strategy, and product management. He also hosts The Full Ratchet, a podcast where he interviews fellow investors and venture capital experts. Nick’s passionate about non-profit organizations affiliated with veteran affairs and helping PTSD veterans.
About New Stack VenturesNew Stack Ventures is a Chicago-based early-stage venture capital firm that invests in 'outsiders' - mission-driven founders with an irrational commitment to their cause regardless of location or circumstance. Its portfolio includes Cybrary, Scope AR, Tovala, Tripscout, Pliant.io, Hologram, Regroup, XILO, Urban Sky, phood, Shotcall, and Fairmarkit.
Next Week’s EpisodeComing up next week Tuesday in Episode 66, we invite a special guest, David Forsberg, Managing Partner at Ascent Energy Ventures, to chat about investing in innovations and imagining a more automated and digital energy industry.
Subscribe to our podcast and stay tuned for our next episode that will drop next Tuesday.
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Victor Gutwein, an investor and Managing Partner at M25, shares insightful stories and authentic examples of how startups evolve in the Midwest. He also reflects on opportunities for both founders and investors as the startup ecosystem there develops.
Recap of the episode
- 6:56 - 10:37 Why is it challenging for founders in the Midwest to find real risk-seeking capital?
- 11:25 - 17:06 How does a conservative mindset influence founders to sacrifice hypergrowth for modest profits?
- 17:07 - 26:01 Midwest startups should capitalize on the natural advantage of being closer to customers than coastal startups.
- 26:02 - 30:29 Why is managing cultural pressure becoming more important to founders?
- Non-profit that Victor is passionate about: FAITHTECH
ABOUT GUEST SPEAKERVictor Gutwein is an investor and Managing Partner at M25. He’s an entrepreneur, economist, and strategist aiming to create value in the Midwest by investing in early-stage startups. Victor grew up in Northwestern Indiana before moving to Chicago to study economics at the University of Chicago. He has worked in corporate retail fashion and e-commerce and also has entrepreneurial experience building a vending machine business, kick scooter company and the board of UChicago’s first student-run venture fund.
ABOUT M25M25 is a Chicago-based early-stage venture capital firm investing solely in companies headquartered in the Midwest. Their portfolio companies include Authentic, Joshin Care, Branch, Upsie, and Qooper.
Next Week's Episode
In next week’s episode, we have a special guest, Nick Moran, Founder and General Partner at New Stack Ventures, where we chat about what he looks for in founders and why it’s different from what Silicon Valley VCs search.
Subscribe to our podcast and stay tuned for our next episode that will drop next Tuesday.
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Galym Imanbayev is a partner at Lightspeed - a Silicon Valley-based venture capital firm focused on the consumer, enterprise, and health sectors. Galym has extensive investing and research experience across health sectors. He shares relatable stories about working with founders through the early to late stages of the unique, non-linear trajectory of health innovations.
In this episode, we discuss:
6:52 - 8:06 Why is it important to focus on opportunities in non-traditional areas in 2021 and beyond?
8:32 - 12:20 How is building a company in healthcare different from other sectors?
18:54 - 21:48 How can an entrepreneur position themselves to gain from the interactions with investors regardless of whether they get a Yes or No?
21:54 - 28:07 Why is understanding the difference between health and healthcare crucial for entrepreneurs?
Non-profit that Galym is passionate about: GAIA
Subscribe to our podcast and stay tuned for our next episode that will drop next Tuesday.
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Allison Baum Gates is a General Partner at SemperVirens - a Silicon Valley-based venture capital firm investing in workforce technology, health tech, and fintech. Allison is particularly obsessed with the Future of Work. She shares relatable insights on how companies can evolve with workforce changes post-pandemic. She also debunks one of the myths of raising VC funding: that you can raise funding in the first meeting.
Highlights
0:54 - 4:11 Can you protect your career from technology disruption?
8:48 - 11:25 Raising VC funding: The number one myth is that you can raise money on a first meeting.
11:26 - 13:45 How to leverage the investor’s network as a founder.
19:05 - 22:33 Remote/hybrid work has given talent significant power to manage the progression of their careers. How can employers continue investing in their people?
Non-profit: All Raise, Hidden Genius Project
Ben Metcalfe is the founder of Monochrome Capital - a Silicon Valley-based venture capital firm that invests in early-stage software and AI-driven startups. Ben, a passionate technology geek, shares lessons from his unconventional but insightful career journey - from building websites in the mid-90s as a teenager, getting his first job as a software engineer at 18 without a college degree, and co-founding world-famous companies like WP Engine. Ben believes in enabling founders to fulfill their dreams regardless of their background, demographic, or location.
Highlights
01:31 - 4:01 Self-taught BBC software engineer lands and shines in Silicon Valley
6:47 - 9:11 Silicon Valley is still the heartbeat of technology, but opportunities to change the world through entrepreneurship are everywhere across the world.
13:26 - 16:46 Thoughtfulness and genuine passion for solving the problem wins over investors who want to make long-term commitments to your company.
17:27 - 22:51 There’s no standard checklist for the personality traits or qualities of a potentially successful founder.
Non-profit: Put Me In!
Mark Fernandes is a managing partner at Sierra ventures - a Silicon Valley based venture capital firm focused on early-stage emerging technology companies. Mark invests in cloud infrastructure, security software, digital health, and data & analytics. He shares relatable lessons from his professional journey from software engineering to investment banking to startup investing. He also offers insights into his philosophy for startup success - prioritize cash, team, and momentum.
Highlights
3:34 - 6:31 Lessons from my first venture deal: It’s better to be lucky than good, but it’s good to be prepared.
6:55 - 12:22 Why investors like to hear more “No, I don’t know the answer to that; I haven’t thought about that.”
13:09 - 18:14 The super power of an extensive CXO (Chief Experience Officer) network.
19:33 - 23:04 The Mark Fernandez startup success philosophy: Cash, Team and Momentum
Non-profit: India Literacy Project
Matthew Jones is a managing director at Anthemis, a London-based venture capital firm focused on insurance and risk related technologies. Matthew shares Anthemis’ thesis-driven insurtech investment approach, and the things that excite him the most in the first call with founders. He also shares authentic stories showing why it’s difficult to uncover impactful opportunities if the team lacks someone with a deep understanding of the industry.
Highlights:
3:20 - 6:43 Why many venture capital investors would look at you as if you had two heads when you mentioned insurance in 2014.
8:45 - 10:17 Two kids in a garage writing software can disrupt a traditional industry. However, to build a successful insurtech company, you need to have someone who deeply understands the industry.
12:05 - 15:18 Although due diligence for tech startups is tricky, it’s the unpredictability of opportunities in the space that makes early-stage investing exciting.
20:42 - 24:43 Optimizing for investors who are super quick may not be the right thing to do for the company’s long-term growth needs.
Katie Shea is the co-founder and managing partner at Divergent Capital - a venture capital firm that invests in cutting-edge technologies and scientific innovations. Katie grew up in a family where everyone around her ran businesses. While in college, she co-founded a manufacturing company, which she bootstrapped to millions of dollars in annual revenue and profitability before selling it in 2013. She shares her inspiring journey as an entrepreneur, operator & investor, giving relatable insights into how she’s able to capture value in sectors and geographies many investors shy away from.
Highlights
1:13 - 8:04 How it’s like to grow up in an entrepreneurial household
8:14 - 12:46 Does the world need another venture fund?
12:49 - 16:24 Investors aren’t looking for the perfect entrepreneur; they are attracted to founders who lead with authenticity and vulnerability rather than fear.
16:28 - 20:54 Don’t over-index on the past; articulate where the business is now and what you are trying to do with it.
21:02 - 26:54 Successes and failures teach you how to separate good and great
Non-profit: Givz
Tim McLoughlin is a partner at Cofounders Capital - an early stage venture capital firm investing in B2B software startups in and around North Carolina. Tim gathered extensive entrepreneurial experience from founding and running startups. He is passionate about helping disciplined and tenacious founders to build dream companies. He has actively contributed to the growth of the NC startup ecosystem, serving on the board of the Council for Entrepreneurial Development and as a member of the NC Idea Grant Selection Committee.
Highlights
4:42 - 7:29 How is an investor able to empathize with entrepreneurs?
11:30 - 15:00 First, the ‘origin story’ and the ‘why story’.
15:01 - 17:46 It’s okay to say, “I don't know the answer to that. Let me go figure it out.”
21:05 - 23:38 Investors can hardly add value when the founder gives inaccurate information.
Non-profit: Council for Entrepreneurial Development
Kush Shrivastava is an active angel investor who has been in Silicon Valley for more than a decade. He's worked at large companies, built several companies from the ground up, and invested in many startups. While candidly sharing how he makes investments, he gives authentic stories including some failure stories often not talked about.
Highlights
4:17 - 6:34 From building my first company at 13 years old to Google
6:40 - 9:09 There’s too much data. Is this a problem or an opportunity?
9:18 - 11:29 Diversification: the best part of investing through syndicates and networks
15:16 - 17:15 Invite investors to reimagine the world with the solution your startup plans to offer
23:38 - 26:40 Whether you get a Yes or a No, Silicon Valley celebrates you
Non-profit: Guardians of Dreams
Ramneek Gupta is the founder of PruVen Capital, a Palo Alto-based multi-stage venture capital firm that supports leading entrepreneurs from garage to IPO. Ramneek is keen on achieving both strategic and financial returns for the startups in which he invests. He shares relatable insights for entrepreneurial success based on his experience investing in the fintech, insurtech, health tech, real estate tech, and enterprise IT areas.
Highlights
1:24:87 - 2:24:93 Why strategic and financial returns need to be synergistic
9:45:77 - 12:22:01 Three questions I consider when evaluating an opportunity
14:21:05 - 18:03:26 Investment decision making: The PruVen way
20:10:89 - 21:57:83 What’s the line between early-stage and late-stage venture? Does it matter anymore?
Satya Patel is the founder and partner at Homebrew - a Silicon Valley-based venture capital firm that invests in startups with big-impact. Satya has a strong operating background spanning product innovation and leadership at Google and Twitter. Now, he prides himself in being a hands-on early-stage investor. He works side by side with founders to build excellent teams, products, and the companies that they envision.
- Critical to entrepreneurial success is having a very narrow near-term focus of where to start, a broad long-term vision, and unique insights illuminating the path to getting there.
- Many startups don’t end up where they started. Thus, many venture capitalists invest in the founder and not necessarily in the specific idea being pitched.
- Transparency and a shared company-building (as opposed to a fund-raising) mindset ignite an incredible founder-investor relationship.
- Non-profit: KIPP
Sunil Nagaraj is the founder and managing partner at Ubiquity ventures, a Silicon Valley-based seed-stage venture capital firm that invests in smart hardware and machine intelligence startups. Sunil talks about how real-world physical problems are transformed into software solutions. He looks for founders with a combination of deep technical knowledge and precise contact with the first prospective customer.
- Clear product-market fit and go-to-market strategy show the viability of a business idea.
- Convert any physical problems into software problems for quicker and less expensive solutions.
- Investors lose interest when you take too much time to explain the context. Instead, simply state what your company does early in the pitch.
- Position your product through a customer's eyes.
- Non-profit: Astronomical Society of the Pacific
Mika Salmi is a managing partner at the European venture capital firm Lakestar. He has been a serial entrepreneur, a successful angel investor, and now a venture capital investor. Mika invests in early-stage startups in media, gaming, and consumer sectors. He’s known for building or bringing to market globally recognized brands, talent and products.
- Tailoring your pitch to each venture capital investor significantly influences the success of the fundraising process.
- The number of investors who were former entrepreneurs is growing, thus the development of a more founder-friendly startup industry.
- Difficult times for startups often carry important lessons for the sustainability of the business.
Non-profit: INSEAD
Hans Morris is the founder and managing partner at NYCA Partners, a fintech focused venture capital firm in New York and Silicon Valley. As one of the early fintech leaders, Hans had a successful 27-year career leading at different financial services companies including at Visa as President, General Atlantic, CitiGroup, and Salomon Smith Barney. He shares deep insights about venture capital in fintech.
- It’s much easier to experiment fintech ideas now due to the extensive development of the fintech infrastructure.
- Highly successful startup founders have shown the capability to understand the exact circumstances of the customer before approaching them with a solution.
- Does how you handle data give you an advantage over other fintech competitors?
- Non-profit: MASS MoCA
Arjan Schutte is the founder and managing partner at Core Innovation Capital, a venture capital firm that helps entrepreneurs build disruptive, high-growth FinTech businesses. Arjan shares insights on solving public sector problems using marketplace solutions. He is keen on ideas that can create social impact alongside providing competitive financial returns.
- Good intentions don’t automatically translate into meaningful impact.
- Solve one problem that you have the best chance of solving.
- An entrepreneur’s early-life story and the cocurricular activities they engaged in are incredibly telling of their character.
- Non-profit: Compton Community Development Corporation
Kate Beardsley is a founding partner at Hannah Grey, a Denver-based venture capital firm that focuses on the intersection of technology and human behavior. She narrates her in-depth experience on the operation side of venture capital funds before becoming an investor. Kate also exemplifies why founders should prepare to meet and engage the investor meaningfully at the start of the funding process.
- Rushing through the startup funding process can be a red flag for some investors.
- Engage the investor with questions about their business objectives to make the relationship a two-way street.
- Openness and readiness to receive feedback is a key success factor for investors and entrepreneurs alike.
- Non-profit: Women in VC
Ashley Paston is a Principal at New York-based Bain Capital Ventures and focuses on FinTech. She looks for founders who can zoom in and out of a pain point, offer a unique solution, and explain how to build a successful company out of the idea. She gives insightful perspectives on FinTech trends and opportunities.
- Connecting with more members on the investment team means more support for the entrepreneur throughout the investment process.
- A founder who knows the company’s current/expected performance by precise numbers inspires confidence.
- Focusing on customer delight is the breeding ground for incremental FinTech innovation.
- Non-profit: National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
Jocelyn Goldfein is a managing director at Zetta Venture Partners, a Silicon Valley-based venture capital firm that invests in AI-first startups. Jocelyn led engineering teams while at Facebook and VMware during their high-growth years before becoming a venture capital investor. In founders, she looks for real empathy for customers. Jocelyn has backed over 20 startups focused on enterprise infrastructure and artificial intelligence.
- Real empathy for the customers is critical to a great go-to-market strategy.
- Throwing a ton of irrelevant data at an AI model doesn’t make the model more useful. Data can only create real value if it is relevant and clean.
- Having the right people around the founding team makes big problems smaller, but the wrong people make small problems bigger.
- Sustainable innovation requires a combination of user needs and robust business models.
- Non-profit: CODEPATH.ORG
Aashay Sanghvi is an investor at Haystack, a Silicon Valley-based venture capital firm that focuses on pre-seed and seed software and technology investments. Aashay got into venture capital very early, which is against the general advice: “don’t get into investing too early”. He’s keen to find founders who are creating solutions that build the technological infrastructure for the future.
- Junior investors can offer in-depth context on startups because they are constantly trying to learn more about the business
- Embracing diverse skills and backgrounds in the venture capital industry can make Silicon Valley more inclusive.
- Almost every innovation creates second-order effects that entrepreneurs can leverage as business opportunities.
- Non-profit: Stop AAPI Hate
Ali Tamaseb is a partner at Data Collective Venture Capital (DCVC), a Silicon Valley-based venture capital firm that backs entrepreneurs using deep tech. He shares insightful findings of his 4-year long research on billion-dollar startups and their founders (documented in his new book: Super Founders). Ali gives data points that deconstruct myths about the startup ecosystem in the U.S., and show what is/isn’t significant as success factors for founders and venture capital investors.
- There is no one way to startup success
- About 50% of founders have strong competitors when starting--being first to market with an idea does not actually matter.
- There's no disadvantage to being a solo founder or to being a non-technical CEO
- Holding preconceptions about the market often causes investors to miss the opportunity of backing a great company or an exceptional founder.
- Non-profit: Urban Institute
Jason Best is the co-founder and Managing Partner of Vectr Fintech Partners (VFP), a globally-focused early stage fintech venture capital firm. He shares profound real-life experiences showing how networking makes it easier for entrepreneurs to turn ideas into impact. He also gives an insightful story of how he contributed to the enactment of the 2012 Jobs Act that improved access to equity crowdfunding.
- Say yes more often to new experiences that help to build your understanding and expand your network as you wait for the right entrepreneurial opportunity.
- Every investor wants to learn something from the entrepreneurs’ expertise right from their first meeting.
- Founding teams’ ability to effectively incorporate investor feedback in their decision-making is key to achieving startup success.
- Non-profit: SCET and the SBEC
Julian Teicke is the founder and CEO of Berlin-based Wefox, the first 100% digital European insurance company. He shares insightful experiences about starting early as an e-commerce entrepreneur in Switzerland, starting the fastest-growing insurtech company in Germany, and an unexpected Salesforce-led seed funding round. As an angel investor, Julian frames his investment philosophy around big dreams, ultimate resilience, and developing a vision together.
- If you are not passionate about the core of the business around your startup, it’s almost impossible to get it off the ground.
- Your personal development as an entrepreneur is closely intertwined with startup's growth.
- Investors get attracted to entrepreneurs who are genuinely passionate and bold about the impact they want to make.
- Non-profit: Jewish Museum Berlin
Andrew Gluck is a General Partner at irrvrntVC, a New York-based venture capital firm focused on direct-to-customer, AdTech, and NextGen Commerce. Andrew strongly believes in founder-market fit and is excited to invest in startups targeting fast growing markets. He shares insightful stories of founders transforming ideas into market-defining businesses.
- Approaching the process like customer sales makes fundraising more efficient.
- To succeed in the digital marketing world, you have to build a brand around the problem you want to solve, and in the spaces your customers spend their time.
- Layout a creative go-to-market strategy instead of projecting outputs.
- Non-profit: Tomchei Shabbos
Phil Boyer is a Partner at Crosslink Capital, a Silicon Valley-based venture capital firm focused on enterprise applications, infrastructure, vertical software, and frontier technology. As a passionate technology investor, Phil shares how he evaluates early-stage founding teams and provides real-life examples of category-defining companies. His portfolio includes Weave, Chime, Coupa, Yotascale, Descartes Labs, among others.
- Unlike large companies, tech startups have the advantage of flexibility; founders can quickly change priorities.
- The foundational story of every successful startup clearly shows the founding team leaving everything to build the company.
- Some of the world’s most successful tech startups started with strategies that seemed scrappy.
- The advisory role of a venture capitalist post-investment includes acknowledging that the founders and operators are running the business.
- Non-profit: Alpha
Ken Singleton is a professor at Stanford University - Graduate School of Business. Through a glamorous 30-year career in academia, he has contributed significantly to development finance and economics in distinguished teaching, research and advisory roles. Today, he mentors and supports Silicon Valley entrepreneurs in building sustainable businesses rooted in social impact through financial technology.
- Fintech harnesses economic rents due to economic frictions, and share these rents more favorably among users.
- Financial deepening goes farther than financial inclusion to provide a richer menu of financial services.
- There is strong economic logic for enhancing or facilitating the aspirations of our neighbors - we are all better off.
- Non-profit: 1 Grain to 1000 Grains
Eugene Zhang is a founding partner at TSVC, a Silicon Valley based early stage venture capital firm that focuses on emerging deep tech and FinTech startups. Eugene has invested in over 170 startups, including ZOOM.us, Carta, Gingko Bio, Quanergy, TrustGo, Plus.ai, and Lambda School. He is always looking for visionary and articulate entrepreneurs building the next big hit in the tech industry.
An extensive network with domain expertise in various sectors is critical for building depth in investments.
- Great entrepreneurs articulate their vision to clearly explain timing for market-entry.
- Robust investor-founder relationships build the foundation for turning venture blueprints into companies that shape lives.
- ‘You move and we move’ is an entrepreneur-friendly mentality that more investors are embracing.
- Non-profit: Tsinghua Entrepreneurs and Executive Club (TEEC)
Jacob Gibson is the Founding Partner at Better Tomorrow Ventures, a Silicon Valley based venture capital firm investing in the future of Fintech. Before getting into investing, Jacob was co-founder and COO at NerdWallet. He helped develop a world-class team working to build the massively successful personal finance company. Gibson considers in depth risk analysis and unique insights key to forming an investment thesis.
- Investors want to hear that the founder has actually thought through and mapped out the risks to get a good sense of how to go about tackling those risks.
- Carefully breaking down the cost of customer acquisition is a critical part of startup strategy.
- Cold-pitching ideas to investors without researching their areas of focus can harm the entrepreneur’s reputation.
- Develop team and resource capacity for pivoting the startup strategy to succeed in the crowded and rapidly evolving Fintech space.
- It’s just as easy to stagnate as it is to get into Fintech because it’s an attractive but crowded area.
- Non-profit: GiveWell
Steven Lurie is the founder of Team Builder Ventures, a Silicon Valley-based venture capital firm that helps founders build world-class teams. Drawing from decades of experience scaling teams at tech start-ups, Steven shares proven ideas for successful recruiting and building high-quality teams. Listen to the episode to avoid common hiring mistakes founders make during early startup stages.
- Lack of consistent recruiting results to missed hiring plans, and consequently missed revenues
- Founders must reach beyond their personal networks to recruit talent to accelerate team building
- In the war for talent, treat every prospective hire as if they are the greatest person in the world, else they lose interest.
- A classic recruiting mistake is to hire slow and fire fast
- Non-profit: Swim Across America
Homan Yuen is a partner at Fusion Fund, an early-stage VC firm focused on investing in innovative companies with a technology barrier to their business models. He gives examples of hand-on support as an investor using prior experiences in research & academia and high-tech entrepreneurship. Homan insists that honesty is key in building solid startup foundations to create lasting power.
- Disclose all the shiny and messy spots of your company’s progress to build trust with investors.
- It’s great to become a glittering unicorn in the Silicon Valley, but being thoughtful of others helps to win the long game.
- Proactively engage customers to achieve product-market fit faster.
- Technical experience in deep tech magically increases the odds of success.
Non-profit: Asian Pacific Fund
Swati Chaturvedi is the co-founder and CEO of Propel(x) - a marketplace that connects investors and experts with science & technology startups. Swati shares her unique experience at the rare intersection of entrepreneurship, investment banking and venture capital roles. She is keen on deeptech innovation and customer traction when evaluating startups.
- Use resources like investment bankers to efficiently manage fund raising
- Advanced conversations with potential customers are strong signals of traction for deep tech based startups
- Rejection is an inevitable part of an entrepreneur’s daily experiences
Vivek Krishnamurthy is a venture capital investor at Commerce Ventures, a Silicon Valley-based VC capital firm focusing on investments in the e-commerce, FinTech and Insurance sectors. Vivek is particularly interested in entrepreneurs with extensive market knowledge and practical vision for what’s going to happen in the future.
- The humility of acknowledging your competition helps you discover the real value your products can create.
- Many startups fail due to the lack of thoughtfulness on which verticals to approach first.
- Venture capitalist-entrepreneur relationships are not purely transactional. Real human conversations influence decision making on either side.
Non-profit: Moneythink
Geoff Ralston, President of Y Combinator, shares insightful experiences and lessons learned over three decades in Silicon Valley. He talks passionately about his interest in education technology and why Y Combinator invests in startups at their earliest stages.
- Accelerators have helped reduce information asymmetry and level the playing ground for entrepreneurs
- Technology will be at the center of value creation
- Silicon Valley’s culture of tolerating extraordinary failures makes it irreplaceable
- The proliferation of innovation must provide solutions to world most important problems like climate change
- Non-profit: Second Harvest Food Bank, AmeriCares
Cindy Padnos, founder and Managing Partner at Illuminate Ventures, invests in B2B SaaS, enterprise cloud and mobile computing startups. She shares her incredible journey as a female founder of a venture capital firm. Named one of the Most Influential Women in Silicon Valley by New York Times, Cindy cares deeply about increasing diversity in the technology industry.
- Founders are judged for who they are and for the people they attract to the team
- If you aren't always innovating, you're likely to be left behind
- The technology you choose should differentiate your business or provide advantage in a significant way
- Domain knowledge and customer understanding are among key things to find in prospective founders.
- Non-profit: ASTIA and Springboard Enterprises
Farooq Abbasi, founder and general partner at Preface Ventures, invests in early stage enterprise software startups. An optimist by nature, he entered into VC at the age of 19. He shares why founder openness, commitment and grit are key to investments.
- Career trajectory indicates long-term commitment to the mission of a startup
- Best VCs aim not to poke holes in the business but to illuminate risks and achieve a shared understanding
- Honest and frequent communication is critical for a healthy founder-VC relationship
- Respect competitors but realize their weaknesses
- Non-profit: Diversity VC
Sandeep Bhadra is a partner at Vertex Ventures - a Silicon Valley-based VC firm that invests in B2B software and services. He candidly talks about his career as an engineer and experiences in venture capital. His methodical approach to researching startups creates the thesis for his investments.
- Interesting ideas often start with a sense of frustration about an inefficiency and a strong desire to make an impact.
- Cloud computing has made it possible for entrepreneurs to scale their startups from anywhere in the world. Founders don’t necessarily have to be in Silicon Valley to be successful.
- Being curious and outspoken helps to know experts in particular topics, build networks, find people who are trying to solve problems, and identify opportunities to make an impact.
- Non-profit: Lambda Legal
Andrea Kalmans, founding partner at Lontra Ventures, launched an investment firm with her husband and invests in 2 to 4 startups every year. She gives real-life examples of startups from her portfolio in healthcare, enterprise infrastructure, software, block chain technology and other sectors.
- Startup ecosystem in Austin, Texas is booming
- Bold founders grounded in reality whom people want to follow make successful entrepreneurs
- When too many people invest in a party round, it means that nobody really wants to lead with conviction
- Entrepreneurs feel an emotional connection with angel investors when they pitch
- Non-profit: Anti-Defamation Leauge
Gaurav Jain, co-founder and managing partner at Afore Capital, describes the process of leading pre-seed and seed stage investments. He gives examples of founders of startups with unproven business models and what convinced him to invest.
- Think non-linear to create non-obvious insights like Kyle Vogt, founder and CEO at Cruise Automation
- Learn by playing in the field not by operating in vacuum
- Velocity of fund raising has increased because of remote work
- Once a VC commits you can't fire the investor nor can the VC un-invest in a startup. The VC - founder relationship is long-term lasting more than 10 years.
- Non-profit: American Civil Liberties Union
Steph Khoo, a venture capital investor at NYCA Partners, shares examples of innovative fintech startups changing the global financial systems. She talks about her due-diligence process, and how the changes caused by COVID are permanent.
- Fintech 2.0 is about re-bundling financial services
- After COVID, connecting with people and have meaningful discussions is a lot easier
- Prevention instead of cure is the new trend in insurtech
- Non-profit: Welcome Table at Xavier Mission
Ashmeet Sidana, chief engineer and founder of Engineering Capital, invests in startups with technical insights. He gives authentic examples success and failure stories from his portfolio of 20 startups. Education transformed his life starting in a rural village in India to the Silicon Valley.
- Great entrepreneurs are good at storytelling
- VC is a service business. It is the job of a VC to make it easy to work with founders.
- Startups need access to public market at earlier stages. It will democratize gains in market cap of startups.
- Non-profit: Educational institution - high school
Ullas Naik, Founder and General Partner at Streamlined Ventures, shares his journey as investor on Wall Street and later starting a venture capital firm in the Silicon Valley. He has invested in >100 startups including 30 companies valued at >$100 mil. He gives real-life examples of founders with a bold vision and the perseverance for execution.
- Extreme scale businesses are led by opinionated entrepreneurs
- Startups have a team of hackers and hustlers, product visionaries and technology wizards
- The advantage of a solo capitalist is rapid decision making without the need for consensus
- Out of 100 startups more than 30 startups are valued at >$100 mil. and 3 are valued at >$1 bil.
- Non-profit: Naik Family Foundation
Vinay Iyengar is a venture capital investor at Two Sigma Ventures based. His describes his investment thesis focused on the infrastructure for creative work. He talks about lessons learned in empathy through his failed startup and the evolution of remote work.
- Empathy for the customer, clarify of thought and humility are qualities of greatness in entrepreneurs
- Venture capital business will always be human relationship based
- Democratizing access to information will increase diversity
- Non-profit: Equal Justice Initiatives
Mar Hershenson, founding managing partner at Pear Ventures, shares her journey starting as a successful entrepreneur to launching a VC firm with Pejman Nozad. Her authentic description of failure in a startup she founded highlights her lessons as a CEO.
- Founders grow professionally with the company and by consistently investing in themselves
- Pivoting a business for the right reasons can open doors to new opportunities
- Tony Xu, CEO of DoorDash, convincingly explained why the company will be successful which influenced investors
- Growth growth growth with negative unit economics is dangerous
- Non-profit: Harvey Mudd College, Board of Trustees
Sydney Thomas at Precursor Ventures talks about founders who truly care. She describes how she wants to work with inspiring entrepreneurs. She invests in startups to build the middle class.
- Entrepreneurs relate better to people like themselves, but not with career VCs who live a very different life
- The true power of entrepreneurship is in creating long-term sustainable economic development in local communities.
- Depth of understanding the customer's needs is important.
- Non-profit: Public Safety, City of Oakland
Clint Korver, co-founder and managing director of Ulu Ventures, talks about managing uncertainties in venture capital investments. He describes his Vulcan mind-meld market mapping session with examples of both successful and failed startups.
- Decision analysis process combines data and intuition to minimize cognitive biases and reduce risk
- Uncertainty is common in venture capital: only 2.5% of 4000 startups generate great returns
- VCs are biased. They ask male entrepreneurs about upside potential and women about downside risk mitigation.
- Non-profit: Grinnell College
Sheel Mohnot, co-founder and general partner at Better Tomorrow Ventures, has a gut feel about the founders. He gives an insider view using examples of fintech investments.
- The role of a VC is a combination of a management consultant and a psychotherapist
- Fintech started in 2014 and is still in the early days of innovation
- At the pre-seed and seed stage venture capital investments team is most important
- Non-profit: Curry Without Worry
Consuelo Valverde, founder and managing partner at SV Latam Capital, supports startups focusing on Latin America. She describes using real-life examples how decision analysis helps her evaluate founders and their ambitious ideas.
- Invest in ideas generated by brilliant minds looking to transform the world in some meaningful way is exciting
- When faced with uncertainty of markets and uncertainty of new technologies, what remains constant is the leadership
- Some startups don't need to expand the large market in Mexico, some others are well positioned to scale globally
- Non-profit: San Francisco CASA
Ankur Jain, Founding Partner at Emergent Ventures, describes how transformation through self-reflection shaped his investment philosophy. He empathizes with the challenge entrepreneurs face while seeking honest feedback from investors.
- Decision from first meeting to investment takes 6 weeks
- Transform your life with inner engineering
- Entrepreneurs face many pessimistic questions from everyone but optimism needs to prevail
- Non-profit: Isha Foundation
Lo Toney, founder and managing partner at Plexo Capital, takes us behind the scenes of a venture fund to show a limited partner's perspective. He shares his vision for a flywheel effect from the top to increase diversity.
- A hybrid VC firm investing both in emerging VC funds and in early stage companies
- How can limited partners influence change diversity trends starting at the top
- Now there is a willingness to change trends in venture capital
- New VCs must learn to transition from investor to fund manager
- Non-profit: HBCUvc
Manan Mehta, founding partner at Unshackled Ventures, shares his personal journey as the son of immigrants and how he built a venture capital firm with a mission to support foreign born founders. His authentic stories describes unfair barriers and his solutions to overcome them.
- Great teams are also self-aware on their blind spots
- The only VC with immigration attorneys as partners
- Hamilton - Immigrants (we get the job done)
- Non-profit: Playworks
Paul Arnold, founder of Switch Ventures, explains data driven investing in venture capital. He gives real-life examples of founders sharing information to prepare for a deeper discussion in the first meeting.
- Quants are good at beating the average but algorithms cannot beat the best in the game
- There is no magic formula for success in startups
- Great entrepreneurs have high quality of insights on a business
- Prepare the investors by sharing a white paper or a slide deck
- Non-profit: Commonwealth Club
Shruti Gandhi, founder of Array Ventures, describes her investment process in detail. Using specific examples of first meetings with founders, she explains what she likes to see in early stage startups.
- Smart founders figure out a way to expand market size
- Why are you solving that problem and why are you excited about it?
- 25% of founders backed by the firm are women and 50% are immigrants
- Pledge: Array Ventures dedicates $1 million to black and Latinx founders
Fred Groce, Principal at Storm Ventures and founder of Blck VC, shares authentic stories of startup investments that succeeded and failed. He describes how to identify the X-factor in a founding team. He also talks about his initiatives to double the number of black VCs.
- Diversity is a competitive edge in the market for organizations
- Tech is not an inclusive industry. <1% startups funded by VCs are led by black entrepreneurs
- VCs are at the day-zero of company formation
- Distilling ideas into its purest form is a skill not a lot of people have
- Non-profit: Black VC
Ravi Belani, founder of Alchemist Accelerator, talks about entrepreneurship for all. He gives examples of technical founders building software businesses LaunchDarkly and Rigetti. Alchemist looks for what can go right and how big can the business be more than dwelling on what can go wrong.
- Both Steve Jobs like charismatic vision and Steve Wozniac like behind the scenes execution are important in a founding team
- Questions we ask are around: why now, why you and how big.
- Good accelerators are strong signals to attract venture capital investors
- Non-profit: City of Dreams
Pat Matthews, founder & CEO at Active Capital, walks through his investment decisions with three startup stories. Learn from his career as a pioneer in B2B SaaS entrepreneur in the late 90s and an active angel investor in 100+ startups before he became a full-time VC.
- Startups in underdog cities need investors with experience
- Leading with your strength is a competitive advantage
- Well crafted cold email
- Non-profit: Big Brothers Big Sisters
Kamal Hassan, founding partner at Loyal.vc, explains how the power of his network helps avoid negative effects of biases in investing. The 2 year old firm has invested in 116 startups in 30 countries. He treats founders the way he wishes he was treated when he was an entrepreneur.
- Inside access through business networks helps identify best startups and encourages good behavior to maintain reputation
- Index approach outperforms in seed stage investing
- Advisors assist in referencing startup teams and add their expertise adds value
- Non-profit: INSEAD
Ian Rountree, founder of Cantos Ventures, shares an insider view on his 40+ investments focused on frontier technology. He talks about the experience of angel investing as a better education in venture capital than an MBA degree.
- Startups with defensible technology, large future market potential + a team that can execute is the magic formula.
- Errors of commission is ok but errors of omission hurt a lot. This leads to fear of missing out.
- Propitiatory technologies must lead to network effects or new business models.
- Frontier of innovation will create economic value in legacy industries.
- Non-profit: Open Door Legal.
Naeem Zafar shares his experience as a CEO and mentor to founders. He talks about recruiting early employees, motivation of A-players, and the liberating power of entrepreneurship.
- Make emotional deposits well before you ask for favors from your network.
- A-players look for impact of solving an important problem.
- Selling a noble act of listening, analyzing, connecting the dots and suggesting solutions.
- Talent development is an important skill for a CEO.
- Non-profit: The Indus Entrepreneur.
Miriam Rivera talks about the lack of diversity in the industry, and her investments with a mission to promote entrepreneurship among women and people of color. She shares how her husband is the best partner both at home and at work.
- 9% of VC decision makers are women. Unfairness hurts the industry. We need change.
- She doesn't hide the ball. She openly discusses risks with entrepreneurs and highlights areas they can improve.
- Decision analysis brings transparency to the due-diligence process.
- Non-profit: Kauffman Foundation
Rajeev Madhavan, founding partner at Clear Ventures, shares his career as a 3x successful entrepreneur. He shows how an entrepreneur changes his skeptical view and convinces him in 20 minutes.
- A great VC is a coach who can pick the right entrepreneurs and shows lessons from past experiences.
- Spark in the first meeting is the best and only chance to convince a venture capital investor.
- The ecosystem in the Silicon Valley is stronger than ever. Founders face fewer biases and easily connect with customers, employees and many early believers.
- Non-profit: Akshaya Patra
More details at http://podcast.sure.ventures
Rick Zullo talks about bridging the digital divide in legacy industries by supporting founders with experience. Authentic relationships with industry experts is important, not just a rolodex of CXOs.
Highlights:
- Industries with complex problems need cataclysmic changes with tail winds lasting many years.
- Founders with experience in industries like employee benefits, staffing, senior care, and healthcare understand intricacies much better than a typical tech entrepreneur.
- The pitch is not as critical founders think it is. Honesty, self-awareness and having a network are more important.
- Future of entrepreneurship is more geographically dispersed, not concentrated in hubs like the Silicon Valley.
- Non-profit: Victory Over Cancer
More details at https://podcast.sure.ventures
Kat Utecht, partner at Core VC, shares her adventurous journey of starting a VC firm on the east coast and expanding to the west coast. She describes how her startup investments improve the lives of average Americans.
Highlights:
- Mission-driven investing is popular everywhere including in the Silicon Valley.
- Insider view on a bold bet in healthcare while political changes were creating uncertainties.
- How partners in multiple locations collaborate.
- Non-profit: Sky's the Limit
More details at https://podcast.sure.ventures
Scott Barclay shares insights on when to play an active role as a venture capital investor. He explains with examples how engagement with an entrepreneur starts and eventually disproves or strengthens his conviction in a business idea.
Highlights:
- The right VC:CEO fit is magical.
- A good investor does not impose his alpha role but is always ready to intervene and lead.
- Become a student of economics and learn about unrelated markets to sharpen your investment acumen.
- Entrepreneurial journeys are broad ranging. Founders come in many shapes and forms. Hot referrals and cold-emails are both good leads.
- Non-profit: Ecumenical Hunger Program
More details at https://podcast.sure.ventures
Gokul Rajaram shares specific characteristics he looks for in entrepreneurs who range from former coworkers to founders he never met in-person. He describes his unique journey in the Silicon Valley leading product development at Juno, Google, Facebook, Square and Doordash.
Highlights:
- The determination to move heaven and earth to solve a problem is an important quality in entrepreneurs.
- Founders have unique non-obvious insights about the market.
- Customer love for a product convinces angel investors more than charisma during a pitch.
- Angels want to give back to the community and learn from entrepreneurs.
- Non-profit: Second Harvest Food Bank
More details at https://podcast.sure.ventures
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Come here to listen to relatable, insightful and authentic stories from venture capital investors and other early believers. I am your host Gopi Rangan. Once a week, we will talk about startups, investments, bold ideas, tech and the future. Share comments and subscribe to the podcast.