Understanding VC
93 episodes - English - Latest episode: 1 day ago - ★★★★★ - 2 ratingsUnderstanding VC is a podcast that provides founders with the knowledge and resources they need to understand venture capital. My goal is to create the best and most comprehensive resource on venture capital on the internet, so that founders can make informed decisions about their businesses and secure the funding they need to succeed.
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Episodes
Inside a Pitch Meeting w/ Michael Blakey & Aleks Farseev | PitchMeNot Ep.3
April 28, 2024 03:34 - 39 minutes - 40.8 MBIn this episode of PitchMeNot, host Rahul, alongside guest VC Michael Blakey, delve into the pioneering world of SoMin, an AI-powered SaaS marketing platform founded by Alex Farseev. SoMin distinguishes itself by optimizing digital advertising and competitor monitoring through advanced data analytics, aiming to significantly reduce costs and boost sales for its clients. The podcast covers SoMin's journey, it's product offerings (SoAds and SoMonitor), market fit, and the challenges it aims to...
Rise of the India-US SaaS Corridor | Chanchal Bhoorani from WestBridge Capital
April 10, 2024 04:00 - 50 minutes - 50.6 MBIn this episode you will learn: 00:00:00 - Intro 00:01:31 - The US-India Saas Corridor 00:04:13 - Advantage of building Software in India 00:08:57 - Early GTM strategies for Companies 00:11:46 - How can Indian SaaS Companies compete in the US? 00:14:49 - Will the cost advantage of building software in India persist? 00:16:19 - Challenges faced by Indian Companies in the US 00:21:21 - VC’s expectations before investing 00:23:19 - When should SaaS companies target the US market? 00:2...
Investing Together: How Oded Hermoni’s VC Strategy is Changing the Game
March 29, 2024 16:14 - 1 hour - 60.2 MBIn this episode you will learn: 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:00:52 - About J-Ventures 00:02:57 - J-Ventures' VC Model in comparison to Traditional VCs 00:11:56 - Process of Onboarding LP’s 00:19:16 - Managing the community of LPs 00:20:29 - J-Ventures unique approach in VC 00:26:06 - J-Ventures’ investment mandate 00:30:50 - Value-based Investing in Companies 00:32:12 - Sourcing Companies for Investing 00:38:38 - Criteria for Evaluating Founders 00:42:06 - LP representation on Comp...
Navigating Founder Conflicts with Will Klippgen
March 18, 2024 07:24 - 38 minutes - 38 MBThis video is sponsored by Digital Prizm. 📍Digital Prism, the Singapore-based digital transformation expert which help you transform your business digitally. From product development to enhancing your online presence, they've got you covered! 🎁The first 10 sign-ups receive a whopping 20 hours of free consultation! Secure your complimentary consultation and unlock your business's digital potential today!! In this episode you will learn: 00:03:09 - Relationship between Good Founding Teams...
Tackling Founder Conflicts with Will Klippgen
March 18, 2024 07:24 - 38 minutes - 38 MBThis video is sponsored by Digital Prizm. 📍Digital Prism, the Singapore-based digital transformation expert which help you transform your business digitally. From product development to enhancing your online presence, they've got you covered! 🎁The first 10 sign-ups receive a whopping 20 hours of free consultation! Secure your complimentary consultation and unlock your business's digital potential today!! In this episode you will learn: 00:03:09 - Relationship between Good Founding Teams...
Inside Venture Studios with Sam Hall
March 12, 2024 13:04 - 1 hour - 62.3 MBThis video is sponsored by Digital Prizm. (https://www.digitalprizm.net) 📍Digital Prism, the Singapore-based digital transformation expert which help you transform your business digitally. From product development to enhancing your online presence, they've got you covered! 🎁The first 10 sign-ups receive a whopping 20 hours of free consultation! Secure your complimentary consultation and unlock your business's digital potential today! In this episode you will learn: 02:30 - Origins of V...
Photonic Computing: Breakthroughs, Challenges and Insights with Denis Kalinin
February 20, 2024 09:27 - 52 minutes - 53.3 MBIn this episode you will learn: 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:00:42 - Optical vs Quantum Computing 00:03:11 - Basics of Photonic Computing 00:07:15 - Challenges in using Optics for Compute 00:09:44 - Under-utilization of Compute for Data Transfer 00:13:19 - Segments and Opportunities in Photonics 00:20:08 - Lumai's Approach in Optical Processing 00:21:55 - Importance of Optical Computing in AI Progress 00:27:21 - Industries Benefiting from Optical Computing Breakthroughs 00:30:10 - Ta...
Talent Investing in Building Successful Startups | Rahul from Entrepreneur First
January 16, 2024 14:13 - 1 hour - 62.8 MBIn this episode you will learn: 00:00 - Introduction 01:54 - Talent Investing & Fundamentals 03:28 - Talent Investing vs. Recruitment 05:10 - What Talent Investors Look For 08:11 - Characteristics of Great Talent Investors 14:14 - Early Discovery of Exceptional Individuals 16:22 - Finding Exceptional Talent 17:58 - Characteristics of a Great Founder 23:48 - Challenges in Finding the Right Founders 26:37 - Fear of Failure 31:07 - Role of Family and Childhood 34:02 - Decision to B...
Understanding the Shifting Landscape of Fundraising Negotiations in India with Mehak Khanna from Khaitan & Khaitan
December 13, 2023 04:01 - 56 minutes - 55.6 MBIn this episode you will learn: [00:00:00] Introduction [00:02:42] Mehak explains startup convertible notes. [00:05:00] Improvements and challenges in Indian startup regulations. [00:06:24] Foreign fundraising challenges and issues. [00:09:24] Angel tax impact on startups and investors. [00:11:46] Impact of recent FinTech regulatory changes. [00:13:24] Data Protection Bill overview and startup cost implications. [00:15:06] Crowdfunding platforms in India. [00:17:51] Pandemic's impac...
Building a VC Firm to Last | Hussein Kanji from Hoxton Ventures
December 04, 2023 05:00 - 1 hour - 64.2 MBIn this episode you will learn: [00:00:00] Introduction [00:05:15] Building an Enduring Firm [00:08:00] Challenges of Partnership Culture [00:10:43] Personal Brand vs Firm Brand [00:13:00] Succession Planning [00:17:00] Long-Term Commitment [00:19:00] LP Relationships [00:20:55] Advantages of a Partnership [00:21:37] Benefits of Scale [00:21:52] Building a Great Firm and Naming [00:23:00] Soft Aspects of Building a Firm [00:24:59] Unifying Themes in Firms [00:27:00] Progression i...
Understanding Voluntary Carbon Markets with Maryanna Saenko from Future Ventures
November 30, 2023 09:26 - 1 hour - 63.5 MBIn this episode you will learn: 00:00 Introduction to Voluntary Carbon Markets 01:51 Exploring the Controversy Around Carbon Offsetting Firm Southport 05:14 Defining Carbon Credits and Carbon Offsets 11:09 The Challenges of Carbon Sequestration 19:59 The Role of Nature-Based Solutions in Carbon Markets 25:28 The Struggles and Potential of Nature-Based Carbon Credits 29:28 The Need for Both Engineering and Nature-Based Solutions 30:15 The Impact of Energy Sources on Carbon Credit Calc...
Transforming Indian Agriculture: Navigating Challenges and Seizing Opportunities | Mark Kahn from Omnivore
November 28, 2023 14:12 - 43 minutes - 44.5 MBIn this episode you will learn: 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:01:37 - Productivity of Agriculture in India 00:05:34 - Why Manufacturing isn’t where it’s supposed to be 00:06:54 - Opportunities for Tech Investment in Agriculture 00:07:59 - Omnivore’s Investment Focus 00:09:27 - Life Sciences 00:11:28 - Can ALT protein address protein deficiency in the Indian diet? 00:13:52 - Structural Changes in Diet 00:19:04 - Opportunities in Life Sciences 00:23:05 - Policy Changes for Agriculture ...
Accelerate to Success: Decoding Startup Accelerators with Michael Cardamone from Forum Ventures
November 14, 2023 04:02 - 51 minutes - 52.3 MBIn this episode you will learn: 00:00 Introduction and Overview 01:37 Debate on Investing in YC Startups 04:43 The Role of Accelerators in Startup Success 06:34 Benefits of Joining an Accelerator 08:31 The Challenges of Being a Startup Founder 15:01 Choosing the Right Accelerator 18:12 What Accelerators Look for in Startups 22:46 Investment Deal Terms for Accelerators 25:26 Reasons a Startup Might Not Join an Accelerator 25:37 Understanding the Role and Value of Accelerators 26:25...
Why solo capitalists are winning with Itamar Novick from Recursive Ventures
November 07, 2023 06:37 - 1 hour - 63.8 MBIn this episode you will learn: 00:00 - Introduction 01:21 - Who is a solo capitalist? 03:42 - What are the merits of being a solo capitalist? 07:50 - How is a solo capitalist helpful for a founder? 15:20 - Do solo GPs offer better founder friendly terms? 17:30 - Can solo capitalists be a bad deal for some founders? 22:10 - Why are LPs interested in backing solo GPs? 24:20 - Do solo capitalists charge lower management fees than LPs? 29:00 - Is there an upper limit to the fund size f...
7 Strategies to Build a Powerful Board to Drive Startup Success with Joe Leech, Coach to CEOs
October 12, 2023 15:13 - 53 minutes - 56.9 MBIn this episode you will learn: 00:00 - Introduction: The Essence of Startup Board Roles 00:34 - Board Governance vs. Decision-Making: An In-depth Exploration 00:37 - Understanding the Board of Directors and Their Vital Duties 10:25 - The Optimal Timing for Establishing a Business Board 16:50 - Defining 'Board Chairperson,' 'Board Observer,' and 'Non-Executive Board Member' 22:50 - Founder or Investor as Chair: A Crucial Decision and Its Rationale 23:55 - Finding the Right Board Size ...
Understanding Due Diligence for Early Stage Startups with Caroline Casson from Vitalize VC
October 04, 2023 10:04 - 1 hour - 64.7 MBIn this episode you will learn: [00:01:15] Purpose of Due Diligence: Caroline on the importance of due diligence for informed investment decisions and responsible investing [00:03:00] Team Evaluation: Starting with the founding team's compatibility, execution ability, and responsiveness [00:06:00] Advisor Relevance: Listing advisors who genuinely contribute value [00:07:53] Confidence vs. Arrogance: Balancing self-confidence and avoiding arrogance for founders [00:09:44] Team's Ability ...
Why founders should also be investors with Jyri Engeström from Yes VC
September 26, 2023 06:16 - 1 hour - 62.4 MBJyri's deck on How to Invest in Startups Even If You’re Not a VC In this episode we discuss: [00:01:14] Introduction: Defining "Dual Threat CEOs" [00:02:35] Getting on Other People’s Cap Tables is About Developing Social Capital [00:03:42] Importance of Starting Early in Your Career [00:06:31] Turning Your Angel Investing into a Fund [00:08:28] How to Invest with Limited Capital [00:11:24] Thinking About Everything as an Opportunity to Invest [00:14:57] Why You Should Invite Other Op...
Investing in Quantum Computing: VC's Perspective with Ion Hauer from Apex Ventures
August 15, 2023 16:17 - 54 minutes - 56.4 MBIn this episode we discuss 00:00:00 Introduction to Quantum Computing and Challenges 00:06:00 Quantum Computing Basics 00:10:45 Hardware Architectures and Quantum Systems 00:15:14 Progress and Challenges in Quantum Computing 00:21:44 Quantum Cryptography and Security 00:25:39 Challenges and Adoption of Quantum Computing 00:30:43 Quantum Computing's Business Applications 00:31:43 Investment in Quantum Computing 00:32:16 Hybrid Approach and Quantum-Classic Interaction 00:34:38 Human I...
UVC: Brian Nichols from Angel Squad on What Angel Investing Is, How to Do It Well, and Why Angel Invest
August 08, 2023 13:26 - 55 minutes - 56.6 MBIn this episode we discuss: [00:37:00] Who is an angel investor? [00:01:39] What is the average investment check size for angel investors these days? [00:02:40] How is angel investing different from venture capital? [00:04:07] Why has angel investing historically been concentrated in the U.S.? [00:06:40] How has the angel investing landscape evolved, and what trends do you see? [00:10:52] What are the advantages and disadvantages of being part of a syndicate or doing angel investing in...
UVC: Nitin Sharma from Antler on the Evolution of His Definition of Impact, the VC Industry in India, the Future of EdTech, How Antler India is Addressing Pain Points for Founders, and the Potential Benefits of ONDC
August 03, 2023 06:14 - 56 minutes - 57.6 MBIn this episode we discuss: [00:02:12] How did Nitin's definition of "impact" change over time? [00:03:44] When did Nitin join the VC industry, and what was the market condition at that time? [00:07:54] What was the most important lesson Nitin learned from his time at NEA (New Enterprise Associates)? [00:10:50] How is the VC industry different in the US compared to India? [00:16:06] What are some things that founders in India don't understand about VCs? [00:20:29] Why did Nitin become i...
UVC: Melody Koh from NextView Ventures on navigating early stage venture investing, empowering exceptional founders, fostering trust with founders and investing in the everyday economy
August 01, 2023 15:27 - 55 minutes - 56.3 MBIn this episode we discuss: [00:00:00] Why Melody chose to stay in the US for startups and her hobbies growing up [00:07:00] What values Melody upholds as a VC when working with startup founders [00:12:00] The important lesson Melody learned in early-stage venture investing [00:13:00] Why Melody believes in investing in exceptional founders with high potential [00:18:00] Melody's hands-on approach as a VC and how she supports founders [00:21:00] The benefits of NextView Ventures' concen...
UVC: John Zeratsky from Character on the role of design in venture capital, the OATS scorecard, sprint methodology, and gaining an edge in VC through strategic differentiation
July 17, 2023 16:00 - 50 minutes - 52.8 MBIn this episode we discuss: 06:00 - The Importance of Design in VC 09:00 - Visionary Founders vs. Hypothesis-Driven Founders 15:00 - Importance of Strategy in VC 22:00 - Sprint Method and Product-Market Fit 26:00 - Hypothesis driven approach - How it can save time and money 28:00 - Introduction to the OATS scorecard system 32:00 - Longitudinal use and comparison of scores 33:00 - Reasons for not investing 39:00 - Challenges of FOMO and saying no 42:00 - Detachment and enthusiasm in...
UVC: John Zeratsky from Character VC on the role of design in venture capital, the OATS scorecard, sprint methodology, and gaining an edge in VC through strategic differentiation
July 17, 2023 16:00 - 50 minutes - 52.8 MBIn this episode we discuss: 06:00 - The Importance of Design in VC 09:00 - Visionary Founders vs. Hypothesis-Driven Founders 15:00 - Importance of Strategy in VC 22:00 - Sprint Method and Product-Market Fit 26:00 - Hypothesis driven approach - How it can save time and money 28:00 - Introduction to the OATS scorecard system 32:00 - Longitudinal use and comparison of scores 33:00 - Reasons for not investing 39:00 - Challenges of FOMO and saying no 42:00 - Detachment and enthusiasm in...
UVC: Rex Salisbury from Cambrian on the evolution of Cambrian community, the rise of vertical SaaS & embedded finance, and the impact of AI on financial services
July 12, 2023 13:12 - 46 minutes - 49.9 MBIn this episode you will learn: Why did Rex decide not to start a company and pursue venture capital instead? How has the Cambrian community evolved over time? How does Rex see the value of adding value to the ecosystem and creating access over time? What impressed Rex about Deel and its founders? Did he expect Deel to become one of the fastest growing companies in the world when he first met them? What is the role and importance of product counsel in a FinTech company? How does Rex ass...
PitchMeNot: Joseph Mocanu from Verge HealthTech Fund featuring BrainSight
July 05, 2023 16:52 - 32 minutes - 34.7 MBPitchMeNot is a podcast that takes listeners inside the initial pitch meetings between startup founders and VCs. It goes beyond the pitch by featuring candid debriefs from the VCs once the founders leave the room, providing valuable insights into the world of startups and investments. In this episode, I’m joined by Joseph Mocanu, Managing Partner at Verge HealthTech Fund, an early stage VC firm based in Singapore investing in health tech companies and we will be talking to Laina Emmanuel, ...
UVC: Vlad Tropko from Digital Horizon on the importance of team psychology in startup success, overcoming prejudices and biases in VC investments, and the evolving landscape of venture capital
June 20, 2023 17:04 - 29 minutes - 32.2 MBIn this episode you will learn: What is the greatest risk Vlad has taken in his life? How does Vlad compare angel investments to an MBA in terms of education and learning? According to Vlad, how important is a founding team's psychology in the success of a startup? What are some positive signs and negative signs to look for in a founding team from a psychology perspective? How did Vlad become a VC? What are the reasons behind Digital Horizon focusing on immigrant founders in terms of ris...
UVC: Vinod Shankar from Java Capital on navigating controllable black swan events, learning from missed deals, and the focus on founders in smaller cities like Coimbatore
June 12, 2023 15:31 - 46 minutes - 47.7 MBIn this episode you will learn: What is Vinod's perspective on risk appetite in the venture capital ? What is the connection between the venture business and Black Swan events according to Vinod? How does Vinod define controllable Black Swans in the context of venture capital? How did working at Kalaari impact Vinod's knowledge, sourcing, and relationships in the startup ecosystem? What are the core value systems of Java Capital? What are the key metrics used to measure values such as se...
PitchMeNot: Saurabh Gunwant from 8X Ventures featuring Atmax
June 09, 2023 11:30 - 24 minutes - 27.8 MBPitchMeNot is a podcast that takes listeners inside the initial pitch meetings between startup founders and VCs. It goes beyond the pitch by featuring candid debriefs from the VCs once the founders leave the room, providing valuable insights into the world of startups and investments. In this episode, I’m joined by Saurabh Gunwant, senior associate at 8X ventures, a deep tech VC firm based in Dubai and we will be talking to Varun Gupta, Founder and CEO of Atmax, a SaaS solution that helps co...
UVC: Chandan Deep from B Capital Group on key areas of focus for B Capital's operating team, on how she measure success in her role & strategies startups can employ to thrive during tough times
June 06, 2023 16:06 - 34 minutes - 35.7 MBIn this episode you will learn: What were the motivations behind Chandan's career pivots from consulting to working at Twitter and then joining B Capital? What are the key areas of focus for B Capital's operating team, and how do they provide value to portfolio companies? How does B Capital proactively identify potential crises and provide support to their portfolio companies? How does Chandan measure success in her role? How can startups minimize poor decisions, especially in a challen...
UVC: Mikhail Taver from Taver Capital on why he chose AI as the technology to focus on, the value proposition of AI for traditional heavy industries like mining & what people often overvalue in venture capital
June 01, 2023 12:39 - 33 minutes - 34.9 MBIn this episode you will learn: Why is psychology important for an investor, especially when dealing with early-stage companies? What made Mikhail decide to explore VC? What were some of the adjustments Mikhail had to make when transitioning from private equity to venture capital? Why did Mikhail choose AI as a technology to focus on? Why do they have a global mandate for their fund? What value proposition does AI offer traditional heavy industries, like mining? Why aren't many people bu...
UVC: Erik Huberman from Hawke Ventures on how Hawke Media's ecosystem and network drive their VC fund's success, emphasizes self-reflection & learning from missed opportunities, and exciting commerce enablement trends
May 23, 2023 15:26 - 41 minutes - 41.9 MBIn this episode you will learn: Why does Erik emphasize the importance of financial literacy and understanding money management? What motivated Erik to establish a VC fund alongside his marketing agency, Hawke Media? How did Erik and his team develop a strategic approach for their VC fund, Hawke Ventures? How did the extensive ecosystem and network of their marketing agency benefit their VC fund's operations? What advantages does owning an ecosystem bring and how does it benefit portfol...
UVC: Brian Frank from FTW Ventures on tech's impact on the food system, assessing the market potential & customer interest in a startup's product, the dual benefits of addressing climate change, and upcoming consumer food trends
May 17, 2023 08:44 - 1 hour - 67.6 MBIn this episode you will learn: What did Brian learn from his internship at Intel that has helped him as an entrepreneur? What issues does Brian see in the current food system? Why does Brian believe that science and technology can uplevel the food system? Why does FTW Ventures have a highly focused and concentrated investment approach? What value does FTW Ventures aim to create for founders? Why are there not many VCs investing in the food and agriculture market? What are the indicator...
UVC: Terry Chou from Alpha Intelligence Capital on the state of deep tech in Singapore, disruptive technology approach that AIC looks for in companies, the most important trait of a founder and impacts of generative AI
May 09, 2023 16:18 - 46 minutes - 48.9 MBIn this episode you will learn: Where did Terry grow up? What sparked Terry's interest in investment and finance? Why did Terry and her team decide to move to Singapore from Hong Kong? What does Terry think of the state of deep tech in Singapore? What is AIC's investment strategy? What is the reason for US having the best talent and approach in AI, and why is Asia lagging behind? What is the disruptive technology approach that the Terry looks for in companies, and how does she assess i...
Deep Dive: The Power of Relationships - Connect the Dots, sales, recruitment, and beyond with Drew Sechrist
April 11, 2023 18:43 - 38 minutes - 41.7 MBIn this episode you will learn: What is Connect the Dots and how does it help users find strong connections to desired contacts? How does Connect the Dots differ from other tools like Conspire, Affinity, or Bridge.app in terms of relationship intelligence? How does Connect the Dots enable users to keep their contacts and relationship history as they change jobs, without losing valuable information? Why did Drew choose to focus on solving the problem of relationship management? How did D...
UVC: Alex Felix from CoinFund on effective token distribution strategies, embracing non-consensus viewpoints, and his strong conviction in Crypto's future
April 05, 2023 08:04 - 47 minutes - 47.1 MBIn this episode you will learn: What led Alex Felix from being a national ski champion to a career in finance and venture capital? How is private equity different from venture capital according to Alex? How did Coin Fund start? How do crypto VC firms design their support system? How do crypto companies tackle the challenge of composability? What does effective token distribution mean for crypto companies? How do you develop a non-consensus viewpoint in venture? Does a non-consensus vie...
UVC: Shwetank Verma from Leo Capital on how founders can obtain honest information about VCs, ways in which InsureTech can reduce costs & increase convenience and positive changes that are expected in the Indian startup ecosystem
March 28, 2023 15:47 - 36 minutes - 36.6 MBIn this episode you will learn: How did Shwetank end up in venture? Why does Shwetank advise not to treat fundraising as a competition? What is the most challenging situation a VC can help a startup with, and why is it important? Is it easy to get the truth about VCs from founders, and where is the best place to get it? Why is it important to read what VCs write on LinkedIn or other places according to Shwetank? Why has insurance been a bit behind other financial services? How can Insu...
UVC: Valerie Van Vu from Ansible Ventures on overcoming doubters during her fund-raising journey, the three Cs she is bringing to the Vietnam startup ecosystem, and their strategy for bridging global networks & knowledge to Vietnam
March 20, 2023 16:00 - 36 minutes - 37.9 MBIn this episode you will learn: Does Ansible Ventures only invest in seasoned entrepreneurs, or would it also invest in first-time founders? What is Ansible Ventures' positioning and how does it aim to bridge global networks and knowledge to Vietnam? Did Valerie face doubters while raising her fund, and how did she deal with them? What are Valerie's areas of interest in terms of investments and why? What is the current state of consumer internet in Vietnam and why is it attractive for i...
UVC: Anjali Sosale from WaterBridge Ventures on founder learnability and scalability, the importance of conducting background checks on VCs & why more women should found consumer startups
March 15, 2023 17:35 - 45 minutes - 48.1 MBIn this episode you will learn: What is Fast Forward, and what problem does it aim to solve for founders, according to WaterBridge? How important is it for founders to conduct a background check on VCs, and what percentage of founders actually do it? What does Anjali mean by Founder learnability and scalability, and why are founders hesitant to let an experienced CEO scale the company? What are the networks and channels that WaterBridge relies on for sourcing high-quality startups? When...
UVC: Sheel Mohnot from Better Tomorrow Ventures on whether 1st & 2nd time founders are equally willing to accept their valuations, when they would stop supporting a portfolio startup, and the challenges neobanks face with customer trust
March 12, 2023 14:35 - 15 minutes - 20.7 MBIn this episode you will learn: How does access to credit impact low income countries like India? Why does Sheel insist on a minimum ownership of 10%? What are the reasons for Sheel's reluctance to invest in startups that need to raise a lot of funds? Are both first-time founders and second-time founders equally willing to accept the valuations offered by Better Tomorrow Ventures? Under what circumstances would Sheel stop supporting one of his portfolio startups? What kinds of fintech ...
UVC: Dave Richards from Capria Ventures on their unique VC fund and fund of funds approach, challenges faced by global south founders, and unsustainability of 'spray and pray' investment strategy
March 01, 2023 13:19 - 44 minutes - 40 MBIn this episode you will learn: Why does Capria Ventures act as both a VC fund and a fund of funds, and what benefits does this approach offer? What is the "state of the art venture capital innovation" that Capria Ventures brings? How does Capria Ventures nurture its partnerships with fund managers across different regions? What are some of the challenges that founders from the global south face and how different are they to the global north? According to Dave, what is the most common m...
UVC: Sergey Gribov from Flint Capital on their investment strategy, mistakes to avoid when entering the US market, and the exciting future of tech
February 21, 2023 15:05 - 48 minutes - 52.8 MBIn this episode you will learn: After building multiple successful startups, why did Sergey get into VC? What is the fund strategy at Flint Capital? Is it a good strategy for startups to target the single biggest enterprise market in the world - the US? Based on Sergey’s experience, what are some of the mistakes that startups make while trying to expand into the US market? How does he add value to his portfolio startups? How does Sergey assess startups, especially at the very early st...
UVC: Karl Alomar from M13 on the significance of providing support to portfolio companies when there are indications of a crisis, preference for investing in infrastructure layer startups & why VCs should think like an entrepreneur
February 15, 2023 15:40 - 47 minutes - 49.1 MBIn this episode you will learn: What are some of the success stories, challenges, and crisis that Karl faced while building multiple startups, and how did he navigate them? According to Karl, why should a VC think like an entrepreneur, and how can this approach benefit startups? Does Karl believe that prior experience as an entrepreneur is ideal for someone looking to become a VC, and why? How is M13's propulsion platform different from the platform model of other VC funds, and how does ...
Fundraise: Tim Flannery, CEO at Passthrough on their Series A fundraise
February 07, 2023 15:42 - 16 minutes - 21.1 MBIn this Fundraise episode, I speak with Tim Flannery, CEO at Passthrough on their Series A fundraise. Tim shares the problem Passthrough is trying to solve, his larger vision for the company, the progress they’ve made so far and how he sees Passthrough positioned among its competitors in the market. Tim also explains why he chose to work with Positive Sum, the fund that backed Passthrough during the seed round and led their Series A round. He also offers insight into the difficulty of the se...
UVC: Elizabeth Yin from Hustle Fund on why speed of execution matters for startup success, processes at Hustle Fund to make investments & portfolio support more efficient and how founders can manage their risks
January 31, 2023 15:41 - 41 minutes - 44 MBIn this episode you will learn: Elizabeth shares the story of how she got into entrepreneurship and subsequently a VC What is the fund strategy of Hustle fund? According to Elizabeth, why is the speed of execution so important for the success of a startup? Having made more than 700 investments in startups, how does Elizabeth rate herself as a VC? What does it take for a VC to get into the top 1% echelon? What are some of the processes that Hustle Fund has in place to make investments an...
UVC: James Wang from Creative Ventures on why they study the market they invest in deeply before looking at tech solutions for it, a sign of a really bad startup, and adoption challenges faced by healthcare tech startups
January 24, 2023 15:55 - 55 minutes - 54.7 MBIn this episode you will learn: Why James became a VC despite having an opinion that it was a bad idea? How does Creative Ventures evaluate startups and why do they study the market they invest in deeply before looking at tech solutions for it? Why James doesn’t invest in startups with R&D risk and also talk about the strict protocols they have in place to make investments? Why startups who don’t share information about their tech or product is a sign of a really bad one? Does investing...
Deep Dive: VC Term Sheets with Siddharth Mody
January 17, 2023 15:05 - 37 minutes - 41.2 MBIn this episode you will learn: What is a term sheet and why does it exist? What are the key sections of a term sheet? Why is the term sheet less like a legal document and more like a commercial document? Do you need a lawyer to negotiate the term sheets that VCs offer startups when they’re raising a fund? What are exclusivity rights, voting rights, governing laws, and information rights in a term sheet? What do the terms liquidation preference, anti-dilution, break-free, and preempti...
UVC: Amra Naidoo from Accelerating Asia on why they invest in startups that are between the MVP stage and PMF stage, what type of businesses can create the most impact and why they are bullish on Bangladeshi startups
January 10, 2023 14:18 - 38 minutes - 39.3 MBIn this episode you will learn: According to Amra, should everyone start a business at least once in their career? What is Accelerating Asia? What are 3 services that they offer the startup ecosystem? Why was sustainability always a priority for Accelerating Asia right from the start? Why does Accelerating Asia focus on investing in startups that are between the MVP stage and the product-market fit stage? Is building a venture-backed startup the best way to create impact? What is one ot...
UVC: Puiyan Leung from Vertex Ventures SE Asia & India on how they assess a founding team’s profile, what it takes to raise a series A & the opportunities in climate tech and creator economy
January 03, 2023 15:20 - 39 minutes - 38.5 MBIn this episode you will learn: How did Puiyan break into the VC industry despite having an engineering background? According to Puiyan, should a startup founder engage with a big corporation as their initial customer or should he/she go after the SMB & Mid-Market segment? What are the core values of Vertex Ventures? What does it take to raise a Series A? How do Vertex Ventures assess Series A startups? How do they go about evaluating the founding team? Does it make sense for startups ...
UVC: Pavel Cherkashin from Mindrock Capital on how the fund operates, the prediction model they use to make investments and his mystical Hack Temple project
November 01, 2022 16:49 - 44 minutes - 44.4 MBIn this episode, you will learn: Pavel’s journey of building a web development company straight out of university How hard was it for Pavel to move to the US from Russia and start a venture fund? How does Mindrock Capital operate and the value it provides to its investors? How does the prediction model at Mindrock Capital that evaluates the probability of a startup’s success work? What are its data points? What is the Hack Temple project, the reason why Pavel started it and why it's a ...
UVC: Chirag Gupta from 8X Ventures on investing in deep-tech startups in India and beyond, what Industry 4.0 could mean for the developed and the developing world, and why a ‘Founder-CEO’ is not the best option for a deep-tech startup
October 12, 2022 14:56 - 46 minutes - 47.6 MBIn this episode you will learn: Why did Chirag start 8X Ventures instead of staying as a VC at 500 Global? Why is 8X Ventures based in Dubai? How does 8X Ventures compete with VC funds that are geographically closer to the deep-tech startups in Europe and US? Why does 8X Ventures invest in only deep-tech startups? According to Chirag, why have VC firms (which initially started with deep-tech investments) now diversified into other sectors? Why should deep-tech startups choose 8X Ventur...