Honesty is the best policy!
I sat down with Julia Maltby, the Principal at Flybridge Capital Partners to have an honest conversation about the hardest parts of working in venture, the MBA experience, and building personal conviction. Episode 016 of “New to Venture” is jam packed with valuable lessons for the next generation of VCs and some fantastic stories! Tune in :)
Here are some key takeaways from our conversation:
- The world will test you with difficult times. Take note of the ones who stick by your side and those who make the extra effort to be there for you.
- Oftentimes, the best performing deals are the most controversial. If everyone thinks it’s a good idea, there may be more competition than you think.
- For MBA programs, you can prioritize social, career, or academics, but it's difficult to do all three well. Go into the program with intentions and goals!
- Ultimately, VC is a game of weighing risk. Gather as much information as you possibly can. Make an informed decision. Then be as helpful to that company as you can.
- There will come a time when you do tons of research and diligence on a vertical, market, or company and arrive at a dead end. Although it’s demoralizing, understand all that work will be helpful down the line. Maybe it’s similar to another sector, maybe it helps you get to “no” faster, or maybe a new law passes and flips the entire market on its head. Write down key learnings from your research so you can refer back to it when needed.
(00:00) - Introductions!
(02:08) - Julia’s VC Tiktok Account
(05:48) - Vassar’s Rugby Team
(07:30) - Julia’s Path to VC
(13:06) - The Wharton MBA Experience
(14:28) - Ride-or-Die Friends
(16:31) - Work/Life Balance in VC
(17:54) - Flybridge, Deco Ventures, and Next Wave Funds
(21:58) - Building Personal Conviction
(25:00) - The Story of Blumen Systems (Julia’s Investment)
(28:23) - Ceremonial Final Qs
