This is the story of one of the great VCs of NYC🗽
I sat down with Brian Smiga, serial entrepreneur and co-founding partner of Alpha Partners, to take a walk down memory lane. From sitting in a hot tub with Marc Benioff to starting a TEDx conference in his town, Ep 020 of “New to Venture” is packed with stories and perspectives from a seasoned entrepreneur and VC. If you want to last a long time in this industry, make sure you give this episode a listen!
Key Takeaways:
1️⃣ The VC world runs on karma. Pay it forward. Do good for others and expect nothing in return. Try your best to NOT make things transactional.
2️⃣ Get into the rooms with people smarter than you. Being intentional about the people you surround yourself with will supercharge your growth.
3️⃣ Develop a point of view. Get interested in something. 80% of VCs are specialists. Study up and come prepared with a sophisticated and educated perspective.
4️⃣ Relationships are everything. Seeing your peers grow is fulfilling. When you look back, you’ll remember the people you worked with, not the tasks.
Timestamps:
(00:00) - Introductions!
(02:00) - Jack of All Trades
(04:20) - TedxAsburyPark
(07:02) - Blackbelt VCs
(08:50) - Founder → Investor
(12:19) - Alpha Partners Founding Story
(15:45) - NYC Tech Ecosystem
(19:05) - Traits of a Successful VC
(23:34) - Good Karma
(24:40) - Where to Find Smart People
(30:23) - Highlights and Lowlights
(35:01) - Ceremonial Final Qs
