Description

From sugar cane fields in New Iberia, Louisiana to investing in the next frontier of space technology — Theo Williams' path to venture capital is unlike anything you've heard. If you want to understand how early-stage VC actually works, this episode is required listening.

Theo Williams is a Partner at Creations VC, a venture capital firm focused on dual-use space technology across data infrastructure, advanced energy, metals and manufacturing, and defense. Before Creations, Theo led portfolio development at Salesforce Ventures — one of the world's most prolific B2B SaaS investors with a $6B portfolio and 500+ companies including Wiz and Anthropic. He also spent time at TIAA/Nuveen managing farmland, timber, and agribusiness investments across a trillion-dollar platform. In this conversation, Theo breaks down the full arc of venture capital — from fundraising and valuation to due diligence and exit — with rare candor and hard-won perspective.

Topics covered:

• How a Louisiana upbringing shaped Theo's edge as an investor
• The VC business model explained simply — how funds raise and deploy capital
• Why early-stage valuations are art, not science
• The role of academic researchers and PhDs in VC due diligence
• How gut instinct can actually be measured and tracked over time
• What Salesforce Ventures taught Theo about spotting breakout companies
• The mindset shift required to become a GP and manage other people's capital
• Why "trust but verify" is the most important lesson from small-town to big-deal
• How VCs prepare founders for acquisition and work toward a strategic exit
• What Creations VC is investing in today: space tech, energy, defense, and more

🔗 Website: https://www.thedealpodcast.com/ Joshua Wilson on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuadwilson/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@dealpodcast Powered By: FA Mergers https://www.famergers.com/

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DISCLAIMER The Deal Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing discussed constitutes investment advice, a solicitation, or a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Always consult a licensed professional before making financial or investment decisions.