Shows
Confluence.VC#82 - Data-driven LP investing with Jake Kupperman (Principal @ Level VC)Guest: Jake Kupperman (@jbkupperman)
Company: Level Ventures
Location: New York, NY
Background: Level is a leading data-driven investment manager focused on technology innovation. Their team thinks about venture investing differently than most, and they apply deep levels of data science to inform their decision-making process.
Talking points (five-second version):
The human aspect of venture capital becoming more data driven
LP value creation to venture funds
Non-obvious differences between working in venture and working at a fund of funds
2023-03-1521 min
Confluence.VC#81 - VC over-saturation and workflow automations with Tim Flannery (CEO @ Passport)Talking points (five-second version):
The old state of venture investing
The new state of venture investing
Why the market is ripe for new workflows
2023-02-2223 min
Confluence.VC#80 - How to use programmatic SEO to reach 200k monthly unique site visitors with Nico Cerdeira (Founder @ Failory)Guest: Nico Cerdeira (@nicocerdeira)
Company: Failory
Location: Buenos Aires, Argentina
Background: Failory is a content side for founders, and Nico has led their team for the past five years. Their team has mastered their marketing, and their site brings in hundreds of thousands of unique visitors per month. They use programmatic SEO to make this happen, and we cover more of the details in this talk.
Talking points (five-second version):
The fundamentals of programmatic SEO
How Failory reached 200k+ unique visitors / month with a team of one
Ways to monetize a...2023-01-0420 min
Confluence.VC#79 - Running an angel group vs. running a traditional fund, subsections of proptech worth betting on, and growing a paid community to 200 members with Matt Knight (Founder @ Proptech Angel Group)Guest: Matt Knight (@JustMattKnight)
Company: Proptech Angel Group
Location: Atlanta, GA
Background: Proptech Angel Group is an angel group out of Atlanta that, as the name suggests, invests in companies shaping the future of real estate. The group has grown to ~200 members, and Matt is the founder and leader of the group. If you invest in proptech, he's a great guy to know.
Talking points (five-second version):
Running an angel group vs. running a traditional fund
Subsectors of proptech worth betting on
Non-obvious takeaways growing a paid community to 200 members
2022-11-0923 min
Confluence.VC#78 - Alternative ways to build track record with Mack Kolarich (VP @ Assure)Guest: Mack Kolarich (@MackKolarich)
Company: Assure
Background: Assure is the OG and most-used special purpose vehicle platform. They help anybody running SPVs by handling all of the administrative work that you don't have time for. Mack is a VP, and he also leads up their analytics team to leverage data to better understand trends.
Talking points (five-second version):
Perspectives on building track record
SPV trends
Takeaways on innovation within the VC tech stack
Key takeaways (30-second version):
Managing...2022-11-0247 min
Confluence.VC#77 - Investing in the future of finch with Drew Glover (General Partner @ Fiat Growth)Guest: Drew Glover (@DrewBailer)
Company: Fiat Growth
Background: Fiat Growth is an emerging VC focused on supporting and growing the next generation of fintech companies.
Talking points (five-second version):
Differences in evaluating and investing companies at different stages of the lifecycle
Overcoming the hurdles of selling into financial services
Subsectors of fintech that Drew and the team are diving into
2022-10-1248 min
Confluence.VC#76 - Portfolio construction and scenario planning with Anubhav Srivstava (Founder @ Tactyc)Guest: Anubhav Srivastava (@anubhav0313)
Company: Tactyc
Background: Anubhav is the founder and CEO of Tactyc, a venture portfolio construction, performance forecasting, and scenario planning software for data-driven funds. Get started with a 30% discount on their Construction and Solo plans by using the code CONFLUENCE30 at checkout.
Talking points (five-second version):
Why fund managers should never be creating spreadsheets
The importance of portfolio construction and scenario planning
What's going on behind the scenes in the venture services market
Key takeaways (30-second version):
Funds that are shutting down right now are going to...2022-10-0549 min
Confluence.VC#75 - Community, capital, and the future of venture with Jacob Peters (General Partner @ House Capital)
Guest: Jacob Peters (@J__Cub)
Company: House Capital
Role: Co-Founder & General Partner
Background: House Capital is the venture arm of Launch House. They invest ~$100k checks to support builders of the next Silicon Valley, and all of their portfolio companies get lifetime access into Launch House.
Talking points (five-second version):
How the younger generation is influencing investment
What the future of venture looks like
Evaluating community-led companies
Non-obvious things that make great communities
2022-09-1449 min
Confluence.VC#74 - Seeding the next era of fund managers with Mike Suprovici (Head of Acceleration @ VC Lab)
Guest: Mike Suprovici (@msuprovici)
Company: VC Lab
Role: Head of Acceleration
Background: VC Lab is the leading venture capital accelerator for fund managers. The program is 16 weeks, it's free for participants (once accepted), and the goal is to help participants reach their first close.
Talking points (five-second version):
The types of people that are most-likely to become emerging managers
The most challenging parts about starting your first fund
Non-obvious things about pitching LPs
2022-09-0733 min
Confluence.VC#73 - Building and scaling online communities with David Kobrosky (CEO @ Intros AI)
Guest: David Kobrosky (@thebrunchguy)
Company: Intros AI
Role: CEO
Background: Intros AI helps automate introductions to help communities build stronger connections. We use their software to help our community make more meaningful relationships, and Confluence premium members can sign up for that service here.
Talking points (five-second version):
What makes a great place to gather
Differences between Web2 and Web3 communities
Similarities between choosing jobs and communities
2022-08-0931 min
Confluence.VC#72 - Melissa Widner (CEO @ Lighter Capital) on venture alternatives and revenue-based financingGuest summary (10-second version):
Guest: Melissa Widner (@melissawidner)
Company: Lighter Capital
Role: CEO
Background: Lighter Capital is a revenue-based financing fund that helps SaaS companies raise capital without giving up ownership.
Talking points (five-second version):
Revenue-based financing dynamics
Ownership preferences of founders
How downturns affect capital markets
2022-08-0221 min
Confluence.VC#71 - Zain Jaffer (Zain Ventures) on prepping for a successful exit, non-obvious differences between family offices and traditional funds, and opportunities in the future of real estateThis week we had on Zain Jaffer (@zainjaffer) from Zain Ventures.
Zain is a former operator with multiple exits under his belt, the most notable being Vungle's $780 million acquisition by Blackstone in 2019. Zain now primarily focuses on his family office, Zain Ventures, and he invests primarily in real estate and proptech companies.
In this talk, we cover:
Prepping for a successful exit
Non-obvious differences between family offices and traditional funds
Opportunities in the future of real estate
2022-07-1235 min
Confluence.VC#70 - Alexa Grabell (Co-Founder & CEO @ Pocus) on branding as a product-led growth company, creating early demand for your product, and extracting value from investors after they write checksThis week we had on Alexa Grabell (@alexa_grabell) from Pocus.
Pocus is a product-led sales platform that helps GTM teams use data to improve customer acquisition, conversion, and expansion. Alexa is the co-founder & CEO, and she just raised $23mm to fuel their next phase of growth.
In this talk, we cover:
Branding as a product-led growth company
Creating early demand for your product
Extracting value from investors after they write checks
2022-07-0627 min
Confluence.VC#69 - Nick Moran (General Partner @ New Stack) on building influence within venture, the solo capitalist movement, and why it's worth betting on talent outside of the hubsThis week we had on Nick Moran (@TheFullRatchet) with New Stack Ventures.
New Stack is a Chicago-based funds that invests in outsiders. They aim to back pre-seed and seed founders working on problems within software, fintech, protech, healthcare, supply chain, and e-commerce. Nick is the managing partner of the fund, and he is also the founder and host of The Full Ratchet.
In this talk, we cover:
Becoming an insider in the venture game
The solo capitalist movement
Why it's worth betting on talent outside of the hubs
2022-06-0737 min
Confluence.VC#68 - Kirby Porter (Founder @ New Game Labs) on athletes and web3This week we had on Kirby Porter (@KirbyPorter_) with New Game Labs.
Kirby started her career in venture, and switched over the operating side recently to launch New Game Labs to help athletes learn, connect, and create in web3.
In this talk, we cover:
Figuring out your "why"
NIL deals and their impact on college athletics
Layering on community to improve the first version of your product
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Confluence.VC#67 - Corey Walters (CEO & Here) on educating before selling, the process of fractionalizing hard assets, and solving bottlenecks as you scaleThis week we had on Corey Walters with Here.
Here let's anybody invest into vacation rentals like stocks. They handle all the administrative work; investors earn passive income. We love this company, and we're currently syndicating a small allocation into their upcoming round (to view our memo and participate, you'll have to back us syndicate first).
In this talk, we cover:
Educating before selling
The process of fractionalizing hard assets
Solving bottlenecks as you scale
Want to get more value from us? Check out our website at www.confluence.vc.2022-05-0454 min
Confluence.VC#66 - Jared Fuller (Partnerships @ BuiltFirst) on using ecosystems to your advantage, modern partnerships 101, and how to make sure that your portfolio CEOs are making the right hiresThis week we had on Jared Fuller (@fullerfreedom) with BuiltFirst.
BuiltFirst helps communities spin up vendor marketplaces to help community members make better software decisions. We're one of the 200+ communities they have onboarded (we use them for our perk board), and they have already created $30mm in software savings. Jared runs partnerships, and he is in charge of managing the different relationships between vendors, partners, and purchasers.
In this talk, we cover:
Using ecosystems to your advantage
Modern partnerships 101
How to make sure that your portfolio CEOs are making the right hires
2022-04-1339 min
Confluence.VC#65 - Nik Talreja (Co-Founder & CEO @ Sydecar) on why more junior investors are using SPVs to build their track record, the benefits of not building in public, and attracting top talentThis week we had on Nik Talreja (@niktalreja) from Sydecar.
Sydecar is a frictionless deal execution platform for venture investors. Their platform handles back-office operations, automating banking, compliance, contracts, and reporting so that customers can focus on making deals and building relationships.
In this talk, we cover:
Why more junior investors are using SPVs to build their track record
The benefits of not building in public
Attracting top talent as an early-stage startup
Want to get more involved?
Join 👥 | Invest with us 📶 | Hire better 📌 | Become a paying subscriber 💸2022-04-0631 min
Confluence.VC#64 - Fed (Founder @ Hive Index) on things that great online communities do well, why community-focused businesses are here to stay, and the rise of the solopreneurThis week we had on Fed (@foliofed) with Hive Index.
Hive Index is an aggregation tool that let's anybody find the right online communities to join. Fed is a nomad, a bootstrapped founder, and he also runs another software company when he's not busy with Hive Index.
In this talk, we cover:
Things that great communities do well
Community-focused businesses
The rise of the solopreneur
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Confluence.VC#63 - Dustin McCaffree (Founder @ Marvel) on winning at SEO, why every company is becoming a media company, and overcoming bottlenecksThis week we had on Dustin McCaffree (@terribledustin) with Marvel.
Marvel helps businesses outsource their content creation, and it specializes in blogs and other forms of written content. We use them for a lot of our content, and we would recommend them to anybody reading this.
In this talk, we cover:
Winning the SEO game
Why every company is becoming a media company
Overcoming bottlenecks as a founder
2022-03-0935 min
Confluence.VC#62 - Tyler Denk (CEO @ beehiiv) on creating tribalism, processes to ship faster, and why free is not always betterThis week we had on Tyler Denk (@denk_tweets) of beehiiv.
Beehiiv is an all-in-one newsletter solution that helps writers create better content is keep more of their revenue.
In this talk, we cover:
Creating an "us vs. them" mentality
Processes to ship product faster
Why free is not always better
2022-03-0229 min
Confluence.VC#61 - Michael Quigley (Co-Founder @ SpinCar) on investing with an operator mindset, partnerships and commitment in a world of abundance, and what trends are most exciting within ventureThis week we had on Michael Quigley at SpinCar.
SpinCar is an automative merchandising platform for automative dealers, wholesalers, and OEMs. The company has grown to millions in recurring revenue, and Michael acts as the president while also serving as a managing partner at StartFast.
In this talk, we cover:
Investing with an operator mindset
Partnerships and commitment in a world of abundance
What trend in venture is most exciting to Michael
Want to get more value from us? Subscribe to our newsletter for advice, jobs, deal flow, and other resources every week.2022-02-0922 min
Confluence.VC#60 - Kenny Rose (Founder @ FranShares) on alternative ways to build passive incomeThis week we had on Kenny Rose with FranShares.
FranShares makes it possible for anybody to build passive income through franchise investing. Their team is planning to open up access soon, and you can sign up for the waitlist for free using this link.
In this talk, we cover:
The appeal of cash flow compared to speculative bets
Creating hype before a product launch
Unromantic parts of startup life
2022-02-0155 min
Confluence.VC#59 - Jake Barry & Kai Han (Co-Founders @ Pallet) on the past, current, and future state of business recruiting, community-based marketing, and creating value through aggregationThis week we had on Jake (@jjbarry17) and Kai (@hankai1998) from Pallet.
Pallet is building hiring infrastructure for communities and creators. We use it for our job board, we love the product, and we wanted to bring on their team to show them some love for helping us add value to this community.
In this talk, we cover:
The past, current, and future state of business recruiting
Community-based marketing
Creating value through aggregation
2022-01-1252 min
Confluence.VC#58 - Amir Kabir (Partner @ AV8) on the hierarchy of VC priorities, finding product-market fit as an insurtech business, and looking for honesty when evaluating founding teamsThis week we had on Amir Kabir (@AmirKabir99) at AV8.
AV8 is an early-stage fund that focuses on healthcare, enterprise, financial services and deep-tech. Within his role, Amir primarily covers fintech and insurtech.
In this talk, we cover:
The four things that matter as a VC
Finding product-market fit as an insurtech business
Looking for honesty when evaluating founding teams
Want to get more value from us? Subscribe to our newsletter for advice, jobs, deal flow, and other resources every week. 2022-01-0447 min
Confluence.VC#57 - Kristofer Martin (Principal @ Will Ventures) on successful traits of athletes-turned-founders, applying skills from different backgrounds, and sectors and opportunities within consumer techThis week we had on Kristofer Martin (@K_Swizzy20) from Will Ventures.
Will is an early-stage fund that invests in consumer, health, and media companies. Their entire team is former college athletes, and they look to back founders with the same type of background.
In this talk, we discuss:
successful traits of athletes-turned-founders
applying skills from different backgrounds
sectors and opportunities within consumer tech
Supporting Confluence.VC:
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📌 Submit jobs to be featured...2021-12-1535 min
Confluence.VC#56 - Phil Nadel (Managing Director @ Forefront Venture Partners) on building distribution advantagesThis week we had on Phil Nadel (@NadelPhil) from Forefront Venture Partners.
Forefront is one of the largest and most successful syndicates on AngelList. Phil is the host of a popular podcast called The Pitch, and his partner is also an investor on Shark Tank. Their syndicate focuses on backing revenue-generating companies that they have deep conviction in.
In this talk, we discuss:
Distribution advantages
Prioritizing diligence to protect your reputation
How the syndicate game has changed over the past ten years
Sponsored Message:
Affinity is changing the way VCs manage...2021-12-0733 min
Confluence.VC#55 - Kai Cash (Investor @ Primary) on creating leverage as a junior investorThis week we had on Kai Cash (@kuaicash) at Primary Venture Partners.
Primary is one of the best seed funds in the world. They focus on backing the best founders in New York, and this approach has resulted in their companies raising follow-on capital nearly 90% of the time. Kai is on the investment team, and he spends his time focusing on climate and software below the application layer.
In this talk, we discuss:
Breaking into VC
Creating leverage as a junior investor
Building trust and deal flow with the other side of the table
2021-12-0134 min
Confluence.VC#54 - Helene Servillon (JourneyOne Ventures) on problems that alcohol, pharma, and CPG don’t address, what makes a cannabis business investible, and obstacles and tailwinds for the cannabis industryThis week we had on Helene Servillon (@HServillon) from JourneyOne Ventures.
JourneyOne is a first-time fund focusing on backing cannabis companies poised for high-velocity growth. Helene is the founding partner of the fund, and she does everything within her role.
In this talk, we discuss:
Problems that alcohol, pharma, and CPG don’t address
What makes a cannabis business investible
Obstacles and tailwinds for the cannabis industry
2021-11-1744 min
Confluence.VC#53 - Justine Humenansky (Strategy @ RabbitHole) on ownership-based networks, onboarding late adopters, and staying compliant as a Web3 projectThis week we had on Justine Humenansky (@j_humenansky) with RabbitHole.
Justine has worked as an investor at Dorm Room Fund, First Round Capital, Playground Global, and she recently switched over to RabbitHole to help the next era of people gain skills for participating in the new digital economy.
In this talk, we discuss:
Networks based on ownership instead of association
The crypto adoption cycle and bringing late adopters onboard
Web3 projects staying compliant with legal ambiguity
2021-11-1042 min
Confluence.VC#52 - Abigail Tisch (Investor at RRE) on learning to operate within venture, problems that can't be solved with money, and tailwinds and opportunities within mobility techThis week we had on Abigail Tisch at RRE Ventures.
RRE is one of the top funds in the world investing in early-stage, category-defining startups across all sectors and across the country. Abigail works on their investment team, and she focuses on opportunities within mobility, climate, supply chain, and women’s health.
In this talk, we discuss:
Learning to operate within venture
Climate tech and the limitations of capital
Tailwinds and opportunities within mobility tech
2021-11-0333 min
Voices of Women in Venture 🌊#22 - Erica Amatori (Head of Marketing & Platform @ Alpaca VC) on translating marketing experiences into investment skills, competing on platform capabilities, and incentivizing community engagement Podcast: Confluence.VC (LS 24 · TOP 10% what is this?)Episode: #22 - Erica Amatori (Head of Marketing & Platform @ Alpaca VC) on translating marketing experiences into investment skills, competing on platform capabilities, and incentivizing community engagementPub date: 2021-02-23Notes from Voices of Women in Venture 🌊:Episode 157 | Erica AmatoriGet Podcast Transcript →powered by Listen411 - fast audio-to-text and summarizationThis week we had on Erica Amatori (@ericaamatori) at Alpaca VC.
Alpaca is a generalist fund that invests in pre-seed and seed deals within the US and Can...2021-10-2832 min
Confluence.VC#51 - Victor Pascucci (Managing Partner @ Energy Capital Ventures) on aging utilities infrastructure, powering the clean energy revolution, and applying mental models across industriesThis week we had on Victor Pascucci (@victorpascucci3) at Energy Capital Ventures.
ECV is a first-time fund focusing on the ESG imperatives and the transformation of the natural gas industry. As a firm, they leverage strong relationships with strategic limited partners in the utilities industry to provide a competitive advantage to their portfolio companies.
In this talk, we discuss:
Aging infrastructure and the opportunity within the utility sector
Applying mental models across different industries
Building a career on the idea of creating versus destroying
🔥 If you'd like to own a piec...2021-10-2036 min
Confluence.VC#50 - Andrew Gadecki (CEO @ MicroAcquire) on flaws with the M&A process, the media painting the wrong picture of entrepreneurship, and replacing gatekeepersThis week we had on Andrew Gazdecki (@agazdecki) at MicroAcquire.
MicroAcquire has become the marketplace for startup M&A, and since launching a year ago, it has already helped facilitate 500+ exits. Andrew has built up a brand as one of the most-liked people within tech, and we had a ton of fun picking his brain on a number of different topics.
In this talk, we discuss:
How the M&A process puts startups at a disadvantage
Media portraying the wrong image of entrepreneurship
Replacing traditional gatekeepers
Supporting Confluence.VC:
👥 Submi...2021-10-1343 minVoices of Women in Venture 🌊#29 - Rachel Lauren (Investor @ BDMI) on missed opportunity areas within consumer fintech, the future of retail, and the legitimacy of NFTs Podcast: Confluence.VC (LS 24 · TOP 10% what is this?)Episode: #29 - Rachel Lauren (Investor @ BDMI) on missed opportunity areas within consumer fintech, the future of retail, and the legitimacy of NFTsPub date: 2021-04-22Notes from Voices of Women in Venture 🌊:Episode 152 | Rachel LaurenGet Podcast Transcript →powered by Listen411 - fast audio-to-text and summarizationThis week we had on Rachel Lauren (@RachelnotLauren) of BDMI.
BDMI is an early-stage fund that makes investments into innovative companies in the tech and media landscape. Although the fund sp...2021-10-1149 min
Confluence.VC#49 - Nicole (Williams) Ruiz (Investor @ Compound) on narrative-driven investing, ingredients of great narratives, opportunities within deep tech, and the future of digital educationThis week we had on Nicole (Williams) Ruiz (@nwilliams030) at Compound.
Compound is a thesis-driven seed stage venture firm investing in bleeding edge technology on the brink of commercialization. Within her role, Nicole focuses on finding and supporting frontier tech companies at the seed.
In this talk, we discuss:
Narrative-driven investing
Ingredients of great narratives
Opportunities within deep tech
The future of digital education
Supporting Confluence.VC:
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📩 Become a paying subscriber to unlock more content and resources from us.
📌 Submit jobs to...2021-10-0742 min
Confluence.VC#48 - Hanel Baveja (Investment Team @ Union Square Ventures) on thesis-driven sourcing, sharing thoughts online to create magnets for deal flow, and opportunities within fintech and digital wellnessThis week we had on Hanel Baveja (@HanelBaveja) at Union Square Ventures.
USV is one of the best venture capital funds in the world, and since 2003, they have invested in over 100 companies that use the power of the internet to re-shape markets. Within her role, Hanel focuses primarily on opportunities within fintech and digital wellness, and she also helps develop theses within these verticals.
In this talk, we discuss:
Outbound versus thesis-driven sourcing
Sharing thoughts to create magnets for dealflow
Investment opportunities within fintech and early-stage wellness
Supporting Confluence.VC:2021-09-2133 min
Confluence.VC#47 - Justin Smith (GP @ Recharge Ventures) on starting a fund from scratch, consumer tech in emerging markets, and investing in consumer brands in today's worldThis week we had on Justin Smith at Recharge Ventures.
Recharge is a first-time fund that is betting on consumer technology within emerging markets. Justin is a friend of ours, an advisor to our syndicate, and he’s one of the smartest and most genuine guys we’ve met since starting Confluence.
In this talk, we discuss:
Starting a fund from scratch
The opportunity for consumer tech in emerging markets
Investing into consumer brands in today’s world
Supporting Confluence.VC:
👥 Submit your info to join our private community of investors.
📩 Become a paying...2021-09-1438 min
Confluence.VC#46 - Mel Strong (Founding Partner @ NEXT Ventures) on transitioning from a major corporate into VC, identifying DNA traits of good founders, and sub-verticals to monitor within sports techThis week we had on Mel Strong (@girlstrong) at NEXT Ventures.
NEXT is a first-time fund designed to invest in sports, fitness, nutrition, and wellness. Mel is one of three managing partners at NEXT, and before joining the team, she spent the bulk of her career building and designing products at Nike.
In this talk, we discuss:
Transitioning from a major corporate into VC
Identifying the DNA traits of successful founders
Sub-verticals of interest within sports, fitness, and nutrition
📫 For weekly insights from the next era of investors and operators, make...2021-09-0838 min
Confluence.VC#45 - Lolita Taub (GP @ The Community Fund) on productizing yourself, non-obvious benefits to building an audience across platforms, and thoughts on the the current and future state of communityThis week we had on Lolita Taub (@lolitataub) at The Community Fund.
Lolita is a force of nature, and she is universally loved by everyone in the startup world. In her role at The Community Fund, she focuses on backing community-led businesses that create outsized returns.
In this talk, we discuss:
Productizing yourself and streamlining requests through tech
Non-obvious benefits from building an audience across platforms
Core pillars of thriving communities and thoughts on the current and future states of community building
2021-09-0144 min
Confluence.VC#44 - Vinay Iyengar (VC @ Two Sigma Ventures) on why now is the golden age to start a business, implications of software becoming commoditized, and demystifying job searchesThis week we had on Vinay Iyengar (@VinIyengar) of Two Sigma Ventures.
Two Sigma is a multi-strategy fund that invests from seed to Series B across a number of industries. Vinay helps lead up the San Francisco office, and he focuses on early-stage investments in enterprise software, machine learning, marketplaces, and infrastructure.
In this talk, we discuss:
Why now is the golden age to start a business
Implications and second order effects of software becoming commoditized
Ways to demystify the job search process
2021-08-1830 minVoices of Women in Venture 🌊#7 - Abhinaya Konduru (Associate @ M25) Podcast: Confluence.VC (LS 24 · TOP 10% what is this?)Episode: #7 - Abhinaya Konduru (Associate @ M25)Pub date: 2020-11-09Notes from Voices of Women in Venture 🌊:Abhinaya Konduru, Senior Associate at M25. (https://m25vc.com)Get Podcast Transcript →powered by Listen411 - fast audio-to-text and summarizationThis week we had on Abhinaya Konduru, who works as an associate at M25.
M25 is one of the most respected early-stage funds in Chicago, and within her role Abhinaya spends her time sourcing new investments and working with p...2021-08-0922 min
Confluence.VC#43 - Aashay Sanghvi (Investor @ Haystack) on navigating the venture hype cycle, the business and game of being a VC, and breaking down what is attractive about dev toolsThis week we had on Aashay Sanghvi (@aashaysanghvi_) of Haystack.
Haystack is an early-stage fund that backs outlier founders at the earliest stages. Some of their portfolio companies include DoorDash, Instacart, Figma, Carta, and OpenDoor to name a few. Aashay is one of the three members of the team, and he focuses primarily on dev tools, fintech, and healthcare opportunities.
In this talk, we discuss:
the hype cycle of a venture career
distinction between the business and the game of being a VC
things that make developer tools an attractive category to i...2021-08-0439 min
Confluence.VC#42 - Ali Jamal (Founder Partner @ First Check Ventures) on developing a product mindset, how syndicate leads can offer more value than traditional funds, and thoughts on the influx of syndicate leadsThis week we had on Ali Jamal (@MrAliJamal) of First Check Ventures.
First Check is one of the largest and most active syndicates on AngelList, and Ali is the founder and sole member of the team. Since launching in July of 2020, the group has already invested in 25+ companies from around the world.
In this talk, we discuss:
Developing a product mindset and using that skillset to support portfolio companies
Leveraging a massive syndicate LP base that can offer more value than traditional funds
Some thoughts around the massive influx of new syndicate l...2021-07-2822 min
Confluence.VC#41 - David Teten (Founding Partner @ Versatile VC) on opportunities within the VC tech stack, signaling risks when selling a luxury asset, and thoughts on why VC is usually the wrong optionThis week we had on David Teten (@dteten, teten.com) of Versatile VC. Versatile is a different type of VC that focuses on capital-efficient startups. Of the Inc. 5000 companies, only 6.5% raised money from VCs and 7.7% raised from angels. Versatile is VC for the other 93%.
Versatile provides free an exclusive database tracking providers of free money, free consulting, and free acceleration. Versatile is also launching Founders’ Next Move, an invite-only, no-cost community for founders researching their next move. Versatile has the flexibility to invest using both traditional and alternative VC structures.
David Teten is the founding par...2021-07-1439 min
Confluence.VC#40 - Yohei Nakajima (General Partner @ Untapped Capital) on problems with relying on referrals, betting on businesses making real impact, and the expansion of opportunity as no-code eats softwareThis week we had on Yohei Nakajima (@yoheinakajima) of Untapped Capital.
Untapped is an early-stage fund that bets on overlooked founders. Yohei has built up a massive network through previous experiences at Disney, Techstars, and Scrum Ventures, and part of Untapped’s strategy involves leveraging that network to help his portfolio companies succeed.
In this talk, we discuss:
Some of the flaws around relying on referrals for deal flow
Betting on businesses making real impact on the world
No-code and the expansion of opportunity when removing barriers to development
📫...2021-07-0735 minVoices of Women in Venture 🌊#31 - Ronnie Martinez (Investor @ CEAS) on parallels between athletics and venture investing, sustainability of Florida as a tech hub, and differences between family offices and traditional VC Podcast: Confluence.VC (LS 24 · TOP 10% what is this?)Episode: #31 - Ronnie Martinez (Investor @ CEAS) on parallels between athletics and venture investing, sustainability of Florida as a tech hub, and differences between family offices and traditional VCPub date: 2021-05-05Notes from Voices of Women in Venture 🌊:Ronnie Martinez, VC Analyst at CEAS Investments. (https://www.ceasinvestments.com)Get Podcast Transcript →powered by Listen411 - fast audio-to-text and summarizationThis week we had on Ronnie Martinez at CEAS Investments.
CEAS is a single family office...2021-07-0538 min
Confluence.VC#39 - Ariana Thacker (Founding Partner @ Conscience VC) on hacking a first-time fundraise, red flags for founding teams, and the future of consumer + scienceThis week we had on Ariana Thacker of Conscience VC.
Conscience is an early-stage fund investing at the intersection of consumer and science. The fund backs pre-seed and seed companies within this thesis, and it tries to be the first check written when it has the chance. Ariana is the founding partner of the fund, and she wears many hats in her role.
In this talk, we discuss:
Tactical advice on raising a first-time fund without an existing network
Standing out through authenticity
Deal breakers when evaluating founding teams
Why Conscience i...2021-06-3035 min
Confluence.VC#38 - John Smothers (Ambassador Program Lead @ Acrew Capital) on building businesses on top of online communities, problems with pattern matching, and venture becoming a hospitality businessThis week we had on John Smothers (@smothers_john) from Acrew Capital.
Acrew is a multi-strategy fund focused on modernizing security and infrastructure, rebuilding financial services, reimagining the future of work, better connecting datasets, and activated communities. Within his role, John focuses on sourcing pre-seed companies that match the funds’ thesis.
In this talk, we discuss:
The opportunity to build businesses on top of existing online communities
The irony of relying on pattern matching when investing in the future potential of companies
How venture is becoming a hospitality business
...2021-06-2340 minVoices of Women in Venture 🌊#3 - Molly Fowler (CEO @ Dorm Room Fund) Podcast: Confluence.VC (LS 24 · TOP 10% what is this?)Episode: #3 - Molly Fowler (CEO @ Dorm Room Fund)Pub date: 2020-10-12Notes from Voices of Women in Venture 🌊:Molly Fowler, CEO of Dorm Room Fund at First Round Capital. (https://www.dormroomfund.com) (https://firstround.com)Get Podcast Transcript →powered by Listen411 - fast audio-to-text and summarizationThis week we had the chance to talk with Molly Fowler who serves as the CEO of Dorm Room Fund.
Dorm Room Fund is the OG student-run venture fund, a...2021-06-2124 min
Confluence.VC#37 - Tali Vogelstein (Founding Investor @ Avid Ventures) on earning the right to follow on investments, building an LP base that is a source of value, and Israel becoming an innovation hubThis week we had on Tali Vogelstein (@talivog) from Avid Ventures.
Avid just closed on one of the largest first-time funds ever raised, and the firm is looking to win allocation into the best deals by taking a more collaborative approach. Within her role, Tali focuses on investing across consumer internet, fintech, and software businesses across the US, Europe, and Israel.
In this talk, we discuss:
Sweat equity and earning the right to follow on investments
Building an LP base that is a source of value to portfolio companies
Catalysts that have pr...2021-06-1542 min
Confluence.VC#36 - Mikal Khoso (Investor @ Wavemaker) on the reversal of startup idea generation between established and emerging markets, super app wars, and the logic behind bundling servicesThis week we had on Mikal Khoso (@mikalkhoso) from Wavemaker Partners.
Wavemaker is a multi-strategy fund based in LA and Singapore that invests globally across enterprise, consumer, and digital media opportunities. Within his role, Mikal focuses on emerging markets, and he documents a lot of his findings through writing at Emergent.
In this talk, we discuss:
Operating across geographies and stages
The next opportunity zone for innovation
The reversal of startup idea generation between established and emerging markets
The super app wars and the logic behind bundling services
📫 For week...2021-06-0939 min
Confluence.VC#35 - Josh Schlisserman (Founding Partner @ Behind Genius Ventures) on the rise of operator-led rounds, hacking around getting into competitive seed rounds, and maximizing shots on goalThis week we had on Josh Schlisserman (@jslishi) of Behind Genius Ventures.
Behind Genius is generalist fund that focuses on product-led growth companies. Josh is the founding partner of the fund, and he handles LPs and fundraising along with sourcing, evaluating, and supporting the companies they work with.
In this talk, we discuss:
the rise of operator-led rounds
getting into seed rounds as institutional money flows upstream
portfolio theory and maximizing shots on goal
simplifying the job of a VC into three core functions
📫 For weekly insights from...2021-06-0247 min
Confluence.VC#34 - Halle Kaplan-Allen (Venture Operations @ AngelList) on leveraging software and building scalable systems, why funds cannot afford to overlook internal operations, building an authentic brandThis week we had on Halle Kaplan-Allen (@____hka) of AngelList.
AngelList is the OG platform for startups, angel investors, and job-seekers looking to work in tech. Halle has built a unique skillset as an operator, no-code wizard, and Twitter personality, and we wanted to have her on to pick her brain on a wide range of topics.
In this talk, we discuss:
leveraging software and building scalable systems
why funds cannot afford to overlook internal operations
creating a brand based on authenticity
📫 For weekly insights from the next era...2021-05-2548 min
Confluence.VC#33 - (Katie Shea (Managing Partner @ Divergent Capital) on establishing track record to pitch LPs, building scalable systems of support, and underwriting technical and and business model risksThis week we had on Katie Shea (@katiesheasays) of Divergent Capital.
Divergent is a generalist fund that prefers to invest at the pre-seed. Katie is one of the founding partners of the fund, and within her role, she uses her previous experiences within marketing to help her portfolio commercialize and scale.
In this talk, we discuss:
Emerging managers establishing track record as marketing collateral
Building scalable systems while providing hands-on support to a portfolio
Underwriting technical and and business model risks at the pre-seed
📫 For weekly insights from the...2021-05-1944 min
Confluence.VC#32 - Zibo Gao (Founding Partner @ Intonation Ventures) on challenges for junior VCs and emerging fund managers, investing in products that provide an emotion, and thoughts on building hypeThis week we had on Zibo Gao (@gao_zibo) at Intonation Ventures.
Intonation Ventures is an early-stage consumer fund based in NYC and Beijing that invests in products that bring people joy. Zibo is the founding partner of the fund, and within his role, he focuses on companies within gaming, sports, and wellness.
In this talk, we discuss:
Challenges for junior VCs and emerging fund managers
Investing in products that provide an emotion
Some nuances of investing in China
Thoughts around hype-building strategies
📫 For weekly insights from the...2021-05-1240 min
Confluence.VC#31 - Ronnie Martinez (Investor @ CEAS) on parallels between athletics and venture investing, sustainability of Florida as a tech hub, and differences between family offices and traditional VCThis week we had on Ronnie Martinez at CEAS Investments.
CEAS is a single family office that invests aggressively across stages. The fund focuses primarily on B2B SaaS, established marketplaces, logistics, and robotics, and within her role, Ronnie spends her time sourcing, evaluating, and supporting companies within these categories.
In this talk, we discuss:
Parallels between athletics and venture investing
The sustainability of Florida as a tech hub
Differences in dynamics between family offices and traditional venture funds
📫 For weekly insights from the next era of investors and...2021-05-0538 min
Confluence.VC#30 - Ryan Bloomer & Adriel Bercow (Managing Partner & Partner @ K50 Ventures) on the future of remote education, betting on the Latin America startup scene, and investing with a mission-driven thesisThis week we had on Ryan Bloomer (@rblooms) and Adriel Bercow (@AdrielBercow) of K50 Ventures.
K50 is a global venture firm that invests early in mission-driven founders transforming the world’s biggest industries. Within their roles, Ryan and Adriel are in charge of finding and supporting founders challenging the status quo in essential categories like health, education, housing, finances, and work.
In this talk, we discuss:
heightened employee demands and the challenges for modern benefits
the complex future of remote education
reasons to be optimistic in the Latin America startup scene
inv...2021-04-281h 10
Confluence.VC#29 - Rachel Lauren (Investor @ BDMI) on missed opportunity areas within consumer fintech, the future of retail, and the legitimacy of NFTsThis week we had on Rachel Lauren (@RachelnotLauren) of BDMI.
BDMI is an early-stage fund that makes investments into innovative companies in the tech and media landscape. Although the fund specializes in digital media, Rachel focuses most of her time helping the fund diversify its focus to more enterprise software and fintech deals.
In this talk, we discuss:
missed opportunity areas within consumer fintech
the future of retail and areas of excitement within commerce
the legitimacy of NFTs and whether or not they can be considered an investable category
2021-04-2249 min
Confluence.VC#28 - Nandu Anilal (Investor @ Canaan Partners) on the process of learning as a VC, the rise of data-driven companies, preempting rounds, escaping the competitive fundraising processThis week we had on Nandu Anilal ( @nanduanilal) of Canaan Partners.
Canaan is an early-stage fund that has a portfolio that speaks for itself. Within his role, Nandu focuses on enterprise technology companies, and in his free time, he shares a lot of his lessons and learnings through writing.
In this talk, we discuss:
The process of learning as a VC
The rise of data-driven companies
Themes worth monitoring within data infrastructure
Preempting rounds and escaping the competitive fundraising process
📫 For weekly insights from the next era of...2021-04-1536 min
Confluence.VC#27 - Ankit Sud (Principal @ NewView Capital) on rowing slow, scaling culture, venture funds de-commoditizing themselves, and thoughts on the current state of valuationsThis week we had on Ankit Sud (@asud) of NewView Capital.
NewView is one of the top-performing multi-strategy funds in the world with stakes in Segment, Plaid, Hims, Duolingo, and many others. Within his role Ankit focuses primarily on evaluating and supporting growth-stage fintech and enterprise software companies.
In this talk, we discuss:
Growing slow and scaling culture as you expand your team
Venture funds attempting to de-commoditize themselves
Thoughts on the current state of valuations
📫 For weekly insights from the next era of investors and operators, make sur...2021-04-0841 min
Confluence.VC#26 - Sakib Jamal (Investor @ Crossbeam) on the shifting balance of power away from platforms, the lack of capital powering the creator economy, and building optionality through side hustlesThis week we had on Sakib Jamal (@skbjml) of Crossbeam.
Crossbeam is an early-stage fund that invests in new internet economies, financial services, and novel asset classes. Sakib does a little bit of everything for Crossbeam, and outside of work he somehow finds time to operate The Capsule, which shares South Asian news, professional development content, and entertainment in 3-minute emails.
In this talk, we discuss:
the shifting balance of power away from major platforms
the lack of capital powering the creator economy
running side experiments to build empathy and optionality
2021-04-0140 min
Confluence.VC#25 - Paraj Mathur (Investor @ Panoramic Ventures) on optimizing number of at bats, avoiding competition in finding deals, and the secondary impact of increased entrepreneurshipThis week we had on Paraj Mathur (@itsparaj) with Panoramic Ventures.
Panoramic recently debuted with a mission to fund companies in the Southeast, Midwest, and other regions across the country where opportunities are often overlooked. In his role, Paraj focuses on sourcing and evaluating Pre-Seed, Seed, and Series A deals, and he also shares his thoughts through writing.
In this talk, we discuss:
Surrounding yourself with the right people
Optimizing for number of at bats as an investor
Avoiding competition and doubling down in overlooked founders
The secondary effects of entrepreneurship...2021-03-1846 min
Confluence.VC#24 - Greg Stofman (Struck Capital) on VCs competing as service providers, hiring in-house talent to support portfolio companies, and opportunity areas within climate tech and the future of workThis week we had on Greg Stofman with Struck Capital.
Struck is an industry-agnostic seed fund based in Santa Monica that aims to partner with founders tackling the world’s largest problems. Greg was the first full-time investment team member at Struck, and he has now been with the firm for over three years.
In this talk, we discuss:
Moonlighting to find your next role
VCs competing as service providers
Hiring in-house talent to support portfolio companies
Opportunity areas within climate tech and the future of work
📫 For wee...2021-03-1156 min
Confluence.VC#23 - Jay Drain Jr. (Associate @ Maven Ventures) on synthesizing thoughts through writing, the platform-ification of Zoom, the emergence of vertical social networks, and retail investing 3.0This week we had on Jay Drain Jr. (@jay_drainjr) of Maven Ventures.
Maven is a seed-stage fund that has made a name for itself as one of the best consumer-focused funds out there with a portfolio consisting names like Zoom, Cruise, and AngelList to name a few. Jay is a rising star in the venture world, and we wanted to have him on to pick his brain on a number of topics.
In this talk, we discuss:
Synthesizing thoughts through writing
The platform-ification of Zoom
The emergence of vertical social networks2021-03-0229 min
Confluence.VC#22 - Erica Amatori (Head of Marketing & Platform @ Alpaca VC) on translating marketing experiences into investment skills, competing on platform capabilities, and incentivizing community engagementThis week we had on Erica Amatori (@ericaamatori) at Alpaca VC.
Alpaca is a generalist fund that invests in pre-seed and seed deals within the US and Canada. In her role, Erica leads up marketing, platform, community, and operations. Erica has been one of our biggest supporters and most active community members, and we wanted to reward her engagement by highlighting her work.
In this talk, we discuss:
Translating marketing experiences into investment skills
Why venture firms are investing heavily into platform functions
Being a resource for the founders you back (with r...2021-02-2332 min
Confluence.VC#21 - Ally Warson (Senior Associate @ UP.Partners) on unlocking economic value through mobilizing emerging markets, being contrarian in venture, and prioritizing execution over ideationThis week we had on Ally Warson (@A_Warson) at UP.Partners.
Up.Partners is an early-stage fund that partners with entrepreneurs building companies that support multi-dimensional mobility. Within her role, Ally focuses on sourcing and evaluating the next wave of companies making it easier for people to get from Point A to Point B.
In this talk, we discuss:
The changed landscape of mobility and growth areas within the space
Unlocking economic value by better mobilizing emerging markets
The role of being contrarian in venture
How VCs can participate in...2021-02-1830 min
Confluence.VC#20 - Asher Kraut (Technology Scouting Manager @ Starburst) on building a moat as an accelerator, opportunities within space and defense, focusing on the right problems, and some flaws in startup landThis week we had on Asher Kraut (@asherkraut) with Starburst.
Starburst is a global accelerator that focuses exclusively on aerospace, aviation, and defense. Within his role, Asher leads up deal flow, and he spends his time sourcing and evaluating the next wave of companies looking to make real change in the world.
In this talk, we discuss:
building a defensible market position as an accelerator
accessibility, diminishing costs, and lack of competition leading to more opportunities within space and defense
focusing your time on problems worth solving
flaws within the venture...2021-02-0944 min
Confluence.VC#19 - Faye Maidment (Investor @ Unshackled Ventures) on secondary effects of the creator economy, the art of curation and audience building, inflection points for VR/AR, and evaluating timing riskThis week we had on Faye Maidment (@maidmentfaye) with Unshackled Ventures.
Unshackled is an early stage fund focused on partnering with and supporting immigrant-founded startups. The fund invests agnostically across verticals, and Faye spends most of her time within AR, VR, Gen Z, and internet culture. Outside of work, she also co-authors a weekly newsletter (High Tea) that dives into the topics she is interested in.
In this episode, we discuss:
The explosion of the creator economy and the secondary effects of this transition
The art of curation and audience building
Why AR/VR...2021-02-0431 min
Confluence.VC#18 - Ashley Paston (Principal @ Bain Capital Ventures) on Fintech 2.0 and the shift towards embedded finance, evaluating proximity to buyers, navigating around long sales cyclesThis week we had on Ashley Paston (@ashleypaston) with Bain Capital Ventures.
Bain is a multi-strategy fund with offices New York, Boston, and San Francisco. Ashley sits in New York on the fintech team at Bain, and she primarily focuses on venture and growth-stage opportunities in the space.
In this talk, we discuss:
Fintech 2.0 and the shift towards embedded finance
evaluating proximity to buyers in a remote world
navigating around long sales cycles within financial services
📫 For weekly insights from the next era of investors and operators, make sure to sub...2021-01-2725 min
Confluence.VC# 17 - Oz Nur (Associate @ Revolution) on investing outside of the traditional innovation hubs, full-stack investment strategies, growth stage enterprise themes, and the outlook on SPACsThis week we had on Osman Nur (@oz_notes) with Revolution Growth.
Revolution is a multi-strategy fund based in Washington, D.C. that invests in underrepresented geographies across the US. Within his role, Oz helps source and evaluate high-growth companies that align with the mission of the fund.
In this talk, we discuss:
investing outside of the traditional innovation hubs
the expansion of firms offering full-stack investment strategies
growth stage enterprise themes
the short and long-term outlook for SPACs
📫 For weekly insights from the next era of investors and operators, make sure to...2021-01-2038 min
Confluence.VC#16 - Tasha Kim (Investor @ Marcy Venture Partners) on consumer trends, external collaboration projects, the rise of Social 3.0, and assigning value to brand-led communitiesThis week we had on Tasha Kim (@natashajuliakim) with Marcy Venture Partners.
Marcy invests in consumer businesses and mass-market brands that resonate with culture across products and services, media, and technology. Tasha heads up a lot of the firms' sourcing and evaluation efforts, and she also regularly shares her thoughts through her Substack.
In this talk, we ask Tasha about:
Her co-authored consumer trends report and the findings from that piece
Collaborating on external projects with other investors
Social 3.0 and the ability to interact with online brands and influencers
The intangible value of brand-led...2021-01-1428 min
Confluence.VC#15 - Gaby Goldberg (Investor @ Bessemer Venture Partners) on engineering attention as a startup, the playbook for building in public, the need for curators, and thoughts on the current state of audioThis week we had on Gaby Goldberg (@gaby_goldberg) of Bessemer Venture Partners.
Bessemer has built a brand as some of the best software investors in the world, and their portfolio consists of companies like Twilio, Shopify, LinkedIn, Twitch, and DocuSign just to name a few. Gaby is one of the newest members of the fund, and she’s already made quite a name for herself within the venture world.
In this talk, we discuss:
How startups can engineer attention in the early days
The playbook for building in public
The need fo...2021-01-0526 min
Confluence.VC#14 - Steven Venino (Senior Associate @ Rosecliff Ventures) on overlooked sectors and opportunities, deciphering noise vs. signal, and assessing founder-market fit at the seedThis week we had on Steven Venino (@spvenino33) of Rosecliff Ventures.
Rosecliff has built up a reputation as one of the top early-stage funds, and their portfolio consists of companies like Allbirds, Casper, Roman, and others. The fund is sector agnostic, but Steven focuses most of his time within fintech, agriculture tech, and sustainability.
In this talk, we discuss:
Steven’s path from banking —> hedge funds —> venture
Overlooked sectors that Steven expects to outperform over the next decade
Bottoms-up vs. top-down investing and deciphering what is noise vs. signal
Assessing founder-market fit at...2020-12-3037 min
Confluence.VC#13 - Corinne Riley (Investor @ Greylock)This week we had on Corinne Riley (@CorinneMRiley) of Greylock.
Greylock is one of the oldest and most established venture capital funds in the world, and the success of their portfolio speaks for itself. Since its founding, the company has invested in companies like Figma, Okta, Airbnb, Nextdoor, and countless others. Within her role, Corinne focuses on teams at the earliest stages of company development in enterprise software.
In this talk, we discuss:
Her winding path from Italy into venture
Adopting a product-first mindset as an investor
How business moats change and...2020-12-2239 min
Confluence.VC#12 - Abha Nath (Investor @ Wonder Ventures)This week we had on Abha Nath (@abhanath) of Wonder Ventures.
Wonder is an early-stage fund that aims to invest earlier than anyone else in Southern California’s best founders. Since its founding in 2015, the firm has invested in category-defining companies like Honey, Luxe, Joymode, and a number of others. Abha is the first and only hire at Wonder, and we wanted to have her on to dive into her unique path.
In this talk, we discuss:
Abha’s journey to venture and how her previous roles at the Disney Accelerator and Ring prepared her...2020-12-1733 min
Confluence.VC#11 - Brandon Beck (Principal @ Kickstart)This week we had on Brandon Beck with Kickstart.
Kickstart is an early-stage fund based in Salt Lake City that focuses on building and partnering with the best companies in the Utah region. Since launching in 2008, this targeted approach has established the fund as one of the most successful in all of the Mountain West with their portfolio consisting of companies like Galileo, NAV, Lucid Software, and countless others.
In this talk, we cover:
Brandon’s background and path into venture
The origin story and thesis of Kickstart
Investment trends that Brandon is...2020-12-0725 min
Confluence.VC#10 - Sutian Dong (Co-Founder @ Women in VC)This week we had on Sutian Dong, who is the co-founder of Women in VC.
Women in VC is the world's largest network for women working in venture capital, and since its founding in 2015, the group has grown to nearly 3,000 members today. Sutian has been of our earliest supporters, and she has given us tons of priceless knowledge on building and scaling communities.
In this talk, we cover:
Sutian's path into venture and the spark that led to the formation of Women in VC
The challenges of scaling a community from niche to global
S...2020-11-2938 min
Confluence.VC#9 - Kenn So (Associate @ Shasta Ventures)This week’s guest is Kenn So, who works as an associate at Shasta Ventures.
We wanted to bring on Kenn because he recently published the most comprehensive book we have found on breaking into venture, but we touch on a lot of other things as well. In this talk, we cover:
Kenn’s path into venture,
the benefits and tradeoffs of having a banking and consulting background,
Shasta’s pivot towards investing exclusively into B2B, and
the idea behind Shasta Elevate and taking a more hands-on approach with portfolio companies
Check...2020-11-2325 min
Confluence.VC#8 - Cheryl Campos (Head of Venture Growth and Partnerships @ Republic)This week we talked to Cheryl Campos, who is Head of Venture Growth and Partnerships at Republic.
Republic allows for both accredited and non-accredited investors to invest directly into startups through their platform, and within her role, Cheryl focuses on helping build out partnerships with other venture capital and ecosystem builders while also supporting Republic's existing portfolio.
In this talk, we ask Cheryl about:
Her multiple talents outside of her day job
Her roles as an investment partner with the Community Fund and a scout with Lightspeed
How Republic is democratizing access...2020-11-1522 min
Confluence.VC#7 - Abhinaya Konduru (Associate @ M25)This week we had on Abhinaya Konduru, who works as an associate at M25.
M25 is one of the most respected early-stage funds in Chicago, and within her role Abhinaya spends her time sourcing new investments and working with portfolio companies. In this talk, we discuss:
The Chicago tech ecosystem
The thesis and goals of M25 as a fund
The challenges of working on a small team
Other projects that Abhinaya is working on outside of work
📫 For weekly insights from the next era of investors and operators, make sure to subscribe to...2020-11-0922 min
Confluence.VC#6 - Meagan Loyst (VC @ Lerer Hippeau)This week we had on Meagan Loyst, a VC at Lerer Hippeau based in New York.
Lerer Hippeau is one of the most active and well-respected early-stage venture funds in the world, and within her role, Meagan focuses primarily on Seed and Series A investments in consumer, digital media, e-commerce, emerging tech, and enterprise software. Meagan recently did some interesting work around Gen Z trends, and after interviewing 75 other young investors from around the world, she published some of here findings here.
In this talk, we discuss:
Meagan's path into early-stage investing,
Why she...2020-11-0127 min
Confluence.VC#5 - Abir Liben (Associate @ Serena Ventures)This week we had on Abir Liben, an investor at Serena Ventures based in San Francisco.
Serena Ventures is the venture arm of Serena Williams, and since launching in 2014, the fund has established itself as one of the top-performing celebrity-backed funds.
In this talk, we discuss:
Abir's unplanned path into venture,
the dynamics of working under one of the most popular figures in the world,
how celebrities are able to add value where other investors cannot compete,
misused founder evaluation frameworks
📫 For weekly insights from the next era o...2020-10-2628 min
Confluence.VC#4 - Mark Grace (Investor @ M13)This week we had on Mark Grace, an investor at M13 based in LA.
M13 is one of the premier consumer-focused funds, and their portfolio consists of companies like Lyft, Ring, ClassPass, Daily Harvest, and many others. Mark was one of the earliest employees at M13, and we wanted to have him on to learn more about what he is focusing on today.
In this talk, we discuss:
Mark's path into his role
key themes of consumer tech
areas within consumer that he is monitoring
why LA has emerged as the...2020-10-1930 min
Confluence.VC#3 - Molly Fowler (CEO @ Dorm Room Fund)This week we had the chance to talk with Molly Fowler who serves as the CEO of Dorm Room Fund.
Dorm Room Fund is the OG student-run venture fund, and since launching in 2012, the fund has invested in over 200 startups, and the community has grown to 300+ founders and 50+ mentors. Molly serves as the head of the ship for this massive and growing community of startup talent, and we are very grateful that she let us borrow 30 minutes from her extremely busy schedule.
In this talk, we ask Molly about her unusual path into venture, the t...2020-10-1224 min
Confluence.VC#2 - Jessica Li (Growth Marketing @ Zageno)For our second guest, we had Jessica Li who recently left her role as an investor at Soma Capital to join Zageno in a growth marketing role. Jessica is the definition of an overachiever, and when she is not busy with her day job, she doubles as head of content at Elpha, is a top venture capital writer on Medium, and advises for a number of other startups and organizations.
In this episode, we get Jessica's thoughts on creating leverage as an investor through personal branding, why specialization is dying, and why she is leaving venture to jo...2020-10-0229 min
Confluence.VC#1 - Mike MacCombie (Director of Platform @ ff Venture Capital)For our first guest, we had Mike MacCombie who works as the Director of Platform of ffVC. Mike is a self-proclaimed “community geek”, and within his role at ffVC, he focuses on accelerating the growth of portfolio companies, spending most of his time on business development, founder best practice advisement, hiring, and later stage fundraising. Outside of work, Mike acts as a mentor for Techstars NYC and Quake Capital, and he also authors the Investor G.A.N. Newsletter from ffVC.
In this talk, we ask Mike about:
his path into venture
why more firms are...2020-09-2427 min