🕰️ Timestamps:00:42 Success Metrics for Series A Fundraising01:29 Industry Averages and Market Trends02:11 Factors Influencing Graduation Rates04:07 The Importance of Support and Playbooks05:43 Developing Benchmarks and KPIs10:54 Case Study: Tecto's Roadmap to Series A12:46 Challenges and Common Gaps in Planning17:56 Defining and Achieving Product-Market Fit28:43 Go-to-Market Strategy Principles30:05 Exploring Growth Channels31:04 Key Metrics for Success32:21 Pricing Strategies35:53 Building a Strong Team40:19 Financial Metrics and Burn Rates42:39 Planning for Series A45:37 Adapting to Challenges50:25 Crafting a Compelling Equity Story54:39 Ideal Metrics for Series A57:45 Conclusion and Final Thoughts📍About:Christian Meermann is a Founding Partner at Cherry Ventures. After some years at The Boston Consulting Group, Christian joined Zalando as their first CMO. Christian was responsible for building up and managing the group’s marketing efforts (i.e. performance marketing, CRM, PR, TV and brand marketing). He then joined the Management Board of Peek&Cloppenburg and was responsible for the company’s online business. He holds a diploma in business administration from WHU – Otto Beisheim School of Management. He has lived and worked in the U.S., Spain, Brazil and South Africa. Christian gets excited about founders that are as passionate about execution as they are about building a strong and sustainable brand. He has a particular focus on logistics and mobility as well food technology companies. 🔗 Follow us:🏠Website : https://understandingvc.com/🤝🏻LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/company/understanding-vc/🎧 Spotify : https://open.spotify.com/show/1q7DxW3FEyP7EhH8m0VvAD🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/understanding-vc/id1551524895 💌 Connect with Rahul: 🤝🏻 LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/rahulthayyalamkandy/📩 Email : [email protected]🐣 Twitter : https://twitter.com/rahul0720 📍 About: Understanding VC is a podcast that provides founders with the knowledge and resources they need to understand venture capital. Our 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.

🕰️ Timestamps:00:00 - Introduction00:50 - Opportunity in AI02:39 - OverInvestment in LLMs05:37 - Impact of AI on Jobs07:19 - Value Creation in the Application layer10:32 - SaaS evolving into AI Agents12:48 - Exaggeration of Capabilities in Gartner Hype Cycle19:22 - Human Brain v/s LLMs21:53 - Cost of doing Search is High27:42 - What is Accelerated Computing31:42 - Limitations of LLMs36:57 - LLM progress curve is Plateauing?38:49 - Opportunity for VC in AI Space43:15 - Will future Startups be High Margin?44:25 - Conclusion📍 About:Itamar is a solo capitalist and the founder of Recursive Ventures, a pre-seed fund focused on fintech, AI and emerging tech startups. Itamar has been on all sides of the startup table: as a founder and executive, an institutional VC, and an angel investor. He has supported over 50 successful startups, including Deel, Honeybook, Placer, Credible (IPO), MileIQ (acquired by Microsoft), Automatic Labs (acquired by SiriusXM), Tile (acquired by Life360), SafeGraph, and Armory. He’s been recognized by Business Insider as a Top 100 global seed investor. As an operator, he helped take Life360 from Seed to IPO, scaling the business to over $250m in revenue. Before that, Itamar was a founding team member and head of Product at Gigya (acquired by SAP). He holds an MBA from Berkeley Haas and an undergraduate degree in computer science from the Tel-Aviv Jaffa College. 🔗 Follow us:🏠Website : https://understandingvc.com/🤝🏻LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/company/understanding-vc/🎧 Spotify : https://open.spotify.com/show/1q7DxW3FEyP7EhH8m0VvAD🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/understanding-vc/id1551524895 💌 Connect with Rahul: 🤝🏻 LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/rahulthayyalamkandy/📩 Email : [email protected]🐣 Twitter : https://twitter.com/rahul0720 📍 About: Understanding VC is a podcast that provides founders with the knowledge and resources they need to understand venture capital. Our 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.

🕰️ Timestamps:00:00 - Introduction03:54 - Importance of Branding in Startups07:42 - Hugh on starting JFDI17:33 - Importance of Mentorship20:44 - How to attract great people26:06 - Measuring relevant Progress Metrics in Accelerators29:41 - Selection in Accelerators32:17 - What’s a ‘Great’ Outcome for an Accelerator?35:50 - Lessons from running JFDI38:53 - Startup Ecosystem in Singapore49:25 - Do top entrepreneurs still value accelerator programs?📍 About Hugh:Hugh Mason is a UK-born entrepreneur and investor based in Singapore, best known as the co-founder and CEO of JFDI Asia (Joyful Frog Digital Incubator), Southeast Asia's first startup accelerator, established in 2010. With a background in electronic engineering and media production, he has produced over 150 documentaries for major networks before transitioning to the startup ecosystem. Under his leadership, JFDI has invested around USD 3 million in over 70 startups, emphasising the importance of storytelling and community in entrepreneurship. Hugh continues to mentor emerging entrepreneurs and has co-authored books on startup journeys. 🔗 Follow us:🏠Website : https://understandingvc.com/🤝🏻LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/company/understanding-vc/🎧 Spotify : https://open.spotify.com/show/1q7DxW3FEyP7EhH8m0VvAD🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/understanding-vc/id1551524895 💌 Connect with Rahul: 🤝🏻 LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/rahulthayyalamkandy/📩 Email : [email protected]🐣 Twitter : https://twitter.com/rahul0720 📍 About: Understanding VC is a podcast that provides founders with the knowledge and resources they need to understand venture capital. Our 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.

In this episode you will learn:00:00 - Introduction 01:32 - Easy to build good relationships with Investors? 03:55 - Importance of a Good Relationship with Investors 05:59 - Size and Strategy of a fund affects Founder-VC Relationship 07:37 - Components of a Successful Relationship 09:04 - Hummingbird’s POV on Investor interference 12:16 - VCs' Role in Crucible Moments 14:39 - Power Dynamics in Founder-VC Relationships 16:35 - Can Investors and Founders be good friends? 21:03 - Scenarios Leading to Founder-Investor Friction 26:36 - Handling Co-Founder Breakups28:29 - Evolution of Founder-Investor Relationships34:49 - Measuring the Founder-Investor Relationship35:57 - ConclusionAboutAkshay leads investments in both emerging markets and global fintech at Hummingbird.Previously, Akshay worked at Citigroup, where he raised equity capital for large corporations, and at Artivest (acquired), where he helped build and grow a platform that enables retail capital to access alternative investments. During graduate school, Akshay had the opportunity to work with MIT's $25 billion endowment fund.In his spare time, Akshay records music and writes about founders in his newsletter, 'Amplify'.He holds an MBA from the Sloan School of Management at MIT and a BA in Economics with a minor in Ethnomusicology from Franklin & Marshall College. 🔗 Follow us:🏠Website : https://understandingvc.com/🤝🏻LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/company/understanding-vc/🎧 Spotify : https://open.spotify.com/show/1q7DxW3FEyP7EhH8m0VvAD🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/understanding-vc/id1551524895 💌 Connect with Rahul: 🤝🏻 LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/rahulthayyalamkandy/📩 Email : [email protected]🐣 Twitter : https://twitter.com/rahul0720 📍 About: Understanding VC is a podcast that provides founders with the knowledge and resources they need to understand venture capital. Our 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.

In this episode you will learn:00:00 Introduction01:28 The Prestige and Challenges of VC03:28 Arun Pai's Journey into Venture Capital04:08 Breaking into Investment Banking06:17 Transitioning from Banking to Startups07:57 Joining Monk's Hill Ventures09:04 Advice for Aspiring VCs11:59 The Fluidity of the VC Industry12:29 Who Should Become a VC?15:19 Skills and Specialization in VC22:58 Building Relationships and Reputation27:19 Transitioning to Quantitative Roles27:34 Understanding VC Roles and Value28:27 Challenges in Breaking into Investment Teams29:39 Building a 360-Degree Skill Set30:13 Personal Journey into VC33:23 VC Interview Process35:13 Importance of Partner Buy-In36:47 Why Do You Want to Become a VC?39:10 Monk's Hill Philosophy41:48 Due Diligence in VC Hiring42:22 The Excitement of Being a VC43:42 Challenges in High Conviction Investing47:20 The Importance of Networking and Luck48:37 Burnout and Specialization in VC51:16 Balancing Experience and Staying Updated52:53 Conclusion and Final ThoughtsAbout:Arun is a Principal at Monk’s Hill Ventures, based in Singapore and responsible for deal sourcing, due diligence and investment analysis and research. Arun brings over 15 years of experience in Finance and Tech start-ups.Prior to joining MHV, Arun spent the last 6 years in the startup ecosystem as a C-level executive. He was the Chief Sales & Strategy Officer at Flow, where he managed growth and capital raising initiatives for the company leading to its acquisition. Prior to that, he was the Chief Kristals Officer, one of the first employees at Kristal.AI. He started his career and spent just under a decade in investment banking at Lehman Brothers and, subsequently, at Nomura across New York, Hong Kong & Singapore.Arun graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology. 🔗 Follow us:🏠Website : https://understandingvc.com/🤝🏻LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/company/understanding-vc/🎧 Spotify : https://open.spotify.com/show/1q7DxW3FEyP7EhH8m0VvAD🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/understanding-vc/id1551524895 💌 Connect with Rahul: 🤝🏻 LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/rahulthayyalamkandy/📩 Email : [email protected]🐣 Twitter : https://twitter.com/rahul0720 📍 About: Understanding VC is a podcast that provides founders with the knowledge and resources they need to understand venture capital. Our 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.

You can access the CVPE whitepaper [here] and join the CVPE LinkedIn group [here]In this episode you will learn:00:00 Introduction to Corporate Entrepreneurship00:34 Introducing Sebastien Picard and xcube01:08 Understanding Venture Studios02:10 xcube's Unique Approach02:42 The Corporate Venture Portfolio Equity Model05:40 Real-World Applications and Examples06:50 Challenges and Solutions in Financial Inclusion10:27 The Role of Ecosystems in Innovation13:24 Benefits for Startups, Investors, and Corporations18:15 The CVPE Model: A New Investment Class29:13 Psychological Support for Entrepreneurs32:40 Measuring Success and Future Evolution39:33 Conclusion and Next Steps for xcubeAboutSebastien Picard is a seasoned entrepreneur known for his expertise in early-stage innovative ventures.Sebastien has a proven track record of launching and growing multiple successful businesses across Asia, North America and Europe. His relentless determination, visionary and strategic mindset, and humility set him apart as a business leader.Sebastien founded xcube in 2023, xcube is a Singapore based corporate venture studio specialises in building ventures through a unique ecosystem approach.Established from Sebastien's entrepreneurial insights and brought to life by a talented core team, xcube embodies his vision and entrepreneurial experiences, paving the way for innovative ventures to thrive. 🔗 Follow us:🏠Website : https://understandingvc.com/🤝🏻LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/company/understanding-vc/🎧 Spotify : https://open.spotify.com/show/1q7DxW3FEyP7EhH8m0VvAD🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/understanding-vc/id1551524895 💌 Connect with Rahul: 🤝🏻 LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/rahulthayyalamkandy/📩 Email : [email protected]🐣 Twitter : https://twitter.com/rahul0720 📍 About: Understanding VC is a podcast that provides founders with the knowledge and resources they need to understand venture capital. Our 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.

In this episode you will learn:00:00 Introduction to Big Business and Market Size01:28 Importance of Identifying Big Markets03:18 Challenges and Considerations for Founders05:07 Defining and Evaluating Big Markets05:58 Insights from Famous Market Examples09:51 Understanding Customer Experience and Market Dynamics12:20 Evaluating Unit Economics and Team Dynamics15:21 Prioritization and Roadmap for Startups24:09 Challenges of Digital Targeting25:15 Importance of Customer Experience26:53 Product and Market Dynamics27:25 Creating New Markets31:39 Understanding Customer Problems37:02 Iterative Product Development40:17 Surprising Success Stories44:42 Final Thoughts and ReflectionsAboutShiyan Koh is an experienced operator and investor. She is currently a Co-Founder and General Partner at Hustle Fund, a global pre-seed venture fund. Prior to Hustle Fund, she was VP of Business Operations & Corp Dev at NerdWallet (employee #10), growing annual revenue from $1 million to more than $150 million. Before NerdWallet, she was an investor at Institutional Venture Partners and Bridgewater Associates. 🔗 Follow us:🏠Website : https://understandingvc.com/🤝🏻LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/company/understanding-vc/🎧 Spotify : https://open.spotify.com/show/1q7DxW3FEyP7EhH8m0VvAD🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/understanding-vc/id1551524895 💌 Connect with Rahul: 🤝🏻 LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/rahulthayyalamkandy/📩 Email : [email protected]🐣 Twitter : https://twitter.com/rahul0720 📍 About: Understanding VC is a podcast that provides founders with the knowledge and resources they need to understand venture capital. Our 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.

In this episode you will learn:00:00:00 - Introduction00:00:40 - Importance of Managing Finances for Startups00:08:58 - Compliance Regulation for Startups00:12:48 - Strategizing on resource allocation  00:15:48 - Startups offering inflated incentives00:18:48 - Finding the right talent00:23:34 - Basic Metrics startups should consider00:28:36 - Startups operating on Low margins00:29:33 - Reporting Spends to VC’s00:34:55 - Investment rejection00:36:53 - Unexpected challenges startups face00:41:29 - Are managing Finances a necessity for Startups?00:42:45 - ConclusionAboutManoj Agarwal, Co-founder & Managing Partner at SeaFund, has 25+ years of experience in business leadership, investments, and strategy. He co-founded SeaFund, an early-stage venture fund, and currently leads capital raising for its new fund. Previously, he was CEO of Karuturi Global, a top agricultural transnational, and is an advisor to Latize, a Singaporean data management company. Manoj holds a computer science degree and completed an executive program at INSEAD. 🔗 Follow us:🏠Website : https://understandingvc.com/🤝🏻LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/company/understanding-vc/🎧 Spotify : https://open.spotify.com/show/1q7DxW3FEyP7EhH8m0VvAD🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/understanding-vc/id1551524895 💌 Connect with Rahul: 🤝🏻 LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/rahulthayyalamkandy/📩 Email : [email protected]🐣 Twitter : https://twitter.com/rahul0720 📍 About: Understanding VC is a podcast that provides founders with the knowledge and resources they need to understand venture capital. Our 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.

In 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 address within the ad tech space, highlighting the annual wastage in ad spend and inefficiencies in ad targeting. Alex shares insights on SoMin's traction, revenue models, funding history, and future aspirations, including potential for IPO or acquisition, driven by a passion for transforming the advertising industry through technology. The episode concludes with a VC debrief, evaluating SoMin's pitch, the clarity of the problem statement, the strength of the founding team, product differentiation, and strategic growth plans.00:00 Welcome to Pitch Me Note: The Startup Pitch Podcast00:12 Introducing Today's Guests and Startup Focus00:42 Diving Deep into SoMin: The AI-Powered Ad Tech Platform01:25 Exploring the Core Problem SoMin Solves01:51 Target Customers and Product Offerings02:44 SoMin's Traction and Funding Journey04:14 The Founder's Journey: From Developer to CEO05:52 Achieving Customer Savings and Business Metrics07:50 Customer Acquisition Strategies and Sales Cycle Insights09:36 Leveraging Technology for Competitive Advantage10:53 Funding Goals and the Vision for Growth14:44 Transforming the Advertising Industry: A Visionary Goal16:46 Staying Ahead in the Fast-Paced Ad Tech Landscape19:31 Navigating Data Challenges in Marketing19:45 The Importance of Staying Relevant and Innovative20:19 Addressing the Rising Costs of Customer Acquisition21:12 Strategic Ad Scaling and Performance Marketing Insights21:58 Post-Pitch Debrief and Analysis22:09 Evaluating the Problem Statement and Market Fit25:54 Investor's Perspective on Ad Tech and Team Dynamics35:20 Final Thoughts and Investment Considerations 🔗 Follow us:🏠Website : https://understandingvc.com/🤝🏻LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/company/understanding-vc/🎧 Spotify : https://open.spotify.com/show/1q7DxW3FEyP7EhH8m0VvAD🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/understanding-vc/id1551524895 💌 Connect with Rahul: 🤝🏻 LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/rahulthayyalamkandy/📩 Email : [email protected]🐣 Twitter : https://twitter.com/rahul0720 📍 About: Understanding VC is a podcast that provides founders with the knowledge and resources they need to understand venture capital. Our 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.

In this episode you will learn:00:00:00 - Intro00:01:31 - The US-India Saas Corridor00:04:13 - Advantage of building Software in India00:08:57 - Early GTM strategies for Companies00:11:46 - 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 US00:21:21 - VC’s expectations before investing00:23:19 - When should SaaS companies target the US market?00:28:15 - Finding Product Market Fit00:32:38 - US Go-To Market Strategy00:39:01 - Raising Funds in the US00:42:06 - Building a Great Network in US00:48:30 - Future of India-US SaaS Corridor00:50:14 - ConclusionAboutChanchal Bhoorani is an investor at WestBridge Capital, focusing on US-India Enterprise Software investments from their Silicon Valley office. WestBridge is a multi-stage investment firm with approximately $8 billion in evergreen capital.Chanchal played a key role in sourcing Physics Wallah for their first round of financing, valuing the company at over $1 billion. She has also been instrumental in the firm's investment in Freshworks and other private deals.Prior to WestBridge, Chanchal gained experience building large-scale B2B and B2C products. At Ola Cabs, India's leading ride-sharing company, she designed allocation and dynamic pricing algorithms as a product manager. She then led the product team for a fashion e-commerce marketplace in Southeast Asia during their high-growth period.Chanchal holds a graduate degree from the Stanford Graduate School of Business and an engineering degree from IIT Varanasi. When not working, she volunteers with organizations supporting female education and employment. She also enjoys cheering for underdogs in Formula One racing, hiking, and hosting game nights. 🔗 Follow us:🏠Website : https://understandingvc.com/🤝🏻LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/company/understanding-vc/🎧 Spotify : https://open.spotify.com/show/1q7DxW3FEyP7EhH8m0VvAD🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/understanding-vc/id1551524895 💌 Connect with Rahul: 🤝🏻 LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/rahulthayyalamkandy/📩 Email : [email protected]🐣 Twitter : https://twitter.com/rahul0720 📍 About: Understanding VC is a podcast that provides founders with the knowledge and resources they need to understand venture capital. Our 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.

In this episode you will learn:00:00:00 - Introduction00:00:52 - About J-Ventures00:02:57 - J-Ventures' VC Model in comparison to Traditional VCs00:11:56 -  Process of Onboarding LP’s00:19:16 - Managing the community of LPs00:20:29 - J-Ventures unique approach in VC00:26:06 - J-Ventures’ investment mandate00:30:50 - Value-based Investing in Companies00:32:12 - Sourcing Companies for Investing00:38:38 - Criteria for Evaluating Founders00:42:06 - LP representation on Company Boards00:46:36 - Needing Support v/s Being Self-Reliant00:50:01 - Importance of Dialogue and Learning for first time founders00:59:29 - Community led Model v/s Traditional VC Model of InvestingAboutOded Hermoni is an investor, entrepreneur and journalist. Since 2005, he has invested in over 70 companies (5 of which became Unicorns), as is currently the Managing Partner and Co-Founder of the J-Ventures Fund (a "Capitalist Kibbutz") in Silicon Valley. Oded is active in philanthropic organizations and has been a Board Member at the Jewish Federation SF, JFCS, Friends of Hebrew University, ICON, Intro, and more. 🔗 Follow us:🏠Website : https://understandingvc.com/🤝🏻LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/company/understanding-vc/🎧 Spotify : https://open.spotify.com/show/1q7DxW3FEyP7EhH8m0VvAD🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/understanding-vc/id1551524895 💌 Connect with Rahul: 🤝🏻 LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/rahulthayyalamkandy/📩 Email : [email protected]🐣 Twitter : https://twitter.com/rahul0720 📍 About: Understanding VC is a podcast that provides founders with the knowledge and resources they need to understand venture capital. Our 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.

This 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 Teams00:08:16 - Personality Disorders amongst Founders00:11:59 - Major Reason for Conflict amongst Founders00:14:09 - Risk Taking ability of the Founders00:16:38 - Investor Response to Founder Conflicts Post-Investment00:20:16 - Resolving Founding Team Conflicts00:21:58 - Founder Red Flags Investors Look out for00:25:33 - Tackling Founder Ego00:27:09 - Impact of Founder Conflict on Company’s Success00:30:52 - How can Startups navigate Product Market Fit?00:35:58 - Resources to Educate Founders to tackle Conflicts00:38:22 - ConclusionAbout:Will Klippgen is a Singapore-based Norwegian entrepreneur and technology venture capitalist who co-founded the price comparison portal Zoomit.com (later merged with Kelkoo, which was sold to Yahoo! in 2004). He served as one of the judges on the television series Angel's Gate, which was broadcast on Channel NewsAsia in 2012. Will is a co-founder and serves as the Managing Partner at Cocoon Capital. He holds an MBA from INSEAD where he is an Entrepreneur in Residence.He has invested in over 55 startups in Singapore and across the world since 2004. His investments include PropertyGuru, Anacle Systems, ReferralCandy, Nugit, Tickled Media, iXiGO.com, See-Mode Technologies, SensorFlow, GuardRails, BuyMed and Augmentus.  🔗 Follow us:🏠Website : https://understandingvc.com/🤝🏻LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/company/understanding-vc/🎧 Spotify : https://open.spotify.com/show/1q7DxW3FEyP7EhH8m0VvAD🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/understanding-vc/id1551524895 💌 Connect with Rahul: 🤝🏻 LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/rahulthayyalamkandy/📩 Email : [email protected]🐣 Twitter : https://twitter.com/rahul0720 📍 About: Understanding VC is a podcast that provides founders with the knowledge and resources they need to understand venture capital. Our 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.

This 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 Venture Studios09:02 - Venture Studios vs Accelerators13:49 - Higher Startup Success Rates with Venture Studios?18:43 - Founder Obsession with Idea: Key to Startup Success?24:35 - Evaluating Founders for Outbound Opportunities31:44 - Founders: Domain Expertise vs Quick Learners33:49 - Corporate Collaboration with Venture Studios39:14 - Equity Ownership for Founders in Venture Studios45:08 - Challenges Faced by Venture Studios46:39 - Collaboration with LPs in Venture Studios53:11 - Managing Multiple Studios within a Venture Studio59:13 - Who Should Start a Venture Studio?01:01:43 - ConclusionAbout:Sam is an entrepreneur, venture builder, board advisor and investor. He works with pre-seed and seed-stage entrepreneurs & investors to build startups & venture studios.In 2017, he founded Rainmaking APAC Venture Studio. Rainmaking APAC is today one of the largest venture development companies in the region, and was acquired by Bain & Company in 2023. The companies that have been built and scaled by Rainmaking APAC have generated $880m in funding and hold a combined equity value of more than $9bn. Through his work with Rainmaking APAC, Sam has also pioneered a range of equity-share models of corporate venture building.Sam’s focus is on building companies, supporting venture build ecosystems, and creating and empowering venture builders. He believes that entrepreneurship is one of the best means that we have of offering fulfilling work and creating the conditions required to unlock the potential in our global workforce at scale. Prior to launching Rainmaking APAC Venture Studio, Sam was a founder and early team member in startups in Europe, and invested in startups through an early-stage accelerator. These experiences as founder, operator and investor shaped the thinking, philosophy, process and governance structure that he now applies to venture building at scale in the Rainmaking APAC Venture Studio. 🔗 Follow us:🏠Website : https://understandingvc.com/🤝🏻LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/company/understanding-vc/🎧 Spotify : https://open.spotify.com/show/1q7DxW3FEyP7EhH8m0VvAD🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/understanding-vc/id1551524895 💌 Connect with Rahul: 🤝🏻 LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/rahulthayyalamkandy/📩 Email : [email protected]🐣 Twitter : https://twitter.com/rahul0720 📍 About: Understanding VC is a podcast that provides founders with the knowledge and resources they need to understand venture capital. Our 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.

In this episode you will learn:00:00:00 - Introduction00:00:42 - Optical vs Quantum Computing00:03:11 - Basics of Photonic Computing00:07:15 - Challenges in using Optics for Compute00:09:44 - Under-utilization of Compute for Data Transfer00:13:19 - Segments and Opportunities in Photonics00:20:08 - Lumai's Approach in Optical Processing00:21:55 - Importance of Optical Computing in AI Progress00:27:21 - Industries Benefiting from Optical Computing Breakthroughs00:30:10 - Talent and Startups in Optical Computing00:33:12 - Backgrounds of Optical Computing Founders00:34:09 - Do we need Quantum Computing?00:41:09 - Challenges of Optical Computing00:43:29 - Investment Opportunities in Optical Computing00:45:07 - Business Models for Optical Computing Startups00:50:54 - Exits and Acquisitions: Problem Size and Tech MaturityAboutDenis Kalinin, serving as the Asia Business Development Manager at Runa Capital since 2020, plays a pivotal role in advancing Runa's initiatives across Asia. His primary focus lies in facilitating the entry of portfolio startups into Asian markets, with a special emphasis on China. Denis actively seeks out suitable technological and distribution partners for these startups, while also contributing to the scouting efforts for B2B SaaS, Deep Tech, and Fintech startups in the Asian region.Before joining Runa, Denis led an investment project in China and co-founded a startup dedicated to assisting high-tech companies in navigating the Chinese market. Holding an M.S. degree from the University for International Business and Economics in Beijing, Denis also gained valuable international exposure through an exchange program at the Free University of Berlin. Notably, he served as the chairman of a student Energy Club during his academic tenure.Fluent in English, German, and Chinese, Denis has a penchant for watching series and reading books in these three languages. Beyond his professional pursuits, Denis exhibits a keen interest in space exploration, having authored several articles comparing various space industries. 🔗 Follow us:🏠Website : https://understandingvc.com/🤝🏻LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/company/understanding-vc/🎧 Spotify : https://open.spotify.com/show/1q7DxW3FEyP7EhH8m0VvAD🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/understanding-vc/id1551524895 💌 Connect with Rahul: 🤝🏻 LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/rahulthayyalamkandy/📩 Email : [email protected]🐣 Twitter : https://twitter.com/rahul0720 📍 About: Understanding VC is a podcast that provides founders with the knowledge and resources they need to understand venture capital. Our 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.

In this episode you will learn:00:00 - Introduction01:54 - Talent Investing & Fundamentals 03:28 - Talent Investing vs. Recruitment05:10 - What Talent Investors Look For08:11 - Characteristics of Great Talent Investors14:14 - Early Discovery of Exceptional Individuals16:22 - Finding Exceptional Talent17:58 - Characteristics of a Great Founder23:48 - Challenges in Finding the Right Founders26:37 - Fear of Failure31:07 - Role of Family and Childhood34:02 - Decision to Become a Founder37:54 - Co-Founders with Complimentary Skillsets42:09 - Increased productivity w/ a Co-Founder52:18 - EF’s Ecosystem 54:36 - EF's Graduate vs. Core Programs01:01:17 - ConclusionAboutRahul Samat, Partner and India Head at Entrepreneur First, brings over 14 years of experience as a founder, builder, and mentor. He holds a Master's in Science from the University of Pennsylvania and completed a scholarship program at Stanford University Graduate School of Business. Rahul started his career in banking at Barclays Investment Bank and later joined Capital One. In 2014, he co-founded InnerChef, a VC-backed startup, and in 2016, he became the Head of Private & Strategic Brands at Swiggy. In 2022, Rahul joined Entrepreneur First to lead and expand the team in India, focusing on supporting entrepreneurs from the pre-idea stage to fundraising through EF's investor network. 🔗 Follow us:🏠Website : https://understandingvc.com/🤝🏻LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/company/understanding-vc/🎧 Spotify : https://open.spotify.com/show/1q7DxW3FEyP7EhH8m0VvAD🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/understanding-vc/id1551524895 💌 Connect with Rahul: 🤝🏻 LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/rahulthayyalamkandy/📩 Email : [email protected]🐣 Twitter : https://twitter.com/rahul0720 📍 About: Understanding VC is a podcast that provides founders with the knowledge and resources they need to understand venture capital. Our 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.

In 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 impact on fundraising and startup valuations.[00:19:00] Mehak on ESG importance in Indian startups.[00:21:24] ESG due diligence and compliance indemnities.[00:23:00] Explanation of indemnity in negotiations.[00:25:50] Fundraising terms becoming founder and investor-friendly.[00:26:55] Discussion on equity, preference shares, convertible notes, and debentures.[00:28:46] Mehak on equity-debt debate and finding the right balance.[00:29:54] Factoring vs. Debt Instruments: SAS companies and cash flow.[00:30:47] Investor-Friendly Terms: Founder lock-in and escrow securities.[00:33:23] Key Investor Rights: Preemptive, anti-dilution, and exit rights.[00:34:46] Impact of Governance Issues: Control over founders and compliance focus.[00:36:31] Founder's Response to Compliance Challenges: Establishing compliance departments and seeking advice.[00:37:32] Compliance Verticals: ESG, tax, financial, data, and IP compliance.[00:40:33] Challenge of Compliance in India: Navigating through myriad laws.[00:41:41] Improvements in Contract Enforcement: Faster judicial remedies.[00:43:18] Streamlining Labor Laws: Indian government's efforts through labor codes.[00:45:50] Contractual Compliance: Focus on watertight contracts.[00:47:38] Compliance Verticals: ESG, tax, financial, data, and IP compliance.[00:49:46] Investor Checks and Balances: Emphasizing checks and balances.[00:50:59] Post Fraud or Embezzlement Remedies: Founder clawback and exit clauses.[00:53:19] Directors and Officers Liability Insurance: Protecting investor representatives.[00:55:16] Positive Trend: Increasing importance of due diligence and compliance.AboutA seasoned corporate lawyer with 15 years of experience in law firms and in-house legal departments, Mehak has led strategic legal advice for both large, established companies and fast-growing tech startups, as well as investors. She has overseen intricate restructuring and M&A transactions, from orchestrating contract drafting and negotiations to delivering corporate advisory services and managing real estate deals. Her expertise extends beyond practice areas to include sector-specific advice in a wide range of fields, such as FMCG, manufacturing, technology/digital, sports, food, telecommunications, entertainment, e-commerce, and retail. She is a recipient of prestigious awards, including the ET Prime Women Leadership Award 2021, Asian Legal Business India Rising Star 2021, FORBES Under 40 Top General Counsel 2020, and the 40 Under 40 Rising Star Award by Legal Era 2020. Mehak regularly engages with industry and economy in forums and media such as Mint, Business Standard, and News18. 🔗 Follow us:🏠Website : https://understandingvc.com/🤝🏻LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/company/understanding-vc/🎧 Spotify : https://open.spotify.com/show/1q7DxW3FEyP7EhH8m0VvAD🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/understanding-vc/id1551524895 💌 Connect with Rahul: 🤝🏻 LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/rahulthayyalamkandy/📩 Email : [email protected]🐣 Twitter : https://twitter.com/rahul0720 📍 About: Understanding VC is a podcast that provides founders with the knowledge and resources they need to understand venture capital. Our 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.

In 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 in Venture Capital[00:29:40] Motivation and Managing a Firm[00:31:20] Understanding Carry[00:35:00] Managing Long-Term Careers[00:39:07] Carry Allocation[00:42:45] Team Dynamics and Carry Distribution[00:43:50] Inclusion of Back-Office in Incentives[00:44:40] Building a Successful VC Firm[00:45:56] Firm Evolution[00:47:32] Transition to a Bigger Institution[00:49:25] Challenges in Talent Retention[00:53:00] Philosophical Differences and Firm Evolution[00:57:00] Risks in VC Industry[01:02:00] Solo GPs vs. Venture Firms[01:04:38] Building a Healthy VC FirmAboutHussein is a partner at Hoxton Ventures. He currently represents Hoxton on the boards of Avantia Law, Baseimmune, BeyondRisk, Biocortex, Biotx, DruidAI, Finesse, Fy!, Giraffe360, Kbox, Kitt, Luminary, Peptone, PillSorted, Raptor Supplies, Really Clever, Rensair, Replai, Replan, Skin Analytics, TourRadar and XYZ Reality, and serves as a board observer on Behavox and Karakuri. He previously served on the boards of Babylon Health (NYSE:BBLN), bd4travel (acquired by Dnata), Campanja (acquired by 24/7 Media), Darktrace (LSE:DARK), Deliveroo (LSE:ROO), Panakeia, SOCOS (acquired by Sophos), Yieldify (acquired by Publicis) and Vidya Health.Hussein serves on the board of UCLB, the commercialization company of UCL and also sits on the advisory board of GTO Partners, a tech mid-market buyout firm, and Landscape, a venture capital review site. Previously he served on the board of Tech Nation, a UK quasi non-governmental organization. In a personal capacity, he is an angel investor in Apex:E3, Builder.ai, Callaly, GoCardless, Mellizyme, MyGlamm, Reachdesk and Signpost.While forming Hoxton, he helped Eros STX Global develop ErosNow, an online streaming video platform for Bollywood. Prior to Hoxton, Hussein was an associate with Accel Partners. He joined Accel from Microsoft Corporation. Earlier in his career, he worked with three startups, Safe-View (acquired by L-3), Radiance Technologies (acquired by Comcast) and Studio Verso (acquired by KPMG).Hussein holds an MBA from London Business School and did his undergraduate studies in Symbolic Systems at Stanford University.He stubbornly refuses to swear allegiance to a monarch and remains a proud American. 🔗 Follow us:🏠Website : https://understandingvc.com/🤝🏻LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/company/understanding-vc/🎧 Spotify : https://open.spotify.com/show/1q7DxW3FEyP7EhH8m0VvAD🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/understanding-vc/id1551524895 💌 Connect with Rahul: 🤝🏻 LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/rahulthayyalamkandy/📩 Email : [email protected]🐣 Twitter : https://twitter.com/rahul0720 📍 About: Understanding VC is a podcast that provides founders with the knowledge and resources they need to understand venture capital. Our 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.

In this episode you will learn:00:00 Introduction to Voluntary Carbon Markets01:51 Exploring the Controversy Around Carbon Offsetting Firm Southport05:14 Defining Carbon Credits and Carbon Offsets11:09 The Challenges of Carbon Sequestration19:59 The Role of Nature-Based Solutions in Carbon Markets25:28 The Struggles and Potential of Nature-Based Carbon Credits29:28 The Need for Both Engineering and Nature-Based Solutions30:15 The Impact of Energy Sources on Carbon Credit Calculations31:05 The Importance of Clean Energy31:32 Challenges of Carbon Dioxide Capture32:30 Potential Low-Energy Solutions for Carbon Capture33:28 Discussion on Carbon Capture Techniques34:08 The Role of Rock Weathering in Carbon Capture34:48 The Potential of Carbonates in Carbon Sequestration37:04 Challenges in the Voluntary Carbon Market38:07 The Role of Compliance Market in Carbon Reduction38:53 The Impact of Corporate Carbon Reduction Goals39:43 The Need for More Credible Carbon Projects40:34 The Role of Government and Companies in Carbon Reduction52:01 The Rise of Climate-Focused Startups55:04 The Business Models of Climate Startups59:03 The Future of Carbon Capture StartupsAbout:Maryanna Saenko is an early-stage venture capitalist and cofounder of Future Ventures. She invests in frontier technologies that make the world a better place, and don’t prey on human frailty. Recent investments have been across a wide swath of sectors, including nuclear fusion, sustainable agricultural and land management, bee immunology, women’s reproductive longevity, and the application of AI to everything from the construction industry to medical therapeutics. Previously she was at Khosla Ventures, and prior to that DFJ. She was also an investment partner at Airbus Ventures where she led a series of venture investments strategically aligned with Airbus’ future-of-aerospace initiatives. Before Airbus, Maryanna was a consultant at Lux Research and a research engineer at Cabot Corporation. She’s worked on lunar rovers, martian landers, driverless cars, and long-range low-frequency communication systems. Maryanna graduated from Carnegie Mellon University with a BS in BioMedical Engineering and a BS and MS in Materials Science and Engineering. 🔗 Follow us:🏠Website : https://understandingvc.com/🤝🏻LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/company/understanding-vc/🎧 Spotify : https://open.spotify.com/show/1q7DxW3FEyP7EhH8m0VvAD🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/understanding-vc/id1551524895 💌 Connect with Rahul: 🤝🏻 LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/rahulthayyalamkandy/📩 Email : [email protected]🐣 Twitter : https://twitter.com/rahul0720 📍 About: Understanding VC is a podcast that provides founders with the knowledge and resources they need to understand venture capital. Our 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.

In this episode you will learn:00:00:00 - Introduction00:01:37 - Productivity of Agriculture in India00:05:34 - Why Manufacturing isn’t where it’s supposed to be00:06:54 - Opportunities for Tech Investment in Agriculture00:07:59 - Omnivore’s Investment Focus00:09:27 - Life Sciences00:11:28 - Can ALT protein address protein deficiency in the Indian diet?00:13:52 - Structural Changes in Diet00:19:04 - Opportunities in Life Sciences00:23:05 - Policy Changes for Agriculture00:27:52 - Land Reforms and Digitization00:30:30 - Leasing Land00:33:34 - Entrepreneurial Talent in Agri Tech00:36:42 - Diverse Business Models in Agri Tech00:38:06 - IPOs in Agri Tech00:40:07 - Small Holder Farming00:41:23 - Drawing Wisdom from Rudyard KiplingAbout:Mark co-founded Omnivore with Jinesh Shah in 2010. Previously, Mark was the Executive Vice President (Strategy & Business Development) at Godrej Agrovet, one of India’s foremost diversified agribusiness companies. At Godrej Agrovet, Mark was responsible for corporate strategy, M&A, R&D, and new business incubation.  Earlier in his career, Mark worked for Syngenta and PFM.  He earned a BA (Honors) from the University of Pennsylvania and an MBA from Harvard Business School, where he graduated as a Baker Scholar. 🔗 Follow us:🏠Website : https://understandingvc.com/🤝🏻LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/company/understanding-vc/🎧 Spotify : https://open.spotify.com/show/1q7DxW3FEyP7EhH8m0VvAD🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/understanding-vc/id1551524895 💌 Connect with Rahul: 🤝🏻 LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/rahulthayyalamkandy/📩 Email : [email protected]🐣 Twitter : https://twitter.com/rahul0720 📍 About: Understanding VC is a podcast that provides founders with the knowledge and resources they need to understand venture capital. Our 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.

In this episode you will learn:00:00 Introduction and Overview01:37 Debate on Investing in YC Startups04:43 The Role of Accelerators in Startup Success06:34 Benefits of Joining an Accelerator08:31 The Challenges of Being a Startup Founder15:01 Choosing the Right Accelerator18:12 What Accelerators Look for in Startups22:46 Investment Deal Terms for Accelerators25:26 Reasons a Startup Might Not Join an Accelerator25:37 Understanding the Role and Value of Accelerators26:25 The Business Model of Accelerators27:37 The Importance of Providing an Excellent Founder Experience29:15 The Challenges of Running an Accelerator30:53 Exploring Different Models: Venture Studios and Incubators38:05 The Evolution and Future of Accelerators42:35 The Competitive Landscape for Accelerators47:02 The Impact of Tech Advancements on Accelerator Models50:25 Why Choose Forum VC for B2B SaaS StartupsAbout:Michael Cardamone is the CEO and Managing Partner at Forum Ventures. Prior to Forum Ventures, Michael was one of the first 30 employees at Box in a BD role and then led partnerships at AcademixDirect. He is also an angel investor in a dozen companies, including in the seed round of Flexport.  🔗 Follow us:🏠Website : https://understandingvc.com/🤝🏻LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/company/understanding-vc/🎧 Spotify : https://open.spotify.com/show/1q7DxW3FEyP7EhH8m0VvAD🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/understanding-vc/id1551524895 💌 Connect with Rahul: 🤝🏻 LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/rahulthayyalamkandy/📩 Email : [email protected]🐣 Twitter : https://twitter.com/rahul0720 📍 About: Understanding VC is a podcast that provides founders with the knowledge and resources they need to understand venture capital. Our 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.

In this episode you will learn:00:00 - Introduction01:21 - 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 for solo capitalists?30:08 - What are the challenges of being a solo capitalist?35:40 - How should solo capitalists look at their succession?36:40 - How can solo capitalists stay on top of their game while maintaining work-life balance?38:50 - How do solo VCs and traditional firms differ in terms of diligence, sourcing, portfolio risk management, etc?41:40 - How has being a solo capitalist become a ‘trend’ in the last five years?47:50 - Are solo capitalists born out of the evolution of scout programs and super angels?51:00 - Do founders' agile fundraising strategies match the support provided by solo capitalists?56:00 - What is the next step in the evolution of solo GPs?57:15 - Will solo capitalists operate like traditional firms when it comes to managing reserves?01:00:00 - How will the relation between traditional VC firms and solo capitalists evolve?01:03:33 - ConclusionAboutItamar is a solo capitalist and the founder of Recursive Ventures, a pre-seed fund focused on fintech, AI and emerging tech startups. Itamar has been on all sides of the startup table: as a founder and executive, an institutional VC, and an angel investor. He has supported over 50 successful startups, including Deel, Honeybook, Placer, Credible (IPO), MileIQ (acquired by Microsoft), Automatic Labs (acquired by SiriusXM), Tile (acquired by Life360), SafeGraph, and Armory. He’s been recognized by Business Insider as a Top 100 global seed investor. As an operator, he helped take Life360 from Seed to IPO, scaling the business to over $250m in revenue. Before that, Itamar was a founding team member and head of Product at Gigya (acquired by SAP). He holds an MBA from Berkeley Haas and an undergraduate degree in computer science from the Tel-Aviv Jaffa College. 🔗 Follow us:🏠Website : https://understandingvc.com/🤝🏻LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/company/understanding-vc/🎧 Spotify : https://open.spotify.com/show/1q7DxW3FEyP7EhH8m0VvAD🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/understanding-vc/id1551524895 💌 Connect with Rahul: 🤝🏻 LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/rahulthayyalamkandy/📩 Email : [email protected]🐣 Twitter : https://twitter.com/rahul0720 📍 About: Understanding VC is a podcast that provides founders with the knowledge and resources they need to understand venture capital. Our 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.

In this episode you will learn:00:00 - Introduction: The Essence of Startup Board Roles00:34 - Board Governance vs. Decision-Making: An In-depth Exploration00:37 - Understanding the Board of Directors and Their Vital Duties10:25 - The Optimal Timing for Establishing a Business Board16:50 - Defining 'Board Chairperson,' 'Board Observer,' and 'Non-Executive Board Member'22:50 - Founder or Investor as Chair: A Crucial Decision and Its Rationale23:55 - Finding the Right Board Size for Early-Stage Startups and Its Significance27:00 - Strategies for Assembling Your Startup's Dream Board31:40 - Red Flags to Watch Out for When Building Your Board33:30 - Ideal Dynamics Among Board Members: A Guide for Startups36:10 - Effective vs. Ineffective Communication Practices Between Founders and Investors39:55 - Smooth Sailing Through Board Meetings: Best Practices 47:40 - The Mystery of Board Packs and Their PurposeAboutJoe is a coach to CEOs. He works with CEOs at start-ups, high growth to IPO to public companies to the big exit; helping define what it means to be a leader, how to create impact, how to grow alongside the business and how to change the world all while enjoying every part of that journey. Joe is a recovering neuroscientist, then a spell as an elementary school teacher as well as 15 years in tech, $20b in revenue, experience with 30+ startups & FTSE / Fortune 100 giants. 🔗 Follow us:🏠Website : https://understandingvc.com/🤝🏻LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/company/understanding-vc/🎧 Spotify : https://open.spotify.com/show/1q7DxW3FEyP7EhH8m0VvAD🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/understanding-vc/id1551524895 💌 Connect with Rahul: 🤝🏻 LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/rahulthayyalamkandy/📩 Email : [email protected]🐣 Twitter : https://twitter.com/rahul0720 📍 About: Understanding VC is a podcast that provides founders with the knowledge and resources they need to understand venture capital. Our 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.

In 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 to Execute: Examining past experiences, references, and operational skills[00:11:26] Team Dynamics and Skills: Assessing teamwork and complementary skills[00:13:45] Motivation: Evaluating the team's motivation, especially in the early stages[00:15:00] Ownership Percentage: Considering founder ownership's impact[00:15:44] Online Background Checks: Basic online checks for red flags[00:18:09] Professionalism and Responsiveness: Indications of founders' business approach[00:20:00] Evaluating the Product: Understanding development, data, pricing, and product demos[00:23:00] Competitive Differentiation: Assessing primary differentiators[00:25:07] Finding Competitors: Methods for identifying competitors[00:30:34] Market Sizing Strategies: Caroline's bottom-up approach to market sizing[00:33:00] Market Size Threshold: Seeking markets greater than a billion dollars[00:34:40] Timing Matters: Consideration of market growth timing[00:35:24] Sales and Marketing Due Diligence: Early-stage focus on founder's vision and go-to-market strategy[00:38:00] Red Flags in Sales and Marketing: Warning signs like high churn rates and unclear strategies[00:40:38] Financial Due Diligence: Critical financial aspects, including balance sheets and revenue growth[00:44:49] Financial Projections: Looking for realistic financial projections[00:45:54] Exit Analysis: Assessing potential returns for fulfilling responsibilities to LPs[00:49:33] Assessing Milestones: Founders' realistic funding goals[00:51:26] References: Importance of talking to various references[00:55:21] Timing of Due Diligence: The duration and starting point for due diligence[00:58:00] Compromising on Due Diligence: Avoid rushing due diligence[01:00:13] Challenges with Pre-Seed Due Diligence: Dealing with limited data[01:02:27] Using Diligence Reports Internally: The role of diligence reports in the process[01:04:36] Transparency with Founders: Benefits of sharing the diligence process with foundersAboutCaroline is a Partner at VITALIZE Venture Capital, a seed stage venture fund that invests in the future of work. As Partner, Caroline spends her time sourcing and evaluating potential investments, managing the firm's diligence process, and supporting portfolio companies.Prior to joining VITALIZE in 2018, Caroline worked for GE Ventures in San Francisco where she helped incubate and operate a startup in the drone space. Before transitioning into venture capital, Caroline worked in corporate finance for various GE businesses in Chicago, Atlanta, London, and San Francisco.Caroline received a BBA with honors in math and psychology from Boston College and a Masters of Science in Management from the University of Notre Dame, where she was valedictorian of her class. 🔗 Follow us:🏠Website : https://understandingvc.com/🤝🏻LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/company/understanding-vc/🎧 Spotify : https://open.spotify.com/show/1q7DxW3FEyP7EhH8m0VvAD🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/understanding-vc/id1551524895 💌 Connect with Rahul: 🤝🏻 LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/rahulthayyalamkandy/📩 Email : [email protected]🐣 Twitter : https://twitter.com/rahul0720 📍 About: Understanding VC is a podcast that provides founders with the knowledge and resources they need to understand venture capital. Our 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.

Jyri's deck on How to Invest in Startups Even If You’re Not a VCIn 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 Operators on Your Cap Table[00:24:44] Exploring "Parallel Entrepreneurs"[00:29:20] A Structured Approach to Angel Investing[00:38:00] Importance of Starting Early in Your Career[00:41:00] Why You Should Not Stop Investing[00:42:42] Doubling Down on Your Winner[00:48:00] Doing All This in the U.S. vs Europe[00:52:18] How Jyri Invests in and Starts Companies at Yes VC[00:55:29] Forming a Venture Studio Around a Single Exceptional Founder[00:56:51] Having Multiple Parallel Successes[00:57:29] Easier to Let One Fail When You Have Many, Psychological Benefits of Not Depending on One ThingAbout:Jyri Engeström is an early investor in Unity, Dapper Labs, Oura, and many other successful companies. Together with his partner Caterina Fake he runs Yes VC, an early stage firm based in San Francisco. Before starting Yes VC he founded two companies. The first one sold to Google, the second one to Groupon. 🔗 Follow us:🏠Website : https://understandingvc.com/🤝🏻LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/company/understanding-vc/🎧 Spotify : https://open.spotify.com/show/1q7DxW3FEyP7EhH8m0VvAD🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/understanding-vc/id1551524895 💌 Connect with Rahul: 🤝🏻 LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/rahulthayyalamkandy/📩 Email : [email protected]🐣 Twitter : https://twitter.com/rahul0720 📍 About: Understanding VC is a podcast that provides founders with the knowledge and resources they need to understand venture capital. Our 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.

In this episode we discuss00:00:00 Introduction to Quantum Computing and Challenges00:06:00 Quantum Computing Basics00:10:45 Hardware Architectures and Quantum Systems00:15:14 Progress and Challenges in Quantum Computing00:21:44 Quantum Cryptography and Security00:25:39 Challenges and Adoption of Quantum Computing00:30:43 Quantum Computing's Business Applications00:31:43 Investment in Quantum Computing00:32:16 Hybrid Approach and Quantum-Classic Interaction00:34:38 Human Influence on Quantum Outcomes00:38:55 VC Funding for Quantum Startups00:42:17 Risks and Assessment of Quantum Startups00:50:41 Challenges and Future of Quantum Computing00:52:07 Advice for Those Interested in Quantum ComputingAboutIon is a Principal at APEX Ventures, where he invests in European early-stage deep tech startups in the areas of quantum technologies, future computing, space and AI.He brings over 12 years of experience at the intersection of technological breakthroughs and financial capital. He has a PhD in quantum physics from Heidelberg University and has previously worked as Chief Operating Officer at GlassDollar, VP Corporate Venturing at Bosch and Management Consultant at Oliver Wyman, while actively angel investing and mentoring startups for many years. He supports companies in fundraising, talent acquisition and strategic partnerships.A passionate technical and rescue diver, Ion is based in Munich, Germany, with his wife and son. 🔗 Follow us:🏠Website : https://understandingvc.com/🤝🏻LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/company/understanding-vc/🎧 Spotify : https://open.spotify.com/show/1q7DxW3FEyP7EhH8m0VvAD🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/understanding-vc/id1551524895 💌 Connect with Rahul: 🤝🏻 LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/rahulthayyalamkandy/📩 Email : [email protected]🐣 Twitter : https://twitter.com/rahul0720 📍 About: Understanding VC is a podcast that provides founders with the knowledge and resources they need to understand venture capital. Our 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.

In 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 individually?[00:13:20] How do you see technology and tools shaping the future of angel investing?[00:15:22] What challenges are angel investors facing right now?[00:17:46] When is the right time for an angel investor to make investments in startups?[00:19:30] What types of companies should angel investors consider investing in?[00:21:58] What are the misconceptions about angel investing?[00:22:35] How can individuals decide if angel investing is right for them?[00:24:33] What advice would you give to angel investors to be successful?[00:28:25] What Is angel squad? Is it similar to a syndicate?[00:31:38] How do you approach due diligence for investments in areas where you lack expertise?[00:34:33] How do you negotiate investments and win allocation?[00:36:50] How do you manage risk and approach making follow-on investments?[00:41:47] How important is it to stay informed about emerging tech trends?[00:44:44] What advice would you give for new angel investors?[00:47:20] Why angel invest despite the high risk?[00:50:56] Why are you passionate about angel investing and educating other people about Angel Investing? AboutBrian Nichols is the founder of Angel Squad, a program affiliated with the early-stage VC firm Hustle Fund. This initiative provides a unique opportunity to delve into the realm of angel investing, enabling you to both learn about and participate in investments alongside Hustle Fund in its portfolio companies. By joining Angel Squad, you not only gain access to a vibrant community of fellow angel investors and operators but also unlock a wealth of valuable resources pertaining to angel investing.Brian's notable career highlights include pivotal contributions to the achievements of Lyft, Zoox, BlackBird, and others. In 2019, he partnered with Ann Miura-Ko to establish Uplyft, a syndicate catering to Lyft alumni. This endeavor attracted over 300 initial employees of Lyft, who collectively injected more than $30 million into the initiative. Brian's commendable reputation as a guiding figure in the realm of alumni syndicates further propelled him to share his expertise with renowned companies like Airbnb, Stripe, Pinterest, and DoorDash. 🔗 Follow us:🏠Website : https://understandingvc.com/🤝🏻LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/company/understanding-vc/🎧 Spotify : https://open.spotify.com/show/1q7DxW3FEyP7EhH8m0VvAD🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/understanding-vc/id1551524895 💌 Connect with Rahul: 🤝🏻 LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/rahulthayyalamkandy/📩 Email : [email protected]🐣 Twitter : https://twitter.com/rahul0720 📍 About: Understanding VC is a podcast that provides founders with the knowledge and resources they need to understand venture capital. Our 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.

In 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 interested in EdTech?[00:23:00] What is Nitin's view on the future of EdTech in India and the role of AI in the sector?[00:27:00] What is Antler and what is its mission in the startup ecosystem?[00:28:23] What specific pain points is Antler India addressing for founders in the ideation phase?[00:29:01] How does Antler differentiate itself from traditional venture capitalists?[00:30:30] How does Antler's global network benefit startups in India and help them think about their products and teams differently?[00:31:14] What does Antler focus on in the early stage investing process, particularly at the pre-seed stage?[00:31:54] Does Antler only look for future founders in colleges or does it consider applicants from various backgrounds?[00:32:35] What is the Antler India Fellowship, and how does it help democratize entrepreneurship?[00:35:00] How does Antler reduce the cost of experimenting and building startups, and what are the key factors that Antler considers when evaluating founders?[00:38:00] What are the challenges and limitations of venture capital in India?[00:41:25] What factors make India a promising market for startups, and what are some counter examples that indicate the potential for significant success?[00:44:00] What is the role of a VC, and what are the key learnings and qualities required to be successful in venture capital?[00:47:29] How do ONDC and Web3 differ in their approach to decentralization, and what are the challenges and opportunities for both?[00:52:15] What are some of the potential benefits of ONDC for small businesses in India, and how could it bridge the gap between digital payments and digital commerce?[00:54:16] Where does Nitin see Antler India in 10 years and what is the desired impact on the startup ecosystem?AboutNitin is a seasoned early-stage investor, having invested in 60+ tech startups in multiple geographies. With First Principles, he built a thesis-driven proprietary portfolio of 40+ angel investments backed by marquee investors. As the founder of Incrypt Blockchain, he has been the first Indian VC to play an active role in fostering India’s blockchain ecosystem. Nitin and his team have invested in 16 blockchain projects since 2017, with the Incrypt Blockchain portfolio spanning projects such as Arweave, Mudrex, OnJuno, BAT, Ocean, Molecule, Persistence and more.Previously, Nitin was a founding team principal at Lightbox Ventures, one of India’s leading consumer-focused VCs, where he helped build the first two funds since the very inception.Earlier in his career, he learnt the ropes of the VC business in the US, while being at New Enterprise Associates (NEA), one of the world’s preeminent venture funds. At NEA, he worked on multiple investments with successful IPO/M&A outcomes (Millennial Media, AddThis, OPower, etc.) and co-led the firm’s first education technology investment. He also served as an early executive at EverFi (one of the world's largest education networks, $250M raised), and started his career as a technology investment banker at UBS Investment Bank in San Francisco.Nitin holds an MBA from The Wharton School, and two degrees from the University of Southern California. He serves on the India Advisory Boards of AngelList, the USC Viterbi School and The Better India, and advises the Indian government (NITI Aayog) on frontier tech policy. 🔗 Follow us:🏠Website : https://understandingvc.com/🤝🏻LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/company/understanding-vc/🎧 Spotify : https://open.spotify.com/show/1q7DxW3FEyP7EhH8m0VvAD🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/understanding-vc/id1551524895 💌 Connect with Rahul: 🤝🏻 LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/rahulthayyalamkandy/📩 Email : [email protected]🐣 Twitter : https://twitter.com/rahul0720 📍 About: Understanding VC is a podcast that provides founders with the knowledge and resources they need to understand venture capital. Our 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.

In 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' concentrated bets on startup founders[00:22:00] Why building trust is crucial in the VC-founder relationship[00:23:00] Melody's role as a VC and how she guides founders[00:25:00] How NextView faced challenges during COVID and supported a struggling portfolio company[00:28:00] The key trait that makes founders successful in the fast-changing startup world[00:30:00] Understand the mindset founders need to overcome obstacles and achieve their mission[00:32:00] Why startups should focus on problems in large, pervasive markets[00:35:00] NextView's investment thesis and the problems they aim to solve[00:37:00] How NextView supports concept-stage companies through their accelerator program[00:42:00] Meaning of different seed and pre-seed funding stages for startups and what matters most[00:53:00] Investors Melody would reach out to if she were starting a new startup todayAboutMelody is a Partner at NextView Ventures based in its New York office. She has spent her entire career working with technology and Internet startups as an entrepreneur, operator, and investor.Prior to joining NextView, Melody was Head of Product at Blue Apron (NYSE: APRN). Melody joined Blue Apron as the first product hire when the company was 18 months old with 20 HQ employees. She helped scale the business through hyper-growth (25x in 3.5 years) and to its IPO, building and leading a 35-person team across Product Management, Product Design, and Analytics/Data Science.Previously, Melody was a Product Manager at Fab.com leading marketing & analytics products and the founder/CEO of a seed-funded wine subscription e-commerce service. Melody was also a venture investor at Time Warner’s strategic VC group and was a one of six inaugural members of First Round Capital’s Product Co-op initiative. Melody began her career as a tech/media M&A investment banking analyst at Evercore Partners.Melody holds an MBA with Distinction from the Harvard Business School and a BS in Commerce with Distinction from the McIntire School of Commerce at the University of Virginia. She lives in Brooklyn, NY with her husband and son.  🔗 Follow us:🏠Website : https://understandingvc.com/🤝🏻LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/company/understanding-vc/🎧 Spotify : https://open.spotify.com/show/1q7DxW3FEyP7EhH8m0VvAD🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/understanding-vc/id1551524895 💌 Connect with Rahul: 🤝🏻 LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/rahulthayyalamkandy/📩 Email : [email protected]🐣 Twitter : https://twitter.com/rahul0720 📍 About: Understanding VC is a podcast that provides founders with the knowledge and resources they need to understand venture capital. Our 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.

In this episode we discuss:06:00 - The Importance of Design in VC09:00 - Visionary Founders vs. Hypothesis-Driven Founders15:00 - Importance of Strategy in VC22:00 - Sprint Method and Product-Market Fit26:00 - Hypothesis driven approach - How it can save time and money28:00 - Introduction to the OATS scorecard system32:00 - Longitudinal use and comparison of scores33:00 - Reasons for not investing39:00 - Challenges of FOMO and saying no42:00 - Detachment and enthusiasm in investment decisions47:00 - Name selection process and the significance of "Character"AboutJohn Zeratsky is co-founder and general partner at venture-capital firm Character, bestselling author of Sprint and Make Time, and former design partner at GV. Previously, John was a design leader for YouTube, Google Ads, and FeedBurner, which was acquired by Google in 2007. 🔗 Follow us:🏠Website : https://understandingvc.com/🤝🏻LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/company/understanding-vc/🎧 Spotify : https://open.spotify.com/show/1q7DxW3FEyP7EhH8m0VvAD🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/understanding-vc/id1551524895 💌 Connect with Rahul: 🤝🏻 LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/rahulthayyalamkandy/📩 Email : [email protected]🐣 Twitter : https://twitter.com/rahul0720 📍 About: Understanding VC is a podcast that provides founders with the knowledge and resources they need to understand venture capital. Our 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.

In 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 assist startups in navigating the FinTech ecosystem? How does connecting with other founders who have built on similar platforms benefit entrepreneurs in making partnership decisions?What is vertical SaaS and why is it an interesting trend in 2023? What are the dynamics of winner-takes-most in vertical SaaS markets?What is embedded FinTech and how does it relate to vertical SaaS? What are examples of financial services that can be embedded within vertical SaaS platforms?How can AI impact financial services and improve operational efficiency according to Rex? Will incumbents in the financial industry be able to adopt AI more effectively than other technologies like cloud and mobile?What is the potential impact of embedded financial services on the distribution of financial products and services?AboutRex Salisbury is the Founder and General Partner of Cambrian, an early-stage VC fund specializing in fintech startups. With prior experience as a partner at Andreessen Horowitz, Rex has invested in over 50 fintech companies. Known for his talent in connecting founders with vital resources, Rex's fintech community, Cambrian, has become a platform for fostering success. His exceptional understanding of the fintech landscape enables him to identify promising opportunities and support entrepreneurs on their journey. 🔗 Follow us:🏠Website : https://understandingvc.com/🤝🏻LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/company/understanding-vc/🎧 Spotify : https://open.spotify.com/show/1q7DxW3FEyP7EhH8m0VvAD🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/understanding-vc/id1551524895 💌 Connect with Rahul: 🤝🏻 LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/rahulthayyalamkandy/📩 Email : [email protected]🐣 Twitter : https://twitter.com/rahul0720 📍 About: Understanding VC is a podcast that provides founders with the knowledge and resources they need to understand venture capital. Our 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.

PitchMeNot 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, Founder and CEO of BrainSight, a startup that is building the google map of the brain. 🔗 Follow us:🏠Website : https://understandingvc.com/🤝🏻LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/company/understanding-vc/🎧 Spotify : https://open.spotify.com/show/1q7DxW3FEyP7EhH8m0VvAD🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/understanding-vc/id1551524895 💌 Connect with Rahul: 🤝🏻 LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/rahulthayyalamkandy/📩 Email : [email protected]🐣 Twitter : https://twitter.com/rahul0720 📍 About: Understanding VC is a podcast that provides founders with the knowledge and resources they need to understand venture capital. Our 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.

In 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 risk-taking and cost efficiency?How should startups think about growth, especially at the Series A stage, considering the previous growth strategies of startups?What are the current demands and changes in wealth management that require a new infrastructure?How can VCs overcome prejudices and biases in their investment decisions?What are the key factors in building relationships and trust in the VC industry?What aspects of VC will remain unchanged, such as the importance of networking and relationships?What new tools and technologies are emerging in VC to enhance deal sourcing, decision-making, and efficiency?About:Vlad Tropko is a Partner at Digital Horizon, a venture firm specializing in FinTech Infrastructure, B2B Software, and AI applications. With over 15 years of experience in the VC/PE industry, Vlad is a seasoned executive with a focus on investments in European and American startups. Throughout his career, he has successfully closed more than 50 deals, including notable acquisitions such as "Quantenna Communications" by OnSemiconductor and "Zipline International."Vlad is known for actively supporting immigrant and female founders, recognizing the unique perspectives, drive, and ambition that often accompany individuals who have migrated to new communities. He believes in the distinct vision, capabilities, and growth potential that arise from such experiences.Digital Horizon operates globally with offices in London, UK, and Tel Aviv, Israel. The firm's strong connections to local ecosystems enable an active investment approach and effective portfolio management. Their investment focus aligns with their specialization in FinTech Infrastructure, B2B Software, and AI applications. Digital Horizon's commitment to supporting founders with a migratory background stems from their belief in the transformative power and innovative ideas that emerge from diverse experiences. 🔗 Follow us:🏠Website : https://understandingvc.com/🤝🏻LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/company/understanding-vc/🎧 Spotify : https://open.spotify.com/show/1q7DxW3FEyP7EhH8m0VvAD🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/understanding-vc/id1551524895 💌 Connect with Rahul: 🤝🏻 LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/rahulthayyalamkandy/📩 Email : [email protected]🐣 Twitter : https://twitter.com/rahul0720 📍 About: Understanding VC is a podcast that provides founders with the knowledge and resources they need to understand venture capital. Our 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.

In 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 serendipity and quality of investments?How does Java Capital evaluate missed deals and learn from them?How does Java Capital support portfolio companies in hiring, business development and fundraising?Why does Java Capital focus on founders in smaller cities like Coimbatore?What excites Vinod the most about the future?About:Vinod Shankar is a Partner and Co-founder at Java Capital, an early stage venture capital firm based in India. With over 18 years of experience in venture capital, angel investing, retail marketing, technology, and startups, Vinod has established himself as a prominent figure in the industry. He has an extensive investment portfolio that includes successful ventures such as Agnikul, Eplane, Customfit, Daily Ninja, SandboxVR, and plasmic.Before co-founding Java Capital, Vinod managed the seed portfolio at Kalaari Capital, one of the leading venture capital firms in the country. Prior to that, he gained valuable experience as an entrepreneur, marketer, and technology developer while working at Emuzed, which was later acquired by Sequoia and KKR. He also contributed to the growth of JustBooks, a tech-led retail library chain. Vinod has been an active angel investor since 2013, supporting over 20 startups with his expertise and funding. 🔗 Follow us:🏠Website : https://understandingvc.com/🤝🏻LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/company/understanding-vc/🎧 Spotify : https://open.spotify.com/show/1q7DxW3FEyP7EhH8m0VvAD🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/understanding-vc/id1551524895 💌 Connect with Rahul: 🤝🏻 LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/rahulthayyalamkandy/📩 Email : [email protected]🐣 Twitter : https://twitter.com/rahul0720 📍 About: Understanding VC is a podcast that provides founders with the knowledge and resources they need to understand venture capital. Our 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.

PitchMeNot 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 companies automate their sales incentive and performance management.   🔗 Follow us:🏠Website : https://understandingvc.com/🤝🏻LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/company/understanding-vc/🎧 Spotify : https://open.spotify.com/show/1q7DxW3FEyP7EhH8m0VvAD🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/understanding-vc/id1551524895 💌 Connect with Rahul: 🤝🏻 LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/rahulthayyalamkandy/📩 Email : [email protected]🐣 Twitter : https://twitter.com/rahul0720 📍 About: Understanding VC is a podcast that provides founders with the knowledge and resources they need to understand venture capital. Our 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.

In 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 challenging environment?What are some strategies startups can employ to thrive during tough times?How should startups approach fundraising during such a period?AboutChandan Deep is the Vice President of Strategy and Operations on B Capital Group’s Platform team covering India and South East Asia. Chandan has a passion to build and operationalise businesses within the tech space and partners closely with founders of BCap’s portfolio companies to help them scale.Prior to B Capital, Chandan launched and grew Twitter’s commercial operations in emerging markets for Asia Pacific as the company commenced it’s monetisation journey post IPO. She also spent several years in management consulting with Accenture and the Boston Consulting Group. A keen champion of women in tech, she seeks to actively mentors young professionals and has previously led Twitter’s women chapter in Asia and co-founded Connected Women, a leadership forum to bring together women across Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Airbnb & Google.Chandan earned a B.A. in Economics from the Shri Ram College of Commerce and an M.B.A. from Faculty of Management Studies in Delhi. Raised in India, she now lives in Singapore with her husband and her two sons. She enjoys good food, design, décor and fitness. 🔗 Follow us:🏠Website : https://understandingvc.com/🤝🏻LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/company/understanding-vc/🎧 Spotify : https://open.spotify.com/show/1q7DxW3FEyP7EhH8m0VvAD🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/understanding-vc/id1551524895 💌 Connect with Rahul: 🤝🏻 LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/rahulthayyalamkandy/📩 Email : [email protected]🐣 Twitter : https://twitter.com/rahul0720 📍 About: Understanding VC is a podcast that provides founders with the knowledge and resources they need to understand venture capital. Our 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.

In 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 building companies in this space?How does Mikhail spend his time as a solo VC?What do people overvalue in venture that he doesn't? Why does he believe knowledge of finance is not as important at the early stages of a company?Why did Mikhail name the fund after his own name?About:Mikhail Taver is the founder and managing partner of Delaware-based Taver Capital, an international venture capital fund focused on investing in global artificial intelligence companies. In 20 years of top executive roles with major financial groups and industrial companies, he has closed over 250 M&A and private equity deals. He holds CFA, ACMA and CGMA certifications. 🔗 Follow us:🏠Website : https://understandingvc.com/🤝🏻LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/company/understanding-vc/🎧 Spotify : https://open.spotify.com/show/1q7DxW3FEyP7EhH8m0VvAD🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/understanding-vc/id1551524895 💌 Connect with Rahul: 🤝🏻 LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/rahulthayyalamkandy/📩 Email : [email protected]🐣 Twitter : https://twitter.com/rahul0720 📍 About: Understanding VC is a podcast that provides founders with the knowledge and resources they need to understand venture capital. Our 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.

In 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 portfolio companies and the overall business?What challenges arise when raising a fund, and how does the emotional aspect impact the fundraising process, particularly with high net worth individuals?What defines dual threat CEOs, and how do they potentially generate better returns compared to traditional VC fund managers?Why is self-reflection and learning from missed investment opportunities crucial for growth?Why does Erik's fund have a lower frequency of investments in consumer brands? What current trend in commerce enablement excites Erik the most?About:Erik Huberman, the CEO and Founder of Hawke Media, is a highly accomplished entrepreneur and marketing expert. In 2014, he launched Hawke Media, which has become the fastest growing marketing consultancy agency in the United States, now valued at over $150 million. Prior to this, Erik had already built and sold two successful e-commerce companies by the age of 26.Erik's business portfolio has continued to expand strategically, including several company acquisitions. In 2018, he launched Hawke Ventures, which achieved a closed single fund of $5.6 million. In 2020, Erik started his own podcast called HawkeTalk, and in 2021, he introduced HawkeZ, an agency specifically designed to help brands connect with Generation Z. Most recently, he authored a book titled "The Hawke Method."Erik's expertise and achievements have earned him recognition within the industry. He has been honored with accolades such as Forbes Magazine's 30Under30, CSQ's 40Under40, and Inc. Magazine's Top 25 Marketing Influencers, among others. 🔗 Follow us:🏠Website : https://understandingvc.com/🤝🏻LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/company/understanding-vc/🎧 Spotify : https://open.spotify.com/show/1q7DxW3FEyP7EhH8m0VvAD🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/understanding-vc/id1551524895 💌 Connect with Rahul: 🤝🏻 LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/rahulthayyalamkandy/📩 Email : [email protected]🐣 Twitter : https://twitter.com/rahul0720 📍 About: Understanding VC is a podcast that provides founders with the knowledge and resources they need to understand venture capital. Our 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.

In 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 indicators of a team that can successfully navigate the stages of product development according to Brian?How do Brian assess the market potential and customer interest in a startup's product?How does the focus on transportation affect the quality and nutrition of food? How does the current food system contribute to health crises?How does addressing climate change in the food system have both purpose-driven and profit-driven benefits?What approach should entrepreneurs take when entering the food and Agritech space?What are the potential future developments and investments in cell culturing and synthetic biology?What consumer behaviour in food according to Brian will become mainstream in the next five to ten years?What are the challenges faced by farmers today, and how can technology help address them? How can AI and technology help address labor shortages and augment human labor in agriculture?About:Brian is the Founder and General Partner of FTW Ventures. He is experienced in both Technology & Food, and understands the complexity of running startups at the intersection of these two, challenging spaces.Prior to founding FTW, Brian led 3 venture-backed businesses to successful exits and directed innovative products in communication, mobile, social & AI/ML for both startups & Fortune 500 Companies over his 20+ year career. 🔗 Follow us:🏠Website : https://understandingvc.com/🤝🏻LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/company/understanding-vc/🎧 Spotify : https://open.spotify.com/show/1q7DxW3FEyP7EhH8m0VvAD🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/understanding-vc/id1551524895 💌 Connect with Rahul: 🤝🏻 LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/rahulthayyalamkandy/📩 Email : [email protected]🐣 Twitter : https://twitter.com/rahul0720 📍 About: Understanding VC is a podcast that provides founders with the knowledge and resources they need to understand venture capital. Our 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.

In 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 it?Why is staying relevant in AI super important for all tech giants? What does Terry think about the opportunity for a startup to build the Next Trillion Dollar company in AI?What is the due diligence process of AIC like? What according to Terry is the most important trait of a founder?How can AI help with faster diagnosis and what are the challenges for a diagnostics AI business?What will be the consequences of generative AI tools in various sectors? What should individuals do to adapt to this change?About:Terry Chou is an accomplished investor with over 10 years of experience in venture capital and private equity. Her passion lies in investing and supporting entrepreneurs on their personal journeys. Terry's mission is to work with founders to bring disruptive AI technologies to the market, and she plays an essential role as a board member/observer of portfolio companies. As an investor at AIC, Terry has led advanced AI investments across regions with a focus on cybersecurity, FinTech, and SaaS. She joined AIC as an investor and founding member of Fund I in 2017 and has successfully led AIC's investments in several high-profile companies, including ReaQta, SenseTime, AI Music, QxBranch, Envelop Risk, Osaro, GetVisibility, and Vamstar. Before joining AIC, Terry spearheaded technology investments at VMS Investment Group, where she deployed over $180 million in investments in technology and health-tech investments, including notable investments such as iQiyi and Universal Medical Group Company. Terry holds a BSc in Economics from the London School of Economics and Political Science and is also a personal investor in K Health and Sandbox VR. She is an advocate for FemTech entrepreneurs and investors in the APAC region. 🔗 Follow us:🏠Website : https://understandingvc.com/🤝🏻LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/company/understanding-vc/🎧 Spotify : https://open.spotify.com/show/1q7DxW3FEyP7EhH8m0VvAD🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/understanding-vc/id1551524895 💌 Connect with Rahul: 🤝🏻 LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/rahulthayyalamkandy/📩 Email : [email protected]🐣 Twitter : https://twitter.com/rahul0720 📍 About: Understanding VC is a podcast that provides founders with the knowledge and resources they need to understand venture capital. Our 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.

In 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 Drew's experience at Salesforce contribute to his decision to become an entrepreneur?What advice does Drew have for entrepreneurs wanting to build a network?How can multi-threading and using relationships across the organization help in speeding up the sales cycle and improving conversions? What benefits can an entire sales team and company experience when everyone is leveraging relationships for sales?How does having a network help with recruitment? In what ways are recruitment, fundraising, and sales similar?Why are introductions important for entrepreneurs seeking funding from VCs?About:Drew Sechrist is a serial entrepreneur, veteran sales leader, and the CEO and co-founder of Connect The Dots.A cold email to Marc Benioff in 1999 landed Drew an account executive job at Salesforce, where he was employee number 36. Drew became the company’s highest-producing seller, then the highest-producing sales manager as Salesforce scaled from zero to more than a billion dollars in revenue.When Drew moved on in 2010, he was the VP of Salesforce’s High Tech vertical, calling on customers such as Apple and EMC. Drew launched his first tech company, Koozoo, in 2010. He went on to serve as an investor, advisor, and Chief Revenue Officer for various startups before founding Connect The Dots in 2019.As a young seller, leaders like Marc Benioff, Jim Steele, Carl Schachter, and Susan St. Ledger transformed Drew’s career by opening their networks and making warm introductions on Drew’s behalf. With Connect The Dots, Drew is making that experience possible for anyone. 🔗 Follow us:🏠Website : https://understandingvc.com/🤝🏻LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/company/understanding-vc/🎧 Spotify : https://open.spotify.com/show/1q7DxW3FEyP7EhH8m0VvAD🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/understanding-vc/id1551524895 💌 Connect with Rahul: 🤝🏻 LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/rahulthayyalamkandy/📩 Email : [email protected]🐣 Twitter : https://twitter.com/rahul0720 📍 About: Understanding VC is a podcast that provides founders with the knowledge and resources they need to understand venture capital. Our 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.

In 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 viewpoint need to become a consensus viewpoint for success?Why is Alex so convinced about crypto?How might crypto-based solutions enable better alignment of incentives between platform participants and the platform itself?About:Alex Felix is Chief Investment Officer and Managing Partner at CoinFund. CoinFund founded in 2015 and headquartered in New York City and Miami is a cryptonative investment firm and registered investment advisor. Prior to CoinFund, Alex was in Private Equity and worked at America Capital, Bank of America, RBS and Guggenheim Partners. 🔗 Follow us:🏠Website : https://understandingvc.com/🤝🏻LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/company/understanding-vc/🎧 Spotify : https://open.spotify.com/show/1q7DxW3FEyP7EhH8m0VvAD🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/understanding-vc/id1551524895 💌 Connect with Rahul: 🤝🏻 LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/rahulthayyalamkandy/📩 Email : [email protected]🐣 Twitter : https://twitter.com/rahul0720 📍 About: Understanding VC is a podcast that provides founders with the knowledge and resources they need to understand venture capital. Our 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.

In 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 InsureTech reduce costs and increase convenience?Why is building trust important for new insurers? What can new insurers do to build trust with their customers?How can standardized data provided by the health stack help insurers create better products and outcomes?What is the current state of venture in India and what positive changes are expected in the ecosystem?About:Shwetank Verma is the Co-Founder, and General Partner at Leo Capital. Shwetank leads Leo Capital's investments in South East Asia and supports the India investments. Based in Singapore, he is a frequent visitor to India and is personally passionate about health-tech and insurtech opportunities. Prior to his role at Leo Capital, Shwetank was the head of open innovation at MetLife Asia, where he established and managed Collab, a platform for matching the best technology startups with the right problem statements in the enterprise. He also served as an adviser on open innovation to several Fortune 500 companies.  🔗 Follow us:🏠Website : https://understandingvc.com/🤝🏻LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/company/understanding-vc/🎧 Spotify : https://open.spotify.com/show/1q7DxW3FEyP7EhH8m0VvAD🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/understanding-vc/id1551524895 💌 Connect with Rahul: 🤝🏻 LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/rahulthayyalamkandy/📩 Email : [email protected]🐣 Twitter : https://twitter.com/rahul0720 📍 About: Understanding VC is a podcast that provides founders with the knowledge and resources they need to understand venture capital. Our 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.

In 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 investment?How does FinTech relate to e-commerce in Vietnam and what are some challenges in investing in FinTech?What are the three Cs that Valerie is bringing to the Vietnam startup ecosystem, and how is she using content creation through her TikTok channel and podcast to change the perception of startups and venture capital in Vietnam, and reach a wider audience?What is Valerie doing to build a community and bridge the gap between Vietnam and the Vietnamese diaspora?What motivates the interest of overseas Vietnamese and people of Vietnamese origin in building startups and contributing to their home country?AboutValerie founded Ansible Ventures, a seed fund dedicated to Vietnam in 2022. Previously, she served as Vietnam Country Head for Venturra Capital, where she led over a dozen investments from 2020 to early 2022. From 2016 to 2019, she worked at Deloitte U.S. as a senior consultant where she advised hedge funds, private equity funds and other investment management clients. Valerie graduated magna cum laude in 2016 from Temple University’s Fox School of Business with a major in accounting and is a Certified Public Accountant licensed in Pennsylvania. She also founded Career Opportunities in Vietnam (COVN), providing advice to aspiring professionals and co-hosted Forward Vietnam Podcast. 🔗 Follow us:🏠Website : https://understandingvc.com/🤝🏻LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/company/understanding-vc/🎧 Spotify : https://open.spotify.com/show/1q7DxW3FEyP7EhH8m0VvAD🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/understanding-vc/id1551524895 💌 Connect with Rahul: 🤝🏻 LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/rahulthayyalamkandy/📩 Email : [email protected]🐣 Twitter : https://twitter.com/rahul0720 📍 About: Understanding VC is a podcast that provides founders with the knowledge and resources they need to understand venture capital. Our 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.

In 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 evaluating a startup, why does Anjali prioritize assessing the team over analyzing markets?Does consumer behaviour evolve over time, or does human psychology follow a hierarchy of needs, according to Anjali?Why does Anjali think that women should build more consumer products?What are the reasons behind the focus on vanity metrics and growth at all costs before VCs started focusing on profitability and real metrics, and how can this be avoided in the future to build sustainable businesses?AboutAnjali Sosale is a Partner at WaterBridge Ventures, an India-focused seed to series A fund that invests in early-stage technology companies. With a focus on consumer tech, e-commerce, marketplaces, and all enablers to Indian Consumer Demand, Anjali is dedicated to finding and supporting innovative startups that are changing the way Indians transact online. She is particularly interested in products that can enable the next half billion rural Indian Internet users to engage in e-commerce. 🔗 Follow us:🏠Website : https://understandingvc.com/🤝🏻LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/company/understanding-vc/🎧 Spotify : https://open.spotify.com/show/1q7DxW3FEyP7EhH8m0VvAD🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/understanding-vc/id1551524895 💌 Connect with Rahul: 🤝🏻 LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/rahulthayyalamkandy/📩 Email : [email protected]🐣 Twitter : https://twitter.com/rahul0720 📍 About: Understanding VC is a podcast that provides founders with the knowledge and resources they need to understand venture capital. Our 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.

In 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 startups are poised for success in this decade?Do all neo banks face challenges with customer trust and what factors are preventing them from competing with traditional banks?What are Sheel's plans for scaling Better Tomorrow Ventures in the coming years?AboutSheel Mohnot is a Co-Founder & Partner at Better Tomorrow Ventures, a seed-focused venture capital firm that invests in transformative fintech companies founded by exceptional individuals across the world. With its second set of funds amounting to approximately $225M, Better Tomorrow Ventures is dedicated to investing in innovative ideas that can revolutionize the fintech industry. Sheel's exclusive focus on fintech investment dates back to 2015, following a couple of successful FinTech exits. Sheel has also co-founded the podcast "The Pitch," which was acquired by Gimlet Media / Spotify and attracts around 100k weekly listeners. Additionally, Sheel has co-founded Thistle, a food company that serves tens of thousands of customers every week. 🔗 Follow us:🏠Website : https://understandingvc.com/🤝🏻LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/company/understanding-vc/🎧 Spotify : https://open.spotify.com/show/1q7DxW3FEyP7EhH8m0VvAD🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/understanding-vc/id1551524895 💌 Connect with Rahul: 🤝🏻 LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/rahulthayyalamkandy/📩 Email : [email protected]🐣 Twitter : https://twitter.com/rahul0720 📍 About: Understanding VC is a podcast that provides founders with the knowledge and resources they need to understand venture capital. Our 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.

In 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 mistake made by founders or founding teams?Why is the "spray and pray" investment strategy unsustainable, according to Dave?Why does Capria Ventures focus on the global south, and is it possible for this region to achieve the same level of wealth as the global north over time?AboutDave Richards is Co-Founder & Managing Partner of Capria Ventures. Dave is an experienced entrepreneur, operating executive, and venture capital investor. He co-founded Capria Ventures in 2012 and has since made 60+ investments in early- and early-growth tech startups across the Global South -- India, SE Asia, Latin America, and Africa. Previously, Dave led Unitus Group, a leading early venture catalyst and capital investor in microfinance in the Global South. He has also held business operating leadership roles with RealNetworks, Sybase, and Symantec managing large global teams and building multiple zero to $100M technology-led businesses in digital media, databases, and business productivity tools. Dave received his Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of British Columbia. 🔗 Follow us:🏠Website : https://understandingvc.com/🤝🏻LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/company/understanding-vc/🎧 Spotify : https://open.spotify.com/show/1q7DxW3FEyP7EhH8m0VvAD🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/understanding-vc/id1551524895 💌 Connect with Rahul: 🤝🏻 LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/rahulthayyalamkandy/📩 Email : [email protected]🐣 Twitter : https://twitter.com/rahul0720 📍 About: Understanding VC is a podcast that provides founders with the knowledge and resources they need to understand venture capital. Our 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.

In 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 stages?What does Sergey think about the cybersecurity industry, since Flint Capital has invested in a bunch of cybersec startups?What are Sergey’s thoughts on OpenAI?Is the future of tech exciting, considering the recent layoffs at big companies?AboutSergey Gribov is an experienced technology entrepreneur and investor, currently serving as a Partner at Flint Capital, an early-stage venture fund with a global focus on investing in startups across Israel, the USA, and Europe. With over 20 years of experience in the industry, Sergey has been involved in many successful startups as a founder or top manager in the U.S. and Israel. Notably, he was part of the founding team at Vivox and served as the Director of R&D and Operations. Sergey has a diverse background in various IT sectors including software development, cybersecurity, digital health, and fintech. He holds an MBA from MIT Sloan School of Management and a B.Sc. in Computer Science from Beer-Sheva University, and has also studied Computer Science at the University of Ben Gurion (Israel). In addition to his professional accomplishments, Sergey is also a licensed pilot and Bareboat IYT Skipper. Currently, he serves as an investor and board member at companies such as Socure, Cyolo, Sensi.ai, XRHealth, and others. 🔗 Follow us:🏠Website : https://understandingvc.com/🤝🏻LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/company/understanding-vc/🎧 Spotify : https://open.spotify.com/show/1q7DxW3FEyP7EhH8m0VvAD🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/understanding-vc/id1551524895 💌 Connect with Rahul: 🤝🏻 LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/rahulthayyalamkandy/📩 Email : [email protected]🐣 Twitter : https://twitter.com/rahul0720 📍 About: Understanding VC is a podcast that provides founders with the knowledge and resources they need to understand venture capital. Our 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.

In 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 it help startups?Why is it important for VCs to support their portfolio companies when there are leading indicators of a crisis?Why is building trust with founders important for a VC to ensure that they are taken seriously and not create friction?What is M13's investment thesis, and why do they prefer to back startups that are building infrastructure layers?What are some common mistakes made by the teams and founders of infrastructure layer startups, and how can they be avoided?What does Karl mean when he says, "The value I seek can only be realized at scale," and what kind of startups is he looking for?How should startups strategize their fundraising and operations during an economic downturn like the one we are experiencing now?AboutAs DigitalOcean's COO, Karl built the business from first product to >500 employees & $250M ARR over six years and prepared it for its eventual IPO (NYSE: DOCN). Having previously managed and exited two startups over a 20 year operating career, Karl is now M13’s managing partner and oversees its day-to-day operations. 🔗 Follow us:🏠Website : https://understandingvc.com/🤝🏻LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/company/understanding-vc/🎧 Spotify : https://open.spotify.com/show/1q7DxW3FEyP7EhH8m0VvAD🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/understanding-vc/id1551524895 💌 Connect with Rahul: 🤝🏻 LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/rahulthayyalamkandy/📩 Email : [email protected]🐣 Twitter : https://twitter.com/rahul0720 📍 About: Understanding VC is a podcast that provides founders with the knowledge and resources they need to understand venture capital. Our 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.