Understanding VC

Rahul

Understanding VC is a podcast that provides founders with the knowledge and resources they need to understand venture capital. My 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. read less
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Episodes

Tackling Founder Conflicts with Will Klippgen
Yesterday
Tackling Founder Conflicts with Will Klippgen
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.
Inside Venture Studios with Sam Hall
1w ago
Inside Venture Studios with Sam Hall
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.
Photonic Computing: Breakthroughs, Challenges and Insights with Denis Kalinin
20-02-2024
Photonic Computing: Breakthroughs, Challenges and Insights with Denis Kalinin
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.
Understanding the Shifting Landscape of Fundraising Negotiations in India with Mehak Khanna from Khaitan & Khaitan
13-12-2023
Understanding the Shifting Landscape of Fundraising Negotiations in India with Mehak Khanna from Khaitan & Khaitan
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.
Building a VC Firm to Last | Hussein Kanji from Hoxton Ventures
04-12-2023
Building a VC Firm to Last | Hussein Kanji from Hoxton Ventures
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.
Understanding Voluntary Carbon Markets with Maryanna Saenko from Future Ventures
30-11-2023
Understanding Voluntary Carbon Markets with Maryanna Saenko from Future Ventures
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.
Why solo capitalists are winning with Itamar Novick from Recursive Ventures
07-11-2023
Why solo capitalists are winning with Itamar Novick from Recursive Ventures
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.
Understanding Due Diligence for Early Stage Startups with Caroline Casson from Vitalize VC
04-10-2023
Understanding Due Diligence for Early Stage Startups with Caroline Casson from Vitalize VC
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.
Investing in Quantum Computing: VC's Perspective with Ion Hauer from Apex Ventures
15-08-2023
Investing in Quantum Computing: VC's Perspective with Ion Hauer from Apex Ventures
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.
UVC: Brian Nichols from Angel Squad on What Angel Investing Is, How to Do It Well, and Why Angel Invest
08-08-2023
UVC: Brian Nichols from Angel Squad on What Angel Investing Is, How to Do It Well, and Why Angel Invest
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.
UVC: Nitin Sharma from Antler on the Evolution of His Definition of Impact, the VC Industry in India, the Future of EdTech, How Antler India is Addressing Pain Points for Founders, and the Potential Benefits of ONDC
03-08-2023
UVC: Nitin Sharma from Antler on the Evolution of His Definition of Impact, the VC Industry in India, the Future of EdTech, How Antler India is Addressing Pain Points for Founders, and the Potential Benefits of ONDC
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.
UVC: Melody Koh from NextView Ventures on navigating early stage venture investing, empowering exceptional founders, fostering trust with founders and investing in the everyday economy
01-08-2023
UVC: Melody Koh from NextView Ventures on navigating early stage venture investing, empowering exceptional founders, fostering trust with founders and investing in the everyday economy
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.
UVC: Rex Salisbury from Cambrian on the evolution of Cambrian community, the rise of vertical SaaS & embedded finance, and the impact of AI on financial services
12-07-2023
UVC: Rex Salisbury from Cambrian on the evolution of Cambrian community, the rise of vertical SaaS & embedded finance, and the impact of AI on financial services
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.