About this episode

At just 14, Justis Mendez survived a harrowing kidnapping. By 27, he became one of the youngest Hispanic Founding GPs in U.S. venture capital. In this riveting episode of 9x90™, Adi Soozin sits down with Justis to unpack how trauma fueled his relentless drive—leading to the creation of OneSixOne Ventures and the successful raise of a $5M fund focused on overlooked founders and frontier tech.

From building a thriving startup community in Miami to structuring a fund that gives him freedom, Justis shares how he and his team are leveraging deep tech, AI, and their youth to gain an edge. They discuss what VCs really look for in founders, why underestimated investors can punch above their weight, and how emerging GPs can build visibility and traction early.

This is more than a startup story—it’s a masterclass in resilience, vision, and strategic execution.

👉 Learn how to pitch Justis, hear their strategy for Fund Two, and walk away with actionable insights whether you’re a founder, investor, or future GP.

About this guest

For those of you who do not know Justis Mendez, he …

1. From Kidnapped Teen to Founding GP: Justis Mendez survived a traumatic kidnapping at age 14 and went on to become one of the youngest Hispanic founding general partners in the U.S. venture capital landscape.
   
2. Raised a $5M Fund by Age 27: As co-founder of OneSixOne Ventures, Justis raised and deployed a $5 million venture fund focused on early-stage, high-growth startups—with an emphasis on overlooked founders and frontier innovation.
   
3. Backing Disruptors, Building Community: Through OneSixOne Ventures, Justis has supported numerous founders across tech and SaaS, while also building a tight-knit community of operators, investors, and technologists in Miami and beyond.

Read more at 9x90.co/Justis-Mendez