Building a Badass Firm: Samara Hernandez on Her Journey with Chingona Ventures | Alone Together

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Alone Together: The Story of Solo Venture Capitalists

Sidecut Ventures

12 episodes

6 hours ago

Alone Together reveals the personal journeys of today’s solo General Partners—investors who dare to go it alone. Hosted by Mike Ma, founder of Sidecut Ventures, each episode dives into the triumphs, challenges, and camaraderie that shape these emerging one-person firms. Far from lone wolves, solo GPs are forging a dynamic community—driving innovation for founders, limited partners, and other venture investors. Tune in to discover how these independent fund managers are reshaping the venture ecosystem—and why going solo doesn’t mean going it alone.

Investing

Business

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All content for Alone Together: The Story of Solo Venture Capitalists is the property of Sidecut Ventures and is served directly from their servers with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.

Investing

Business

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Building a Badass Firm: Samara Hernandez on Her Journey with Chingona Ventures | Alone Together | S1E2

Alone Together: The Story of Solo Venture Capitalists

52 minutes 53 seconds

9 months ago

Building a Badass Firm: Samara Hernandez on Her Journey with Chingona Ventures | Alone Together | S1E2

This episode of Alone Together is special—because when LPs ask me, Who do you look up to as a solo GP?, my answer is immediate: Chingona Ventures.

Samara Hernandez isn’t just one of the most impressive investors in the game—she’s been an inspiration, a blueprint, and, I’ll be honest, a bit of a North Star for me as I build Sidecut Ventures. From the moment I started my journey, I’ve admired how she’s blazed a trail for solo GPs, building something unmistakably her own. And let’s be real: she literally puts badass woman right on her front door. That’s no accident—that’s a statement.

I’m also honored to co-invest alongside her in Viva and Papaya, two incredible companies that further prove what I’ve always believed: when Samara backs a founder, it means something.

In this conversation, we get real about:
-How she fearlessly built Chingona Ventures from scratch
- The discipline and structure that make her a machine (and why I’m straight-up stealing her systems)
- How she wins over LPs who hesitate on solo GPs (and whether she’s ever changed someone’s mind)
- What it felt like fundraising while literally having a baby (and how her processes held up under the ultimate stress test)
- The hard moments—because, yes, even Chingonas have low points
- The mental game of solo GP life (including therapy, scheduled downtime, and saying no to the right things)
- How she sees the market evolving—and what she’s eyeing next

Samara is proof that this game isn’t just about capital—it’s about conviction, clarity, and sheer force of will. And in this episode, she brings it all. If you’re a solo GP, an aspiring investor, or just someone trying to figure out how to carve your own path, you do not want to miss this.

Go to https://www.chingona.ventures/ to find out more about Chingona Ventures.

Chapters

00:00 - Introduction to the Podcast and Guest

01:52 - Samara's Journey into Venture Capital

05:49 - Personal Background and Its Influence

10:08 - Overcoming Challenges and Low Points

17:31 - Navigating the Solo GP Landscape

23:08 - Changing Perceptions of Solo GPs

26:22 - Efficiency in Solo GP Operations

27:53 - The Importance of Process and Transparency

29:59 - Evolving Investment Processes

33:45 - Continuous Improvement in Decision Making

36:12 - Incorporating Team Perspectives

43:06 - Balancing Parenthood and Professionalism

50:57 - New Chapter