In this episode, Evan Schlossman, a venture investor at SuRo Capital, provides a detailed look into the world of late-stage venture investing through the unique lens of a publicly traded investment vehicle. Evan discusses his journey from a pre-med student and Deloitte consultant to a VC focused on AI infrastructure, highlighting the critical skills of curiosity and adaptability that bridge these fields. He breaks down how SuRo Capital operates, offering retail investors access to innovative private companies like CoreWeave and OpenAI, and explains the firm's investment criteria for market-leading, high-growth companies typically valued over $1 billion. Evan also shares invaluable advice for those seeking to enter venture capital, emphasizing the power of taking a point of view, thoughtful networking, and the importance of understanding broader market trends while executing with speed. This conversation is packed with insights for aspiring investors, operators, and anyone interested in the mechanics of late-stage tech investing and portfolio construction.#VentureCapital #AIInvesting #LateStageVC #SuRoCapital #PortfolioConstruction #CareerAdvice #TechnologyInvesting #PublicMarkets

Maxwell Nee, Chairman of Family Office Insiders, provides an exclusive deep dive into the unique dynamics of Asia's family office ecosystem from his base in Singapore. In this candid conversation, Maxwell shares his journey from a traditional real estate and private credit background to building one of Singapore's largest unmonetized family office networks, which now includes over 200 families. He reveals the critical differences between 'new money' and established local families, discusses why Singapore attracts ultra-high-net-worth individuals beyond just tax benefits, and breaks down the sectors—like climate tech and deep tech—garnering real attention. Maxwell also offers invaluable advice on cultivating a high-trust, value-driven community, the pitfalls of transactional event models, and the profound importance of patience and impeccable team selection when deploying patient capital. This episode is essential listening for allocators, fund managers, and anyone seeking to understand the authentic flow of capital and relationships in Asian markets.#FamilyOffice #AsiaInvesting #Singapore #WealthManagement #VentureCapital #PrivateEquity #HighNetWorth #CapitalAllocation

Benjamin Ehrlich, founder of First Momentum Capital and an experienced Limited Partner (LP), joins the show to unpack the strategy and insights behind building a successful fund of funds. He shares his unique journey from a serendipitous introduction to startups at the University of Michigan to his pivotal work with Eric Ries at the Long-Term Stock Exchange, which ultimately led him to discover his passion for investing in emerging VC managers. Benjamin breaks down the core of his investment philosophy, discussing portfolio construction, the evolving role of AI in venture capital, and the critical differences between seed and Series A investing. He also offers pragmatic advice for aspiring fund managers on defining a "minimum viable fund," the importance of adaptability, and how to leverage content to build a high-quality network. This episode is packed with actionable wisdom for asset allocators, fund managers, and anyone interested in the mechanics of early-stage venture capital.#VentureCapital #FundofFunds #LP #StartupInvesting #EmergingManagers #AI #PortfolioConstruction #FirstMomentumCapital

In this episode, Joel sits down with Chee-We Ng, Partner at Oakseed Ventures, to explore his remarkable transition from a cybersecurity prodigy and MIT engineer to a leading seed-stage investor in AI and cybersecurity. Chee-We shares his journey from creating a “good” computer virus as a teenager to building classified encryption systems for the Singapore government, before pivoting through an MBA, McKinsey, and corporate venture at Cisco. He delves into the complexities of the cybersecurity landscape, detailing how Oakseed identifies stealth founders tackling massive unmet needs with deep technical expertise and strong business acumen. Listeners will gain valuable insights into thematic investing, founder evaluation, and the nuanced challenges of launching and differentiating a venture fund in today’s competitive market.#VentureCapital #Cybersecurity #AI #SeedStage #Investing #Startups #MIT #OakseedVentures

In this episode, Joel sits down with Teppei Tsutsui, General Partner of the GFR Fund, to explore his unique journey from an international relations student to a leading investor in the global gaming ecosystem. Teppei shares his path through Mitsubishi and Morgan Stanley, detailing how he leveraged his experience in cross-border corporate strategy and investment banking to co-found a venture fund dedicated to consumer tech and gaming. He breaks down GFR's investment philosophy, focusing on founders who build organic communities over paid user acquisition, and dives into the evolving landscape of PC and mobile gaming, AI's transformative role in content creation, and emerging trends in personalized entertainment. Listeners will gain valuable insights into deal sourcing, the dynamics of corporate venture capital, and the macro forces shaping the next generation of interactive experiences.

In this episode, Joel engages with Justin Brodie-Kommit, General Partner at Lichen Ventures, to unpack his journey from a Johns Hopkins PhD in molecular biology to a dedicated climate hard tech investor. Justin discusses the pivotal transition from academia and biotech at Genentech to building an angel portfolio of 86 companies and launching his own venture fund. The conversation delves into the critical importance of unit economics and capital efficiency in deep tech, the process of sourcing and vetting breakthrough climate solutions, and the power of community building—from growing a local meetup to over 600 members to co-founding DC Climate Week. Justin also shares his investment thesis focused on high-impact sectors like industrial decarbonization, biomanufacturing, and climate adaptation, offering key insights for founders and investors navigating the climate tech landscape.

In this episode, we sit down with Connor Drake, Senior Coach and Head of Content at MindMaven, to explore how leaders in high-pressure industries like private equity and venture capital can reclaim their most valuable resource: time. Connor unpacks the principles of "radical delegation," a strategic approach that helps executives free up over twelve hours each week by optimizing how they work with executive assistants and leverage emerging AI tools. He delves into the critical importance of intentional relationship management for fundraising, deal flow, and team culture, sharing actionable frameworks for maintaining mindshare with key stakeholders and systematizing authentic connection. Connor also provides concrete tactics for implementing inbox shadowing, AI-powered meeting debriefs, and structured white-space time, demonstrating how to shift from reactive busywork to high-impact leadership. This conversation is essential for any founder, investor, or executive looking to scale their influence, protect their mental bandwidth, and build a more sustainable, impactful career.#RadicalDelegation #ExecutiveProductivity #VentureCapital #PrivateEquity #TimeManagement #AIAutomation #Leadership #RelationshipManagement

In this episode, we sit down with Rick Pedersen, Vice Chairman and Chief Strategy Officer at Bow River Capital, a seasoned institutional investor with decades of experience spanning consulting, real estate, and private asset management. Rick shares his unique perspective on building a career through curiosity and embracing discomfort, offering invaluable advice for both emerging managers and institutional LPs. We dive into the evolution of endowment investing, the critical importance of cross-disciplinary collaboration within a firm, and how to assess manager competence beyond track records. Rick also provides a macro outlook on the AI-driven infrastructure boom in the "Rodeo Region" and discusses the essential blend of technical skill, communication, and humility needed to build a lasting investment culture. Whether you're navigating fund launches, LP relationships, or leadership development, this conversation is packed with strategic insights for the modern allocator and asset manager.#PrivateEquity #AssetManagement #InvestmentStrategy #InstitutionalInvesting #BowRiverCapital #PortfolioConstruction #AITrends #LeadershipDevelopment

In this episode, we speak with Scott Sherman, Managing Partner at Mesa Lane Capital Partners, a firm dedicated to seeding and supporting the next generation of emerging venture capital managers. Drawing on nearly two decades of experience at institutions like Blackstone and Tiger Management, Scott shares invaluable insights on what makes a successful emerging GP, from the critical importance of specialized expertise and founder-GP fit to the operational and strategic support that can accelerate a firm's trajectory. We dive deep into the nuances of early-stage venture investing, discuss how to build durable firm culture and leadership, and explore why now is a compelling time for allocators to consider emerging manager exposure. Whether you're an aspiring manager, an investor evaluating GP partnerships, or building a career in asset management, this conversation is packed with actionable wisdom on navigating the venture ecosystem with integrity and impact.#VentureCapital #EmergingManagers #GPSeeding #StartupInvesting #FundStrategy #AssetManagement #MesaLaneCapital #InvestorInsights

In this episode, we sit down with Jeremy D. Held, CFA, Managing Director at Bow River Capital, who leads the firm’s registered asset management and evergreen private equity strategies. With over three decades in asset management, Jeremy shares his journey from teaching English abroad to overseeing billions in assets, and delves into the transformative trends in private markets. We explore the rise of evergreen investment structures, how they democratize access to diversified private equity portfolios, and why specialized expertise is critical in sectors like defense tech, software, and AI. Jeremy also offers invaluable insights on building a strong firm culture, attracting next-generation talent through reverse mentorship, and the evolving DNA of a successful private equity investor in a hyper-competitive landscape. Whether you’re an allocator, entrepreneur, or investor, this conversation provides a masterclass in navigating the modern private equity ecosystem.#PrivateEquity #EvergreenFunds #AssetManagement #VentureCapital #BowRiverCapital #InvestingStrategy #AITrends #PortfolioDiversification

In this episode, we dive deep with Hasan Haider, Founder and Managing Partner of Plus Venture Capital, a pioneering early-stage VC firm focused on the MENA region. Hasan shares his accidental journey into venture capital, from launching one of the first angel investment groups in the Middle East to partnering with 500 Startups and eventually founding his own firm. He offers invaluable insights into building a venture ecosystem from the ground up, the evolving startup landscape in MENA, and the unique challenges and opportunities of investing in emerging markets. Learn about his hands-on approach to backing execution-focused founders, the critical role of secondary exits, and why he believes the MENA region is on the cusp of a major tech transformation.#VentureCapital #MENAStartups #TechInvesting #EmergingMarkets #StartupEcosystem #FounderAdvice #VCInsights #PrivateEquity

In this episode, we're joined by Anton Fedorov, Partner at Flashpoint VC, for a fascinating look at his journey from laser physicist and prop desk trader to a seasoned venture capitalist. Anton delves into the unique parallels between running physics experiments and building a VC portfolio, explaining Flashpoint's focused strategy on B2B software and its evolution to include AI and climate tech. We explore the critical importance of founder-market fit, the hunt for proprietary data moats in the age of AI, and the quantitative, risk-reward approach they apply to Series A investing. Anton also shares invaluable advice for emerging fund managers on the necessity of constant fundraising, perpetual curiosity, and building systemic alpha. This conversation is a masterclass in adapting investment theses and the relentless hustle required to build a multi-fund, multi-product venture firm.#VentureCapital #B2BSoftware #AIInvesting #StartupFunding #Fundraising #TechStartups #PrivateEquity #VCStrategy

In this episode, we sit down with David Miller, CIO of the $13 billion asset management firm Catalyst Funds, for a masterclass in portfolio strategy and firm building. David shares his unique journey from a childhood fascination with stocks to founding a successful mutual fund company, detailing the critical lessons learned from navigating the 2008 financial crisis and the power of true diversification beyond simple stock picking. We dive deep into his strategic approach of combining uncorrelated, alpha-generating strategies to enhance returns while mitigating risk, his insights on leveraging external talent through sub-advisory partnerships, and his practical advice for using AI as a powerful analytical tool. David also offers invaluable wisdom from his experiences, including a personal anecdote from Warren Buffett on finding undervalued opportunities. This conversation is essential listening for any investor or asset manager looking to refine their strategy and build a resilient investment business.#AssetManagement #InvestingStrategy #PortfolioManagement #RiskManagement #Diversification #HedgeFunds #AIinFinance #InvestmentAdvice

In this episode, we sit down with Aaron Kirchoff, a former US Air Force officer and seasoned institutional asset manager, now leading 1180 Partners. Aaron shares his unique journey from military financial management to a decade at Earnest Partners and his strategic pivot into the alternatives space. He provides a masterclass in building an investment firm from the ground up, emphasizing the critical importance of a clear value proposition, unwavering conviction, and a definable edge. Aaron breaks down the three essential components for attracting institutional capital: identifying key decision-makers, having the necessary track record and infrastructure, and aligning your strategy with an allocator's specific needs. He also offers invaluable career advice for aspiring fund managers, highlighting the power of long-term planning, professional designations like the CFA, and the mindset required to "outwork self-doubt" in a competitive industry.#HedgeFund #AssetManagement #InvestmentStrategy #VentureCapital #PortfolioManagement #CFA #AlternativeInvestments #CareerAdvice

In this episode, we sit down with Joe Tigay, Portfolio Manager for the Catalyst Hedged Equity Fund and a former VIX options market maker on the Chicago Board of Options Exchange. Joe brings a unique perspective from the trading pits to portfolio management, detailing his long-volatility, hedged equity strategy that provides risk-managed exposure to mega-cap tech leaders like NVIDIA, Microsoft, and Google. He breaks down the mechanics of combining long equity positions with a strategic long volatility component, creating a built-in "sell high, buy low" mechanism for the portfolio. Joe also shares his insights on the current AI investment landscape, his bullish outlook on big tech's reinvestment into AI, and why he considers Google a top pick. He offers invaluable advice on maintaining emotional consistency in trading, the importance of having a definable edge, and why understanding market participant psychology remains a crucial, human-driven skill even in the age of AI.

In this episode, we sit down with Ben Parr, General Partner at Theory Forge Ventures and President/Co-founder of Octane AI. A former editor at Mashable and author of "Captivology," Ben brings a unique lens to the world of AI investing and entrepreneurship. We dive into his journey from journalism to founding a profitable AI platform, the future of AI in editorial and e-commerce, and his tactical advice for founders on achieving product-market fit, storytelling, and resilience. Ben shares invaluable insights from the front lines of AI venture capital, discussing why "AI founders backing AI founders" is a powerful model and how tenacity is the ultimate founder superpower. A must-listen for anyone in tech, startups, or investing.

The race to build a self-driving future is on, but who is funding the brains behind the bots? This episode, we sit down with Lynn Greenberg of Autonomy Ventures, a New York-based VC that has been betting on intelligent machines since 2016.We dive deep into the world of early-stage investing in artificial intelligence, robotics, and autonomous mobility. Lynn pulls back the curtain on what it takes for a seed or Series A startup to stand out in these complex, capital-intensive fields. How does she separate true technological breakthroughs from mere hype?From the sensors that guide a self-driving car to the AI that powers an autonomous warehouse, we explore the critical challenges and massive opportunities that define this sector. Get an insider's view on the trends shaping the next wave of automation and the foundational tech that will power our autonomous future.Key Takeaways:The Early-Stage Edge: Why Autonomy Ventures focuses on seed and Series A and how they identify foundational tech in AI and robotics.Beyond Self-Driving Cars: Exploring the vast landscape of autonomous mobility, from logistics and drones to last-mile delivery.The Founder's Playbook: The key traits Lynn looks for in teams tackling the immense technical and regulatory hurdles of autonomy.The New York Tech Scene: How a flagship NYC firm is carving out a niche in a field often associated with Silicon Valley.The Future is Now: Insights into the most promising and overlooked applications of AI and robotics that are poised for growth.

What if your bank account could help you live a longer, healthier life? This episode, we sit down with Sergey Balasanyan, the CEO of Longevity Card, who is on a mission to completely redefine the purpose of banking.We dive into his vision for the world's first age-tech bank, a platform that merges financial health with physical well-being. Sergey explains how Longevity Card uses data science and AI to create financial products specifically designed for people planning to live longer, more vibrant lives. This isn't just another mobile banking app; it's a proactive system aimed at helping you maintain your financial stability and physical health for decades to come.Get ready for a fascinating conversation about the future of fintech, the intersection of health and wealth, and how Sergey's team is building a safer, easier, and more personalized banking experience for the era of human longevity.Key Takeaways:The Longevity Bank Revolution: An inside look at the first bank designed from the ground up to serve a 100-year lifespan.Health Meets Wealth: How your financial data and health habits can be integrated to create personalized products and insights for a longer, higher-functioning life.The Age-Tech Ecosystem: Exploring the convergence of AgeTech, HealthTech, and Data Science within a financial services framework.The Future of Personal Finance: A look at the new financial products being developed for a generation that expects to live and work longer than any before it.Building a Mission-Driven Fintech: The strategy and vision behind creating a banking experience that is safer, easier, and fundamentally focused on your long-term well-being.

What does it take to build a thriving startup ecosystem far from Silicon Valley? This episode, we sit down with Jack, a founding partner at More Ventures, who has been helping build Israel into a global tech powerhouse for over two decades.Jack brings a unique operator's perspective, having lived through the highs of a NASDAQ IPO as a VP at Register.com. He reveals how that experience shapes his approach as a VC today—not just as a source of capital, but as a trusted advisor and a dedicated recruiter for the founders he backs. We explore his investments in companies like WeissBeerger (acquired by AB InBev) and Emefcy, and learn why he considers helping young talent launch their careers one of his most rewarding jobs.From coaching little league in Israel to chairing a community school, Jack also shares how his passions outside of venture capital enrich his work and his life, creating a powerful model for a fulfilling career.Key Takeaways:The Operator-Investor Edge: How the firsthand experience of a NASDAQ IPO informs a deeply empathetic and practical approach to venture capital.Building the Israeli Tech Miracle: An insider's perspective on two decades of investing in and contributing to Israel's vibrant startup ecosystem.The Talent Scout: Why Jack considers recruiting and mentoring young talent for portfolio companies a core part of his VC strategy and a personal passion.The Trusted Advisor Role: What it means to be a true partner to founders, going beyond the boardroom to support teams through the entire journey.Life Beyond the Deal: How community involvement, like coaching and education, creates a more balanced and impactful life and career.

The future of healthcare is here, and it's being written at the intersection of big data and human biology. In this episode, we sit down with Jason, a strategist and angel investor who is guiding companies through this seismic shift.We dive into how the industry is evolving to consume a massive spectrum of data—from genomics to economic trends—and use AI to deliver real-time clinical interventions. Jason breaks down his rigorous process for helping companies build an executable vision, shift their business models, and create unshakeable competitive differentiation.As a co-fund manager of the San Diego Angel Conference and a mentor with the NexCubed Digital Health Accelerator, Jason also provides an insider's view of the startup ecosystem. This is a must-listen for anyone looking to understand how data, strategy, and investment are converging to create the next generation of healthcare breakthroughs.Key Takeaways:The Data-Driven Healthcare Revolution: How the fusion of clinical, genomic, and behavioral data is creating a new paradigm for treatment and prevention.The Strategy Playbook: Jason's framework for building fact-based strategic plans that move companies from anecdotal decision-making to data-driven execution.Cultivating Innovation: How to identify and build transformative partnerships that sit at the convergence of data and clinical action.The Angel Investor's Lens: What a seasoned angel looks for in early-stage digital health, pharma, and med tech startups.Navigating Industry Shifts: Key insights on helping companies pivot business models, accelerate product innovation, and withstand intense competitive pressure.