AdvancingVC

In this episode of The AdvancingVC Podcast, we sit down with Amanda “Robby” Robson, a Solo GP and founder of Modern Technical Fund, to unpack what it really takes to back—and become—a breakout early-stage founder in today’s AI-fueled market. From defining your category to mastering distribution, this conversation explores why speed, clarity, and obsession matter more than ever.

We dive into lessons from standout companies like Drata and LaunchDarkly, how to cut through the AI noise, and what LPs are really looking for in the current fundraising climate. Plus, we explore the solo GP journey—from building a fund from scratch to cultivating communities that actually drive results.

Whether you're an emerging manager, technical founder, or just curious about what separates good from great in early-stage tech, this episode delivers straight-up insight from someone in the trenches.

Tune in to learn:
- What makes a truly differentiated product in crowded markets
- Why distribution is often more important than product
- How to spot (and avoid) “AI slop”
- What LPs respond to in a tough fundraising environment
- The real traits of exceptional founding teams

Subscribe now for a candid look at the pace, mindset, and mechanics behind modern venture capital.

#VentureCapital #StartupFounders #AIStartups #EarlyStageInvesting #SoloGP #TechFounders #ModernTechnicalFund #DistributionStrategy #FundraisingTips #ProductMarketFit #FounderAdvice #StartupGrowth #CommunityBuilding #AIInnovation #VCInsights #StartupPodcast #AdvancingVC #TechStartups #WomenInVC #AngelInvesting

In this episode, we’re joined by Andrew from Shorewind Capital, a venture capital firm focused on follow-on investing in deep tech, health, and climate startups. Andrew dives into Shorewind’s unique investment strategy, which emphasizes backing companies post-seed through Series A and beyond, particularly in sectors where scientific or engineering breakthroughs can unlock enormous value.

In the first half of the conversation, Andrew shares Shorewind's approach to follow-on investing—how they evaluate technical milestones, why capital efficiency matters, and what makes dual-use (commercial and defense) technologies especially compelling. He also talks about what it's like working with founders from technical backgrounds (often with military or research roots) and how Shorewind supports them through company-building inflection points.

In the second half, the discussion moves to founder advice, especially around fundraising strategy—timing rounds to follow key value inflection points, avoiding over-reliance on government grants, and understanding how investor expectations shift from pre-seed to Series B. Andrew also touches on the evolving venture capital landscape, how AI and market cycles might reshape early-stage investing by 2029, and how Shorewind is thinking about its own growth as a fund.

To close, Andrew reflects on the future of energy and healthcare innovation, his optimism about long-term trends in both sectors, and the kinds of founders building market-ready solutions that also solve critical global problems.

Stick around for a fun rapid-fire round on favorite books, movies, snacks, and travel spots—plus a deep-dive book recommendation on ASML that any tech enthusiast will love.
#DeepTech #VentureCapital #ClimateTech #HealthTech #StartupFunding #DualUseTech #SBIR #FounderAdvice #ShorewindCapital #EmergingManagers #VCInsights #StartupMilestones #CapitalMarkets #TailwindPodcast

In this episode, Charles Hudson, Managing Partner at Precursor Ventures, shares how his firm backs 80–100 pre-seed startups per fund—and why that strategy defies traditional venture expectations. He dives into portfolio construction, founder support, and how Precursor maintains quality and accessibility across such a high-volume model.
We also discuss the evolving seed landscape, how multi-stage firms are approaching earlier rounds, and why founder-market fit matters more than a polished product. If you’re a founder or investor navigating early-stage venture, this is a must-listen.
🔹 Topics covered:
- Precursor’s high-volume investment model
- Supporting founders without board seats
- The bifurcation of seed-stage VC
- Advice for pre-seed founders
- The future of venture funding

📌 Subscribe for more founder & VC insights.

#PortfolioStrategy #FounderAdvice #FundraisingTips #StartupAdvice #EarlyStageInvesting #AngelInvesting #FounderSupport #PitchDeck #VentureCapital #Startups #Founders #PreSeed #SeedFunding #TechStartups #StartupFunding #VCInsights #PodcastEpisode #StartupPodcast

In this episode, we’re joined by Winter Mead, founder of Coolwater Capital, a platform designed to support the next generation of venture capital managers. With a background as an LP at Sapphire Ventures, Winter brings a unique perspective on what it takes to raise and run a successful VC fund today.

We talk about:
- The origin and mission of Coolwater Capital
- How Coolwater helps new GPs launch, scale, and institutionalize their firms
- The importance of LP education and the shift in expectations around fund strategy
- What separates great emerging managers from the rest
- How venture is evolving—and what new managers need to know

Whether you’re a current or aspiring GP, LP, or just curious about the inner workings of venture capital, this episode is packed with insights from someone helping reshape the industry from the ground up.

🎧 Subscribe and listen wherever you get your podcasts!
#VentureCapital #Startups #EmergingManagers #CoolwaterCapital #WinterMead #VCFunding #LPs #GPs #Podcast #StartupInvesting #TechInvesting #Founders #Finance #Investing

In this episode, we dive into how Carta is transforming venture capital through data-driven insights and smarter decision-making. Peter Walker, Carta’s Head of Insights, shares his journey and reveals how the platform helps founders and fund managers navigate complex private market challenges — from dilution and follow-on rounds to portfolio strategy and secondary markets.

Peter breaks down common myths about early-stage investing, explains the power of storytelling with data, and explores the rise of solo GPs in today’s VC landscape. Plus, learn how tools like Tactyc are enabling fund managers to model scenarios and plan with precision.

If you want to understand the future of venture capital and how data can give you an edge, this episode is a must-listen.

In this insightful episode of AdvancingVC, we sit down with Kanyi Maqubela, Managing Partner at Kindred Ventures and one of the most thoughtful voices in early-stage investing. From his remarkable journey as a refugee from South Africa to building a career at the forefront of Silicon Valley, Kanyi shares how his unique background shapes his investment philosophy and commitment to backing founders who are tackling society’s biggest challenges.

Tune in as Kanyi discusses:
- His path from Soweto to Stanford and beyond
- Lessons learned from working on President Obama’s 2008 campaign
- The importance of empathy, diversity, and storytelling in venture capital
- How Kindred Ventures finds and supports mission-driven entrepreneurs
- The future of technology, inclusion, and impact investing

Whether you’re an aspiring founder, a seasoned investor, or simply curious about the human side of venture capital, this conversation offers actionable insights and inspiring stories from one of the industry’s leading minds.

Listen now and discover how Kanyi Maqubela is helping to advance the future of VC-one founder at a time.

In this episode of Advancing VC, host Tim Hsia sits down with Megan Ruan, a General Partner at Gold House Ventures, to explore how venture capital can power cultural change. Megan shares her journey from managing a $2B VC portfolio at the Johnson & Johnson family office to co-founding Gold House Ventures — a firm innovating at the intersection of identity, media, and market-first social impact.

We dive into how Gold House is reshaping narratives through storytelling and capital, the unique accelerator model behind their fund, and how their tight-knit network across tech and entertainment gives their portfolio companies an unfair edge. Megan also reflects on the importance of representation in venture, why Gold House backs the API founder community, and how their nonprofit-VC hybrid model is creating a regenerative ecosystem for impact and returns.

Whether you’re an emerging manager, founder, or someone passionate about inclusive innovation, this episode offers a fascinating look at the future of mission-driven venture capital.

In this episode of Advancing VC, host Tim Hsia speaks with Francisco Gomez, Partner at Vault Fund, a fund of funds dedicated exclusively to investing in venture studios — or as Vault calls them, company creators. Founded in 2021, Vault is at the forefront of a fast-evolving space that’s redefining early-stage investing.

🧠 Whether you're an emerging manager, LP, founder, or just venture-curious, this episode delivers deep insight into a model poised to become a central pillar of the next venture wave.

📈 With over a decade of financial experience and 8+ years in private equity, Francisco shares candid reflections on what makes a venture studio work, what to watch for as the model evolves, and why LPs are increasingly taking notice.

🔔 Subscribe for more deep dives with leading voices in venture: VCs, LPs, founders, and fund builders shaping the future of startups.

#VentureCapital #StartupStudios #CompanyCreation #VaultFund #EmergingManagers #VentureStudios #EarlyStageInvesting #AdvancingVC #PrivateEquity #LPInsights #Founders

In this episode of the AdvancingVC podcast, Tim Hsia sits down with Jenny Fielding, partner at Everywhere Ventures and author of Venture Everywhere. Jenny shares her journey from law and finance to founding startups, and how she’s reshaping the venture capital landscape with a truly global approach. She dives deep into the importance of the "Everywhere Mindset," a philosophy that helps her and her team invest in innovation worldwide, from New York to Africa and beyond.

Jenny discusses the unique model of Everywhere Ventures, which leverages a global network of LPs and founders to support early-stage startups in an increasingly interconnected world. Tune in for insights on the future of venture capital, the evolution of the pre-seed stage, and the impact of building a diverse, worldwide community of entrepreneurs.

#VentureCapital #Startups #GlobalInnovation #EverywhereVentures #AdvancingVC #Entrepreneurship

In this episode of the AdvancingVC podcast, we dive into the evolving landscape of venture capital and endowment investing, with a focus on emerging managers and early-stage opportunities. Our guests, Grace Brown and Ethan Sun of Vanderbilt University, share insights into how their investment strategy has shifted over time, especially in the context of the VC sector, and how they are navigating the dynamic market. Key topics discussed include:

The importance of grace and patience in venture capital, and why early-stage investments often require a long-term outlook for success.
How Vanderbilt's endowment strategically balances private equity, public markets, and venture investments to optimize returns, with a keen focus on emerging managers and pre-seed/seed stages.

The role of emerging managers in venture capital and the team's criteria for selecting these managers, from fund size to specialized sector knowledge.
How culture, succession planning, and team dynamics play a critical role in the success of top-performing venture funds like Sequoia and Altos Ventures.

Insights into the active community-building efforts within the venture space, including the Emerging Allocators Association (EAA), designed to foster collaboration and drive value for both LPs and GPs.

If you're interested in LP investing, emerging managers, venture capital, or portfolio construction, this episode offers valuable insights from experienced investors.