In this episode, we host Brooks Hosfield, Partner at SciFi VC, for a deep dive into the strategies behind successful fundraising for early-stage founders. Brooks shares his journey from Chief of Staff at Affirm to partner at SciFi VC, offering invaluable insights on navigating the startup ecosystem, building defensible companies, and understanding what top VCs look for in their investments.

Brooks’ expertise in fintech, AI, and marketplace startups, along with his experience scaling Affirm from 200 people to IPO, brings practical and strategic advice that’s essential for founders at the pre-seed and seed stages. Whether you’re gearing up for fundraising or building your MVP, this episode offers powerful takeaways to help you grow with confidence and clarity.

Chapters -

00:42 - Journey from history major to venture capitalist

01:13 - Consulting career in SubSaharan Africa

01:32 - Mobile payments pioneer turned entrepreneur, met Max Levchin

02:23 - A long journey from the chief of staff to SciFi investment

04:14 - Top of mind AI, ambitious founders, FinTech

06:58 - Founder qualities passion, curiosity, tenacity

08:46 - Intenacious leader, not dogmatic

09:19 - Humility, tenacity, and data-driven leadership

10:29 - The investment committee loves technical founders

12:10 - Value in like instincts for founders

12:50 - Growth, taking care of yourself, and finding technical cofounders

17:15 - Healthcare is a huge market with huge potential

17:35 - Red flag lack of market understanding

19:25 - Founders PreSeed, Seedfocused approach

21:41 - Mission Problem set and solution

22:14 - Sharing ideas with others in pre and post-stack stages

23:35 - Customerfocused fundraising tips for founders

24:37 - Founders unique point of view helps companies stand out

27:35 - Silicon Valley's best deals come from founders' referrals

28:23 - Scifi investment process

29:59 - Small, nimble VC with flexible check sizes

30:54 - Fundraising flexibility, self-directed tech fellow

33:43 - Tech fellow role lends itself to technical skills

35:30 - Pitching for compelling worldviews

36:12 - AI booking software for barbershops

37:34 - Stabilize PMF, innovate, fundraise

39:57 - Welcome to the Bay!