Demo Day Podcast

What if everything you’ve been told about "success" is backwards? In this episode, Mark Suster shares a brutally honest guide to becoming successful for ambitious young people trying to break into startups, tech, and venture capital.

Mark Suster, Managing Partner at Upfront Ventures, breaks down how young people actually make money and build meaningful careers: by believing in something almost no one else sees yet, developing a unique knowledge edge, and becoming one of the few people founders need to call. He explains why success is less about chasing status and more about owning your niche, doing the hard, unglamorous work, and playing a long-term game.

In this conversation, Mark opens up about growing up with limited means, discovering programming, and turning ADHD into a genuine superpower for deep focus and creativity. He talks directly to students, recent grads, and early‑career builders who feel stuck at a crossroads: should you become a founder, join a startup, work at a big tech company, go into VC, or get an MBA?

You’ll learn how he thinks about luck versus skill, why the “burden of choice” is actually a gift, and how to make the best possible decision with imperfect information—then commit without looking back. He also shares practical advice on how young people can stand out to investors, build real relationships over time, and signal potential long before they have a big exit or fancy title.

If you’re in your teens, 20s, or early 30s and obsessed with startups, venture capital, or just becoming successful on your own terms, this episode will challenge how you think about money, career, and what really matters.

Subscribe for more founder stories, startup tips, and VC insights.

How do top VCs really pick winners, and what’s the “fine print” every founder misses? In this Demo Day episode, we go deep inside the investing mind of Jeff Crusey, EVP at Blacklake Group—one of the most unique and active voices in deep tech, defense, and venture capital.

Jeff Crusey’s journey moves from building batteries in his garage to becoming a leader at Blacklake Group, where he now guides founders and scouts the “thick tail” of defense technology startups. Jeff opens up about the habits that separate great investors from the crowd—including why reading the legal and technical fine print is a repeatable, unfair advantage in venture capital.

You’ll hear candid stories about Jeff’s investment process—from corporate VC in climate tech to navigating the corruption of emerging markets, bouncing back from failure, and ultimately shaping the next generation of defense, energy, and deep tech founders. Jeff also debunks common venture myths: it’s not always the best product or team that wins, but resilience, timing, and a willingness to start over as a beginner.

Whether you’re fundraising for a startup, considering a shift into deep tech, or aiming to decode what real founder success looks like, this episode is packed with actionable strategies and mindset shifts—from evaluating defensible markets to fostering low-ego, high-intellect teams. Jeff’s honest blueprint for bouncing back from failed ventures, focusing on true value creation, and the future rise of AI in deep tech is a must-listen for anyone in the startup or VC world.

Don’t miss Jeff’s practical tips for both angel investors and founders, inside stories from Blacklake Group, and a discussion of which defense innovations are set to reshape national security, from missile technology to next-gen satellite navigation.

What does it really mean to “succeed” as a founder or a VC? In this episode of Demo Day, we sit down with Mark Mullen, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Bonfire Ventures, to explore the realities behind startup success, venture capital, and what it takes to build a high-performing team in today’s market.

Mark opens up about the unrealistic expectations in venture capital, why selling a company for $11M can be celebrated in some industries but deemed a failure in VC, and how the focus on founder personalities has shifted startup culture. He also shares the lessons he’s learned growing Bonfire from a solo GP to a team of 11 managing over a billion dollars, and the strategies behind picking founders, understanding their motivations, and making early-stage investments.

In this conversation, we cover:

- The evolution of Bonfire Ventures and its $245M fundraise

- The difference between founder wins vs. VC wins

- How capital markets, interest rates, and M&A affect venture returns

- Why intuition matters — and how to back it up with real metrics -The qualities Mark looks for in founders and early-stage companies

- Lessons from market downturns, COVID, and AI’s rise in venture capital

- The Palisades fire and how that affected Mark and his family

If you’re a founder, investor, or curious about venture capital, this episode will give you a behind-the-scenes look at the decisions, mindset, and strategies that shape startup and VC success today.

Mark Mullen LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mamullen Website: https://www.bonfirevc.com/

Sean Goldfaden LInkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-goldfaden Website: https://www.coefficientlabs.com/

In this episode of Demo Day, Sean Goldfaden interviews venture capitalist and angel investor Santhosh Devati (Managing Parter at Anamika Ventures) about the secret to building lasting success. Santhosh, a seasoned professional with over 30 years of experience, shares the unconventional philosophy that has guided his career and his investment decisions.

Santhosh reveals why he believes in "giving without expectations" and explains how focusing on helping others can lead to "wealth as a byproduct." He also dives deep into the art of making the right investment, the common mistakes new investors make, and the major tech trends he's most excited about right now.

If you're a founder or an investor looking to level up your mindset and your portfolio, this is an episode you can't afford to miss.

Santhosh Devati
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/santhoshdevati/
Website: https://mailchi.mp/233840580357/anamika-ventures

Sean Goldfaden
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-goldfaden/
Website: https://www.coefficientlabs.com/

#podcast #venturecapital #investing #startup #entrepreneur #business #investment

Is venture capital dead? According to VC David Yi, the answer is more complex than you think. In this eye-opening conversation with host Sean Goldfaden, David, a veteran founder and investor, reveals why the traditional VC model is "dying" and what will replace it.

David, the general partner of Ethos Fund, shares his incredible life journey—from his time in the Peace Corps to a life-altering car accident—that shaped his unique "third culture" investment philosophy. He explains how this approach helps him find and fund the most innovative entrepreneurs from Southeast Asia and beyond, all while challenging the norms of the venture capital world.

You'll discover:

• Why VC is kind of dead (and what David really means by that).
• The "liminal space" that creates truly innovative founders.
• How a near-death experience in a car accident shaped his career.
• The power of "meal theology" for building relationships in venture capital.
• The #1 red flag David sees in unteachable founders.
• Why American VCs are missing a huge opportunity in Southeast Asia.
• His advice for young people who want to become a VC partner.

Whether you're a founder seeking funding, a young professional hoping to break into the industry, or a seasoned investor looking for fresh perspectives, this conversation will challenge everything you thought you knew about venture capital.

About David Yi: David is the co-founder and General Partner at Ethos Fund, an early-stage VC firm investing in "third culture" founders from Southeast Asia and the US. He is a seasoned entrepreneur with a background in education, law, and international relations.

Connect with David:

• Website: https://www.ethosfund.vc/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thedavidyi/

Connect with Sean:

• Website: https://www.coefficientlabs.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-goldfaden/

Listen to Demo Day:

• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7354yGFDwDGUA2msPZsE9u
• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/demo-day-podcast/id147262721

What if the real secret behind Netflix’s success wasn’t movies… but data?

In this episode of Demo Day, Sean Goldfaden sits down with Petra Griffith, Managing Director at Wedbush Ventures and a former product leader at Netflix and Yahoo, to uncover the hidden strategies that helped Netflix rise to the top—and the lessons every founder needs to know.

Petra shares:
- How Netflix became a data company (and why most startups overlook this advantage)
- The traits great founders share and the red flags that make VCs say no
- Why market pull matters more than your idea (and how to know if you’ve found it)
- The #1 mistake early-stage founders make when trying to scale
- How she’s helping shape the next generation of LA’s startup ecosystem

Whether you’re starting a company, raising venture capital, or investing in early-stage startups, this episode is packed with insights you can’t afford to miss.

#Netflix #Startups #VentureCapital #FounderAdvice #DemoDayPodcast

In this episode of Demo Day, we sit down with Jonathan Hung, Managing Partner at Entrepreneur Ventures, to explore why relationships matter more than returns in venture capital.

Jonathan shares how he transitioned from family offices and Trousdale Ventures to launching a fund under Entrepreneur Media. From his “dating fund” philosophy to lessons on LP dynamics, founder due diligence, and his upcoming book Your Emergency Contact, this conversation is packed with hard-earned wisdom.

Whether you’re a founder raising capital, a VC building your fund, or someone curious about how the best investors actually think — this is a must-watch.

Topics We Cover:

• Why follow-on capital depends on delivering results — not hype
• How Jonathan picks the right LPs (and avoids bad partners)
• What “date before you marry” means in venture investing
• The power of media when raising a fund
• His upcoming book: Your Emergency Contact
• How venture capital changes in your “third quarter” of life
• The brutal truth about SPVs, bad actors, and partner breakups

👉 Follow for more interviews with top venture capitalists and startup founders.

🔔 Don’t forget to turn on notifications for new episodes every 2 weeks!

#VentureCapital #Startup #Entrepreneur #Founder #Fundraising #Investing #Investment #Business #Networking

From humble beginnings in Tulsa to launching his own venture capital firm, Kevin Moore’s story is one of resilience, grit, and vision.

In this episode of Demo Day, host Sean Goldfaden sits down with Kevin Moore, Managing Partner at Serac Ventures, to uncover the mindset, habits, and experiences that helped him go from engineer to successful VC — and what every founder and aspiring fund manager needs to hear.

- Learn how Kevin turned fear into fuel
- Why “doing what you know” leads to real progress
- What most first-time VCs get wrong about fundraising
- How Serac Ventures uses AI to evaluate startup founders
- And the #1 red flag that keeps investors from writing checks

Whether you're building a startup, thinking about launching your own fund, or looking for inspiration to keep going — this episode is packed with insight.

📌 Follow for more interviews with top venture capitalists, startup founders, and emerging fund managers.

Starting a venture capital fund sounds glamorous — but the reality? It’s a long, grueling, high-stakes journey. In this episode of the Demo Day Podcast, we sit down with Rick Smith, Co-Founder of Crosscut Ventures, to unpack why most first-time VCs fail, how to navigate the emerging manager landscape, and what it really takes to build a lasting VC career.

Rick shares hard-won lessons from 25+ years in venture, including:
- What makes or breaks a fund's first few years
- How to raise capital from LPs when no one knows your name
- Why early-stage VCs need to swing bigger
- The hidden emotional toll of transitioning out of a firm
- How Crosscut almost didn’t survive Fund I

Whether you're a founder, emerging fund manager, or aspiring venture capitalist, this episode is packed with tactical insights, emotional honesty, and behind-the-scenes stories from one of LA’s most respected investors.

#VentureCapital #StartupFunding #EmergingManagers #VCAdvice #RickSmith #CrosscutVentures #DemoDayPodcast #Founders #TechStartups #FundraisingTips

In this episode of Demo Day, we sit down with Minnie Ingersoll, Partner at TenOneTen Ventures and host of the LA Venture Podcast, for an insider look at how venture capital is evolving in 2024.

Minnie drops exclusive insights on a growing trend: LP sharing - a powerful but rarely discussed tactic that’s helping up-and-coming VCs fundraise faster and smarter. If you're a VC, founder, or aspiring fund manager, this episode is packed with tactical gems.

We also talk about:

• How new VCs can build deal flow from scratch
• The role of media and personal brand in fundraising
• The biggest red flags Minnie looks for in founders
• Her honest take on remote vs in-person startup culture
• Where AI is actually making a difference in VC workflows
• How to get in the room where it happens - and stay there

Whether you're raising your first fund or trying to land your next round, Minnie's advice will change the way you think about investing, networking, and storytelling.

Listen to the full episode and don’t forget to subscribe for more interviews with top VCs and startup operators.

#VCInsights #FundraisingTips #MinnieIngersoll #TenOneTen #StartupAdvice #DemoDayPodcast #EarlyStageInvesting #LPSharing #AIVC #VentureCapital #Founders #DealFlow #PersonalBrand #SeedInvesting #PitchTips #TechStartups #LAStartups