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Emerging Managers episodes
- Winning Through Velocity With Jason Sherman Of Top Shelf Ventures
One of the most important business metrics to keep an eye on is the speed at which your products are getting out and being bought by customers. Jason Sherman of Top Shelf Ventures shares how they guide early-stage alcohol and vice brands to success by monitoring their velocity or rate of sale. Joining Scott Kelly, he breaks down how to achieve significant growth in one of the toughest and most competitive industries right now and explores the true impact of getting celebrities as product endorsers. Jason also talks about the rise of THC beverages and why it could become the fourth pillar of the alcohol industry alongside wine, spirits, and beer.
Learn from the world's best VC Fund Managers at the Emerging Managers Podcast. Subscribe, rate, review, & share! https://emergingmanagerspodcast.com
31 min - Focusing On Pre-Exit Secondary Markets With Salman Azhar Of Azimuth Opportunity Fund
In a pre-exit secondary market, the money is not going directly into the company but rather to the venture capital firm, with early-stage investors themselves selling the shares. Salman Azhar, a General Partner of Azimuth Opportunity Fund, joins Scott Kelly to discuss how to take advantage of this space. He shares how he helps growing companies get greater revenue while facing fewer risks along the way. Salman also emphasizes his industry-agnostic approach, how he values diversification, and how they identify opportunities through investor reports and board information from companies they previously backed.
Learn from the world's best VC Fund Managers at the Emerging Managers Podcast. Subscribe, rate, review, & share! https://emergingmanagerspodcast.com
30 min - Benefits Of Cross-Border Strategy With Wally Wang Of Scale Asia Ventures
When doing business in multiple countries, you must implement a unique approach to cater to people of diverse cultures, races, languages, and lifestyles. Wally Wang is here to present how Scale Asia Ventures connects its portfolio companies across the globe through their cross-border strategy. He joins Scott Kelly to share how they guide folks from the United States to Asia from the beginning of the investment, all the way to a successful business exit. Wally also talks about his productive and proactive M&A approach to help companies unlock growth and get to liquidity as soon as possible.
Learn from the world's best VC Fund Managers at the Emerging Managers Podcast. Subscribe, rate, review, & share! https://emergingmanagerspodcast.com
28 min - Investing In Real Estate Tech With Alon Gorbonos Of RE Angels
Real estate is now rapidly adopting new technologies to keep up with the fast-paced economic pressures and make their processes more cost-efficient. Alon Gorbonos joins Scott Kelly to discuss how RE Angels is focusing exclusively on early-stage real estate tech startups. He shares their experiences and insights as an angel fund at the intersection of real estate and technology, particularly as they navigate the rise of cutting-edge innovations such as automation and AI. Alon also talks about their team composed of seasoned real estate professionals who bring deep industry expertise and knowledge about one of the most exciting spaces to invest in right now.
Learn from the world's best VC Fund Managers at the Emerging Managers Podcast. Subscribe, rate, review, & share! https://emergingmanagerspodcast.com
27 min - How A Mathematical Model Is Redefining Venture Capital With Justin Cohen Of Collinear Capital
A mathematical model may be the key to bringing clarity and predictability to venture capital. Justin Cohen, founder and managing partner of Collinear Capital, shares how his physics background shaped a data-driven framework that uses Monte Carlo simulations and networked LP insights to forecast fund performance. Focused on Enterprise B2B SaaS companies, Collinear Capital applies analytical rigor to accelerate growth and reduce risk. Justin breaks down how logic, alignment, and measurable outcomes can replace instinct with strategy—and redefine what smart investing looks like in today’s venture landscape.
Learn from the world's best VC Fund Managers at the Emerging Managers Podcast. Subscribe, rate, review, & share! https://emergingmanagerspodcast.com
27 min - The Next Generation Of Premium Spirits With Nick Papanicolaou Of No Sleep Beverage
No Sleep Beverage is redefining what it means to invest in and build the next generation of premium spirits brands. Founder Nick Papanicolaou shares how his experience in global finance and the beverage industry shaped a hands-on venture model that blends smart capital with mentorship and strategic discipline. Through No Sleep Beverage, Nick is betting on long-term value over quick exits, focusing on brand authenticity, cultural relevance, and operational excellence. In this conversation, he unpacks what investors often get wrong about timing and risk, how the right partners can amplify impact, and why conviction—and a clear vision—still win in a volatile market.
Learn from the world's best VC Fund Managers at the Emerging Managers Podcast. Subscribe, rate, review, & share! https://emergingmanagerspodcast.com
31 min - Understanding Corporate Venture Capital With Will Fung Of Woven Capital
A corporate venture capital allows investors to directly put corporate funds into external startup companies. Will Fung explains how they do it by sharing his experiences as a Principal at Woven Capital, the growth-stage venture capital fund of Toyota. Together with Scott Kelly, he discusses how they mainly invest on mobility of people, robotics, automation, and AI. Will also explains how a corporate venture capital also comes with the company’s industry influence and network, giving startup founders a bigger chance to achieve significant business success.
Learn from the world's best VC Fund Managers at the Emerging Managers Podcast. Subscribe, rate, review, & share! https://emergingmanagerspodcast.com
20 min - Investing In Israeli Founders With Aaron Zucker Of Sapir Venture Partners
Israeli founders have a particular fondness for frontier tech product-market fit and go-to-market strategy. However, they often fail to address the gap between the market and the customers. Scott Kelly sits down with Aaron Zucker of Sapir Venture Partners, who discusses his journey from being a bridge between the US and Israel in the innovation world to becoming a venture capitalist himself. He talks about his work on helping Israeli founders commercialize deep tech to create positive global impact and build viable businesses. Aaron also emphasizes the importance of creating a strong team and the willingness to accept feedback in the world of venture capital.
Learn from the world's best VC Fund Managers at the Emerging Managers Podcast. Subscribe, rate, review, & share! https://emergingmanagerspodcast.com
34 min - Investing In Later-Stage Technology With Jacob Phillips Of Tides Ventures
With AI being one of the hottest topics right now, investing in the disruptors in this space is a good decision indeed. Scott Kelly is joined by Jacob Phillips of Tides Ventures, who shares their focus on later-stage technology companies making waves in the current AI landscape. From generative AI to robotics, Jacob talks about their biggest investments and how they navigate the rapid innovation in the tech industry. He also breaks down their investment thesis, how they use Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs), and why being resistant to change hinders companies from unlocking growth.
Learn from the world's best VC Fund Managers at the Emerging Managers Podcast. Subscribe, rate, review, & share! https://emergingmanagerspodcast.com
22 min - Finding Success In Constructing SPVs With Pablo Grodnitzky Of Plus Ultra Capital
Special Purpose Vehicles or SPVs allow direct investing into portfolio companies, unlike other venture capital structures. This is the specialization of Pablo Grodnitzky, who focuses on late seed and Series A constructing SPVs at Plus Ultra Capital. Joining Scott Kelly, he breaks down their SPV strategy with a hands-on approach on accelerating revenue growth, managing portfolios efficiently, and improving product-market fit. Pablo also shares how they use an AI-powered metric framework to maximize the accuracy of their due diligence rather than solely relying on unicorns.
Learn from the world's best VC Fund Managers at the Emerging Managers Podcast. Subscribe, rate, review, & share! https://emergingmanagerspodcast.com
23 min
About Emerging Managers
From the publisher's feed
Does Silicon Valley and Wall Street have a lock on the deal flow of capital into new innovative ventures? Is there a market for emerging fund managers to make a difference and a high return on…
investment with alternative capital fund models? Meet the venture capital market movers shifting exposure and funding to promising and refreshing innovative founders all over the globe right here on the Emerging Managers Podcast - the show exploring why new-to-you VC funds might be your next great investment.
With a venture market of 3200 funds and 1800 raising their first round, there are plenty of emerging fund managers just waiting for the right investment LP to hear them and explore growing together. Each week, discover actionable tips and valuable advice from up-and-coming fund managers looking for better opportunities and ways to compete in the venture capital market. Hear about their investment thesis and their process for finding right-fit founders and deals to unlock growth like never before.
Listen to VCs across the country and abroad with their different niche perspectives as they break down their origin stories, career experiences, and investment preferences. Learn how they got through their biggest struggles in life, how they mastered the ropes of VC funding, and how they continuously improve their strategies to get the best return on their buck.
Most importantly, they reveal exactly what they are looking for in a founder to invest in and investment partners to grow with, providing that much-needed roadmap to high returns. As these venture investors pull back the curtain to their business priorities and desires, you can see how to strategically refine and review their endeavor to find the best VC funding match.
Your host and guide to this fund manager exploration is Scott Kelly, CEO of business accelerator Black Dog Venture Partners and founder of VC Fast Pitch. He has been working on both sides, with entrepreneurs and investors alike, for more than three decades. Harnessing his innovative skills, vast experience training thousands of salespeople, and tapping into his vast network of investors, Scott helps founders and investors sustain and scale innovation. He is well-known as the organizer and MC of monthly investor-founder matchmaking events.
Scott is occasionally joined by co-host Tracy Hazzard, founder of the podcast production technology company, Podetize. Tracy’s experience as a speaker, podcaster, and Inc. Innovation columnist, as well as a successful female AI tech founder adds valuable insights to the show. Listen all the way through for Tracy and Scott to combine their unique perspectives and experiences with a post-analysis of their emerging fund manager guests.
Business owners, company managers, and start-up founders listen in as these Emerging Fund Managers highlight the strengths that will make you more attractive to highly sought-after venture capital.
Emerging Managers, investors and LPs… check out how your capital competitors are building trust with investors, rising above digital white noise in the market and emphasizing the strengths and differentiators in their funds. Get inspired to build a name for yourself so you can grab a piece or all the venture capital money flowing right now too.
Join Scott and Tracy in their pursuit to bridge the gap between managers and investors building a market rich with rewarding investment partnerships that will create innovative opportunities for years to come.
Be part of a movement that is shaping the future of venture capital and entrepreneurship. Join a community of innovators and visionaries who are redefining the investment landscape and driving positive change. Together, we can create a more equitable and impactful venture ecosystem.
Want to learn more about VC Fast Pitch, our Guests (or be our next guest) on the Emerging Managers Podcast? Go to https://emergingmanagerspodcast.com/ for more details.