Female VC Lab

Show Notes

Get ready for an electrifying deep dive into the future of investing and technology with IBM’s Global Head of Venture Capital, Emily Fontaine! Recorded live at the Milken Institute Global Conference, this episode of Female VC Lab unpacks the powerful role that corporate venture capital (CVC) is playing in shaping startup success, AI, and Quantum innovation. You’ll hear firsthand how IBM’s investment strategy goes beyond capital—fueling strategic partnerships, market access, and cutting-edge growth.

Tune in as Emily Fontaine reveals the five essential criteria for investment selection, shares her “hot take” on how strategics will dominate the next wave of venture capital, and spotlights the transformative intersections of physical AI and Quantum computing. Whether you’re a founder, investor, or tech enthusiast, you’ll leave with actionable insights you won’t find anywhere else.

Guest Information
Guest Name: Emily Fontaine
Bio: Emily Fontaine is IBM's Global Head of Venture Capital, leading IBM Ventures—IBM's corporate venture capital arm—including the execution of IBM's $500 million Enterprise AI venture capital fund.

Links: LinkedIn – Emily Fontaine

Episode Outline

The Strategic Power of Corporate Venture Capital
Emily Fontaine explains how IBM, as a strategic investor, not only provides funding but also leverages its ecosystem to accelerate portfolio company growth. She outlines the increasing importance of strategics in early-stage investing and why a diverse cap table matters.

Investment Criteria & Selection Process
Dive into the five key areas IBM looks for in a portfolio company: strategic alignment, technology/product, market opportunity, founding team, and financial strength. Emily Fontaine details how this framework drives effective due diligence and successful outcomes 02:03.

Frontiers of AI and Quantum Computing
Explore the latest developments in physical AI, Quantum computing, and how these technologies are converging to reshape industries. Emily Fontaine shares real-world Quantum applications already in use and anticipates how the software layer will drive even greater adoption 04:16.

• The Rise of Corporate VC – Explore how CVCs are changing the dynamics of startup investing.
• Innovating with AI: Real-World Use Cases – From practical deployments to ethical considerations.

Resource: About IBM Ventures
IBM LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ibm/
IBM Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ibm/
IBM X: https://x.com/IBM
IBM Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IBM/
IBM TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ibm

Transcript (if applicable)
For a full transcript of this episode, visit: Female VC Lab Show Transcripts

Show Info
Podcast Website: https://www.femalevclab.com

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Unlocking Private Markets: How Access and Innovation Are Changing Wealth Investing

Curious about the future of venture capital and how individual investors can break into private markets? On this episode of Female VC Lab, co-founder and president of XA Investments, Kimberly Flynn, reveals the game-changing innovations allowing retail investors to participate in private equity and venture capital. From the evolution of private funds to emerging opportunities and risk-mitigating strategies, this episode is packed with actionable insights for anyone interested in advancing their investment portfolio. Don’t miss Kimberly’s guidance on market trends, fund structures, and how the landscape is opening up for broader access—you’ll come away with a fresh perspective and practical tips for navigating the new world of investing.

Guest Information

Guest Name: Kimberly Flynn
Bio: Kimberly Flynn is co-founder and president at XA Investments, an asset manager and consultant based in Chicago. With over 25 years of industry experience, she specializes in building high-performing products for individual investors and helping firms enter the private wealth space.

Links:

• XA Investments: xainvestments.com
• Kimberly Flynn on LinkedIn

Episode Outline

1. Mission & Inspiration
Discover Kim’s journey from investment banking to founding XA Investments, and how the mission to open up access to private market strategies for individual investors drives her work.
More about XA Investments

2. Demystifying Private Markets & Fund Structures
Learn how the private equity, real estate, and infrastructure markets operate for endowments and pension funds, and how new products—including evergreen funds—are making these opportunities accessible to retail investors. [05:26]

3. The Future of Venture Capital & Accessible Portfolio Allocations
Get Kimberly’s predictions for the next two years: how risk-mitigated and diversified fund structures are transforming access to venture capital, and ways investors can participate in emerging themes like AI. [12:13]

Related Episodes & Additional Resources

• Books & articles:
  • The Tattooist of Auschwitz (personal recommendation)
  • Financial Times, The Economist, Barron’s, CityWire, Wealth Management
• Industry tools:
  • FundFire, Ignites

Host & Show Info

Podcast Website: femalevclab.com

Community & Calls to Action

 Rate & Review on Apple Podcasts – Support Female VC Lab and help others discover these empowering conversations!

Follow us on social media:

• Youtube: @femalevclab
• Instagram: @femalevclab

Join the conversation: Share your thoughts about this episode on LinkedIn or Instagram using #FemaleVCLab.
If you enjoyed it, tag us and let us know your favorite takeaway—share this episode with a friend!

Transcript

For a full transcript of this episode, visit: 

Discover how an accidental career leap led to investing across global gaming, consumer apps, and beyond. In this compelling episode of Female VC Lab, Barbara Bickham sits down with Phylicia Koh, GP at Play Ventures, to unpack the journey from startup growth roles to leading one of the most forward-thinking early-stage funds in gaming and consumer tech. Whether you’re a founder, investor, or aspiring VC, this episode is packed with insights on embracing serendipity, the evolution of VC, and the art and science of finding product-market fit.

Why listen? You’ll learn what makes a VC distinctive, how Play Ventures disrupts itself, and why consumer apps are the new frontier for gaming’s best practices. Phylicia Koh also offers a candid look at founder hustle, the realities of raising VC money, and bold predictions about the future of venture capital—including the rise of new investment vehicles and retail investor participation.

Guest Information Guest Name: Phylicia Koh

Bio: Phylicia Koh is a General Partner at Play Ventures, an early-stage global venture fund focused on gaming, consumer apps, and infrastructure. Drawing upon nearly a decade in startup growth and product leadership, she brings a unique founder’s eye to investing, prioritizing curiosity, adaptability, and operational experience.

Links:

• X: @pphyl
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/phyliciakoh/
• Play Ventures: https://www.playventures.vc/

Host & Show Info Host Name: Barbara Bickham

About the Host: Barbara Bickham is the Host of the Female VC Lab and an experienced technologist, investor, and advocate for diversity in early-stage startups.

Podcast Website: https://femalevclab.com

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Join the conversation: Comment on LinkedIn, send us a message, or share your key takeaways using #FemaleVCLab.

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In this episode of the Female VC Lab podcast, host Barbara Bickham sits down with Kristina Chapple, General Partner at 11 Tribes VC. Kristina shares her journey into venture capital, driven by a passion for supporting founders beyond just financial returns. She discusses 11 Tribes’ unique thesis: investing not only in business outcomes but also in founder well-being, allocating capital specifically for founder resilience initiatives such as coaching, therapy, and even marriage counseling.

Kristina dives into why a founder’s personal health, relationships, and identity are crucial for long-term business success, and how 11 Tribes underwrites for sustainable, middle-market exits rather than chasing billion-dollar unicorns. The conversation touches on industry shifts, with founders raising less and pursuing earlier, impactful exits. Kristina also shares her current reading—Katherine Graham’s autobiography—and reflects on identity and confidence themes that resonate both with her work and personal growth.

Tune in for an insightful look at how venture capital can evolve to truly put founders first, and why “founder outcome” might just be the next big metric in investment success.

Ready to discover how venture capital can drive real impact for emerging markets—and what true leadership looks like in the investment world? In this episode of Female VC Lab, host Barbara Bickham sits down with Eva Yazhari, Managing Partner at Beyond Capital Ventures, for an unfiltered conversation on building a mission-driven VC fund, why conscious leadership matters, and how investing in Africa and India’s rising middle classes creates incredible opportunities for transformation. Tune in to hear Eva share how she moved from finance into venture capital, her relational approach to due diligence, why formalizing informal markets like smallholder farming is a game-changing thesis, and how she’s fostering community and alignment by giving GP carry to all team members—and even founders. Whether you’re an aspiring investor, a founder in emerging markets, or simply passionate about sustainable growth, you’ll walk away inspired and equipped with fresh insights into where VC is headed next.

Guest Information
Guest Name: Eva Yazhari
Bio: Eva Yazhari is the Managing Partner of Beyond Capital Ventures, a purpose-driven venture capital firm investing in seed to Series A rounds across Africa and India. With roots in institutional finance, Eva brings a wealth of experience in fund management, deep due diligence, and impact investing, focusing on technologies and services that uplift the “need to haves” through conscious leadership and stakeholder alignment.

Links:

• Beyond Capital Ventures
• LinkedIn – Eva Yazhari
• Instagram – @consciousinvestor
• The Good Your Money Can Do (Book)
  
  

Episode Outline
How Eva Yazhari Entered VC & Built Beyond Capital Ventures
Hear Eva’s unconventional journey from math major to fund-of-funds to founding her own emerging markets VC, and the unique skill set she carried into her new role. Resource: Beyond Capital Ventures Team

Formalizing Informal Markets in Emerging Economies
Explore “formalizing the informal,” and learn how Beyond Capital Ventures invests in businesses that empower smallholder farmers and aggregate resources for scalable, sustainable impact, featuring a spotlight on agritech company Cinch.
Resource: Portfolio Companies

Conscious Leadership & Redefining VC Alignment
Gain insight into Eva’s approach to authentic, stakeholder-centered leadership, including her innovative decision to share GP carry with both her team and portfolio founders—creating alignment and community while driving results.
Resource: The Good Your Money Can Do

Related Episodes & Additional Resources

• Book Recommendation: The Culture Code by Daniel Coyle – Eva’s pick for building strong, collaborative cultures

Host & Show Info
Host Name: Barbara Bickham
About the Host: Barbara Bickham is the founder and Managing Partner of Trailyn Ventures, technology executive, and passionate advocate for diversity and innovation in venture capital.
Podcast Website: femalevclab.com

Community & Calls to Action
Primary CTA: Rate & Review on Apple Podcasts – This is the most impactful way to support the show. https://taplink.cc/femalevclab

Follow us on social media:

• X (formerly Twitter): @FemaleVCLab
• Instagram: @femalevclab

Comment on LinkedIn, send us a message at [email protected], or share your key takeaways using #FemaleVCLab.
Share this episode with a friend! If you enjoyed it, tag us on social media and let us know your favorite takeaway.

Step into the world of impact investing with this captivating episode of Female VC Lab! Host Barbara Bickham sits down with Najada Kumbuli, Vice President and Head of Investments at the Visa Foundation, for an illuminating conversation on reshaping capitalism for the greater good. Discover how Najada’s journey from communist Albania to leading global VC strategies at Visa Foundation fuels her passion for social responsibility, small business empowerment, and inclusive innovation. Find out what’s next in venture capital, why AI and emerging markets are top of mind, and get a behind-the-scenes look at how the Visa Foundation backs entrepreneurs while driving lasting social impact. Whether you’re an investor, founder, or changemaker, you’ll leave inspired and equipped with actionable insights on building a more equitable future.

Guest Information
Guest Name: Najada Kumbuli
Bio: Najada Kumbuli is the Vice President and Head of Investments at the Visa Foundation, where she champions impact investing and ecosystem growth for small businesses and entrepreneurs worldwide. Leveraging her unique upbringing in Albania and global expertise, Najada leads a holistic investment strategy with a focus on inclusion, sustainable growth, and measurable social impact.

Links:

• Visa Foundation Website: https://usa.visa.com/about-visa/visa-foundation.html
• LinkedIn: Najada Kumbuli LinkedIn
  
  

Episode Outline
Origins & Inspiration for Impact Investing
Najada shares her powerful personal journey from communist Albania to global investing, revealing what motivated her to pursue impact investing and advocate for “conscious capitalism.”

• Learn more about impact investing from the Visa Foundation
  
  

Visa Foundation’s Investment Thesis & Global Strategy
A deep dive into how the Visa Foundation’s thesis centers on championing small businesses with access to capital, digital tools, and financial skills—spanning micro-entrepreneurs in Nigeria to high-growth startups in India.

• Visa Foundation Annual Report: See their latest impact and portfolio highlights
  
  

Trends Shaping the Future of Venture Capital
Najada gives her perspective on what’s ahead for VC: the expanding role of AI and deep tech, greater discipline in investing, increased attention to emerging markets like Africa and Latin America, and the rise of responsible, impact-driven investments.

• Acquired Podcast – a favorite resource mentioned by Najada
  
  

Resources for Founders & Fund Managers
Discover how to get connected with the Visa Foundation, access reports, and tap into support and tools for scaling your impact-driven business.

• Contact Visa Foundation or access their resources
  
  

Further Reading & Resources:

• Visa Foundation Impact Report: Read here
• Book: “Conscious Capitalism” by John Mackey & Raj Sisodia
• Acquired Podcast
  
  

Host & Show Info
Host Name: Barbara Bickham
About the Host: Barbara Bickham is a veteran technologist, investor, and founder committed to amplifying women’s voices in venture capital. She brings her expertise in innovation, investing, and entrepreneurship to every episode of Female VC Lab.
Podcast Website: https://femalevclab.com

Community & Calls to Action
Rate & Review on Apple Podcasts – Support the show by leaving a review!
Contact the show: [email protected]

Follow us on social media:
X (formerly Twitter): @femalevclab
Instagram: @femalevclab

Join the conversation: Comment on LinkedIn, X, or share your key takeaways using #FemaleVCLab.

Share this episode with a friend! If you enjoyed it, tag us on social media and let us know your favorite takeaway.

In this episode of Female VC Lab, host Barbara Bickham welcomes Erika Aquino, angel investor and head of m Squad, a global investment group based in Singapore with deep roots in the Philippines. Erika shares her unique journey into investing, starting with her father's legacy in tech entrepreneurship and evolving into her own path focused on impact and community.

Erika dives into her investment thesis, which centers on supporting women and minority-owned startups in sustainability, wellness, the future of work, and education—plus adjacent sectors like biotech and agriculture. She discusses her passion for early-stage investments and highlights the critical role that founder EQ (emotional intelligence) plays in her decision-making process.

The conversation also explores how AI is transforming research, due diligence, and even founder discovery, while acknowledging the ongoing need for human connection in investment decisions. Erika also touches on her interest in food sovereignty, driven by her experiences in the disaster-prone Philippines, and how that shapes her perspective on the global supply chain.

Tune in to hear Erika’s insights on the future of angel investing, the evolving impact of technology, and the importance of community-driven investments. Don’t miss her tips for founders, her recommended reads, and her candid reflections on the challenges and opportunities in today’s rapidly changing investment landscape.

To connect with Erika, visit erika-aquino.com or find her on LinkedIn and Instagram.

Cheryl L. Evans joins host Barbara Bickham from the Milken Institute’s Global Conference to discuss longevity, retirement planning, and the emerging wealth transfer impacting women and future generations. Drawing on her background in securities law and financial education, Cheryl shares actionable insights about financial security, the necessity of lifetime income, and challenges and opportunities for younger generations in today’s economic landscape.

In this powerful episode of Female VC Lab, host Barbara Bickham sits down with Mary King, vice president at Aligned Climate Fund, to uncover how venture capital is accelerating the global clean energy transition. If you’re curious about the future of climate tech, energy innovation, and how investors are driving decarbonization, this episode is for you!

Mary pulls back the curtain on Aligned Climate Fund’s investment thesis: investing in companies taking real action to decarbonize our infrastructure—including clean energy, resilient infrastructure, electric transport, and sustainable land use. You’ll hear insider stories about backing geothermal breakthroughs, innovative microgrid solutions, and the growing impact of point source carbon capture. Mary and Barbara also dive deep on challenges in climate tech VC, how AI could transform investment diligence, and why distributed energy and resilience are game changers for communities around the world.

Whether you’re in the climate space, an entrepreneur, or just passionate about shaping a sustainable future, you’ll walk away with fresh insights and inspiration for what’s next in climate innovation and venture capital.

Guest Information Guest Name: Mary King Bio: Mary King is vice president at Aligned Climate Fund, the venture strategy for Aligned Climate Capital. She invests in early-stage companies driving decarbonization across clean energy, resilient infrastructure, electric transport, and sustainable land use. Links:

• Mary King’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maryeking/
• Aligned Climate Capital: https://alignedclimatecapital.com/

Episode Outline

Aligned Climate Fund’s Investment Thesis Mary explains how Aligned invests in seed to Series B companies with proven climate solutions, focusing on clean energy, resilient infrastructure, and decarbonization.
More about Aligned Climate Capital

The Role of Emerging Technologies: Geothermal, Microgrids & Carbon Capture A look at how Aligned approaches geothermal and microgrid investments, plus insights on distributed energy and point source carbon capture for scalable climate action.
Resource: What is Geothermal Energy?
Resource: Distributed Energy Resources

The Future of Climate Tech and VC: AI, Diligence, and Industry Shifts Mary predicts how AI will soon revolutionize VC deal flow and diligence, enabling faster, smarter investment decisions—and what this means specifically for the climate sector.
Resource: AI in Venture Capital

Transcript For a full transcript of this episode, visit: https://femalevclab.com

About the Host:
Barbara Bickham is a venture investor, technologist, and founder of Female VC Lab.
She champions women in venture and spotlights game-changing leaders investing for a better future.

Podcast Website: https://femalevclab.com

Rate & Review on Apple Podcasts – This is the most impactful way to support the show. Review us here!

Contact the show: [email protected]

Follow us on social media:
Instagram: @femalevclab
X (formerly Twitter): @femalevclab
Youtube: @femalevclab

Join the conversation: Comment on X, send us a message, or share your favorite takeaway using #FemaleVCLab.

Share this episode with a friend! If you enjoyed it, tag us on social media and let us know your favorite takeaway.

In this episode of the Female VC Lab podcast, host Barbara Bickham sits down with Katelin Holloway, founding partner at venture capital firm Seven Seven Six. Katelin shares her journey from being an operator and executive to becoming a venture capitalist. She talks about her deep empathy for founders and the valuable insights she gained while sitting on the other side of the boardroom table. Katelin elaborates on the thesis-agnostic approach of Seven Seven Six, highlighting how the firm meets the best founders with capital, regardless of industry or sector.

The conversation also delves into Katelin's reading habits, which include the Artemis Accords related to space exploration, and her views on how the venture capital landscape is evolving. She emphasizes the need for VCs to provide more than just capital, advocating for expertise and operational support to the founders. Barbara and Katelin also explore the role of AI as a fundamental platform shift affecting all businesses, likening its impact to that of the Internet revolution.

Tune in to gain insights into investment philosophies, the changing world of venture capital, and the influential role of AI in the future of various industries.