In this episode, we explore how AI is changing website design and development.

Today, we’re excited to have Dan Anisse, co-founder of Relume, an AI website builder that helps design and build websites faster.

Dan's journey began with a clothing business and evolved into tech, where he co-founded an influencer analytics platform before launching Relume.

Subscribe to Zypsy Spotlight wherever you listen to podcasts to learn more useful insights on what the future of venture capital looks like.

Links & resources
Dan Anisse’s LinkedIn and Twitter
Relume’s website, LinkedIn and Twitter

Timestamp
00:00 Introduction
00:58 Dan’s journey
04:40 Doing the work
05:44 Agency lessons
08:34 Juggling client work
10:54 AI website builder
14:11 Getting acquired
15:55 Real value of community
18:18 Relume’s next steps

In this episode, we discuss the journey from idea to launch.

Today, we’re excited to have Héctor Giner (Ector Hiner), co-founder of Z1, a digital product studio focused on driving ideas from inception to launch.

Héctor began his career as a researcher before transitioning to web development. He served as the CTO at Glamping Hub before co-founding Z1, where he now leads efforts in creating digital solutions.

Subscribe to Zypsy Spotlight wherever you listen to podcasts to learn more useful insights on what the future of venture capital looks like.

Links & resources
Héctor’s LinkedIn and Twitter
Z1’s LinkedIn and Twitter

Timestamp
00:00 Introduction
01:01 Héctor’s journey and creation of Z1
06:23 How to stand out as an agency
08:28 From cold email to acquisition
11:03 Z1’s acquisition process
14:57 Scaling an agency without losing quality
19:45 AI’s impact and human connection
22:35 Exploring new opportunities

In this episode, we dive into the billion dollar pool market.

Today, we’re excited to have Jeremy Yamaguchi, founder of Splash, a new venture that buys and operates pool service companies.

Jeremy’s journey started with building a marketing agency, followed by founding two home services companies, Golden Shine and Lawn Love. Now, his mission is to build the first national brand in pool cleaning.

Subscribe to Zypsy Spotlight wherever you listen to podcasts to learn more useful insights on what the future of venture capital looks like.

Links & resources
Jeremy Yamaguchi’s LinkedIn and Twitter
Splash LinkedIn

Timestamp
00:00 Introduction
00:59 Jeremy’s background
03:00 Challenges of scaling
07:56 Upgrading the pool cleaning industry
15:10 VC strategies and profitability
18:27 The next steps

In this episode, we focus on building businesses that last.

Today, we're excited to have Andrew Dumont founder at curious, a long term holding company that buys and grows software companies with empathy.

Andrew's background include roles at Betaworks,  where he was involved with companies like Giphy and Bitly and at Tiny, where he managed and scaled several companies.

We'll also talk about how his journey through the tech industry influenced his current mission to build companies that are built to last.

Subscribe to Zypsy Spotlight wherever you listen to podcasts to learn more useful insights on what the future of venture capital looks like.

Links & resources
Andrew Dumont’s LinkedIn
Andrew Dumont’s Twitter
Curious LinkedIn

Timestamp
00:00 Introduction
01:05 Andrew’s commitment to growth
02:36 Building businesses from zero
03:52 A studio’s journey from growth to exit
06:24 Being a problem-solver
07:43 Building for the long-term
10:18 Acquiring companies at Curious
11:37 AI and FOMO
12:34 What AI is doing to the industry
13:19 Evolving dynamics of venture capital

In this episode, we discuss how branding and marketing work together.

Today, we’re excited to have Kevin Knight, CMO/Consultant.

Kevin has years of experience in consumer and enterprise marketing and has helped companies like Pinterest and Facebook become household names.

He'll share his perspective and offer practical tips you can use to make your own brand grow.

Subscribe to Zypsy Spotlight wherever you listen to podcasts to learn more useful insights on what the future of venture capital looks like.

Links & resources
Kevin Knight’s LinkedIn

Timestamp
00:00 Introduction
00:40 Kevin’s career journey
03:52 Early days at Facebook
06:02 Challenges with digital ads
09:56 Scaling a team from 600 to 3000
12:45 Marketing in B2B vs. B2C
15:27 How to use AI to help you
18:35 Why you need to start early
20:20 Growth strategy for any business

In this episode, we talk to Kris Kaczmarek. He is an investor at 2xN, a quantum inspired early stage VC fund. The team at 2xN combines the resources you'd expect from big investors, with the personal dedicated support you get from angel investors.

Kris discusses the transition from academic research in quantum technologies to a business-focused role, emphasizing the challenges and rewards of this shift. He also shares his reasons for moving into venture capital with 2xN, highlighting his desire to have a broader impact on the quantum technology sector.

Subscribe to Zypsy Spotlight wherever you listen to podcasts to learn more useful insights on what the future of venture capital looks like.

Links & resources

• Kris Kaczmarek’s Twitter and LinkedIn
• 2xN’s Twitter and LinkedIn

Timestamp
00:00 Introduction
01:01 Kris Kaczmarek’s story
02:25 A family of academics
03:57 Practical applications of quantum computing
06:28 Theories of how the world works
09:11 CPUs, GPUs, and QPUs
10:38 Healthcare, cryptography, materials engineering
13:54 Exciting investments in quantum tech
15:45 Role of quantum computing in drug discovery and AI
17:22 Cryptography and quantum challenges
20:31 Challenges of investing in quantum tech
22:23 How 2xN help startups beyond funding

In this episode, we talk to Brendan Alper. He is the co-founder of Everbloom, an investment platform that allows anyone to invest in creators. Since Everbloom was founded in 2020, they have helped some of the world's most talented creators grow their communities.

Brendan's journey from finance at Goldman Sachs to comedy writing, and eventually to entrepreneurship, positions him to understand the creative and business sides of the creator economy. He shares his transition from creating the dating app, Hater, to his appearance on Shark Tank, and finally his move to Stockholm to incubate Everbloom.

Subscribe to Zypsy Spotlight wherever you listen to podcasts to learn more useful insights on what the future of venture capital looks like.

Links & resources
Brendan’s LinkedIn and Twitter
Everbloom’s website, LinkedIn, and Twitter

Timestamp
00:00 Introduction
00:57 Brendan’s journey
03:26 Story of Everbloom
06:00 Re-imagining creator funding
09:33 A creator’s financial challenges
10:28 The accelerator program
12:37 Capital needs of creators
14:55 Partnering with big creators
17:24 Everbloom’s future

In this episode, we talk to Dylan Reid. He is a partner at Zetta Venture Partners, the first VC firm exclusively focused on identifying and supporting AI-driven, B2B businesses in critical domains like biotechnology, climate technology, DevOps and cloud infrastructure, security, and more.

Dive into Dylan’s thoughts on the convergence of AI, biology, and business, understanding the evolution and future prospects of AI startups. He reflects on Zetta's dedication to fostering AI solutions, emphasizing the importance of practical AI applications in advancing biology and healthcare.

Subscribe to Zypsy Spotlight wherever you listen to podcasts to learn more useful insights on what the future of venture capital looks like.

Links & resources
Dylan’s LinkedIn and Twitter
Zetta Ventures website, LinkedIn, and Twitter

Timestamp
00:00 Introduction
01:00 Dylan’s journey
03:27 LLMs and biological data
05:54 Advancement of technology
09:55 Finding and interacting with biotech founders
13:47 The power and promise of data in drug discovery
20:24 The world of research investments and potential breakthroughs

In this episode, we talk to Healey Cypher. He is the chief operating officer and partner at Atomic,  an industry-leading venture studio behind a variety of fast-growing brands such as Hims and Hers, Bungalow, OpenStore, and BoomPop.

Tune in as Healy talks about Atomic's unique approach to startups - building rather than finding. With a firm belief that great startups are carefully built and not discovered, Atomic offers a fresh and insightful perspective on the journey from a startup's birth to its launch. Healey will also share his personal story of founding BoomPop, one of the companies incubated by Atomic.

Subscribe to Zypsy Spotlight wherever you listen to podcasts to learn more useful insights on what the future of venture capital looks like.

Links & resources
Healey’s personal website, LinkedIn and Twitter
BoomPop’s website, LinkedIn, and Twitter
Atomic’s website, LinkedIn, and Twitter

Timestamp
00:00 Introduction
01:24 Healey’s career journey
07:31 Atomic’s unique venture studio approach
15:02 True value of a company
17:55 Highs and lows of starting a business
22:23 The giver, the taker, and the matcher

In this episode, we talk to Peter Pan. He is the co-summoner of Hydra Ventures, the first fund of funds for investment DAOs. Before starting Hydra, Peter co-founded MetaCartel Ventures, the first live investment DAO that invests in pre-seed and seed crypto projects.

Peter takes us through his journey as the co-summoner of Hydra Ventures, the pioneering fund of funds DAO. He sheds light on the transition from traditionally centralized investment funds to a community-based approach, revealing the potential of aggregating deal flow and assessing investments as a collective.

Subscribe to Zypsy Spotlight wherever you listen to podcasts to learn more useful insights on what the future of venture capital looks like.

Links & resources
Follow Peter on LinkedIn or Twitter
1kx website, LinkedIn, and Twitter
Hydra Ventures website, LinkedIn, and Twitter
MetaCartel Ventures website and Twitter

Timestamp
00:00 Introduction
01:07 What is an Investment DAO?
05:55 Origin and inception of community driven investment
09:33 Journey of MetaCartel Ventures
10:42 Inspiration behind Hydra Ventures
12:13 Ideal form of investment DAOs in the future
13:36 Hydra’s mission and vision