In this episode of the Cowles Ventures Podcast, I sit down with Tom Simpson to break down his journey from early days in investment banking to managing his own venture fund, founding Green Cupboards, and helping shape the startup ecosystem through SAA, Ignite, and KickStart.

We talk about:• The transition from operator to venture fund manager• How to raise and manage a venture capital fund• Lessons from building and running Green Cupboards• The realities of deploying capital in emerging markets• How organizations like SAA, Ignite, and KickStart support founders• What makes a startup ecosystem thrive

Tom shares tactical insight into venture capital, fund management, early-stage investing, and company building, along with lessons learned from operating on both sides of the table.

If you’re interested in venture capital, startup investing, fund formation, angel investing, entrepreneurship, or building companies outside of Silicon Valley, this conversation is packed with practical insights.

Subscribe for more conversations with founders, investors, and operators building the next generation of companies.

#venturecapital #startups #investing #entrepreneurship #fundmanager #angelinvesting #podcast #venturefund #founders