In this episode, Katelyn Donnelly, the founder and general partner at Avalanche VC, joins the podcast to discuss the concept of an avalanche in the startup and venture capital world. She explains that Avalanche VC invests in companies that transform how people learn, earn, and own, focusing on disruptive ideas and technologies that have the potential to create sweeping societal change. Katelyn also distinguishes between the terms "unicorn" and "avalanche," highlighting that a unicorn refers to a company with a billion-dollar valuation. In contrast, an avalanche represents a massive trend that can lead to significant market disruption. Please tune in to learn more about how founders and entrepreneurs can take advantage of these trends and position themselves for success.

Highlights

[00:01:58] What is an avalanche?

[00:06:11] The impacts of the avalanche.

[00:09:04] Founders and founding teams.

[00:12:57] Pivoting vs changing ideas.

[00:16:39] Learnable skills of successful founders.

[00:19:18] Exceptional judgment.

[00:24:01] Risk of backing first-time founders.

Katelyn is the Managing Director of Avalanche VC, an early-stage venture firm investing in massive sector trends starting with how people learn, earn, and own. She is active in web3 as the genesis member of VC3DAO, a Kernel Fellow, and a crypto investor. She is co-founder and board director of Delivery Associates, the leading public sector advisory and technology firm focused on government operations and achieving results. She has worked with governments and invested in companies in over 20 countries globally. Previously, she co-founded and served as the Managing Director of Pearson Ventures (prior PALF), a $65M venture fund that invests in edtech companies in emerging markets. Katelyn also led the strategy and implementation of Pearson’s global efficacy strategy. Katelyn started her career as a consultant at McKinsey in San Francisco. Katelyn is a Kauffman Fellow - Class 21. She was named to the Corporate Venturing Power List and recognized on Forbes 30 Under 30 in 2014. Venture Capital Journal named her to 40 under 40 Rising Stars in 2022. Katelyn currently serves on Duke University's Learning Innovation Advisory Council, helping Duke imagine the future of on-campus and online learning. Katelyn is a published author on innovation, education, and market disruption. She writes a newsletter called Obviously The Future. www.katelyndonnelly.com

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