Eric has worked at IVP for over decade. In that time, he has risen to be one of the true alpha generators of this storied VC firm that has a 43.1% IRR over their 39 year history and tens of billions in cumulative assets under management. Eric and Ryan cover a wide range of topics. No softball questions in this one: is tech in another bubble? How does IVP sustain returns even as their fund sizes continue to get bigger and bigger?    That last question, in particular, creates dialogue about investment selection, how VCs in general and IVP specifically try to add value to the companies they support, and even the true definition of expertise (and how experts make it look so easy that it allures us mere mortals into underestimating how hard some tasks may truly be). Lots of wisdom to unpack in this conversation. Tune in.

Morgan has packed a lot into her young career. After spending her "first inning" at Andreessen Horowitz, Morgan went on to join Medium and then help launch Libra at Facebook. This deep dive into the crypto world has now become a fulcrum for a good deal of her investment focus in her role as the newest partner at NƒX Ventures.    Morgan has a unique vantage point on where hype meets real substance in the crypto world because she was leading the largest effort in that domain at one of the largest, and arguably the most powerful, companies in the world. Hear her describe the challenges of being entrepreneurial inside a big company, why "the regulators can become the product managers," and yet, despite that, why and how huge tech companies can still incentivize innovation and motivate great teams in unique ways.   This episode is a great listen for anyone wanting to learn more about crypto. Is it real? What use cases will drive mass adoption? Morgan has strong opinions on all of this.

A must-listen for athletes and founders, this week's podcast delves into the sports and professional career of Angela Ruggiero. SIL is part research organization, part branding agency, and part software company, helping companies and sports properties to better understand their fans. Angela sits at the helm of SIL, a company she created after seeing a gap in the market during her tenure in various leadership roles for the International Olympic Committee. Prior to her business career, Angela played hockey for four Olympic teams and received just about every accolade you could decorate a US-born female hockey player with.   Her conversation with Next Play partner Hunter Hillenmeyer includes insights into why so many athletes struggle after their sports careers end and what can be done to change this dynamic. Angela believes it starts with cultivating passions outside of sports long before retirement. She also compares and contrasts how the sports world and the corporate world stack up in terms of knowing their customers and evaluating talent. Let's just say both industries could learn plenty from the other.

John Vrionis looks, on paper, like many other VCs - educated at Harvard, University of Chicago, and Stanford GSB - mentored by founders of funds like Benchmark, Kleiner Perkins, and Sequoia. Yet, for all the ways John might seem "normal" for a VC, this conversation focuses on all the ways he is different. As the name implies, Unusual Ventures celebrates their differences. John gives a granular look at many of the behaviors and values that make his firm unusual in this candid chat with Next Play founder Ryan Nece. His background as a hard-charging soccer player results in his penchant for quick hitting one liners to explain his core values. Phrases like, "if you're comfortable, you're not learning," and, "he who chases two rabbits catches neither," provide a glimpse into the wealth of experience this seasoned investor has for any founder or VC looking to break into the world of venture capital and startups.

Materials companies are not generally the first industry that comes to mind when you think about venture capital darlings. But don't tell that to Carbice founder, Bara Cola. Hear Bara describe the unique ways that Carbice has leveraged carbon nanotubes to create a material that sounds almost magical in its potential to serve customers in industries like semiconductors, automotive, and space travel.   Carbice recently raised a round of funding that sets them on a path to scale production and capitalize on years of research, an impressive collection of patents, and demand from customers in a variety of industries. Current success aside, the story of Carbice has actually been a story of overcoming hardship. For any entrepreneurs out there looking for a masterclass in perseverance, Bara would make a good coach. Tune in to discover the several times when Bara and Carbice could have easily given up. That cauldron has helped make Bara and Carbice what they are today.

Puneet represents a rare combo in a VC. He came into the industry with extensive experience on both the operating side, as a product manager at several startups, and on the finance side in tech investment banking at JP Morgan. As a "both sides of the table" sort of VC, Puneet has a wealth of great insights that reflect his breadth of experience.

1. The founder is the customer (not the other way around).
2. Empathy, adaptability, and authenticity are fundamental characteristics in both investors and founders.
3. Founders should bring a sense of safety, not fear, to the board room and to their teams.

There are many more nuggets in this great conversation about the evolving role of a VC. One example, Puneet says young VCs have to learn to trust themselves, whereas more seasoned VCs have to learn to doubt themselves. Just because something didn't work 5 years ago, it doesn't mean it won't work today. Any investor or founder can learn a lot about the industry by dropping in on this conversation. Have a listen.

Richard is a Georgetown grad, a school perhaps best known for politics, and he jokes that he chose VC because startups are in some ways the opposite of government, which can be slow and resistant to change.    Equal Ventures prefers to lead Seed and Series A investments in a wide array of industries. Hear Richard share his view on how VCs can have a “prepared mind” and why this preparation can lead to better investing and less wasted time. Tune in for a great “how to” listen from this future star in VC.

One of the traits 645 Ventures looks for most in founders is what they call a "purity of motivation." They seek founders who are intrinsically motivated to solve some problem for reasons that go beyond potential riches or accolades. As early stage investors, 645 Ventures is in the business of investing in companies that can become a huge success before it is obvious that huge success lies in their future. To reduce their errors of omission (saw a great company and chose to pass) and co-mission (invested in a company that failed) Nnamdi and the 645 Ventures team focus their evaluation around what they call "early predictable performance metrics."   This week's Next Play Perspectives podcast unpacks and demystifies the process for early stage investing that can sometimes look to outsiders like someone throwing darts at a dart board. Enjoy this thoughtful conversation that really dives into the "how" of venture investing, including the ways in which 645 looks to support their companies after they have invested.

New York born, Portland, Oregon raised, Talia brings a "first principles" mindset to everything, whether that is creating her own major at Penn, her approach to venture investing, or what she looks for in a founding team. Talia fits right in with the Next Play crew as a self professed fitness junkie, and she sees many parallels between athletes and founders, starting with the simple truism, "Practice makes perfect."   Talia brings a wealth of good advice for founders and investors alike. She is experienced enough to have enjoyed the highs and lows of VC investing, but young enough to relate to most founders. In fact, she is the youngest partner ever at the oldest VC firm in existence. Quite a claim to fame!