Sound Investments - The Pacific Northwest VC & Startup Podcast with Ed Barker

In this episode Ed Barker interviews Jason Stoffer, general partner at Maveron, a Pacific Northwest-based consumer VC fund. Jason shares his unconventional journey into venture capital, Maveron's focus on consumer brands, and insights into building a consumer VC fund in Seattle. The discussion also covers current and emerging opportunities in sectors like EdTech, AI, wellness, and retail. Jason shares what he looks for in founders and how the changing media landscape affects consumer product reach. The episode concludes with Jason's thoughts on the trends in the VC market and the future of job markets in light of technological advancements.

00:00 Welcome, Jason

00:30 Journey into Venture Capital

01:13 Maveron's Investment Focus

22:02 Consumer VC in Seattle

28:16 EdTech and AI

31:28 The Future of Consumer Marketing

37:23 Portfolio Companies and Market Outlook

About Your Host

Ed Barker has enjoyed a weird and varied career. Ed is a Brit now resident in Seattle and has founded three startups, enjoyed a long career in corporate strategy, and most recently as a VC. He's now building a podcast production company, Studio 1878. Sound Investments is a modest attempt to shine some light on the fantastic work being done in the Pacific Northwest entrepreneurial community.

Jason Stoffer, Chief Investment Officer, General Partner

As a kid, Jason aspired to be the world’s greatest veterinarian. Now he herds cats of a different sort as a father to three young boys. Jason joined Maveron in 2007 after a pioneering role in online education and has become our resident expert in consumer education, e-commerce and marketplace businesses. He likes to dig in and stay involved, and our companies are better for it. Jason is a diehard U of Michigan football fan and a voracious reader—historical fiction, science fiction, the classics. Jason’s love of animals never quite went away; he serves on the board of the Seattle Humane Society.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Navigating the Seattle VC Landscape with Elisa Lava of Trilogy Equity Partners

Ed Barker talks to Elisa Lava, Principal at Trilogy Equity Partners in Seattle. They discuss Elisa's journey in venture capital, the distinct qualities of the Pacific Northwest's startup ecosystem, and emerging trends in AI and early-stage investing. Elisa shares her insights on investment strategies, the importance of community building in tech, and the evolving market dynamics affecting early-stage companies. The episode also highlights the challenges and opportunities present in the current investment climate for startups.

00:00 Welcome, Elisa

01:31 The Seattle Startup Ecosystem

02:48 Elisa's Journey into Venture Capital

04:46 Transition to Consulting

10:57 Madrona and Trilogy Equity Partners

11:54 Trilogy's Investment Strategy

16:38 Community Building

20:36 AI Trends and Investment Opportunities

26:47 Challenges in Seed Stage Investing

34:04 Portfolio Companies

41:30 Impact of AI Tools on Venture Capital

46:35 Future of AI in Media

About Your Host

Ed Barker has enjoyed a weird and varied career. Ed is a Brit now resident in Seattle and has founded three startups, enjoyed a long career in corporate strategy, and most recently as a VC. He's now building a podcast production company, Studio 1878. Sound Investments is a modest attempt to shine some light on the fantastic work being done in the Pacific Northwest entrepreneurial community.

Elisa La Cava, Principal, Trilogy Equity Partners

Prior to joining Trilogy, Elisa spent five years as an investor at Madrona Venture Group where she focused on funding early-stage startups building enterprise software applications. She also held positions at MATH Venture Partners and AT&T Corporate Development / M&A. Before receiving her MBA, Elisa worked at Deloitte Consulting, where she held roles as U.S. West Region chief of staff and consultant. Earlier in her career, Elisa gained early-stage company building experience at a biofuel startup where she wore several hats, including business development, project management, and HR.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ed Barker talks with Pablo Casilimas, co-founder and managing partner of OneSixOne. Pablo shares his journey from a student entrepreneur to venture capitalist, emphasizing the significance of community in venture capital. They discuss how OneSixOne was created, the innovative approach they take to building their fund, and the critical role of community. Pablo also shares insights on the types of sectors they invest in, the importance of founder-market fit, and the future vision for OneSixOne. Throughout the conversation, Pablo highlights some of their portfolio companies and the unique strategies they employ to support their founders.

00:00 Introduction

01:21 Pablo's Journey to VC

04:26 Building Community & Fund Strategy

07:47 Founder Criteria & Portfolio

15:06 Geography & Ecosystems

20:04 Trends & Founder Stories

28:19 Portfolio Highlights

33:24 The Future of OneSixOne

41:54 Personal Insights & Closing

About Your Host

Ed Barker has enjoyed a weird and varied career. Ed is a Brit now resident in Seattle and has founded three startups, enjoyed a long career in corporate strategy, and most recently as a VC. He's now building a podcast production company, Studio 1878. Sound Investments is a modest attempt to shine some light on the fantastic work being done in the Pacific Northwest entrepreneurial community.

Pablo Casilimas, Managing Partner, OneSixOne Ventures

Pablo is the Co-Founder OneSixOne, a pre-seed venture firm investing in Cloud and AI infrastructure, GovTech, and enterprise software. With roots in Miami and a background in Industrial Engineering from the University of Florida, Pablo built his reputation by fostering startup ecosystems in underserved markets—starting with Gainesville, then expanding to Miami and Seattle. He launched OneSixOne to back overlooked technical founders at the earliest stages.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ed Barker chats with Amish Patel, Managing Director of Conduit Venture Labs, about his dynamic career transitioning from Microsoft to launching startups in the hard tech space. They explore Patel's vision for Conduit Venture Labs, its innovative venture studio model, and its emphasis on the synergy between hardware, software, and entrepreneurship. The discussion covers various sectors Patel is passionate about, including health and human performance, physical industries like agriculture and energy, and dual-use technologies. Notable projects include medical devices, AI-powered wearables, and environmental tech solutions. Patel highlights the studio's strategy of leveraging a network of experts to address the 'valleys of death' in hardware development and shares how Conduit is contributing to the Pacific Northwest's innovation landscape.

00:00 Introduction

01:53 Welcome, Amish

02:12 Career Journey and Entrepreneurial Path

08:30 Founding Conduit Venture Labs

11.25 Venture Studio Model

17.22 Sector Focus

24.19 Making the Model Work

30.10 Cap Table Strategy

34.00 Working in the PNW

42:06 Portfolio and Projects

About Your Host

Ed Barker has enjoyed a weird and varied career. Ed is a Brit now resident in Seattle and has founded three startups, enjoyed a long career in corporate strategy, and most recently as a VC. He's now building a podcast production company, Studio 1878. Sound Investments is a modest attempt to shine some light on the fantastic work being done in the Pacific Northwest entrepreneurial community.

Amish Patel, Managing Director, Conduit Venture Labs

Amish Patel is the Founder and Managing Director of Conduit Venture Labs, a venture studio based in Seattle, Washington, that focuses on developing innovative solutions at the intersection of physical and digital technologies. He has a strong background in product design and technology strategy, having previously held leadership roles in various startups and at Microsoft, where he was involved in the development of wearable devices and consumer health platforms.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ed Barker talks to Sarah Applebaum, partner at Pangaea Ventures. They discuss Sarah's journey into venture capital and her work at Pangaea, an investment firm focused on hard tech and sustainability. The conversation covers the startup ecosystem in Vancouver, the importance of hard tech for addressing global challenges, and specific investment sectors like industrial decarbonization, green chemistry, and semiconductor manufacturing. They also dive into the dynamics between Pangaea and its corporate partners and explore current trends and challenges in the venture capital landscape.

Pangaea Ventures Hard Tech report can be found here.

00:00 Introduction

00:17 Meet Sarah Applebaum

09:47 Understanding Hard Tech and Planetary Health

13:03 Strategies and Challenges

23:02 Investment Opportunities

34:57 Corporate Partnerships and Future Outlook

37:59 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

About Your Host

Ed Barker has enjoyed a weird and varied career. Ed is a Brit now resident in Seattle and has founded three startups, enjoyed a long career in corporate strategy, and most recently as a VC. He's now building a podcast production company, Studio 1878. Sound Investments is a modest attempt to shine some light on the fantastic work being done in the Pacific Northwest entrepreneurial community.

Sarah Applebaum, Partner, Pangea Ventures

Sarah brings more than a decade of venture capital and company building experience to the team. Sarah has cultivated expertise in building entrepreneurial teams, scaling early stage ventures, and venture financing. Sarah is an active mentor to early stage entrepreneurs and a startup community activator and advocate. Sarah led Pangaea’s investments into PolySpectra, Correlia Biosystems, and pH7. Sarah holds a BSc. From Dalhousie University and an MBA from the Schulich School of Business. Outside of work, you can find Sarah on the local trails with her dog, Indie, out on her road bike, or spending time with friends and family.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ed Barker talks to Jennifer Savage, Partner at Illuminate Ventures, a venture capital firm specializing in seed-stage investments in enterprise software. Jennifer discusses her journey into venture capital, the unique operating model of Illuminate Ventures, and their focus on impactful enterprise solutions. She highlights the firm's extensive advisory council, consisting of industry leaders who provide hands-on support and strategic guidance to portfolio companies. Jennifer also touches on the growth and challenges of the tech and venture capital ecosystem in the Pacific Northwest, the evolving landscape of AI investments, and the current economic climate. The episode provides valuable insights into Illuminate's strategic approach and the broader venture capital scene.

00:00 Introduction to Sound Investments

01:04 Meet Jennifer Savage

03:31 Illuminate Ventures' Investment Focus

04:57 The Role of the Advisory Board

09:07 Diversity and Inclusion in Venture Capital

11:52 Finding and Supporting Portfolio Companies

16:31 Seattle Tech Scene

21:17 Current Trends

29:04 Portfolio Highlights

About Your Host

Ed Barker has enjoyed a weird and varied career. Ed is a Brit now resident in Seattle and has founded three startups, enjoyed a long career in corporate strategy, and most recently as a VC. He's now building a podcast production company, Studio 1878. Sound Investments is a modest attempt to shine some light on the fantastic work being done in the Pacific Northwest entrepreneurial community.

Jennifer Savage, Partner, Illuminate Ventures

In this role, Jennifer identifies and leads new investments (with a particular interest in companies in the Pacific Northwest), assists with due diligence efforts, and provides strategic and operational advice to Illuminate portfolio companies. In addition, Jennifer creatively fosters strategic relations with Illuminate’s extended B2B Enterprise network - including our Advisory Council and business school interns. She currently plays a board role for Illuminate portfolio companies Hoopla Software and Pyze and as a board observer with several other companies.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Sound Investments, host Ed Barker enjoys in a comprehensive discussion with Anne Kennedy, general partner at The Mastersfund. The conversation explores the fund's mission to address the underfunding of female founders by leveraging a unique structured exit model that mitigates risk for investors and promotes financial stability for startups. Anne shares her journey from serial entrepreneurship to venture capital, highlights significant growth in portfolio companies, and explains the importance of diversity and profitability in investment strategies. The episode encompasses insights into scaling business operations, the importance of AI in various sectors, and reflections on fostering a supportive environment for women-led startups.

00:00 Introduction to Sound Investments

01:42 Meet Anne Kennedy

03:34 Challenges in Female Entrepreneurship

05:30 The Mastersfund: Mission and Model

10:30 Structured Exits: A New Investment Approach

23:44 Global Business Perspectives

25:51 Diversity in Leadership

28:08 Tech Investment Focus

31:40 Service-Based Business Models

34:38 Diligence and Investment Strategy

40:23 Portfolio Companies

47:22 Future Plans and Scaling Up

About Your Host

Ed Barker has enjoyed a weird and varied career. Ed is a Brit now resident in Seattle and has founded three startups, enjoyed a long career in corporate strategy, and most recently as a VC. He's now building a podcast production company, Studio 1878. Sound Investments is a modest attempt to shine some light on the fantastic work being done in the Pacific Northwest entrepreneurial community.

Anne Kennedy, Managing Director, Mastersfund Partner

Branding, marketing & global networking. Founder, entrepreneur, board director and advisor worldwide. Founding director of Helium.com, acquired by RR Donnelley and now the RRD Content Network. One of the earliest and most respected names in global digital marketing. Pioneer SEO, launched Zillow, Philips Lifeline, and other household names onto the web, building the world’s largest consortium of digital marketing agencies. Author of Global Search Marketing. Co-host & producer of CEOcoach podcast.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ed Barker talks to Evan Poncelet, co-managing partner of Dreamwood VC. Evan shares his journey from a career in software engineering to founding a venture capital fund focused on closing the funding gap for under-represented founders, particularly within the Black community. He discusses his family's legacy of economic empowerment through the establishment of the Liberty Bank in Seattle and how this inspired him to Africatown Community Land Trust and, later, Dreamwood Ventures. The conversation covers the challenges and rewards of building a new VC fund, the importance of economic equity, and the role of innovative sectors like med tech and FinTech in Dreamwood's investment strategy. Evan also highlights his efforts to educate and onboard more black angel investors and his broader mission to create generational wealth within under-represented communities.

00:00 Introduction

00:59 Meet Evan Poncelet

03:52 Building Africatown

08:23 Founding Dreamwood Ventures

14:27 Investment Focus and Community Building

21:59 Local Community Engagement

25:58 Challenges and Opportunities for Black Founders

30:19 The Role of Corporates

34:05 Inspiring Investments and Future Plans

36:47 Addressing Economic Disparities

About Your Host

Ed Barker has enjoyed a weird and varied career. Ed is a Brit now resident in Seattle and has founded three startups, enjoyed a long career in corporate strategy, and most recently as a VC. He's now building a podcast production company, Studio 1878. Sound Investments is a modest attempt to shine some light on the fantastic work being done in the Pacific Northwest entrepreneurial community.

Evan Poncelet — Founding Managing Partner of Dreamward Ventures

Evan founded Dreamward to back underrepresented founders, especially Black entrepreneurs, building high-growth startups. A former engineer and program manager at Fluke Networks and Cisco, Evan brings over a decade of tech industry experience to his investing. He’s also the Executive Director of Venture Black, co-founder of the Washington Black Angel Network, and a driving force behind the Black Founder Launchpad Expo. Evan’s work is rooted in a legacy of economic justice—his grandfather co-founded Liberty Bank in Seattle to fight redlining in the 1960s.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Sound Investments, host Ed Barker is joined by Andrew Peterson, founding partner of Aviso Ventures. They discuss Andrew's journey into venture capital, which is rooted in his experiences as a startup founder and operator. Aviso Ventures specializes in investing in cybersecurity and enterprise infrastructure companies, primarily in pre-seed and seed stages. The conversation dives into the challenges startups face in entering the enterprise market, the importance of offering actionable advice, and the practical aspects of cyber investments. They also explore how the venture capital landscape has evolved, the significance of content in building deal flow, and the impact of AI on tech investment.

00:00 Introduction

00:19 Meet Andrew Peterson of Aviso Ventures

05:20 The Role of Advice in Venture Capital

06:50 Aviso Ventures' Investment Focus

09:25 Challenges in Enterprise Sales Cycles

13:05 Building a Content-Driven VC Strategy

17:57 Trends and Challenges in Venture Capital

22:55 The Missing Element in Seattle's Tech Ecosystem

25:28 The Reality of Transitioning from Big Tech to Startups

28:05 Challenges in Cybersecurity

34:34 AI's Impact on Enterprise

39:43 Staying Updated in a Fast-Moving Tech World

42:38 Personal Reflections and Inspirations

44:55 Conclusion

About Your Host

Ed Barker has enjoyed a weird and varied career. Ed is a Brit now resident in Seattle and has started three startups, enjoyed a long career in corporate strategy, and most recently was a VC. He's now building a podcast production company. Sound Investments is a small attempt to shine some light on the fantastic work being done in the Pac NW entrepreneurial community.

Andrew Peterson — Founding Partner, Aviso Ventures

Andrew Peterson is the Founding Partner of Aviso Ventures, where he backs the next generation of software infrastructure startups. After more than two decades as an operator and founder, Andrew launched Aviso to invest in companies building foundational technologies for the modern enterprise. Since inception, Aviso’s Fund I has become a top performer in its class, with a strong track record of follow-on investments across the portfolio. Andrew is currently raising and deploying Fund II. Before founding Aviso, Andrew was the CEO and Co-Founder of Signal Sciences, where he led the creation of a category-defining platform that secured web applications, mobile apps, and APIs. Under his leadership, Signal Sciences grew into an industry leader and was acquired by Fastly for $825 million in 2020.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Sound Investments, host Ed Barker sits down with Dennis Joyce, Director of Investments at the Tacoma Venture Fund (TVF). They explore Dennis' fascinating journey from a young dreamer in New York to leading a venture fund in Tacoma. The conversation covers Dennis' experiences, from his early inspirations in venture capital to the formation and mission of the Tacoma Venture Fund. They discuss the Pacific Northwest's startup ecosystem, the importance of local connections and deep due diligence, and the challenges of early-stage investing. Dennis also shares insights into promising sectors, particularly AI and SaaS, and highlights the importance of a robust investment ecosystem in the region. The episode looks at the intricacies of scaling startups, the evolving market dynamics, and the personal side of life as a venture capitalist. The discussion is rich with anecdotal wisdom and practical advice for navigating the world of early-stage investments.

00:00 Introduction to Sound Investments

01:06 Meet Dennis Joyce

07:06 The Birth of Tacoma Venture Fund

11:41 Investing in the Pacific Northwest

16:06 Challenges and Opportunities

24:11 Current Market Dynamics

29:51 Scaling Sales

30:59 The Importance of OKRs

32:38 Investing in Agentic AI

37:55 Spotlight on Flavor Cloud

39:30 Lessons Learned

40:12 The Need for More Capital and Collaboration

43:11 Balancing Work and Life

47:45 Finding Inspiration

About Your Host

Ed Barker has enjoyed a weird and varied career. Ed is a Brit now resident in Seattle and has started three startups, enjoyed a long career in corporate strategy, and most recently was a VC. He's now building a podcast production company. Sound Investments is a small attempt to shine some light on the fantastic work being done in the Pac NW entrepreneurial community.

Dennis Joyce, Director of Investments

Dennis oversees dealflow, due diligence, and operational functions on behalf of TVF. He has led investments in Vega Cloud, Workflow Labs, and Flavorcloud, among others. Before TVF, Dennis spent 17 years as an independent angel investor and real estate developer. Dennis is passionate about supporting entrepreneurs and seeing great ideas come to life. He believes a vibrant venture ecosystem needs talent, expertise, and access to capital to thrive. Out of twenty-one pre-TVF angel investments, seventeen have been in female or minority-lead ventures. Dennis is intentional about providing greater access and opportunity to underrepresented founders. Dennis is an active member of Seattle’s Alliance of Angels and Puget Sound Venture Club. He is also a Board member of the William Factory Business Incubator, which provides training and support for entrepreneurs in Pierce County. He has an MBA from the University of Notre Dame’s Mendoza College of Business and a bachelor’s degree in History from the University of Notre Dame. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his family and trying new things.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.