The BCV Podcast

Conscious investing — what does it mean, really? And how is it different from impact investing or philanthropy? In this informative episode of the Beyond Capital Ventures Podcast, our hosts, BCV Managing Partner Eva Yazahri and Partner Nicholas Java, tackle the term and why it serves as our firm’s North Star.  

• Eva shares an anecdote about a recent conversation with a “cold-blooded” investor that shed light on the type of individual BCV wants to work with — and why (3:25)
• Nicholas explains the difference in “above-the-line” (i.e. relational) and “below-the-line” (transactional) investments  (4:31)
• Why coming in with a superiority complex is never the best approach to true venture capital support (5:14)
• Stakeholder capitalism vs. shareholder capitalism (6:26)
• The mantra of “no money, no mission,” or how conscious investing differs from philanthropy (hint: it’s about sustainable growth) (6:55)
• Eva references her book, The Good Your Money Can Do, and why she focused on conscious investing over impact investing in her personal and professional pursuits (9:43)
• Why investors should support founders who are in love with the problem, not the solution (11:55)
• Eva explains the scarcity vs. abundance way of seeing the world (12:41)
• How to tell if a company founder is a conscious leader (14:28)

Healthcare is a crucial sector within Beyond Capital Ventures’ investment outlook, comprising more than 40% of our portfolio. Access to quality healthcare remains a challenge in much of the world, markedly so in emerging markets such as India and East Africa, where we concentrate our efforts. 

In this compelling episode of the BCV Podcast, our hosts Eva and Nicholas discuss the trends, challenges, and opportunities presented by investing in early-stage healthcare companies operating in emerging markets — as well as the awe-inspiring products, services, and initiatives the healthcare-focused founders in our portfolio are producing to help improve lives in their communities. 

• Eva and Nicholas discuss the allocation of healthcare companies in Beyond Capital Ventures’ portfolio and the various subsectors within this essential investment category (1:44)
• The conversation turns to the similarities and differences in healthcare in emerging markets such as India and Africa as compared to the US (2:20)
• Nicholas shares the staggering percentage Indians pay for out-of-pocket medical costs (4:18)
• Why human capital is so critical in improving healthcare outcomes in emerging markets such as India (5:34)
• How Beyond Capital Ventures portfolio companies such as CarePoint, Eden Care, Kasha, Redwing Labs, and Viebeg are finding innovative solutions to pervasive and specific healthcare issues in their communities, such as fighting tropical diseases via greater access to vaccines (7:46)
• Eva and Nicholas shine a light on the trends and opportunities presented by investing in early-stage healthcare entrepreneurs (10:10)
• How healthcare companies in emerging markets can help create more equitable health outcomes for people of color around the world (16:46)

In a follow-up to our previous podcast episode about why Beyond Capital Ventures invests in Africa, our Managing Partner Eva Yazhari and Partner Nicholas Java discuss our firm’s dual focus on Indian startups and their importance in not only emerging markets but in the global economy as a whole.

In this insight-packed episode, Eva and Nicholas share data around India’s ascendant role in the global marketplace, as well as BCV’s unique approach and outlook to finding, vetting, and supporting Indian entrepreneurs who continue to contribute to and shape India’s evolving economy and the nation’s role on the global stage.

• Nicholas shares this episode’s Data of the Day, a defining point concerning investment in Indian startups in 2024  (1:22)
• He continues on to drop knowledge about the current and future states of India’s burgeoning economic landscape and consumer market (2:13)
• Eva explains why debt capital is essential for startups in emerging markets like India (6:39)
• Eva and Nicholas discuss pervasive biases that exist in regard to investing in Indian entrepreneurs (7:51)
• How Beyond Capital Ventures is contributing to India’s economic development overall by supporting and promoting startups — such as BCV portfolio company Lal10 — to the rest of the world (12:36)
• How entrepreneurs in emerging markets such as India are carefully striking a “sacred balance” between various stakeholders, including government, shareholders, customers, and communities (17:58)
• The idea behind BCV’s Equitable Venture structure and what it means for India’s founder ecosystem (23:24)

In this week’s episode of the BCV Podcast, we tackle a question our Partners hear often: Why invest in Africa, and, specifically, East Africa? An easy — but incomplete — answer: The world is becoming more African.

It’s true: Africa has the fastest growing, youngest population of any continent, and by 2050, one in four people on the planet will be African. Beyond Capital Ventures Managing Partner Eva Yazhari and Partner Nicholas Java explain the exciting potential they see in East Africa as conscious investors.

• Nicholas begins to delve into the reasoning behind BCV’s concentration in East Africa (2:48)
• Eva explains why some of Kenya’s recent economic shakeups are actually an effort to build the infrastructure needed for the country to become more stable and growth-minded in the long term (4:49)
• Eva shares what’s she’s most excited about BCV’s deal flow in East Africa and our office in Nairobi (6:30)
• Nicholas discusses what’s behind the recent decreases in funding for African startups, especially those with female founders (7:56)
• Avoiding tourist capital by putting relationships first and foremost (9:11)
• How Beyond Capital Ventures is creating wealth on the continent through its founder-fair policies such as Equitable Venture (21:53)

Welcome to Episode 4 of the Beyond Capital Ventures Podcast! Join BCV Managing Partner Eva Yazhari and Partner Nicholas Java as they delve into the firm’s debt capital opportunities and why this type of investment is crucial in supporting startups in emerging markets such as India and Africa. 

• Eva explores the meaning behind being a multi-asset venture capital firm and how that led to BCV taking on debt capital (1:58)
• Eva explains the difference between India and Africa — BCV’s areas of focus — and how working capital vs. debt capital shape the investment landscape and fill critical funding gaps (3:27)
• Nicholas shares his take on BCV’s blended strategy of equity and debt and the decisions behind the firm’s debt fund (4:19)
• Nicholas continues on to give listeners a primer on BCV’s debt opportunities fund (5:23)
• Why startups need more than just equity in terms of investment (6:46)
• The four key takeaways for any investor interested in Beyond Capital Ventures’ debt opportunities (9:27)

It’s time for episode 3 of the BCV Podcast and time to take a deeper look into what makes Beyond Capital Ventures truly one of a kind in its industry. As Partners in the firm, Eva and Nicholas offer their unique perspectives on the singular ways BCV is cultivating impact-driven companies in emerging markets. Tune in and get inspired! 

• The data of the day? A look at the emerging markets investment landscape by the numbers (1:04)
• Eva offers the three ways she believes Beyond Capital Ventures is unique (1:32)
• Why conscious investing isn’t at odds with the imperative of profit (3:01)
• Nicholas shares his own perspectives on BCV’s differentiators (3:52)
• Eva drives home the importance of due diligence and how it drives every decision (5:24)
• The conversation veers into results and how they are also unique to the BCV investment thesis, including a look into several portfolio companies and how they’ve been able to achieve sustainable growth and measurable impact (11:19)

In episode two of the BCV Podcast, we get to know Co-Host and Beyond Capital Ventures Partner Nicholas Java better … his time spent serving in the United States Army, what sparked his interest in venture capital in emerging markets, and where he continues to find his purpose in his challenging role.

The data point of the day (a feature of every episode) brings everything full circle. Tune in to learn more about George Doriot, who is considered the father of venture capital and his service in both World Wars, as well as so much more, including: 

• What drew Nicholas to the work of Beyond Capital and what made him decide to stay on (4:28)
• How Nicholas’ initial work on due diligence for Beyond Capital led to a greater commitment to the firm and the mission  (6:45)
• The perspective and insights Nicholas has gained being on the ground in the markets BCV serves (9:21)
• Nicholas explains BCV’s groundbreaking Equitable Venture structure (15:22)
• Eva asks Nicholas about lessons he’s learned at BCV (16:21)
• Nicholas shares what purpose drives him in his complex and demanding role at BCV (19:37)

Welcome to the BCV Podcast! Beyond Capital Ventures Managing Partner Eva Yazhari and Partner Nicholas Java are here to bring you the stories of a venture capital firm focused on more than money. Through our weekly conversations, we strive to inspire you to think differently about what investments can achieve. Each episode will broaden your understanding of investment and inspire you to envision new possibilities for what capital can achieve.

In our inaugural episode, Eva and Nicholas set the stage for a season of intriguing, insightful discussions. It is our hope that you engage with these episodes and reach out with your own thoughts on how our money can mean more. 

Some key takeaways from our kickoff conversation:

• Each episode will be centered on one question and one data point that epitomize the current state of conscious investing (:42)
• An insiders’ glimpse into what Beyond Capital Ventures invests in — and, more importantly, why (1:28)
• Why investments that produce both impact and returns is like having your cake and eating it too (4:15)
• Eva shares the deep dive into the genesis of Beyond Capital Ventures (6:43)
• How Beyond Capital Fund served as the foundation for the venture capital strategy that became Beyond Capital Ventures (9:28)
• Hear about the data point of the day — a revealing metric about the percentage of venture capital money that is directed towards companies with women in leadership positions — and what we can all do to help level the playing field (16:02)