In this episode, Joel sits down with Chee-We Ng, Partner at Oakseed Ventures, to explore his remarkable transition from a cybersecurity prodigy and MIT engineer to a leading seed-stage investor in AI and cybersecurity. Chee-We shares his journey from creating a “good” computer virus as a teenager to building classified encryption systems for the Singapore government, before pivoting through an MBA, McKinsey, and corporate venture at Cisco. He delves into the complexities of the cybersecurity landscape, detailing how Oakseed identifies stealth founders tackling massive unmet needs with deep technical expertise and strong business acumen. Listeners will gain valuable insights into thematic investing, founder evaluation, and the nuanced challenges of launching and differentiating a venture fund in today’s competitive market.

#VentureCapital #Cybersecurity #AI #SeedStage #Investing #Startups #MIT #OakseedVentures

In this episode, Joel sits down with Teppei Tsutsui, General Partner of the GFR Fund, to explore his unique journey from an international relations student to a leading investor in the global gaming ecosystem. Teppei shares his path through Mitsubishi and Morgan Stanley, detailing how he leveraged his experience in cross-border corporate strategy and investment banking to co-found a venture fund dedicated to consumer tech and gaming. He breaks down GFR's investment philosophy, focusing on founders who build organic communities over paid user acquisition, and dives into the evolving landscape of PC and mobile gaming, AI's transformative role in content creation, and emerging trends in personalized entertainment. Listeners will gain valuable insights into deal sourcing, the dynamics of corporate venture capital, and the macro forces shaping the next generation of interactive experiences.

In this episode, Joel engages with Justin Brodie-Kommit, General Partner at Lichen Ventures, to unpack his journey from a Johns Hopkins PhD in molecular biology to a dedicated climate hard tech investor. Justin discusses the pivotal transition from academia and biotech at Genentech to building an angel portfolio of 86 companies and launching his own venture fund. The conversation delves into the critical importance of unit economics and capital efficiency in deep tech, the process of sourcing and vetting breakthrough climate solutions, and the power of community building—from growing a local meetup to over 600 members to co-founding DC Climate Week. Justin also shares his investment thesis focused on high-impact sectors like industrial decarbonization, biomanufacturing, and climate adaptation, offering key insights for founders and investors navigating the climate tech landscape.

In this episode, we sit down with Connor Drake, Senior Coach and Head of Content at MindMaven, to explore how leaders in high-pressure industries like private equity and venture capital can reclaim their most valuable resource: time. Connor unpacks the principles of "radical delegation," a strategic approach that helps executives free up over twelve hours each week by optimizing how they work with executive assistants and leverage emerging AI tools. He delves into the critical importance of intentional relationship management for fundraising, deal flow, and team culture, sharing actionable frameworks for maintaining mindshare with key stakeholders and systematizing authentic connection. Connor also provides concrete tactics for implementing inbox shadowing, AI-powered meeting debriefs, and structured white-space time, demonstrating how to shift from reactive busywork to high-impact leadership. This conversation is essential for any founder, investor, or executive looking to scale their influence, protect their mental bandwidth, and build a more sustainable, impactful career.

#RadicalDelegation #ExecutiveProductivity #VentureCapital #PrivateEquity #TimeManagement #AIAutomation #Leadership #RelationshipManagement

In this episode, we sit down with Rick Pedersen, Vice Chairman and Chief Strategy Officer at Bow River Capital, a seasoned institutional investor with decades of experience spanning consulting, real estate, and private asset management. Rick shares his unique perspective on building a career through curiosity and embracing discomfort, offering invaluable advice for both emerging managers and institutional LPs. We dive into the evolution of endowment investing, the critical importance of cross-disciplinary collaboration within a firm, and how to assess manager competence beyond track records. Rick also provides a macro outlook on the AI-driven infrastructure boom in the "Rodeo Region" and discusses the essential blend of technical skill, communication, and humility needed to build a lasting investment culture. Whether you're navigating fund launches, LP relationships, or leadership development, this conversation is packed with strategic insights for the modern allocator and asset manager.

#PrivateEquity #AssetManagement #InvestmentStrategy #InstitutionalInvesting #BowRiverCapital #PortfolioConstruction #AITrends #LeadershipDevelopment

In this episode, we speak with Scott Sherman, Managing Partner at Mesa Lane Capital Partners, a firm dedicated to seeding and supporting the next generation of emerging venture capital managers. Drawing on nearly two decades of experience at institutions like Blackstone and Tiger Management, Scott shares invaluable insights on what makes a successful emerging GP, from the critical importance of specialized expertise and founder-GP fit to the operational and strategic support that can accelerate a firm's trajectory. We dive deep into the nuances of early-stage venture investing, discuss how to build durable firm culture and leadership, and explore why now is a compelling time for allocators to consider emerging manager exposure. Whether you're an aspiring manager, an investor evaluating GP partnerships, or building a career in asset management, this conversation is packed with actionable wisdom on navigating the venture ecosystem with integrity and impact.

#VentureCapital #EmergingManagers #GPSeeding #StartupInvesting #FundStrategy #AssetManagement #MesaLaneCapital #InvestorInsights

In this episode, we sit down with Jeremy D. Held, CFA, Managing Director at Bow River Capital, who leads the firm’s registered asset management and evergreen private equity strategies. With over three decades in asset management, Jeremy shares his journey from teaching English abroad to overseeing billions in assets, and delves into the transformative trends in private markets. We explore the rise of evergreen investment structures, how they democratize access to diversified private equity portfolios, and why specialized expertise is critical in sectors like defense tech, software, and AI. Jeremy also offers invaluable insights on building a strong firm culture, attracting next-generation talent through reverse mentorship, and the evolving DNA of a successful private equity investor in a hyper-competitive landscape. Whether you’re an allocator, entrepreneur, or investor, this conversation provides a masterclass in navigating the modern private equity ecosystem.

#PrivateEquity #EvergreenFunds #AssetManagement #VentureCapital #BowRiverCapital #InvestingStrategy #AITrends #PortfolioDiversification

In this episode, we dive deep with Hasan Haider, Founder and Managing Partner of Plus Venture Capital, a pioneering early-stage VC firm focused on the MENA region. Hasan shares his accidental journey into venture capital, from launching one of the first angel investment groups in the Middle East to partnering with 500 Startups and eventually founding his own firm. He offers invaluable insights into building a venture ecosystem from the ground up, the evolving startup landscape in MENA, and the unique challenges and opportunities of investing in emerging markets. Learn about his hands-on approach to backing execution-focused founders, the critical role of secondary exits, and why he believes the MENA region is on the cusp of a major tech transformation.

#VentureCapital #MENAStartups #TechInvesting #EmergingMarkets #StartupEcosystem #FounderAdvice #VCInsights #PrivateEquity

In this episode, we're joined by Anton Fedorov, Partner at Flashpoint VC, for a fascinating look at his journey from laser physicist and prop desk trader to a seasoned venture capitalist. Anton delves into the unique parallels between running physics experiments and building a VC portfolio, explaining Flashpoint's focused strategy on B2B software and its evolution to include AI and climate tech. We explore the critical importance of founder-market fit, the hunt for proprietary data moats in the age of AI, and the quantitative, risk-reward approach they apply to Series A investing. Anton also shares invaluable advice for emerging fund managers on the necessity of constant fundraising, perpetual curiosity, and building systemic alpha. This conversation is a masterclass in adapting investment theses and the relentless hustle required to build a multi-fund, multi-product venture firm.

#VentureCapital #B2BSoftware #AIInvesting #StartupFunding #Fundraising #TechStartups #PrivateEquity #VCStrategy

In this episode, we sit down with David Miller, CIO of the $13 billion asset management firm Catalyst Funds, for a masterclass in portfolio strategy and firm building. David shares his unique journey from a childhood fascination with stocks to founding a successful mutual fund company, detailing the critical lessons learned from navigating the 2008 financial crisis and the power of true diversification beyond simple stock picking. We dive deep into his strategic approach of combining uncorrelated, alpha-generating strategies to enhance returns while mitigating risk, his insights on leveraging external talent through sub-advisory partnerships, and his practical advice for using AI as a powerful analytical tool. David also offers invaluable wisdom from his experiences, including a personal anecdote from Warren Buffett on finding undervalued opportunities. This conversation is essential listening for any investor or asset manager looking to refine their strategy and build a resilient investment business.

#AssetManagement #InvestingStrategy #PortfolioManagement #RiskManagement #Diversification #HedgeFunds #AIinFinance #InvestmentAdvice