The Sure Shot Entrepreneur

Dave Anderson, founding general partner at Beat Ventures, discusses his approach to investing in tech startups targeting overlooked legacy industries. He highlights the role of AI in revolutionizing these industries, giving examples of predictive AI application in meat processing and generative AI in finance. Dave stresses the importance of building Silicon Valley networks for funding and hiring while maintaining close customer relationships for execution. Drawing from his unconventional journey into venture capital, he calls for more diversity in the industry to open up opportunities for both founders and investors.

In this episode, you’ll learn:
[04:40] Challenges legacy industries face in adopting new technology
[09:15] Beat Ventures’ focus on niche markets with high growth potential
[14:22] The importance of networking in Silicon Valley and proximity to customers
[19:08] How democratized technology is fostering diverse founders and investors
[21:47] Notable AI innovations transforming legacy industries

The non-profit organization Dave is passionate about: San Francisco School Board

About Dave Anderson

Dave Anderson is a Founding Partner and General Partner at Beat Ventures. Dave previously served as an Associate at Toyota AI Ventures. Prior to that, he co-founded Bamboo Detroit, the city’s first and largest co-working space for entrepreneurs, and was the director of venture services at NextEnergy, an early-stage technology incubator. An electrical engineer with experience in advanced battery systems, Dave worked with Bosch Battery Systems and General Dynamics Land Systems. He’s recognized as one of Crain Detroit Business’s 20 in their 20s and featured by Huffington Post and ABC’s 20/20. He holds an electrical engineering degree from the University of Michigan and an MBA from Harvard Business School, where he helped launch HBS Accelerate.

About Beat Ventures

Beat Ventures is a San Francisco-based VC firm investing in AI-driven companies that enhance human performance in overlooked legacy industries. Focused on pre-seed and seed stages, Beat Ventures supports startups using applied AI to complement human ingenuity, rather than replace it. The firm believes the future's most impactful companies will blend technology and human creativity to advance business and society. Its portfolio includes Volur, Stack AI, Truewind, Bitpart AI, Treehouse, Fishtail, Theo AI, Bolo AI, Poka Labs, Safe, Dropverse, and Clockwork.

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Yiğit Ihlamur, co-founder and general partner at Vela Partners, shares his unique venture capital approach, which combines data analysis with personal connections to identify exceptional founders. At Vela Partners, an algorithmic scan of companies helps narrow down investment choices, but final decisions hinge on assessing founder resilience and motivation during meetings. Yiğit explains that, typically, he has already decided to invest by the time he meets a founder; the meeting confirms his conviction. He also discusses AI’s role in shaping the future of productivity tools and offers valuable advice to founders on preparation and authenticity when seeking investment.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

[02:06] Yiğit's journey from Google to venture capital, and his unique approach to combining engineering and venture investing.

[06:27] How Vela Partners integrates artificial intelligence and quant-driven algorithms to identify high-potential startups

[10:21] The significance of a balanced quantitative and qualitative assessment in VC investing

[12:41] How AI is enabling the next generation of productivity tools

[19:08] Articulate your personal story, intrinsic motivation, and ability to articulate your commitment to solving a particular problem.

[24:07] What should startups do to attract algorithm-driven funds like Vela Partners?

 [27:02] Slow decision-making pace in VC is a problem

The nonprofit organizations Yiğit is passionate about: American College Institute (ACI) in Turkey

About Yiğit Ihlamur

Yiğit Ihlamur is a co-founder, general partner, and Chief Technology Officer at Vela Partners, a venture capital firm specializing in AI and product-led solutions. Prior to Vela, Yiğit had an impactful career at Google, where he led initiatives for Gmail, Chrome, and Google Workspace, focusing on product-led growth strategies such as self-service signups, activation, and pricing flows. Starting in Google's European headquarters, he initially worked on technical support for IT admins and created productivity tools for internal teams. Yiğit is passionate about advancing human productivity through technology. Outside his professional pursuits, he enjoys kitesurfing, skiing, running, and spending time with his family.

About Vela Partners

Vela Partners is a Silicon Valley-based venture capital firm specializing in product-led, AI-native startups from inception to Series A. Acting as an "AI startup investing in other AI startups," Vela leverages its proprietary AI to guide investment decisions and enhance its own returns. The firm’s investor-focused tools drive its fund’s performance, while self-service tools for entrepreneurs expand Vela’s brand and distribution channels. Its portfolio includes innovative companies like Vieu, Cartken, Goooods, Nominal, LeakSignal, Base Operations, Cerby, Lightup, Vartana, and Axiom Cloud, among others.

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Jessie Guo, an investment partner at Next Legacy Partners, shares her journey from early life in the northern China town of Dingxiang to a chance meeting with co-founder Russ Hall and joining the team at Next Legacy Partners. The firm supports mission-driven, early-stage tech startups and funds. Jessie discusses their approach to backing both emerging and established managers, highlighting the importance of diversity, discipline, and conviction in choosing investments.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

[02:15] Evolution, mission and core focus of Next Legacy Partners

[09:10] The venture ecosystem expansion; new opportunities for emerging managers

[12:30] Differences between Next Legacy’s emerging and established manager portfolios

[19:32] The importance of differentiation in forming the conviction to back emerging managers

[26:50] Two key areas for improvement in venture capital

The nonprofit organizations Jessie is passionate about: Venture Forward, Alzheimer's Foundation of America

About Jessie Guo

Jessie Guo is an Investment Partner at Next Legacy Partners, focusing on Flagship and Emerging Leaders strategies. A Kauffman Fellow, Jessie also serves on the permanent board of Bridge Funding Global, supporting women and underserved emerging managers. She brings deep expertise in venture capital, having worked at CICC and China Renaissance, where she led private equity and venture capital investments and helped establish CICC’s fund of funds and wealth management businesses. Jessie earned both her bachelor’s and master’s in Finance from Peking University and an MBA with top honors from UC Davis.

About Next Legacy Partners

Next Legacy Partners is a Silicon Valley-based venture capital and private equity firm dedicated to achieving meaningful returns by backing top early-stage venture capital firms and high-potential founders. Focused on democratizing access to venture capital, Next Legacy Partners invests on behalf of philanthropists, athletes, and changemakers, giving them entry into exclusive venture funds and companies. The firm’s mission extends beyond financial returns, aiming to drive positive impact. Next Legacy investments include: Affinity, Instil, Babylist, Rubrik, Lime, Kitopi, NorthOne, Flexport among others. 

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Lochan Alagh, co-founder of VC Nest, shares her journey from India to Silicon Valley, her work with nonprofits, and her transition into entrepreneurship and venture capital. She explains how VC Nest is addressing gaps in the VC ecosystem by supporting emerging fund managers through collaboration, networking, education, and thought leadership. Lochan emphasizes the need to prioritize founder support over just maximizing returns, fostering a healthier venture capital landscape.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

[1:51] Lochan’s inspiring journey from India to Silicon Valley

[9:19] How venture capital drives innovation

[12:19] Key challenges for emerging fund managers: fundraising, deal sourcing, and increasing competition

[17:56] The pillars of VC Nest: focused events, curated VC-startup mixers, educational series, and thought leadership

[22:50] Emerging fund managers are identifying future unicorns but still struggle with institutional backing (TechCrunch: 30 out of 34 unicorns were funded by emerging managers).

The nonprofit organizations Lochan is passionate about: IIT Bay Area Alumni Association, Overseas Volunteer for a Better India (OVBI)

About Lochan Alagh

Lochan Alagh is the co-founder and managing partner at VC Nest, a platform dedicated to supporting emerging venture capital fund managers and innovative startups. Before VC Nest, Lochan served as Executive Director at FalconX, where she fostered global innovation by forging strategic partnerships with accelerators and helping B2B startups establish a presence in Silicon Valley. She is also the Vice President of the IIT Roorkee Alumni Association (Bay Area Chapter), where she focuses on strengthening the alumni community. Previously, she led business strategy and operations at Cloud Harmonics, a rapidly growing startup, until its acquisition by Ingram Micro. Passionate about community service, Lochan is involved with nonprofits such as Overseas Volunteer for a Better India, working on water conservation initiatives, and New Leaders Council, which trains young progressives to become civic leaders. Additionally, she serves as a board member and secretary for the IIT Bay Area Alumni Association (2022-2024).

About VC Nest

VC Nest is a Silicon Valley-based platform designed to empower emerging venture capital fund managers and foster the growth of the VC-startup ecosystem. It offers a range of resources, including networking opportunities, educational events, and fundraising support to help fund managers thrive. With a focus on collaboration and knowledge sharing, VC Nest provides fund managers with insider strategies on fundraising, access to Fund of Funds, and connections with fellow VCs. Additionally, it offers technology infrastructure, portfolio startup workstations, and actionable insights to drive the growth and success of both funds and startups.

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Shreesha Ramdas, a successful serial entrepreneur and angel investor, shares his investment approach, which focuses on the individual stories of entrepreneurs rather than just their business ideas. He discusses the changing face of entrepreneurship in India and highlights the significance of community for founders through the story of how Funda, a thriving community of founders, investors, and operators, came to life.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

[2:17] “Silicon Valley—what I call Disneyland for tech—completely transformed my mindset.” - Shreesha Ramdas 

[5:36] New challenges for Indian entrepreneurs building global solutions

[13:36] Founder stories matter

[19:30] Funda: Building a strong community where founders can learn from each other

The community activity Shreesha is passionate about: Funda

About Shreesha Ramdas

Shreesha Ramdas is a seasoned entrepreneur with a proven track record of launching and scaling products in highly competitive markets. He is the CEO and Founder of Lumber, a workforce management platform tailored for the construction industry. Previously, Shreesha was the CEO and Co-Founder of Strikedeck, a customer success automation company that was acquired by Medallia. Before Strikedeck, he served as GM of the Marketing Cloud at CallidusCloud and Co-Founder of LeadFormix, which was acquired by CallidusCloud. Shreesha also held leadership roles at Yodlee, OuterJoin, Catalytic Software, MW2 Consulting, and Tata. In addition to his entrepreneurial ventures, he actively invests in and advises several growth companies, including Workato, Enact, RevvSales, and others.

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Rajan Maruthavanan, Cofounder and Managing Partner at Upekkha, shares deep insights into the dynamics of building B2B startups from India for global markets, particularly in the US. He discusses the strengths and challenges of Indian founders, such as thriving in vertical, niche markets versus struggling with infrastructure and dev tools for global adoption. Rajan emphasizes the importance of founders learning how to take advice and shares his thoughts on the key skills needed for founder success.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

[3:57] Building a new type of VC firm: The Upekkha story

[7:36] Why Indian startups struggle to break into the US market

[14:43] The Power of annual contract value (ACV): How ACV shapes startup strategy

[19:03] The vertical advantage: Why Indian founders succeed in niche Markets

[22:03] How biases and bad advice can trap founders into their biggest pitfalls

[28:07] Changing the VC game by improving founder success rates

The nonprofit organization Rajan is passionate about: Sitare Foundation

About Rajan Maruthavanan

Rajan Maruthavanan is the Cofounder and Managing Partner at Upekkha, with extensive expertise in guiding early-stage startups through their critical zero-to-one phase to achieve product-market fit. At Upekkha, he has made over 120 pre-seed investments in SaaS startups and assisted numerous founders with M&A activities in DeepTech and B2B SaaS over the past eight years. Previously, Rajan was an Operator and Head of Product for QuickBooks Global at Intuit, where he managed the India GST strategy and led iCombinator, Intuit’s internal accelerator. He also organized two notable conferences: SaaSx in Chennai (2014-2016) and StartupBridgeIndia at Stanford (2016-2019). Earlier in his career, he co-founded and served as CTO of a computer vision startup, developing a SIFT vector-based visual search for Nokia phones.

About Upekkha

Upekkha, established in 2017, is an AI SaaS accelerator dedicated to helping Indian founders create global software brands. Currently in its 13th cohort, Upekkha has collaborated with over 165 startups and cultivated a network of more than 300 SaaS entrepreneurs. The firm has a diverse portfolio including companies like iMocha, Almabase, Kloudle, and Cloudbankin. Notably, about 25% of its startups hail from tier-II cities, such as Pune, Kochi, Bhopal, Chandigarh, Raipur, Vadodara, Jabalpur, Warangal, Coimbatore, and Trichy.

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Raed Masri and Rama Chakaki, general partners at Transform VC, discuss their unique approach to venture capital, focusing on impact-driven investments and supporting diverse, underrepresented founders. Drawing from their diverse backgrounds as entrepreneurs and investors, they discuss how they evaluate startups, form investment convictions, and challenge traditional industry norms. Raed and Rama also provide practical advice for founders seeking to make the most of their early meetings with venture capitalists.

In this episode, you'll learn:

[3:12] Moving beyond traditional Silicon Valley thinking to embrace global perspectives and diversity.

[7:21] Why Transform VC prioritizes founders who are deeply obsessed with their customers and solving real-world problems.

[11:15] How VCs build conviction through multiple interactions with founders

[17:54] Bridging the gap for underrepresented founders; what the industry can do to better support these entrepreneurs

[22:28] Practical tips for founders to maximize early meetings with investors

[24:41] Measuring impact in startups: Key criteria and questions for founders to consider when demonstrating their social or environmental impact.

The nonprofit organization Rama is passionate about: VIP Fund

About Raed Masri

Raed Masri is the founder and general director at Transform VC. Raed is a seasoned technology entrepreneur turned top-performing venture capitalist. As the founder of Transform VC, a Silicon Valley firm that has backed multiple deep tech startups, including four unicorns, Raed focuses on identifying untapped founders who can achieve transformative impact and exceptional returns. With a track record that includes two companies with 20x outcomes and three failed ventures, he brings a wealth of experience to his role as a hands-on investor. Raed aims to support 1,000 mindful tech founders to each impact a billion lives and make a billion dollars through deep tech for social and climate impact. He holds an Engineering degree from Carleton University and an MBA from Cornell University.

About Rama Chakaki

Rama Chakaki is a general partner at Transform VC. Rama is an impact-driven tech entrepreneur, investor, and philanthropist. As a partner at Transform VC, she supports tech founders using deep tech for climate and social impact, with a mission to empower 1,000 founders to impact a billion lives and make a billion dollars. Rama has been a key figure in developing the social entrepreneurship ecosystem in the Middle East and leads the VIP.fund, an edTech nonprofit aiding youth affected by conflict. Her work has been recognized in publications like Forbes, Bloomberg, and Arab Women Rising. She holds degrees in Computer Engineering and Engineering Management from George Washington University.

About Transform VC

Transform VC is a Silicon Valley-based venture capital firm that invests in, creates and builds sustainable businesses with a long-term investment view. They focus on mission-driven, determined, and authentic founders who use deep tech and network effects for social and climate impact.

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Aaron Webster, Managing Director at Cameron Ventures, shares his experience in the dynamic world of venture capital, with a focus on InsurTech, FinTech and Enterprise Technology investments at seed and Series A. He explains the evolving trends within these sectors and emphasizes the critical role of data infrastructure in driving innovation. Aaron shares insights into what he looks for in potential investments, particularly the importance of strong data management and the integration of technology with business models.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

[2:39] How Aaron's career in corporate shaped his approach to technology, business and startup investing

[7:55] Key elements of InsurTech 2.0: The shift from distribution to infrastructure and data management.

[12:40] The excitement around data infrastructure plays in the insurance space and why having good data is crucial.

[14:41] How Cameron Ventures sources and evaluates startups, with a focus on team dynamics and problem-solving capabilities.

[18:35] Common reasons for getting a 'No' from VCs and the importance of character and realistic valuations. 

[21:48] Advice for founders in the current market, including the significance of understanding market trends and valuation issues

[23:07] The role of venture capital in pushing the economy forward

The non-profit organizations that Aaron is passionate about: United Way Oklahoma, Payne Education Center

About Aaron Webster

Aaron Webster is the managing director at Cameron Ventures. He backs founders who are building the new tech stacks for financial services and benefits and has been instrumental in Cameron’s investment in Castellum.AI, jawnt, YellowBird, Coverdash, XP Health, Certificial, and others startups.

About Cameron Ventures

Cameron Ventures is an Oklahoma-based early-stage venture capital firm with affiliate operating companies that serve customers across the United States, primarily in insurance, banking and asset management. The Cameron team is able to empower its portfolio companies with access to financial and strategic capital, seasoned real-world management teams and a substantial customer base. Companies in Cameron’s portfolio include NewRetirement, Coverdash, Castellum.AI, Certificial, jawnt, YellowBird, Method Financial, Surround Insurance, XP Health, among others.

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Ben Black, co-founder and managing director of Akkadian Ventures, shares insights into the venture capital secondary market. He highlights the distinct approach Akkadian Ventures takes, focusing on businesses with proven customer economics and strong technology moats. Ben elaborates on their strategy of gradually increasing positions and leveraging discounts from secondary investments. He also discusses the evolution and growing importance of secondary markets as startups stay private longer and new liquidity models develop. Ben also talks about Raise Global, a platform he founded to support emerging venture managers.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

[1:39] Silicon Valley thrives on meritocracy, where anyone with ambition, talent, and hard work can quickly connect and succeed regardless of their background.

[4:41] To succeed, emerging managers must proactively create their own opportunities, rather than waiting for them to be given.

[6:46] What is the venture capital secondary market? How is it developing, and what impact does it have on the broader VC ecosystem? What does the future hold for secondary investments?

[12:27] Key strategies for investing in the secondaries market

[22:00] The evolution and impact of Raise since its inception.

The non-profit organizations that Ben is passionate about: Mind The Gap

About Ben Black

Ben Black is a co-founder and managing director at Akkadian Ventures. He has extensive venture capital experience, having previously worked as an investor at Maveron, Rosewood Capital, New Cycle Capital. As an entrepreneur, Black served as vice president of corporate development at Harris Interactive, driving its transformation into a leading internet-based market research firm and leading to a successful IPO. He also co-founded Raise Global to facilitate connections between emerging fund managers and capital partners, enhancing investment opportunities in the venture space.

About Akkadian Ventures

Akkadian Ventures is a Silicon Valley-based direct secondary investment firm that offers liquidity to early employees and investors of venture-backed businesses. For more than a decade, Akkadian has pioneered secondary and opportunistic investments in growth-stage technology companies.

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Venktesh Shukla, Founder and General Partner at Monta Vista Capital, shares his journey from a reluctant immigrant to a successful entrepreneur and venture capitalist. He outlines his investment strategy at Monta Vista Capital, emphasizing deep due diligence, expert validation, adaptability, continuous learning, and leveraging networks. Additionally, he highlights the significant role of TiE (The IndUS Entrepreneurs) in promoting entrepreneurship, particularly among Indian and South Asian communities, and the importance of supportive ecosystems in fostering innovation and economic growth.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

[1:36] Driven into venture capital by a desire to focus on product and customer engagement

[6:53] Presenting unique and intriguing aspects of your field or venture appeals to VC's intellectual curiosity.

[8:36] Monta Vista investment philosophy: high conviction, concentrated investments; relying heavily on deep domain experts to validate investment opportunities.

[14:09] The founder’s motivation to tackle a market problem should be backed by concrete market insights.

[19:52] The IndUS Entrepreneurs - a comprehensive support system that has had a profound impact on the global entrepreneurial landscape, contributing to significant successes within the Indian community in Silicon Valley and beyond.

The non-profit organizations that Venktesh is passionate about: Foundation for Excellence

About Venktesh Shukla

Venktesh Shukla is the Founder and General Partner of Monta Vista Capital and also the Founding Chair of TiE Angels. Prior to investing, Venktesh drove rapid growth in sales, marketing, and general management roles, collaborating with over 50 startups. As a former president of TiE, he strengthened Silicon Valley’s tech startup network and continues to volunteer, connecting entrepreneurs with key customers. Passionate about supporting Indian startups, Venk influences policy through the Government of India's Startup Advisory Council and supports students through the Foundation for Excellence.

About Monta Vista Capital

Monta Vista Capital is a Silicon Valley-based venture capital firm focused on early stage B2B companies. Portfolio companies include StrikeReady, Uhnder, minds.ai, ConstructN, XY Retail, Eridan, Boomerang, Motorq, Sparkz among others.

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