Elaine Dai is a Partner at Alt Capital, a new venture firm founded by Jack Altman that backs ambitious founders in AI and enterprise software. In this episode, we dive into Elaine’s journey from Harvard to Microsoft, Norwest, and now Alt, where she helps lead a $275M second fund focused on AI-native companies and category-defining startups.

Elaine shares what it takes to recognize outlier founders, how she evaluates “slope over snapshot,” and why the best VCs act as invited guests rather than helicopter investors. She also reflects on risk-taking, the immigrant mindset, and why being in San Francisco compounds serendipity.

We also cover:

• Why “AI-native” beats “AI-wrapper” startups

• How to find (and stress-test) the right co-founder

• Practical advice for breaking into VC without a traditional background

• The hardest parts of conviction, patience, and playing the long game

From repairing semi trucks in Alberta, Canada to shaping breakthrough research at Google DeepMind, and now closing a $10 million raise for his applied-AI startup Maneva - Rae's journey is a master-class in turning technical insight and passion into business impact.

In our latest (and most technical) episode of The Venture Podcast, we unpack:

- How hands-on engineering roots still guide Rae's product decisions

- A few massive lessons learned at DeepMind that every founder should steal

- Why Applied AI is where the real value lives

If you lead, build, or invest or in AI, Rae's journey and insights shared will likely be of great value to you.

Eric Jorgenson is the bestselling author of The Almanack of Naval Ravikant and CEO of Scribe Media. In this episode, we dive deep into agency, accountability, and the mindset behind doing truly original work. Eric shares the viral story behind how he turned a single tweet into a life-changing book project, what it really means to be “high agency,” and how he unexpectedly became CEO of a company he helped rescue from bankruptcy.

We also cover:

• How to build “luck surface area”

• Pulling back the curtains on the venture capital industry

• The secrets to wealth and happiness

• And how to navigate your 20s with clarity and ambition

In this episode we sit down with Michael Perry, founder of Kit (acquired by Shopify) and current CEO of Maple. Michael shares the truth about his 20-year entrepreneurial journey—from selling cars and living on food stamps to building products used by millions. We dive deep into his early hustle, the pain behind building startups, and the importance of authenticity.

Robbie Bent is the CEO and co-founder of Othership—a venture that reimagines wellness with guided sauna and ice bath experiences. His story offers thoughtful insights on product design, building and scaling a brick-and-mortar business, and creating spaces that foster meaningful relationships. We’re excited to share his perspective with you—enjoy the conversation.

200 VCs wanted to get into Lumen Orbit (YC S24)'s seed round!

Iguanas falling out of trees onto self-driving cars? For Matt Puchalski, this wasn’t just an odd occurrence—it was a real challenge he and the team at Argo faced when these frozen reptiles disrupted the sensors on expensive autonomous vehicles.

On this episode of The Venture Podcast, James and Bryce sit down with Matt Puchalski, the co-founder of Bucket Robotics. Today, Matt is in San Francisco, building his own robotics startup after an impressive summer at Y Combinator as a new venture partner at PioneerFund.

At Bucket Robotics, Matt is transforming how manufacturing detects defects by leveraging cutting-edge robotics and computer vision. Instead of relying on slow, manual quality assurance processes, Bucket Robotics uses synthetic data and advanced AI to inspect complex 3D parts with unmatched precision. What started as a simple idea during Y Combinator—building smarter vision systems—has evolved into a solution that’s helping manufacturers save time, improve accuracy, and optimize QA in numerous manufacturing processes.

Here are some key takeaways from our conversation with Matt:

1. Kindness and Intellectual Humility as Leadership Traits:

Matt attributes much of his success to being kind, listening well, and staying curious. These qualities have helped him build strong relationships, foster trust, and navigate the uncertainties of entrepreneurship with resilience and optimism.

2. Adaptability and Problem-Solving in Robotics:

Matt’s experience at Argo AI highlights the unpredictable challenges in robotics, like adapting self-driving systems to environmental oddities (e.g., iguanas falling on sensors). Success in robotics stems from robust problem-solving frameworks, continuous learning, and assembling a team capable of adapting to real-world complexities.

3. Iterative Learning and Building:

The inception of Bucket Robotics showcases the power of starting with broad ideas, engaging with customers, and iterating rapidly to solve specific pain points like defect detection. This iterative approach helped refine the company’s vision and product-market fit, underscoring the value of feedback-driven development.

4. The Power of Community and Curiosity:

Matt emphasizes the importance of surrounding yourself with supportive, curious, and knowledgeable people. Meaningful collaboration and asking thoughtful questions are key to both personal and professional growth.

The largest venture capital raise ever by a Black woman in Canada.

A former CIO and Global executive, of BMO and TD. 

The founder of a Cybersecurity company winning contracts with countries across the globe. 

These are not different people, this is Claudette McGowan, this week's guest on the Venture Podcast.

Her message in this clip from our interview is powerful enough to warrant a focused share, so we'll be highlighting one key takeaway from her interview through this clip.

Kyle Norton is the CRO of Owner, one of Forbes's "Next Billion-Dollar Startups" for 2024. As a limited partner at GTMfund and Stage 2 Capital and with over 15 years of experience leading sales teams at places like Shopify and League Inc., Kyle brings a wealth of insights to the table. He also hosts The Revenue Leadership Podcast, where he interviews top sales leaders, dives deep into growth-driving strategies, and asks radically transparent questions.

In this episode, we dive into Kyle’s approach to scaling startups, hiring and training teams, and using AI in sales—packed with advice for anyone aiming to lead in revenue and tech.

In episode 20 of The Venture Podcast we had the pleasure of sitting down with Dani and Victoria, co-founders of Mave and Chez—the revolutionary slipper brand that is transforming comfort and style for women.From launching their first business out of college to creating a company that’s reshaping the slipper industry, Dani and Victoria's story is a masterclass in starting a business. Their biggest lesson: you don’t need to have everything figured out from the start. Just take the leap, surround yourself with people who support your vision, and adapt as you go.Here are some key takeaways from our conversation:Start Before You're Ready: When CBC’s Dragon’s Den came calling, Mave and Chez hadn’t even fully launched yet. Instead of hesitating, they seized the opportunity and turned it into an incredible moment of exposure for their brand. Sometimes, the best opportunities come when you least expect them.Resilience and Pivots Are Critical: Dani and Victoria quickly learned that success isn’t a straight path. From running events to launching a product in the middle of a pandemic, they mastered the art of pivoting fast and turning challenges into triumphs.Focus on What Matters: While many might aim for a broad market, these founders honed in on creating a high-quality, ergonomic slipper tailored specifically for women—prioritizing both style and support. Knowing your audience and serving them well is key to growth.Strong Partnerships Make All the Difference: Co-founder relationships aren’t easy, but the bond between these two founders is incredible. They credit their success to their mutual trust, open communication, and the emotional intelligence to clear any misunderstandings before they become an issue.