VC Unfiltered

In this special episode of VC Unfiltered, Taissa Maleh, Venture Partner at Pegasus, introduces an insightful webinar featuring Peter Walker, Head of Insights at Carta.

Peter dives deep into data trends shaping the venture capital and startup landscape as we approach 2025.

From the rise of AI in startups to shifts in funding strategies and market dynamics, this episode is a must-watch for anyone looking to stay ahead in the evolving venture ecosystem.

Listen to VC Unfiltered on all major platforms!

00:32 – Webinar Overview: Insights from Peter Walker of Carta
02:03 – State of Venture Funding: Comparing 2021 Peaks to 2024 Trends
04:00 – New Fundraising Norms: The End of 18-Month Cycles
04:50 – Bridge Rounds Explained: A Growing Trend in Tough Markets
08:00 – Pre-Seed Trends: The Dominance of SAFEs in Early-Stage Funding
11:28 – AI Valuations: How AI Startups Are Setting Higher Benchmarks
15:48 –Priced Rounds Explored
20:36 – Geographic Insights: How Valuations Vary Across Ecosystems
25:00 – Startup Headcount Trends: Shrinking Teams, Growing Efficiency
27:03 – Compensation Shifts: Decline in Equity Packages for Employees
34:40 – Regional Spotlight: Miami’s Rise in the Venture Ecosystem
40:17 – Market Predictions: Why 2025 Could Be Better for Founders

Listen here:

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/vc-unfiltered/id1756379899
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/342uGXBr031LgcubfOxYsu?si=1b553ad155964c94
Substack: pegasusunfiltered.substack.com

Our website: pegasusangelaccelerator.com

Learn More: 

Venture Fellow Program
Designed for aspiring venture capitalists and startup leaders, our Venture Fellow Program offers deep insights into venture operations, fund management, and growth strategies, all guided by seasoned industry experts.
https://www.pegasusangelaccelerator.com/learn-venture

Emerging Angel Program
Break the mold and dive into angel investing with a fresh perspective. Our Emerging Angel Program provides a comprehensive curriculum on innovative investment strategies, unique deal sourcing, and hands-on, real-world experiences, all guided by industry experts.
https://www.pegasusangelaccelerator.com/emerging-angels

Follow Us:

pegasusunfiltered.substack.com

linkedin.com/company/pegasus-angel-accelerator

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www.instagram.com/pegasusaccelerator

www.tiktok.com/@pegasusaccelerator

#venturecapital #startup #founder 

In this episode of VC Unfiltered, Len Lanzi of The Preccelerator interviews Petra Griffith of Wedbush Ventures, Andrew Darcovich of Alpha Edison, and Brandon Maier of LvlUp Ventures.

The panel discusses the current state of venture capital, emphasizing the challenges of fundraising in today's environment. They explore the benefits of bootstrapping, the importance of defining the problem a startup is solving, and the evolving landscape of investment strategies. 

The conversation highlights Los Angeles as a burgeoning tech ecosystem and the significance of building strong relationships in venture capital. The panelists share insights from their journeys into venture capital and the lessons learned from early-stage investments.

Listen to VC Unfiltered on all major platforms!

Chapters: 

1:03 - Intro
7:29 - How much time do you spend fundraising from LPs?
9:13 - Evolution of LPs
12:52 How to de-risk your portfolio?
15:59 Lessons from bad investments
20:19 - Why LA is a great place to start a company
22:08 - How has LA changed over the years?
26:35 - Future of VC
30:06 - VCs pitch their firm to founders

Listen here:

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/vc-unfiltered/id1756379899
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/342uGXBr031LgcubfOxYsu?si=1b553ad155964c94
Substack: pegasusunfiltered.substack.com

Our website: pegasusangelaccelerator.com

Learn More: 

Venture Fellow Program
Designed for aspiring venture capitalists and startup leaders, our Venture Fellow Program offers deep insights into venture operations, fund management, and growth strategies, all guided by seasoned industry experts.
https://www.pegasusangelaccelerator.com/learn-venture

Emerging Angel Program
Break the mold and dive into angel investing with a fresh perspective. Our Emerging Angel Program provides a comprehensive curriculum on innovative investment strategies, unique deal sourcing, and hands-on, real-world experiences, all guided by industry experts.
https://www.pegasusangelaccelerator.com/emerging-angels

Follow Us:

pegasusunfiltered.substack.com

linkedin.com/company/pegasus-angel-accelerator

x.com/paa_vc

www.instagram.com/pegasusaccelerator

www.tiktok.com/@pegasusaccelerator

In this episode of VC Unfiltered, Lucas J Pols, General Partner of Pegasus Angel Accelerator, interviews Helene Servillon from JourneyOne Ventures.

Helene discusses her investment strategies in the health and wellness sector, focusing on modernizing ancient healing practices, exploring innovative solutions in mental health, and much more!

The conversation delves into the challenges of consumer tech investments, the impact of FOMO in venture capital, and lessons learned from the cannabis industry. Helene emphasizes the importance of understanding consumer behavior and market viability while navigating the complexities of venture capital.

Listen to VC Unfiltered on all major platforms!

Chapters:

0:52 - Intro
1:41 - About JourneyOne Ventures
2:42 - Contraception innovation
4:26 -  MDMA therapy 
7:50 - The beauty of working in venture capital 
9:14 - What Helene has learned about her job 
10:19 - Exploring CPGs
11:30 Helene's "hot take"
14:49 - What JourneyOne Ventures is interested in
17:16 - War stories
20:10 - Investor advice
21:08 - FOMO in VC
21:58 - Bird scooter debate
23:23 - The use case of Bird
25:29 - Investor tip

Listen here:

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/vc-unfiltered/id1756379899
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/342uGXBr031LgcubfOxYsu?si=1b553ad155964c94
Substack: pegasusunfiltered.substack.com

Our website: pegasusangelaccelerator.com

Learn More: 

Venture Fellow Program
Designed for aspiring venture capitalists and startup leaders, our Venture Fellow Program offers deep insights into venture operations, fund management, and growth strategies, all guided by seasoned industry experts.
https://www.pegasusangelaccelerator.com/learn-venture

Emerging Angel Program
Break the mold and dive into angel investing with a fresh perspective. Our Emerging Angel Program provides a comprehensive curriculum on innovative investment strategies, unique deal sourcing, and hands-on, real-world experiences, all guided by industry experts.
https://www.pegasusangelaccelerator.com/emerging-angels

Follow Us:

pegasusunfiltered.substack.com

linkedin.com/company/pegasus-angel-accelerator

x.com/paa_vc

www.instagram.com/pegasusaccelerator

www.tiktok.com/@pegasusaccelerator

#venturecapital #startup #investing

In this episode of VC Unfiltered, Griffin Hermes, Principal at Pegasus Angel Accelerator, interviews Marshall Smith of Steamwork Ventures, Maurice Maschmeyer of BAM Ventures, and Blake Caldwell of FoundersBoost. 

Join our expert panel as we dive deep into the nuances of venture capital and offer essential insights for founders navigating the startup ecosystem. We explore why bootstrapping can often be beneficial, how investors evaluate startups during due diligence, and the key role of traction, execution, and team dynamics in securing investment.

The conversation emphasizes the importance of coachability, trusted advisors, and resilience for long-term success. Gain actionable takeaways about the evolving landscape of VC investments and how market trends are shaping the future of entrepreneurship.

Chapters:

1:00 - VC intros
9:18 - What's important during due diligence?
13:26 - Who should a founder listen to regarding advice?
16:29 - What do you consider to be traction?
20:05 - What makes a good team?
23:12 - Has anyone invested in a team without domain expertise?
26:02 - Thoughts on secondaries?
29:10 - What is the future of later-stage capital in deals that don't need funding

Listen here:

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/vc-unfiltered/id1756379899
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/342uGXBr031LgcubfOxYsu?si=1b553ad155964c94
Substack: pegasusunfiltered.substack.com

Our website: pegasusangelaccelerator.com

Learn More: 

Venture Fellow Program
Designed for aspiring venture capitalists and startup leaders, our Venture Fellow Program offers deep insights into venture operations, fund management, and growth strategies, all guided by seasoned industry experts.
https://www.pegasusangelaccelerator.com/learn-venture

Emerging Angel Program
Break the mold and dive into angel investing with a fresh perspective. Our Emerging Angel Program provides a comprehensive curriculum on innovative investment strategies, unique deal sourcing, and hands-on, real-world experiences, all guided by industry experts.
https://www.pegasusangelaccelerator.com/emerging-angels

Follow Us:

pegasusunfiltered.substack.com

linkedin.com/company/pegasus-angel-accelerator

x.com/paa_vc

www.instagram.com/pegasusaccelerator

www.tiktok.com/@pegasusaccelerator

#venturecapital #startup #investing

In this episode of VC Unfiltered, Lucas J Pols, Managing Partner of Pegasus Angel Accelerator, interviews Dan Bunting from 1AM Gaming.

In this conversation, Dan discusses the unique focus of their venture capital fund on content-driven investments in the gaming industry. He elaborates on the lifecycle of game development, the challenges indie developers face in marketing their games, and the metrics that are crucial for securing Series A funding.

Dan shares insights from his extensive experience in the gaming industry, emphasizing the importance of community building and the need for disruption in the traditional publishing model. He also provides a candid assessment of the current state of venture capital in gaming and offers advice for aspiring founders.

Chapters:

01:18 - About 1AM Gaming
03:16 - The lifecycle of a video game
05:52 - Challenges of marketing games 
08:28 - What a typical VC-backed gaming company looks like
09:50 - Metrics for Series A in Gaming
12:29 - Dan's background
14:56 - Career Advice
15:40 - Current VC landscape
18:40 - Dan's investments
20:46 - Where disruption needs to happen in gaming
23:17 - Hot take
26:30 - Lucas's AI gaming idea

Listen here:

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/vc-unfiltered/id1756379899
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/342uGXBr031LgcubfOxYsu?si=1b553ad155964c94
Substack: pegasusunfiltered.substack.com

Our website: pegasusangelaccelerator.com

Learn More: 

Venture Fellow Program
Designed for aspiring venture capitalists and startup leaders, our Venture Fellow Program offers deep insights into venture operations, fund management, and growth strategies, all guided by seasoned industry experts.
https://www.pegasusangelaccelerator.com/learn-venture

Emerging Angel Program
Break the mold and dive into angel investing with a fresh perspective. Our Emerging Angel Program provides a comprehensive curriculum on innovative investment strategies, unique deal sourcing, and hands-on, real-world experiences, all guided by industry experts.
https://www.pegasusangelaccelerator.com/emerging-angels

Follow Us:

pegasusunfiltered.substack.com

linkedin.com/company/pegasus-angel-accelerator

x.com/paa_vc

www.instagram.com/pegasusaccelerator

www.tiktok.com/@pegasusaccelerator

#venturecapital #startup #investing

In this episode of VC Unfiltered, Lucas J Pols, Managing Partner of Pegasus Angel Accelerator, interviews Winter Mead from Coolwater Capital.

0:19 - Intro
0:50 - What is Coolwater Capital?
5:04 -  Coolwater's application process
09:13 - Coolwater's Training Program
13:18 - Mistakes emerging managers make when talking to LPs
21:16 - Coolwater role in the ecosystem 
27:33 - Winter's hot takes

Listen to find out more about venture capital and early-stage startup investing! 

Listen here:

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/vc-unfiltered/id1756379899
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/342uGXBr031LgcubfOxYsu?si=1b553ad155964c94
Substack: pegasusunfiltered.substack.com

Our website: pegasusangelaccelerator.com

Learn More: 

Venture Fellow Program
Designed for aspiring venture capitalists and startup leaders, our Venture Fellow Program offers deep insights into venture operations, fund management, and growth strategies, all guided by seasoned industry experts.
https://www.pegasusangelaccelerator.com/learn-venture

Emerging Angel Program
Break the mold and dive into angel investing with a fresh perspective. Our Emerging Angel Program provides a comprehensive curriculum on innovative investment strategies, unique deal sourcing, and hands-on, real-world experiences, all guided by industry experts.
https://www.pegasusangelaccelerator.com/emerging-angels

Follow Us:

pegasusunfiltered.substack.com

linkedin.com/company/pegasus-angel-accelerator

x.com/paa_vc

www.instagram.com/pegasusaccelerator

www.tiktok.com/@pegasusaccelerator

#venturecapital #startup #investing

In this episode of VC Unfiltered, Lucas J Pols, Managing Partner of Pegasus Angel Accelerator, interviews Carey Ransom from BankTech Ventures!

Listen to find out more about venture capital and early-stage startup investing! 

0:00 - Intro
1:06 - What is BankTech Ventures?
6:02 - How hands-on are they?
8:51 - What is Operate?
14:11 - Tell a war story
18:05 - Does venture scale?
23:42 - Carey's hot take

Listen here:

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/vc-unfiltered/id1756379899
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/342uGXBr031LgcubfOxYsu?si=1b553ad155964c94
Substack: pegasusunfiltered.substack.com

Our website: pegasusangelaccelerator.com

Learn More: 

Venture Fellow Program
Designed for aspiring venture capitalists and startup leaders, our Venture Fellow Program offers deep insights into venture operations, fund management, and growth strategies, all guided by seasoned industry experts.
https://www.pegasusangelaccelerator.com/learn-venture

Emerging Angel Program
Break the mold and dive into angel investing with a fresh perspective. Our Emerging Angel Program provides a comprehensive curriculum on innovative investment strategies, unique deal sourcing, and hands-on, real-world experiences, all guided by industry experts.
https://www.pegasusangelaccelerator.com/emerging-angels

Follow Us:

pegasusunfiltered.substack.com

linkedin.com/company/pegasus-angel-accelerator

x.com/paa_vc

www.instagram.com/pegasusaccelerator

www.tiktok.com/@pegasusaccelerator

#venturecapital #startup #investing

In this episode of VC Unfiltered, Pat Hwang, president of TCA OC, leads a panel discussion with Sanjeev Rao of River Guide Labs and Yipeng Zhao of Embark Ventures!

Listen to find out more about venture capital and early-stage startup investing! 

Our website: pegasusangelaccelerator.com

Follow Us:

pegasusunfiltered.substack.com

linkedin.com/company/pegasus-angel-accelerator

x.com/paa_vc

www.instagram.com/pegasusaccelerator

www.tiktok.com/@pegasusaccelerator

In this episode of VC Unfiltered, Parisa Khosropour, president of TCA LA, leads a panel discussion with John Tabis of M13, Laurent Grill of JLL Spark Global Ventures, Howard Ko of Morpheus Ventures, and Rick Smith of Crosscut Ventures.

Listen to find out more about venture capital and early-stage startup investing! 

Our website: pegasusangelaccelerator.com

Follow Us:

pegasusunfiltered.substack.com

linkedin.com/company/pegasus-angel-accelerator

x.com/paa_vc

www.instagram.com/pegasusaccelerator

www.tiktok.com/@pegasusaccelerator

#venturecapital #startup #investing

Introducing "VC Unfiltered" - A New Series Hosted by Lucas J. Pols

We're thrilled to announce the launch of our brand-new series, "VC Unfiltered," hosted by our founding partner, Lucas J. Pols. This exciting series promises to deliver candid conversations and invaluable insights from industry leaders and experts in venture capital and startup ecosystem.

For our first episode, we are honored to feature Ilya Strebulaev, the esteemed David S. Lobel Professor of Private Equity at the Stanford Graduate School of Business. Professor Strebulaev, along with co-author Alex Dang, has recently released the highly acclaimed book, "The Venture Mindset: How to Make Smarter Bets and Achieve Extraordinary Growth."

Subscribe to our channel and stay tuned for new episodes!