In episode 20 of Venture Everywhere, Jenny Fielding, co-founder and GP of Everywhere VC, speaks with Oban MacTavish, co-founder and CEO of fintech startup, Spade. Spade provides real-time merchant intelligence such as granular merchant, category, and geolocation details, for the card ecosystem. Oban discusses his journey from a budding investor, to tackling challenges as an early-stage founder, and the determination required to build a startup. He also addresses topics such as overvaluation and promising opportunities within the fintech industry. With a keen focus on Spade's mission and motivation, Oban provides a snapshot of the future of fintech infrastructure. 

In this episode, you will hear:

• Oban's journey as a “scrappy” entrepreneur and how challenges from his initial venture drove his success with Spade.
• Spade’s evolution from a logo API to a fintech infrastructure company, and how to overcome skepticism as an early-stage infrastructure company. 
• The importance of understanding customer pain points and consistently iterating on the product based on customer feedback. 
• Discussions on the perception of fintech overvaluation and adapting sales strategies to target mid-market and enterprise customers. 
• Spade’s vision as the future of money movement infrastructure.

Learn more about Oban MacTavish: 

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oban/

Website: https://spade.com/

Learn more about Jenny Fielding | Everywhere VC

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennyfielding/

Website: http://everywhere.vc/

In episode 19 of Venture Everywhere, Alex Abelin, co-founder and CEO of PlantBaby, interviews Becca Millstein, co-founder and CEO of Fishwife – a premium canned fish brand that has successfully navigated the turbulent waters of startup growth. Becca shares Fishwife’s approach to distribution, including growing organically with a direct-to-consumer (D2C) strategy and the role of packaging and world building in attracting an audience. From its inception to meeting the challenges, Becca gives an in-depth look into the canned fish market, collaborations with independent female artists, and strategies of a successful consumer product business. 

In this episode, you will hear:

• The origin story of Fishwife: its name and how it was conceived from the unconventional path of its founders.
• How Fishwife cultivates a robust community around the thoughtfully designed brand, including Fishwife's partnerships with independent female artists.
• Fishwife's distribution strategy, starting with an unconventional take on growing customer base organically in the first year. 
• Managing distribution when launching in supermarkets, and avoiding the common pitfall of  rushing into distribution without focusing on order turns
• Leveraging a lean team and securing smart, invested individuals on the cap table when fundraising

Find  Becca Millstein | Fishwife | at: 

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/becca-millstein-98595989/

Website: https://eatfishwife.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fishwife/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/fishwife

Learn more about Alex Abelin | PlantBaby | Kiki Milk

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexabelin/

Website (Personal): https://www.alexabelin.com/

PlantBaby: https://www.plantbaby.co/

Kiki Milk: https://www.kikimilk.com/

Kiki Milk (Instagram): https://www.instagram.com/kikimilkco/

In episode 18 of Venture Everywhere, Jenny Fielding, co-founder and GP of Everywhere VC, sits down with Serge Kassardjian, co-founder and CEO of StayTuned and co-founder and GP at 6th Man Ventures. StayTuned is a software company specializing in Shopify e-commerce app development and acquisitions, while 6th Man Ventures is an early-stage cryptocurrency VC firm that funds Web3 apps and infrastructure. Serge shares his journey from venture capital to becoming an operator and founder. He talks about the struggles and eventual advancements in building his companies, including a major pivot that led to the success of StayTuned! 

In this episode, you will hear:

• The importance of relationships and friendships in the startup ecosystem and how they have played a role in Serge's career.
• Investors' role in backing founders and the significance of transparency and communication in maintaining strong founder-investor relationships.
• StayTuned's primary emphasis on building a software suite within Shopify and plans to expand to other e-commerce platforms.
• A high-level view of the market, including the potential impact of upcoming IPOs and overall outlook for startups.
• Challenges as a founder, including burn, runway, and hitting milestones, as well as the optimism for the future of the company.
• Serge's involvement in the crypto and blockchain space, including his experience in starting a fund and investing in startups in the Web3 and crypto ecosystem. 

Find Serge Kassardjian at: 

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sergekass/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/sergekass

StayTuned: https://staytuned.digital/

6th Man Ventures: https://www.linkedin.com/company/6mv/

Learn more about Jenny Fielding | Everywhere VC

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennyfielding/

Website: http://everywhere.vc/

In episode 17 of Venture Everywhere, Eamonn Carey, general partner at Tera Ventures, LP of Everywhere VC, and GP of The Fund London, chats with Andreas "Anton" Ströberg of Stackend – a social shopping platform supercharging Shopify users. Anton shares the journey of Stackend, from its origins in building a community backend platform for media companies to its evolution into a tool that combines content commerce, live commerce, and community commerce. Tune in to discover insights about the Swedish tech ecosystem and the impact Stackend aims to make in the world of online retail.

In this episode, you will hear:

• Anton’s founding journeys, including working with and learning from various mentors from previous companies 
• The intimate and supportive nature of the Swedish tech ecosystem and the ability to connect with successful founders and investors 
• How the size of a community impacts trust and equity, as well as customer acquisition costs and conversion rates 
• How to move past inertia and find the right audience who is willing to build something new and impactful rather than using what is already familiar 
• Juggling different industries and interest areas while tackling go to market and getting traction

Find Andreas “Anton” Ströberg at:

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andreasstroberg/

Website: https://stackend.shop/#/

Email: [email protected]

Learn more about Eamonn Carey | Everywhere VC | Tera Ventures | The Fund London

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ecarey/

Website: http://everywhere.vc/ | https://www.tera.vc/ | https://www.thefund.vc/community/london/

In episode 16 of Venture Everywhere, Vir Kashyap, LP in Everywhere VC and General Partner at The Fund India, sits down with Hemanshu Jain, Founder and CEO of Khyaal, a fintech startup from India that aims to provide digital literacy, community support, and upskilling for seniors. With his previous experience as the founder of Diabeto, a healthcare startup that was acquired by Livongo Health, Hemanshu brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to his work. Through Khyaal, he is spearheading a movement that prioritizes the financial security and inclusivity of senior citizens, revolutionizing the way they manage their finances.

In this episode, you will hear:

• The challenges faced by senior citizens including their unique social and financial needs. 
• Khyaal's solutions for increasing financial security and inclusivity for senior citizens.
• Current options available for seniors to access credit and ways to leverage these opportunities for financial empowerment. 
• How the Khyaal card, a virtual bank account designed for senior citizens, came about and how it provides convenient and secure access to funds.
• Practical strategies for tackling fraud targeting senior citizens and protecting them from financial scams and exploitation.

Find Hemanshu Jain at: 

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hemanshujain/

Website: https://www.khyaal.com/

Learn more about Vir Kashyap and Everywhere VC | The Fund India

Website: http://everywhere.vc/ | https://thefund.vc/community/india/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vkash/

If you liked this episode, please give us a rating wherever you found us. To learn more about our work, visit Everywhere.vc and subscribe to our Founders Everywhere Substack. You can also follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter for regular updates and news.

In episode 15 of Venture Everywhere, Sylvia Kuyel, founding partner at Fund XX as part of Everywhere VC, interviews Liz O'Sullivan, founder and CEO at Vera, a startup leader and AI advocate advising early and mid-stage companies on Artificial Intelligence design practices, strategies, and product development. Liz discusses her startup experience and her mission to promote responsible AI. She highlights the unpredictable nature of AI and the necessity for human oversight. Liz also addresses challenges in scaling teams and fostering inclusivity in remote work environments. She believes AI can advance science but stresses the importance of governance and policies to protect marginalized communities.

In this episode, you will hear:

• The importance of being practical and realistic about the capabilities and limitations of AI, as well as the need for human control over its use.
• Vera as a gateway for companies looking to deploy AI and to foster its adoption while reducing risks.
• Potential benefits and risks of AI, including job automation, bias, and the transformation of various industries.
• Liz’s personal journey in the AI field, including her work at Clarifai and her decision to leave a job involving military applications of AI.
• The importance of understanding both the long-term risks and the immediate risks of AI, and the need for collaboration and compromise within the AI community.

Find Liz O'Sullivan at:

Website: https://www.askvera.io/

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lizzosullivan

Learn more about Sylvia and The Fund XX:

Website: https://everywhere.vc/

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/sylvia-kuyel-3aa1803

Twitter: https://twitter.com/skuyel

If you liked this episode, please give us a rating wherever you found us. To learn more about our work, visit Everywhere.vc and subscribe to our Founders Everywhere Substack. You can also follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter for regular updates and news.

Neha Govindraj is the founder of Bonside, providing tailor-made financing for brick-and-mortar businesses without dilution, guarantees, collateral, or restrictions on spend. Prior to Bonside, Neha co-founded Glowbar and worked at Bain and Glossier. 

This episode is hosted by Jenny Fielding, co-founder and managing partner of Everywhere Ventures (previously The Fund). In this interview, Jenny and Neha dive into the founding and thesis behind Bonside. They discuss Bonside’s mission to drive a narrative change in the brick and mortar universe and normalize the multiple ways to finance and scale growth. Hear how a four-hour solo dance performance changed Neha’s perspective forever, and her unique approach to fundraising as a founder. Listen till the end for a neat productivity hack! 

If you liked this episode, please give us a rating wherever you found us and be sure to subscribe to Venture Everywhere. To learn more about our work, visit Everywhere.vc and ideas.everywhere.vc on Substack. You can also follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter for regular updates and news.

Tuomo Laine is the cofounder of Rentle, a circular economy platform that empowers merchants to expand commerce from unit sales to service, from ownership to access - while retaining full control of their customer experience. Prior to Rentle, Tuomo was a founder and a teacher at Aalto University School of Science and Technology. 

This episode is hosted by Eamonn Carey, General Partner at Tera Ventures and LP in Everywhere VC. In this interview, Eamonn and Tuomo dive into e-commerce platforms, working with merchants in the circular economy, and how to measure success. Hear the start and pivots of Rentle, and lessons learned from other Scandinavian startups. Listen till the end for Tuomo’s take on the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Finland, and his two favorite podcasts! 

If you liked this episode, please give us a rating wherever you found us and be sure to subscribe to Venture Everywhere. To learn more about our work, visit Everywhere.vc and ideas.everywhere.vc on Substack. You can also follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter for regular updates and news.

Jeff Chen is the cofounder and CEO of Radicle Science, an AI-driven healthtech B-Corp providing history's first Proof-as-a-Service solution for non-pharmaceuticals to easily prove true effects. Prior to Radicle, he was the Founder & former Director of UCLA’s Center for Cannabis and Cannabinoids. Jeff has also advised Senator Feinstein’s Office, Governor Hickenlooper’s Office, the Mexico Senate, and the Royal Court of the Kingdom of Bhutan. 

This episode is hosted by Scott Hartley, co-founder and general partner of Everywhere Ventures (previously The Fund). In this interview, Scott and Jeff take an in-depth look at what it means to start a new market category, and what it takes to truly differentiate and lead the field in product offerings. Learn Jeff’s contrarian take on effective clinical trials, and hear Scott’s quip on an effective marketing strategy. Listen till the end for superpowers and productivity hacks! 

If you liked this episode, please give us a rating wherever you found us and be sure to subscribe to Venture Everywhere. To learn more about our work, visit Everywhere.vc and ideas.everywhere.vc on Substack. You can also follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter for regular updates and news.

Mark Straub is the founder and CEO of Smile ID, the leading digital KYC (know your customer) and identity verification provider in Africa. Smile ID helps companies scale rapidly across Africa by confirming the identity of their users in real time, using any smartphone or computer. Prior to Smile, Mark was a venture investor for more than a decade at Khosla Impact and DFJ, covering multiple continents including South Asia and Africa. 

This episode is hosted by Jenny Fielding, co-founder and managing partner of Everywhere Ventures (previously The Fund). In this interview, Jenny and Mark discuss the layers of complexity involved in doing business in African countries, and how the idea of creating an “Africa stack” came about. Learn how Mark was inspired by his VC experience and portfolio founders to transition from investor to founder. Listen till the end for a comparison on the mentality of an investor vs founder and an unusual superpower! 

If you liked this episode, please give us a rating wherever you found us and be sure to subscribe to Venture Everywhere. To learn more about our work, visit Everywhere.vc and ideas.everywhere.vc on Substack. You can also follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter for regular updates and news.