In this VNTR Podcast episode, we sit down with Russell Deakin, Chief Investment Officer and Managing Partner at Aceana Group.

With over 25 years of global experience in alternative assets — from private equity and venture capital to real estate, infrastructure, and renewable energy — Russell shares his journey of building a family office and investing worldwide.

We talk about:

• The origins of Aceana Group and the transition from angel investing to a structured family office.
• Venture capital strategies: seed, Series A, and co-investments with top managers.
• How to evaluate GPs, emerging managers, and the importance of trust and character.
• Insights into investing across the US, Europe, India, Latin America, and Singapore.
• Why co-investments and diversification are key for family offices.
• Work–life balance while constantly traveling the globe.

If you’re interested in family offices, venture capital, or international investing strategies — this episode is packed with practical insights.

VNTR is building the world’s largest investor community by sharing lessons, hosting events, and offering opportunities. Active VC investors can join by claiming a free investor account at https://app.vntr.vc/

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro

00:15 Welcome Russell Deakin

00:57 How a Family Office Evolved Across Generations

02:44 Single vs Multi-Family Office Explained: Structure, Team & Global Reach

04:16 Why a Family Office Beats Going Solo in Investing

07:20 Co-Investing With Fund Managers: A Smarter Family Office Approach

11:15 The Key Traits LPs Look for in Emerging GPs

15:25 Evaluating Early-Stage VC: NAV Growth, IRR and DPI

20:03 Avoiding Direct Risk: How Funds Simplify Co-Investments

22:26 Are VC Management Fees Fair?

24:46 When LPs Should Use Fund of Funds: Diversification & Learning

26:41 Balancing Alpha & Safety: Fund of Funds in a Family Office Portfolio

31:22 The Minimum Portfolio Size for Venture Capital Success

36:26 Best Geographies for VC: US, Europe, India, and Beyond

39:48 Balancing Impact and Returns: Investing in Renewable Energy & Green Tech

43:37 Why Some Family Businesses Stay Local Instead of Going Global

45:24 Best Practices for Managing Family Office Connections Globally

49:10 Work-Life Balance Tips from a Traveling Family Office CIO

🔹 VNTR Website: https://app.vntr.vc/

🔹 VNTR Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vntrcapital/

🔹 VNTR Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vntrcap/

Host:

Yuri G. Rabinovich

https://www.linkedin.com/in/byuric/

Guest:

Russell Deakin

Managing Partner at Aceana Group

In this episode of the VNTR Podcast, we sit down with Michael Kosic and Kamal Hassan, Managing Partners at Loyal VC, to unpack how they’re transforming venture capital with a unique model that combines global reach, open-ended structure, and a data-driven approach.💡 What you’ll learn in this episode:- The origin story of Loyal VC and why they wanted to build a VC fund “that sucks less”- How their open-ended structure provides LPs with liquidity and long-term returns- Why their stage-based investment process (from $10K to $12M+) beats traditional VC decision-making- How they leverage a network of 1,300+ advisors across 70+ countries to support founders- Insights into deploying capital weekly across 400+ startups worldwide- The future of venture capital in the age of AI and blockchainVNTR is building the world’s largest investor community by sharing lessons, hosting events, and offering opportunities. Active VC investors can join by claiming a free investor account at https://app.vntr.vc/Timestamps:00:00 Intro00:50 Welcome Michael Kosic01:55 Welcome Kamal Hassan02:41 The Origin Story: Why Michael & Kamal Launched Loyal VC08:38 Building a Venture Fund Like Entrepreneurs14:03 The First Investors in Loyal VC — Trust, Networks and Early Believers18:17 Loyal VC’s 4-Stage Investment Model23:20 What It Takes to Get the First $10K from Loyal VC25:49 Data-Driven Venture Capital33:44 Why Entrepreneurs Choose Loyal VC Over Traditional VCs38:01 The Community Flywheel: Why Treating People Well Builds Venture Networks41:28 Matching Expertise with Startup Needs at Scale45:56 Founder Collaboration: Slack, Peer Groups & Real Support49:51 Balancing Growth and Liquidity53:14 Smart Money Signal: 98% Follow-On Acceptance at Loyal VC56:50 Carry Only After LPs Profit57:57 Designing a VC Fund to Last 30+ Years1:00:11 Making Venture Accessible Beyond Accredited Investors1:01:29 Is Seed Dead? How AI Reshapes Early-Stage Investing-----------------------------------------------------------------------------🔹 VNTR Website: https://app.vntr.vc/🔹 VNTR Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vntrcapital/🔹 VNTR Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vntrcap/------------------------------------------------------------------------------Host:Yuri G. Rabinovich https://www.linkedin.com/in/byuric/------------------------------------------------------------------------------Guests:Michael Kosic https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelkosic/Kamal Hassanhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/kamalhassan/Loyal VChttps://www.loyal.vc/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/loyal-vc/

In this episode of the VNTR Podcast, we sit down with Bill Inman, CEO & Founder of Decentralized Technologies Inc., serial entrepreneur, AI & blockchain pioneer and digital twin visionary

Bill shares his journey from building multi-billion dollar companies to creating Twin Protocol — a platform empowering individuals to own their data, monetize their knowledge and thrive in the AI economy. We dive deep into:

• The convergence of AI and blockchain and why it matters
• How digital twins will transform business, content, and even relationships
• The future of AI ethics, data ownership, and human legacy
• Why embracing AI today is as crucial as adopting electricity or the internet

🚀 If you want to understand where the world is heading with AI, digital twins and the blockchain economy — this conversation is a must-watch

VNTR is building the world’s largest investor community by sharing lessons, hosting events, and offering opportunities. Active VC investors can join by claiming a free investor account at https://app.vntr.vc/

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro00:53 Welcome Bill Inman01:28 The Future of Tech: AI and Blockchain at the Core of the Twin Ecosystem02:38 How Early Bets in Tech Stocks Led to a Multi-Billion Dollar Business05:30 The First AI System for Matching Jobs and Talent06:43 Twin Protocol: Giving Users Ownership in the $15 Trillion AI Economy09:44 Content at Scale and New Human Connections15:04 How to Keep Your AI Twin Ethical and Truly Representing You19:00 Evolving Your Digital Twin21:35 The Four Pillars of AI: Compute, Algorithms, Training Data, Interfaces23:20 Humanoid Robots, Digital Twins, and the Next Wave of AI Interaction26:08 AI + Blockchain: Why Your Data Belongs on the Chain30:00 Powering Digital Twins with Blockchain Tokens34:58 Building a Career With Your AI Twin: How to Start Today36:39 Why Now Is the Best Time to Invest in AI’s Next Wave40:15 How Vertical AI Is Transforming Real Estate and Healthcare41:36 AI and Wellbeing: Reconnecting With Loved Ones Through Digital Twins44:12 AI, Legacy Twins, and the Race Toward Artificial Superintelligence51:00 Why Health Habits Today Matter in an AI-Driven Future

🔹 VNTR Website: https://app.vntr.vc/

🔹 VNTR Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vntrcapital/

🔹 VNTR Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/74523146/admin/dashboard/

Host:

Yuri G. Rabinovich

https://www.linkedin.com/in/byuric/

Guest:

Bill Inman

https://www.linkedin.com/in/billinman/

What does it take to build one of Europe’s leading VC firms from the ground up? 🙌🏼

In this episode of the VNTR Podcast – Oliver Holle, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Speedinvest, shares the full story about bootstrapping his first startup to managing €1.4B AUM and 400+ investments across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa

We talk exits, team building, LP dynamics, secondary markets, and what makes a winning founder in 2025.

🎧 Key Topics Covered in This Episode:

– How to raise your first fund (when no one believes in you)– Why early exits matter– What’s broken in traditional VC– How Speedinvest wins competitive rounds– The vertical fund model (and why they shut it down)– His advice on M&A, continuation vehicles, and building trust with founders

👇 Watch the full episode now and subscribe for more candid stories from top investors and founders.

VNTR is building the world’s largest investor community by sharing lessons, hosting events, and offering opportunities. Active VC investors can join by claiming a free investor account at https://app.vntr.vc/

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro

00:55 Welcome Oliver Holle

02:10 Why Oliver Holle Dropped Out of His PhD to Launch a Startup in Vienna

04:38 Building a Startup in Vienna and the Hard Lessons of Choosing Co-Founders

05:59 Lessons from Raising $5M Before the Crash

07:57 How We Turned 8 Years of Struggle into a $60M Exit

09:13 Why Optionality and Timing Define a Successful M&A

13:05 How a Public Company Wasted $1B on Mobile

14:27 Europe vs. Silicon Valley

15:58 Speedinvest Wasn’t Meant to Be a Traditional VC

21:22 Early Liquidity, Small Market Advantage, and the Rise of Speedinvest’s Second Fund

25:10 The Power of Vertical Funds: FinTech, Marketplaces, and Industrial Tech at Speedinvest

27:54 The Internal Economics Behind Speedinvest’s Fund Architecture

30:59 Why the Traditional 10-Year VC Fund Model Is Broken

32:36 The Hidden Value of Community and Trust in Venture

34:02 How Speedinvest Builds Community Across 400+ Startups

37:23 The Most Dramatic Shift Since Mobile: How AI Is Reshaping VC

38:52 Speed, Trust, and Vertical Knowledge: Secrets to Leading Early Rounds

43:09 The Power of Signaling in Early-Stage Fundraising

45:23 Why Founders Still Have a Say

47:08 Speedinvest’s Follow-On Strategy Explained: From Seed to Series B

47:56 The Exit Strategy Playbook

49:43 A Full Infrastructure for Investor Liquidity

52:49 Work-Life Balance in Venture Capital

🔹 VNTR Website: https://app.vntr.vc/

🔹 VNTR Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vntrcapital/

🔹 VNTR Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/74523146/admin/dashboard/

Host:

Yuri G. Rabinovich

https://www.linkedin.com/in/byuric/

Guest:

Oliver Holle

https://www.linkedin.com/in/oholle/

What if companies reinvested 10% of their profits into startups to strengthen their ecosystem?

In this episode of the VNTR Podcast, we talk to Yat Siu, co-founder and executive chairman of Animoca Brands — the company behind 570+ Web3 investments, from The Sandbox to Polygon and OpenSea. Animoca is a mission-driven operator investing off its own balance sheet to accelerate digital property rights and the open metaverse.

🚀 Topics we explore:

• Why Web3 is an economic reset
• What makes Animoca radically different from classic VC
• The rise of crypto-native M&A, token liquidity, and venture studios
• How AI agents will use crypto, earn tokens — and maybe create their own
• Why investing should be part of every company’s core DNA

🎧 Tune in for an unfiltered take on what it takes to survive and scale in the age of AI — from someone who’s seen hundreds try

VNTR is building the world’s largest investor community by sharing lessons, hosting events, and offering opportunities. Active VC investors can join by claiming a free investor account at https://app.vntr.vc

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro

01:04 Welcome Yat Siu

05:08 How Yat Siu’s Early Life Shaped His Web3 Vision

15:31 Why Web3 Fails Without Permissionless Networks

21:04 Every Company Should Reinvest 10% of Profits Into the Ecosystem

27:23 Inside Animoca’s Investment Process: AI, Thesis-Driven Bets & Speed

29:04 Bear Markets Filter Out the Noise

30:05 Portfolio Power Over Prestige

32:08 Early Acquisitions, Long-Term Vision

34:55 Betting on Education and Identity

39:14 What the Metaverse Really Means

42:28 AI Agents, Tokens & the New Power Economy

46:46 Discipline Over Balance: Yat Siu on Health, Focus, and Writing

51:16 No Afterlife, No Forever — Just Purpose That Keeps You Alive

🔹 VNTR Website: https://app.vntr.vc/

🔹 VNTR Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vntrcapital/

🔹 VNTR Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/74523146/admin/dashboard/

Host:

Yuri G. Rabinovich

https://www.linkedin.com/in/byuric/

Guest:

Yat Sui

https://x.com/ysiu

https://www.animocabrands.com/

Can solo founders still win?In this episode of the VNTR Podcast, we sit down with Jude Gomila — serial entrepreneur and early investor in 20+ unicorns, including Airtable, Mercury, Linear, and Gusto. From building Heyzap to backing iconic startups worldwide, Jude shares hard-earned lessons on what truly drives success in early-stage ventures.Key Topics Covered in This Episode:- Why great teams beat great ideas - The hidden cost of being a solo founder- What most people *still* get wrong about fundraising- How to do sales when SEO is dead and LinkedIn is broken- Why this decade will belong to founders who master focus, not noise🎧 Tune in for an unfiltered take on what it takes to survive and scale in the age of AI — from someone who’s seen hundreds tryVNTR is building the world’s largest investor community by sharing lessons, hosting events, and offering opportunities. Active VC investors can join by claiming a free investor account at [https://app.vntr.vc](https://app.vntr.vc/)Timestamps:00:00 Intro00:29 Welcome Jude Gomila14:45 Survived YC, the 2008 Crash, Built Hayzap, and 1st exit16:57 After the Exit: Why One Founder’s Journey Was Just The Beginning19:11 Great Founders Fire Fast20:46 The Hardest Startup Mistake? Starting Alone24:04 Lessons from Missing the AI Wave30:24 When Speed Drops and AI Rises — Exit Becomes Obvious33:38 Selling a Company Changes Your Ambition 35:46 How to Use ChatGPT and Perplexity for Research, Reasoning, and Faster Learning37:45 What Sets Unicorn Founders Apart: Talent, Obsession, and User Empathy41:44 Competing for Startup Deals Is a Red Flag for Smart Investors43:38 The Shape of a Billion-Dollar Company45:16 How Investors Waste Time47:49 Angel Checks and Global Talent: The Next Phase of Investing50:20 What Jobs Will Survive the AI Wave?52:29 Education as the Only Antidote to Automation55:29 Teaching, Learning, Surfing: The Founder Lifestyle Reimagined------------------------------------------------------------------------------Follow VNTR:🔹 VNTR Website: https://app.vntr.vc/🔹 VNTR Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vntrcapital/🔹 VNTR Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vntrcap/------------------------------------------------------------------------------Host:Yuri G. Rabinovich https://www.linkedin.com/in/byuric/------------------------------------------------------------------------------Guest:Jude Gomilahttps://x.com/judegomila https://www.judegomila.comhttps://gomila.notion.site/Gomila-Capital-13a6c92e7cb342ccb9ecd5f195cc616b

Does coachability beat raw talent?⚡️

In this episode, we sit down with Cristobal Alonso — serial entrepreneur, early-stage investor in over 450 startups, growth enabler, global executive, bestselling author, and sought-after speaker. With a uniquely diverse background as a chef, former professional basketball player, and passionate pianist, Cristobal shares the kind of deep insight that only a truly global entrepreneur should offer.

Key Topics Covered in This Episode:

• Why coachability is the most critical trait in founders
• What early-stage startups get wrong about acceleration
• Lessons from living in 10+ countries and how cultural context impacts business

• The power of soul in entrepreneurship and mentorship
• How Startup Wise Guys became one of Europe’s most trusted accelerators

🎧 Tune in for a masterclass on building not just scalable companies, but resilient, coachable founders.

VNTR is building the world’s largest investor community by sharing lessons, hosting events, and offering opportunities. Active VC investors can join by claiming a free investor account at https://app.vntr.vc/

Timestamps:

00:00 Welcome  El Patron - Cristobal Alonso

01:40 The Early Days of the Baltic Startup Ecosystem

04:50 Why Everyone Calls Him El Patrón

06:22 How Startup Wise Guys Outgrew Its Roots

09:28 Cracking the Accelerator Business Model

13:23 The Evolution of Wise Guys’ Investment Focus

15:48 Why Early-Stage VC Is a Numbers Game

16:54 Are We in an Industrial or Internet Revolution?

21:11 The Traits That Make (or Break) a Startup Team

24:52 Why Strong Co-Founding Teams Matter Most

26:04 Scaling Across Borders Means Local Scouting, Global Mindset

30:07 Why Africa Requires Full Focus and Multicountry Strategy

32:22 Fundraising in 2025: Why Sales and Syndicates Beat Hype

36:40 Fundraising for GPs: The Long Game No One Talks About

38:31 The Silent Struggle of GPs

40:08 Two New Funds with Big Impact Ambitions

45:01 Quality Over Quantity

48:08 The VC Morning That Starts Without a Screen

51:35 You Can’t Build a Balanced Startup Without a Balanced Self

52:56 The Third Book: A Journey Through Crisis, Cooking, and Compassion

55:37 Join us at VNTR Global Investor Summit — November 11, 2025

🔹 VNTR Website: https://app.vntr.vc/

🔹 VNTR Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vntrcapital/

🔹 VNTR Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vntrcap

Host:

Yuri G. Rabinovich

https://www.linkedin.com/in/byuric/

Guest:

https://cristobalalonso.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/cristobalalonso

💡 What really separates billion-dollar founders from the rest: grit, timing or being in the right room?In this episode of the VNTR Podcast, we sit down with Zach Coelius, Managing Partner at Coelius Capital, one of Silicon Valley’s most well-connected solo GPs. With over 50 early-stage investments including Cruise (acquired by GM for $1B), HelloSign, Mercury, and others, Zach shares blunt and insightful takes on what’s actually working in venture capital market.✍🏼 This raw, tactical and refreshingly honest startup adviceKey Topics Covered in This Episode:- Why most VCs looked like geniuses from 2010–2020- The #1 trait Zach looks for in founders- What real product-market fit feels like…- AI hype VS performance: who’s actually winning- How solo GPs are outperforming traditional VC firms- The massive gap between founders who adapt to downturns and those who fold- Why Silicon Valley proximity matters more than ever in the AI eraVNTR is building the world’s largest investor community by sharing lessons, hosting events, and offering opportunities. Active VC investors can join by claiming a free investor account at https://app.vntr.vc/Timestamps:00:00 Intro00:25 Welcome Zach Coelius, one of Silicon Valley’s most well-connected solo GPs06:34 What separates the survivors from the rest?10:38 Why mature SaaS startups may win the AI race14:10 Agile Enough to Pivot, Mature Enough to Scale16:03 AI Startups Rewrite the Rules18:54 What Product-Market Fit Really Feels Like24:07 Why YC Demo Days Are No Longer the Best for Deal Flow25:33 Regular in-person gatherings are key to VC strategy27:11 No meetings without a deck and 99% get filtered out29:31 Skipping the tooling hype to focus on what works30:38 The Power of Combining Funds and Syndicates33:24 Rolling Funds Gives LPs More Flexibility35:16 The Secret to Picking Startups38:28 How Startups in the Valley Get AI Secrets First41:19 If You Don’t Access the Secret, You Don’t Win42:36 AI Reversed the Internet’s Biggest Shift43:27 Why AI Regulation Might Be a Losing Game45:17 Talent Wins Over Tech46:59 Can Solo GPs Outperform Big Funds48:38 The Case Against Committees in Venture Capital51:46 Venture Is Changing53:49 Balancing VC Life------------------------------------------------------------------------------🔹 VNTR Website: https://www.vntr.vc/🔹 VNTR Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vntrcapital/🔹 VNTR Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/74523146/admin/dashboard/------------------------------------------------------------------------------Hosts:Yuri G. Rabinovich https://www.linkedin.com/in/byuric/Niko Leonhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/nikoleon/------------------------------------------------------------------------------Guest:Zach Coeliushttps://www.linkedin.com/in/zachcoelius/ https://coelius.vc/

🎙️In this episode of the VNTR Podcast, we sit down with David Cohen, founder of Techstars, to explore how the accelerator model evolved, what makes a great founder, and why Techstars backed nearly 5,000 companies globally with 22 unicorns in its portfolio

We dive into👨🏼‍💻

- How to spot a great founder team (and what gets you rejected)

- Why the “give first” philosophy powers the Techstars network

- What corporates keep getting wrong about innovation

- How Techstars became a sustainable investment engine

- The future of accelerators, AI in startups, and what’s next

If you’re building, investing, or scaling in tech, this is the episode to watch

🔹 David Cohen is the Founder and CEO of Techstars, a pre-seed investor that provides access to capital, programming, and connections to early-stage entrepreneurs. Since founding Techstars in 2006, the company has invested in more than 4,000 startups, including notable investments in over 20 unicorns such as Alloy, Chainalysis, Classpass, DataRobot, Digital Ocean, Outreach, Pillpack, Remitly, SalesLoft, SendGrid, and Zipline

VNTR is building the world’s largest investor community by sharing lessons, hosting events, and offering opportunities.

Active VC investors can join by claiming a free investor account at https://app.vntr.vc

🔔 Subscribe for more interviews with top founders and VCs around the world

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro

00:49 Welcome David Cohen, founder of Techstars

05:56 Techstars by the Numbers: Global Reach and Billion-Dollar Impact

08:57 A Well-Networked Co-Founder — The Key to Success?

11:40 Your Journey Doesn’t End with One Startup

13:44 Only 2% Get In: Techstars’ Formula for Picking Startups

15:44 Do Solo Founders Stand a Chance?

19:59 When to Quit Your Startup: The Line Between Grit and Burnout

22:52 Why Accelerators Must Evolve (or Disappear)

25:32 The Emotional Side of Startups: How Founders Stay Sane

32:09 The Secret Filter for Early-Stage Investors

35:19 How Startups Should Think About Capital, Networks, and Long-Term Play

46:05 Why Tech Innovation Can’t Be Stopped

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

🔹 VNTR Website: https://app.vntr.vc

🔹 VNTR Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vntrcapital

🔹 VNTR Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vntrcap

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hosts:

🔹 Yuri G. Rabinovich https://www.linkedin.com/in/byuric

🔹 Niko Leon https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikoleon

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Guest:

🔹 David Cohen https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidgcohen/

https://www.techstars.com/

In this episode of the VNTR Podcast, hosts Yuri Rabinovich & Niko Leo sit down with:

🔹 Pavel Yurovitsky – CEO of KIT Global, a top digital marketing platform

🔹 Wahid Chammas – Founder and CIO of TyreGate Capital Holdings

Key Topics Covered in This Episode:

⚡️ Is AI replacing marketers? The real impact of AI on digital marketing

⚡️ The rise of KOL marketing – How to use influencers to scale your startup

⚡️ Organic vs. paid marketing – What’s working in 2025?

⚡️ Community-driven growth – The secret to long-term brand success

⚡️ New marketing channels – Discord, Telegram, and the future of ad platforms

VNTR is building the world’s largest investor community by sharing lessons, hosting events, and offering opportunities. Active VC investors can join by claiming a free investor account at https://app.vntr.vc/

🔹 VNTR Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vntrcapital/

🔹 VNTR Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/74523146/admin/dashboard/

Hosts:

Yuri G. Rabinovich

https://www.linkedin.com/in/byuric/

Niko Leon

https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikoleon/

Guests:

Wahid Chammas

https://www.linkedin.com/in/wahid-chammas-079957a9

Pavel Yurovitsky

https://www.linkedin.com/in/pavel-yurovitskiy/