Welcome to this new episode of Explore and thank you for your continuous support. If you want to support the show you can give a 5 stars review ✨ on Spotify/Apple podcast.

This week, I sit down with Vanessa Larco, a former product manager that became a VC at NEA. Vanessa has spent 9+ years supporting companies like Microsoft and Twilio. She is also the co-founder of FunLoop, a company that she sold after a year. For the last 7-years she has been doing investments in Series A and B in North America. In our conversation, Vanessa talked about:

* Growing up with a mom entrepreneur

* How she discovered the product role at Microsoft

* The creation of a gaming startup for children and her path to acquisition

* The challenges of transitioning into VC and learning the ropes

* How personal experiences can inform investment decisions

* The role of VCs in supporting startups during challenging times

* The importance of founder quality in startup success

* The way she thinks about assessing product-market fit

* How she supports founders through tough times as a VC

* Practical advice for founders currently seeking investments

* Why founders should do due diligence on VCs

* Red flags that she looks for in startups

* How to analyze a potential market

Listen now on 🟢Spotify or 🟣Apple Podcast.

Where to find Vanessa:

🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vanessalarco/

Where to find me:

🔗 LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/hugorauch/

🔗 Newsletter: https://explorepodcast.substack.com/

Timestamps: 

00:00 Introducing Vanessa Larco, partner at NEA

01:47 Vanessa's Early Life and Entrepreneurial Influence

03:20 Journey into Product Management at Microsoft

05:58 Founding an Educational Gaming Startup

08:40 Challenges and Acquisition of the Startup

11:43 Role of a Product Manager in Startups

16:48 Transition to Venture Capital

27:11 The Empty Office Mystery

27:35 Finding Purpose in a New Role

28:47 Shadowing Senior Partners

30:47 First Investment Journey

31:12 Investing in Greenlight

35:14 Personal Conviction in Investments

37:33 Market Analysis and Diligence

39:03 Supporting Founders Through Tough Times

41:18 Advice for Founders and Investors

45:06 Rapid Fire Questions

50:38 Conclusion and Contact Information

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit climateventuresvco2.substack.com