The Importance of Domain Expertise in Entrepreneurship

Leila Rastegar Zegna, co-founder and general partner of Kindred Capital, joins Azeem Azhar for a deep dive into venture capital: how it really works, what’s broken, and how to fix it. They also explore a new model for venture capital, where founders become partners in the fund. This new approach aims to align incentives for both entrepreneurs and investors, in order to build a healthier innovation community.

They also discuss:

• Why venture capital is a “people business,” not a finance business.
• Why obsessiveness is a more important than expertise for founders.
• Why not all startups should seek funding.

Further resources:

• “How Venture Capitalists Are Deforming Capitalism” (The New Yorker, 2020)
• “What Is Equitable Venture?” (Kindred Capital, 2017)
• “Silicon Valley Needs a Shakedown with Chamath Palihapitiya” (Exponential View podcast, 2020)

@lrastegar
@azeem
@ExponentialView