Erik Kriessmann, Partner at Altimeter, joins Molly O'Shea to share his journey from leading human capital at Khosla & Index to writing $100+ million checks into Aerospace & Defense at Altimeter's $10 Billion AUM Fund. We go deep into his investment strategies, and his thoughts on key industry trends.
Learn about his work with prominent companies like SpaceX, Anduril, and K2 Space, as well as the unique approach Altimeter takes in supporting founders and investing in transformative technologies.
Erik also discusses the evolving exit environment, the impact of AI, and future opportunities in aerospace, defense, and hard tech. Don't miss this comprehensive dive into the minds of one of venture capital's most under-the-radar legends.
Molly on X: https://x.com/MollySOSheaErik on X: https://x.com/ekriessmannBrought to you by:Brex—The modern finance platform, combining the world’s smartest corporate card with integrated expense management, banking, bill pay, and travel. As a Sourcery listener, you can unlock up to $500 toward Brex travel or $300 in cash back, plus exclusive perks to help you move even faster: https://brex.com/sourceryKalshi—The largest prediction market and the only legal platform in the US where people can trade directly on the outcomes of future events: https://kalshi.com/sourceryFollow Sourcery for the latest updates! https://www.sourcery.vc/
TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 Introduction
00:49 From Khosla & Index to Altimeter
06:50 Building Relationships & Trust
08:35 Sponsorship Message from Brex
09:38 Investing in Real World Technologies, Aerospace, & Defense
14:19 Deep Dive into Anduril
24:22 Spotlight on K2 Space
29:54 Building a Winning Team
31:41 Recruitment Challenges & Strategies
34:14 Altimeter's Investment Approach
40:28 Evaluating Success in Investments
41:46 Exit Strategies & Market Trends
45:36 Opportunities in Aerospace & Defense
50:58 Kalshi Predictions (AI, Wealthiest Person, SpaceX, Aliens)
#podcast #investing #technology #venturecapital #entrepreneur #startup #siliconvalley
