The Twenty Minute VC (20VC): Venture Capital | Startup Funding | The Pitch 20VC: Portfolio Construction, Optimising SPVs, Opportunity Investing "Between Rounds", Being Distribution-Centric Over Product-Centric and Capital Concentration Within Funds With Sumeet Gajri, Chief Strategy Officer @ Carta
17 snips
Jan 17, 2020 
Sumeet Gajri, Chief Strategy Officer at Carta and Managing Partner at Original Capital, shares his journey from Scotland to the heart of venture capital in NYC. He discusses his unique approach to portfolio construction, emphasizing optimal sizing and loss ratios. Sumeet explains his strategy for investing in promising startups during "between rounds". He highlights the importance of distribution channels for success and the need for trust-building between investors and founders. His insights on capital concentration and navigating relationships make for an engaging listen.
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Entry into Venture
- Sumeet Gajri's entry into venture capital stemmed from a desire to avoid banking after his family's business was negatively impacted by a bank during the financial crisis.
- He found an opportunity at a growth equity firm, learned about the industry, and discovered his passion for working with founders.
Building Founder Trust
- Building trust with founders requires empathy and a focus on their needs, not just the investor's.
- Approach every interaction as if it's not the first or last, aiming for long-term relationships.
Original Capital's Differentiation
- Original Capital differentiates itself from other micro-funds by being stage-agnostic and concentrating investments.
- They write larger checks and focus on a smaller number of companies with high potential.
