Found: Empathy-driven investing with Erin and Sara Foster
Dec 26, 2024
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Discover how the Foster sisters transitioned from fashion to venture capital, leveraging empathy to connect with founders. They share lessons from past businesses and the impact of supportive investors on startups. The conversation dives into balancing family dynamics in business while emphasizing collaboration over competition. Personal stories highlight the importance of authenticity in public life and navigating challenges as women in the workplace. Tune in for insights on creating a strong support network and finding work-life balance.
20:22
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Quick takeaways
The Foster sisters highlight that their transition into venture capital is driven by the empathy gained from their diverse entrepreneurial experiences, allowing them to better support founders.
They stress the importance of balancing career commitments while prioritizing mental wellness and personal relationships to maintain overall happiness and productivity.
Deep dives
Pivoting into Venture Capital
The Foster sisters discuss their transition from entrepreneurial roles into venture capital. Their diverse careers included co-founding a clothing line and creating content for notable platforms, but they found a new passion in investing. The sisters emphasize the significance of empathy gained from their operational backgrounds, which aids them in better understanding the struggles that founders face. They believe that this perspective allows them to provide more meaningful support to the entrepreneurs they invest in, contrasting the experiences of investors who lack this hands-on experience.
The Importance of Building Relationships
Strong personal connections are highlighted as vital for success in the business world. Whitney Wolfe Herd, the CEO of Bumble, is spotlighted for her role in supporting the Foster sisters as they entered the investment realm, demonstrating the value of mentorship. The conversation also touches on the admiration for public figures like Kim Kardashian, who built successful brands through understanding their target audience and maintaining a connection with them. These relationships and insights are viewed as essential for navigating the competitive landscape of consumer culture.
Work-Life Balance Strategies
Balancing multiple career responsibilities while maintaining personal well-being is a central theme in the discussion. The Foster sisters emphasize the necessity of setting boundaries and nurturing personal time for mental health. They reflect on the change in work culture, advocating for a return to prioritizing family and personal life over being perpetually available for work. This focus on mental wellness is framed as crucial for sustaining productivity and overall happiness in both personal and professional domains.
Today, we’re bringing you a conversation TechCrunch senior reporter Dominic Madori-Davis had with Sara and Erin Foster along with their advisor at Oversubscribed Ventures, Phil Schwarz. Across their careers, the Foster sisters have co-founded the clothing line Favorite Daughter, co-led creative for Bumble Bizz and Bumble BFF, and currently co-host their own podcast
Listen to the full episode to hear:
How the Foster sisters made their pivot to VC.
Which investments excites Oversubscribed Ventures the most.
How they balance all of the different facets of their careers.
Equity is TechCrunch’s flagship podcast, produced by Theresa Loconsolo, and posts every Wednesday and Friday. Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Spotify and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on X and Threads, at @EquityPod. For the full episode transcript, for those who prefer reading over listening, check out our full archive of episodes here.
Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products.
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