Founder Storiez

From Bioengineering to VC | Jonathan Lehr managing partner Work-Bench | Betting on New York

Nov 12, 2024

43:04

In this episode, we speak with Jonathan Lehr, General Partner and Co-founder of Work-bench, a VC firm that placed an early, bold bet on New York's enterprise tech scene. Drawing from over a decade of venture capital experience, Jon offers a masterclass in VC, startups, and life.

Episode Highlights:

- How Workbench recognized NYC's unique position as an enterprise tech hub

- The power of diverse industries in shaping innovation

- Why gratitude and kindness are competitive advantages in VC

- Building a firm that reflects personal values while delivering returns

- How NYC's diverse industry landscape creates unique opportunities for enterprise tech

- The role of personal values in shaping institutional success

- Why relationship-building trumps transactional networking

- Balancing ambition with authenticity in venture capital

[00:00] Meet Jon

[01:11] The Workbench origin story: From concept to reality

[04:09] NYC's secret weapon: Industry diversity driving innovation

[07:24] Navigating career pivots and embracing uncertainty

[10:28] Investment philosophy: The Workbench approach

[16:58] Partnership dynamics: Building a complementary team

[19:02] Daily rituals and mindset management

[20:38] Differentiation in a crowded VC landscape

[22:50] The gratitude advantage in venture capital

[23:04] Evolving with the market: Workbench 2.0

[23:24] Spotting trends before they emerge

[24:37] The art of relationship building in tech

[26:53] Fundraising wisdom: Lessons from the trenches

[34:42] Values-driven leadership: Family, authenticity, impact

[39:46] Beyond returns: Creating lasting value

[42:02] Words of wisdom for the next generation

Connect with Jon

Connect with Ephraim

🙏 LEAVE A REVIEW Thank you for listening to the podcast! Your support means the world to us. If you enjoyed the show, please take a moment to leave a 5-star review and subscribe. Your review will help others discover the show and continue to support our efforts.

👋🏼 GET IN TOUCH We'd love to hear from you! Reach out to Ephraim Yarmak on LinkedIn with any feedback, ideas, or thoughts about the episodes. We'll personally thank you for your support!

📢 SPONSORSHIP Interested in sponsoring the show? Email Ephraim at ey@bria.fund Thank you for considering!