Follow me @samirkaji for my thoughts on the venture market, with a focus on the continued evolution of the VC landscape.

We're thrilled to have Alex Pall, general partner at Mantis VC, a seed and an early stage fund based in LA.

Alex is a great example of someone who has made a significant crossover from another industry—he is one half of the award-winning duo of the Chainsmokers, a group that has found mainstream success by breaking boundaries between pop, indie, electronic, alternative, and rock.

We discuss how Alex and the team thought through joining the ranks of venture capital, their early learnings, and the importance of self-awareness in terms of `

About Alex Pall:Alex Pall is one half (Drew Taggart is the other half)of the GRAMMY® Award-winning, RIAA Diamond-certified duo The Chainsmokers. In 2020, alongside Drew Taggart, Jeffrey Evans, and Milan Koch, founded Mantis Venture Capital.

Other businesses under their purview include a stake in the popular JAJA Tequila and The Chainsmokers’ very own film, television, and podcast production company, Kick The Habit Productions—which boasts a full slate of projects in development.

In this episode, we discuss:

(01:51) Chainsmokers' Early Days and Entrepreneurial Goals​​

(02:48) Transition from Music Artists to Financially Savvy Investors​​

(03:37) Emphasis on Passion-Driven Investments​​

(04:50) Building a Network and Seeking Investment Opportunities​​

(06:43) Critical Decision-Making in Business Ventures​​

(07:00) Inspiration from Jimmy Buffett's Business Model​​

(08:14) Importance of Work Ethic and Assisting Founders​​

(12:31) Addressing skepticism about a celebrity fund

(13:50) Mentor's Advice on Investing with Experienced Partners​​

(16:51) Setting Realistic Goals in Initial Fundraising​​

(17:19) Fundraising Challenges During COVID-19's Onset​​

(19:01) Learning from the first fund

(20:11) Insights on Unpredictability in Venture Capital Investing​​

(22:15) Developing a Disciplined Investment Approach​​

(26:01) Adding Value to Portfolio Companies​​

(27:46) Storytelling as a Business Differentiator​​

(31:01) Trust as a Cornerstone in Investment Community​​

(31:32) Learning from past Investment Decision​​s

(32:45) Investing in Great Teams and People​​

(33:51) Holistic View in Investment Decisions​​

(36:04) Providing Honest Feedback to Founders​​

(37:52) Navigating a Challenging Investment Landscape​​

(39:25) Avoiding Overreliance on Large Capital Raises​​

(40:09) Differentiating Business Strategies​​

(41:32) Parallels Between Music and Venture Capital​​

(44:13) Success Beyond Prestigious Educational Backgrounds​​

(45:30) Passion and Commitment in Projects​

I’d love to know what you took away from this conversation with Alex. Follow me @SamirKaji and give me your insights and questions with the hashtag #ventureunlocked. If you’d like to be considered as a guest or have someone you’d like to hear from (GP or LP), drop me a direct message on Twitter.

Podcast Production support provided by Agent Bee