The Orthogonal Bet Molly Mielke on What Makes a Founder Worth Betting On
14 snips
Oct 1, 2025 Molly Mielke, an early-stage investor and founder of Moth Fund, has an impressive background with stints at Figma, Notion, and Stripe. She dives into her journey from tech intern to venture capitalist, emphasizing the importance of person-centered investment over sector focus. Molly discusses how early-stage bets reveal unique potential and the significance of supporting creative builders through grants. She also reflects on the tech culture in San Francisco, the risks of monoculture, and the importance of genuine values in startups.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
From Film School To First Intern Roles
- Molly describes graduating film school early and becoming the first intern at Figma and Ocean after Twitter outreach and a thesis project.
- Those internships gave her direct founder access and taught her how companies preserve ethos as they scale.
Investing Extends Long-Term Founder Support
- Molly realized investing lengthens the supportive relationships she enjoyed as a consultant and lets her bet long-term on people.
- She positions Moth Fund to make early, conviction bets on founders before ideas crystallize.
Prefer Conviction Pre-Seed Checks
- Do focus on pre-seed conviction bets where you can meaningfully shape a founder and their narrative.
- Avoid only co-investing small checks in rounds where your ownership and impact are negligible.