Episode 349: Chris Gardner - Partner, Underscore VC

Episode 349 of The VentureFizz Podcast features Chris Gardner, Partner at Underscore VC. One time, could be luck. Two times, ok… maybe you are on to something… but in the case of Chris, he has been part of several acquisitions, so there is something deeply there in terms of his ability to pick the right company to join or company to help co-found. There is no denying it, based on his track record as an operator, there is an obvious translation to his current position as a venture capitalist. This episode is another fun walk down Boston tech memory lane, as we talk about some legendary companies that were acquired like edocs (an early e-billing and customer self-service applications), M-Qube (early mobile messaging and content services company), ExtendMedia (white label video platform), and Paydiant (an early mobile wallet tech company that powered payment apps for Subway, Harris Teeter supermarkets, Capital One, MCX, and many more). What I also find really interesting is how Chris’ background spans across both product and marketing, where he led both entities at companies. Perhaps I’m wrong, but it is a skillset that I haven’t seen too often. Chris is currently a Partner at Underscore, a firm that is investing in pre-Seed and Seed B2B software founders. The firm recently announced a new $58M Fund III. In this episode of our podcast, we cover: * Chris’ background story and how he got into the tech industry. * The stories and his role in the companies previously mentioned including being a co-founder of Paydiant, their impact on mobile wallets, and the company’s acquisition by PayPal and what he learned there. * How Chris became a VC and the details on what he is targeting in terms of investments at Underscore. * Pitch advice for startups and the importance of storytelling. * How you need to think about compensation structure as a company scales. * And so much more. Episode Sponsor: As a longtime champion of the local startup ecosystem, Silicon Valley Bank supports innovative companies with the solutions and financing they need through every stage of growth. With more than 1,500 bankers and relationship advisors, and $42B in loans as of Q2 2024 – SVB delivers the right people, service and resources to support your entire financial journey. Learn more at SVB.com.