Why Proven Models Beat New Ideas Every Time with Alex Lazarow of Fluent Ventures

In this episode of Tank Talks, host Matt Cohen sits down with global venture capitalist Alex Lazarow, founder of Fluent Ventures, to unpack the future of early-stage investing as AI, globalization, and shifting economic forces reshape the startup landscape. Alex brings a rare perspective shaped by 20+ markets across Africa, Latin America, Europe, and Asia, plus experience backing seven unicorns, from Chime to breakout fintechs worldwide.

Alex shares insights from his unconventional path from academia-curious economist to McKinsey consultant, impact investor at Omidyar Network, partner at global firm Cathay Innovation, and now solo GP building a research-driven, globally distributed early-stage fund. He dives into why the best startup ideas no longer come from one geography, why AI has permanently rewritten the cost structure of company building, and how proven business models are being successfully reinvented in emerging markets and then exported back to the U.S.

He also breaks down why small businesses may become more powerful than ever, the rise of “camel startups,” and what founders everywhere must understand about raising capital in a world where early traction matters more than ever.

Whether you are a founder, operator, or investor navigating the next era of innovation, this conversation reveals how global patterns, AI tailwinds, and disciplined research can uncover tomorrow’s winners.

From Winnipeg to Wall Street: Early Career Lessons (00:01:17)

* Alex reflects on growing up in Winnipeg and navigating a multicultural family background.

* How early roles at RBC M&A and the Bank of Canada shaped his analytical lens.

* Why he pursued economics, consulting, and academia before landing in venture.

* The value of testing career hypotheses instead of blindly following one path.

Building a Global Perspective Through McKinsey (00:06:42)

* Alex describes working in 20 markets, from Tunisia during the revolution to Indonesia and Brazil.

* Why exposure to varied cultures and economies sharpened his ability to spot emerging global patterns.

* The framework he used to choose projects: people, content, geography.

Entering Venture Through Impact Investing (00:08:05)

* Joining Omidyar Network to explore fintech innovation and financial inclusion.

* Early exposure to global mobile banking and super-app models.

* The origin story behind investing in Chime.

* Why mission-driven investing shaped his lifelong global investment thesis.

Scaling Globally at Cathay Innovation (00:13:14)

* Transitioning into a traditional VC role after Omidyar.

* Helping scale Cathay from a $287M fund to nearly $1B.

* Why he eventually left to build a more focused, research-driven early-stage fund.

The Fluent Ventures Thesis: Proven Models, Global Arbitrage (00:16:45)

* Fluent backs founders who take validated business models and execute them in new geographies or industries.

* Investing between pre-seed and Series A with a tightly defined “10 business model portfolio.”

* Why their TAM is intentionally much smaller, only 200–500 companies worth meeting each quarter.

* Leveraging a network of 50 unicorn founders and global VCs to discover breakout teams early.

Why AI Is Reshaping Early-Stage Investing (00:23:01)

* AI has dramatically reduced the cost of building early products.

* Increasingly, startups raise capital after launching revenue not before.

* The new risk: foundational AI models may “eat” many SaaS products.

* What types of companies will survive AI disruption.

The Camel Startup & The Great Diffusion (00:28:14)

* The “camel startup” concept: resilient, capital-efficient companies built outside Silicon Valley norms.

* How software (and now AI) lets small companies “rent scale” once only available to big enterprises.

* Why the next decade will favor startups that focus on durability, not blitzscaling.

Why Silicon Valley Still Matters, Even for Global Founders (00:32:47)

* Alex encourages founders to build in their home markets but visit Silicon Valley to raise capital and absorb cutting-edge ideas.

* How one founder raised SF-level valuations while building in the Midwest.

* The “global arbitrage” advantage: raise capital where it’s abundant, build where costs are low.

Where Global Markets Are Leading Innovation (00:35:41)

* Why Japan is 5–10 years ahead in generational small-business transitions.Examples of B2B marketplace models thriving in India and now being imported to the U.S.

* How construction marketplaces, industrial marketplaces, and embedded fintech platforms are spreading across continents.

About Alex Lazarow

Alex Lazarow is the founder and Managing Partner of Fluent Ventures, an early-stage global venture fund investing in proven business models across fintech, commerce enablement, and digital health. A veteran global investor, Alex has backed seven unicorns, authored the award-winning book Out-Innovate, and previously invested at Omidyar Network and Cathay Innovation. He has worked in more than 20 countries and teaches entrepreneurship at Middlebury Institute.

Connect with Alex Lazarow on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/alexandrelazarow

Visit the Fluent Ventures website: https://www.fluent.vc/

Connect with Matt Cohen on LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/matt-cohen1

Visit the Ripple Ventures website: https://www.rippleventures.com/

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