Episode Summary

Nnamdi Okike is the Co-founder and Managing Partner at 645 Ventures, known for his early, contrarian bets on overlooked verticals and non-obvious industries. In this episode, Nnamdi shares how he leveraged a data-driven sourcing model to identify breakout companies like Squire and Goldbelly, and why seemingly small or niche markets often produce the biggest wins. Maxine and Cheryl dive deep into Nnamdi’s journey from Insight Partners analyst sourcing deals via cold calls, to launching his own fund and achieving a remarkable hit rate, landing him on the Midas Brink List. They explore how he evaluates founder insights, measures market inflection points, and strategically navigates the power law dynamics in venture capital. Packed with strategic insights and candid reflections, this episode is essential listening for emerging investors, fund managers, and founders curious about building defensible businesses in non-obvious spaces.

Time Stamps

04:34 – Nnamdi’s first investment during the dotcom boom

06:52 – Defining “non-obvious industries” and spotting hidden TAM

10:40 – Squire: From barbershop bookings to vertical SaaS OS

13:20 – Goldbelly, marketplaces, and the power of founder insight

17:58 – Algorithmic sourcing meets founder conviction

21:30 – What 645 Ventures learned from missing Facebook

26:46 – Building a fund around risk profiles, not just stages

30:34 – Why the power law should shape every VC decision

35:16 – Does 2024 echo 2002? A macro take on the downturn

42:41 – The rise of zombie funds and quiet closures

45:20 – Bootstrapped AI startups and the future of defensibility

52:54 – When vertical AI gets sticky—and when it doesn’t

57:20 – Nnamdi’s Big Cojones moment: from Insight to starting fresh

Resources

🙋‍♂️ Nnamdi Okike on LinkedIn – Follow Nnamdi’s updates and insights. https://www.linkedin.com/in/nnamdiokike

💰645 Ventures – A VC firm investing in early-stage, non-obvious software winners. https://645ventures.com/

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