In this episode of Fund/Build/Scale, I interviewed Amex Ventures Managing Director Kevin Weber about some of the nuances between traditional VC and corporate venture capital.

It’s quite a mix: he’s looking for founders who can create value for individual American Express cardholders and the firm itself, so we talked about what types of opportunities he’s looking for, some of the problems he’s trying to solve, and the role risk plays in pushing organizational boundaries.

“In many cases, I actually want to take more risk in some of the investments that I'm going to make because that risk and the investment that I'm making for the potential opportunity that I could have to American Express is likely worth the bet,” he said.

If you’re interested in pitching Amex Ventures or another CVC, listen in for insights on fintech, AI, and e-commerce investments, the importance of aligning startup strategies with corporate goals, and key advice for first-time founders on fundraising and market positioning.

Episode summary

00:19 Meet Kevin Weber: Amex Ventures' Managing Director

00:42 The Role of Corporate Venture Capital

01:24 Kevin's Career Journey

02:53 Amex Ventures' Investment Strategy

03:06 Differences Between Corporate and Traditional VC

04:05 Strategic Value and Partnerships

05:30 Focus Areas and Portfolio Companies

07:49 AI and Machine Learning in Venture Capital

09:29 Investment Process and Founder Relationships

15:11 Turning Investments into Partnerships

20:23 Collaborating with Businesses to Achieve Goals

20:39 Addressing Pain Points and Future Trends

21:10 Focus on AI

22:23 Business Goals and Fraud Prevention

24:09 Investment Strategies and Pivots

25:37 Exit Strategies and Acquisition Policies

31:40 Working with Accelerators and Incubators

34:44 Advice for First-Time Founders

39:07 Risk Tolerance in Corporate Venture Capital

Links

Thanks for listening!

– Walter.

Addressing pain points + exploring early-stage trends with Kevin Weber of Amex Ventures