FutureWork Playbook 30 Under 30 with Megan Ruan, General Partner at Gold House Ventures
Host Natalie Pierce updates listeners on two past guests and introduces them to a new one.
First, she highlights Daniel Robinson, a guest from the first episode of “The FutureWork Playbook” in 2021. Daniel is the co-founder and CEO of Red 6, a company that has revolutionized pilot training by bringing live in-cockpit AR training to the US Air Force. Red 6 has been “outrageously successful” since Daniel’s visit, Natalie explains, including securing major contracts with the US Air Force and partnering with Northrop Grumman.
Second, she spotlights Samir Menon, CEO at Dexterity AI. When he visited back in the first season, Dexterity AI was doing groundbreaking work on how robotics could support and power human capabilities. It has since “transformed from a promising robotic startup into a global leader in warehouse automation,” Natalie says. Earlier this year, for example, the company secured $95 million in funding, reflecting strong investor confidence and accelerating development.
Finally, Natalie welcomes Megan Ruan for the latest installment of the podcast’s series featuring 30 Under 30 industry partners.
As the child of Asian immigrants, Megan remembers a pivotal early-career moment when she was invited to a dinner packed with leaders from across industries, all focused on elevating Asian entrepreneurs. That night, surrounded by changemakers from entertainment to publishing, she knew she wanted in. “I just wanted to join the movement—whatever that looked like,” she tells Natalie.
Megan went on to help build Gold House Foundation’s venture arm, Gold House Ventures. By championing founders from the Asian and Pacific Islander community, the team has invested in 78 startups, powered an accelerator supporting over 115 companies, and helped unlock more than $2 billion in follow-on capital. Tune in to hear Megan’s story and how she guides founders to tell their stories that generate investor commitment.
Episode Highlights
- Gold House Ventures works hand-in-hand with Gold House Foundation, routing fund profits to support the nonprofit’s efforts to move the needle for Asian Pacific Islander and diverse communities.
- The team blends “cultural insight and distribution advantage” with the usual investment metrics, putting founder-market-culture fit front and center rather than just product-market fit.
- As AI streamlines product development, Megan is clear: Founders need to show traction before fundraising. "You need to go out and test and iterate. With so many prototyping tools at your disposal, raising a pre-seed round without having tested the market is near impossible."
- Portfolio companies like Weee! and ChowBus tap into cultural affinity and nostalgia, forging strong loyalty among underserved users.
- Gold House focuses on “hidden giant markets”— industries overlooked by others where startups can gain a foothold before the bigger players take notice.
💡 Meet Your Host 💡
Name: Natalie Pierce
Organization: Gunderson Dettmer
Connect: LinkedIn
💡 Featured Guest 💡
Name: Megan Ruan
Organization: Gold House Ventures
Connect: LinkedIn
Contact
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