The Silicon Valley Podcast Ep 167 A One-Woman Army with Luba Lesiva
Jan 11, 2023
Luba Lesiva, who leads Palumni.vc and advises tech companies on fundraising, shares her journey from banking to Palantir and discusses the unique dynamics of syndicates versus funds. She highlights how alumni networks can create successful founders and navigate the cold start problem in venture capital. Luba emphasizes the importance of deep diligence in evaluating founders and the need for VCs to protect their investors. Plus, she offers insights on building meaningful networks and adapting to the evolving ethos of Silicon Valley.
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From Coffee Chats To 800 LPs
- Luba built Palumni VC after informally advising many founders and investors during COVID and launching a syndicate that exploded beyond expectations.
- She expected ~40 LPs and 20–25 startups but found 198 founders and grew to 800 LPs and ~200 companies in the pipeline.
Why Palantir Alumni Produce Founders
- Palantir hired broadly skilled engineers comfortable with ambiguity and autonomous work, which produces many founders.
- That hiring profile explains why many alumni become successful startup leaders and builders.
Syndicate Versus Fund Distinction
- A fund is a one-time commitment trusting the GP's decisions while a syndicate requires LPs to review each deal.
- Choose a fund if you want passive exposure and a syndicate if you want control over each investment.