A Product Market Fit Show | Startup Podcast for Founders cover image

A Product Market Fit Show | Startup Podcast for Founders

His robotics startup raised $400M, his VC fund over $4B—& he ran both at the same time. Here's how he did it.| Lior Susan, Bright Machines & Eclipse Ventures

Nov 4, 2024
Lior Susan, CEO of Bright Machines and Managing Director of Eclipse Ventures, has an impressive track record, raising over $400M for his startup and managing a $4B venture fund. He shares insights on the unique challenges of simultaneously building a startup and a venture fund. Lior discusses the innovative automation in manufacturing, transforming traditional processes with robotics, and the necessity of achieving product-market fit. He also reflects on the impact of COVID-19 on startups and the importance of adapting to market changes.
42:59

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Lior's experience illustrates the critical role of timing and market trends in securing success for both startups and venture capital.
  • The emphasis on customer feedback and adaptability is essential for achieving and maintaining product-market fit in innovative industries.

Deep dives

The Journey from Startup to Venture Capitalist

The speaker reflects on an unexpected leap from running startups to managing a venture capital fund, revealing that they now oversee approximately $4.5 billion. They discuss their initial encounters with notable figures like Elon Musk and the challenges faced by Tesla in its early days, highlighting the role of luck in achieving success in the tech industry. The importance of timing and market trends played a crucial role, as their investment thesis aligned with the shift towards full-stack companies, including major players like Microsoft and Apple. This transition illustrates how embracing new responsibilities and opportunities can reshape one’s career trajectory dramatically.

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