Venture with Grace Tony Conrad, True Ventures Partner on AI, Community & Investing
Nov 1, 2025
Tony Conrad, Partner at True Ventures and co-founder of about.me, shares insights on the current landscape of AI and venture capital. He reveals the overhyped aspects of AI and what's often overlooked in the industry. Tony emphasizes the importance of community and network effects in building successful businesses. He discusses the critical role of emotional intelligence in supporting founders and the significance of genuine relationships in VC. With a renewed focus on mentoring and emerging trends, Tony's passion for innovation and collaboration shines through.
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Co-Hosting Scales Trust And Reach
- Collaborating with other top firms multiplies event reach and trust quickly.
- True's Connected Stack succeeded by co-hosting with 20 leading VCs who invited their networks.
Give Clear Nomination And Invitation Rules
- Ask co-hosts to nominate one breakout enterprise AI and one near-escape-velocity portfolio company.
- Ask each co-host to invite their ~50 most important relationships to ensure high-quality attendance.
Maintain Roots With Emerging Managers
- True stays close to emerging managers because they were once in that position.
- Including emerging managers boosts deal flow and keeps the firm connected to early signals.
