a16z Podcast a16z Podcast: Demystifying Venture Capital
8 snips
May 2, 2014 
Ann Winblad, a venture capitalist with a background in software entrepreneurship, joins Aileen Lee, founder of Cowboy Ventures, and Teresa Gao from Aspect Ventures. They discuss the daily grind of a venture capitalist and emphasize the importance of understanding tech entrepreneurs. The conversation covers challenges faced by female founders in a male-dominated industry, the role of past experiences in shaping founders, and the delicate balance of managing relationships within venture firms. Empowering insights for aspiring investors abound!
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Ann Winblad's Career Path
- Ann Winblad's background is in mathematics and computer science.
- She transitioned from software entrepreneur to venture capitalist after John Hummer persistently pursued her to start a software firm.
Value of Entrepreneurial Experience
- Being a former entrepreneur can be advantageous in venture capitalism, but the relevance diminishes over time.
- Understanding the technical aspects is crucial for enterprise software investing.
Aileen Lee's Unexpected VC Career
- Aileen Lee's path to venture capital was accidental.
- Despite an initial interest in consumer businesses and marketing, she landed a job at Kleiner Perkins and stayed.