Molly O'Shea

Mark Suster, Managing Partner of Upfront Ventures, shares his disciplined investment strategies and discusses the significance of founder-market fit and market timing in venture capital. He highlights promising sectors like healthcare and space while reflecting on lessons learned from his CEO experience. Suster also addresses the challenges of fundraising, particularly the low transition rates from seed to Series A investments. Molly O’Shea adds depth to the conversation, exploring how empathy and historical understanding play roles in shaping the future of the industry.

Molly O'Shea chats with Alex Kolicich, founding partner at 8VC, known for his investments in Palantir and SpaceX. They dive into the rising trends in defense technology spurred by geopolitical factors. Alex discusses the evolving landscape for AI investments and the unique challenges of capturing value. He also highlights the shift towards innovative defense startups over traditional contractors, driven by new government practices and a favorable fundraising environment amid economic uncertainties.