Guest Scott Sandell, NEA's Executive Chairman, shares his investment philosophy, emphasizing understanding founders' life stories and future goals. Topics include characteristics of unicorn founders, passion-driven missionaries, purposeful growth at Tableau, navigating board relationships, and the era of decreasing LP commitments.

In this engaging discussion, Scott Sandell, Managing General Partner at NEA, and Rick Yang, Head of Consumer Investing at NEA, share insights about their investment in Robinhood. They recount the pivotal moments that led to backing the startup, highlighting early metrics indicating product-market fit. The duo compares Robinhood's innovative cost structure with E-Trade's, revealing how automation drives efficiency. They also delve into Vlad's evolution as a leader and the company's mission to democratize finance, keeping user engagement at the forefront.

In this discussion, Scott Sandell, Managing General Partner at NEA, shares insights from nearly three decades in venture capital. He delves into the evolving landscape influenced by market fluctuations and the recent boom, highlighting liquidity as a pressing challenge. Scott emphasizes the transformative impact of technology on company growth and scaling. He also reflects on trust in investment partnerships, advocating for smaller, cohesive teams for better decision-making and collaboration. Personal values in investing and lessons from literature further enrich the conversation.