
StrictlyVC Download
Each week, StrictlyVC Editor-in Chief Connie Loizos and Alex Gove, a former journalist, VC, and operating exec, review the top stories in StrictlyVC and interview a mover and shaker in the world of tech.
Latest episodes

Jun 24, 2025 • 28min
Katie Haun on the GENIUS Act and what it may mean for the future of crypto
This week on StrictlyVC Download, we're bringing you to our recent event in Menlo Park. Connie Loizos was joined by Katie Haun, founder and CEO of Haun Ventures, who shared an inside look at her contrarian "harpoon strategy" that targeted distressed crypto assets during the depths of crypto winter. They explored everything from stablecoin infrastructure to tokenization of real-world assets, to the regulatory landscape shaping crypto's future. They also get into what made Katie step away from A16z to start her own venture and why she believes we're still i the early days of crypto.
Chapters:
00:00 - Introduction
02:58 - The harpoon strategy: investing during crypto winter
04:42 - Stablecoins and cross-border payment infrastructure
08:03 - User experience evolution and enterprise adoption
10:09 - Global investment strategy and A16z relationship
12:13 - Political influence and regulatory landscape
14:59 - The Genius Act: what Katie likes and dislikes
16:24 - Criminal use cases: a former prosecutor's perspective
18:50 - Trump family stablecoin and conflict of interest
20:53 - Tokenization of real-world assets
23:25 - Market adoption and fund updates
24:36 - How Haun Ventures differentiates itself Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 17, 2025 • 29min
VC Charles Hudson on the new LP timeline
Charles Hudson, Founder and Managing Partner of Precursor Ventures, shares insights into early-stage investing and the evolving landscape of venture capital. He discusses his data-driven approach to portfolio management and the impact of recent market volatility on LP expectations. Hudson highlights the importance of adaptability in light of liquidity challenges and emphasizes the shift towards sustainable growth over inflated valuations. He also draws parallels between today's AI advancements and the early internet, advocating for thoughtful investment strategies.

Jun 10, 2025 • 25min
The U.S. Navy says 'welcome aboard' to new startup partnerships
This week on StrictlyVC Download, Alex and Connie are joined by Justin Fanelli, the Acting Chief Technology Officer for the US Navy and Technical Director of Program Executive Office Digital, where he oversees billions of dollars in IT infrastructure and cybersecurity initiatives. He's also a venture partner at NextGen Venture Partners and serves as a senior fellow for the Open Forum for AI. In this episode, they discuss the Navy's innovation adoption kit designed to bridge the "valley of death" between commercial technology and military implementation, the partnership with Defense Innovation Unit to streamline startup onboarding, and how the Navy is measuring success through new outcome-driven metrics that prioritize sailor time saved and operational resilience over traditional activity-based measurements.
Chapters:
00:00 - Introduction and background
03:19 - Innovation adoption kit and valley of death solutions
05:43 - Partnership with Defense Innovation Unit (DIU)
08:27 - Onboarding non-traditional vendors and startups
13:22 - Current pain points and AI adoption challenges
15:37 - Technology modernization and team structure
17:39 - Measuring effectiveness with world class alignment metrics
21:23 - Common failure points in technology adoption
22:09 - America first policies and supply chain resilience
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21 snips
Jun 3, 2025 • 32min
Elad GIl is hoping to teach old companies new tricks with AI
Elad Gil, a solo capitalist and AI investing pioneer known for backing stars like Airbnb and Stripe, dives into the evolving world of artificial intelligence. He discusses how AI is revolutionizing company scaling and enhancing team efficiency. Elad also examines the nuances of human-AI relationships, highlighting risks like bias in education. He shares insights on AI tutoring's societal implications and the need for businesses to adapt amid the competitive landscape, emphasizing the delicate balance between founder involvement and delegation.

May 27, 2025 • 28min
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on Greece's big tech moment
This week on StrictlyVC Download, we're bringing you to our recent event in Athens. Connie was joined by Greece's Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, who shared an inside look at how the country is positioning itself as a refreshed hub for innovation, investment, and participation from the world's technology industry. They explored everything from policy changes to new global partnerships, to Greece's startup momentum — plus they offer a peek into why founders are starting to return to the country from shores near and far. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 20, 2025 • 25min
Accel partner Sonali De Rycker on AI, exits, and European tech
This week's episode was recorded live at StrictlyVC London, host Connie Loizos sat down with Accel partner Sonali De Rycker. They discussed Europe's regulatory challenges, compares US and EU tech ecosystems, and explores venture capital's evolving exit strategies in the absence of IPOs.
Chapters:
00:00 - Introduction to Strictly VC Download and Sonali de Rycker
01:48 - The "Queen of European VC" title and its origin
02:11 - Accel's 25th anniversary in Europe and early challenges
05:38 - Evaluating AI startup valuations in the current cycle
09:03 - European tech potential vs regulatory headwinds
11:37 - Impact of US-EU trade tensions on tech companies
14:22 - Defense tech investment opportunities in Europe
19:31 - Capital restructuring for founder alignment: The Kry example
21:27 - Founder liquidity and lessons from the Hopin experience
23:57 - AI talent retention and closing thoughts
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May 13, 2025 • 28min
These investors are betting big on Greece’s founders
This week we're taking you with us to our StrictlyVC event in Athens. Connie led a panel discussion with some of Greece's most notable investors about Greece's evolving startup ecosystem. You'll hear from Panos Papadopoulos: Partner at Marathon Venture Capital, Apostolos Apostolakis: Partner at VentureFriends, Marco Veremis: Entrepreneur turned investor who founded and Upstream before co-founded Big Pi Ventures, Myrto Papathanou, Partner at Metavallon VC which invests in early stage companies; and Dimitrious Kottas: Founder of a defense tech startup who returned to Greece after working at Apple in Silicon Valley.
The conversation covers everything from the current state of venture funding in Greece, the role of pension funds in the ecosystem, why ambitious founders are choosing to build in Greece, and what systemic changes could further accelerate the country's tech transformation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 6, 2025 • 29min
Why Eric Slesinger, a former CIA officer, is now funding European defense tech
This week on StrictlyVC Download, Alex Gove speaks with Eric Slesinger from 201 Ventures, a venture capital firm focused on seed-stage defense tech startups in Europe. They discuss Eric's journey from CIA to investor and how he recognized the untapped potential in European defense tech while others were dismissive, and how he's working to overcome the cultural taboo that once made defense investments "bad manners" in European VC circles.
Chapters:
00:00 - Introduction and Eric's CIA background
04:17 - Why Europe for defense tech investments
06:32 - Changing European attitudes toward defense technology
09:00 - Ukraine as a testing ground for new technologies
11:24 - Launching 201 Ventures with NATO Innovation Fund
14:30 - Investment partnerships and sourcing strategies
18:07 - The Polar Mist story and maritime defense
20:15 - Gray zone dislocations and technology focus areas
22:59 - Evaluating government demand for new technologies
25:50 - Mission goals and the future of 201 Ventures
28:03 - Conclusion
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18 snips
Apr 29, 2025 • 29min
Ali Partovi is using these indicators to spot future tech billionaires
Ali Partovi, co-founder and CEO of Neo, a venture fund focused on nurturing future tech leaders, shares insights on spotting potential billionaires early. He discusses Neo’s shift from a scholar program to a $320 million fund, emphasizing three key traits for founders: charisma, leadership potential, and the ability to attract talent. The conversation also touches on the evolving landscape of startup locations and the delicate balance between ambition and caution for young entrepreneurs.

Apr 22, 2025 • 29min
The RealReal founder Julie Wainwright has written a memoir–and an entrepreneurial survival guide
Julie Wainwright, founder of The RealReal and Pets.com, shares her incredible journey from facing public failure to triumph in tech. She discusses her memoir, detailing the unique challenges of female leadership in a male-dominated industry. Wainwright highlights her experience navigating board dynamics and the pressures of media scrutiny, particularly during the dot-com bust. She also delves into her latest venture, Ahara, which emphasizes personalized nutrition as a key to health. Her insights serve as a powerful entrepreneurial survival guide.