StrictlyVC Download

Lee Roberts, Chancellor of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, discusses his vision for integrating AI into university operations and academics. He explains the recent merger of data science and library science to foster collaboration. Roberts addresses the $38 million in federal grant cuts, focusing on public health impacts while remaining optimistic about diversifying funding sources. He also defends the investment in football coach Bill Belichick as a crucial revenue strategy to support UNC's extensive athletics program.

Hans Swildens, founder of Industry Ventures and a trailblazer in venture secondaries, shares insights on selling to Goldman Sachs amidst his firm's 25th anniversary. He discusses the evolution of their two-decade partnership and the strategic timing behind the sale. Swildens highlights how secondaries have become the new IPO for startups and examines the state of emerging fund managers. He also explores future liquidity solutions and the challenges of adapting private equity products for venture capital, offering a fascinating glimpse into the industry’s changing landscape.

Chris Lehane, Chief Global Affairs Officer at OpenAI, shares insights on the company's new video tool, Sora, and its significant promise for creativity. He delves into the complexities of copyright and fair use in AI training, illustrating how their iterative deployment model prioritizes responsible innovation. Lehane discusses the immense infrastructure needs to remain globally competitive, particularly against China, and what keeps him up at night, emphasizing the importance of democratizing AI benefits and addressing geopolitical challenges.

Kara Nortman, co-founder of Monarch Collective and Angel City Football Club, dives into the booming world of women's sports investing. She discusses her transition from tech VC to launching a $250 million fund dedicated to women’s sports, capitalizing on a market that’s exploding. Nortman reveals their unique investment strategy involving concentrated bets and hands-on operations. The conversation also touches on revenue generation, ownership structures, and the historical significance of the Dick Kerr Ladies, all while pondering the sustainability of this exciting industry.

Amjad Masad, Founder and CEO of Replit, shares the incredible story of how his company skyrocketed from $2.8 million to $150 million in ARR by pivoting to serve non-technical users. He explains the challenges of building AI-driven coding agents that can function independently, and how this focus requires more computational power. Masad also discusses a viral database incident that tested their resilience and his vision for creating a billion software developers globally through innovative, user-friendly tools.

Francis deSouza, the COO of Google Cloud and seasoned entrepreneur, shares insights into Google Cloud's competitive edge in the booming AI market. He highlights the company's commitment to startups amid fierce competition with giants like AWS and Oracle. The discussion delves into Google Cloud's approach to the GPU shortage, partnerships with AI labs like Anthropic, and maintaining a balance between competition and providing neutral infrastructure. DeSouza emphasizes the potential of foundation models and Google's mission to drive scientific advancements through technology.

Join former Vice President Al Gore, a notable climate action advocate, and Lila Preston, a partner at Generation Investment Management. Together, they discuss the remarkable shift in energy investment—from 35% in fossils to 65% in renewables. Discover how China leads the charge with EVs making up 60% of new sales. They also tackle the dual-edged sword of AI's massive energy needs and its potential to either hinder or help climate initiatives. Plus, Gore shares insights on the waning political power of fossil fuel interests amid rising community activism.

This week, Marc Bhargava, a partner at General Catalyst, shares insights on targeting the $16 trillion services market through AI-powered rollups. With a focus on innovative companies like Udia and Crescendo, he explains how they aim to disrupt traditional industries by embracing outcome-based pricing. Bhargava highlights the alarming statistic that 95% of corporate AI pilots fail, attributing this to the lack of deep expertise in applying AI effectively. The discussion also covers strategies for nurturing second-time founders and the role of relationship-driven businesses in this transformative landscape.

This week on StrictlyVC Download, TechCrunch EIC Connie Loizos and StrictlyVC's Alex Gove sit down with Adeo Ressi, founder of Decile Group, and Sarah Lacy, the former TechCrunch journalist turned entrepreneur to explore how one of Ressi's newest projects --  VC Lab -- has quietly launched over 800 venture funds worldwide, averaging $12 million each. In fact, while traditional media focuses on emerging manager struggles, the four talk about why, according to Ressi and Lacy, small checks are becoming strategically advantageous in over-subscribed rounds, how accomplished professionals are locked out of traditional VC despite having unicorn angel track records, and Lacy's theory that diverse manager networks are unlocking untapped LP pools. Plus, they talk about Lacy's path from Palm Springs bookstore owner back to Silicon Valley ecosystem building, whether this micro-fund renaissance can actually achieve 50/50 gender parity in venture capital, and what Ressi, a former roommate of Elon Musk, thinks about Musk's time this year in federal government. 00:00 - Introduction 03:17 - From tech journalism to Palm Springs bookstore owner 05:05 - Scaling Founder Institute and the birth of VC Lab 06:39 - The disconnect between media narratives and ground reality 07:46 - The economics of Decile Group's free model 09:54 - Fund performance: 2x returns in 24 months 12:14 - The strategic advantage of small checks 14:24 - Breaking the VC paper doll cutout 17:19 - Finding capital: From network activation to fund of funds 18:57 - Success stories: From blockchain to African women managers 23:43 - Fighting misogyny and building gender equality in VC 26:18 - From tearing down to building up 29:52 - Fixing problems at scale through democratized venture 31:45 - The Elon factor: Politics, neurodiversity, and friendship Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jeff Clavier, founder of Uncork Capital, and partner Andy McLoughlin chat about their aggressive investment strategy in today's venture landscape. They discuss the significance of unique datasets and how their recent investment in AI chip maker Groq exemplifies this. The duo shares insights on advising companies to adapt to AI, investing in traditionally overlooked sectors, and the revival of San Francisco as an AI innovation hub. With AI funding reshaping the venture capital scene, they ponder whether this trend is sustainable.