Aileen Lee, the founder of Cowboy Ventures and the visionary behind the term 'unicorn,' joins the conversation to explore exciting new horizons. She weighs in on the impact of AI on job creation and the evolving workforce, discussing how automation can reshape everyday processes. Aileen also highlights the potential in 'unsexy tech' and the shifts occurring within Cowboy Ventures, including team transitions. As venture capital faces challenges, her insights on adapting to the market are both timely and thought-provoking.

Kevin Rose, a serial entrepreneur famed for founding Digg, discusses its ambitious relaunch alongside Alexis Ohanian of Reddit fame. They explore how AI will redefine online discourse and enhance community moderation, aiming to attract a wider audience. The conversation addresses striking a balance between nostalgia and innovation while integrating community feedback. Rose shares insights into strategic acquisition, navigating the emotional landscape of entrepreneurship, and fostering authentic connections in a competitive tech environment.

Chris Farmer, founder of SignalFire, a venture firm managing $2 billion in assets, delves into the rapid changes in venture capital. He discusses the structural issues plaguing the industry, with startups facing financial uncertainty. Farmer argues for innovative funding models like secondary sales and venture buyouts. The use of AI and data helps SignalFire maintain a competitive edge. He also emphasizes the need for founders to rethink exit strategies amidst evolving market dynamics.

This week on StrictlyVC Download, we're catching our breath and catching up with all of the news that's been happening in the industry. Connie Loizos and Alex Gove are breaking down the top headlines from Slow Ventures’ new creator fund, to Meta’s step into the humanoid robot race, to the continued saga between Elon Musk and Open AI.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Nextdoor CEO Nirav Tolia joins Connie and Alex to talk about the challenges of running a public company, his strategy to improve user engagement, and why he’s betting on AI and third-party content to make Nextdoor indispensable. They also get into Nextdoor's current product overhaul and whether an acquisition is on the table.Chapters:00:00 - Introduction03:49 - Fixing Nextdoor’s Product and User Experience05:42 - Bringing in New Content and Third-Party Publishers08:01 - Addressing Toxicity and User-Generated Content Challenges12:54 - Using AI to Improve Conversations and Reduce Conflict15:38 - Privacy, Data Use, and AI Training at Nextdoor21:12 - Who Owns Nextdoor and Investor Confidence23:18 - Financial Challenges and Nextdoor’s Path to Growth26:44 - The Role of Acquisitions and Industry Consolidation27:44 - Would Nextdoor Consider Selling?28:43 - A Radical Reimagining of Nextdoor’s Future Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, hosts Connie and Alex sit down with Steven Wang, the 23-year-old founder of Dub, a rapidly growing copy trading platform. Wang shares how Dub is revolutionizing retail investing by allowing users to automatically mirror the portfolios of top traders, hedge fund managers, and even politicians like Nancy Pelosi. He also dives into the challenges of navigating financial regulations, his entrepreneurial journey from dropping out of Harvard, and his vision for reshaping the asset management industry.Chapters:00:00 - Introduction01:57 - How Copy Trading Works04:18 - User Demographics and Popular Portfolios06:09 - Dub’s Growth and Fundraising06:29 - Customer Acquisition and Marketing Strategies07:37 - Influencers, Hedge Funds, and Monetization12:39 - Regulation and Compliance Challenges15:29 - Social Investing vs. Traditional Investing17:56 - Risk, Education, and Investor Behavior19:56 - Dub’s Business Model and Revenue Streams22:50 - Expansion Plans and Future Innovations26:04 - Steven’s Entrepreneurial Journey30:53 - Regulation’s Role in Fintech Innovation31:47 - Investing, Gambling, and Market Accessibility Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we sit down with Blake Scholl, CEO of Boom Supersonic, to discuss the company’s ambitious mission to revolutionize commercial aviation. From developing the Overture, a supersonic airliner, to embracing sustainable aviation fuels, Blake shares how Boom plans to make faster, greener air travel a reality. They also discuss their recent test flights, with plans to break the sound barrier over the Mojave Desert.Chapters:00:00 - Introduction and Boom Supersonic’s Mission02:11 - Landscape of Supersonic Aviation Today04:09 - Balancing Consumer and Defense Markets08:10 - Sustainable Aviation Fuels and Environmental Impact12:06 - Challenges in Scaling Sustainable Fuel Production15:53 - Innovation Stagnation in Commercial Aviation18:02 - The Need for Entrepreneurial Rebirth in Aviation20:55 - The XB-1: Boom’s Prototype Supersonic Jet24:12 - Breaking the Sound Barrier: XB-1 Test Plans28:06 - Overcoming Regulatory and Noise Challenges30:27 - Funding Boom Supersonic: The Road Ahead32:19 - Closing Remarks and Future Aspirations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Brendan Wallace of Fifth Wall Ventures shares his insights on the transformative power of PropTech in addressing modern challenges like sustainability, housing affordability, and urban resilience. From rebuilding wildfire-stricken Los Angeles to navigating the intersection of real estate and AI-driven data centers, Wallace explores the innovations shaping the future of cities and the real estate industry.Chapters:00:00 - Introduction01:35 - TikTok Ban03:35 - The Los Angeles Wildfires:09:10 - The Role of Civic Pride in Political and Urban Change11:05 - Insurance Challenges in California’s Real Estate Market14:01 - Wildfires and the Changing Landscape of Real Estate Valuation19:10 - The Future of PropTech and Wildfire Mitigation27:39 - Data Centers, Energy Development, and the AI Revolution30:50 - Closing Thoughts: PropTech’s Role in Building Smarter Cities Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of The StrictlyVC Download, Connie Loizos talks withwith Vlad Tenev, the co-founder and CEO of Robinhood, to discuss the company’s remarkable evolution and recent designation as Yahoo Finance’s "Comeback Stock of the Year." Tenev shares how Robinhood is poised for significant growth through its innovative approach to prediction markets, sports betting, and wealth management. The episode also delves into Robinhood’s competitive edge in the financial technology space and its mission to empower a younger generation of investors. Don’t miss this deep dive into Robinhood’s ambitious plans for the future. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on the StrictlyVC Download, Connie sits down with GV CEO David Krane at our December StrictlyVC event in San Francisco to discuss his approach to identifying potential investments, what it's like to work so closely with Google while helping potential competitors, and why their approach to successful exits is much more long-term than other VCs. GV, Google's venture capital spinoff that started in 2009, has invested billions of dollars in companies from Uber and Nothing to scent digitizing startup Osmo. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices