StrictlyVC Download

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.

Katelin Holloway, co-founder of Seven Seven Six, explores revolutionary investment ideas from AI-powered stone carving robots to lunar mining. She discusses her bet on Interlune, which aims to mine helium-3 from the moon, and its potential for returns. The conversation dives into the convergence of climate and space tech, and the importance of maintaining human connection as AI transforms the workforce. Holloway also reflects on the future of space commerce and the challenges of commercializing off-planet resources.

Lara Banks leads venture investing at Makena Capital Management, overseeing a $3 billion portfolio across 30 managers. In this discussion, she explores the surge of AI valuations, arguing that their rapid revenue growth justifies hefty price tags despite high infrastructure costs. Banks highlights the challenges solo GPs face and the shifting dynamics in the LP community. She also shares insights from the 2021 boom-bust cycle and discusses emerging liquidity opportunities in the secondary market as companies remain private longer.

This week we're sharing an interview from the Equity podcast. Rebecca Bellan chatted with Deedy Das, principal at Menlo Ventures. Das has seen this shift from multiple angles, first as an engineer and product leader at Google, Facebook, and AI startup Glean, and now as an investor helping technical founders figure out how to build enduring companies in this new AI landscape. They discuss how compensation packages and acquisitions are warping startup hiring and retention and how VCs are thinking about key-person risk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on StrictlyVC Download, TechCrunch EIC Connie Loizos and Alex Gove of StrictlyVC speak with Dimitrious Kottas, the founder and CEO of Delian Alliance Industries. They discuss his journey from Apple's Special Projects Group to building autonomous defense systems in Greece, how his company is reimagining surveillance and strike capabilities using AI and commercial tech, and why he believes we're at the start of a decade-long technological race in autonomous warfare. Chapters: 00:00 - Introduction 02:04 - Dimitrios's background and journey from Apple to defense tech 05:00 - The founding moment: Why he left Silicon Valley for Athens 08:55 - Starting with surveillance towers: The perception-first strategy 13:21 - Current deployments in Greece and Ukraine aspirations 16:32 - Dual-use applications and critical infrastructure protection 18:39 - The Intercept-Egon series: Concealed autonomous weapons 21:52 - Cost advantages through vertical integration 24:46 - European defense tech landscape and procurement challenges 28:16 - Greece's defense industry and cross-border competition 31:04 - Modular vs. full-stack approach 32:54 - Thoughts on Anduril and the defense tech race 35:00 - Greek roots and the personal nature of European defense Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aileen Lee, founder of Cowboy Ventures and the coiner of 'unicorn,' dives into the future of venture capital. She discusses the evolving startup landscape, highlighting the rise of 'unsexy tech' and how AI can empower workers through skill development. Aileen shares insights on navigating economic shifts and the importance of diverse teams in innovation. She also addresses the pressures faced by college freshmen regarding their career paths and emphasizes enjoying the college experience amidst uncertainties.

Navin Chaddha, Managing Partner at Mayfield and early investor in Lyft and Poshmark, discusses the revolutionary potential of AI in the $5 trillion services sector. He highlights how startups can thrive by combining human expertise with AI, making services more accessible to small businesses. Chaddha examines the vulnerabilities of legacy firms like Accenture and McKinsey as they struggle with AI integration. He also shares insights on outcome-based pricing and the ongoing conversation around job displacement versus the creation of new roles.

In this discussion, Chris Olsen, co-founder of Drive Capital—a venture firm shaking up traditional investment norms from Columbus, Ohio—shares insights on their unique approach. He dives into why their strategy of smaller funds and geographic diversity is thriving while others falter. The conversation reveals how Silicon Valley billionaires are flocking to Columbus and highlights groundbreaking investments blending technology with traditional industries. The episode also touches on the significant shift in the venture capital landscape post-COVID and the rise of Columbus as a tech hub.

Sean Neville, co-founder of Circle and Catena Labs, is on a mission to create the first regulated AI-native financial institution. Fresh from Circle’s impressive IPO, he shares insights on 'agent-native finance' and the upcoming role of AI agents in managing payments and treasury. Neville emphasizes the importance of building regulatory trust and necessary standards for safe transactions. He discusses challenges like preventing AI hallucinations and how this venture aims to move faster than traditional banking models.

Katie Haun, Founder and CEO of Haun Ventures and a former federal prosecutor, discusses her groundbreaking 'harpoon strategy' for investing in distressed crypto assets. She delves into the evolving landscape of stablecoins and their role in cross-border payments. Katie also shares insights on the GENIUS Act, highlighting its potential impacts and her concerns about regulatory measures. With a focus on tokenization and the future of crypto, she underscores that we're still in the early days of this transformative industry.