Associated

In this episode Rodney unpacks journey in VC and Growth Equity including his start in investment banking pre the financial crisis, building BGF (the UK government's Private Equity fund), and becoming a Partner at the Foresight Group and building their minority investment business. We also discuss the trials and tribulations of starting Cornerstone, his own fund focused on diverse founders, why he doesn't believe in the pipeline problem, and the returns opportunity they see in investing in these underserved teams.

In this episode we find out the difference between a VC and VCT as Fred gives us an insight into the consumer-focused VCT fund, Pembroke. Their recent investments in Dropless car-washing and Coat paint exemplify the requisite passion for huge consumer markets, ripe for disruption! We also find out about how Fred may have been on a different path if the plumbing market had been stronger in 2008.

Susan Lin started meeting angel investors aged ten. No, she wasn’t a child entrepreneur - she was the child of entrepreneurs! From these unconventional beginnings, Susan shares the motivations, decisions and international moves that led to her being made Partner at Felix Capital this year. She also speaks candidly about the thought process and guidance she had around starting a family, and about what she’s looking for in deals now she’s back in the saddle! https://www.linkedin.com/in/susanravelin/ https://www.felixcap.com/susanlin

Rakesh Narayana heads up the venture fund for the corporate behind huge household brands like Dettol, Durex and Finish - no mean feat! In this episode Rakesh opens up about the fund's goals, what his team looks for in prospective partners and how Reckitt supports portfolio companies. Ever wondered what the benefits of corporate venture capital are? Rakesh talks us through what Reckitt offers and lets us in on what they look for in new applicants (sneak peak: an equal passion for sustainability and numbers)! Rakesh's LinkedIn

S6E3! We're excited to welcome the duo Henrik and Jeevan from Playfair Capital. In this episode, we get an insight into both their career journey's into VC (hint: they are both finance escapees but they have amazing side hustles)! We learn more about Playfair Capital's history, an ethos of having an open-door policy, and how angel investing has always been a part of their DNA, and of course, they let us know what they look for in founders! We get to learn more about their strategies in pre-actively increasing access to venture through targeted programs like their well-known Female Founder Office Hours. Henrik dives into processes how they leveraged no-code to streamline operations and optimized inbound applications to get back to founders within two weeks! This one episode is full of insights and great tactical takeaways. Make sure to listen in! 

We’re thrilled to have Madison McIlwain joining us this week to discuss her role at Defy VC, including her recent promotion to Partner! We discuss how Madison honed in on her niche of consumer and technology product, focusing on time spent at Gap and the podcast she recently launched, The Room. By Madison’s own admission, she could hold a conversation with a brick wall - and let us tell you, this is an episode brimming with energy and passion! Defy VC The Room Podcast Madison's LinkedIn

We're back with Season 6! We're super excited to welcome the marvelous Megan Reynolds at Crane Venture Partners! We talk about: - Her journey from studying Classics to venturing into Hong Kong and what made her look into VC. - Her early experience at Entrepreneur First and building a strong thesis on deep tech founders building in Europe and matching her thesis to Crane Ventures. - Learn about how Crane views the world: "Every Company is Becoming a Software Company" and their investment thesis and what it all means!  - Her top tips on building and writing a thesis for a venture fund  And much more! Make sure not to miss this one!

Part 4 of 4 on everything we've learned from interviewing for Venture Capital positions at top funds! In this episode Francesca Baillieu and Tunde Adekeye talk about how to dazzle your interviewer with piercing, insightful questions! They share the 'go to' questions they developed throughout their interview processes, and talk about why they're so effective. Whether you're looking to impress an interviewer with your knowledge or salvage an interview gone wrong, don't miss this ep! 

Delve into the art of answering personal questions in venture capital interviews. Discover the key qualities that VCs seek in candidates and how to craft your unique narrative. Learn strategies for addressing tough questions on disagreement and goals, along with the importance of aligning your knowledge with the fund's focus. The discussion also covers the significance of likability and personal aspirations in team dynamics. Prepare to navigate the complexities of the VC landscape with insights that will help you truly stand out!

Part 2 of 4 on everything we've learned from interviewing for Venture Capital positions at top funds!  In this episode Francesca Baillieu and Tunde Adekeye discuss the case studies and technical questions that often come up in the middle of the interview process. There are few resources that let candidates know what to expect, and even fewer unpacking what the interviewers are looking for - this episode looks to address that! We cover as much as we can, including the criteria VC funds use to assess companies, common metrics and industry benchmarks, and how to make a case for a founder.  Resources from this episode: Point Nine - Triple 2x Double 3x Point Nine - What does it take to raise capital, in SaaS, in 2019? Tunde's blog and Case Study examples