Associated

4 Part Miniseries We're sharing everything we've learned from interviewing for Venture Capital positions at top funds! In this episode Francesca Baillieu, with very special co-host Tunde Adekeye, discuss the questions VCs ask to check candidates understand how the industry works as well as their appetite to work at their firm. Check out Tunde's blog for further insights and stayed tuned for the second episode next week. 🚀🚀🚀

💎 BONUS 💎 with Raees Chowdhury, Investor at Revolt Ventures and recent Forbes 30 Under 30 honouree! From fashion, through health and to real estate, Raees’s passion for finance really underpins his whole career, and is evident in discussing the unique ‘PropCo’ structure Revolt are developing to drive value in portfolio companies. Raees's journey spans both entrepreneurship (twice!) and consulting so he's well placed to offer general guidance on breaking into VC, as well as specific advice for those wanting to be Revolt's next hire!  Raees's LinkedIn Revolt Ventures

We're learning all about Antler's hands-on approach to very early stage investing - in conversation with Magnus, the founder and CEO, and Ollie, who joined Antler as a Partner having previously founded a challenger bank for young people.  Antler's unique, cohort-led approach to talent investing means the team spends a huge amount of time coaching founding teams they take on. In this episode Magnus and Ollie discuss the key things they look for in founders (Grit!) and how they leverage their own business-building experience. Antler Magnus's LinkedIn Ollie's LinkedIn

This week we escape to warmer climes (virtually) as Francesca and Petra speak to Sacha Haider at Global Ventures in Dubai. With 5 years of experience across various emerging markets under her belt, Sacha takes us through her journey from media to private equity to venture capital. We talk about her geographic focus on the Middle East and Africa, what progression means in a venture capital fund, and how she turned an informal coffee into a job offer.  Sacha's LinkedIn Global Ventures

This week we're joined by Todd Grover, an investor at World Innovation Lab (WIL) to talk all about his unique role spanning the US and Japan. We discuss strategic LP bases, international expansion to Japan and the metrics that get WIL excited. Todd also gives a super helpful, detailed breakdown of the most common ways he's seen early stage businesses achieve impressive metrics - we'll give you a teaser: they include network effects, moats and innovation. Todd's LinkedIn World Innovation Lab 

Lois and Francesca are joined by Elena Mazhuha at Genesis Investments. In this conversation we discuss: Genesis Investments’ origins, fund structure and their investment thesis. How Elena’s journey into VC started from attending lecture and then finding her next job through a FB post. Her experience of what it was like being a first employee at a VC fund and how her role evolved. Her experience of transitioning from a generalist to a specialist within her role and doubling down on your strengths. The importance of an alumni network and how to network with someone purposefully? And much more! Genesis Investments Elena's LinkedIn.

Miao He is an Investment Associate at Luminous Ventures, having arrived at deep tech via a PhD in Molecular Biology and a stint as a Bioinformatics Scientist and an MBA. She talks to Petra and Lois about now investing in life sciences, healthcare and emerging technology as they discuss parallels between VC and academic work inspired by analysing data with computational methods.  Miao's LinkedIn Luminous Ventures

On this week's episode, Francesca and Petra speak to Pauliina Martikainen, Investment Director at Maki. From her start in PR to launching her own pre-seed fund, to joining Maki VC, Pauliina takes us through her journey and what she's learned with her along the way to make her the investor she is now. Plus, we discuss Maki VC's incredible internship programme, Pauliina's go-to productivity tool, and what she would call her own fund if she were to re-launch one again one day!

What are the benefits of starting out at a generalist fund? What happens when you meet your colleagues for the first time in fancy dress? How does a MasterChef contestant becomes an investor? We find out when Petra and Lois sit down with Mark Shepherd at Beringea. We discuss all of these questions, plus how Mark got into VC, what his 2 top tips are for landing a job (for all the prospective investors listening!), and what he's currently looking out for (for all the founders out there!) 

We are excited to introduce our second episode of Season 5 with the incredible duo: Mark Pearson and Oli Hammond from Fuel Ventures. In this episode we discuss: - Mark and Oli's unique journey's into VC. You'll be surprised to hear their stories! Definitely don't want to miss this one!  - Their thoughts on their current Investment landscape during COVID19 and Oli not shaking hands with a founder in a long while! - Why Mark started Fuel Ventures and the importance of enjoying the journey.  - Key traits Mark looks for people wanting to join the Fuel's Deal team and the importance of being unconventional.  - Fuel's unique LP Structure, ways of working as a small team and their investment thesis focused on product-founders.  - Their top tips on how to optimise time with first pitch meetings and how relationship building is changing with founders through Zoom. And much more. We had a great time recording this episode. Enjoy!  Best way to reach the team is through Fuel Ventures' Website.  Mark's LinkedIn Oli's LinkedIn