The Rise by Nucleus

Keith Rabois, a seasoned venture investor with a track record at PayPal and Square, shares his insights on succeeding in venture capital. He discusses his early investments in Ramp and Faire, emphasizing the importance of talent and team building. Rabois explores how AI is shifting the founder landscape, favoring younger, tech-savvy entrepreneurs. He advises aspiring VCs to gain operating experience first and highlights the significance of differentiation in emerging managers. His thoughts on maintaining conviction in competitive deals offer a fascinating glimpse into his investment philosophy.

Amanda Robson, the Founder and Managing Partner of Modern Technical Fund, shares her journey from banking to venture capital. She discusses her disciplined investment strategy focused on technical founders in infrastructure and security. Amanda highlights the unique needs of technical founders and explores the evolving landscape of AI in cybersecurity. She also emphasizes the importance of building supportive founder communities and shares insights on effective fundraising tactics for emerging managers.

Aydin Senkut, Founder and Managing Partner of Felicis Ventures, shares insights into building a top-tier VC firm with an impressive portfolio of 19 IPOs and 27 unicorn exits. He discusses the importance of founder-led investments and how his Google experiences shaped his approach. Aydin emphasizes the value of reinvention over pattern recognition, revealing strategic changes at Felicis, including a unique hiring philosophy. He also offers advice for emerging venture capitalists and highlights recent AI investments, underscoring the need for speed and adaptability in the industry.