The Rise by Nucleus

In this engaging dialogue, Ashley Mayer, Co-founder and General Partner at Coalition, discusses her journey from shaping narratives at Glossier to diving into early-stage venture capital. She emphasizes the power of storytelling as a competitive advantage for startups and critiques the current sloppy era of brand narratives. Ashley also shares insights on intentional cap table design and the distinct qualities she seeks in founders. With practical advice for first-time angels, this conversation is a goldmine for aspiring investors and startup enthusiasts.

Michael Gilroy, Founding Partner at Marathon and fintech investing expert, discusses his journey from Canaan to launching Marathon with Gokul Rajaram. He shares insights on his 'Rule of 200' framework for evaluating fintech companies, emphasizing traits of mission-driven founders. Michael also explores global fintech expansion challenges, the importance of a strong investment team, and the rise of founders as angel investors. He provides valuable advice for emerging fund managers, stressing the significance of persistence and team dynamics.

In this insightful discussion, Jonathan Lehr, co-founder and General Partner at Work-Bench, dives into the evolution of New York's enterprise tech scene. He shares the story behind Work-Bench's rise and its impressive $375M portfolio. Jonathan discusses the pivotal role of community in driving growth and outlines how they evaluate startups' go-to-market strategies. You'll also hear about their innovative approach to building relationships with institutional LPs and the lessons learned from supporting companies like Spring Health and Socure.

Turner Novak, the founder of Banana Capital, is a rising star in venture capital, known for his investments in BeReal and Chainguard. He discusses how he built his brand through humor and social media, leveraging his insights to connect with founders. Turner shares his journey from Winnipeg to Ann Arbor, highlights key portfolio successes, and uncovers the importance of transparency and speed in investing. He also delves into the art of raising funds and what founders truly seek from their investors.

Mike Annunziata, Founder and General Partner at Also Capital, shares insights from his journey in venture capital, including his time at Soros Fund Management. He discusses the essence of conviction investing and why trust is critical in partnerships. Mike highlights his portfolio of hard tech companies like Varda Space and K2, emphasizing the importance of people-first investing. He reflects on defining early-stage success through relationships and metrics, and shares his vision for the future of hard tech, focusing on building a firm with long-term impact.

Craig Shapiro, Founder and Managing Partner of Collaborative Fund, shares insights on aligning profit with positive social impact. He discusses the evolution of New York's venture ecosystem and highlights successful investments like Beyond Meat and Sweetgreen. Craig explains their innovative AI residency program aimed at funding consumer-focused startups and reflects on the importance of mission-driven investing. He emphasizes the significance of community in fundraising and offers advice for emerging managers looking to make a mark in the venture capital space.

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.