Clock Speed with Shamus Madan

In this episode, Shamus Madan chats with Paige Finn Doherty about her venture into venture capital and her plans for Behind Genius Ventures. They discuss the importance of cold emailing, the use of social media for content creation, and the impact of macroeconomics on early-stage markets. Paige also shares her advice for first-time fund managers and how COVID-19 affected VC strategies. Welcome everyone to another episode of the MBIT Podcast, I am your host Shamus Madan, and today Paige Finn Doherty joins to discuss her firm Behind Genius Ventures (BGV), which is investing in early-stage product-led growth companies in the future of work and play. Paige decided it was time to launch her own fund right out of college after conducting many private investments through syndicates and SPVs. She used that knowledge and track record to raise over $1.6MM for BGV from 120 LPs. The firm is backed by Bain Capital Ventures, Tribe Capital, Bonfire Ventures, Andy Weissman (USV), Jenny Lefcourt (Freestyle), Bobby Goodlatte (Form Capital) + dozens of general partners, founders, and operators. Listen to the full story. Twitter of Host: @mbitpodcast Twitter of Guest: @paigefinnn Learn More About BGV Here: https://www.behindgeniusventures.com/ Check Out The Seed to Harvest Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/seed-to-harvest/id1600933931 (0:00) Introduction to Shamus Madan and the MBIT podcast (1:30) Paige Finn Doherty's journey into venture capital and Behind Genius Ventures (4:29) Importance of cold emailing in business (9:23) Paige's vision for Behind Genius Ventures and plans for improvement (14:09) Utilizing social media for content creation and audience conversion challenges (19:25) Paige's book recommendations and journey into building syndicates (24:18) Observations on early stage markets and the impact of macroeconomics (27:06) The impact of COVID-19 on VC strategies and the Yo-Yo environment (28:13) Paige's advice for first-time fund managers and the changing investment pace (30:25) Closing thoughts and remarks from Shamus and Paige

In this MBIT episode, Shamus Madan talks with Eric Bahn about his transition from law to Silicon Valley, and the inception of HUSL Fund. They delve into the definition of "hustle", the venture capital process, Bahn's five pillars for assessing deals, and the potential of MBIT becoming a VC fund. They also discuss the characteristics of potential IPO companies, the power of storytelling in entrepreneurship, and Bahn's philosophy on business relationships. Today Eric Bahn joins the podcast to discuss his journey as a Product Manager at Intuit and Instagram to Co-Founding the VC Firm Hustle Fund. The firm invests in a diverse set of early-stage founders hustling to success. Listen to the full story. Twitter of Host: @mbitpodcast Twitter of Guest: @ericbahn Learn More About Hustle Fund Here: https://www.hustlefund.vc/ (0:00) Introduction and backstory of Shamus Madan and guest Eric Bahn (1:21) Eric Bahn's career path: from law to Silicon Valley to entrepreneurship (5:34) Discussion on the culture shift in a growing company and transition to venture capital (9:05) The inception, unique approach, and goals of HUSL Fund (11:51) The definition and importance of "hustle" in entrepreneurship and investment strategy at Hustle Fund (15:10) The venture capital process: Finding and assessing potential founders (18:19) Eric Bahn's five pillars for assessing potential deals and increasing deal flow (22:11) The potential for MBIT to become a VC fund and future prospects (23:52) Characteristics of potential IPO companies and the importance of adaptability in founders (28:06) Eric Bahn's advice to founders, the importance of market validation, and the power of storytelling in entrepreneurship (34:00) Eric Bahn's philosophy on vulnerability and reciprocity in business relationships (35:03) Wrap up and closing remarks by Shamus Madan

In this episode, Shamus Madan chats with Jesse Randall about the challenges and limitations of traditional venture capital, introducing listeners to Sweater's unique investment process. They discuss the difficulties accredited investors face, the importance of marketing in the investment world, and trust and transparency in private market investing. The conversation also covers valuation methods, the impact of equity crowdfunding, and Sweater's mission and approach to investment. On the podcast today, Jesse Randall joins to discuss how his firm SweaterVC is breaking the barrier to entry into Venture Capital. So, to start angel investing, traditionally, you have to be an accredited investor. To do so, you need a $1 Million net worth and an income of a couple hundred thousand dollars per year, singling out a large portion of the population. "And I thought, you know what? I could build a venture fund. So I started going through this process of looking for an anchor LP to come in and maybe build this thing around. And it became immediately apparent that I wouldn't be able to invest in my own VC fund because I was not an accredited investor. And I thought, wait a minute. I'm the guy running the fund. How could I not put money in my own fund?" - Jesse Randall Listen to the full story. Twitter of Host: @mbitpodcast Twitter of Guest: @SweaterCEO (0:00) Introduction with guest Jesse Randall (1:32) Challenges and limitations of traditional venture capital funds (2:55) Introduction to Sweater and its unique investment process (9:02) Sweater's educational content and strategy to attract new investors (10:33) Difficulties accredited investors face with venture capital (11:27) Importance of marketing in the investment world (14:04) Trust and transparency in private market investing (19:47) Valuation methods and liquidity in private markets (22:41) Impact of equity crowdfunding on venture capital (26:30) Sweater's mission and approach to investment (28:34) Conclusion and mention of the upcoming episode

In this episode, Shamus Madan chats with Elad Schaffer, tracing his entrepreneurial journey from WikiStrat to Faye. They delve into the pros and cons of bootstrapping a startup, the philosophy of Faye, and its impact on the travel insurance sector. Further, they explore the underwriting process, the importance of travel insurance education, and the influence of historical events on the industry. They also discuss the integral role of customer service in insurance and learn more about Faye. Previously Elad Schaffer Co-Founded Wikistrat, the world's first crowdsourced consultancy. They leverage a worldwide community of several hundred strategic thinkers to run simulations of likely international events and unfolding global trends. After that, Elad noticed a level of friction in the travel insurance industry that could be removed. Faye started out as an AI travel assistant, predicting if your flight would be delayed and providing you with other insightful information about your trip. But then COVID-19 hit. "I think as we saw the pandemic hit, we realized that there's only that much you can do with data alone. And. Once your flight has been canceled, it's not enough to know about it in advance. You also need to be revoked or have your sleep costs reimbursed." - Elad. So he pivoted the company into a modern, easy-to-use travel insurance business. Listen to the full story. Learn More About Faye Here: https://www.withfaye.com/ Twitter of Host: @mbitpodcast Twitter of Guest: @FayeTravel (0:00) Introduction and welcoming guest Elad Schaffer (1:46) Elad's entrepreneurial journey: From WikiStrat to Faye (3:53) The challenges and benefits of bootstrapping a startup (6:18) The philosophy behind Faye and its impact on the travel insurance industry (10:46) Understanding the underwriting process in travel insurance (12:18) Educating US travelers on the importance of travel insurance (15:06) The influence of historical events on travel and travel insurance (17:17) The crucial role of customer service in the insurance industry (17:37) Learning more about Faye (18:22) Closing remarks and interview wrap-up

In this episode, Shamus Madan interviews Drew Bellcock about Pipe Dream's vision, operational challenges, and impact on urban congestion. They discuss the company's consumer interface, payment system, failure-proofing methods, and growth strategy. They also talk about the engineering principles guiding Pipe Dream's development. Imagine receiving your packages from an underground pod in the city traveling at 60 mph to deliver what you ordered in minutes. Today on the MBIT Podcast, Drew Bellcock joins to discuss more on their company PipeDream Labs and how it building the future of last-mile delivery using hyperlogistics. Twitter of Host: @mbitpodcast Twitter of Guest: @drew_bellcock Learn More About PipeDream Labs Here: https://i.pipedreamlabs.co/ (0:00) Introduction and guest Drew Bellcock (1:15) Pipe Dream's Vision and Operational Overview (3:33) Operational and Financial Hurdles of Pipe Dream (5:51) Pipe Dream's Impact on Urban Congestion and Expansion Plans (7:32) Pipe Dream's Consumer Interface and Payment System (10:14) Addressing Operational Challenges and Failure Proofing Methods (11:12) Hyper Growth Strategy through Apartment Buildings (13:28) Engineering Principles Guiding Pipe Dream's Development (14:44) Final Thoughts on Pipe Dream and Contact Information (15:16) Episode Wrap Up and Appreciation

In this episode, Shamus Madan chats with Landon Sanford, discussing his entrepreneurial journey and how he overcame failures. They delve into the workings of Compose AI and its future prospects, the transition to web 3 startups, and related fundraising challenges. They also explore strategies for raising capital during downturns, the importance of a lean model and survival mentality in startups, the necessity of early validation, market trends, and the concept of Minimum Viable Product (MVP). Welcome everyone to the MBIT Podcast, I am your host, Shamus Madan, and today Landon Sanford joins the pod to discuss his journey as a founder of 3+ companies with many of them being in the AI space. On the podcast, we will be discussing how Landon became interested in entrepreneurship, his journey raising millions from VC firms and investors like David Sacks at Craft Ventures, the cofounders of Hubspot, Honey, Kayak, Vercel, and more. Twitter of Host: @mbitpodcast Twitter of Guest: @landon__sanford (0:00) Introduction and Landon Sanford's entrepreneurial journey (2:10) Overcoming failures in entrepreneurship (5:09) Insights into Compose AI and its future potential (10:30) Transitioning to web 3 startups and fundraising challenges (13:13) Strategies for raising capital in a downturn (14:05) Importance of lean model and survival mentality in startups (15:17) Validating early and focusing on market trends in startups (17:05) Understanding the concept of Minimum Viable Product (MVP) (17:52) Episode wrap-up and acknowledgment

In this episode, Shamus Madan converses with Dan Fishman about his career shift to venture capital and his focus on environmental impact businesses. They discuss portfolio support and investment strategy at Regeneration VC, the role of omnichannel for climate brands, and traits of successful founders. They also delve into Leonardo DiCaprio's involvement at Regeneration VC, the circular economy concept, and portfolio companies' innovative use of Clean O 2. The episode concludes with advice for climate tech founders and a story about Zane Jaffer's successful business turnaround. Today we have a very special guest Dan Fishman, the GP at Regeneration VC which is a VC firm focused on investing in regenerative startups fueling a circular economy. It is a $45 Million fund backed by famous actor Leonardo DiCaprio. Before starting the fund Dan launched and operated numerous companies in entertainment, apparel, and consumer products. He is a leading investor in early-stage environmentally-conscious consumer businesses. In 2002, he co-founded Bulldog Entertainment Group, organizing brand deals for celebrities such as Quincy Jones, Shaquille O’Neal, Jennifer Hudson, and Prince before selling to Warner Music Group in 2006. He then pivoted to contemporary fashion, launching House of Harlow 1960 and Winter Kate in partnership with Nicole Richie, A.L.C. with Andrea Lieberman (sold to Interluxe), and L’Agence. In 2011, Dan switched focus to the food industry, becoming the first investor and President of Coolhaus, a premium ice cream brand now sold in over 8,000 locations. He observed and responded to the growing plant-based movement, creating Coolhaus’ vegan line which launched nationwide at Whole Foods in 2018. His recent focus is investing and advising startup brands with an environmental impact, including Tare Grocery, For Days, Reel Paper, Saie Cosmetics, Nara Organics, and Goodmylk. Twitter of Host: @mbitpodcast Twitter of Guest: @RegenerationVC (0:00) Introduction and disclaimer (0:25) Interview with Dan Fishman: Career and Transition to Venture Capital (2:26) Fishman's Focus on Environmental Impact Businesses and Formation of Regeneration VC (4:21) Support for Portfolio Companies and Investment Strategy at Regeneration VC (8:34) Importance of Omnichannel for Climate Brands and Characteristics of a Successful Founder (11:20) Leonardo DiCaprio's Role at Regeneration VC and Understanding the Circular Economy (14:32) Portfolio Companies and the Innovative Use of Clean O 2 (15:08) Advice for Climate Tech Founders and Importance of Understanding Business Finance (16:08) Zane Jaffer's Story: From Near Bankruptcy to Successful Acquisition (17:01) Concluding Remarks and Closing the Podcast

In this episode, Shamus Madan converses with Spencer Rascoff about his journey with startups, crisis management lessons, and the inception of Zillow. They delve into Picasso's strategies for rapid market growth, the importance of founder product fit, and building a diverse team. They also discuss the future of PropTech, including innovations and the role of blockchain. Welcome to another episode of the MBIT Podcast, I am your host, Shamus Madan. Today we have a very special guest Spencer Rascoff who is the Former CEO of Zillow, GP of Sunny & 75 Ventures, Chairman & Co-Founder of Pacaso, Former Board Member of Trip Advisor, and many more. Spencer has one of the most extensive careers for any guest on the podcast and today will be sharing his story from founding HotWire.com during the DotCom bubble to Co-Founding Zillow. Special thanks to Garrett Rothstein, the Co-Founder of Queue & Jeanne Brennan for making this possible! Twitter of Host: @mbitpodcast Twitter of Guest: @spencerrascoff (0:00) Introduction of guest, Spencer Raskoff, and Sponsor: Garrett of q (0:32) Spencer Rascoff's journey with startups and lessons from crisis management (2:52) The inception and evolution of Zillow: Addressing a market problem with innovation and culture (6:09) Introduction to Picasso: Strategies and challenges for rapid market growth (10:49) The role of industry experience in startup success and expansion (14:24) The importance of founder product fit and building a diverse team (15:58) Evolution and future of PropTech: Innovations, democratization, and blockchain (18:35) Conclusion and closing remarks

In this episode, Shamus Madan chats with Simon Grunfeld about the advantages of stablecoins, the recent crypto crash, and the comparison between investing in stocks and cryptocurrency. They dive into Simba, a new platform for NFTs, discuss the regulation challenges of cryptocurrencies, and the role of Coinbase in user protection. They explore the future of crypto and the potential of Web 3 and NFTs in the upcoming decade. Today Simon Grunfeld makes his 3rd appearance on the podcast to discuss: How the crypto founder Do Kwon caused Terra (LUNA) to lose 99% of its value How traditional stablecoins work and what they are used for What the Terra (LUNA) crash means for the rest of the crypto market How SIMBA Chain is working to prevent fraud across NFTs and many more! Twitter of Host: @mbitpodcast Twitter of Guest: @SIMBAchain & @simongrunfeld (0:00) Introduction and welcome to the podcast (0:48) Advantages and concept of stablecoins with Simon Grunfeld (3:44) Speculations on the cause of the crypto crash (8:08) Comparing investing in stocks and cryptocurrency (12:17) Introduction to Simba, a lifelock and yellow pages for NFTs (14:28) Regulation of NFTs and cryptocurrencies: necessity and challenges (18:48) Coinbase's regulatory compliance and user protection (24:06) Long-term future of crypto amidst market fluctuations (26:25) The potential of Web 3 and NFTs in the next decade (27:20) Closing thoughts and appreciation

In this episode, Shamus Madan chats with Zécca Lehn from Responsibly Ventures. They discuss the difference between climate and sustainability funds, Zécca's interest in macroeconomic policies, and the link between journalism and venture capital. They also talk about the transition from angel investing to starting a VC fund, the concept of failure rates, and the significance of discipline in fundraising. The conversation wraps up with a discussion on the importance of ethics and problem-solving in startup success. Today Zécca Lehn joins the podcast to discuss his journey from being a data scientist to investing in the private markets as an angel investor. Over the past couple of years Zécca has worked his way up to the top 1% of angel investors and decided to go further through founding ResponsiblyVC. The firm focuses on investing in sustainable startups working towards a mission to save the planet. Twitter of Host: @mbitpodcast Twitter of Guest: @Zecca_Lehn (0:00) Introduction and guest introduction: Zécca Lehn from Responsibly Ventures (0:29) Distinction between a climate and sustainability fund (1:24) Zécca's introduction to macroeconomic policies and universal basic income (3:32) Connection between journalism and venture capital (7:01) Transition from angel investing to starting a VC fund (10:43) Value investing and concept of failure rates in venture capital (12:55) Impact of discipline and value in fundraising (18:17) Importance of maintaining marketing costs during recession periods (21:58) Role of ethics and problem-solving in startup success (23:15) Closing remarks and appreciation