The Dart Board with Daniel Dart

Meet Job Bradford, Managing Partner of Dynamo Ventures, a leading supply chain-focused seed stage venture capital fund based in Chattanooga, Tennessee.In this conversation, we discuss his journey from accountant to “The Godfather of European Accelerators”, how access to information makes now a great time to be a founder, and why the best salespeople come from Utah.We also discuss scaling teams, how Dynamo Ventures thinks about its tech stack, and what the rebirth of American manufacturing might look like in the age of AI.

Chris Farmer, the founder and CEO of SignalFire, discusses his journey in venture capital and how his firm has grown to manage around $3 billion in assets. He shares insights on leveraging AI to sift through 80 million opportunities, the importance of vision for budding VCs, and strategies for building ‘structural advantages’. Farmer emphasizes the need for differentiation in a crowded market and highlights the critical role of mentorship and developing lasting relationships for long-term success.

Henry Ward, CEO and co-founder of Carta, shares his inspiring journey from a failed startup to leading a thriving unicorn that supports over 40,000 companies. He discusses the challenges of scaling a business in a non-hype sector and the evolution of Carta from simple cap tables to comprehensive financial services. Henry emphasizes the importance of effective team management, the emotional complexities of leadership, and the balance between customer focus and mental health. His insights on resilience and empathy in personal growth make for a thought-provoking listen.

Meet Nolan Bean, chief investment officer at FEG Investment Advisors, an investment advisory firm managing and advising on more than $90 billion in assets on behalf of foundations, endowments, healthcare, systems, and other institutional investors.In this conversation, we discuss his 20-year journey from associate to CIO at FEG, how baseball informs his investment process, and tactical advice for emerging managers seeking their first institutional LP.We also discuss his philosophy on firm culture, the importance of ‘anti-fragile’ portfolio construction, building lasting professional relationships, and why the client isn’t always right.

Meet Leo Polovets, co-founder and general partner at Humba Ventures and Susa Ventures, sister funds focusing on deep tech and generalist tech seed companies, respectively.In this conversation, we discuss his life and career, Susa’s journey from $25M fund 1 to $1B in AUM, the factors driving a deep tech golden age, and how emerging managers can build strong brands, co-investor networks, and rapport with LPs. We also discuss team building, Leo’s favorite founder archetypes, and tactical insights for both emerging and established VCs.

Meet Anthony Scaramucci, founder and managing partner at SkyBridge Capital, a global alternative investments firm with more than $2 billion in AUM, specializing in financial technology, digital assets, venture capital and multi-manager solutions.In this conversation, we discuss his upbringing and early career, his battles with Trump, his philosophy on networking and resilience, and his hopes and vision for the future. We also discuss his entry into politics, Bitcoin and the case for decentralized assets, building a brand, and being a ‘comfortable outsider.’

Meet John Arnold, founder & co-chair at Arnold Ventures, a leading foundation using an evidence-based approach to create systemic change, improve the lives of American families, strengthen communities, and promote economic opportunity in education, criminal justice, health, infrastructure, and public finance.In this conversation, we explore John’s early life, his time at Enron, the founding and historic run of Centaurus Advisors, and the philosophy and impact of Arnold Ventures. We also discuss energy market dynamics, the promise of AI, and finding the right balance between regulation and dynamism to tackle today’s most pressing issues.No matter your interest—finance, energy, tech, or policy—this episode has something for you.

Hadley Harris, co-founder and general Partner at Eniac Ventures shares how he scaled the firm from a $1.6M fund 1 to over $800M in AUM. We discuss portfolio construction, LP relationships, investment decision-making, and the importance of playing to your strengths as a VC. This is a must-listen for emerging managers and investors.

In this episode, we are joined by Daniel Yanisse, co-founder and CEO of Checkr, the world’s largest background check company. We dive into Checkr’s early days, scaling challenges, hiring lessons, and what founders should look for in investors. Daniel also shares his journey as an immigrant entrepreneur, the most challenging moments of his career, and his take on AI’s future in tech.

Meet Joe Kaiser, the CEO of Mercato Partners, a growth stage firm investing more than $1B in America's heartland. In this conversation we discuss his career, Mercato's differentiated thesis, leadership and team building.In this episode, Daniel and Joe discuss Joe's Journey from small town to the leading role at Mercato Partners, the investment case for the American Heartland, how people can glean advice from unconventional sources, and more!