Venture with Grace

Wei Lien Dang is a General Partner at Unusual Ventures and leads investments in infrastructure software, security, and developer tools. He has spent more than a decade building products at startups. Wei was a co-founder of StackRox, a cloud-native security company, where he was responsible for product management, user experience, product marketing, and technical evangelism prior to its acquisition by Red Hat. Before that, Wei held product leadership roles at CoreOS (also acquired by Red Hat), Bracket Computing (acquired by VMware), and Amazon Web Services. He also spent time on the investment team at Andreessen Horowitz. Wei Lien holds an MBA with high distinction from Harvard Business School where he was a Baker Scholar, a JD cum laude from Harvard Law School, and a BS in Applied Physics with honors from the California Institute of Technology. Outside of work, Wei enjoys exploring new places with his family and playing tennis. Topics: Insights on building successful products at startups The impact of AI and machine learning on infrastructure software and security Investment trends in infrastructure software, security, and developer tools #CloudSecurity #DevTools #InfrastructureSoftware #VentureCapital #TechStartups

#159 JuE Wong is the former President & CEO/ Executive Board Director of Olaplex Inc. (Nasdaq: OLPX). Prior to Olaplex, she was the Global CEO/ Executive Board Director of Moroccanoil, the President of Elizabeth Arden, and an Independent Board Director of The Red Door by Elizabeth Arden. Other notable companies she has served as a leader include Murad and Perricone MD, among others. You can learn more about: - How to Be the CEO of an Iconic Cosmetic Brand - The Career Journey of a Public Company CEO - How to Lead a Hyper-Growth Company and Turn Around a Company #BeautyCEO #CorporateLeadership #WomenInBusiness #HyperGrowth #BusinessTurnaround #OlaplexAlum 🚀 This episode is brought to you by LG NOVA. 🚀 Get ready to ignite your passion for innovation at the 4th Annual InnoFest, happening at the iconic Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco on September 25th and 26th! This two-day event, brought to you by LG NOVA, is your chance to dive into the future with industry leaders and cutting-edge startups shaping HealthTech, AI, CleanTech, Life Sciences, Smart Life, Mobility, and more. And here’s something extra special—I’ll be hosting a panel at InnoFest, guiding a dynamic discussion on the future of AI and the workforce. Join me, along with other thought leaders, as we explore the trends and technologies driving innovation and positive change. Don’t miss out on this unique opportunity to be part of the conversation and help create a brighter, more innovative tomorrow. Register today at innofest.lgnova.com and be part of the movement at InnoFest 2024!

🚀 This episode is brought to you by LG NOVA. 🚀 Watch the latest Smart Venture Podcast episode. #156 Mark Rostick is a Vice President & Senior Managing Director located in Raleigh, NC. He is a voting member of Intel Capital’s investment committee. He joined Intel Capital in 1999. Mark also co-manages our Cloud domain investment activities and portfolio. He has deep investment experience in cloud applications, infrastructure hardware and software, as well as AI/ML. As a member of Intel Capital’s Investment Committee, he is responsible for approving investments proposed by Intel Capital investors, as well as managing the group’s personnel and operations. Mark currently serves as a director or observer on the boards of Beep, RunPod, Hypersonic, Immuta, Lilt, MinIO, Opaque Systems, Tetrate, and Verta. Prior to Intel, Mark worked as a practicing attorney and in banking. You can learn more about: How to invest in the top AI/ML companies How to build a successful career in corporate venture The evolving landscape of enterprise software investments #IntelCapital #VentureCapital #TechInvestment #CloudComputing #AI #ML ===================== YouTube: @GraceGongCEO Newsletter: @SmartVenture LinkedIn: @GraceGong TikTok: @GraceGongCEO IG: @GraceGongCEO Twitter: @GraceGongGG ===================== Join the SVP fam with your host Grace Gong. In each episode, we are going to have conversations with some of the top investors, superstar founders, as well as well-known tech executives in silicon valley. We will have a coffee chat with them to learn their ways of thinking and actionable tips on how to build or invest in a successful company. 🚀 This episode is brought to you by LG NOVA. 🚀 Get ready to ignite your passion for innovation at the 4th Annual InnoFest, happening at the iconic Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco on September 25th and 26th! This two-day event, brought to you by LG NOVA, is your chance to dive into the future with industry leaders and cutting-edge startups shaping HealthTech, AI, CleanTech, Life Sciences, Smart Life, Mobility, and more. And here’s something extra special—I’ll be hosting a panel at InnoFest, guiding a dynamic discussion on the future of AI and the workforce. Join me, along with other thought leaders, as we explore the trends and technologies driving innovation and positive change. Don’t miss out on this unique opportunity to be part of the conversation and help create a brighter, more innovative tomorrow. Register today at innofest.lgnova.com and be part of the movement at InnoFest 2024!

🚀 This episode is brought to you by LG NOVA. 🚀 Amit Vasudev is the Managing Partner of Earl Grey Capital. Earl Grey Capital is an early-stage venture fund run by Amit Vasudev, Alex MacCaw, and Matt Sornson. They were part of the founding team at Clearbit. Clearbit helps companies create, capture, and convert demand from ideal customers — all from one powerful and flexible go-to-market platform. It was acquired in 2023 by HubSpot (NYSE: HUBS). Earl Grey Capital invests in companies that make it easier to build things on the internet. They believe the future of venture is founders backing founders and have had the privilege of backing over 100 companies to date. Topics:  - Venture Capital Trends - Challenges and Opportunities in Early-Stage Investing - Investing in API-first startups #VCTrends #FounderVCs #EarlyStageInvesting #APIStartups #TechInfrastructure 🚀 This episode is brought to you by LG NOVA. 🚀 Get ready to ignite your passion for innovation at the 4th Annual InnoFest, happening at the iconic Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco on September 25th and 26th! This two-day event, brought to you by LG NOVA, is your chance to dive into the future with industry leaders and cutting-edge startups shaping HealthTech, AI, CleanTech, Life Sciences, Smart Life, Mobility, and more. And here's something extra special—I'll be hosting a panel at InnoFest, guiding a dynamic discussion on the future of AI and the workforce. Join me, along with other thought leaders, as we explore the trends and technologies driving innovation and positive change. Don't miss out on this unique opportunity to be part of the conversation and help create a brighter, more innovative tomorrow. Register today at innofest.lgnova.com  and be part of the movement at InnoFest 2024!

🚀 This episode is brought to you by LG NOVA. 🚀 Matthew Weinberg is a Partner at Max Ventures Partner. Matt joined Max Ventures in 2018 after serving several years as an Obama Administration White House appointee where he helped drive $6 billion in federal funding to early-stage technology startups and investment groups. Matt has led several key investments at Max and is the Co-founder of Elion Health. Topics: - Investing trends in the digital health space - New York City's startup ecosystem - Startup incubation approaches to building companies from the ground up #VCInsights #DigitalHealth #NYCTech #StartupIncubation #HealthTech #VentureCapital 🚀 This episode is brought to you by LG NOVA. 🚀 Get ready to ignite your passion for innovation at the 4th Annual InnoFest, happening at the iconic Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco on September 25th and 26th! This two-day event, brought to you by LG NOVA, is your chance to dive into the future with industry leaders and cutting-edge startups shaping HealthTech, AI, CleanTech, Life Sciences, Smart Life, Mobility, and more. And here's something extra special—I'll be hosting a panel at InnoFest, guiding a dynamic discussion on the future of AI and the workforce. Join me, along with other thought leaders, as we explore the trends and technologies driving innovation and positive change. Don't miss out on this unique opportunity to be part of the conversation and help create a brighter, more innovative tomorrow. Register today at innofest.lgnova.com  and be part of the movement at InnoFest 2024!

🚀 This episode is brought to you by LG NOVA. 🚀 Rajeev Dham has been a Partner at Sapphire Ventures since 2013, splitting his time between applied AI companies across horizontal and vertical SaaS, as well as category-defining innovators in fintech and healthcare. For his work, he has been recognized as a Top 40 Under 40 Growth Investor by GrowthCap and most recently, the Silicon Valley Business Journal honored him in their annual 40 Under 40 list. Prior to Sapphire Ventures, Rajeev worked for Silver Lake, a technology-focused private equity firm, where he evaluated middle-market and growth equity investments across the software and internet sectors. Early on in his career, he worked for the investment banking division of Goldman Sachs and while at business school, worked with Amazon’s corporate development group. Rajeev holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and received a bachelor’s in business administration from the University of Southern California where he graduated magna cum laude. Topics: - Investing in the AI and SaaS Space - The Emerging Sales AI Landscape - How AI is Transforming the Design Industry #VentureCapital #AI #SaaS #SalesAI #DesignTech #SapphireVentures 🚀 This episode is brought to you by LG NOVA. 🚀 Get ready to ignite your passion for innovation at the 4th Annual InnoFest, happening at the iconic Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco on September 25th and 26th! This two-day event, brought to you by LG NOVA, is your chance to dive into the future with industry leaders and cutting-edge startups shaping HealthTech, AI, CleanTech, Life Sciences, Smart Life, Mobility, and more. And here's something extra special—I'll be hosting a panel at InnoFest, guiding a dynamic discussion on the future of AI and the workforce. Join me, along with other thought leaders, as we explore the trends and technologies driving innovation and positive change. Don't miss out on this unique opportunity to be part of the conversation and help create a brighter, more innovative tomorrow. Register today at innofest.lgnova.com  and be part of the movement at InnoFest 2024!

🚀 This episode is brought to you by LG NOVA. 🚀 Jason Yeh is the Co-Founder & General Partner of Patron Fund. Patron, an early-stage VC firm investing in the next generation of consumer startups announced the raise of a $100 million USD Fund II. The company's second fund has attracted significant institutional and individual support, anchored again by Horsley Bridge Partners and joined by new institutional investors including university endowments, sovereign wealth funds and institutional family offices. Individual investors include Andreessen Horowitz co-founder Marc Andreessen and general partner Chris Dixon; Union Square Ventures co-founder Fred Wilson, Y Combinator CEO Garry Tan, Benchmark general partner Mitch Lasky; FirstMark co-founders Rick Heitzmann and Amish Jani; SV Angel founder Ron Conway; and Altos Ventures co-founder Ho Nam. The robust, ongoing support for Fund II underscores investors' confidence in Patron's vision of a future where the mass consumer adoption of games shapes technology. Jason was on the founding investment team at FirstMark Capital, where he led diligence in the Riot Games Series A raise. He then joined Riot as the company’s first business hire to help launch League of Legends and build out teams that drove publishing, international growth, and Esports over a 9 year period. After leaving Riot, Jason was an active angel investor in the consumer space backing companies such as Highsnobiety, 88 Rising, Italic, and Avant Arte. Topics: - The Future of Consumer Tech How Gaming Shapes Innovation - How Consumer Behavior Drives Tech Innovation - Key Factors in Successful Early-Stage Consumer Tech Investments #VCInsights #GamingTech #ConsumerStartups #PatronFund #TechInvestment #EsportsVentures 🚀 This episode is brought to you by LG NOVA. 🚀 Get ready to ignite your passion for innovation at the 4th Annual InnoFest, happening at the iconic Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco on September 25th and 26th! This two-day event, brought to you by LG NOVA, is your chance to dive into the future with industry leaders and cutting-edge startups shaping HealthTech, AI, CleanTech, Life Sciences, Smart Life, Mobility, and more. And here's something extra special—I'll be hosting a panel at InnoFest, guiding a dynamic discussion on the future of AI and the workforce. Join me, along with other thought leaders, as we explore the trends and technologies driving innovation and positive change. Don't miss out on this unique opportunity to be part of the conversation and help create a brighter, more innovative tomorrow. Register today at innofest.lgnova.com  and be part of the movement at InnoFest 2024!

🚀 This episode is brought to you by LG NOVA. 🚀 Giuseppe Stuto is the CO-Founder and Managing Partner of 186 Ventures. Giuseppe built his first software company, Fam, where he was the founder and CEO shortly after he graduated college. Fam built one of the largest group video communities ever by scaling to more than seven million users in about a year. Fam was acquired by DraftKings in 2018, and Giuseppe stayed on to serve in product & strategy roles leading up to the company’s successful IPO. After his tenure at DraftKings, Giuseppe joined one of his early angel investments in the neural interface space, Pison Technology, as COO to help triple the company’s staff and provide guidance on its rapid revenue expansion. In 2021, after making over 30 angel investments into early stage technology companies alongside his good friend, Julian Fialkow, Giuseppe helped institutionalize 186 Ventures and raised its first $37M early stage venture capital fund. 186 Ventures brings full operational and strategic support and an unparalleled network to founders when they need it most—at the beginning of their startup journey. Topics: - From Operator to Exit Navigating the Path to Acquisition - Investing in Boston's Tech Ecosystem Nurturing Local Innovation - Building a Venture Fund Turning Angel Experience into VC Success #TechFounder #VentureCapital #StartupLife #BostonTech #InvestorInsights #ExitStrategy 🚀 This episode is brought to you by LG NOVA. 🚀 Get ready to ignite your passion for innovation at the 4th Annual InnoFest, happening at the iconic Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco on September 25th and 26th! This two-day event, brought to you by LG NOVA, is your chance to dive into the future with industry leaders and cutting-edge startups shaping HealthTech, AI, CleanTech, Life Sciences, Smart Life, Mobility, and more. And here's something extra special—I'll be hosting a panel at InnoFest, guiding a dynamic discussion on the future of AI and the workforce. Join me, along with other thought leaders, as we explore the trends and technologies driving innovation and positive change. Don't miss out on this unique opportunity to be part of the conversation and help create a brighter, more innovative tomorrow. Register today at innofest.lgnova.com  and be part of the movement at InnoFest 2024!

🚀 This episode is brought to you by LG NOVA. 🚀 Eric Zhu the co-founder of Aviato, which is the "Bloomberg Terminal" for private markets, and an Investor at Bachmanity Capital. Topics: - Content marketing strategies for a B2B startup - Leveraging social media and digital platforms to reach potential clients and investors - Leveraging unique Gen Z perspectives and skills in product development and company culture #TeenFounder #VCDisruptor #GenZEntrepreneur #StartupHustle #DataDriven 🚀 This episode is brought to you by LG NOVA. 🚀 Get ready to ignite your passion for innovation at the 4th Annual InnoFest, happening at the iconic Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco on September 25th and 26th! This two-day event, brought to you by LG NOVA, is your chance to dive into the future with industry leaders and cutting-edge startups shaping HealthTech, AI, CleanTech, Life Sciences, Smart Life, Mobility, and more. And here's something extra special—I'll be hosting a panel at InnoFest, guiding a dynamic discussion on the future of AI and the workforce. Join me, along with other thought leaders, as we explore the trends and technologies driving innovation and positive change. Don't miss out on this unique opportunity to be part of the conversation and help create a brighter, more innovative tomorrow. Register today at innofest.lgnova.com  and be part of the movement at InnoFest 2024! 🚀 This episode is brought to you by LG NOVA. 🚀 Get ready to ignite your passion for innovation at the 4th Annual InnoFest, happening at the iconic Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco on September 25th and 26th! This two-day event, brought to you by LG NOVA, is your chance to dive into the future with industry leaders and cutting-edge startups shaping HealthTech, AI, CleanTech, Life Sciences, Smart Life, Mobility, and more. And here's something extra special—I'll be hosting a panel at InnoFest, guiding a dynamic discussion on the future of AI and the workforce. Join me, along with other thought leaders, as we explore the trends and technologies driving innovation and positive change. Don't miss out on this unique opportunity to be part of the conversation and help create a brighter, more innovative tomorrow. Register today at innofest.lgnova.com  and be part of the movement at InnoFest 2024!

🚀 This episode is brought to you by LG NOVA. 🚀 Shira Eting is a Partner at Vintage Investment Partners. Prior to joining Vintage, Shira managed ‘Mechinat Bnei Zion,’ an NGO for non-formal education. Before that, Shira worked as a Strategic Consultant for McKinsey & Company, focusing on a wide range of industries. Shira was also a ‘Milken’ fellow in the Ministry of Economy, focusing on the export of Israel’s water technologies. Shira holds a BSc in Math and Computer Science from Ben Gurion University and an MSc in Environmental Change and Management from Oxford University. Topics: - Recent trends in climatetech and healthtech - Fund, Secondary, and Growth Investments - Building a Successful VC Fund #ClimateVC #HealthtechInnovation #VintageVC #DiversityInTech #VCStrategy 🚀 This episode is brought to you by LG NOVA. 🚀 Get ready to ignite your passion for innovation at the 4th Annual InnoFest, happening at the iconic Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco on September 25th and 26th! This two-day event, brought to you by LG NOVA, is your chance to dive into the future with industry leaders and cutting-edge startups shaping HealthTech, AI, CleanTech, Life Sciences, Smart Life, Mobility, and more. And here's something extra special—I'll be hosting a panel at InnoFest, guiding a dynamic discussion on the future of AI and the workforce. Join me, along with other thought leaders, as we explore the trends and technologies driving innovation and positive change. Don't miss out on this unique opportunity to be part of the conversation and help create a brighter, more innovative tomorrow. Register today at innofest.lgnova.com  and be part of the movement at InnoFest 2024!