The Twenty Minute VC (20VC): Venture Capital | Startup Funding | The Pitch

Harley Miller, Co-founder and Managing Partner at Left Lane Capital, discusses his impressive journey in venture capital, having closed a new fund raising their assets to over $2 billion. He shares invaluable lessons from his 2,500 LP meetings on effective fundraising strategies. Harley emphasizes the importance of conviction in investment decisions and navigating consumer pricing sensitivity. He also touches on balancing professional ambitions with family life, along with the dynamics of co-founder relationships in the high-stakes world of venture.

Noah Glass, Founder and CEO of Olo, discusses his journey in creating a capital-efficient company that reached $122M ARR with just $6M net burn. He shares the a-ha moment that inspired Olo’s founding and emphasizes the importance of investor support. Noah explores decision-making strategies in balancing urgent tasks and long-term goals, while reflecting on leadership lessons learned through adversity. He also dives into innovative solutions like OloPay, which enhance customer experiences in the restaurant industry.

Mitch Tarica, Head of North America Sales at Zoom, shares his journey from childhood passion for sales to leading a major tech company's sales efforts. He discusses when to hire a Head of Sales versus Sales Reps, emphasizing early sales hires’ impact on scalability. Mitch outlines three crucial traits to seek in sales candidates and explains effective onboarding strategies. He warns about common hiring mistakes founders make, highlighting the importance of diverse skill sets and collaborative sales cultures for success.

In this conversation, Deena Shakir, a Partner at Lux Capital with a diverse background spanning journalism and the U.S. State Department, discusses her unique path to venture capital. She highlights why founders should be cautious about taking multi-stage funding at the seed stage and shares insights about building authentic relationships in the competitive VC landscape. Deena also reflects on how parenthood has reshaped her investment approach and the importance of diversity, encouraging young professionals from various backgrounds to enter the field.

Bill Cillufo, a partner at QED Investors with two decades at Capital One, shares his insights on navigating today's challenging investment landscape. He discusses the importance of resilient business models and exceptional teams, especially during uncertain times. Bill highlights the necessity for startups to manage runway and burn effectively. He reflects on his investing evolution, focusing on the balance between price sensitivity and value creation. His experiences underscore the need for passion and authenticity in venture capital, particularly in emerging markets.

Aparna Chennapragada, Chief Product Officer at Robinhood and former VP at Google, shares her extensive experience in product management. She explains the three stages of product management: solve, scale, and sustain. Aparna dives into effective customer discovery, emphasizing critical questions and common pitfalls. She offers insights on structuring a hiring process for product teams, identifying red flags, and fostering an innovative culture. Her blend of analytical and creative approaches reveals the art and science behind successful product development.

Henrique Dubugras, Founder and CEO of Brex, dives into his journey of building a transformative financial tech platform. He reveals pivotal advice from Evan Spiegel on effective CEO leadership and shares his biggest hiring blunders while emphasizing the art of spotting A* talent. The discussion also explores when to launch secondary products and the importance of keeping product messaging clear amidst growth. Henrique candidly reflects on lessons learned from Brex's rapid expansion and the balance required in navigating the fintech landscape.

Domm Holland, Founder and CEO of Fast, shares his journey following the company's unexpected closure. He reflects on the harsh lessons learned, highlighting the key mistakes made and contrasting Fast's challenges with Bolt's successes. Holland provides candid insights into excessive burn rates and the difficult decisions surrounding layoffs. He also discusses the unique experience of having Stripe as an investor and emphasizes the importance of perseverance and adaptability in the ever-evolving startup landscape.

In this discussion, Avichal Garg, Co-Founder of Electric Capital, a powerhouse in crypto venture capital, shares his journey from software to crypto investing. He dives into the competitive crypto landscape, highlighting how crypto firms are uniquely poised to challenge traditional VCs. Avichal explains the complexities of token pricing and the evolving role of Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAOs) in governance. He emphasizes the collaborative nature of crypto investing and the need for a narrative-driven approach in this dynamic market.

Eric Liaw, a General Partner at IVP, shares deep insights from his 20-year journey in venture capital. He reflects on lessons learned during his time at TCV and discusses his investment style evolution, including a notable miss that shaped his approach. The conversation navigates the shifting landscape of IPOs and M&A in the current market, emphasizing the importance of genuine relationships in VC. Eric also touches on balancing professional ambitions with family life, offering a candid look at the challenges that come with parenthood.