Sourcery

Leigh Marie Braswell, a Partner at Kleiner Perkins focusing on machine learning startups, discusses the transformative role of AI in venture capital with Molly O'Shea. They delve into the evolution of Kleiner Perkins and its significant funds, shedding light on key trends in AI investment. Leigh shares insights from her background at Scale AI and the importance of building 'talent vortexes.' The conversation covers innovative strategies for AI companies like Windsurf and highlights the vibrant opportunities in the entrepreneurial landscape.

Jacob Peters, CEO & Co-Founder of Superpower, shares their recent $30 million Series A funding led by Forerunner Ventures. We go deeper into their ambitious vision of having an AI doctor in everyone's pocket and his own personal health journey that inspired the creation of Superpower.Superpower aims to provide a holistic and data-driven alternative to traditional medicine, offering personalized insights and actions to improve overall health. He also shares the meticulous steps taken to build the Superpower brand, including the creation of 'the world's healthiest hoodie' and securing the superpower.com domain. Get a glimpse into the future of healthcare, the challenges of the current medical system, and how Superpower plans to disrupt the industry for the better.Molly on X: https://x.com/MollySOSheaJacob on X: https://x.com/j__cub?lang=enFollow Sourcery for the latest updates! https://www.sourcery.vc/TIMESTAMPS:00:00 - Welcome Jacob To Sourcery!00:49 - $30 Million Series A Led by Forerunner03:57 - Building a Brand: The Story Behind Superpower08:02 - Securing the Superpower Domain & Social Handles14:41 - The "Healthiest Hoodie" Ever Made17:54 - Jacob's Personal Journey & Founding of Superpower22:03 - Misaligned Health System Incentives25:06 - Holistic Medicine & Concierge Care25:48 - The Birth of a Health Company30:50 - The Shocking State of American Health33:42 - Revolutionizing Healthcare with AI34:02 - Building a Mission-Driven Team36:56 - Comprehensive Health Testing45:29 - Future of Healthcare & Business Model#podcast #investing #technology #venturecapital #entrepreneur #startup #siliconvalley

Chris Josephs, Co-Founder of Autopilot and former co-founder of the social investing app Iris, shares insights into political insider trading and the mission behind his innovative platform. He unpacks Nancy Pelosi's trading patterns and discusses the moral complexities of lawmakers trading stocks. The conversation also highlights Autopilot's growth strategies and creative marketing techniques, all aimed at democratizing investment for retail investors. Join Chris as he challenges traditional finance norms while navigating the intersection of tech, politics, and investing.

Zach Dell and Justin Lopas, co-founders of Base, delve into their recent $200 million Series B funding, aimed at transforming the energy landscape. They share their vision for revolutionizing the power grid with vertically integrated battery technology. The duo recounts their experiences at SpaceX and Anduril, highlighting how these shaped their approach to innovation in energy. They discuss challenges within Texas's electricity market, their ambitious growth plans, and strategies for becoming a household name in clean energy.

Delian Asparouhov, Co-Founder of Varda and partner at Founders Fund, shares fascinating insights into the space industry and defense regulations. Delian discusses Varda's recent space missions and the intricate regulatory landscape faced by startups. He dives into the significance of bridging the gap between tech innovators and policymakers, the evolving 'Space Club' with figures like Eric Schmidt, and the complexities of venture capital in defense. Plus, he reflects on the balance between work and personal life in light of fatherhood, making the conversation both informative and relatable.

Molly O'Shea speaks with Christian Garrett, Partner at 137 Ventures. Christian shares his insights on the current state of private markets, the mechanics of high profile secondaries, and the growing liquidity squeeze faced by VCs.We also take a closer look at SpaceX's financing history, how 137 Ventures got involved, and why SpaceX runs tenders every six months. Christian discusses the potential reopening of the IPO window, the rise of generational talent from companies like Anduril, SpaceX, and Palantir, and why he thinks defense tech might be overrated right now.Other highlights include the evolving relationship between Silicon Valley and Washington, D.C., government initiatives like the Replicator Initiative and FedRAMP, and the origins of the Hill & Valley Forum. On a personal note, Christian reflects on his career journey, his mentorship with Trae Stephens, and shares some spicy hot takes on topics like return-to-office policies, San Francisco’s future, and his unexpected bullishness on Europe.If you're interested in venture capital, private markets, or the intersection of tech and policy, this is a must-watch episode!Molly on X: https://x.com/MollySOSheaChristian on X: https://x.com/CGarrett_15Follow Sourcery for the latest updates! https://www.sourcery.vc/TIMESTAMPS:00:00 - Welcome to Sorcery: Christian Garrett's Journey00:39 - How Secondaries Work: SpaceX, Figma, Ramp, Plaid, Databricks04:46 - 137 Ventures: Origin and Investment Thesis06:36 - SpaceX: A Case Study in Private Market Success10:38 - The Benefits of Staying Private18:28 - Generational Talent in Tech: Anduril, SpaceX, Palantir21:07 - Defense Tech: Opportunities and Challenges26:02 - Tech and Government: Building Stronger Partnerships34:25 - Hill and Valley Forum: Bridging Tech and Policy38:58 - Christian's Journey to Becoming a Partner42:02 - Trae Stephens & The Role of Mentorship in Success43:45 - Helping Founders Beyond Capital52:00 - Christian's Spicy Takes on Industry Trends01:02:54 - The Future of 137 Ventures01:09:31 -  Looking Forward: Exciting Prospects Ahead#podcast #investing #technology #venturecapital #entrepreneur #startup #siliconvalley

Behind the Magically Weird: Arielle Zuckerberg on Long Journey Ventures, Unique founders, and Purpose-Driven InvestingMolly O'Shea speaks with Arielle Zuckerberg, diving into her journey at Long Journey Ventures, discussing her unique investment philosophy and the importance of purpose-driven investing. From her hobbies like skiing and DJing to the critical lessons learned from legendary mentor John Doerr, Arielle shares how she evaluates founders using the 'Rizz and Tiz' theory. We uncover Long Journey's creative diligence adventures, the value of unusual startup ideas, and how Long Journey Ventures fosters a unique community for 'magically weird' founders. Whether you're an investor or startup enthusiast, gain insights into navigating the fast-changing VC landscape and focusing on the human element of investing.Follow Sourcery for the latest updates! https://www.sourcery.vc/Molly on X: https://x.com/MollySOSheaArielle on X: https://x.com/ariellezuckTIMESTAMPS:0:00 - Welcome Arielle To Sourcery!01:22 - The Rizz and the Tiz Theory05:31 - Lessons from John Doerr08:49 - VC Twitter and Deal Flow17:01 - $100M ARR AI Companies22:05 - Portfolio Companies: Superpower, Autopallet31:45 - Building a Vibrant Founder Community36:43 - The Role of Purpose39:52 - Hot Takes on Venture Capital42:21 - The "Bubbe" Philosophy44:19 - Looking Forward: Personal and Professional Goals#podcast #investing #technology #venturecapital #entrepreneur #startup #siliconvalley

Tarek Mansour, Co-founder and CEO of Kalshi, shares insights from his journey in creating a regulated prediction market. He discusses the shift of prediction markets into mainstream finance and their potential to rival traditional investments. Tarek dives into the unique regulatory challenges he faced, including a surprising lawsuit against the government. He emphasizes the distinction between gambling and investing, and envisions a future where trading on real-world events becomes accessible to everyone, touching on everything from politics to sports.

Dylan Diamond, Co-founder and CEO of Saturn, shares his inspiring journey from high school project to viral Gen Z calendar app, raising over $68M from notable investors like Jeff Bezos. He discusses the innovative strategies for user retention across 18,000 schools and the AI integration shaping the app's future. Dillon also reveals insights on Gen Z's influence on product development, a unique sustainable advertising model tailored for young audiences, and the challenges of navigating the competitive consumer social landscape.

Packy McCormick, a writer and investor known for his newsletter 'Not Boring,' shares insights on how his writing journey transformed into a $50M VC fund. He discusses the art of storytelling in venture capital and highlights the magnetic traits of successful founders. Packy dives into the balance between intuition and analysis in investing while exploring the impact of vertical integrators in various industries. He also shares his hot takes on AI and reveals what he's most excited about for 2025.