VC10X - Startups, GTM, Investing, Venture Capital, Asset Management, Private Equity, Family Office

We're joined by a truly inspiring guest who is changing the face of angel investing. Sarah Turner, the founder of Angel Academe, is on a mission to bring more women into the world of startups, both as investors and as founders.What started as an observation about the lack of women in investment rooms has grown into a thriving community of over a thousand investors. In this episode, we'll hear Sarah's incredible story, from the challenges of building this ecosystem to the shocking realities of funding disparities in the VC world. We'll also dive into the future of investing, the impact of AI, and what it really takes to succeed as an entrepreneur.Links: ⭐ Sponsored by Podcast10x - Podcasting agency for VCs - https://podcast10x.comAngel Academe website - https://www.angelacademe.com/Sarah Turner on Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahturneruk/🎙️ Hosted by Prashant ChoubeyFollow Prashant on X - https://x.com/ChoubeySahabFollow Prashant on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/choubeysahabIn this episode, we talk about -- Angel Academe's founding story and growth to 1,000+ investors- Investment screening process and evaluation criteria- Gender differences in entrepreneurship and venture capital- AI's impact on startups and potential bias concerns- Portfolio success stories and lessons from angel investing& lots moreTimestamps:(00:00) Introduction(02:33) Sarah's initial observations about lack of women in angel investing(03:41) Growth of Angel Academe to over 1,000 investors(05:37) Investment screening process and what they look for in startups(07:54) Differences in investing in female vs. male founders(11:09) Discussion on low percentage of VC funding going to female founders(12:14) Challenges of building investor network and attracting female founders(15:49) Importance of men taking responsibility to add more women to leadership positions(17:15) Launching the EIS fund and its timing(18:26) Portfolio success story - Bare Fertility(20:10) Learnings about supporting founders through different growth stages(22:55) Impact of AI on startup landscape and investing process(27:29) Personality traits of successful founders(29:33) Vision for Angel Academe in the next five years(31:54) Rapid-fire round - sectors and regions of investment(35:38) How founders can get in touch with Angel AcademeFor sponsorship or guest appearance requests, write to prashantchoubey3@gmail.comSubscribe to VC10X on Youtube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts.

Sam Libby, a healthcare investment banking veteran and founder of TCB Capital Advisors, is on a mission to improve patient care. He discusses the evolution of AI in healthcare, emphasizing its role in predictive medicine and proactive health management. The conversation explores holistic approaches that integrate mental and physical well-being while addressing patient data democratization. Libby also shares insights on navigating healthcare startup investments, highlighting strategies for early-stage companies and the importance of trust in building investor relationships.

Scott Hauck, the founder of Legacy Capital and Hawk Capital, shares insights on the 'silver tsunami' of retiring business owners and how his empathetic approach is revolutionizing private equity. He discusses preserving the essence of legacy businesses while driving growth, alongside the exciting potential of AI investments in the UAE. Hauck reveals the story behind his 'accidental' fund and offers tips on evaluating founding teams with an eye for collaboration. This conversation highlights innovative strategies and the future of investment in technology.

Eva Yazhari is the founder of Beyond Capital Ventures, who believes that the "high risk, high return" philosophy we all take for granted is actually a myth. She's taken her Wall Street hedge fund background and built a VC firm focused on emerging markets in India and East Africa - and believes her portfolio is actually less risky than Silicon Valley VC.⭐ Sponsored by Podcast10x - Podcasting agency for VCs - https://podcast10x.comBeyond Capital Ventures Website - https://www.beyondcapitalventures.com/Eva Yazhari on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/eva-yazhariWe talk about:- Eva's journey from Wall Street hedge funds to impact venture capital- Why "high risk, high return" is a myth in investing- Conscious leadership framework for evaluating founders- Investment criteria: post-revenue, local teams, stakeholder focus- Emerging markets opportunity in India and East Africa- Abundance mindset vs scarcity mindset in capitalism- Sharing carry with portfolio founders& lots moreTimestamps:(00:00) Introduction(02:24) Eva's background from Wall Street to impact investing(04:20) Challenges and learnings in transitioning to impact-focused venture capital(07:21) Discussing the myth of high-risk, high-return philosophy(10:05) Deal diligence process and investment criteria(12:42) Approach to evaluating exit potential for portfolio companies(16:12) Emerging markets opportunity in India and East Africa(19:17) Identifying founders aligned with conscious leadership values(22:10) Being a preferred investor and building strong founder relationships(25:10) Abundance mindset in investing(27:23) Sharing carry with founders(29:24) Interesting portfolio companies and their solutions(31:30) Biggest learning from investing in startups(34:09) Rapid fire round begins - discussing investment sectors and stagesFor sponsorship or guest appearance requests, write to prashantchoubey3@gmail.comSubscribe to VC10X on Youtube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts.

Max Buchan is the Co-founder & CEO of Valarian, a dual-purpose defense tech company that emerged from stealth with a $20M seed funding round.⭐ Sponsored by Podcast10x - Podcasting agency for VCs - https://podcast10x.comValarian website - https://www.valarian.com/Max Buchan LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/maxbuchan🎙️ Hosted by Prashant ChoubeyFollow Prashant on X - https://x.com/ChoubeySahabFollow Prashant on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/choubeysahabKey Topics:- Technology: Secure enclaves ("Acro") deployed from public cloud to battlefield hardware in Pelican cases- Defense Pivot: Approached by US government; co-founder Josh brings 12 years at Palantir + 18 years in US special operations- Dual-Use Market: Same platform serves airlines/banks, enterprises and Department of Defense- Funding: Backed by early Palantir investors, Scout Ventures, MD1, and Gokul Rajaram (Coinbase/Pinterest board)Key Insights:- European nations increasingly need digital sovereignty solutions independent from American software- Mission-driven hiring can compete with higher-paying tech giants- Dual-use technology requires different go-to-market strategies for enterprise vs. government- Building critical infrastructure creates natural competitive moatsTimestamps:(00:00) Introduction(03:07) Max's background at CoinShares and founding of Valarian(05:59) Explanation of Valarian's core technology and dual-purpose approach(08:31) Cybersecurity and digital infrastructure focus(10:29) Building trust and credibility with government and enterprise clients(14:14) Go-to-market strategies for enterprise and government sectors(17:47) Challenges of selling to government clients(21:00) Fundraising approach and investor selection(24:41) Capital allocation strategy(26:28) Hiring strategy and attracting top talent(29:23) Finding high-quality talent from smaller companies(31:24) Building a moat and defensibility for the company(33:32) Product market fit considerations(35:30) Key metrics for tracking company performance(38:30) Organizational structure for managing enterprise and government segments(40:49) Learning and seeking advice as a first-time founder(43:03) Managing mental health and maintaining relationships(44:49) Most pivotal decision in Valarian's journey(46:12) Closing remarks and ways to follow MaxFor sponsorship or guest appearance requests, write to prashantchoubey3@gmail.comSubscribe to VC10X on Youtube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts.

Today we're joined by Mike Collins, founder and CEO of Alumni Ventures, a firm that's quietly built one of the most unique and successful venture capital models in the industry.Mike has scaled Alumni Ventures to over $1.5 billion in assets under management by doing something most VCs thought was impossible—building a venture firm primarily around individual investors.⭐ Sponsored by Podcast10x - Podcasting agency for VCs - https://podcast10x.comAlumni Ventures website - https://www.av.vc/Mike Collins on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-collins-362100/🎙️ Hosted by Prashant ChoubeyFollow Prashant on X - https://x.com/ChoubeySahabFollow Prashant on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/choubeysahabIn our conversation, Mike shares:- How he validated and scaled Alumni Ventures to over $1.5 Billion in AUM & over 20 funds- Network-driven approach to deal sourcing and value add- How their referral network generates 3.2x multiples on invested capital- How a team of 45 investment professionals manage over 20 funds- His bold predictions about the profound period of innovation and disruption we're entering& lots more..Timestamps:(00:00) Introduction(03:27) Mike's background and early career in venture capital(10:32) Finding product-market fit for Alumni Ventures(14:47) Organizational structure with 10 investment teams(20:24) Investment decision-making process(21:30) Referral network and deal flow generation(25:14) Flat fee model and LP alignment(30:16) Investor base composition(33:38) Potential expansion to institutional investors(36:19) Operational challenges in scaling the firm(39:08) Current venture ecosystem and AI's impact(42:42) Liquidity and exit strategies(48:37) Investment sectors and regions(51:04) Investment stages and check sizes(52:19) How founders can connect with Alumni Ventures(54:02) Closing remarks and wrap-upFor sponsorship or guest appearance requests, write to prashantchoubey3@gmail.comSubscribe to VC10X on Youtube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts.

Elizabeth Weil, founder and managing partner of Scribble Ventures, just closed an $80 million Fund III focused on AI-native startups.She spent seven years at Twitter during hypergrowth from 60 to 2,500 employees, then built the Market Development team at Andreessen Horowitz.⭐ Sponsored by Podcast10x - Podcasting agency for VCs - https://podcast10x.comKey Topics discussed:The Scribble Network- 100+ operators and executives providing deal flow and portfolio support- Strategic angels helping companies scale- "Unfair advantages" through warm connectionsAI Investment Philosophy- Backing "AI-native" founders who "grew up" with the technology- Focus on proprietary data and unique workflows- Moat matters more than ever in a noisy landscapeBold Predictions- Every person will have a personalized tutor in their pocket- Digital immortality: preserving knowledge beyond physical existence- AI transforming healthcare, education, and daily behaviorsFounder Evaluation- Key question: "Why are you the team on this planet that is going to be able to build this company?"- Looking for "guttural desire" vs. whiteboard solutions- Warm introductions as primary signalFund Details- $80M Fund III for pre-seed and seed- $750K - $1.5M initial checks- Can lead, co-lead, or follow rounds- Intentionally generalist despite AI focusContact:- Website: scribble.vc- Email: hello@scribble.vc- X: @elizabethTimestamps:(00:00) Introduction(02:39) Elizabeth's journey from Stanford to Twitter(03:08) Early career and how she got into tech and startups(08:57) The Scribble Network and how it helps portfolio companies(12:21) Definition of AI-native companies and key characteristics of founding teams(14:17) Assessing the defensibility of a startup's data strategy(15:39) Learnings from operating at Twitter and Andreessen Horowitz(18:08) Key factors for investing at pre-seed and seed stages(20:13) Fundraising experience for Fund Three and navigating the LP landscape(23:03) Approach to valuations in the AI startup ecosystem(24:28) Exciting AI sub-sectors and areas with potential(30:15) Evaluating startups in a rapidly evolving AI landscape(31:51) Advice for early-stage founders on building their venture(34:08) Rapid fire round of questions about Scribble Ventures' investment strategyFor sponsorship or guest appearance requests, write to prashantchoubey3@gmail.comSubscribe to VC10X on Youtube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts.

In this episode, I sit down with Shivendra Nigam, CFO of Cantabil, one of India's most successful and enduring apparel brands. Cantabil, founded in 2000, has scaled to over 600 stores across 20 states—while remaining debt-free and laser-focused on sustainable, profitable growth. The conversation covers bold expansion strategies, secrets of margin protection in a fiercely competitive fashion market, the brand's unique positioning in India's family apparel segment, and why disciplined retail operations matter more than chasing numbers.⭐ Sponsored by Podcast10x - Podcasting agency for VCs - https://podcast10x.comCantabil website - https://cantabilshop.com/🎙️ Hosted by Prashant ChoubeyFollow Prashant on X - https://x.com/ChoubeySahabFollow Prashant on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/choubeysahabWe talk about:- Cantabil’s journey: Lessons from 25+ years in Indian retail - The pros and cons of a debt-free growth model - Why Cantabil shuns discounts—and how that impacts brand value - The power of tier 2, 3, and 4 city expansion in India - Growing e-commerce to complement a dominant brick-and-mortar presence - Homegrown success metrics: store selection, inventory discipline, and profitability - The evolving Indian appetite for fashion—and Cantabil’s vision for the futureConnect with Us:If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and subscribe. For guest requests and feedback, email us at prashantchoubey3@gmail.com

Loretta Tioiela is the founder of Next Sequence, a venture capital firm at the forefront of one of the most exciting fields in science and technology: the convergence of artificial intelligence and synthetic biology.With a rich background in deep tech, holding strategic leadership positions at global giants like Huawei and Samsung, and working as Chief Product Officer at cloud innovator Scaleway, Loretta possesses a unique and powerful perspective.⭐ Sponsored by Podcast10x - Podcasting agency for VCs - https://podcast10x.comNext Sequence website - https://www.thenextsequence.vc/Loretta Tioiela on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/lorettatioiela/🎙️ Hosted by Prashant ChoubeyFollow Prashant on X - https://x.com/ChoubeySahabFollow Prashant on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/choubeysahabIn this episode, we talk about:- The Dawn of "TechBio" and Programmable Life- The Convergence of AI and Biotech- Redefining Health, Aging, and Disease- Rewiring the Brain and a New Look at Psychedelics- The Future of Computing and Data- The Importance of Open Collaboration In BioTechnology& lots moreTimestamps:(00:00) Introduction(02:40) Defining tech bio and its significance(03:42) Next Sequence Ventures' investment thesis(06:11) Convergence of AI, quantum computing, and biotechnology(09:23) Programmable humans and potential applications(13:16) Current stage of longevity research and potential for extending human lifespan(16:07) Exploration of psychedelics and their potential applications(22:19) OpenSynthBio and the importance of open-source collaboration in biotechnology(28:18) Portfolio companies and investment strategy(36:18) Challenges and perspectives as a woman in tech and venture capital(43:26) Potential breakthroughs in synthetic biology and tech bio for the next few decades(45:49) Rapid-fire round of questions about investing and the accelerator programFor sponsorship or guest appearance requests, write to prashantchoubey3@gmail.comSubscribe to VC10X on Youtube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts.

Jack Leeney is a Co-Founder and Managing Partner at 7GC, a venture capital firm with a unique cross-border approach that bridges the innovation ecosystems of the US and Europe.Before founding 7GC, Jack was at the forefront of some of the most iconic tech IPOs of our time during his tenure at Morgan Stanley, including Tesla, LinkedIn, and Facebook.⭐ Sponsored by Podcast10x - Podcasting agency for VCs - https://podcast10x.com7GC website - https://7gc.coJack Leeney on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jack-leeney🎙️ Hosted by Prashant ChoubeyFollow Prashant on X - https://x.com/ChoubeySahabFollow Prashant on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/choubeysahabIn this episode, we talk about -- 7GC's Unique Investment Philosophy- How and when should US Startups think about expanding into Europe- Evaluating Growth-Stage Companies and Valuations- The Transition from Startup to Scale-up CEO- Leveraging AI in Portfolio Companies and Venture Capital& lots moreTimestamps:(00:00) Introduction(02:46) Jack's background and career journey before co-founding 7GC(03:02) Inspiration behind founding 7GC and their unique investment philosophy(07:13) Discussion on when and how US startups should expand into European markets(15:25) Regulatory challenges and considerations for expanding into Europe, using Hims as an example(18:12) Strategies for targeting specific European markets(19:19) Key factors 7GC looks for when investing in growth-stage companies(25:15) Discussion on valuation multiples and investment approach(32:05) Advice for founders seeking growth-stage funding(38:06) Challenges of transitioning from startup CEO to scale-up CEO(43:30) Use of AI in 7GC's portfolio and within the venture capital industry(49:04) Rapid-fire round with quick questions about 7GC's investment strategyFor sponsorship or guest appearance requests, write to prashantchoubey3@gmail.comSubscribe to VC10X on Youtube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts.