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

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.

Dominique Levin is a 2x CEO, a go-to-market architect, and a wildly successful investor with over a billion dollars in exits. She’s seen it all, and she has a playbook for a lot of challenges founders face while building their companies.⭐ Sponsored by Podcast10x - Podcasting agency for VCs - https://podcast10x.comLinks-Dominique Levin on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dominiquelevinBook that Dominique Levin:1. Survival to Thrival: She mentioned this is a two-book series written by Bob Tinker and Tae Hea Nahm. * Book 1: Survival to Thrival: Building the Enterprise Startup (The Company Journey) * Book 2: Survival to Thrival: Change or Be Changed (The People Journey)2. The Machine That Changed the World: The Story of Lean Production by James P. Womack, Daniel T. Jones, and Daniel Roos.🎙️ 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 -- Why founders should sell before they build- The "SAFER" Note: A radical new funding model for founders who want to avoid the VC treadmill.- The secret behind her success as a VC with over $1 Billion in exits- Why the future isn't about work-life balance, but building a company that lets your team lead multiple lives- Remote work, how should leaders think about it, and how it promotes inclusivity& lots moreTimestamps:(00:00) Introduction(02:38) First discussion on go-to-market strategy(02:57) Common mistakes founders make in go-to-market strategy- Worrying about go-to-market too soon- Having multiple go-to-market motions- Mismatch between go-to-market motion and product/contract value(05:33) Definition of product-market fit- Solving a "hair-on-fire" problem- Validating by selling before building- Customers willing to pay for a solution(07:18) Approaching product development- Think big but act small- Solve a specialized, unaddressed problem- Be 10X or infinitely better than existing solutions(08:53) Fundraising advice for early-stage founders- Focus on customers first- Have at least three paying customers- Traction is the most important thing for investors(10:26) Building repeatable and scalable revenue processes- Treat sales as a process or "revenue factory"- Align marketing, sales, and customer success- Use AI to optimize go-to-market motion(13:11) AI applications in go-to-market strategies- SEO/LLM content creation- Lead generation- Prospecting research- Sales engineering support(15:57) Investing approach and philosophy- Looking for unfair competitive advantage- Leveraging unique relationships and information(19:15) Balancing product development with sales and customer success- Sell first, build later- Minimum effort to prove solving a critical problem(20:15) Building high-performance teams- Outward mindset- Focus on customer impact- Clear mission and vision(23:10) Transitioning from startup to scale-up- Different leadership styles at different stages- Adapting to company growth(25:31) AI and automation in SaaS- Becoming AI-native- Potential for customer-funded businesses- Alternative funding models(27:42) One-and-done funding model- SAFE-R (Simple Agreement for Future Equity with Repayment)- Aligning investor and founder interests(30:40) Building and managing remote companies- Challenges of hybrid work- Importance of in-person interactions- Maintaining team productivity(37:31) Flexibility in remote work- Project-based roles- Portfolio careers- Accommodating personal life and work(43:00) Work-life balance and parental leave- Personal experiences with parental leave- Challenges for working parents(47:35) Rapid-fire round about investing- Sectors, stages, and investment approachFor sponsorship or guest appearance requests, write to prashantchoubey3@gmail.comSubscribe to VC10X on Youtube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts.

Itamar Novick is a solo capitalist and the founder of Recursive Ventures, a pre-seed & seed fund focused on fintech, AI and emerging tech startups. Itamar has been on all sides of the startup table: as a founder and executive, an institutional VC, and an angel investor. He has supported over 50 successful startups, including Deel, HoneyBook, Placer, Credible among others.⭐ Sponsored by Podcast10x - Podcasting agency for VCs - https://podcast10x.comItamar Novick on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/itamarnovickItamar's blog - https://www.itamarnovick.com/Recursive Ventures website - https://www.recursiveventures.com/🎙️ 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 -- What does it mean to be a solo-capitalist?- His learnings from Life360 and Gigya- How AI is enabling him to 10x himself - The one man unicorn made possible with AI- His biggest learning investing in startups over the years& lots moreTimestamps:(00:00) Introduction(02:22) Itamar's story of becoming a solo capitalist(04:08) Difference between solo GP and solo capitalist model(05:07) Story of investing life savings in Life360(07:28) Initial journey at Life360 and role in the company(09:36) How operational experience shaped investing philosophy(12:01) Investment decision-making process at pre-seed stage(14:50) Exciting themes and sectors for investment(17:12) Thoughts on AI models potentially replacing application layer startups(20:35) Patterns of startup success and anti-patterns(23:41) Using AI to enhance VC processes and decision-making(27:52) Current market perspective - "have and have-nots(29:58) Approach to valuation and investment in AI startups(32:01) Investment instruments - SAFEs vs priced rounds(34:38) Biggest learning from investing in startups - founder grit and determination(36:47) Rapid fire round begins - sectors and regions of investmentFor sponsorship or guest appearance requests, write to prashantchoubey3@gmail.comSubscribe to VC10X on Youtube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts.

Sean Byrnes is a co-founder & General Partner at Near Horizon. Sean has spent the past 20 years founding and scaling companies that have defined new categories, including Flurry—the world’s largest mobile analytics platform, acquired by Yahoo—and Outlier.ai, an automated data analysis leader. At Near Horizon, Sean partners hands-on with founders, combining deep operational expertise and capital to help launch the next generation of AI-powered startups. ⭐ Sponsored by Podcast10x - Podcasting agency for VCs - https://podcast10x.comNear Horizon website - https://www.nearhorizon.vc/Breaking Point Newsletter - https://www.breakingpoint.tech/Sean Byrnes on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sbyrnes/🎙️ 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 -- Why Sean thinks venture capital is the most risk averse asset class?- Why VCs are struggling to return capital to LPs?- His unique approach to investing at Near Horizon Ventures- What should founders focus on in the earliest stage of a startup?- Why founders need to think small to move faster at the early stage- How can founders be more outcome focused?& lots moreTimestamps:(00:00) Introduction(04:13) Near Horizon's unique investment model of working with solo founders(08:28) Challenges of innovating in venture capital(09:15) Perspectives on LP (Limited Partner) resistance to new VC models(14:06) Discussing liquidity problems in venture capital(18:25) Strategies for early exits and secondary markets(22:26) Why venture capital is the most risk-averse asset class(27:03) Key focus areas when working with early-stage companies(31:26) Importance of customer research and distribution advantage(35:41) The concept of "thinking smaller" to grow faster(38:26) Why status meetings are ineffective(41:12) How founders can be more outcome-focused(43:33) Rapid fire round of questions about Near Horizon's investment approach(46:16) Closing remarks and ways to follow Sean ByrnesFor sponsorship or guest appearance requests, write to prashantchoubey3@gmail.comSubscribe to VC10X on Youtube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts.