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

Dan Nguyen is a Partner at Decibel where he focuses on helping founders build the next-generation of disruptive ML / AI, cloud infrastructure and cybersecurity companies. Prior to joining Decibel, he was a Vice President at Battery Ventures where he led investments in Databricks, SumoLogic, Expel, Contrast Security and InfluxData. Earlier in his career, Dan worked at VMware and spent time at UBS in the technology investment banking group. In this episode, we talk about: - Dan's story & how he started investing?- The origin story of Decibel and how they raised a $225 Million debut fund at the back of strong track record- How they pick companies to back?- Use of AI on both the good and bad side- How has Dan's investing approach evolved over the years?and much more.. Links: Decibel website - https://www.decibel.vc/ Follow Dan on X - https://twitter.com/dannguyenhuu Follow Dan on Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-nguyen-huu-11502719/ Hosted by Prashant Choubey - https://www.linkedin.com/in/choubeysahab/ Subscribe to VC10X for more insightful episodes!

Ibrahim Abdel Rahim is the Founder & Managing Partner at Moonbase Capital where they are investing in Search Funds. In this episode we talk about - - What are Search Funds?- How they're different from startups?- What's the return profile investing in Search Fund VS investing in startups (Venture Capital)/- Who are the people who start Search Funds?- Investing in stages to derisk the investment- Examples of Search Funds& lots more Links mentioned: Moonbase Capital - https://moonbasecapital.com/ Search Funder - https://www.searchfunder.com/ Ibrahim Abdel on Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ibrahim-abdel-rahim/ Hosted by Prashant Choubey - https://www.linkedin.com/in/choubeysahab/ Subscribe to VC10X for more insightful episodes!

In this episode, Prashant sits down with Steve Brotman, founder and Managing Partner at Alpha Partners, to discuss why Pro Rata rights are a game-changer for venture capitalists (VCs) and how they can impact investment outcomes. Here are the key topics covered in the episode: 1. Understanding Pro Rata Rights: Steve explains what pro-rata rights are and why they are essential for VCs to maintain their ownership percentage in a company during future funding rounds. 2. Ethical Concerns: The discussion explores the ethical implications when founders do not respect pro-rata rights and how Alpha Partners helps VC firms exercise their rights by providing the necessary capital. 3. Maximizing Returns: Pro rata rights enable VCs to double down on successful investments and protect their equity stakes in growing companies. The episode provides valuable insights into how these rights can be used strategically. 4. Minority Protection Rights: The importance of minority protection is emphasized, ensuring that minority investors are not unfairly squeezed out of the cap table. We've also summarized the key takeaways and lessons from this insightful conversation: - Pro Rata rights are like doubling down in blackjack, allowing VCs to invest additional funds in companies with high growth potential. - They serve as a defensive mechanism, protecting VCs from dilution and maintaining their ownership percentage in later funding rounds. - Protecting minority rights and pro-rata rights is crucial for the success and sustainability of venture capital deals. - VCs should assert their pro-rata rights, as it is their contractual right and essential for their long-term success in the industry. Links: Alpha Partners website - https://alphapartners.com/ Follow Steve on Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevebrotman/ Hosted by Prashant Choubey - https://www.linkedin.com/in/choubeysahab/ Subscribe to VC10X for more insightful episodes!

Sandiip is the Founder & Managing Director of Green Frontier Capital, India's first investment firm that focuses on growth companies which are delivering breakthrough innovation in green industries. Mr. Bhammer is an Adjunct Professor of Sustainable Finance at the Isenberg School of Business at UMass – Amherst and was a Co-Portfolio Manager of the DA Capital South-Asia Investment Fund, based in New York. Here's a sneak peek of what we discussed: - Sandeep's journey and the motivation behind starting Green Frontier Capital- The state of the green economy in India and the climate opportunity- Investment criteria for green companies and government regulations for startups in the green economy- Untapped opportunities in the green sector and the importance of perseverance for founders Links mentioned: Green Frontier Capital - https://www.greenfrontiercapital.com/ Keep updated with Sandiip - https://www.greenfrontiercapital.com/sandiip-bhammer Follow Sandiip on Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandiip-bhammer-94953614/ Subscribe to VC10X for more insightful episodes!

In this episode, Prashant interviews Alvaro Alvarez, a Partner and co-founder at Boost Capital Partners. Alvaro has 12+ years of experience investing in startups and has backed around 100 companies at or before seed stage, including Deliveroo, Supercell, Zencargo, Hutch Games and Tenor. Boost Capital Partners is a new firm dedicated to backing seed & pre-seed startups and helping them achieve gaming level of engagement in their products.Here are some of the main topics discussed in this episode:1. Applying Gaming Strategies to startups to improve engagement 2. Importance of managing biases in investing 3. Alvaro's approach to spotting potential startup winners 4. Fundraising journey and deployment strategy for $40 Million Fund 1 5. Role of an investor director on startup boards 6. Lessons learned from investing in startups 7. Perspective on the current market conditions and advice for startupsNow, let's dive into some key takeaways and lessons from the discussion:- Investors should prioritize backing people rather than relying solely on validation or data. Building relationships with founders is crucial in making investment decisions.- Characteristics like resilience, adaptability, and humility are highly valued in potential startup winners.- Fundraising requires perseverance, coping with rejection, and finding partners who believe in your vision.- Boost Capital Partners focuses on software and invests in various sectors, including healthtech, fintech, and entertainment.- Startups are advised to manage their cash and focus on profitability, regardless of market conditions.If you want to gain insights into gaming mechanisms, learn about managing biases in investment decisions, and discover tips for startup success, this episode is a must-listen! Links mentioned: Boost Capital Partners website - https://boostcp.vc Follow Alvaro on Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/alvaroalvarezdelrio/ Follow Boost Capital Partners on Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/boost-capital-partners/ Hosted by Prashant Choubey - https://www.linkedin.com/in/choubeysahab/ Subscribe to VC10X for more insightful episodes!

In this episode, we talk to Liz Christo, a Partner at Stage 2 Capital, and a Go-To-Market expert. We talk about - - Transitioning from an operator to an investor: Liz Christo's journey and expertise in go-to-market strategies - Designing effective sales processes and building a professional sales team - Strategic marketing channel selection and the importance of founder-led sales - Segmenting roles in a go-to-market team and measuring performance - The implications of Product Led Growth (PLG) and the rise of software products that showcase the product on the company's website - Avoiding common mistakes in hiring and scaling up the team - The importance of transparency, effective people management, and co-founder compatibility - Evaluating startups for potential investment and the key factors considered - Two key changes needed in the startup and VC ecosystem: more funding for diverse founding teams and bringing down valuation expectations Subscribe to Liz's newsletter - https://dearstage2.substack.com/ Follow Liz on Twitter - https://twitter.com/elizabethjcain Hosted by Prashant Choubey - https://twitter.com/ChoubeySahab Subscribe to VC10X for more insightful episodes!

I'm excited to announce the release of our latest episode of the VC10X Podcast, where we dive into the world of fund management and SPV solutions with Nik Talreja, the founder and CEO of Sydecar.In this episode, Nik shares the story behind Sydecar and how he transitioned from practicing law to building a product-driven solution for fund management and SPVs. We explore the advantages of having investors as customers, the streamlined process of starting an SPV with Sydecar, and how they tackled the challenges posed by Assure shutdown.Here are some key takeaways and lessons from the episode:1. Simplifying Fund Management: Sydecar offers a comprehensive tool that significantly simplifies the process of starting an SPV, automating legal documentation, facilitating instant bank account creation, and handling compliance checks and filings.2. Navigating the Assure Shutdown: Sydecar took a thoughtful and strategic approach to help those affected by the Assure shutdown, collaborating with other vendors to find more cost-effective solutions and supporting affected customers in negotiating fixed prices.3. Creating Liquidity in Private Markets: Sydecar aims to build the future private market infrastructure by catalyzing standardization, transparency, and liquidity. They focus on streamlining the formation of SPVs and aggregator vehicles to create efficiency and enable larger capital movements.4. Sydecar Fund+: Sydecar's recent offering, Sydecar Fund+, introduces a multi-asset fund that enables venture investors to build their portfolio by investing in multiple companies. This fund's innovative approach allows for flexibility in liquidity while accommodating different sets of investors.5. Benefits of Having Investors as Customers: Having investors as customers provides an unfair advantage for fundraising, as happy customers often view the business from an investor's perspective and inquire about the next fundraising round.You can listen to the full episode on your favorite podcast platform.We hope you find this episode insightful and inspiring as we explore the future of fund management with Sydecar. Don't forget to follow Nik Talreja on Twitter at @Niktalreja for more updates. Links mentioned: Sydecar website - https://www.sydecar.io/ Follow Nik on Twitter - https://twitter.com/niktalreja Hosted by Prashant Choubey - https://twitter.com/ChoubeySahab Subscribe to VC10X for more episodes!

I'm excited to announce the release of our latest episode featuring Giuseppe Stuto, a Managing Partner at 186 Ventures. In this episode, Giuseppe shares valuable insights on how founders should evaluate acquisition offers, tips for building through the downturn, contrarian investments, and his biggest learnings from investing over the years. Here are some of the key topics we discussed: 1. The importance of long-term goals: Giuseppe emphasizes that 186 Ventures never invests in seed companies with a short-term exit horizon. They are in it for the big outcomes and believe in the potential of founders who have a long-term vision. 2. 186 Ventures' investment philosophy: Giuseppe explains how 186 Ventures is a $37 million pre-seed and seed-stage VC fund that invests across consumer, enterprise and disruptive tech. They focus on areas like embedded financial infrastructure, developer tooling, AI-enabled automation, and more. 3. Navigating the downturn: Giuseppe shares valuable advice for founders on how to build through challenging times. He emphasizes the need for focus, making deep cuts once instead of multiple times, and the importance of speed in the market. 4. Standout features of 186 Ventures: Giuseppe discusses how 186 Ventures differentiates itself from other VC firms. Their team's experience as founders and operators of high-growth tech businesses, their exclusive focus on seed investments, and their commitment to providing consistent value to their portfolio companies set them apart. 5. Managing risk and portfolio concentration: Giuseppe explains their approach to managing risk within the portfolio. They aim for 25 to 30 companies, ensuring enough concentration to actively support and nurture each investment. These are just a few of the insightful topics covered in the episode. Giuseppe's experience and expertise in the venture capital industry make this episode a must-listen for anyone interested in startups and early-stage investments. You can listen to the full episode on our website or your favorite podcast platform or on Youtube. Follow Giuseppe on X (Twitter) - https://twitter.com/gstuto Write to 186 Ventures - hello@186ventures.com Hosted by Prashant Choubey - https://www.linkedin.com/in/choubeysahab/ Thank you for your continued support, and I hope you enjoy this episode as much as I enjoyed recording it.

In this episode, our host Prashant interviews Allie Mullen, the Director of Platform at Wireframe Ventures, to explore the ins and outs of the 'Platform' role in VC. Here's a sneak peek of what we discussed: Main Topics Discussed: - What exactly is Platform in venture capital? - How does it operate and vary across different firms? - Who is best suited for this role and how can one break into it? Key Takeaways and Lessons: - The responsibilities and tasks of a platform manager at Wireframe Ventures - Tips and insights for individuals looking to enter the platform industry - Surprising aspects of working in VC in the Platform role The Platform role in venture capital is a non-investor position that plays a crucial role in supporting portfolio companies. It encompasses various responsibilities such as marketing, investor relations, HR and recruiting, operations, and more. As you'll learn from the episode, Platform professionals often come from diverse backgrounds and possess a wide range of skills. Allie Mullen, our guest for this episode, shares her journey into the Platform role and offers valuable advice for those interested in pursuing a career in Platform. She emphasizes that a background in VC is not essential and that individuals from various backgrounds can excel in the Platform role. Throughout the episode, Allie provides insights into the day-to-day tasks of a Platform manager at Wireframe Ventures, a Pre-seed/seed stage fund. She also shares her experiences and highlights the importance of building a strong Platform team to support founders and enhance the overall efficiency of the firm. If you're interested in learning more about the Platform role in venture capital, this episode is a must-listen! You'll gain valuable insights, tips, and inspiration from Allie's experience. To listen to the full episode, visit our website or your favorite podcast platform. And don't forget to check out the show notes for additional resources and links mentioned during the conversation. As always, we appreciate your support and feedback. If you have any suggestions for future episode topics or guests, feel free to reach out to us. Links mentioned: Allie's newsletter - https://soyouwanttoworkinplatform.beehiiv.com/subscribe Follow Allie on Twitter - https://twitter.com/allieallieM Follow Allie on Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/alliemullen/ Wireframe Ventures - https://www.wireframevc.com/ Follow Wireframe on Twitter - https://twitter.com/WireframeVC Hosted by Prashant Choubey - https://www.linkedin.com/in/choubeysahab/ Don't forget to subscribe to the channel for future episodes!

Neil Thanedar is an entrepreneur, investor, scientist, altruist, and author. He is the founder & GP of Utopic, a pre-seed biotech VC fund investing in the future of science.In this episode we talk about:- Neil's story and how he started investing?- What are Mittelstands? - Why startups should stay indie as long as possible?- Their focus at Utopic Ventures- Biotech 2.0 and lots more Links mentioned: Find Neil's essays at https://neilthanedar.com/ Utopic Ventures - https://utopicvc.com/ Labdoor website - https://labdoor.com/ Follow Neil on Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/thanedar/ Follow Neil on Twitter - https://twitter.com/NeilThanedar⁠ Hosted by Prashant Choubey - https://www.linkedin.com/in/choubeysahab/ Find the video episode on our youtube channel - https://www.youtube.com/@VC10X Hope you like this episode, subscribe for more insightful episodes!