Driving Alpha

What happens when a Google and Facebook engineering leader turns his focus to helping immigrant founders dominate in AI and robotics?  Ihar Mahaniok, Founder and Managing Partner of Geek Ventures, has invested in over 100 startups, including five unicorns, and is now channeling his experience into backing the next generation of world-changing entrepreneurs. Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn: 00:41 Welcome to Driving Alpha Podcast 00:51 Meet the Guest: ER Mahan of Geek Ventures 01:38 ER's Journey: From Coding to Angel Investing 03:26 Building Geek Ventures: Focus on Immigrant Founders 03:42 Navigating the US as an Immigrant Entrepreneur 04:58 The Power of Networking and LinkedIn 12:15 Geek Ventures' Unique Approach to Investing 20:36 Challenges Immigrant Founders Face in the US 22:54 The Future of AI and Its Impact 29:46 Building Efficient Teams in Startups 37:48 Advice for Aspiring VCs and Founders 40:57 Conclusion and Final Thoughts   In this episode, Ihar reveals how his own immigrant journey shaped his mission to close the opportunity gap for founders arriving in the U.S. without deep networks. He shares the traits that make immigrant entrepreneurs uniquely equipped to win—grit, ambition, and fresh perspectives—and explains how Geek Ventures provides the capital, connections, and strategic support to accelerate their success. The conversation explores the evolving landscape of AI and robotics, why small, elite teams often outperform larger ones, and how cultural differences influence fundraising strategies. Ihar also unpacks his framework for spotting exceptional founders early, building defensible moats beyond technology, and preparing for a future where AI will create more unicorns than ever before. Whether you’re a founder, investor, or AI enthusiast, this episode delivers actionable insights on scaling bold ideas into lasting impact.  

What happens when decades of media and venture capital experience converge? Stewart Alsop, co-founder of TK MediaTech Ventures and a VC since 1996, brings a journalist’s clarity and an investor’s vision to the evolving landscape of media technology. Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn: 00:48 Introduction and Guest Welcome 01:02 Early Career and First Impressions 01:37 Bluntness and Career Challenges 03:00 Investment Philosophy and Media Tech Focus 06:45 The Third Convergence of Media and Technology 16:20 AI and Media Tech Investments 23:56 Finding the Right Entrepreneurs 25:27 Conclusion and Final Thoughts   In this episode, Stewart joins Brian Smiga to explore the “third convergence” of media and technology, an era defined by high-fidelity digital twins, immersive media, and AI-powered creativity. He unpacks how this new phase builds on two prior tech-media inflection points and why his firm, TK MediaTech Ventures, is poised to capitalize on this transformation. The conversation dives into Stewart’s investment philosophy, the value of blunt honesty in venture partnerships, and the thesis behind faster time-to-liquidity in media tech. From the early bets on TiVo and Twitch to today’s frontier in digital avatars and real-time reality rendering, Stewart explains what founders and LPs should know and why the next media revolution may already be here.  

Renata Quintini and Roseanne Wincek are the powerhouse duo behind Renegade Partners, a venture firm purpose-built to guide startups through the critical "teenage years" of growth. With prior roles at Felicis, Lux, Canaan, and IVP, they’ve helped scale some of today’s most iconic companies and are rewriting the playbook on early-stage investing. Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn: 00:48 Welcome to Driving Alpha Podcast 00:59 Meet Renata Tini and Roseanne Ek 01:49 Renata's Journey: From Law to Venture Capital 09:20 Roseanne's Path: From Science to Venture 15:36 The Birth of Renegade Partners 18:35 Challenges and Strategies in Building a Fund 21:30 In-Person vs. Zoom: The Debate 23:10 Fundraising Challenges and Market Dynamics 26:30 Renegade Partners' Hands-On Approach 33:43 Evaluating Companies with Decision Science 36:50 Trends and Changes in Venture Capital 42:24 Navigating the AI Investment Landscape 46:40 Final Thoughts and Contact Information   In this episode, Renata and Roseanne break down how they’ve built Renegade Partners from the ground up, bringing a hands-on, decision science-driven approach to Series A investing. They share how their careers, spanning law, science, and venture capital, shaped a uniquely structured model focused on depth, not breadth, when working with founders. You’ll hear their behind-the-scenes story of launching a fund just days before the COVID lockdown, navigating market corrections, and building deep trust with LPs. From boardroom dynamics to AI diligence, they offer hard-earned insights into backing durable businesses in a noisy market. Whether you're a VC, operator, or founder, this conversation is packed with lessons on firm building, founder support, and strategic conviction.  

Francisco Gimenez, Partner at 8VC, shares his unconventional journey from Stanford PhD to venture capital, where he leads investments in Bio-IT and enterprise AI. Known for his technical background and sharp instincts, Francisco has been pivotal in backing startups pushing the boundaries of biotech and healthcare innovation.   Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn: 00:48 Introduction to Driving Alpha 01:18 Meet Francisco Gimenez: A Journey from Academia to Venture Capital 02:45 Francisco's Early Career and Academic Background 04:02 Joining Formation Eight and Transition to 8VC 06:18 Investing in Visionary Founders and Unique Companies 08:26 Challenges and Insights in Deep Tech and Biotech Investing 12:15 The Importance of Problem-Oriented Founders 19:51 Exciting Companies and Future Prospects 20:41 Engineering Principles in Biologics 22:26 Innovative Cell Biology Tools 23:36 Biological Foundation Models and AI 24:52 VC Perspective on Biotech and Pharma 26:00 Challenges in Biotech Innovation 33:50 NIH Funding and Indirect Costs 39:13 Advice for Aspiring VCs and Founders 42:20 Conclusion and Final Thoughts   In this episode, Francisco unpacks how he spots the kinds of biotech companies others overlook, those “end-of-one” startups tackling massively complex problems with groundbreaking approaches. He explains why he focuses on founders driven by a deep obsession with solving difficult problems, rather than chasing trends or easy wins. The discussion explores the future of biotech, with insights into companies like Big Hat Biosciences and Seleno Therapeutics, pioneers at the intersection of AI and biology. Francisco explains why applying engineering and iterative design principles to the life sciences is unlocking new frontiers in drug development. He also offers his take on NIH funding controversies and shares why decentralized biotech innovation could spark the next wave of transformative therapies.  

Ben Orthlieb, co-founder of Blue Moon and former LinkedIn and Emergence star, is transforming venture capital with AI and behavioral science. He discusses how Blue Moon identifies top founders and predicts billion-dollar potential through innovative evaluation methods. With proprietary AI agents, they analyze thousands of startups yearly, focusing on true founder potential rather than traditional metrics. Ben outlines their unique two-meeting investment process and emphasizes the importance of small checks to foster entrepreneurial innovation.

What if the key to outsized venture returns isn’t just a great idea but the unshakable resilience of the founder behind it? Jonathan Taylor and Brice Penaud of Water Bear Ventures believe grit is the ultimate differentiator, and they’ve built a fund around finding it. Jonathan brings years of experience driving strategic outcomes in venture, while Brice draws on a behavioral science background to decode the mindset of top-tier founders. Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn: 00:00 Introduction to Driving Alpha 00:43 Meet the Water Bear Team 02:15 The Origin of Water Bear Ventures 05:29 Defining Exponential Value 08:19 Art Meets Science in Early-Stage Investing 11:06 Building Relationships and Measuring Grit 16:44 Hunting Grounds for Gritty Founders 18:40 Involvement Beyond Capital 23:14 Lessons from Fund One and Plans for Fund Two 32:49 Optimizing LP Relationships 37:52 Future Vision for Water Bear Ventures 40:47 Conclusion and Final Thoughts   In this episode, Host Sam Silvershein sits down with the Water Bear Ventures team to explore how they invest in adaptability, grit, and long-term value creation at the earliest stages. From the origins of their firm’s name to the behavioral cues they use to identify resilient founders, Jonathan and Brice reveal the real mechanics of building a differentiated early-stage portfolio. You’ll hear how Water Bear's founder-first, anti-hype approach helped them outperform with Fund I and how those lessons are shaping their strategy for Fund II. They also break down how they build trust with LPs, support founders beyond capital, and maintain focus in a landscape full of distractions. If you want a deeper understanding of what makes early-stage investing work, this conversation delivers.  

What does it take to turn early traction into scalable momentum? And how do you know if your startup—and your engine—is even built for venture capital? Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn: 00:43 Introduction to Driving Alpha Podcast   02:20 Meet Manishh Patel: From Google to Nava Ventures   03:17 Growing Up in Rural Kentucky   05:24 The Journey to Venture Capital   08:17 Founding Nava Ventures   16:22 The Series A Focus   19:57 Building the Flywheel: Operational Infrastructure   20:41 Refining the Business Model   22:30 Hiring and Team Dynamics   22:52 The Importance of Closing Learning Loops   25:07 The Role of Venture Capital in Building Companies   28:22 Advice for Founders on Raising Venture Capital   35:07 Vetting Venture Capitalists   38:31 Final Thoughts and Contact Information In this episode, Host Zoe van den Bol sits down with Manish Patel, managing partner at Nava Ventures, for a candid and insightful conversation on what really matters at the Series A stage. Manish shares his journey from rural Kentucky to Google PM, to building Nava Ventures into one of the most focused Series A firms in the game. With lessons drawn from his operating days and years of backing breakout companies, this is a must-listen for founders, investors, and anyone building in early-stage tech. They also discussed why Series A is the most critical inflection point for a startup, how to build a real “flywheel” for growth, and when venture capital acts like fuel—or becomes a liability. Manish also shares what he looks for in founders, how Nava’s high-conviction, low-velocity model gives them an edge, and the key signals that differentiate enduring companies from fast, flashy ones.  

Can deep operational experience shape better venture outcomes? One VC proves it can—drawing from years in the founder seat to back today's most promising startups. Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn: 00:43 Introduction to Driving Alpha Podcast   01:05 Eric's Background and Career Journey   03:45 Transition to Venture Capital   06:27 Eric's Role at S3 Ventures   07:19 Investment Philosophy and Market Insights   12:12 Texas Venture Ecosystem   20:18 S3 Ventures' Unique Structure   29:56 Advice for Entrepreneurs and VCs   33:10 Conclusion and Final Thoughts    In this episode,  Eric Engineer, Partner at S3 Ventures, shares his journey from tech operator to venture investor. With roots in software engineering, leadership roles at Microsoft, and experience as a startup CEO, Eric offers a rare lens on what founders really need to succeed. He reflects on the emotional toll of entrepreneurship, the critical value of founder resilience, and how those experiences influence his approach to investing. The conversation also explores the evolution of the Texas startup ecosystem, S3 Ventures’ unique single-LP structure, and the nuanced decision-making process within the firm. Eric outlines what excites him most about AI’s impact on SaaS and healthcare and why startup longevity and team-building remain core to his investment thesis. For anyone curious about what it takes to win in venture—both as a founder and investor—this episode is full of actionable insight.  

Can Middle America become the next innovation powerhouse? Aziz Gilani, General Partner at Mercury, thinks so—and he’s proving it by backing cloud and enterprise software startups across Houston and beyond. With a track record that includes major exits like Black Lotus and Modus, Aziz has helped Mercury’s portfolio reach over $9 billion in enterprise value. Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn: 00:43 Introduction to Driving Alpha   00:51 Meet Aziz Gilani: Venture Powerhouse   02:08 Aziz's Journey to Venture Capital   04:20 Houston: A Hub for Enterprise Software   05:37 The Evolution of Texas's Startup Ecosystem   06:29 What VCs Look for in Entrepreneurs   10:29 The Growth of the Venture Capital Industry   15:38 The Impact of Regulations on Startups   24:29 Future Opportunities in Technology   31:41 Connecting with Aziz and Mercury Fund   34:29 Conclusion and Final Thoughts   In this episode, Aziz joins Steve Brotman to unpack how Mercury is scaling venture success outside traditional hubs. He shares the journey that led him from early enterprise software gigs to shaping national innovation policy. Along the way, Aziz discusses the rise of Texas as a startup epicenter, fueled by domain-specific advantages and the growing infrastructure led by institutions like Rice University’s Ion. Aziz dives deep into what he looks for in founders—those with a “spike” of excellence—and why massive market potential, tenacity, and adaptability are essential. The conversation also explores the explosive growth of venture capital as an industry, the evolving regulatory landscape, and why now is a critical moment for sectors like AI, cybersecurity, and quantum computing. If you want insight into how to build capital-efficient, billion-dollar companies outside the coasts, this episode is a must-listen.

Matt McIlwain, Managing Director at Madrona, has spent over two decades investing in intelligent applications and driving innovation in AI. With a track record including Smartsheet, Apptio, and Isilon, he brings rare perspective from 25 years in venture capital. Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn: 00:43 Introduction to Driving Alpha Podcast 00:57 Guest Introduction: Matt McElwain from Madrona 01:41 Matt's Journey into Venture Capital 03:06 Early Years at Madrona and the Dot-Com Bust 04:45 Madrona's Investment Strategies and Success Stories 06:29 Driving Alpha for Portfolio Companies 09:34 Evaluating Founders: The Power of Why 24:49 Navigating Exits and M&A Landscape 28:25 Life Lessons and Long-Term Perspective 32:40 Conclusion and Future Outlook   In this episode Matt recounts his unconventional entry into venture capital—from auto parts to Amazon-era Seattle—and how he joined Madrona just before the dot-com crash. He reflects on the firm’s resilience through market downturns, the evolution of their early-stage to acceleration-stage investment strategy, and how conviction-driven bets like Isilon and Smartsheet became fund-makers despite difficult timing. Matt breaks down his “power of why” framework for evaluating startups, emphasizing founder-market fit and the value of long-term thinking. He shares candid insights into Madrona’s hands-on approach with founders, how he spots extraordinary teams, and why curiosity is the ultimate trait in successful entrepreneurs. From navigating exits in today’s M&A climate to building enduring partnerships, this conversation is a masterclass in venture capital longevity.