Founder Friendly: Venture Capital | Startups | Tech

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Apr 2024

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About the show

Welcome to Founder Friendly, NYU Stern's first undergraduate podcast. Episodes are released weekly. Join us as we talk to industry leaders, successful founders, and venture capitalists to learn about the latest trends, strategies, and insights in the venture capital ecosystem. So tune in, take notes, and join the conversation as we explore the exciting world of venture capital together. https://www.nyusvs.org/

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51 recent

April 30, 202443 min

Daybreak Dialogues | Rex Woodbury (Daybreak)

What is the new generation up to? Tune in as we invite Rex Woodbury, founder of Daybreak and the mind behind Digital Native, a digital newsletter with over 60,000 subscribers. From investing at TPG and Index Ventures to creating his venture fund, Daybreak, Rex brings a wealth of knowledge and advice to anyone looking to break into VC. Join us as we explore the founding rationale behind Daybreak, emerging trends in Gen Z, and how Rex held a record for the fastest half-marathon in a suit! Chapter Timestamps: (00:00) Background and Introduction to Rex (06:04) Digital Native and Serendipity (13:44) Writing Process (15:03) Shift in Work Economies (18:33) Behavior Shifts in Gen-Z (24:20) Starting Daybreak (32:25) Founder Traits (35:30) Seeking Mentorship (37:20) Half-Marathon in a Suit (41:00) Ikigai and Curiosity

March 12, 202442 min

Investing, Operating, and Hustling | Shiyan Koh (Hustle Fund)

Tune in to a special episode featuring Shiyan Koh, co-founder and General Partner at Hustle Fund, a firm that specializes in seed and pre-seed investments. We'll dive into Shiyan's impressive career journey, covering her investment roles at Institutional Venture Partners and Bridgewater, her pivotal role in scaling Nerdwallet from $1 million to $150 million in annual recurring revenue, and her experiences founding and leading investments at Hustle Fund. Join us to also learn why business school is a perfect matchmaker, the significance of acquiring investing experience as recent graduates, and Shiyan's insights on what really needs venture funding currently.

December 12, 2023Episode 445 min

Tech Investing with General Atlantic | Varun Ramakrishnan, James Flynn

We are excited to host our first two-on-two episode this season with Varun Ramakrishnan and James Flynn from General Atlantic – a leading global growth equity investor. Both Varun and James graduated from University of Pennsylvania, and have diverse backgrounds. Varun previously held machine learning and software engineering roles at various startups, while James gained experience in growth-stage VC at Georgian and investment banking at Goldman Sachs. Join us as they delve into their current roles at General Atlantic, their approach to technology investing, the cost structures of AI, how companies are adapting to AI, and AI's role in their daily workflows.

December 5, 2023Episode 344 min

AI Applications in Industrials | Michael Dolbec

Join us in hosting Michael Dolbec, Managing Partner at Momenta Ventures, for our third episode this season. Michael, who boasts an extensive investing career with funds like Kleiner Perkins and Greylock and has led corporate venture capital at companies including IBM, LG Electronics, and General Electric, will share insights on the current state of AI in the industrial space. Tune in to hear a wide range of topics: from personal advice given by John Doerr during Michael's early career days, to how generative AI is revolutionizing manufacturing, and exploring the monetization potential of processing industrial data.

October 23, 2023Episode 241 min

Investing in Healthcare AI | Sanjana Basu (Radical Ventures)

Join us in our second episode this season as we host Sanjana Basu from Radical Ventures. Transitioning from investment banking to venture capital, Sanjana offers a deep dive into the world of healthcare AI. Explore the types of AI companies, understand why a purely technical team doesn't guarantee success, and discover how Radical extends support to founders beyond just financial capital. Additionally, gain insights into how Radical's portfolio companies are pioneering transformations in the healthcare sector through the power of artificial intelligence.

October 5, 202339 min

From CIO to VC: Enterprise Software | Yousuf Khan (Ridge Ventures)

In the very first episode of our AI sprint, we're joined by Yousuf Khan, Partner at Ridge Ventures, specializing in early-stage B2B enterprise software. Yousuf imparts his expertise from various roles in managing, advising, and investing in software companies, providing a lens into his investment philosophy. Tune in as we discuss pragmatic insights on building AI companies for founders, strategic deployment of AI features for businesses, and the ever-increasing imperative of data security in the enterprise software domain

May 29, 202340 min

(Special) From Dorm Room to Board Room | Nicole Ripka (Dorm Room Fund)

Join us in this exciting special episode as we sit down with Nicole Ripka. Nicole, currently the Managing Partner of Dorm Room Fund and the Founder of GayJoy, brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the table as an early-in-career VC. As a current MBA student at NYU Stern, her insights are a goldmine for anyone looking to break into the VC scene. In this captivating conversation, Nicole shares her remarkable journey as Peleton's first intern and the valuable lessons she learned along the way. We delve into the intricacies of the venture capital industry, uncovering Nicole's top tips for aspiring VC professionals.Tune in and discover the strategies and wisdom that can help you navigate the exciting landscape of VC and turn your entrepreneurial dreams into reality. Don't miss out on this extraordinary episode! Learn more about Nicole: LinkedIn Twitter Where to find more of us:Website TwitterInstagram

April 24, 2023Episode 644 min

Investing Early in the Future of Food and Beyond | Lisa Feria (Stray Dog Capital)

What does it take to be an early investor in Beyond Meat? Conviction. In this episode of our Food and Beverage Sprint, we sit down with Lisa Feria, the Managing Partner and CEO of Stray Dog Capital, to discuss her journey into food tech investing. In our discussion, Lisa discusses her early investment in Beyond Meat, one of the world's most successful plant-based meat companies, and how the company's hype changed the investing landscape. Join us as we talk about the shift towards emphasizing healthier alternative foods and how Stray Dog Capital is helping to drive that change. Learn more about Lisa: LinkedIn Twitter Where to find more of us: Website Twitter Instagram

April 8, 2023Episode 536 min

Building Brands at Venture Scale | Hayden Williams (BrandProject)

Why would VC invest in consumer brands? In the fifth episode of our Food and Beverage Sprint, Hayden Williams of BrandProject explains how consumer brands can generate venture returns. Tune in as we dive into the world of consumer packaged goods (CPG), and how BrandProject supports its portfolio companies to success. You won't want to miss Hayden's valuable insights into the world of CPG investments! Learn more about Hayden: LinkedIn Twitter Where to find more of us: Website Twitter Instagram

April 2, 2023Episode 442 min

From Art to Alternative Proteins | Caroline Mak (Big Idea Ventures)

Artist, accidental founder, accelerator director. Join us as we chat with Caroline Mak, Director of Big Idea Ventures, New York Accelerator, about the future of food and alternative proteins! 🌾 Caroline shares her journey from being an artist and a founder of an artisanal beverage company, to enabling founders and innovators to disrupt the food ecosystem. In this episode, we discuss the importance of supporting ecosystems and relationships as a founder and venture capitalist. 🤝🌟 We also discuss what's next in the alternative foods space and gain insights into success in accelerator programs. Don't miss this exciting conversation with Caroline Mak! Learn more about Caroline: LinkedIn Where to find more of us: Website Twitter Instagram