How do top VCs really pick winners, and what’s the “fine print” every founder misses? In this Demo Day episode, we go deep inside the investing mind of Jeff Crusey, EVP at Blacklake Group—one of the most unique and active voices in deep tech, defense, and venture capital. Jeff Crusey’s journey moves from building batteries in his garage to becoming a leader at Blacklake Group, where he now guides founders and scouts the “thick tail” of defense technology startups. Jeff opens up about the habi...
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How do top VCs really pick winners, and what’s the “fine print” every founder misses? In this Demo Day episode, we go deep inside the investing mind of Jeff Crusey, EVP at Blacklake Group—one of the most unique and active voices in deep tech, defense, and venture capital. Jeff Crusey’s journey moves from building batteries in his garage to becoming a leader at Blacklake Group, where he now guides founders and scouts the “thick tail” of defense technology startups. Jeff opens up about the habi...
Why Most First-Time VCs Struggle (And How to Survive) with Rick Smith
Demo Day Podcast
1 hour 11 minutes
4 months ago
Why Most First-Time VCs Struggle (And How to Survive) with Rick Smith
Starting a venture capital fund sounds glamorous — but the reality? It’s a long, grueling, high-stakes journey. In this episode of the Demo Day Podcast, we sit down with Rick Smith, Co-Founder of Crosscut Ventures, to unpack why most first-time VCs fail, how to navigate the emerging manager landscape, and what it really takes to build a lasting VC career. Rick shares hard-won lessons from 25+ years in venture, including: - What makes or breaks a fund's first few years - How to raise capital ...
Demo Day Podcast
How do top VCs really pick winners, and what’s the “fine print” every founder misses? In this Demo Day episode, we go deep inside the investing mind of Jeff Crusey, EVP at Blacklake Group—one of the most unique and active voices in deep tech, defense, and venture capital. Jeff Crusey’s journey moves from building batteries in his garage to becoming a leader at Blacklake Group, where he now guides founders and scouts the “thick tail” of defense technology startups. Jeff opens up about the habi...
