In this episode of Nothing Ventured, host Arish Shah sits down with DDan Pandeni Idhenga, co-founder of the London Venture Capital Network, one of the fastest-growing venture communities in the UK. Dan shares his diverse journey from Namibia to New York and London, with experiences at J.P. Morgan, AIG, and successful startups like Confirm. The conversation delves into the challenges of accessing the venture capital ecosystem, the intricacies of scaling an events business while maintaining its unique charm, and the importance of educating the next generation of venture professionals. Dan discusses the reality check many face when entering VC, delineating three archetypes within the industry: the researcher or analyst, the community builder, and the investor. He also addresses the perceived flaws in the UK's venture model and emphasises the positive culture he aims to foster within the London Venture Capital Network. Tune in for insights on building connections between aspiring VCs, seasoned investors, and ambitious founders. Timestamps: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Nothing Ventured and Dan Pandeni Idhenga 00:01:04 - The Opaque VC Ecosystem and Access 00:03:05 - Transitioning to Community-Based Business 00:04:57 - Vision for the London Venture Capital Network 00:07:37 - Scaling While Preserving Quality 00:09:07 - Identifying the Secret Sauce of Events 00:10:40 - Differentiating LVCN from Other Events 00:12:47 - Building a High-Quality Community 00:15:05 - Lessons from the Namibia Startup Investor Forum 00:18:08 - The Importance of Experimentation in Community Building 00:21:41 - Engaging Students and Young Professionals in VC 00:22:37 - Tools for Breaking into Venture Capital 00:24:16 - Understanding the Three Archetypes in VC 00:27:08 - The Importance of Networking and Writing 00:30:19 - Evolving Landscape of Venture Capital 00:34:19 - Startup Experience vs. Direct Entry into VC 00:40:19 - Adjusting LVCN's Approach to Industry Changes 00:44:57 - The Value of Startup Experience for Aspiring Investors Find Dan Pandeni Idhenga online at: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danidhenga/ Twitter: https://x.com/DanIdhenga London Venture Capital Network: https://www.londonvcnetwork.com/ This episode is sponsored by EmergeOne, fractional CFOs for venture backed tech startups from Seed to Series B. Get in touch at https://emergeone.co.uk/contact-us/ or join the CFO team at https://emergeone.co.uk/join-the-cfo-team/ Sign up for EmergeOne’s weekly newsletter, Off Balance at https://off-balance.beehiiv.com/subscribe