Itamar Novick, founder and General Partner at Recursive Ventures, explains how a repeat-founder’s playbook shapes better early-stage investing. Itamar draws on 25 years of startup experience (including executive roles at Gigya and Life360) to describe the firm’s disciplined pre-seed focus, how he evaluates founders and markets, and why AI applications built on first-party data will create the next wave of meaningful enterprise value. He shares concrete advice on what founders should share with VCs before/during the first meeting, how Recursive filters opportunities, what makes an investable TAM, and the common reasons he passes after initial interest.

Adam Draper, Founder and Managing Director at Boost VC, shares stories of his family’s pivotal role in shaping Silicon Valley, from his grandfather’s pioneering work at Sutter Hill Ventures to his father’s global expansion of Draper Associates. Building on that legacy, Adam created Boost VC to back founders tackling endeavors of consequence — companies so bold they’re often dismissed as “too risky” by traditional investors. He explains how pre-seed investing differs from later-stage venture capital and why he loves supporting technically ambitious founders in frontier industries, crypto, space, and deep tech. He also reflects on how curiosity, not consensus, has guided some of Boost VC’s biggest wins. Adam offers candid insights on founder evaluation, the power of weirdness, and how taking risks can often lead to the safest path to freedom.

Maryam Haque, Founding Executive Director of Venture Forward, discusses how she is helping to open doors to venture capital for people from all backgrounds. She traces her journey from Mississippi to Silicon Valley and highlights the structural barriers that kept venture capital concentrated for decades. Maryam offers a grounded view of the current market dynamics, the growing importance of education and mentorship for emerging managers, and how programs like VC University and the GP Masterclass help build a stronger, more inclusive industry.

Tim Guleri, Managing Partner at Sierra Ventures, reflects on 25 years in venture capital and his journey from Chandigarh to Silicon Valley. He shares how hands-on experience as a founder shapes his investing philosophy, why early-stage VCs must guide founders toward long-term fundamentals, and why raising too much capital too soon can hurt a company. Tim explains Sierra’s disciplined approach to partnering with entrepreneurs, the power of unique customer insight, and his hope that America preserves its structural advantage in entrepreneurship.

Bhaskar Ghosh, Partner at 8VC, reflects on his journey from Calcutta to Silicon Valley, spanning influential roles at Oracle, Yahoo, LinkedIn, and NerdWallet before moving into venture capital. Now a leader at 8VC, BG introduces his “geometry framework” (persona, product, budget) for enterprise startups, shares insights on the opportunities in generative AI and data infrastructure, and talks about why managing uncertainty is the core skill in zero-to-one journeys. He also emphasizes intentional networking, the long-term nature of venture relationships, and his deep passion for music through his support for Ragas Live.

Zach Noorani, Partner at Foundation Capital, shares hard-earned insights from more than a decade in venture capital. He talks about why the most important question investors wrestle with is differentiation, why authentic conversations with founders matter more than polished pitches, and how the best founders demonstrate velocity of learning. Zach also reflects on the evolving nature of venture—how the industry has become more professionalized, what excites him about the new wave of innovation, and why empathy and due process matter in society as much as in business.

Jacques Benkoski, General Partner at US Venture Partners, shares lessons from decades of experience as an operator, CEO, and VC. He challenges common startup myths and offers a framework for market entry that emphasizes strategy over luck. Jacques explains why focus—not speed—is the key to building category leadership, and why the venture ecosystem has become noisier, faster, and harder to navigate. He also opens up about the psychological toll of startup leadership and why founders need thought partners, not just capital.

Amit Garg, co-founder and managing partner at Tau Ventures, shares how he backs startups at the intersection of healthcare, enterprise, and automation.. Drawing from his experiences as an operator, VC, and nonprofit founder, Amit offers a pragmatic and deeply thoughtful perspective on what makes a venture-backable company, and why doing the right thing can (and should) drive valuation.

Dave McClure, founder of Practical Venture Capital and co-founder of 500 Startups, dives deep into the growing role of secondaries in venture capital. Dave explains how today’s longer startup cycles and liquidity droughts have created opportunities (and confusion) around secondary markets. He breaks down what secondaries actually are, how Practical VC operates, and key trends shaking up the system. With his trademark candor, Dave also shares hard truths for both founders and VCs navigating this next chapter of private markets.

Brian Frank, the founder and general partner at FTW Ventures, shares why he left his founder career to invest in startups solving real-world problems starting with the global food system. He explores the climate risks, supply chain fragility, and health challenges driving the need for innovation in food and agriculture. From AI and biotech to automation, Brian highlights where the biggest opportunities lie. He also offers candid advice for founders navigating slow-moving, regulation-heavy industries and calls for a more collaborative, mission-aligned approach to venture capital.

Geoff Ralston, founder of SAIF (Safe Artificial Intelligence Fund), and former President of Y Combinator, shares his vision for building a safer AI future. Geoff discusses the risks and promise of AI as a force beyond traditional tools, posing AI as a set of entities that will reshape the way we work, live, and relate to each other. He talks about biosafety, interpretability, and misinformation as key focus areas for innovation. Geoff also shares advice for founders navigating this fast-evolving landscape and reflects on how thoughtful investment today can shape the future of humanity.

Nadav Eylath, founder and managing partner of at.inc, shares his philosophy of early-stage investing rooted in trust, long-term thinking, and technical rigor. Nadav talks about backing founders at the very inception of their startup journey—sometimes even before they’ve left their jobs. He explains how asking questions like “What kind of company will this be in 30 years?” leads to deeper conviction and better partnerships. Nadav also shares his views on why venture capital needs to evolve and how a flexible, founder-first approach can reshape the industry.

Tomoko Ishikura, Managing Partner at Kicker Ventures, shares her unique perspective on investing in the future of healthcare. She talks about building a venture firm rooted in empathy, humility, and measurable impact. Tomoko explains how Kicker Ventures seeks science-backed innovations that move the heart, not just the market, and why strong communities are vital for startup success. She offers candid advice for founders on articulating impact, leaning into community support, and navigating a healthcare landscape that's increasingly collaborative.

Mahesh Ram, serial entrepreneur and former Head of AI at Zoom, shares his journey from building pioneering companies in education and AI to helping launch FUNDA, a vibrant founder-to-founder community. He discusses the evolution of AI-first startups, lessons from working closely with Zoom founder Eric Yuan, and what it takes to build enduring tech companies today. Mahesh offers real-world advice on how founders can navigate the rapidly changing startup landscape, with a deep focus on customer obsession, rapid product iteration, and embedding technology into core workflows.

Andrew Cleland, Chief Investment Officer at Techstars, shares how the world’s leading accelerator invests in early-stage startups. He breaks down what makes a great founder, how Techstars selects startups from tens of thousands of applicants, and why a strong technical differentiator is crucial. Andrew reveals the most common reasons startups get rejected and how Techstars mentors founders to avoid early mistakes. He also talks about the biggest themes shaping the future of venture capital.

Stephen Crook, Executive Director at AchieveKids, explains how the organization supports students with special needs through individualized education, behavioral support, and vocational training. For over 60 years, AchieveKids has provided a structured and supportive environment where students can develop independence. By working closely with school districts, educators, and families, the organization helps students transition back into public schools or the workforce. In this special Podcasthon episode, Stephen also shares the challenges and rewards of leading a nonprofit in special education, the impact of mentorship on student success, and how AchieveKids partners with 35+ school districts to fulfill its mission.

Allen Taylor, Managing Partner at Endeavor Catalyst, shares how Endeavor is fueling the rise of world-class startups in emerging markets—places often overlooked by traditional venture capital. Allen reveals how Endeavor identifies and supports high-potential founders before investing, why scaling talent is just as critical as scaling products, and how global ecosystems are evolving to produce unicorns from regions like Latin America, the Middle East, and Sub-Saharan Africa. He also shares practical advice for founders operating outside established innovation hubs and highlights how Endeavor’s unique investment model flips traditional venture capital on its head.

Connor Ryan, Partner at Bridge Venture Fund, shares his insights on investing in overlooked markets and the importance of sustainable unit economics. He explains why he prioritizes revenue quality over aggressive growth, the difference between projected and demonstrated product-market fit, and how Bridge Venture Fund supports startups tackling inefficiencies in industries like legal tech and sports sponsorship analytics. Connor also discusses the asymmetric risks in venture capital and how VCs can better support founders, even when things don’t go as planned.

David Hornik, founding partner at Lobby Capital, shares insights from his 25-year journey in the industry. David discusses the evolution of venture capital, the growing importance of relationships over transactions, and his structured yet practical approach to investing. He highlights how liquidity challenges impact founders and early investors. David also shares his take on what makes a startup truly investable and why understanding a problem deeply is more valuable than chasing market trends.

Pablo Srugo, partner at Mistral Venture Partners and host of The Product Market Fit Show, shares his journey from co-founding startups like Gymtrack to becoming a venture capitalist focused on seed-stage investments. He reflects on the lessons learned through his and other founders' entrepreneurial highs and lows, including raising $6 million for a wearable tech company and navigating the challenges of a failed acquisition. Now, as an investor, Pablo emphasizes the importance of founder passion, solving top-priority customer problems, and the "why" behind ventures. He discusses what makes founders stand out, noting that only 10% of first meetings turn into investments. With vivid examples, like a company scaling to $90M in revenue before a dramatic downturn, Pablo provides an authentic look into the messy realities of early-stage investing.