In this episode of Fireside with a VC, I sit down with John Frankel, founder and partner at ff Venture Capital, to discuss:
· The rise of AI Point Solutions (AIPS)
· ff VC’s new fund driving innovation in energy and manufacturing
· How VC fund size and strategy influence performance across different economic cycles
John shares insights on how targeted AI solutions and sector-focused innovation can rejuvenate America’s competitiveness — and what it takes for a venture fund to thrive or fail under shifting market conditions.
Upcoming Live Event
Hear John present his fund strategy at 7BC’s Global VC Demo Day in New York City on September 17th, 2025, alongside 100+ VCs, family offices, institutional investors, HNWIs, startups, and more. Join us for a 2-hour networkingreception following 7 hand-selected VCs presenting their funds.
👉 Register here: https://lu.ma/f3qxubi5
📌NYC is the 4th stop of our global tour.
Apply to attend our upcoming events: https://lu.ma/user/usr-8Y0b18KjVLZhAPm
Global Tour Dates🍎 New York City – September 17, 2025 – Host: Brown Rudnick
🇺🇸 Washington DC – September 25, 2025 – Host: Foley (all-star VC panel + networking, not VC Demo Day)
🇨🇱 Austin – October 14, 2025 – Host: CBRE
🇺🇸 San Francisco – October 29, 2025 (Day after TechCrunch Disrupt) – Host: Greenberg Traurig
☀️ Los Angeles / Santa Monica – November 5, 2025 – Host: ExpertDOJO
🌴 Miami – December 4, 2025 (During Art Basel, Dec 3-7)
🇦🇪 Dubai – February 2026
🇨🇱 Austin – March 18, 2026 (SXSW VC-LP mixer – no VC Demo Day) – Host: CBRE
🍎 New York City – April 2026 – Host: Brown Rudnick
🇺🇸 San Francisco – April 2026 – Host: Greenberg Traurig
🇸🇬 Singapore – May 2026 – Host: Greenberg Traurig
🇩🇪 Berlin – June 11, 2026 (Day after SuperVenture)🇬🇧 London – June 16, 2026 – Host: Brown Rudnick
7BC’s Fund of Funds + Cherry-Pick Direct VC Strategy (and why now) + Invitation to 7BC VC-LP-Startup EventsLearn how 7BC combines a Fund of Funds (FoF) with a Cherry Pick Direct VC strategy to back top-decile managers and invest directly in their best companies—unlocking liquidity with secondaries so VCs can return cash to LPs faster.What you’ll learn• Why FoF + Direct VC now• The best VCs from the ’70s–’90s scaled 10x–30x and became mega funds doing late growth rounds near exit prices. Returns are more compressed and take longer to realize.• The Cambrian explosion of VC funds: Alumni from OpenAI, Palantir, Google and countless exited founders have launched funds. NYC went from 50 VCs fifteen years ago to 1,200+; Silicon Valley has thousands. It’s now impossible to track managers and deals without serious AI and dedicated resources.• How 7BC Capital (FoF) invests: We often join final closes of top emerging managers after TVPI is already up, making our commitment worth appromimately 1.2x–2.5x on day one. For established, top-decile sub-$250m funds, we work hard to access first or second closes when final closes are shut.• How 7BC Venture Capital (Direct VC) invests: We fund primaries and buy secondaries—typically preferred shares in the best five companies inside a VC’s portfolio—so that manager can deliver DPI to LPs ahead of their next raise. This directly addresses the VC–LP–startup liquidity crunch.• Our AI edge: 7BC uses AI to map and monitor thousands of VC funds and tens of thousands of startups, surfacing the right managers, the right companies, and the right secondary windows.Get in touch & apply for events• Contact us to attend our 10-20 person VIP dinners the day before or after our larger Global VC Demo Day events: https://www.7bc.vc/contact• Apply to attend upcoming events: https://lu.ma/user/usr-8Y0b18KjVLZhAPmUpcoming in-person events🍎 New York City — Sept 17, 2025 — Host: Brown Rudnick🇺🇸 Washington, DC — Sept 25, 2025 — Host: Foley🇨🇱 Austin — Oct 14, 2025 — Host: CBRE🇺🇸 San Francisco — Oct 29, 2025 (day after TechCrunch Disrupt) — Host: Greenberg Traurig☀️ Los Angeles / Santa Monica — Nov 5, 2025 — Host: ExpertDOJO🌴 Miami — Dec 4, 2025 (during Art Basel, Dec 3–7)🇦🇪 Dubai — Feb 2026🍎 New York City — Apr 2026 — Host: Brown Rudnick🇺🇸 San Francisco — Apr 2026 — Host: Greenberg Traurig🇸🇬 Singapore — May 2026 — Host: Greenberg Traurig🇩🇪 Berlin — June 11, 2026 (day after SuperVenture)🇬🇧 London — June 16, 2026 — Host: Brown Rudnick 👍 Like, comment & subscribe for more discussions on venture strategies, liquidity, and portfolio construction. Legal DisclaimerThis video and description (the “Content”) are provided by 7BC Venture Capital and 7BC Capital (together, “7BC”) for informational purposes only. The Content does not constitute investment, legal, tax, or accounting advice, and does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any security, interest in a fund, secondary position, or other transaction. Investing involves significant risk, including the possible loss of all or a substantial portion of invested capital. Venture investments and secondary transactions are speculative, illiquid, and subject to long holding periods and transfer restrictions. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Any targets, estimates, ranges, or examples (including TVPI/DPI figures or multiples) are illustrative only, reflect assumptions that may change, and are not guarantees of performance or liquidity.References to specific funds, managers, companies, or case studies are for illustration and discussion only and do not constitute recommendations, endorsements, or indications that any such investments were or will be profitable or are held by 7BC. Hashtags: #VentureCapital #VC #FundOfFunds #Secondaries #Liquidity #LPs #Startups #AI #DPI #TVPI #7BC
E122 Fireside Chat at Global VC Demo Day London June 2025 with Neil Foster & Scott Smedresman on Fireside with a VC. Discussing the changes and market dynamics of the VC startup ecosystems in London, New York, and Silicon Valley. What has changed and how should strategies adjust?
🚀 VCs: Pitch your fund to LPs forfree at the Global VC Demo Day: https://www.7bc.vc/events
📺 Watch the full episode on YouTube:https://youtu.be/J1wcOGGqZOc🎙 Find all episodes of Fireside with a VC: https://www.7bc.vc/podcast💡 Learn more about Neil Foster & Scott Smedresman and BrownRudnickhere:
· https://www.linkedin.com/in/neil-foster-6b87405/
· https://linkedin.com/in/scottsmedresman
💰 Learn more about 7BC Venture Capital: https://7bc.vc
📩 Contact Andrew Romans: https://www.linkedin.com/in/romans/
📚 Find Andrew's 4 books on VC & tech here: http://rb.gy/x1jrr2
Join us at our in-person events where we host a VIP dinner for 20 individuals and Global VC Demo Day events for roughly 100 approved VCs, LPs, and select participants:
Apply to attend our upcoming events: https://lu.ma/user/usr-8Y0b18KjVLZhAPm
🍎 New York City – September 17, 2025 –Host: Brown Rudnick
🇺🇸 Washington DC – September 25, 2025 – Host: Foley
🇨🇱 Austin – October 14, 2025 – Host: CBRE
🇺🇸 San Francisco – October 29, 2025 (Dayafter TechCrunch Disrupt) - Host: Greenberg Traurig
☀️ Los Angeles / Santa Monica – November 5,2025 – Host: ExpertDOJO
🌴 Miami – December 4, 2025 (During ArtBasel, Dec 3-7)
🇦🇪 Dubai – February 2026
🍎 New York City – April, 2026 – Host: BrownRudnick
🇺🇸 San Francisco – April, 2026- Host: Greenberg Traurig
🇸🇬 Singapore – May,2026 – Host: Greenberg Traurig
🇩🇪 Berlin – June 11, 2026 – Day after SuperVenture
🇬🇧 London – June 16, 2026 – Host: BrownRudnick
E121 Mark Terbeek, Partner at Greycroft, talking about founder-investor-fit on Fireside with a VC. One of the keys to success is carefully selecting your investors, building a well-functioning board of directors and managing these long-term relationships. How to evaluate VCs and create founder-investor fit and maintain this over time even if the board member from the venture firm changes and you bring on new board members as you go through your venture funding journey. Best practices on how VCs should approach being a board member.
🚀 VCs: Pitch your fund to LPs for free at the Global VC Demo Day: https://www.7bc.vc/events
📺 Watch the full episode on YouTube:https://youtu.be/Wdb6DF1oYLc
🎙 Find all episodes of Fireside with a VC: https://www.7bc.vc/podcast
💡 Learn more about Mark Terbeek and Greycroft here: https://www.greycroft.com/
💰 Learn more about 7BC Venture Capital: https://7bc.vc
📩 Contact Andrew Romans: https://www.linkedin.com/in/romans/
📚 Find Andrew's 4 books on VC & tech here: Amazonauthor page.
Join us at our in-person events:
🍎 New York City – September 17, 2025 –Host: Brown Rudnick | Register
🇺🇸 Washington DC – September 25, 2025 – Host:DLA Piper | Register
🇨🇱 Austin – October 14, 2025 – Host: CBRE | Register
🇺🇸 San Francisco – October 29, 2025 (Day after TechCrunch Disrupt) - Host: Greenberg Traurig | Register
☀️ Los Angeles / Santa Monica – November 5, 2025 – Host:ExpertDOJO | Register
🌴 Miami – December 4, 2025 (During Art Basel, Dec 3-7) | Register
🇦🇪 Dubai – February 2026
🍎 New York City – April, 2026 – Host: Brown Rudnick
🇸🇬 Singapore – May, 2026 – Host: Greenberg Traurig
🇬🇧 London – June 16, 2026 – Host: Brown
Greg Kidd on Fireside with a VC. Greg recently acquired VastBank | Fintech Pioneer | Early Investor: Twitter, Square, Coinbase, Solana | Ex-Ripple (#10) | Built & Scaled First Company to IPO | Co-Founder, GlobaliD | CEO, USBC | Ex Federal Reserve | Former roommate with Jack Dorsey. Greg and I get into a few topics, including all things related to the future of finance, banking, payments, USDC vs USBC, identity being added to crypto payments and transactions, open banking and fair access, democratizing money, 10,000% markups banks take on ACH and wire transfers over the Fed charges, banking without borders, who needs Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Google or Apple to take rent on payments and how to stop this, importance of securitization and tokenization of real assets, risk management in a world of crypto and digitized centralized and decentralized banking and finance.
📺 Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Hpf1mdePa0g
🎙 Find all episodes of Fireside with a VC: https://www.7bc.vc/podcast
💡 Learn more about Greg and his private investment firm Hard Yaka Ventures: https://www.hardyaka.com/.
💰 Learn more about 7BC Venture Capital: https://7bc.vc
📩 Contact Andrew Romans: https://www.linkedin.com/in/romans/
🚀 VCs: Pitch your fund to LPs for free at the Global VC Demo Day: https://www.7bc.vc/events🔹 Singapore – May 6, 2025: https://lu.ma/hgij4ynk🔹 San Francisco – May 21, 2025: https://lu.ma/00xkzshf🔹 London – June 17, 2025: https://lu.ma/br2zb72h
🔹 New York City – September 17, 2025
📩 Subscribe to our newsletter for exclusive VC & startup insights: https://subscribe.7bcventurecapital.com
📚 Get Andrew's latest books:
💬 Join the conversation! Leave your comments and let us know your thoughts on this episode.
How can AI help enterprises unlock valuable insights hidden in tens of thousands of contracts, invoices, and financial documents? Terzo is using AI to revolutionize enterprise data mining, tackling the complex world of Fortune 500 sales.
With 90% of global IT spend concentrated in the Fortune 100, is it possible to build a multi-billion-dollar company without selling into the Fortune 500? We break down the differences between servicing Fortune 500 giants versus the faster sales cycles of smaller enterprise customers.
Other key topics include:
📺 Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/NIdAl92OIlo
🎙 Find all episodes of Fireside with a VC: https://www.7bc.vc/podcast
💡 Learn more about Terzo: https://terzo.ai
📩 Contact Terzo CEO Brandon Card: bcard@terzocloud.com
💰 Learn more about 7BC Venture Capital:https://7bc.vc
💰 Contact Andrew Romans: https://www.linkedin.com/in/romans/
🚀 VCs: Pitch your fund to LPs for free atthe Global VC Demo Day: https://www.7bc.vc/events
🔹 Austin SXSW – March 11, 2025: https://lu.ma/mgsso7p2
🔹 Singapore – May 6, 2025: https://lu.ma/hgij4ynk
🔹 San Francisco – May 21, 2025: https://lu.ma/00xkzshf
🔹 London – June 17, 2025: https://lu.ma/br2zb72h
📩 Subscribe to our newsletter for exclusive VC& startup insights: https://subscribe.7bcventurecapital.com
📚 Get Andrew's latest books:• Masters of Raising Venture Capital: Amazon Link
• Masters of Corporate Venture Capital: http://rb.gy/u46e9r
💬 Join the conversation! Leave your comments and let us know your thoughts on this episode.
👎Negative shoutout to Riverside. We pay for their professional subscription and they could not remove the Riverside watermark because my guest used a blurred background. Someone tell me a better software to use. I’m ready to dump Riverside if they can’t fix this after wasting our time on failed customer support.
E118 Voice AI with Phonely.ai CEO Will Bodewes on Fireside with a VC discussing how the Voice AI space is evolving so quickly to integrate into existing systems and workflows of the HIPAA compliant front desk at a medical clinic or large call center delivering huge cost savings, rapidly increasing revenues, and providing a much better level of service with automated switching into most spoken languages and constantly improving and A/B testing what works best.
Links and Resources:
Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/mp6zt5pqvzg.
Find all episodes of Fireside with a VC on your favorite podcast platform: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/FiresideVC.
Learn more about Phonely: https://www.phonely.ai/.
Contact Phonely CEO Will Bodewes: will@phonely.ai.
Learn more about 7BC Venture Capital here: https://7bc.vc/.
Inviting VCs to pitch their VC fund to LPs for free at the Global VC Demo Day here: https://www.7bc.vc/events.
Register for our VC-LP-founder events:
Austin SXSW, March 11, 20225 - https://lu.ma/mgsso7p2.
Singapore, May 7, 2025 - https://lu.ma/hgij4ynk.
San Francisco, May 21, 2025 - https://lu.ma/00xkzshf.
London, June 17, 2025 - https://lu.ma/br2zb72h.
Join our Newsletter to get our insights and curated content from the VC-startup ecosystem - Fireside with a VC: https://subscribe.7bcventurecapital.com.
Get Andrew's new book here: Masters of Raising Venture Capital: https://www.amazon.com//dp/B0DHH5M4TM/.
Get Andrew's book on Corporate Venture Capital (CVC) here: Masters of Corporate Venture Capital: http://rb.gy/u46e9r.
Join the conversation, leave comments, and tell us what you think about these topics and this episode.
E117 How to develop business relationships on Fireside with a VC with Ablorde Ashigbi, CEO of 4Degrees and the host of the podcast The Relationship Edge.
Links and Resources:
Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/5WN6hGo17XI.
Find all episodes of Fireside with a VC on your favorite podcast platform: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/FiresideVC.
Learn more about 4Degrees: https://www.4degrees.ai/.
The Edge Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/0gurTrpjX8bkwzK8gRPi4G?si=6fb1b59b0f0a4e3c.
The Edge Podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@4degrees879/videos.
Contact Ablorde Ashigbi: ablorde@4degrees.ai.
Learn more about 7BC Venture Capital here: https://7bc.vc/.
Join our Newsletter to get our insights and curated content from the VC-startup ecosystem - Fireside with a VC: https://subscribe.7bc.vc.
Get Andrew's new book here: Masters of Raising Venture Capital: https://www.amazon.com//dp/B0DHH5M4TM/.
Get Andrew's book on Corporate Venture Capital (CVC) here: Masters of Corporate Venture Capital: http://rb.gy/u46e9r.
Join the conversation, leave comments, and tell us what you think about these topics and this episode.
E116 Nada CityFunds, a new way to own real estate, w/ CEO Tore Steen on Fireside with a VC. Tore is the CEO of Nada which operates CityFunds. Nada helps homeowners and individual investors solve the challenge of accessing and investing in home equity by providing a platform for home equity investment without additional debt or monthly payments. Homeowners sell a home share in exchange for cash and investors may invest in a CityFund that owns home shares in many homes in a specific high growth city or invest in the entire basket of home shares across multiple cities. Tore previously cofounded CrowdStreet, the largest online real estate investment platform in the U.S. having raised and invested over $4.4bn primarily from accredited and retail investors, where he raised over $50m of VC funding and additional venture debt funding. Tore joined Nada first as a board member and now as CEO.
Links and Resources:
Join the conversation, leave comments, and tell us what you think about these topics and this episode.
E115 Intel Capital, Corporate Venture Capital (CVC) putting the silicon back in Silicon Valley, Jennifer Ard, Managing Director, Head of Investment Operations at Intel Capital
Links and Resources:
Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/kzB5m6ViVzE.
Find all episodes of Fireside with a VC on your favorite podcast platform: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/FiresideVC.
Learn more about Intel Capital: https://www.intelcapital.com/.
Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-ard-cfa-32a69b3/.
Follow Andrew Romans on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/romans/.
Join our Newsletter to get our insights and curated content from the VC-startup ecosystem - Fireside with a VC: https://subscribe.7bc.vc.
Learn more about 7BC Venture Capital here: https://7bc.vc/.
Get Andrew's new book here: Masters of Raising Venture Capital: https://www.amazon.com//dp/B0DHH5M4TM/.
Get Andrew's book on Corporate Venture Capital (CVC) here: Masters of Corporate Venture Capital: http://rb.gy/u46e9r.
Join the conversation, leave comments, and tell us what you think about these topics and this episode.
E114 How Antler became the most active VC globally so quickly – Anthony Millet, Partner & Co-Head Antler Capital, on Fireside with a VC
Anthony Millet discusses how Antler quickly became the most active VC globally since founding in 2018 with a team of 300 investing in 500 startups per year out of offices in 30 cities on 6 continents. Pre-Seed to Series A and beyond. Meet Anthony Millet in person next week in Palo Alto at the 7BC Venture Capital event October 29, 2024 from 5 to 9 pm.
Links and Resources:
Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Y92-7ZscN2Y.
Meet Anthony Millet in person and hear him on the VC panel: https://lu.ma/1o2zs7x8.
Find all episodes of Fireside with a VC on your favorite podcast platform: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/FiresideVC. Learn more about Antler: https://www.antler.co/.
Follow Anthony Millet on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthony-millet-9327713/
Follow Andrew Romans on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/romans/.
Join our Newsletter to get our insights and curated content from the VC-startup ecosystem - Fireside with a VC: https://subscribe.7bc.vc.
Learn more about 7BC Venture Capital here: https://7bc.vc/.
Join the conversation, leave comments, and tell us what you think about these topics and this episode.
E113 Zive AI CEO Rajesh Gopi on Fireside with a VC explaining how his firm has applied AI to revolutionize venture capital admin, compliance, LP reporting, interacting with portfolio companies, LPs, portfolio construction, and, how to hit your IRR, DPI, and TVPI targets and so much more. The days of running a VC without AI are over.
Links and Resources:
Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/wVYm7JKD2Io. Find all episodes of Fireside with a VC on your favorite podcast platform: https://pocasters.spotify.com/pod/show/FiresideVC.
Learn more about Zive AI: https://www.zive.ai/.
Follow Rajesh Gopi on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rajeshgopi/ Follow Andrew Romans on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/romans/.
Join our Newsletter to get our insights and curated content from the VC-startup ecosystem - Fireside with a VC: https://subscribe.7bc.vc. Learn more about 7BC Venture Capital here: https://7bc.vc/.
Join the conversation, leave comments, and tell us what you think about these topics and this episode.
E112 A walk through an NVCA VC Term Sheet for a Series A funding round with Jason Putnam Gordon, legendary Silicon Valley VC lawyer and Partner at K&L Gates, one of the premier VC-focused law firms. This episode literally walks through every term in a term sheet with a lawyer and VC discussing each term, explaining what they mean, and which ones are worth fighting for. Lawyers like Jason can be very expensive but worth every penny. Strap in for a free masterclass!
Links and Resources:
Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/F2MnHqWFBHA.
Find all episodes of Fireside with a VC on your favorite podcast platform: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/FiresideVC.
Learn more about the K&L Gates: https://www.klgates.com/firm-overview.
Follow Jason Putnam Gordon on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonputnamgordon/
Follow Andrew Romans on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/romans/.
Join our Newsletter to get our insights and curated content from the VC-startup ecosystem - Fireside with a VC: https://subscribe.7bc.vc.
Learn more about 7BC Venture Capital here: https://7bc.vc/.
Join the conversation, leave comments, and tell us what you think about these topics and this episode.
E111 Breaking up big tech monopolies on Fireside with a VC speaking with Manish Patel, founder of Nava Ventures, a $175m VC fund in San Francisco, Teaching Faculty at Stanford University, early Googler, and former General Partner at Highland Capital Partners. Talking about his history at Google pre-IPO and the current state of monopolies with Google, Apple and Microsoft and what should regulators do as well as regulatory capture with Open AI and other tech titans. Manish also talks about Nava VC and their Series A concentrated strategy backing 15 startups per fund from a roughly $175m fund.
Links and Resources:
Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/HSjpaXNrclE.
Find all episodes of Fireside with a VC on your favorite podcast platform: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/FiresideVC.
Learn more about the Nava Ventures: https://www.nava.vc/.
Follow Manish Patel on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/manishpatelli/.
Follow Andrew Romans on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/romans/.
Join our Newsletter to get our insights and curated content from the VC-startup ecosystem - Fireside with a VC: https://subscribe.7bc.vc.
Learn more about 7BC Venture Capital here: https://7bc.vc/.
Join the conversation, leave comments, and tell us what you think about these topics and this episode.
E110 Austin, Texas Venture Capital on Fireside with a VC speaking with Chris Shonk, cofounder and Managing Director of ATX Venture Partners. Discussing the evolution of Austin as a tech corridor from early semiconductors to IBM, Tivoli, and a string of startup hits early days of VC here and how Austin founders had term sheets from Silicon Valley requiring relocation to California in the old days and now the reverse is happening. How Austin has become the fastest growing VC town with the highest density of VCs per capita in the United States.
Links and Resources:
Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/HLO6VVARRM8.
Find all episodes of Fireside with a VC on your favorite podcast platform: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/FiresideVC.
Learn more about the ATX Ventures: https://www.atxventurepartners.com/.
Follow Chris Shonk on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisshonk/.
Follow Andrew Romans on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/romans/.
Join our Newsletter to get our insights and curated content from the VC-startup ecosystem - Fireside with a VC: https://subscribe.7bc.vc.
Learn more about 7BC Venture Capital here: https://7bc.vc/.
Join the conversation, leave comments, and tell us what you think about these topics and this episode.
E109 Pre-Seed venture capital on Fireside with a VC speaking with David Lambert, Cofounder, Right Side Capital Management (RSCM) one of the most active pre-seed or pre-VC investors in Silicon Valley and across the US and Canada.
Links and Resources:
Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/cspNXaMmorI.
Find all episodes of Fireside with a VC on your favorite podcast platform: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/FiresideVC.
Learn more about the fund: https://rightsidecapital.com/.
Follow Andrew Romans on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/romans/.
Subscribe to our newsletter to get insights and favorite content from the VC startup ecosystem: subscribe.7bc.vc. Join the conversation, leave comments, and tell us what you think about these topics and this episode.
E108 Fireside with a VC speaking with Alice Vilma, Managing Director and Co-Head of The Next Level Fund at Morgan Stanley Investment Management. Alice explains how the Next Level Fund looks to promote financial inclusion and provide founders of tech and tech-enabled startups with much-needed access to investors—along with the tools, resources and connections they need to grow and thrive. We discuss how the fund encourages underserved segments of the market to apply for funding and what that process entails. The economic case for funding diversity and making change happen.
Links and Resources:
Learn more about the fund: Morgan Stanley Next Level | Team Page
Contact Alice: alice.vilma@morganstanley.com
Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/oojqABhTBZk.
Find all episodes of Fireside with a VC on your favorite podcast platform: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/FiresideVC.
Follow Andrew Romans on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/romans/.
Subscribe to our newsletter to get insights and favorite content from the VC startup ecosystem: subscribe.7bc.vc.
Join the conversation, leave comments, and tell us what you think about these topics and this episode.
E107 In this episode of Fireside with a VC, we discuss scenario planning for China & Asia and the relationship with Silicon Valley. We explore future opportunities with Francis Bassolino, Managing Director of Alaris Consulting, who has been helping companies of all sizes enter, succeed, and exit China over a span of 30+ years. Francis is also an adjunct professor at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business in Shanghai and Chicago. Having lived in Shanghai for over 21 years and in China since 1988, he brings extensive insights into the region.
We delve into the history of what has happened and the opening of China up to today. We also look at different scenarios such as an invasion of Taiwan, a blockade of Taiwan, no invasion or blockade, China with no reforms, with reforms, and the potential for a return to high growth in China. We examine how these different scenarios will impact the greater Asia region and the West.
Our discussion includes the relationship between China and Russia, particularly days before Russia invaded Ukraine when Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin announced their partnership has “no limits” and vowed to deepen cooperation on various fronts, including the Russia-Ukraine war. We talk about the bargain between the Chinese people happily giving up civil liberties for a prosperous life and 10% growth consistently over decades.
We also cover the impact of recent oppressive COVID-19 lockdowns, the period of low growth, the lack of job opportunities for the youth, and the generation of young Chinese not getting married, having children, or working in post-Jack Ma China. Is the Chinese economy in a freefall now?
Furthermore, we discuss the evolving relationship between Silicon Valley and China, what it might look like in the future, and different scenarios and opportunities for Western companies to grow revenues and lower costs with the Chinese partnership.
Links and Resources:
Join the conversation, leave comments, and tell us what you think about these topics and this episode.
E106 Fireside with a VC speaking with Ken Goldman, former President of Eric & Wendy Schmidt’s family office, former CFO of Yahoo!, Fortinet, Siebel Systems (acquired by Oracle), Excite@Home, Sybase, and Cypress Semiconductor. Discussed the changes in VC, going public and the reasons companies should go public again, the problems secondaries for founders create, how to leave a company ethically, general advice on how to win in the big leagues, selling Siebel to Oracle, the dynamics of changing CEOs, lessons learned from board of directors dynamics at Yahoo!, working with activist shareholders, how enterprise software companies should or should not go international, running Eric and Wendy Schmidt’s family office, and now speaking at family office and other conferences.
Find the full episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/krSWnl3eGco.
Find this and all full episodes for Fireside with a VC on your favorite podcast platform here: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/FiresideVC.
https://www.7bc.vc/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/romans/
Join our Newsletter to get our insights and favorite curated content from the VC-startup ecosystem - Fireside with a VC: https://subscribe.7bc.vc.
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E105 Fireside with a VC speaking with Venktesh (Venk) Shukla founder of Monta Vista Capital and former President of TiE Silicon Valley, Chair of TiE Global. Venk explains the core values and magic of TiE. We discuss what Venk learned from making his first 20 investments and how he developed his framework for his Monta Vista Capital seed stage VC fund and how he invests in pre-revenue and very early stage startups. We also discuss investing in AI, the secondary and exit markets.
Find the full episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/lrsNia672Eo.
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https://www.linkedin.com/in/vnshukla/
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