Founder Friendly: Venture Capital | Startups | Tech

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 --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nyu-svs/support

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. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nyu-svs/support

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. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nyu-svs/support

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. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nyu-svs/support

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. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nyu-svs/support

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 --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nyu-svs/support

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 --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nyu-svs/support

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 --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nyu-svs/support

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 --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nyu-svs/support

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!

Distilling alcohol in a lab!? In this third episode of our Food and Beverage Sprint, we sit down with Alec Lee of Endless West to explore the fascinating world of note-by-note alcohol and the science behind creating spirits at the molecular level. We also dive into the founder experience and the role that luck plays in being successful as an entrepreneur. Alec shares his insights on how he started and grew his business, and the challenges he faced along the way. Whether you're a science enthusiast, a spirits connoisseur, or a startup founder looking for inspiration and advice, this episode has something for everyone. Tune in for an insightful and engaging conversation with Alec Lee that you won't want to miss! Learn more about Alec: LinkedIn Twitter Where to find more of us: Website ⁠Instagram⁠ Twitter --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nyu-svs/support

How do you innovate mac and cheese? In the second installment of Founder Friendly's Food & Beverage sprint, we're diving into the world of comfort food and venture capital! Join us as we explore the secrets to delivering a mouthwatering product, with insights from industry expert Genevieve Gilbreath of Springdale Ventures. Not only will you discover the three key factors that separate the good from the great in product delivery, but you'll also gain a behind-the-scenes look at how VCs make the tough decision of which brands to invest in. With two decades of experience in the consumer product space, Genevieve will reveal what it takes to be a true entrepreneur and stand out in a crowded market. Learn more about Genevieve: LinkedIn Twitter Where to find more of us: Website Twitter Instagram --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nyu-svs/support

In the first episode of our food and beverage sprint, we talk to Po Bronson, Managing Director of IndieBio, the world's leading biotechnology accelerator. Join us as we explore the world of alternative foods and the investments behind them. Listen to learn about the importance of how startups deliver their product, the necessity of technical knowledge in the food industry, and the science behind what makes the food we eat tasty! Interested in learning more about Po and IndieBio? Twitter: @pobronson Website: IndieBio --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nyu-svs/support

Today, we continue our Crypto/Web3 sprint and spoke with Dan Elitzer, the co-founder of Nascent, a global multi-strategy investment firm focused on crypto, DeFi, and open finance. Tune in to learn about the criteria investors look for in crypto startups, how social impact can be tied into this space in the coming years, and Dan's advice for students who are looking to break into this space. Also, check out some of the resources that Dan talks about in the podcast and a cool project that Nascent has been working on: https://thedefiant.io https://newsletter.banklesshq.com yobot.com And follow him on Twitter! @delitzer @nascentxyz --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nyu-svs/support

In the next episode in our Crypto/Web3 sprint, we spoke with Kevin Nielsen, the founder of Boardroom, a management platform for DAOs that helps members frictionlessly participate in governance. Listen to learn all about DAOs, what their use cases look like now and in the future, and how you can join one today to be a part of the crypto space! Interested in learning more about DAOs after listening to this episode? Check out Kevin's article on DAOs below and follow Boardroom on Twitter at @boardroom_info https://thedefiant.io/what-is-a-dao-mapping-out-the-ecosystem/ --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nyu-svs/support

The first episode in our Crypto/Web3 sprint welcomes Clay Robbins, the crypto principle at Slow Ventures, a generalist fund that invests at the center of technology. In this episode, Clay tells us about where the crypto space is at right now, how he analyzes companies looking for investments from Slow, and how he broke into the crypto industry (and how you can, too!) Interested in learning more about Slow Ventures and Clay after listening to this episode? Follow them on Twitter!   @crabbylions  @slow --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nyu-svs/support

This week we spoke to Jonathan Goldberg, CEO and Founder of Caron Direct, to discuss both the investment and carbon management aspects of climate impact. Listen to hear the role financial institutions and governments can play in accelerating climate impact and learn about the future of the Voluntary Carbon Market. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nyu-svs/support

To kick off our LegalTech sprint we invited Jacqueline Schafer, Founder and CEO of Clearbrief, to discuss robo-ethics. Listen to hear how Clearbrief can tell if you're lying and helps David beat Goliath in the courtroom. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nyu-svs/support

We invited Yee Lee, VP of Growth & Special Projects at Terraformation, to discuss all things reforestation. A four time founder and early employee of PayPal, Yee talks about how his new company, Terraformation, seeks to scale carbon capture, from seed to forest. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nyu-svs/support

Founder Friendly returns! This week we talk climate and crypto with Paul Gambill, CEO and Co-Founder of Nori. Listen to hear about the Nori Token - a cryptocurrency designed to be the world's universal market-driven reference price for carbon dioxide removal. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nyu-svs/support

To resume our ClimateTech sprint we invited Max Nova, Co-Founder and COO of NCX, to discuss America's Forest Carbon Market. Listen to hear about the value in NOT cutting down your trees. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nyu-svs/support

To kick off our FinTech sprint we invited Christina Qi, CEO and Co-Founder of Databento, to discuss democratising financial market data. Listen to hear about the data-as-a-service industry, what it's like to run a billion dollar HFT fund, alternative data, and how to handle rejection. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nyu-svs/support

For this week's ClimateTech episode we invited Sanchali Pal, CEO and Founder, of Joro to discuss spending sustainably. Listen to hear about changing social norms, driving collective action, and what it's like to raise with Sequoia. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nyu-svs/support

To continue our ClimateTech sprint we invited Tommy Ricketts, CEO and Co-Founder of BeZero Carbon, to discuss Voluntary Carbon Markets. Listen to hear how a trip to Japan and a tattoo led to the creation of a carbon credit ratings, data and analytics platform. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nyu-svs/support

To continue our ClimateTech sprint we invited Markus Gilles, CEO and Co-Founder of Klima, to discuss simple climate action in the palm of your hand. He talks about how to estimate your carbon footprint and the importance of collective action, technology, and political action in combating climate change. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nyu-svs/support

We invited Stuart Winchester, CEO and Founder of Marble, to discuss all things InsurTech. He talks about earning rewards on your insurance, innovation, displacing incumbents, and more. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nyu-svs/support

To continue our ClimateTech sprint we invited JP McNeill, CEO and Co-Founder of Ando Money, to discuss mobile banking for a more sustainable future. He talks about sustainable banking, becoming a B Corp, Biden's Build Back Better and more. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nyu-svs/support

This week we invited Jean-Sébastien Beaucamps, CEO and Co-Founder of LaCollection, to discuss all things NFTs. He talks about building a community of people passionate about art and technology, partnering with The British Museum, in-person NFT collector events, and more. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nyu-svs/support

To start off our ClimateTech sprint we invited Tomas Thyblad, Head of ESG solutions, European Markets, and VP at Nasdaq, to discuss moving towards a more sustainable future. He talks COP26, carbon credits, greenwashing and more. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nyu-svs/support

To start the year off we invited Dom Lau, Principal at Ripple Ventures, to discuss what the future looks like for VC. He talks crossover funds, startup valuations, Web 3.0 and more. Listen until the end to hear about opportunities to break into VC. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nyu-svs/support

The second episode in our FemTech and women's healthcare sprint was with Elanza Wellness. Today, we spoke with founders Brittany Hawkins & Catherine Hendy. Elanza Wellness specializes in utilizing holistic methods in order to manage fertility. Tune in to hear about the company, trends within the fertility space, and the founders' experiences! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nyu-svs/support

Our first sprint of the semester focuses on femtech and the women's healthcare industry. As the pandemic led to an increase in VC funding in healthcare and digital health, femtech has also exploded in the last year and many new startups have emerged in the space. Today we will be speaking with Buffy Alegria, Managing Partner at SteelSky Ventures, a firm that specifically invests in women's healthcare. Come learn about the trends shaping femtech, unique subsectors that are poised for growth, and what SteelSky looks for in companies and founders! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nyu-svs/support

Sweden has a flourishing startup scene, particularly in the software space. We sat down with Hannah Meiton of Sting, a Swedish VC firm to discuss how she guides SaaS and Fintech companies in their growth stage. Having previously worked in San Francisco, Hannah shares the distinctions between VC investing in the States and in the Nordic's—where historical and cultural factors have made it a startup hotspot. Tune in to learn more about the promising ecosystem developing in Stockholm. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nyu-svs/support

The international VC sprint continues with OurCrowd, a global crowdfunding platform and the most active VC investor in Israel. We sat down with Ariel Krause to discuss how OurCrowd is democratizing access to investments in pre-IPO tech companies, how the firm navigates the legal challenges of investing in companies around the world, and her journey from St. Louis to Tel Aviv. Listen to learn more about how crowdfunding is changing the venture capital landscape and the Israeli startup ecosystem, one of the fastest growing technology hubs in the world. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nyu-svs/support

Join Founder Friendly for our newest sprint focusing on international accelerators and venture capital firms! Our first episode is with Station F, the world's largest startup facility, where we'll be sitting down with Marwan Elfitesse to discuss the resources Station F provides to build a community of entrepreneurs and their unique campus program in the heart of Paris! Learn about why they believe the greatest resource for founders is...other founders. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nyu-svs/support

We are entering, or perhaps in the thick of, a golden age for SaaS—software as a service—companies. Everywhere we look a new SaaS startup is popping up, so we thought we'd learn a bit more about how investors determine which teams to back; we were lucky enough to sit down with investor Casey Aylward of Costanoa Ventures for a conversation on how these companies develop their go-to market strategies, whether Costanoa prefers greenfield opportunities or solutions with marginal improvements, and how students can position themselves for careers working-in or investing-in SaaS companies. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nyu-svs/support

The student startup sprint continues with some wonderful East Coast companies. Join to hear how COVID allowed NYU's very own POSH to permeate the event ticketing space, and how they differentiate through CRM features. Or listen to learn about the Minecraft map-making vertical with Varuna and what it has to do with the meta-verse and NFTs. Keep listening for a great conversation with the CEO of Simplex Sciences on the applications of single-stranded DNA ladders and leading a biotech company as a college junior. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nyu-svs/support

There are strengths and weaknesses in being a student founder. Maybe you have an idea you're considering developing while enrolled in college—this is the episode for you. Listen and learn from three founders—Ofek (Quokka Brew), Audrey (Curious Cardinals), Alex (GoSurf)—about their experiences leveraging student ambassadors, targeting early adopters, and leaning into university resources. From jitterless caffeine to reimagining edtech to a full-stack platform for surfing, these companies span various industries and reveal different pain points in a startups journey. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nyu-svs/support

Vice Clauses, remnants of America's Protestant prudishness, prevent most VC firms from investing in lucrative, growing industries like cannabis, sextech, and alcoholic beverages. We were able to sit down with Vice Ventures founder Catharine Dockery to discuss how she carves out a competitive edge by exclusively investing in these underfunded, good businesses operating in "bad" industries. Check out the episode to hear Catharine's own vice, how Mark Andreessen of a16z responded to her cold email, and the future of harm reduction technologies. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nyu-svs/support

Our third sprint will be on how VCs that deeply specialize have a competitive advantage over generalist firms. Today we are speaking with Amy Jermain of XXcelerate, an Oregon based women-focused accelerator investing in community impact oriented startups founded by women and BIPOC! Come listen and learn about the challenges faced the male-dominated industry and how Amy is elevating these founders! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nyu-svs/support

Follow Skye and Lily as they finish up their startup's lifecycle. Do they succeed? Or do they fail? Who knows... there's only one way to find out. Happy Holidays everyone! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nyu-svs/support

Come listen to the startup lifecycle and journey through the lens of our very own home-made startup...Voozy! Listen as Lily and Skye go over their journey starting the company and working on the business. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nyu-svs/support

Listen to the OG Founders of SVS talk about their experience with tech and their journey from SVS to professional life! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nyu-svs/support

Episode 1 of NYU and VC. Come learn more about NYU's premiere venture capital, entrepreneurship, and tech club from the president and post-mentorship lead of SVS! You'll learn more about the club, the culture, opportunities and ways to join, and how the club has changed and shifted in the past few years. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nyu-svs/support

Join Yasmine Mustafa, founder of ROAR for Good, as she talks about pivoting in the middle of a pandemic to help address concerns and needs. We talk about starting ROAR for Good, social impact and justice, and her incredible journey to become a CEO and leader. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nyu-svs/support

Come spend some time learning about what a typical work-day could look like in the future! The future of the common workday is changing rapidly in the current world and Gary Swart has spent years developing the remote work landscape. Come join as he talks about his journey, the future, and his experience at Polaris Partners. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nyu-svs/support

Mario Gabriele from Charge VC joins us as we discuss early stage investing, market trends from coronavirus, and managing the large influx of information today. Learn about The Generalist, the future of VC, and the important factors of evaluating a startup on this week's episode! You can subscribe to The Generalist at readthegeneralist.com. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nyu-svs/support

Taco, Skye, and SVS member Andrei discuss the implications of coronavirus through a business student lens. Learn about the US financial markets, the bidding war for respirators, and internship opportunities still available for students. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nyu-svs/support

Bored at home from the quarantine? Take a break from watching Netflix and come listen to Sam Barberie from Britesiders talk about his up and coming startup and the landscape of startup world versus corporate. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nyu-svs/support

J. Skyler Fernandes, the founder of Venture University and Simon Ventures, sits down with us to talk about the ins and outs of venture capital. Gain insights on advice for college students looking to enter VC and how to set yourself apart from other candidates. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nyu-svs/support

Welcome to the first episode of Founder Friendly, the podcast brought to you by the tech, entrepreneurship, and venture capital club at NYU. Meet the two co-hosts, Taco and Skye, as we go over who we are and what we hope to cover on the podcast. Tune in for next week's episode about Venture Capital with J. Skyler Fernandes! For any questions or suggestions, please email founderfriendlysvs@gmail.com. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nyu-svs/support