Origins - Inside Venture Capital, Hosted by a GP and an LP

Backing Outliers in Venture with Sunil Dhaliwal & Mike Dauber

49 snips
Aug 12, 2025
Sunil Dhaliwal, founder of Amplify, and Mike Dauber, a partner since 2014, delve into their venture strategies focusing on outliers in tech and biotech. They discuss the evolution of the venture capital landscape, emphasizing the shift in supporting technical founders. The duo also shares insights from their recent $900 million fundraise and the launch of Amplify Bio, revealing their commitment to long-term investments in life sciences. Their approach champions decentralized decision-making, fostering innovative leaders in AI and cloud infrastructure.
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ADVICE

Limit Voting And Trust Partners

  • Remove formal voting and give credible partners independent check-writing authority.
  • Manage risk through limits and guidance rather than committee vetoes to encourage bold bets.
ANECDOTE

Runway Was An Internal Bet

  • Runway came from Sarah Catanzaro identifying three grad students with a unique generative-AI take.
  • Sunil admitted he didn't see the business initially but supported Sarah and the deal became a top holder.
ADVICE

Give Feedback, Not Vetoes

  • When disagreeing, frame feedback as safety checks not vetoes: ask "these are the things I'd watch for."
  • That shifts conversations from vote-seeking to constructive risk management.
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