Episode 415: Parker McKee - Partner, Pillar

Episode 415 of The VentureFizz #podcast features Parker McKee, Partner at Pillar. “When you work really hard… good things come out on the other side.” - Parker McKee. Parker is a perfect example of this mindset - a mantra that I firmly believe in. When Parker has a goal in his sights, he’s going to put in the time to get there. He’s proven this time and time again, and the results speak for themselves. In athletics, he spent countless hours in his parents' backyard honing his lacrosse skills, which ultimately led him to the D1 level at the University of Michigan, where he served as a co-captain. Professionally, once he discovered a passion for investing and startups, he set his sights on venture capital. Through relentless networking, he landed an internship at .406 Ventures. Later, after pitching his own startup idea to Jamie Goldstein, he stayed on the radar and eventually joined the team in the early days of Pillar, where he has risen to the role as a Partner in the firm. Pillar is a pre-seed and seed-stage VC firm that invests in technical breakthroughs to overcome the world’s greatest challenges. Last year, the firm announced their latest fund that being a $175M Fund IV. In this episode of our podcast, we cover: * The current state of venture investing in the AI era. * Parker’s background and what playing D1 lacrosse at Michigan taught him about the rewards of hard work. * How he broke into the industry with an internship at .406 Ventures. * The story of how he pitched an app idea to Jamie Goldstein while still in college, and how that relationship eventually led to his role at Pillar. * An inside look at a "junior-level" role in venture capital and how he learned the ropes by simply "being in the market." * His current investment focus and the details behind his investment in OpenHands, alongside Menlo Ventures. * What he expects out of a first meeting and his best advice for a successful pitch. * The biggest lesson he’s learned so far in the world of venture capital. * And so much more! Podcast Sponsor: This podcast is brought to you by one of the strongest longtime supporters of the local startup ecosystem, Silicon Valley Bank, a division of First Citizens Bank. With more than 1,500 bankers and relationship advisors and $44B in loans as of Q4 2025 – SVB delivers expert guidance, specialized products and a team that knows the innovation economy inside and out. Learn more at SVB.com.