Rich Habits Podcast

135: How to Invest in the Next Billion Dollar Startup w/ Collin West

28 snips
Sep 15, 2025
Colin West, founder and managing partner of Ensemble VC, shares insights on identifying billion-dollar startups using a data-driven approach. He discusses the risks inherent in angel investing and the importance of strong teams. The conversation dives into innovative AI tools designed to enhance investment accuracy and touches on emerging technologies in AI, robotics, and sustainable energy. Additionally, Colin contrasts the energy landscapes of the U.S. and China, ultimately emphasizing patience and resilience as keys to entrepreneurial success.
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ANECDOTE

Backing Saronic Despite Obvious Risks

  • Ensemble invested Series A in Saronic after deep due diligence despite risks of hardware and defense customers.
  • The team included SEAL founders and top autonomy/manufacturing hires and the company scaled to multi-billion valuations quickly.
ADVICE

Make Your Capital Differentiating

  • Build reputation by helping founders with real, differentiating products and warm intros.
  • Offer tangible value (customers, fundraising help, network) to win competitive private deals.
ADVICE

Productize Sourcing With AI

  • Use data and AI to proactively find high-probability founders instead of reactive sourcing.
  • Productize sourcing and go-to-market support so founders get unique operational value from your fund.
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