Cherae Robinson on What Founders Want from VC Platform Teams

Episode #24 The Venture Variety Show

What Founders Really Want From Their VCs

With Cherae Robinson, Head of Platform & Marketing at Flybridge

In this episode, I talk with Cherae Robinson about what founders really want from venture capital—and how the platform role inside VC firms is evolving fast to meet those needs.

Cherae shares her journey from bootstrapping a travel startup to leading platform and marketing at Flybridge, where she now supports hundreds of early-stage founders. We talk about building trust, founder connectivity, go-to-market strategy, and how VCs can actually deliver on more than just a check.

She also breaks down why firms are hiring more specialized platform talent, including embedded GTM roles, and offers clear advice for founders navigating today’s competitive landscape.

And yes—we also talk music. Cherae’s a DJ who once turned Flybridge’s rooftop Founders Week into a proper party.

Timestamps and topics:

00:00 Intro

01:52 Why Flybridge Invests in AI

03:37 From Travel Founder to VC Platform

07:38 Building the Role Around Her

10:53 What a Platform Leader Actually Does

13:49 Trust, Community, and Founder Support

17:57 What Founders Need in This Market

23:06 DJing and Being Multifaceted

Key Topics

Why platform roles are no longer “nice-to-have” in VC

How Cherae built trust with founders after shutting down her own startup

What Flybridge looks for in AI investments (infra, vertical, and native AI)

The rise of go-to-market specialists inside VC firms

How to use community as a founder edge—not just a vibe

Tips for early-stage founders on fundraising, hiring, and staying relentless

What it means to have an “earned secret” in your startup

Featured Quote

“You're starting to see firms specifically hire people for things like go-to-market… They’re leaning on operators who are experts in that space.”

Bonus

Find out what Cherae spins at her DJ sets—and how music and platform building actually overlap more than you think.