Money Moves with Neil Devani

Want to know how this entrepreneur disrupted agriculture and built a successful business?In this episode of Money Moves, Neil Devani interviews Amol Deshpande, an entrepreneur and venture capitalist who co-founded Farmer's Business Network (FBN) and was the first investor in Beyond Meat. They discuss Amol's experiences raising $900 million for FBN, his early involvement with Beyond Meat, and insights on investing and scaling companies.Highlighted Topics:- Investing in Breakthrough Ideas: Amol discusses his investment in Beyond Meat when it was just an idea in a lab. He emphasizes the importance of betting on breakthrough technologies and the flexibility required in investment strategies.- Shifting Venture Capital Models: The episode explores how venture capital has evolved, with a shift from risk-taking on early-stage, high-potential ideas to a more conservative, "venture analyst" model.- Disrupting Traditional Industries: Amol shares his experience disrupting agriculture through FBN, discussing the challenges of breaking into an industry dominated by monopolies and entrenched players.- Challenges in AgTech and Beyond Meat: Amol reflects on the promise of plant-based and cellular meats, expressing skepticism about their long-term impact and viability despite Beyond Meat's initial success.- Advice for Entrepreneurs: Practical tips on raising funds, emphasizing the importance of waiting until you have customers and metrics before pitching to investors.Connect with Amol: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amol-deshpande-2364b81/Connect with host Neil Devani: https://www.linkedin.com/in/neildevani/For more information on Necessary Ventures, visit the website at: https://www.necessary.vc/Want to support this podcast? Leave us a review on iTunes and be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel.

How does Sheel’s partnership with co-founder Jake at Better Tomorrow Ventures demonstrate the importance of complementary skills in building a successful venture capital firm?In this episode, Sheel Manot, founder of Better Tomorrow Ventures (BTV), and his wife, Amruta Godbole, discuss the intricacies of fundraising, both for startups and venture capital funds. Sheel emphasizes the importance of persistence, grit, and speed in navigating the challenging landscape of fundraising, sharing his personal experience of funding 500 Fintech from his own pocket before securing external capital. Sheel also highlights the value of strategic partnerships and team dynamics, particularly within his firm. The episode covers the evolution of the FinTech space, touching on its rise and fall in popularity, and how investors like BTV are adapting to market shifts while still focusing on businesses with long-term profit potential.Here the main topics discussed in the episode:The importance of grit and persistence in fundraising: Sheel emphasized that both founders and VCs need persistence, often facing numerous rejections before success.The role of The Mint accelerator in helping FinTech companies: The Mint provides specialized support for early-stage FinTech startups, helping them navigate unique challenges in financial services.Adjusting investment strategies as FinTech trends change: With FinTech falling in and out of favor, BTV has adapted by investing in companies targeting broader markets, such as banks and e-commerce.The challenges and rewards of founding and funding 500 Fintech: Sheel personally funded investments before raising external capital, showing the importance of conviction and sacrifice in starting a fund.Team dynamics and partnerships in building a successful VC firm: Sheel highlighted how complementary partnerships, like the one with his co-founder Jake, are essential for long-term success.Connect with Sheel: https://www.linkedin.com/in/smohnotConnect with Amruta: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amruta-godbole/Connect with host Neil Devani: https://www.linkedin.com/in/neildevani/For more information on Necessary Ventures, visit the website at: https://www.necessary.vc/Want to support this podcast? Leave us a review on iTunes and be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel.

How does Compound's research-centric, thesis-driven approach set them apart in the world of high-risk, high-reward investments in sectors like AI, robotics, biotech, and crypto?In this episode of "Money Moves," host Neil Devani speaks with Mike Dempsey, Managing Partner at Compound, and Kesar Varma from Upfront Ventures about the unique strategies and philosophies behind Compound’s investment approach. The discussion covers the firm's commitment to research-centric, thesis-driven investing in high-risk, high-reward sectors like AI, robotics, biotech, and crypto. Mike shares insights into the evolution of their investment strategy, particularly in the crypto space, and emphasizes the importance of maintaining conviction during market cycles. The conversation also delves into the differences between Compound’s first two funds, their thoughts on portfolio construction, and the importance of challenging traditional venture capital practices to optimize returns. The episode offers a deep dive into how Compound identifies and evaluates emerging investment opportunities and the importance of aligning investments with the firm’s long-term vision.Here the main topics discussed in the episode:Compound’s Investment Philosophy: Research-centric, thesis-driven approach focusing on emerging, high-risk sectors like AI, robotics, biotech, and crypto.Evolution of Crypto Investments: The journey from early speculative investments to a more structured strategy in the crypto space and managing through market cycles.Fund Management and Portfolio Strategy: Differences between Compound’s first and second funds, including portfolio construction, check sizes, and the strategic focus on capital concentration.Challenging Traditional Venture Capital Practices: Critique of common VC practices such as pattern matching and the emphasis on larger fund sizes, advocating for a more thoughtful, customized approach.Identifying Emerging Opportunities: The process of researching and identifying new investment opportunities through deep academic research and market immersion, with examples like their investment in AI startup Runway.Connect with Mike Dempsey: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelhdempseyConnect with Kesar Varma: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kesar-varma-278a0b1aaConnect with host Neil Devani: https://www.linkedin.com/in/neildevani/For more information on Necessary Ventures, visit the website at: https://www.necessary.vc/Want to support this podcast? Leave us a review on iTunes and be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel.