The Venture Variety Show

AI Show Noteskeywordsentrepreneurship, investment, Silicon Valley, personal development, startup advice, venture capital, networking, writing, core values, building startupssummaryIn this episode of The Venture Variety Show, Alastair Goldfisher interviews Marvin Liao, a seasoned investor and entrepreneur. They discuss the importance of personal development in entrepreneurship, the current investment landscape, and the need to return to Silicon Valley's core values. Marvin shares insights on how entrepreneurs can connect with investors, the significance of writing and sharing knowledge, and the challenges and opportunities present in today's startup environment.takeawaysEntrepreneurship is fundamentally about personal development.Investors and founders need to return to core values.Networking is essential for entrepreneurs to connect with investors.Writing helps clarify thoughts and share knowledge.The investment landscape is changing, and adaptability is key.Understanding unit economics is crucial for startups.The highs and lows of entrepreneurship can be extreme.Building a startup is a long-term grind.Paying it forward is important in the entrepreneurial community.Now is a great time to build startups with available tools.titlesNavigating the Investment Landscape with Marvin LiaoThe Personal Development Journey of EntrepreneursSound Bites"You have to keep people even keeled.""Pay it forward mentality is crucial.""Do your research and do your homework."Chapters00:00Introduction to Marvin Leo00:34Marvin's Investment Journey00:49The Importance of Writing02:18Lessons from Entrepreneurship04:37Returning to Core Values of Silicon Valley07:19The Role of Mentorship08:53Changes in the Investment Landscape09:31Connecting with VCs15:46Future of Investments and Startups Get full access to The Venture Lens at theventurelens.substack.com/subscribe

Episode Title: Navigating the Bifurcation of Venture Capital with Courtney McCreaEpisode Summary: In this Valentine’s Day episode of The Venture Variety Show, Alastair Goldfisher talks with Courtney McCrea, co-founder of Recast Capital. They discuss the challenges and opportunities for emerging managers in the venture capital industry, which is increasingly dominated by large, established firms.What You’ll Learn:Background and Mission of Recast Capital: Discover the origins of Recast Capital, founded by Courtney McCrea and Sara Zulkosky, focusing on supporting and investing in diverse, emerging venture managers.The Current VC Landscape: An exploration of the stark division in the U.S. venture capital market, where a few large firms control a significant portion of the funds, leaving emerging managers fighting for a smaller share.Challenges Facing Emerging Managers: Insight into the hurdles that new managers face, including competition for capital and the impacts of a liquidity drought on their ability to raise funds.The Importance of Diversity: Courtney discusses the strides Recast Capital has made in promoting diversity within the venture capital community, with a significant percentage of their funds managed by women or non-binary individuals and people of color.Support Systems for Emerging Managers: How Recast Capital provides crucial support to emerging managers, helping them to thrive in a competitive environment.Featured Quotes:Courtney McCrea: “We are not only investing in emerging managers but are also providing them with a support system often only accessible to established players.”Alastair Goldfisher: “Emerging managers often bring unique perspectives and deep market insights, making them invaluable for startups at the earliest stages.”Call to Action:🎧 Listen to the episode to gain a deeper understanding of how emerging managers are shaping the future of venture capital.💬 Have ideas for future guests or topics? Reach out directly via [Your Contact Information]—your suggestions help us keep the show vibrant and relevant!Subscribe and Follow Us:Follow The Venture Variety Show on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube to never miss an episode about the latest trends and insights in venture capital. Get full access to The Venture Lens at theventurelens.substack.com/subscribe

keywordsGavin Myers, venture capital, built world, AI in construction, M&A activity, investor relations, technology investments, entrepreneurship, private equity, communication with LPssummaryIn this conversation, Gavin Myers shares his journey from investment banking to founding Prudence, a venture capital firm focused on the built world. He discusses the importance of technology in real estate and construction, the rise of AI solutions, and the current trends in M&A activity. Gavin emphasizes the significance of honest communication between investors and entrepreneurs, highlighting the need for transparency and alignment in their relationships.takeawaysGavin Myers emphasizes the importance of making one good investment at a time.The built world is a massive sector with significant opportunities for technology adoption.AI is transforming the construction industry by automating workflow tasks.M&A activity is expected to increase as companies seek growth through acquisitions.Brutal honesty in communication is crucial for successful investor-entrepreneur relationships.Investors should focus on understanding the ground truth of a company before investing.The construction sector is facing a labor shortage, creating a demand for technology solutions.Vertical AI is becoming essential for completing workflow tasks in construction.Founders should build relationships with larger companies for potential partnerships.In-person communication remains vital for deep understanding and relationship building.Sound Bites"We try to make one good investment at a time.""We are locked at the arms once we invest.""One investment at a time."Chapters00:00 Gavin Myers' Journey to Prudence05:27 Investing in the Built World13:06 The Role of Technology in Construction17:43 Trends in Venture Capital and M&A24:40 Investor-Entrepreneur Relationships Get full access to The Venture Lens at theventurelens.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode of The Venture Variety Show, I sit down with Jodi Lomask, founder of Creative Journey, to explore how psilocybin and guided nature-immersive retreats are helping high achievers unlock creativity, clarity and vision.On the podcast, Lomask shares how she transitioned from decades as a professional choreographer to guiding startup founders, VCs and innovators through transformative psychedelic experiences. These journeys aren’t just about altered states. They’re about breaking mental patterns, embracing fresh perspectives and authoring the future.In this podcast, we discuss:* The growing interest in psychedelics among professionals like Sam Altman and others in leadership.* How guided macrodose experiences differ from the microdosing trend.* Why creativity and vision are critical for leaders shaping tomorrow’s world.* The importance of post-journey integration for long-term growth.I hope you find the conversation is more than just a talk about psychedelics. It’s about rethinking how we tap into our full creative potential.🎧 Listen to the full episode here and follow The Venture Variety Show on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube.🔗 For a deeper dive into the use of psilocybin, check out my accompanying Substack article on the growing trend of psychedelics in leadership and innovation. Get full access to The Venture Lens at theventurelens.substack.com/subscribe

In this special short episode of The Venture Variety Show, Alastair Goldfisher reflects on 2024 and shares exciting updates about what’s coming in the new year.Highlights from This Episode:A big thank you to our listeners for supporting the launch of The Venture Variety Show this year.Updates on the upcoming lineup of incredible guests, including founders, VCs, LPs, artists, marketing professionals, and attorneys.A sneak peek into a conversation with Jodi Lomask, founder of Creative Journey, where we explore the intersection of creativity, leadership, and psychedelics.Key Topics Covered:What to expect in 2025: consistent podcast releases featuring inspiring guests and actionable insights.How The Venture Variety Show explores trends, platform innovations, and stories of growth in the venture capital and startup world.The value of creativity and unrealized potential, as shared by Jodi Lomask in a teaser from an upcoming episode.Call to Action:Don’t miss out! Subscribe now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube to stay updated on new episodes.Have a guest or topic idea? Drop Alastair a note—he’d love to hear your suggestions for 2025!Check out The Venture Lens, Alastair’s newsletter on Substack, for more insights and updates. Get full access to The Venture Lens at theventurelens.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode of The Venture Variety Show, we meet with Christine Tao, co-founder and CEO of Sounding Board, a tech-enabled coaching and mentoring platform.Christine shares her journey from her previous work at Tapjoy, Google and YouTube, to partner with Lori Mazan to launch Sounding Board, a venture-backed startup that has raised almost $50 million in funding.Christine and I chatted about the transformative power of coaching, exploring how it has evolved from a tool for derailed executives to a vital resource for leaders across all levels and industries. It was amazing to hear her talk about how coaching is used not just by execs and startup founders, but also for nurses and university student affairs staff.In the podcast, Christine discusses the innovative ways Sounding Board leverages technology to make high-quality coaching accessible and scalable.If you've ever wondered how coaching can accelerate your professional development or the impact it can have on an organization, this episode is for you!Listen in as we uncover valuable insights and “aha moments” to show how you can benefit from coaching, whether you're a first-time entrepreneur or an established leader.Future Podcasts from TVVSThe Venture Variety Show aims to showcase the inside baseball of venture firms, focusing on platforms, current trends in VC, data-driven reports, expert opinions and more.If you have suggestions for future guests, I’d love to hear from you. Just reach out!You can also follow The Venture Variety Show on YouTube, Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Get full access to The Venture Lens at theventurelens.substack.com/subscribe

In this conversation, Alastair Goldfisher and Scott Brown discuss the evolution and significance of platform roles in venture capital. Scott emphasizes the importance of value addition beyond capital, the impact of relationships, the changes brought about by the pandemic and advice for those looking to get into a platform role. Scott also shares insights on best practices for VC platforms and offers advice for entrepreneurs seeking investment from firms. Get full access to The Venture Lens at theventurelens.substack.com/subscribe

Welcome to The Venture Variety Show! I’m Alastair and this is an intro to my video podcast. This podcast will explore the intersection of venture capital, startups, media and platforms. Join me as we dive into trends, strategies and success stories that shape the startup and venture communities. Expect engaging conversations and golden nuggets of wisdom to help you level up! Get full access to The Venture Lens at theventurelens.substack.com/subscribe