In this episode, Maria Gonzalez-Blanch, Managing Partner at Crescent Ridge VC, unpacks a refreshingly honest take on building great companies without burning through capital. With a background spanning engineering, private equity, and startups, Maria brings a multidimensional lens to early-stage investing across a set of core pillars.
This conversation also tackles AI as a founder equalizer, the power of self-awareness in founder-investor fit, and why venture capital should be a canvas, and not a cookie-cutter playbook.
This is an episode about thoughtful investing, founder empowerment, and rewriting the rules of venture.
Here’s what’s covered:
The philosophy behind Crescent Ridge VC and its “health, people, planet” pillars
Why capital efficiency is a strategic advantage, not a constraint
The pros and pitfalls of AI-powered startups in today’s venture landscape
What Maria looks for—and avoids—in early-stage investments
Advice for founders navigating today’s macro environment and investor dynamics
Why VC should be more art than science—and what that means for building companies with soul
Learn more about Crescent Ridge VC: https://www.crescentridge.vc
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