In this episode, we host Brooks Hosfield, Partner at SciFi VC, for a deep dive into the strategies behind successful fundraising for early-stage founders. Brooks shares his journey from Chief of Staff at Affirm to partner at SciFi VC, offering invaluable insights on navigating the startup ecosystem, building defensible companies, and understanding what top VCs look for in their investments.
Brooks’ expertise in fintech, AI, and marketplace startups, along with his experience scaling Affirm from 200 people to IPO, brings practical and strategic advice that’s essential for founders at the pre-seed and seed stages. Whether you’re gearing up for fundraising or building your MVP, this episode offers powerful takeaways to help you grow with confidence and clarity.
Chapters -
00:42 - Journey from history major to venture capitalist
01:13 - Consulting career in SubSaharan Africa
01:32 - Mobile payments pioneer turned entrepreneur, met Max Levchin
02:23 - A long journey from the chief of staff to SciFi investment
04:14 - Top of mind AI, ambitious founders, FinTech
06:58 - Founder qualities passion, curiosity, tenacity
08:46 - Intenacious leader, not dogmatic
09:19 - Humility, tenacity, and data-driven leadership
10:29 - The investment committee loves technical founders
12:10 - Value in like instincts for founders
12:50 - Growth, taking care of yourself, and finding technical cofounders
17:15 - Healthcare is a huge market with huge potential
17:35 - Red flag lack of market understanding
19:25 - Founders PreSeed, Seedfocused approach
21:41 - Mission Problem set and solution
22:14 - Sharing ideas with others in pre and post-stack stages
23:35 - Customerfocused fundraising tips for founders
24:37 - Founders unique point of view helps companies stand out
27:35 - Silicon Valley's best deals come from founders' referrals
28:23 - Scifi investment process
29:59 - Small, nimble VC with flexible check sizes
30:54 - Fundraising flexibility, self-directed tech fellow
33:43 - Tech fellow role lends itself to technical skills
35:30 - Pitching for compelling worldviews
36:12 - AI booking software for barbershops
37:34 - Stabilize PMF, innovate, fundraise
39:57 - Welcome to the Bay!
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