Oliver Libby is the co-founding Managing Partner of H/L Ventures and City Rock Venture Partners. With nearly two decades of experience backing high-impact, mission-driven startups, he has pioneered a unique venture studio model rooted in daily active engagement. He's also the co-founder and Chair of the Resolution Project, which has helped launch over 1,000 social ventures around the world. In this episode, he offers a deep dive into values-driven investing, the future of venture capital, and the importance of aligning profit with purpose.
In Today’s Episode We Discuss:
00:01 – From Military History to Mission-Driven VC
02:45 – Family Values and a Lifelong Commitment to Impact
05:00 – The H/L Ventures Model: Daily Engagement, Real Value
09:30 – Why Traditional VC Is Broken
14:00 – Profit Meets Purpose: The New Investment Thesis
17:00 – “Controversial” Impact Bets: Defense, Cybersecurity, Law Enforcement
19:10 – AI, Automation, and the Future of Jobs
21:50 – The Rise of the Creator Economy & Entrepreneurial Resilience
26:25 – Sci-Fi, Star Trek, and the Ethics of Abundance
31:57 – Rebuilding the American Dream: Floor and No Ceiling
39:00 – Should VCs Solve Global Problems?
44:00 – Sustainability Through Innovation, Not Austerity
46:42 – Reinventing VC: Specialization, Collaboration, and Platforms
48:30 – The Resolution Project: 1,000 Ventures, $3K at a Time
54:00 – Billion-Dollar Outcomes from Micro Grants
56:13 – Leadership Lessons from the Frontlines of Impact
59:35 – Why Networking Is the Last Unautomated Skill
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