Investing in Startups
Investing In Startups explores the strategies and stories of leading early-stage venture capitalists. The show is for VCs, angels, founders, operators, and the startup-curious. Whether you're a seasoned pro or just dipping your toes into startups, this podcast is your guide to navigating this dynamic ecosystem. The show is hosted by Joe Magyer, Founder and Managing Partner of Seaplane Ventures.
Episodes
Joe Magyer is the host of Investing in Startups, but his real job is running his early-stage boutique, Seaplane Ventures. In this episode, Joe is interviewed by his friend Owen Raszkiewicz, Founder and CIO of Rask Group and host of the Australian Investors Podcast. Joe talked why he made the move from public to private markets, how small firms can compete with big firms, the current venture landscape, putting...
Jackie DiMonte is the Cofounder and General Partner of Grid Capital. We talked about power laws, investing with conviction, how to help founders in their earliest stages, small funds vs. big funds, and whether pre-seed valuations really are mental. We spoke in depth about:
- Why Pre/Seed (not just “pre-seed”). Jackie sees pre/seed as a continuum...
Morgan Flager is the Managing Partner of Silverton Partners. Silverton is an early-stage firm that has had more than 30 companies IPO or get acquired. We talked about the art and science of portfolio construction, when to bend on price, and which of team, product, or market is most important. We also dove into:
Silverton’s “early PMF” lane. Sweet spot...
Rex Salisbury is the Founder and General Partner of fintech-focused Cambrian Ventures. We talked about how Rex built a big community and following in the fintech world, why fintech startups are on a roll, disruption versus partnership, and how the venture world is evolving.
Other topics include:
- The Bay Area fosters a unique culture of openness a...
Charles Hudson is the Managing Partner and Founder of Precursor Ventures. Precursor is a generalist pre-seed firm based in San Francisco that invests in startups from all over. We talked about the importance of founder-centric investing, portfolio construction, and the balancing act of taking money off the table with winners. Charles has made over 400 investments at Precursor and has a lot of insights to draw...
David Cohen is the CEO and Cofounder of Techstars. Techstars is one of the OGs of startup accelerators, investing in almost 5,000 startups since Techstars was founded in 2006. David himself is a serial entrepreneur who was the founding CEO at Techstars, later stepped back from that role, and then returned as CEO in 2024. We talked about the problems that Techstars solves for founders, how vibe-coding affects ...
Gigi Levy-Weiss is a serial founder and a Founding Partner at NFX. NFX is an early-stage firm that has established itself as one of leading experts in network effects. We talked about network effects, AI agents, the importance of speed of exectuion, why first-mover advantages are overrated, and how NFX has built its own brand, systems, and network effects.
We also covered:
...
Josh Muccio is the Founder of Read more
Shawn Merani is the Founder and Managing Partner of Parade Ventures. Parade is a seed stage venture firm with an affinity for enterprise software. We talked about the state of seed investing, relationships, observing vs. predicting, cheating, AI and a huge win Shawn had recently with the acquisition of Moveworks. Shawn is a sharp guy and this was a really fun conversation. Please enjoy.
...
Jason Freedman is a serial founder and General Partner at Read more
Our guest this week is Jamie Melzer, Managing Partner at Altra Venture Partners. Altra invests in late-stage and pre-IPO venture-backed startups via secondaries. Jamie took us on a behind-the-scenes tour of the secondary market, how it works, why it is relevant to early stage investors and founders, and where the market is heading. This was the first time we’ve talked about secondaries on Investing in Startup...
Our guest this week is Itamar Novick, Founder of Recursive Ventures. Itamar is a solo capitalist with a focus on pre-seed startups built around data and AI. We talked about the opportunities and challenges that AI presents, anti-patterns to avoid in startups, winning deals, and why Itamar thinks that most VCs do NOT add value to startups. Itamar has been a founder, executive, and investor, so this was a really thou...
Our guest this week is Tyler Norwood, Managing Partner for Antler in the US. Antler is the world’s most active seed investor backing founders at the inception stage from all over. We talked about the impact of vibe coding, the traits that Tyler sees in Antler’s most successful founders, why timing matters, and the value of surrounding yourself with other builders. Please enjoy.
Here are some bullets ...
Our guest this week is Han Shen, Founding Partner of iFly.vc. iFly is an early-stage firm with a non-consensus, high-conviction approach to investing. Han himself is a very successful investor but also matches that success with equal levels of modesty and empathy. We talked about investing in non-consensus startups in an industry that is very consensus-driven, the vibe shift, investing with conviction, and how Han ...
Ethan Austin is the Founder and General Partner of Outside VC. Outside is a Boulder-based firm with a focus on pre-seed startups, outsider founders, and financial inclusion. We talked about why Ethan whether investors should be friends with founders, fintech, what it was like running Techstars Boulder during Covid, and life as a solo GP. We dove further into the following topics:
- Origin Story is ...
Mark Peter Davis is the Managing Partner of Interplay Ventures. Interplay is a venture capital firm, but also an incubator and family office. Mark himself is a serial entrepreneur and also the host of the Innovation with Mark Peter Davis podcast, which is a great listen for founders. We talked about the mix of geopolitics and startups, what Mark needs to see from startups to invest, why ideas still matter, and advi...
Elizabeth Yin is a General Partner at Hustle Fund. Hustle Fund invests in “hilariously early” startups in the US and beyond. We talked about Elizabeth’s favorite questions to ask founders, navigating disagreements in a healthy way, AI, the art of pitching, and why VCs should be a little more patient with founders. I really enjoyed this one and hope you do as well.
Takeaways:
Transparent...
Rick Zullo is the Founder and Managing Partner of Equal Ventures. Equal is a New York-based early stage venture capital firm that takes a concentrated approach with investing themes around climate, insurance, retail, and supply chain. We talked about why Rick invests with conviction, the state of seed investing, what climate volatility means for insurers and investors, and why being kind is more important than bein...
Sonia Nagar is the Founder and Managing Partner of SNAK Venture Partners. SNAK is a Chicago-based firm that invests in Seed stage marketplace startups. We talked about why SNAK loves marketplaces, what surprised Sonia about starting a new firm, why SNAK prefers B2B to B2C, first-mover advantages, and how AI has and hasn’t changed marketplaces. Please enjoy.
Investing in Startups is hosted by Joe Magyer and...
Popular Podcasts
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
For more than 30 years The River Cafe in London, has been the home-from-home of artists, architects, designers, actors, collectors, writers, activists, and politicians. Michael Caine, Glenn Close, JJ Abrams, Steve McQueen, Victoria and David Beckham, and Lily Allen, are just some of the people who love to call The River Cafe home. On River Cafe Table 4, Rogers sits down with her customers—who have become friends—to talk about food memories. Table 4 explores how food impacts every aspect of our lives. “Foods is politics, food is cultural, food is how you express love, food is about your heritage, it defines who you and who you want to be,” says Rogers. Each week, Rogers invites her guest to reminisce about family suppers and first dates, what they cook, how they eat when performing, the restaurants they choose, and what food they seek when they need comfort. And to punctuate each episode of Table 4, guests such as Ralph Fiennes, Emily Blunt, and Alfonso Cuarón, read their favourite recipe from one of the best-selling River Cafe cookbooks. Table 4 itself, is situated near The River Cafe’s open kitchen, close to the bright pink wood-fired oven and next to the glossy yellow pass, where Ruthie oversees the restaurant. You are invited to take a seat at this intimate table and join the conversation. For more information, recipes, and ingredients, go to https://shoptherivercafe.co.uk/ Web: https://rivercafe.co.uk/ Instagram: www.instagram.com/therivercafelondon/ Facebook: https://en-gb.facebook.com/therivercafelondon/ For more podcasts from iHeartRadio, visit the iheartradio app, apple podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.
The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, And Charlamagne Tha God!
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.