In this episode, Alex Rawlings speaks with Amias Gerety, Partner at QED Investors, a leading fintech-focused VC firm managing nearly $1B in assets. Amias shares insights on venture capital strategy, staying disciplined during market hype, sourcing deals, and how lessons from his time at the U.S. Treasury shape his investment decisions today.
⏱ Episode Highlights:
00:00 – Intro & QED Overview
QED’s structure, fintech focus, and global reach.
01:20 – VC Mistakes & Market Hype
The danger of "paying ahead of growth," especially in AI.
03:12 – Staying Disciplined
Simple metrics and historical heuristics that guide better investment decisions.
04:39 – Deal Dynamics in VC vs PE
Why proprietary deal flow in VC means getting in early — before companies start raising.
07:26 – Hunting vs. Gathering
How QED targets specific companies instead of waiting for inbound deals.
08:51 – Building Relationships
Top-heavy structure means founders speak directly with partners on the first call.
14:43 – Using Senior Talent Early
Deploying high-value advisors like Capital One co-founder Nigel Morris from the start.
16:09 – Biggest Mistake in Venture
Ignoring founder misalignment — “If it’s a maybe, it’s a no.”
18:25 – CEO Ownership in Startups
Why QED avoids deals where founders don’t have control — unlike PE’s model.
20:43 – Operating Partners in VC
VC success comes from entrepreneurial operators who aim to join portfolio companies.
24:31 – Honest Career Advice
Be clear about whether you want to be an operator or an investor — ambiguity causes misalignment.
25:59 – Treasury Lessons
Decision-making under pressure during the financial crisis informs his bold, data-light approach in VC.
30:12 – What He Reads
Only old books — for timeless thinking and unexpected insights.
31:46 – Connect with Amias
Reach out via LinkedIn.
Amias offers a rare perspective bridging government, fintech, and venture capital — a must-listen for anyone navigating today’s competitive investing landscape.
Raw Selection partners with Private Equity firms and their portfolio companies to secure exceptional executive talent. We focus on de-risking executive recruitment through meticulous search and selection processes, ensuring top-tier performance and long-term success.
🔗 Connect with Alex Rawlings on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexrawlings/
🌐 Visit Raw Selection: www.raw-selection.com
Looking to grow your team? Check out our Hiring Guides
for proven strategies, templates, and best practices to make smarter hires.
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
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.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
The Male Room with Dr. Jesse Mills
As Director of The Men’s Clinic at UCLA, Dr. Jesse Mills has spent his career helping men understand their bodies, their hormones, and their health. Now he’s bringing that expertise to The Male Room — a podcast where data-driven medicine meets common sense. Each episode separates fact from hype, science from snake oil, and gives men the tools to live longer, stronger, and happier lives. With candor, humor, and real-world experience from the exam room and the operating room, Dr. Mills breaks down the latest health headlines, dissects trends, and explains what actually works — and what doesn’t. Smart, straightforward, and entertaining, The Male Room is the show that helps men take charge of their health without the jargon.