The Most Expensive Mistake Founders Make Before Series A

For more thoughts, clips, and updates, follow Avetis Antaplyan on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/avetisantaplyan

In this episode of The Tech Leader's Playbook, Avetis Antaplyan sits down with Isabelle Tashima, a growth equity investor at Volition Capital, to cut through the AI hype and unpack what truly drives breakout success in internet and consumer technology companies. Isabelle brings a unique perspective shaped by her experience across Goldman Sachs, Wells Fargo, KKR, and now Volition, where she focuses on backing capital-efficient founders who have achieved product-market fit with strong fundamentals.

The conversation explores Volition’s contrarian investment philosophy, why bootstrapped or lightly funded companies often outperform, and how growth equity differs from venture capital and private equity in both risk and partnership style. Isabelle shares insights on why community, creators, and affiliate-driven distribution have become durable moats in consumer tech, often outperforming traditional paid acquisition channels.

They also dive into how AI is reshaping the landscape, not as a replacement for teams, but as a force multiplier for efficiency, unit economics, and speed. From evaluating founder-investor alignment to understanding when to prioritize partnership over valuation, this episode offers a grounded, thoughtful look at scaling modern tech businesses in an increasingly noisy market.

Takeaways

• Companies without AI risk being displaced by competitors who use it effectively.
• Volition prioritizes capital-efficient founders who achieved traction without heavy dilution.
• Growth equity focuses on protecting downside (1x) while targeting meaningful upside (5x+).
• Community and brand can serve as powerful, defensible moats.
• Creator-led and affiliate-driven go-to-market strategies are reshaping distribution.
• Micro and nano creators often outperform large influencers in engagement and conversion.
• AI does not need to be customer-facing to add value; backend efficiency matters.
• Not all fast-growing AI companies have durable, long-term revenue.
• Founders should align with investors on time horizon, risk tolerance, and definition of success.
• Choosing the right partner often matters more than achieving the highest valuation.

Chapters

00:00 Cutting Through the AI Hype

02:30 Volition Capital’s Investment Philosophy

05:00 Growth Equity vs. VC and Private Equity

07:30 Contrarian Investing in Overlooked Markets

10:30 The Shift in Go-To-Market Strategies

13:30 Micro Creators and Democratized Distribution

16:00 Evaluating AI in Non–AI-Native Companies

18:30 Common Scaling Mistakes in Consumer Tech

21:00 Fast Exits vs. Long-Term Value Creation

25:30 Isabelle’s Career Path and Investment Lens

29:00 Choosing the Right Capital Partner

38:00 Final Advice for Founders

Isabelle Tashima’s Social Media Link:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/isabelle-tashima-780065135/

Isabelle Tashima’s Website Link:

https://www.volitioncapital.com/team/isabelle-tashima/

Resources and Links:https://www.hireclout.comhttps://www.podcast.hireclout.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/hirefasthireright