[5 mins] Venture Capitalist to Trump’s Vice President: JD Vance’s Story | EP 31

In this episode of UNinvested, host Sahil Seth discusses the background of JD Vance, the venture capitalist turned US senator for Ohio, who has been selected by Donald Trump as his running mate for the 2024 presidential election. Discover how Vance’s venture capital career, backed by notable figures like Peter Thiel, has influenced the tech world and what this means for the future of entrepreneurship, tech, and VC.

What we explore:

• JD Vance's journey from the US Marines to venture capital
• The influence of Peter Thiel on Vance's career
• Vance's bestselling book "Hillbilly Elegy" and its impact
• The founding of Narya Capital and its investments
• The shift in political support among tech moguls
• The debate over AI regulation and its implications for startups and big tech
• Vance's stance on open-sourcing AI and its significance

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In this episode, we cover:

[00:00] Introduction to JD Vance and his selection as Trump's running mate

[00:32] JD Vance’s early life, military service, and education

[00:47] Transition to venture capital with Peter Thiel’s Mithril Capital

[01:15] Best-selling book “Hillbilly Elegy” and its impact

[01:42] Joining Revolution and focus on Midwest startups

[01:56] Founding Narya and notable investors

[02:26] Overview of Narya’s investments and Vance’s board role at AppHarvest

[02:46] The shift in political support among tech moguls

[03:31] Vance’s views on AI regulation and open sourcing

[04:31] Closing thoughts and the significance of the upcoming election for the tech world