Venture Unlocked: The playbook for venture capital managers
Samir Kaji
Venture Unlocked: The Playbook for Venture Capital Managers, hosted by industry expert Samir Kaji, serves as a definitive guide for professionals looking to master the intricacies of venture capital management. With over two decades of experience in finance and venture capital, Samir offers listeners a deep dive into the strategies, challenges, and opportunities facing today’s venture capitalists. Through insightful discussions and interviews with leading figures in the industry, this podcast uncovers the essential tools and philosophies needed to thrive in the competitive world of venture funding. Each episode of Venture Unlocked brings forth new lessons on fundraising, investor relations, portfolio management, and the evolving regulatory landscape, making it an indispensable resource for both aspiring and seasoned investors. Whether you are looking to start your own fund, refine your investment approach, or gain insights from the top minds in venture capital, Samir’s expert guidance and the real-world experiences shared by his guests provide valuable learning opportunities that cannot be found elsewhere. Join us as we explore the pathways to success in the venture capital realm, episode by episode.
Episodes
Limited Partner Unlocked: Michael Kim Cendana Capital on the Emerging Manager landscape, fundraising, and the need for liquidity
In this insightful episode of "Venture Unlocked," host Samir Kaji engages Michael Kim of Cendana Capital to explore the dynamics of seed funding in the venture capital world. Michael shares his journey with Cendana Capital, emphasizing the shift from large, multi-stage funds to more specialized, early-stage seed funds. He discusses the challenges and strategies of fundraising post-Global Financial Crisis, the evolution of seed and pre-seed stages, and the increasing complexity of the venture capital ecosystem. Michael's deep dive into the operational strategies of successful fund managers and the importance of building trust with Limited Partners provides a nuanced understanding of what it takes to navigate the venture capital space today.
Amy Saper of Uncork Capital on how startups should embrace constraints to foster creativity, and her learnings from being at Accel, X, Uber, and Stripe
In this episode of Venture Unlocked, host Samir Kaji talks with Amy Saper of Uncork Capital about the transition from tech operator to venture capitalist. Saper discusses her background in major tech firms like Twitter, Uber, and Stripe, and her venture capital experiences at Accel and now Uncork Capital. She shares insights on the value of embracing constraints in startup environments to foster creativity and effective resource management. Saper emphasizes the importance of strategic focus and alignment with core competencies, especially in resource-constrained scenarios common to early-stage startups. The episode delves into the dynamics of venture capital investing, the challenges and strategies of fundraising, and how venture firms can effectively support startups.
LP Unlocked shorts: What We're Hearing about Venture Liquidity with Meghan Reynolds of Altimeter
In this episode of Venture Unlocked, host Samir Kaji and guest Meghan Reynolds of Altimeter Capital delve into the pressing topic of liquidity in venture capital. They explore how limited partners (LPs) and general partners (GPs) are navigating the challenges posed by the increasingly long timelines for achieving liquidity in the VC sector. The discussion highlights recent market shifts, including a significant decline in public exits and the high thresholds for IPOs, impacting the venture liquidity landscape. Key solutions such as GP-led secondary transactions and strategic liquidity management are examined, providing insights into evolving practices aimed at balancing immediate financial needs with long-term investment returns.