What happens when a venture capitalist brings a deep understanding of government into the startup world? Yanev Suissa, Founder and Managing General Partner of SineWave Ventures, has done just that, carving out a powerful niche by helping commercial-first startups break into government markets. His journey from NEA to the Bush and Obama administrations gives him a perspective few investors can match.

Here's a glimpse of what you'll learn:

• 00:42 Introduction and Guest Overview

• 01:24 Yanev Suissa's Background and Career Path

• 02:19 The SineWave Ventures Model

• 03:33 Navigating the Government Tech Space

• 05:42 Competing with Mega Funds

• 07:50 Investment Decision-Making Process

• 10:24 Evaluating Founders and Teams

• 16:14 Impact of AI and Investment Landscape

• 18:23 The Importance of Vision in Entrepreneurship

• 19:16 AI and Business: Making Money and Saving Money

• 19:38 Challenges and Realities of AI Implementation

• 20:20 Future Proofing and Investment Strategies in AI

• 21:16 The Role of VCs in Supporting Startups

• 22:21 Debate: The Future Landscape of AI Companies

• 25:32 VCs and Founders: Building Productive Relationships

• 29:55 The Rewards and Challenges of Being a VC

• 31:42 Timeless Advice for Entrepreneurs and Investors

In this episode,

Yanev unpacks how his background in federal investment shaped the founding of SineWave Ventures, a VC firm built to help commercial technology companies win in both the public and private sectors. He explains why many venture-backed startups overlook government as a growth engine, and how SineWave uniquely helps founders access these massive, often hidden, revenue streams. With past investments in Databricks, SentinelOne, and Evolv, Yanev shares what makes a venture truly scalable across sectors.

The conversation dives deep into the challenges of competing with mega-funds, the critical role of team dynamics in startup success, and how Yanev's firm makes concentrated bets in a crowded market. He also offers a candid perspective on the current AI supercycle; including what's hype, what's real, and how to think about sustainable ROI in enterprise AI adoption. Whether you're a founder, investor, or LP, Yanev's insights offer a playbook for navigating venture capital with both conviction and clarity.

Sponsor Host: Affinity

Affinity is a relationship intelligence platform that empowers dealmakers in relationship-driven industries to find, manage, and close more deals. With the most automated relationship intelligence insights and technology, Affinity enables leaders to drive deals and ensure their teams can take action with confidence, knowing the context and history of every relationship.

The Affinity platform, including Affinity CRM, is used by over 3,000 relationship-driven organizations worldwide. Founded in 2014, Affinity is headquartered in San Francisco and backed by leading investors, including Menlo Ventures, Advance Venture Partners, 8VC, and MassMutual Ventures.

Learn more at https://affinity.co

What if your venture capital firm could plug you directly into the world's most influential corporations; unlocking growth, customers, and global scale overnight? That's exactly what Simon Wu does as a Partner at Cathay Innovation. Leading U.S. investments at the $2.5B global VC, Simon's work sits at the intersection of innovation, industrial strength, and strategic capital.

Here's a glimpse of what you'll learn:

• 00:41 Introduction to Alpha Partners and Guest Simon Wu

• 01:33 The Origin Story of Cafe Innovation

• 03:06 Growth and Expansion of Cafe Innovation

• 05:59 Unique Corporate Connections and Investment Strategy

• 11:04 Navigating the Competitive Venture Capital Landscape

• 15:23 AI and Wealth Tech: Current Trends and Future Predictions

• 23:28 Closing Thoughts and Future Collaborations

In this episode,

Simon Wu shares how Cathay Innovation bridges the gap between fast-moving startups and industry giants, turning traditional corporate LPs into game-changing partners for growth-stage companies. From automotive and energy to digital health and fintech, Simon explains how their global corporate network unlocks distribution, contracts, and strategic edge for portfolio founders. With nearly 20 core corporate LPs and hundreds of partners worldwide, Cathay's model delivers far more than capital.

Simon also reveals what separates the good from the great in today's AI-fueled startup landscape. He walks through Cathay's investment in companies like Skan and Range, outlines how their ecosystem teams help navigate enterprise sales, and breaks down what it really takes to win Series A and B rounds in a bifurcating VC market. For VCs, founders, and operators alike, this conversation is a masterclass in strategic venture capital at scale.

Sponsor Host: Affinity

Affinity is a relationship intelligence platform that empowers dealmakers in relationship-driven industries to find, manage, and close more deals. With the most automated relationship intelligence insights and technology, Affinity enables leaders to drive deals and ensure their teams can take action with confidence, knowing the context and history of every relationship.

The Affinity platform, including Affinity CRM, is used by over 3,000 relationship-driven organizations worldwide. Founded in 2014, Affinity is headquartered in San Francisco and backed by leading investors, including Menlo Ventures, Advance Venture Partners, 8VC, and MassMutual Ventures.

Learn more at https://affinity.co

In venture capital, power isn't just about capital, it's about who gets to decide where it flows.

Paige Hendrix Buckner, CEO of All Raise, is redefining who sits at the decision-making table. With a background spanning public policy, education, and founder support, she's leading a movement to shift both the culture and the calculus of VC, proving that diverse check-writers create better outcomes.

Here's a glimpse of what you'll learn:

• 00:42 Welcome to the Driving Alpha Podcast

• 00:52 Meet Paige Hendrix Buckner: CEO of All Raise

• 01:38 Paige's Journey: From Education to Entrepreneurship

• 04:34 All Raise's Mission and Impact

• 06:09 Transformations in Venture Capital

• 09:12 Empowering Women and Non-Binary Investors

• 13:10 Building Competitive Advantage

• 21:41 The Importance of Sponsorship and Mentorship

• 29:43 All Raise's Networking and Community Initiatives

• 33:34 The Power of Storytelling in Venture Capital

• 38:15 The Business Case for Diversity

• 41:37 Final Thoughts and Call to Action

In this episode,

Paige joins Driving Alpha host Zoe van den Bol to explore how shifting power toward women and non-binary investors can unlock smarter investing and stronger returns. Backed by compelling data, Paige shares how All Raise has doubled the number of women in Partner+ roles and is now laser-focused on helping them build measurable influence, from leading deals to securing board seats.

They dive into tactical strategies for junior investors looking to grow their credibility and capital access, the importance of mentorship and sponsorship in a relationship-driven industry, and how to build a personal brand that earns deal flow. Paige also speaks candidly about the need to normalize being "transactional", and how that mindset shift helps communities, and careers, thrive.

This is a masterclass in rethinking power, performance, and the future of venture capital.