In this episode of The Innovators & Investors Podcast, Kristian Marquez hosts Peter Walker, Head of Insights at Carta, to explore the evolving landscape of venture capital, startup growth, and the transformative impact of AI on fundraising and hiring.

Drawing on Carta’s unique position atop data from over 60,000 startups and thousands of venture funds, Peter shares how emerging technologies are reshaping benchmarks for revenue growth and team size, with AI enabling companies to scale faster and more efficiently than ever before. The conversation delves into how venture valuations have shifted, especially at early stages, and why the geography of fundraising—particularly Silicon Valley’s enduring dominance—remains critical.

They also discuss the bifurcation in venture capital between mega funds and smaller emerging managers, the complexities of LP-GP relationships, and the increasing role of secondary markets in providing liquidity. Peter offers perspective on how AI is currently delaying startup hiring but may ultimately change the workforce landscape.

The episode closes with reflections on democratizing access to venture investing and the importance of data-driven insights for founders, investors, and ecosystem participants. Listeners gain a comprehensive understanding of current venture trends, challenges, and opportunities from one of the most data-informed voices in the industry.

Learn more about Carta's work at:

https://carta.com/

Connect with Peter on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peterjameswalker/

Think you'd be a great guest on the show?

Apply at https://finstratmgmt.com/innovators-investors-podcast/

In this episode of The Innovators & Investors Podcast, host Kristian Marquez sits down with Caroline Winnett, Executive Director of Berkeley Skydeck, to explore the evolution and impact of one of the nation’s leading university accelerators. Caroline shares the journey of transforming Skydeck from a modest program into a powerhouse accelerator with a unique funding model that aligns private venture capital with a public university mission.

Listeners will gain a comprehensive understanding of how Berkeley Skydeck leverages a dedicated venture fund to invest in early-stage startups, attracting thousands of applications worldwide and engaging a vast network of alumni and professional advisors.The conversation delves into the selection process, the maturation of founders over the years, and how the accelerator balances supporting Berkeley-affiliated startups while welcoming founders globally. Caroline also discusses the vital role of culture, ecosystem, and university leadership—highlighting how Berkeley’s strategic changes, including faculty tenure policies supportive of entrepreneurship, have fueled innovation on campus.

The episode offers valuable lessons from Caroline’s personal career path, including her experience founding and exiting a neuroscience startup, emphasizing the importance of rigorous scientific validation and customer-centric product development.

Moreover, the podcast touches on Skydeck’s international collaborations, notably with Japan’s JETRO, illustrating how global partnerships are expanding the reach and influence of the program. Caroline provides insights into key success metrics such as follow-on capital raised, internship opportunities for students, and the broader impact on Berkeley’s reputation. This episode is a rich resource for founders, investors, university leaders, and innovation enthusiasts interested in understanding how a research university accelerator can thrive at the intersection of academia and venture capital to nurture startups and foster entrepreneurship at scale.

Learn more about Berkeley SkyDeck: https://skydeck.berkeley.edu/

Connect with Caroline Winnett on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caroline-winnett-5574933/

Think you'd be a great guest on the show?

Apply at: https://finstratmgmt.com/innovators-investors-podcast/Want to learn more about

Kristian Marquez's work?

Check out his website at https://finstratmgmt.com

In this episode of The Innovators & Investors Podcast, Kristian Marquez hosts Mathew Lewis, U.S. General Manager and Chief Revenue Officer at Darrow, a company dedicated to uncovering large-scale legal violations and helping plaintiffs, plaintiff firms, insurance companies, and corporates manage risk. Mathew shares Darrow’s unique approach to identifying risks in areas such as data privacy, antitrust, and financial violations, explaining how their legal intelligence and data-driven insights support a broad ecosystem. He discusses the critical role of a chief revenue officer in scaling a company post-Series B funding, emphasizing the importance of deeply understanding clients, iterating quickly, and building efficient sales and marketing teams. Drawing on his extensive background in fintech and regulated markets, Mathew offers career advice for aspiring sales leaders, highlighting listening skills, curiosity, and mentorship as keys to success. The conversation also explores the evolving nature of product-market fit, the value of hybrid work environments, and the importance of hiring A players to drive sustainable growth. Listeners gain a comprehensive view of how Darrow leverages data and legal expertise to create value and the leadership mindset required to grow innovative companies in complex markets.

Learn more about Darrow's work at: https://www.darrow.ai/

Connect with Mathew Keshav Lewis on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keshavlewis/

Think you'd be a great guest on the show?

Apply at https://finstratmgmt.com/innovators-investors-podcast/

Want to learn more about Kristian Marquez's work?

Check out his website at https://finstratmgmt.com

In this episode of the Innovators and Investors Podcast, host Kristian Marquez interviews David Cross, a venture partner at Rain Capital.

David discusses his journey into venture capital, the importance of cybersecurity, the influence of AI on the industry, and key factors in evaluating startups. David emphasizes the need for passion in founders, the significance of market understanding, and the importance of being adaptable to changes in the market landscape.

Learn more about David's work: https://raincap.vc/

Connect with David on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-b-cross-b856657/

Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply Here: https://finstratmgmt.com/be-a-podcast-guest/

Want to learn more about Kristian Marquez's work? Check out our website: https://finstratmgmt.com/

In this episode of the Innovators and Investors podcast, host Kristian Marquez interviews Scott Garber, managing partner of Early Light Ventures.

Scott shares his unconventional journey to venture capital, emphasizing his focus on backing hungry first-time founders in second-tier cities. He discusses the importance of founder tenacity, the nuances of fundraising, and the current investment landscape, particularly in sectors like healthtech and cybersecurity. Scott highlights the need for effective communication between founders and investors regarding expectations and valuation.

Learn more about Scott's work: https://www.earlylight.vc/

Connect with Scott on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gwventure/

Think you'd be a great guest on the show?

Apply to be a guest: https://finstratmgmt.com/be-a-podcast-guest/

Want to learn more about FinStrat Management?

https://finstratmgmt.com/

In this episode of The Innovators & Investors Podcast, Kristian Marquez sits down with Antoni Kaniowski, COO of GoodFutures, a Carnegie Mellon-affiliated venture builder focused on the future of work and AI-driven transformations.

They explore how GoodFutures develops startups by quickly validating and launching AI-native solutions that address evolving workforce challenges, particularly in the hire-train-deploy model. Antoni shares his unique perspective stemming from technical and operational experience across Europe and the U.S., emphasizing the importance of focusing on business transactions rather than just product development in B2B SaaS environments.

The conversation highlights the nuances of market entry strategies, especially the comparative advantages of the U.S. market for startups, and the strategic approach to founder selection—targeting early-career individuals with product-building talent who benefit from mentorship.

Additionally, the discussion delves into the complexities of raising capital via different investment structures and the evolving role of AI in augmenting business services.

Anthony also reflects on the shifting valuation landscape for SaaS companies amid AI disruption and underscores the ongoing necessity of building trust through human connection in technology-driven solutions. This episode offers a comprehensive look at venture building as a scalable discipline that integrates operational rigor with financial strategy to foster innovation in workforce technologies.

Learn more about GoodFutures' work at: https://www.goodfutures.co/

Connect with Antoni on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoni-kaniowski/

Think you'd be a great guest on the show?

Apply at https://finstratmgmt.com/innovators-investors-podcast/

Want to learn more about Kristian Marquez's work?

Check out his website at https://finstratmgmt.com

In this episode of the Innovators and Investors Podcast, host Kristian Marquez interviews Melissa Kozak, founder of Citus Health. Melissa shares her journey from being a nurse to launching a successful healthcare startup. She discusses the challenges of raising capital, the importance of aligning with investors, and the value of her nursing background in identifying and solving industry problems. Melissa emphasizes the significance of humility, teamwork, and continuous learning in entrepreneurship.

Learn more about Melissa's work: https://www.resmed.com/en-us/

Connect with Melissa on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-kozak-rn-bsn-91272aaa.

Think you'd be a great guest on the show?

Apply Here: https://finstratmgmt.com/be-a-podcast-guest/

Want to learn more about Kristian Marquez's work?

Check out his website at Finstrat Management: https://finstratmgmt.com/

In this episode of The Innovators & Investors Podcast, host Kristian Marquez sits down with Ari Newman, co-founder and managing director of Massive VC, a Boulder-based venture firm specializing in deep tech investments.

They explore Massive’s unique investment thesis focused on early commercial inflection points across four critical domains: the new space economy, energy transformation, 10x data connectivity, and cybersecurity. Ari shares the rationale behind starting Massive using special purpose vehicles (SPVs) instead of a traditional fund structure, highlighting the flexibility and strategic advantages SPVs offer for capturing early-stage opportunities in capital-intensive industries.

The conversation delves into the challenges and nuances of deep tech investing, including how Massive evaluates commercialization milestones, mitigates multiple vectors of risk, and constructs a concentrated portfolio with significant reserves for follow-on investments. Ari also discusses the dynamics of working alongside corporate venture partners, the importance of building trusted relationships with founders, and how their combined operator and investing experience shapes their approach to selecting resilient entrepreneurial teams.

The episode concludes with reflections on legacy, leadership lessons, and the value of authentic partnerships in building both startups and venture firms. Listeners gain a comprehensive understanding of how Massive VC is carving out a differentiated path in the crowded venture landscape while backing transformative technologies with long-term societal impact.

Learn more about Massive VC's work at: https://massive.vc/

Connect with Ari Newman on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/arinewman/

Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply at https://finstratmgmt.com/innovators-investors-podcast/

Want to learn more about Kristian Marquez's work? Check out his website at https://finstratmgmt.com