What are these VCs thinking? - Vanessa Larco

Welcome to this new episode of Explore and thank you for your continuous support. If you want to support the show you can give a 5 stars review ✨ on Spotify/Apple podcast.This week, I sit down with Vanessa Larco, a former product manager that became a VC at NEA. Vanessa has spent 9+ years supporting companies like Microsoft and Twilio. She is also the co-founder of FunLoop, a company that she sold after a year. For the last 7-years she has been doing investments in Series A and B in North America. In our conversation, Vanessa talked about:* Growing up with a mom entrepreneur* How she discovered the product role at Microsoft* The creation of a gaming startup for children and her path to acquisition * The challenges of transitioning into VC and learning the ropes* How personal experiences can inform investment decisions* The role of VCs in supporting startups during challenging times* The importance of founder quality in startup success* The way she thinks about assessing product-market fit* How she supports founders through tough times as a VC* Practical advice for founders currently seeking investments* Why founders should do due diligence on VCs* Red flags that she looks for in startups * How to analyze a potential market Listen now on 🟢Spotify or 🟣Apple Podcast.Where to find Vanessa:🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vanessalarco/Where to find me:🔗 LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/hugorauch/🔗 Newsletter: https://explorepodcast.substack.com/Timestamps: 00:00 Introducing Vanessa Larco, partner at NEA01:47 Vanessa's Early Life and Entrepreneurial Influence03:20 Journey into Product Management at Microsoft05:58 Founding an Educational Gaming Startup08:40 Challenges and Acquisition of the Startup11:43 Role of a Product Manager in Startups16:48 Transition to Venture Capital27:11 The Empty Office Mystery27:35 Finding Purpose in a New Role28:47 Shadowing Senior Partners30:47 First Investment Journey31:12 Investing in Greenlight35:14 Personal Conviction in Investments37:33 Market Analysis and Diligence39:03 Supporting Founders Through Tough Times41:18 Advice for Founders and Investors45:06 Rapid Fire Questions50:38 Conclusion and Contact Information This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit climateventuresvco2.substack.com

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VCo2 helps you become a better impact investor and climate tech entrepreneur. I'm Hugo, an aspiring climate tech investor. On VCo2, you'll dive into the intersections of venture capital and climate tech, gaining insights into the industry while following my journey as I become a VC. In every episode, we dive deep into the world of climate tech and venture capital to uncover what’s working today. and what we need for tomorrow. From groundbreaking innovations to the strategies fueling successful startups, you'll hear directly from the founders, investors, and leaders shaping the future. This podcast is for all the people interested in building, investing, and supporting impact startups. If that's you, don't forget to hit that follow button and leave a 5-star review. 💚 climateventuresvco2.substack.com