Investor Spotlight: Chris Picardo on Cross-Disciplinary Innovation and Finding Unique Founders

In this episode of Founded & Funded, host Coral Garnick Ducken interviews Madrona Partner Chris Picardo for the latest Investor Spotlight. With degrees in math and English, Chris shares his unique journey into venture capital. Chris highlights the importance of cross-disciplinary skills in understanding and communicating complex concepts and what he looks for in founders, emphasizing unique worldviews and innovative approaches, particularly in AI, biotech, and consumer verticals. This is a great episode for entrepreneurs interested in working with VCs.   (00:00) Introduction to Madrona Partner Chris Picardo (00:46) Chris Picardo: From Math and English to Startups (01:26) Chris's Transition to Madrona and Venture Capital (03:20) Joining Madrona and Early Stage Ventures (05:50) Chris on AI-Enabled Biotech (08:28) Chis's Cross-Disciplinary Approach (11:24) What Madrona Looks for in Founders (14:49) Book Recommendations and Personal Interests

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Listen to conversations between Madrona investors and entrepreneurs, founders, and startup personalities who talk about some of the key moments in building a company. Designed to give would-be founders and others interested in working with or for startups a view into the struggle and the lessons learned, these conversations are informal and informative. With more than 25 years of investing in early-stage technology companies, Madrona has worked with founders from day one to help build their company for the long run. We invest in seed and Series A companies in the Pacific Northwest building across the information technology spectrum and in Acceleration (B and beyond) stage companies building with AI, regardless of geography.