Ep28: The Coding VC; w/ Leo Polovets, General Partner @ Susa Ventures — Product Market Fit podcast
In this episode, we delve into the world of early-stage venture investment with Leo Polovets, a General Partner at Susa Ventures and former software engineer. Join us as we explore successful investment strategies in the rapidly evolving AI landscape and the transformative impact of AI on startups and society. Discover the essential entrepreneurial skills for different startup stages and how to avoid early-stage traps. Gain valuable insights from LinkedIn's early days working with Reid Hoffman and learn about the art of storytelling in investment presentations. Tune in now for a dynamic and informative episode packed with actionable advice and valuable knowledge. Chapters: (00:00) Intro (02:30) What is Susa Ventures' investment thesis? (05:24) Leo's background: from engineering to investment (07:37) Essential skills for engineers in venture capital (11:20) Quantum computing: progress and potential for commercial applications (11:50) Uncovering investment insights in the AI landscape (17:16) The impact of AI on startups and society (22:03) The Flexport success story: the winning pitch that revolutionized shipping (24:32) The art of storytelling in investment presentations (27:44) Required entrepreneurial skills for different stages of startups (33:45) Prioritizing pricing from day one: a key to success (39:11) Insights from LinkedIn's early days: lessons learned working with Reid Hoffman (42:28) Lightning Round Further reading: “Startups are risk bundles” “How to de-risk a startup” Recommended newsletter: Lenny’s newsletter Recommended book: 7 Powers Guest Contact Info: twitter.com/lpolovets linkedin.com/in/lpolovets susaventures.com leo@susaventures.com Sponsor: This podcast is brought to you by grwth.co. Grwth offers fractional CMOs, paired with best-in-class digital marketing execution to support early-stage startup success. With a focus on seed and series A companies, Grwth has helped a number of SaaS, digital health, and e-commerce startups build their go-to-market function and scale up. To learn more and book a free consultation, go to grwth.co. Get in touch with Mosheh: linkedin.com/in/moshehp twitter.com/MoshehP hello@pmfpod.com www.pmfpod.com