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At Context Ventures, our podcast “AdvancingVC” covers all things startup and venture capital – primarily, how venture capital is changing from the emerging manager perspective.
We’ll be talking with venture capitalists, limited partners, and founders who are actively working at the frontiers of our industry and are advancing venture capital.
25 Episodes
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In this episode of the Advancing VC Podcast, we sit down with Jamie Rhode, partner at Screendoor, a trailblazing venture capital platform designed to support emerging managers and expand access for limited partners (LPs) in early-stage investing. With a background spanning Bloomberg data analytics to managing multi-asset portfolios at a family office, Jamie brings a rare blend of analytical rigor and allocator experience to the conversation. Jamie shares her personal path into venture capita...
In this compelling episode of the Advancing VC Podcast, we sit down with Zachariah George, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Launch Africa Ventures, to explore the rise of venture capital across the African continent and why Africa represents the most exciting frontier for early-stage investing globally. With over a decade of hands-on experience building the continent’s venture ecosystem, Zachariah brings a data-driven and deeply personal perspective to how African founders are solving real-...
In this insightful episode of the Advancing VC Podcast, we sit down with Milana Kuzmanovic, a key figure at World Innovation Lab (WiL), to explore the dynamic intersection of Japanese corporate venture capital, cross-border startup expansion, and fund-of-funds investing. Milana shares her unique journey from working at Citigroup in Tokyo and the IMF to playing multiple strategic roles at WiL, including platform director, chief of staff, and now a principal on the fund-of-funds team. Listener...
In this episode of the Advancing VC Podcast, we sit down with Frank, Director at Morgan Creek Capital, for an expansive and transparent look into one of the most experienced fund-of-funds perspectives in early-stage venture capital. With over two decades of experience and a track record of backing fund managers from their first check through fund nine, Frank offers rare insights into what it takes to build, scale, and sustain a successful VC franchise from the LP lens. We unpack Morgan Creek...
In this episode of the Advancing VC Podcast, we dive deep with Aakar Vachhani, Managing Partner at Fairview Capital, as he shares insights from his remarkable 15+ year journey in venture capital. Starting at Fairview in 2008 without an Ivy League pedigree or prior investment experience, Aakardiscusses how Fairview’s culture—rooted in trust, inclusivity, and continuous learning—enabled him to break into the industry and eventually open their San Francisco office. We explore Fairview’s unique a...
In this episode of The AdvancingVC Podcast, we sit down with Chris Douvos—one of venture capital’s most thoughtful LPs and the founder of Ahoy Capital—to explore what it really means to build enduring firms and support breakthrough investors in an increasingly competitive landscape. With decades of experience backing iconic names early, Chris shares a nuanced view of how the best VCs differentiate not just through access or brand, but through deep insight, discipline, and architecture. We unp...
In this episode of the Advancing VC Podcast, we dive deep with Jeff Clavier, founder of Uncork Capital, a pioneer in seed-stage venture investing with over 21 years of experience backing more than 280 companies including Fitbit, Eventbrite, and Postmates. Jeff shares the evolution of seed and pre-seed investing—from its early days as a niche space to today’s institutionalized ecosystem—and how Uncork’s high-touch, founder-first approach sets them apart in a crowded market. We explore what it ...
In this episode of The AdvancingVC Podcast, we dive into the evolving world of venture capital with Danielle from GC1. Discover how grit and curiosity are essential traits for founders and fund managers alike, and why VC is more than just funding—it’s a unique form of innovation finance shaping the future. We discuss the complexities of startup valuations, the dynamic roles within VC teams, and what dealbreakers really look like through a surprising restaurant metaphor. Whether you’re a foun...
In this episode of The AdvancingVC Podcast, we sit down with Amanda “Robby” Robson, a Solo GP and founder of Modern Technical Fund, to unpack what it really takes to back—and become—a breakout early-stage founder in today’s AI-fueled market. From defining your category to mastering distribution, this conversation explores why speed, clarity, and obsession matter more than ever. We dive into lessons from standout companies like Drata and LaunchDarkly, how to cut through the AI noise, and what...
In this episode, we’re joined by Andrew from Shorewind Capital, a venture capital firm focused on follow-on investing in deep tech, health, and climate startups. Andrew dives into Shorewind’s unique investment strategy, which emphasizes backing companies post-seed through Series A and beyond, particularly in sectors where scientific or engineering breakthroughs can unlock enormous value. In the first half of the conversation, Andrew shares Shorewind's approach to follow-on investing—how they...
In this episode, Charles Hudson, Managing Partner at Precursor Ventures, shares how his firm backs 80–100 pre-seed startups per fund—and why that strategy defies traditional venture expectations. He dives into portfolio construction, founder support, and how Precursor maintains quality and accessibility across such a high-volume model. We also discuss the evolving seed landscape, how multi-stage firms are approaching earlier rounds, and why founder-market fit matters more than a polished prod...
In this episode, we’re joined by Winter Mead, founder of Coolwater Capital, a platform designed to support the next generation of venture capital managers. With a background as an LP at Sapphire Ventures, Winter brings a unique perspective on what it takes to raise and run a successful VC fund today. We talk about: - The origin and mission of Coolwater Capital - How Coolwater helps new GPs launch, scale, and institutionalize their firms - The importance of LP education and the shift in expec...
In this episode, we dive into how Carta is transforming venture capital through data-driven insights and smarter decision-making. Peter Walker, Carta’s Head of Insights, shares his journey and reveals how the platform helps founders and fund managers navigate complex private market challenges — from dilution and follow-on rounds to portfolio strategy and secondary markets. Peter breaks down common myths about early-stage investing, explains the power of storytelling with data, and explores t...
In this insightful episode of AdvancingVC, we sit down with Kanyi Maqubela, Managing Partner at Kindred Ventures and one of the most thoughtful voices in early-stage investing. From his remarkable journey as a refugee from South Africa to building a career at the forefront of Silicon Valley, Kanyi shares how his unique background shapes his investment philosophy and commitment to backing founders who are tackling society’s biggest challenges. Tune in as Kanyi discusses: - His path from Sowet...
In this episode of Advancing VC, host Tim Hsia sits down with Megan Ruan, a General Partner at Gold House Ventures, to explore how venture capital can power cultural change. Megan shares her journey from managing a $2B VC portfolio at the Johnson & Johnson family office to co-founding Gold House Ventures — a firm innovating at the intersection of identity, media, and market-first social impact. We dive into how Gold House is reshaping narratives through storytelling and capital, the uniq...
In this episode of Advancing VC, host Tim Hsia speaks with Francisco Gomez, Partner at Vault Fund, a fund of funds dedicated exclusively to investing in venture studios — or as Vault calls them, company creators. Founded in 2021, Vault is at the forefront of a fast-evolving space that’s redefining early-stage investing. 🧠 Whether you're an emerging manager, LP, founder, or just venture-curious, this episode delivers deep insight into a model poised to become a central pillar of the next vent...
In this episode of the AdvancingVC podcast, Tim Hsia sits down with Jenny Fielding, partner at Everywhere Ventures and author of Venture Everywhere. Jenny shares her journey from law and finance to founding startups, and how she’s reshaping the venture capital landscape with a truly global approach. She dives deep into the importance of the "Everywhere Mindset," a philosophy that helps her and her team invest in innovation worldwide, from New York to Africa and beyond. Jenny discusses the un...
In this episode of the AdvancingVC podcast, we dive into the evolving landscape of venture capital and endowment investing, with a focus on emerging managers and early-stage opportunities. Our guests, Grace Brown and Ethan Sun of Vanderbilt University, share insights into how their investment strategy has shifted over time, especially in the context of the VC sector, and how they are navigating the dynamic market. Key topics discussed include: The importance of grace and patience in venture ...
In this episode of the AdvancingVC podcast, we sit down with Lyon Wong, a Partner at V0, to dive deep into the evolving world of venture capital. Lyon shares his insights on the rise of emerging managers, the changing dynamics between general partners (GPs) and limited partners (LPs), and how new funds are reshaping the VC landscape. We explore the unique challenges and opportunities faced by emerging managers as they look to carve out their place in a competitive market, as well as the evolv...
In this episode of AdvancingVC, we’re joined by Renata Aráuz-DeStefano, an investor at Pivotal Ventures, where she leads efforts to invest in women-led and mission-driven funds. Renata shares her unique journey—from investment banking to startup founder, microfinance, and climate investing—and dives into the work being done at Pivotal Ventures to drive social change through venture capital. Renata discusses her role in backing emerging women-led managers and the impact this has on diversifyi...
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