Bloomberg Beta's Roy Bahat on Early-Stage Strategy, AI, and the Open Angels Program [Ep 44]
Description
In this episode, Harry sits down with Roy Bahat, Head of Bloomberg Beta, a venture capital firm that was the first to focus on the future of work and has a particular interest in the effect of AI on work.
Bloomberg Beta has a track record of investing in early-stage companies like Slack, Flexport, and Masterclass. They also just announced a new $75M fund backed entirely by their sole investor, Bloomberg LP. Roy discusses the firm's unique investment philosophy, including their emphasis on consistency, willingness to invest at 'day zero', and the importance of founder and sector alignment. He also touches on the economic incentives behind fund sizes, the integration of AI in various sectors, and the strategic alignment with Bloomberg LP. The episode goes into how Bloomberg Beta supports angel investors through their Open Angel Program and how they navigate the ever-evolving landscape of AI-driven innovation.
Where to Listen and Watch:
Spotify -
YouTube -
Segments
(00:00 ) Introduction to Roy Bahat and Bloomberg Beta
(02:40 ) Bloomberg Beta fund announcement and strategy?
(04:10 ) What is Roy’s investment philosophy and day zero?
(06:07 ) What are the challenges and risks in early-stage investing?
(9:30 ) Why Roy invests
(9:53 ) What “Day Zero” means
(13:00 ) What is Roy’s focus and compatibility in investments?
(21:20 ) What are some examples of successful investments?
(21:59 ) Importance of founder intelligence
(23:27 ) What is some advice for founders?
(25:42 ) What the future of work is and the role of AI
(30:36 ) How Bloomberg Beta fits into the larger Bloomberg empire
(37:15 ) What is The Open Angels Program?
(39:40 ) Conclusion and Final Thoughts
Links to Additional Info
Eric Newcomer’s recent interview with Roy -
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About Harry: Harry Campbell runs The Rideshare Guy, a popular community for drivers and gig workers. He also runs The Driverless Digest, a newsletter that covers the intersection of autonomy and rideshare and the business of AVs. He’s an active angel investor having invested over $500k of personal funds in 30+ companies and funds over the past few years, still trying to figure it all out though! Harry also has a $500k mini-fund that invests in early stage mobility, logistics, marketplaces and his network.
Interested in learning about some of the companies Harry is angel investing in and read his deal memos, for FREE - just fill out this form - https://forms.gle/eYwtDE7p9K2bepnF8\
Harry LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/harrygcampbell/
Harry Twitter - https://twitter.com/TheRideshareGuy
About Colin: Colin Gardiner has spent over a decade building startups focusing on online marketplaces. Most recently, he worked for Outdoorsy as Chief Revenue Officer. He advises marketplace/platform startups on growth, analytics, monetization, fundraising, and strategy. He also runs the rapidly growing syndicate Yonder Ventures, which invests in marketplaces and platforms and the SaaS, Fintech, Insurtech, and the technology enabling them.
Colin LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/colingardiner/
Colin Twitter - https://twitter.com/ColinGardiner
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