EP11 Rebecca Kaden of Union sq Ventures
Description
🎙️ Human Unicorn Podcast — Episode Title:
"Conviction Over Consensus: Rebecca Kaden on Backing What Others Miss"
đź“„ Episode Description:
In this episode of Human Unicorn, Nihal Mehta talks with Rebecca Kaden, General Partner at Union Square Ventures, about how to spot — and stick with — breakthrough ideas before they’re obvious.
Rebecca shares how her path from journalism to VC shaped her investment lens, what it takes for a company to be truly venture scale in 2025, and why some of the most transformative businesses don’t look like obvious winners at the start.
They explore:
- How she defines "venture scale" today: speed, markets, and return potential
- The difference between consensus picks and conviction bets
- What founders should know before pitching USV
- Lessons from early investments in companies like Etsy, Carta, and Helium
- Why storytelling and point-of-view matter more than ever in crowded markets
If you're a founder looking to raise — or an investor sharpening your filter — this episode delivers real insight into how top-tier VC decisions get made.