Episode Description:

In this episode of the Build Tech Stack Equity podcast, host Darius Gant sits down with Austin Clements, Managing Partner at Slauson & Co., an LA-based early-stage venture capital firm rooted in economic inclusion. Austin shares his journey from building websites as a teen in South LA to managing multimillion-dollar venture funds designed to empower underrepresented founders.

He discusses how Slauson & Co. was born from a vision to democratize access to capital, what it really takes to raise a first fund, and the lessons learned along the way, including how timing, persistence, and purpose shaped their $75M debut fund. Austin also explores the evolving venture landscape, founder-market fit, and why authentic storytelling is now critical for entrepreneurs.

Later in the episode, he dives into Slauson's Friends & Family Accelerator, a six-month program investing $300K in early founders with bold ideas shaping the future of human experience.

If you're interested in venture capital, founder stories, or building inclusive pathways to tech innovation, this episode offers both wisdom and inspiration.

Founder Bio:
Austin Clements is the Managing Partner and Co-Founder of Slauson & Co., a Los Angeles–based early-stage venture capital firm committed to driving economic inclusion by investing in technology that empowers small business owners and overlooked founders. At Slauson, Austin leads investments across sectors where innovation meets accessibility, bridging opportunity gaps and redefining what success in venture capital looks like.

Prior to launching Slauson & Co., Austin honed his investment acumen at TenOneTen Ventures, where he supported some of LA's most promising early-stage startups, and began his career in investment management at AllianceBernstein. He also founded Pi Digital Media, a web and mobile development firm serving small businesses nationwide, an experience that deeply informs his perspective on entrepreneurship and technology.

Beyond venture, Austin has long been an advocate for equity in tech and entrepreneurship. He was the founding Chair of PledgeLA, a groundbreaking collaboration between the Annenberg Foundation and the Los Angeles Mayor's Office designed to increase diversity, equity, and community engagement within LA's tech ecosystem. He currently serves as a Trustee for the Knight Foundation, where he helps shape investments in media innovation and community development, and has served on the boards of Library Foundation of Los Angeles and HBCUvc, contributing to pathways for underrepresented professionals in venture capital.

A Kauffman Fellow, Austin earned his MBA from NYU Stern School of Business and his BA in Business Administration from Morehouse College. His career reflects a deep belief that inclusive investing not only fuels innovation but strengthens communities and builds generational wealth.

Timestamps

 00:00 – Introduction: From South LA to Venture Capital
01:10 – Early Passion for Technology and Web Development
03:07 – Discovering Venture Capital Through Self-Education
05:20 – Partnering with AJ and Building the Vision for Slauson & Co.
06:00 – The Reality of Raising a First Fund
08:00 – Turning Points: COVID, George Floyd, and Industry Shifts
09:00 – Exceeding Expectations: From $15M Goal to $75M Fund
11:00 – The "Enroll, Don't Convince" Philosophy for Fundraising
13:00 – Lessons from 300 LP Calls and Building Credibility
14:00 – Slauson's Investment Thesis: Small Business Tech & Human Experience
16:00 – Founder-Market Fit and the Power of Lived Experience
17:00 – The Pattern Breakers Framework: Inflection, Insight, Idea
19:00 – How Founder Storytelling Has Changed in the AI Era
21:00 – Authenticity and Identity in Brand Building
23:00 – AI's Role in Startups and Investing: Finding the Right Layer
25:00 – The Case for Purpose-Built AI (Abby, the AI Therapy App)
29:00 – AI's Societal Impacts and the Future of Work
33:00 – One-Person Startups and the Limits of Context
37:00 – Launching the Friends & Family Accelerator
39:00 – Building Bridges for Underrepresented Founders
41:00 – Application Details and Call to Action

Resources

Follow Darius Gant
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/m-darius-gant-cpa-44650aa/
Company – www.tesoroai.com

Slauson & Co.
Website – https://slauson.co
 LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/slausonandco/

Austin Clements
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/austinclements/