Yair Reem is a Partner at Extantia Capital, a climate-first venture capital firm accelerating the path to a decarbonized world by backing daring entrepreneurs with breakthrough ventures. He co-founded BeyondBlack, a fund for investments in technologies reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and advises European startup CEOs on strategic narratives. Formerly Managing Director at Hasso Plattner Ventures, Yair was also a cyber technology leader at Israel’s Unit 8200. He holds a B.Sc. in Electrical Engineering from Technion, an Executive MPA from Hertie, and an AMP from Wharton.

This episode delves into:

First-of-a-Kind (FOAK) Explained

Strategic Partnerships

Cap Table Management

VC Risk-Taking

Brand Building in VC

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(00:00 ) - Episode Trailer

(01:04 ) – Intro

(01:34 ) – What is The Foaking Awesome?

(04:09 ) – What does Foak mean?

(06:20 ) - Are VCs Ready to Embrace First-of-a-Kind Opportunities?

(08:10 ) – Which are the Sectors full of Possibilities?

(10:25 ) - Can Nvidia’s Success Be Replicated in Future Industries?

(11:12 ) - Is Investing in Nuclear Fusion the Next Big Challenge for VCs?

(11:51 ) – Where are we in terms of TRL?

(12:50 ) - Does the Stage of Funding Determine When to Build the First Factory?

(13:46 ) - Is Partnering with Corporates Essential for Startup Success in Climate Tech?

(16:37 ) - When Should Startups Add Strategic Investors to the Cap Table?

(17:54 ) - Do Startups Need Corporate Connections, or Can VCs Bridge the Gap?

(18:45 ) - Are Corporate Partnership Managers the New Must-Have in Climate Tech?

(21:11 ) – Deep Tech Engineer vs Software Engineer – What is the Difference?

(23:14 ) - What Makes Climate Hardware Sexy to Big Financial Players?

(24:40 ) - What Common Cap Table Errors Scare Away Investors?

(26:28 ) - Should Founders Fight or Fold? Navigating Long-Term Potential vs. Short-Term Survival

(30:12 ) - Are Ego-Driven Valuations Hurting Startup Founders?

(32:08 ) - Why 20% Matters: Balancing Venture Builder Impact on Cap Tables

(33:31 ) - Choosing Between Co-Leads or a Dominant Lead Investor: What’s Best?

(36:34 ) - Is Risk Aversion Stifling Innovation in VC?

(39:50 ) - First Principles of VC: Balancing Risk in Turbulent Markets

(41:43 ) - Conscious Choices: Team Effort vs. Individual Initiative

(42:05 ) - Authenticity vs. Quantity: The Struggle in Digital Engagement

(44:39 ) - Team Dynamics: Internal vs. External Strategies for Time Management

(47:26 ) - Risk and Reward: Inviting Others to Innovate in VC

(49:29 ) - Expanding Reach: Should VC Messaging Extend Beyond LinkedIn?

(50:56 ) – Role Models in VC

(53:14 )- YouTube as a Knowledge Foundation: Do VCs Trust Video Learning?

(57:52 ) - Differentiation Strategy: From Tech to Brand, Creating a Category of One

(01:01:23 ) - Breaking the Exit Taboo: IPOs and Strategic Acquisitions in Impact Business

(01:03:41 ) - Exchange of Goods and Society: The Role of Money in Innovation

(01:05:04 ) – Outro