DrinksWithAVC (DWAVC)

We filmed this episode back in May, before Bree welcomed a new life into the world and before Vik lost his mother. A lot has changed since then. As we release it now, it feels more relevant than ever. Drinks With a VC has always been about more than startups and term sheets. It’s about the humans behind the headlines, the resilience it takes to build, the humility to grow, the clarity to catch the...

In this episode of DrinksWithAVC , we sit down with Oakland-native Drew Glover, Co-Founder of Fiat Growth and General Partner at Fiat Ventures, for a masterclass on identity, resilience, and rewriting the rules of venture capital. Over green juice and kombucha, Drew reflects on growing up with civically minded parents, early lessons in code-switching, and the mindset shifts that carried him from C...

What do tiddlywinks, a quarter trick, and a failed Palantir deal have in common? They all show up in Andrew Ackerman’s one-of-a-kind path from founder to family office director, accelerator operator, and venture capitalist to now SPV syndicate lead and author.   Andrew pulls no punches on what most startups get wrong — from pitch decks that waste space to market slides that make investors roll the...

In this episode of Drinks With a VC, co-hosts Vik Lakhwara and Bree Hanson are joined by Arun Mittal, co-founder of MBM Capital. Arun discusses his journey from receiving an electrical engineering degree from Stanford and co-founding Chutney Technologies to leading turnarounds and investing in distressed startups. He speaks candidly about the lessons learned from his failures and shares insights i...

Get ready for a rollercoaster of an episode! This week on DrinksWithAVC, Bree and Vik are joined by the multi-talented founder and GP of Oncology Ventures, Ben Freeberg. Ben shares his inspiring journey from active 24-year old pursuing a career in finance and dabbling in comedy in NYC, to an unexpected cancer diagnosis in Israel, overcoming adversity, mixing humor with resilience, and turning chal...

From growing up as a quiet kid in New Jersey and biking across the US in support of affordable housing, to moving west to join Salesforce and eventually becoming a partner at Scale Venture Partners, Jeremy Kaufmann shares his compassion-filled adventure with Bree and Vik while sipping The Dude's drink of choice: A White Russian. If you are building or investing in AI, grab some of your favori...

Join us for an exciting episode featuring Amy Cheetham, partner at Costanoa Ventures. From mucking stalls in rural Maine to making the Forbes 2023 Brink List, Amy’s journey is both inspiring and insightful. Bree & Vik dive into her favorite Italian dishes, the challenges of startup life, and her passion for mental health advocacy. Amy shares valuable advice on the importance of curiosity, her...

Pour a mint julep and join us on DrinksWithAVC as we dive into the dynamic world of Leshika Samarasinghe, founder and GP at Twine Ventures. In this episode, Leshika recounts her beginnings at Google, where she was instrumental in developing core platforms like mobile search and Blogger. She also shares insights from her time at ARPA-E, where under President Obama’s administration, she worked on pi...

Pour your favorite champagne and join us in toasting Touring Capital's co-founder and GP, Priya Saiprasad! Learn how Priya's nomadic childhood created her superpower, how she took the leap from established firms like M12 and Softbank Vision to start her own fund, and how she weighs team dynamics when evaluating growth-stage startups. The former Forbes 30 under 30 venture capitalist gives...

Settle in with a Sazerac for the latest installment of DrinksWithAVC , brought to you by Fidelity for Startups! Vik and Bree cover it all with St. Louis-based globe trotter, low-key adrenalin junkie, and venture capitalist Dan Conner. Dan relives harrowing moments on the slopes, talks about the books and quantamental approach that influenced his investment thesis, and shares his story from field e...

Bree and Vik dive into a captivating conversation with Howie Diamond of Pure Ventures. From his early days in Chicago reminiscent of a John Hughes film to his rockstar nights drumming for Low v. Diamond on shows like Letterman and Leno, Howie's journey is anything but ordinary. Now, his focus on consumer packaged goods (CPG) investments and prioritizing founder mental health through his platf...

Discover the profound depths of venture capitalism in this week's DWAVC with guest Manan Mehta of Unshackled Ventures. Vik and Bree explore Manan's adoption of 'curious acceptance,' his admiration for ancient and modern stoicism, and his insights on the pivotal role of immigrants in revolutionizing the startup arena and the VC landscape. Links: www.unshackledvc.com Ryan Holiday...

Join DWAVC's latest episode for an intriguing mix of intellect and stamina, featuring Dan Rubin from Alloy Ventures. This episode delves into Dan's voracious reading habits, the relentless spirit he brings from the athletic world, and his keenness for engaging conversations, providing a deep dive into the life of a venture capitalist with a penchant for the micro scale. Links: Read about...

Toast to St. Patrick's Day weekend with the latest DWAVC episode featuring Crosslink Capital's Matt Bigge, a decorated Army Ranger, Georgetown and Harvard Business School alumnus, and doting dad. Dive into our 'Shots with a VC' special as we explore Matt's journey into investing, the military tools that have sharpened his venture prowess, and the transformative impact of T...

Gear up for the weekend with DWAVC's latest episode featuring Rishi Tiparia from Garuda Ventures. Bree and Vik sit down with Vik's old friend and venture capital colleague to dissect the nuances of Seed investing and what Garuda Ventures looks for before taking the investment plunge. Plus, get a glimpse into the charming 'meet-cute' tale that bestowed Rishi with the playful mon...

DrinksWithAVC welcomes Kobie Fuller of Upfront Ventures, merging the worlds of athletic excellence and venture capital. Bree and producer Reyn delve into Kobie's history as a record-setting athlete and explore how the competitive spirit and discipline from sports translate into savvy investing. Stay tuned to learn about Kobie's current SaaS metric of choice and his anticipated guests at...

DrinksWithAVC swings into the new year spotlighting Anoushka Vaswani of Lightspeed Venture Partners, the 'OG of PLG'. With accolades spanning from her lauded academic journey at Columbia and Harvard to shaping strategies at McKinsey and Matrix Partners, Anoushka brings a wealth of experience to the table. Settle in with your preferred vintage as she dissects her favorite SaaS metrics, di...

Holiday cheers with a visionary on Drinks With A VC featuring Ben Narasin of Tenacity Venture Capital. Tracing back to his roots as an e-commerce pioneer with Fashionmall.com, Ben shares tales of early-stage triumphs, from DropCam to Kabbage. Vik and Bree tap into his love for comic books, his recent puppy adoption, and why Dungeons & Dragons aligns with venture strategy. Tune in for an episod...

Episode twenty of DrinksWithAVC launches with venture virtuoso Kate Shillo Beardsley. Join us as Kate shares her journey from bartending to becoming a Managing Partner at Upslope Ventures and a pivotal figure at Lerer Hippeau Ventures. Vik and Bree uncover her time with Martha Stewart and delve into her impact on Web 3 and women in VC. Tune in to hear how this master of follow-ups continues to sha...

DrinksWithAVC serves up episode nineteen with a refreshing twist, featuring their inaugural Limited Partner guest, Eric Sippel. Esteemed philanthropist and Chair of Bay Area Goodwill, the former COO of Eastborn Capital Management, Eric offers a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the LP perspective of venture capital. Vik and Bree will guide you through Eric's formative reads and essential tools,...

DrinksWithAVC chugs along, introducing episode eighteen with Jim Dugan, CEO & Managing Partner of OCA Ventures, harmonizing EMPATHY, PASSION, DETERMINATION, HUMANITY, and a touch of FRANK SINATRA. With 23 years of venture experience, Jim has journeyed through remarkable startups like Alembic, Ocient, The Mom Project, and Presidio. Vik and Bree get the lowdown on Jim's legendary Carbonara,...

DrinksWithAVC presents episode seventeen, featuring the trailblazing Dr. Lan Xuezhao, Founding Partner of Basis Set Ventures, a firm making waves with its women-led team. Lan's impressive background spans from spearheading the Corporate Development Strategy at Dropbox to unraveling the complexities of the human brain for her Ph. D. in Psychology and mastering statistics at the University of M...

Episode sixteen of DrinksWithAVC features standout guest, Matt McCall of Pritzker Group, lauded as one of the top 100 VCs in the U.S. and recognized as a power player in media and Hollywood. Vik and Bree delve into Matt's political roots, discuss the philosophical influences that drive his investment strategies, and engage with his insights on the potential of an economic downturn. Matt also...

Episode fifteen of DrinksWithAVC packs a punch with guest Natalie Luu from Lightspeed Venture Partners—Muay Thai enthusiast, NFT expert, Fintech investor, and tea aficionado. Vik and Bree uncover Natalie's journey from relentless hustler to venture capital dynamo, as she shares her vision on the emerging business 'mafia' in the Bay Area, her criteria for investing in teams, and more...

Episode fourteen of DrinksWithAVC welcomes the prophetic insights of David Hornik from Lobby Capital, dubbed the 'Nostradamus of Numbers' and 'soothsayer of SPACs.' Vik and Bree delve into David's evolution from a dedicated lawyer to a venture capital virtuoso, his ardor for the fine arts, his advocacy within the LGBTQIA+ community, and his reputed knack for forecasting ma...