This is episode 10 of The OpenVC Podcast. In this episode, Russ Shaw shares his journey from launching Skype’s mobile division to leading O2 as CMO, where he famously pulled Arsenal’s sponsorship. Now the founder of Tech London Advocates (10,000+ members), he discusses tech leadership, branding, and ecosystem growth.
This is episode 13 of The OpenVC Podcast. In this episode, Max talks about how he started building websites at 13 and later scaled his edtech company, StudyHelp, to millions in revenue before exiting. Now leading Wizard Ventures, he shares insights on acquiring and scaling internet startups, driving traffic, and crafting effective pitch decks.
This is Episode 8 of The OpenVC Podcast. In this episode, John Spindler shares his journey from founder to investor, overseeing £85M+ in investments across 150 startups. With a 60x angel investment win, he breaks down AI startup evaluation, frontier AI opportunities, and key investment strategies.
This is episode 7 of The OpenVC Podcast. In this episode, Joakim Achren, founder of Next Games (160+ employees, acquired by Netflix), built hit games for Stranger Things and The Walking Dead. Now leading F4 Fund with 28+ angel investments, he shares insights on gaming VC, fundraising, and emerging platforms.
This is episode 6 of The OpenVC Podcast. In this episode, Oliver Palmer, founder of TigerSpike (sold for $85M), shares his journey from building an innovative mobile tech company to co-founding DQ Ventures. He discusses de-risking the startup journey for founders, lessons from selling a company, and the value of seasoned advisors.
This is episode 5 of The OpenVC Podcast. In this episode, Newton Davies, Investment Manager at XPRESS Ventures, shares insights on investing in startups that digitalize traditional industries. He discusses the power of storytelling, leveraging corporate strategic advantages, and key lessons from investing across Europe.
This is episode 3 of The OpenVC Podcast. In this episode, Phil Nadel, managing partner of Forefront Venture Partners, shares his journey from angel investing to running one of the largest rolling funds on AngelList. With over $100M invested into 200+ startups, he discusses the benefits of rolling funds, post-revenue investments, and the importance of adding value to portfolio companies.
This is episode 2 of The OpenVC Podcast. In this episode, Felix Kues, managing partner of Aurelia Ventures, shares insights on their highly selective B2B SaaS program, which has helped startups raise over $250M. He discusses choosing the right accelerator, increasing success rates, and key pitfalls founders should avoid.
This is episode 4 of The OpenVC Podcast. In this episode, Chon Tang, founder and managing partner of the Berkeley SkyDeck Fund, shares how the largest accelerator at UC Berkeley has helped startups raise over $1.8 billion. He discusses the unique value proposition of SkyDeck, navigating failure, and the role of the Berkeley platform in supporting global founders.