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 next wave, and the wisdom to know when to let one go. There’s no better guest to rejoin the conversation with than Tae Hea Nahm. He is the founding managing director of Storm Ventures, co-author of Survival to Thrival, and a deeply thoughtful investor, operator, and teacher. From St. Louis to Seoul to Sand Hill Road, Tae Hea has seen it all, and he continues to anticipate the next wave before most founders even paddle out. In this episode, we dive into his Path to Surfing Unicorn framework and why founders need to anticipate the wave before they try to surf it if they want to build category-defining companies. We also get into: 🌊 How to ride, and switch, the right market wave 🤖 Where AI startups should play in the stack (and what layers are getting crushed) 🚨 Real talk on platform risk and why Google’s bundling may change the game 📈 A founder-friendly definition of product-market fit, plus three signs your customers are truly happy 🧠 Why empathy isn’t optional, and how customer discovery really works 🧑‍💼 How founder-CEOs evolve, and how to know when they can’t 📊 How to use advisors the right way, including what equity to grant them 💸 The fundraising two-step: win a champion, then arm them with a killer one-pager Also: green juice, soju, seaweed soup, Civilization V, and one of our biggest unboxing gifts ever (yes, it’s a surfboard). 👇 Must-have links and founder resources: 🧭 Survival to Thrival (free downloads): https://www.survivaltothrival.com/ 📖 The Entrepreneur’s Odyssey by Andrew Ackerman: http://bit.ly/4kfrtKu 📊 Cap table management done right: www.fidelityprivateshares.com 🚀 The Irresistible Startup fundraising guide: https://www.taylorstreetco.com/irresistible-startup 🤖 Meet Ira, the Irresistible Startup Bot: https://www.taylorstreetco.com/meet-ira 🗞 Sign up for our monthly newsletter: www.dwavc.com 🎧 Like, subscribe, and share if this one resonates. 🏄 Keep your eyes on the wave. 📺 Episode chapters: 00:22 Introduction and Welcome 00:44 Sponsor Message: Fidelity Private Chairs 01:06 Catch-Up with Brie 01:51 Introducing Today's Guest: Te 04:08 Te's Early Life and Education 07:51 Choosing a Career Path 11:20 Immigration Experience in St. Louis 20:38 Founding Venture Law Group 23:11 Investing and Founding Storm Ventures 27:26 The Surfing Analogy for Startups 28:26 VC Unboxing Segment 33:59 AI and the Future of Investment 38:59 The Importance of Platform Choice 42:01 Customer Discovery and Empathy 44:24 Closing Thoughts and Reflections 45:28 Empathy for the Customer 46:06 The Decline of Customer Empathy 46:37 Exercising the Empathy Muscle 47:14 Teaching Customer Empathy 50:16 Defining Product-Market Fit 50:53 Identifying Happy Customers 54:17 The Founder to Manager Transition 55:06 The Role of Founder CEOs 57:30 Learning from Failures 01:02:47 The Importance of Mentors 01:08:07 Advice on Fundraising 01:13:18 Qualifying Your Inner Circle 01:17:15 The Fidelity Fiv 📊 Cap table management needs? Check out Fidelity Private Shares [https://www.fidelityprivateshares.com] 🚀 Fundraising help: Download The Irresistible Startup [https://www.taylorstreetco.com/irresistible-startup] 🤖 …or meet Ira, the Irresistible Startup Bot [https://www.taylorstreetco.com/meet-ira] 🗞 Stay in the loop: Sign up for our monthly newsletter [https://www.dwavc.com]

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 Cal Football to operator roles at startups like Steady, to co-founding a growth consultancy and eventually becoming a mission-driven investor. You’ll learn how to: * Nail your fundraising story by focusing on your customer—not your ego * Build trust with investors (especially if you don’t fit the “Stanford founder” mold) * Spot startup opportunities that serve overlooked communities * Use emotional intelligence as a strategic advantage in leadership and venture * Move from operator to capital allocator with clarity and intention * Develop a go-to-market strategy and scale user acquisition using the Chime playbook Drew also offers an unflinching take on the rise and retreat of DEI in venture, why mandates miss the mark, and how his fund continues to outperform without one—because diversity is embedded in who they are. If you're building something meaningful and want to stand out in a crowded market, this is a must-listen. Episode links: www.fiat.vc www.fiatgrowth.com Episode timestamps: 00:00 Introduction to Drinks With a VC 02:34 Meet Drew Glover: The Pride of Bishop O'Dowd 02:47 Choosing Green Juice Over Alcohol 03:14 The Trend of Drinking Less Alcohol 03:50 Drew's Drink of Choice: Vodka Martinis 04:37 Digital Detox and Drinking Habits 06:09 Bree's Big Reveal: Sobriety and Pregnancy 07:23 Growing Up in Oakland: Drew's Background 07:55 Drew's Parents: Civic-Minded and Inspirational 15:24 The Importance of Code Switching 18:24 Drew's Journey to Cal and Football 23:56 From Football to Venture Capital 25:23 Starting Fiat Growth and Fiat VC 35:36 Fundraising and the Impact of DEI 37:26 The Future of Venture Capital 45:17 The Shift Around Race and Education 45:38 Catastrophic Events and Positive Change 45:57 Diversity in Venture Capital 46:32 Drew's Impressive Portfolio 46:55 The Importance of Representation 48:46 Balancing Good and Success 50:05 Future of Inclusion and Change 52:03 Advice for Underrepresented Founders 52:33 Building Your Own Solutions 54:40 Growth Marketing Fundamentals 55:15 Distribution as a Competitive Moat 56:53 Fiat Growth's Unique Approach 01:05:53 Understanding Customer Personas 01:10:53 Diligence in Venture Capital 01:15:42 Personal Insights and Reflections 📊 Cap table management needs? Check out Fidelity Private Shares [https://www.fidelityprivateshares.com] 🚀 Fundraising help: Download The Irresistible Startup [https://www.taylorstreetco.com/irresistible-startup] 🤖 …or meet Ira, the Irresistible Startup Bot [https://www.taylorstreetco.com/meet-ira] 🗞 Stay in the loop: Sign up for our monthly newsletter [https://www.dwavc.com]

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 their eyes. He shares lessons learned from backing 70+ startups on how to actually stand out in a noisy fundraising environment, why EdTech broke his heart, and how day drinking helped him write The Entrepreneur’s Odyssey — a startup guide founders might actually finish. Also in this episode: - His “accidental” real estate empire - EdTech’s big COVID moment (and what came after) - The one thing every founder should know about market sizing - And yes, Andrew answers the Fidelity Five Questions. If you’ve ever wondered what VCs really think when they see your deck — this one’s for you! Episode links: www.AndrewBAckerman.com Entrepreneur's Odyssey [https://www.amazon.com/Entrepreneurs-Odyssey-Approach-Startup-Success/dp/1032883545] Episode timestamps: 00:00 DWAVC Episode: Andrew Ackerman 03:28 Guest Introduction and Background 05:25 March Madness Predictions 07:42 Andrew's Origin Story 16:18 Parenting in the Digital Age 30:27 Andrew's Unique Skills 31:01 Discussing the New Book 31:52 Inspiration Behind the Book 32:15 Writing Process and Challenges 37:23 Character Development 40:37 Market Sizing and Go-to-Market Strategies 44:14 Importance of Value Proposition 01:13:52 Fundraising Insights 01:15:27 Navigating VC Funding Strategies 01:17:19 Challenges for Non-Ivy League Founders 01:20:09 Importance of Warm Intros 01:22:33 Accessing Capital Outside Major Hubs 01:24:37 The Role of Location in Startup Success 01:27:09 Influence of Science Fiction on Entrepreneurship 01:29:56 The Rise of PropTech 01:41:28 Fidelity Five Questions 📊 Cap table management needs? Check out Fidelity Private Shares [https://www.fidelityprivateshares.com] 🚀 Fundraising help: Download The Irresistible Startup [https://www.taylorstreetco.com/irresistible-startup] 🤖 …or meet Ira, the Irresistible Startup Bot [https://www.taylorstreetco.com/meet-ira] 🗞 Stay in the loop: Sign up for our monthly newsletter [https://www.dwavc.com]

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 into the unique investment thesis of MBM Capital, which focuses on revitalizing startups that have hit roadblocks. The conversation covers the challenges of revamping companies, the importance of recognizing executional flaws, and providing strategic guidance to unlock hidden value. Arun also touches on his involvement with LedgerX, the state of venture capital, and the importance of knowing oneself and asking for help. Don't miss this enlightening and refreshingly transparent discussion on the realities of turning around struggling ventures. Links  https://www.fidelityprivateshares.com/ [https://www.fidelityprivateshares.com/] https://www.mbmcapital.co/ [https://www.mbmcapital.co/] 📊 Cap table management needs? Check out Fidelity Private Shares [https://www.fidelityprivateshares.com] 🚀 Fundraising help: Download The Irresistible Startup [https://www.taylorstreetco.com/irresistible-startup] 🤖 …or meet Ira, the Irresistible Startup Bot [https://www.taylorstreetco.com/meet-ira] 🗞 Stay in the loop: Sign up for our monthly newsletter [https://www.dwavc.com]

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 challenges into triumphs. Laugh, cry, and learn alongside us as Ben shows how to juggle Chinese Devil Sticks, pitch your healthcare startup like a pro, and gives his hot takes on everything from the intersection of AI & healthcare to the similarities between comedy and venture capital. Links: www.oncology.ventures [https://www.oncology.ventures] Ben's Substack [https://oncologyventures.substack.com/p/oncology-ventures-cancer-care-impact?utm_source=substack&publication_id=1322247&post_id=146915714&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&utm_campaign=email-share&triggerShare=true&isFreemail=true&r=571gy&triedRedirect=true] Chaos Isn't An Excuse TED Talk [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJzq4d1B9-Y] www.dwavc.com [https://www.dwavc.com/] www.fidelity.com [https://www.fidelityprivateshares.com/] www.ravixgroup.com [https://www.ravixgroup.com/] www.greencow.vc [https://www.greencow.vc/] 📊 Cap table management needs? Check out Fidelity Private Shares [https://www.fidelityprivateshares.com] 🚀 Fundraising help: Download The Irresistible Startup [https://www.taylorstreetco.com/irresistible-startup] 🤖 …or meet Ira, the Irresistible Startup Bot [https://www.taylorstreetco.com/meet-ira] 🗞 Stay in the loop: Sign up for our monthly newsletter [https://www.dwavc.com]