Taking an unconventional path in your career journey is one great way to differentiate yourself from the rest – and unlock a different kind of success. Keshia Theobald-van Gent, a partner at BDev Ventures, joins Scott Kelly to share how she uses her non-traditional professional background to help manage one of the most active funds in Silicon Valley. She discusses how their founder-centric investment thesis allows them to take on international-level investments across web3, AI, media, DeFi, and tech. Keshia also talks about BDev Ventures’ status as a single LP fund with an evergreen commitment to founders and companies across the United States and Latin America.

Learn from the world's best VC Fund Managers at the Emerging Managers Podcast. Subscribe, rate, review, & share! https://emergingmanagerspodcast.com

Scott Kelly is joined by one of his first guests – Erik Huberman, a GP at Hawke Ventures and co-founder/CEO of Hawke Media. He talks all about the Hawke Deal Network that connects individuals, family offices, and institutions with promising investment opportunities. Erik explains their “unfair advantage” in picking winners, as well as their venture into the tech and AI space. He also offers his optimistic outlook on the state of venture capital and the current economy, emphasizing the importance of staying disciplined and recognizing opportunities in a recovering market.

Learn from the world's best VC Fund Managers at the Emerging Managers Podcast. Subscribe, rate, review, & share! https://emergingmanagerspodcast.com

The tech industry is evolving fast, and it will continue with its non-stop progress for the foreseeable future, if not forever. If you are investing in this highly innovative space, you must always be on the lookout for what’s new, what’s trending, and what’s up next. Scott Kelly chats with Felix Hartmann, an investor and founder of Hartmann Capital, a frontier tech VC firm investing in AI, Spatial Computing, and the 3D Creator Economy. Felix shares how they work with founders who take advantage of the promising world of tech, particularly in the under-allocated spaces of VR, AR, and human-AI integration. He also explains how AI will potentially shape the future, and why everyone should learn to embrace it instead of repel it.

Learn from the world's best VC Fund Managers at the Emerging Managers Podcast. Subscribe, rate, review, & share! https://emergingmanagerspodcast.com

Biotech innovations are not limited to the four walls of medical facilities. Sometimes, it can reach even the vastness of space. Scott Kelly chats with Junaid Mian of 1435 Capital Management who shares how they invest in space-based biotech companies and founders. He discusses how the space is being used as a “fast-forward lab” to greatly reduce development time and cost, ultimately saving countless lives. Junaid also explains how his background in pharmacy plays a key role in securing the most successful investment in this highly promising field.

Learn from the world's best VC Fund Managers at the Emerging Managers Podcast. Subscribe, rate, review, & share! https://emergingmanagerspodcast.com

The beverage industry is complex and multilayered. It takes a well-crafted brand and strategy to find success in this space. Mike Warren of Alethia Venture Partners joins Scott Kelly to discuss the complexities of investing in beverage and spirits companies. He shares their focus on promising companies at early-stage valuations and helping them to exit flawlessly after several years. Mike also breaks down practical ways to build a beverage company without losing grip of its success, as well as how to navigate the ever-changing demands and preferences of consumers today.

Learn from the world's best VC Fund Managers at the Emerging Managers Podcast. Subscribe, rate, review, & share! https://emergingmanagerspodcast.com

In this first-ever Emerging Managers webinar, Scott Kelly and Tracy Hazzard bring four amazing individuals to a roundtable discussion about VC thesis trends. Brian Mac Mahon of Expert DOJO, Joel Abramson of Top Down Ventures, Eric Minnick of Versus Ventures, and Chris Howard of Softeq explore their own experiences funding founders to dissect the current state of venture capital. They also delve into the undeniable impact of AI across every industry, the damaging impact of Trump’s tariffs, and how to determine passing fads from actual market changes.

Learn from the world's best VC Fund Managers at the Emerging Managers Podcast. Subscribe, rate, review, & share! https://emergingmanagerspodcast.com

Alcohol and spirits are here to stay, and they will only get better as time passes. Mike Solow, Co-Founder of 99 Proof, is here to discuss why the alcohol and spirits business is one of the most exciting spaces right now. He talks about working with seasoned entrepreneurs and leveraging the right relationships to achieve business growth. Mike breaks down the many benefits of getting celebrity brands as long as they are done in the most authentic way. He also explores valuable trends of the spirits business during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, emphasizing the promising future of alcohol in the market.

Well-tempered skills always go a long way in the realm of business. Nevertheless, a person’s character goes even further. Scott Kelly sits down with Jonathan Hakakian of the SoundBoard Venture Fund to discuss how they prioritize working with founders who perfectly balance confidence and humility. He explains how they determine the best ones through their in-depth assessment and rigorous diligence process. Jonathan also emphasizes how entrepreneurs must learn how to embrace failures and hurdles in their journey to hone their ability to work well under stress.