This is episode 12 of The OpenVC Podcast. In this episode, Shubhankar Bhattacharya, General Partner at Foundamental, shares his journey from founder to VC and how he backed billion-dollar startups like Zetwerk and 1MG. He dives into spotting breakout startups, lessons from scaling giants, and why construction tech is an untapped VC goldmine.
By Harrison Faull Shubhankar Bhattacharya| March 2, 2025This 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.
By Harrison Faull Russ Shaw| October 15, 2024This 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.
By Max Fleitmann Harrison Faull| October 1, 2024This 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.
By Harrison Faull Joakim Achren| September 3, 2024This 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.
By Harrison Faull Oliver Palmer| August 20, 2024This 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.
By Harrison Faull Chon Tang| June 18, 2024This in-depth paper explores the serious consequences for SaaS apps that the advent of quantum computing will trigger in the next few years.
By Jeff Phillips| September 12, 2023OpenVC is a radically open platform that helps tech founders connect with the right investors.
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