Investing in Trust: Matthew Greenfield of Rethink Education on Relationship-Driven Venture
Release Date: 09/10/2024
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Francisco Gimenez, Partner at 8VC, shares his unconventional journey from Stanford PhD to venture capital, where he leads investments in Bio-IT and enterprise AI. Known for his technical background and sharp instincts, Francisco has been pivotal in backing startups pushing the boundaries of biotech and healthcare innovation. Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn: 00:48 Introduction to Driving Alpha 01:18 Meet Francisco Gimenez: A Journey from Academia to Venture Capital 02:45 Francisco's Early Career and Academic Background 04:02 Joining Formation Eight and Transition to 8VC...
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From Google to Nava: Manish Patel’s playbook for Series A investing
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What does it take to turn early traction into scalable momentum? And how do you know if your startup—and your engine—is even built for venture capital? Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn: 00:43 Introduction to Driving Alpha Podcast 02:20 Meet Manishh Patel: From Google to Nava Ventures 03:17 Growing Up in Rural Kentucky 05:24 The Journey to Venture Capital 08:17 Founding Nava Ventures 16:22 The Series A Focus 19:57 Building the Flywheel: Operational Infrastructure 20:41 Refining the...
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Eric Engineer of S3 Ventures: VC to CEO to VC—Lessons in Operating and Investing
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Can deep operational experience shape better venture outcomes? One VC proves it can—drawing from years in the founder seat to back today's most promising startups. Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn: 00:43 Introduction to Driving Alpha Podcast 01:05 Eric's Background and Career Journey 03:45 Transition to Venture Capital 06:27 Eric's Role at S3 Ventures 07:19 Investment Philosophy and Market Insights 12:12 Texas Venture Ecosystem 20:18 S3 Ventures' Unique Structure 29:56 Advice for...
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Venture Cycles and Hard Lessons with Matt McIlwain (Madrona)
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Bob Ackerman of AllegisCyber Capital: Cybersecurity Investing and AI Threats
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From Law to VC: David Hornik’s Journey to Lobby Capital
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David Hornik, founding partner at Lobby Capital, has spent over 25 years shaping the venture capital landscape. Formerly a lawyer with degrees from Stanford and Harvard, David transitioned into venture capital, making early bets on companies like Splunk, Build.com, and GitLab. His career is marked by a passion for helping founders, fostering strong industry relationships, and identifying high-potential investments. Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn: 00:43 Introduction to Driving Alpha Podcast 01:57 Meet David Hornick: From Law to Venture Capital 03:43 Early Ventures and Key...
info_outlineMatthew Greenfield is a Managing Partner at Rethink Education, a venture capital firm dedicated to innovative educational technology. He holds multiple board seats, including at SNHU and BrightBytes, and has co-founded several successful technology companies, such as near-unicorn Rethink First. An accomplished educator and thought leader with a BA, MA, and PhD from Yale, he is former professor at Bowdoin College and the City University of New York.
Episode Chapters
(00:00) Introduction
(01:57) How familial influences shaped Matthew Greenfield's passion and direction in venture capital
(02:30) The impact of female venture partners in Matt’s father’s VC journey
(06:04) How Matt leveraged his background for Rethink Education's mission
(06:42) The importance of relationship-building for venture capital investments
(09:27) Matt illustrates the power of strategic advice and networking through Rethink First’s success story
(11:08) The key to being a successful VC: recycling people
(16:50) How to be a good giver without letting it overwhelm you
(18:45) Adapting an open-minded, unbiased approach to discovering innovation
(23:37) The intersection of product-market fit, addressing genuine human needs, and venture capital success
In this episode…
In the fast-paced world of startups and funding, maintaining and rejuvenating relationships can be as valuable as the capital itself. This cyclical nature of relationships helps VCs stay connected with past successes and ensures they remain relevant in an ever-evolving market. How can you leverage relationships in the venture capital ecosystem to achieve outsized investment returns?
Matthew Greenfield, an ex-professor turned venture capital partner, shares how strategic relationships, mentorship, and candid guidance have shaped his approach to nurturing successful enterprises. Highlighting the importance of targeting real human problems for venture growth, Matt emphasizes assisting aspiring technologists and executives while being open to innovation from unexpected sources. Whether reconnecting with a successful founder for a new project or leveraging an old network to discover the next big idea, recycling relationships is a powerful tool for long-term success in the venture capital landscape. Matt’s reflections underscore the power of embracing innovation from all corners and honest feedback's transformative impact on founders and investors alike.
In this episode of the Driving Alpha Podcast, Brian Smiga chats with Matthew Greenfield, Managing Partner at Rethink Education, about shaping the future of education and venture success. Matt dives into his transition from academia to venture capital, the importance of building a diverse network of investors, and how to strengthen trust through constructive feedback to entrepreneurs. He also explores the concept of “thrifty recycling” and the benefits of CRMs for tracking and nurturing connections.