E308 | EUVC | Michael Smith, GP of Regeneration.VC Fund II on going from DJ to VC with the backing of DiCaprio, Martin Gore & more

Today, we are joined by Michael Smith, the co-founder and General Partner of Regeneration.VC Fund II of $150M. Regeneration.VC is an early-stage venture fund supercharging consumer-powered climate innovation.Michael ran marketing & digital for Smith Broadcasting, a group of 20 network TV stations, before selling to Boston Ventures. Shortly thereafter, he followed his lifelong passion for music to become a touring DJ and performed alongside artists including Guns N Roses, Rihanna, and Diplo. In 2006, he launched The Playlist Generation, one of the world's largest background music providers. In 2010, he co-founded Creative Space, a real estate firm with a portfolio of 80 adaptive reuse projects between Los Angeles and San Francisco. After successfully exiting both companies in 2015, Michael formed Ponvalley, an environmentally focused family office initiative comprising philanthropy, research, and impact investments. He convened Shared Mission, an emergency climate summit with Former VP Al Gore, General Wesley Clark, the Department of Energy, and Harvard leadership.Go to eu.vc for our core learnings and the full video interview 👀Chapters:01:28 From DJ to Venture Capitalist: Michael's Unique Journey03:34 The Power of Branding in Venture and Music04:09 Specialization in Climate Tech Investing14:04 Understanding Circularity in Sustainable Investing25:02 The Role of LPs and Celebrity Influence in Climate Tech32:31 Navigating Corporate Partnerships and Impact Goals45:55 Finding Your Tribe and Embracing Change48:39 Venture Capital Insights: Specialization and Navigating the Market50:11 The Art of Perseverance in Venture Capital52:04 Building Long-Term Relationships in Venture Investing54:53 The Intersection of Venture Capital and Talent Management01:01:14 Exploring the Potential of Generative AI in Music and Beyond01:04:36 The Future of Music: AI's Role and Industry Insights01:09:30 Venture Capital Meets Music: A Unique Blend of Talents