What are these VCs thinking? - Vanessa Larco

Welcome to this new episode of Explore and thank you for your continuous support. If you want to support the show you can give a 5 stars review ✨ on Spotify/Apple podcast.This week, I sit down with Vanessa Larco, a former product manager that became a VC at NEA. Vanessa has spent 9+ years supporting companies like Microsoft and Twilio. She is also the co-founder of FunLoop, a company that she sold after a year. For the last 7-years she has been doing investments in Series A and B in North America. In our conversation, Vanessa talked about:* Growing up with a mom entrepreneur* How she discovered the product role at Microsoft* The creation of a gaming startup for children and her path to acquisition * The challenges of transitioning into VC and learning the ropes* How personal experiences can inform investment decisions* The role of VCs in supporting startups during challenging times* The importance of founder quality in startup success* The way she thinks about assessing product-market fit* How she supports founders through tough times as a VC* Practical advice for founders currently seeking investments* Why founders should do due diligence on VCs* Red flags that she looks for in startups * How to analyze a potential market Listen now on 🟢Spotify or 🟣Apple Podcast.Where to find Vanessa:🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vanessalarco/Where to find me:🔗 LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/hugorauch/🔗 Newsletter: https://explorepodcast.substack.com/Timestamps: 00:00 Introducing Vanessa Larco, partner at NEA01:47 Vanessa's Early Life and Entrepreneurial Influence03:20 Journey into Product Management at Microsoft05:58 Founding an Educational Gaming Startup08:40 Challenges and Acquisition of the Startup11:43 Role of a Product Manager in Startups16:48 Transition to Venture Capital27:11 The Empty Office Mystery27:35 Finding Purpose in a New Role28:47 Shadowing Senior Partners30:47 First Investment Journey31:12 Investing in Greenlight35:14 Personal Conviction in Investments37:33 Market Analysis and Diligence39:03 Supporting Founders Through Tough Times41:18 Advice for Founders and Investors45:06 Rapid Fire Questions50:38 Conclusion and Contact Information This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit climateventuresvco2.substack.com