Venture Capitol

After years of frenzied investments and soaring company valuations, venture capital investment levels are readjusting as businesses assess the current economic landscape. Now, VCs are left navigating persistent inflation, slowing growth, and rising geopolitical tensions. In this episode, we explore how to navigate these issues and the critical messages policymakers need to know now more than ever. NVCA research director Shiloh Tillemann-Dick talks about the top things founders need to know about the market in 2023 and dives into the data from the recently released Q4 2022 PitchBook-NVCA Venture Monitor Report. NVCA policy experts Justin Field and Charlotte Savercool look ahead at what the 118th Congress will likely focus on, the scary topic of SEC proposals, and how these will impact the venture industry. To register for our events, or to learn more about the National Venture Capital Association (NVCA), visit our website.

In 1973, the venture capital industry was emerging and growing, and it needed a national voice to represent it in Washington. That need resulted in the founding of the National Venture Capital Association. In this episode, we celebrate NVCA’s 50th anniversary and look back on the history of the association and its role in guiding the VC industry through legislative challenges and successes.Featured in this episode is Skip Heizer son of Ned Heizer, the founder of NVCA. Ned believed everyone should have the opportunity to build a successful business. Skip shares through his father’s eyes, the status of the industry in 1973, the issues that motivated Ned to found NVCA, and the future of venture capital. Chris Brody was the Board Chair of NVCA in 1985 and spent over a decade serving on the Board. Chris shares the moment when VCs realized that for the industry to survive and grow, they needed to present data and explain their value to policymakers. He also tells us about the most influential meetings in the early days of advocating for the industry in Washington.To register for our events, or to learn more about the National Venture Capital Association (NVCA), visit our website.

The 2022 midterm elections didn’t go in the direction many people predicted, and VCs are wondering what the results mean for the startup ecosystem. We talk with an industry leader about her perspective on the election results and NVCA gives its perspective on what new opportunities may arise in the upcoming Congress for VCs.NVCA’s Justin Field shares priority issues the new Congress will likely focus on, how the 2024 presidential election will influence legislation, and how agencies will implement recently passed bills such as the CHIPS and Science Act that will enhance the venture industry.NVCA Board Chair Emily Melton who has years of VC experience talks about the exciting policies that arose in the last year. Emily is also the Managing Partner at Threshold Ventures. She shares how VCs can benefit from recently passed legislation that invests in American innovation. and how they should think about long-term opportunities in a volatile economic period.To register for our events, or to learn more about the National Venture Capital Association (NVCA), visit our website.

Healthcare innovations are improving health outcomes in the United States, and the venture capital industry is leading the way through investment in groundbreaking medical technology. In this episode, we explore what startups need to know about breaking into the healthcare space, navigating government regulations and policies, and developing new systems that do no harm.Vineeta Agarwala, General Partner at Andreessen Horowitz, shares how startups can navigate the challenges in creating better health outcomes, if regulations are a help or a hindrance, and how Washington policymakers can be a better partner in advancing health innovations. Mohamad Makhzoumi, Managing General Partner of Healthcare at New Enterprises Associates, discusses how startups are improving underserved communities access to healthcare, how to create a system that incentivizes disruptive companies to enter the space, and how to deliver lower cost, higher quality healthcare.To register for our events, or to learn more about the National Venture Capital Association (NVCA) visit our website.

Cryptocurrency is everywhere, but policymakers and venture capitalists are still debating regulations and bad actors in the space. In this episode, we explore how the venture industry is investing and impacting crypto, how the space should be regulated, and how VCs can use crypto to solve big problems in the economy. Alka Gupta, Venture Partner at Fin Capital, shares blockchain’s biggest success stories, highlights the issues in our economy that crypto can solve, and advises policymakers on how to form the right regulation around crypto.   Joshua Rivera, General Counsel at Blockchain Capital, explains what policymakers should know about blockchain and crypto before making regulations and discusses if the public and private sectors will fully adopt blockchain soon. Charlotte Savercool, NVCA’s Vice President of Government Affairs, explains how the regulatory approach will shift after the midterm elections and how NVCA engages in blockchain policy. To register for our events, or to learn more about the National Venture Capital Association (NVCA) visit our website.

Between inflation and burnout, the labor crisis has businesses struggling to teach the proper skills, provide adequate resources, and fill open positions. In this episode, we explore how the startup ecosystem is changing education and workforce development and highlights the policies that should be in place to boost VC investment in this evolving sector. NVCA’s Senior VP of Government Affairs Justin Field shares the most significant factors that shape our education and workforce systems and how startups are using these factors to expand the labor force through workforce preparation. Malvika Bhagwat, Partner and Head of Outcomes at Owl Ventures, explains how startups can position themselves to meet the needs of workforce development and education as they shift through changing times. To register for our events, or to learn more about the National Venture Capital Association (NVCA) visit our website.

Underrepresented communities and emerging ecosystems are vital to the venture world, but often struggle to unlock significant capital. In this episode, we explore how a recently reinstated federal program called the State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI)  gives these groups  greater access to significant capital for VC investment. Think and Do Tank Heartland Forward’s President and CEO Ross Devol gives us a view into the challenges entrepreneurs face in Heartland states and shares how Heartland Forward is dedicated to improving economic performances in America’s Heartland. NVCA’s Manager of Government Affairs Jonas Murphy gives us the rundown on how SSBCIworks, why VCs should care about it, and potential challenges managers should keep in mind when considering applying.Ray Leach, founding CEO of non-profit venture development organization Jumpstart, shares advice for emerging managers who are applying for funds with the SSBCI, explains how the SSBCI will differ from state to state, and how the program accelerates startup ecosystems across the country. Managing Director of New York Ventures at Empire State Development Jennifer Tegan shares success stories of SSBCI 1.0 and tells us what SSBCI 2.0 will do better. We also announce an exciting new NVCA event for VC investors to take action and learn insight to enhance effectiveness inside the boardroom of portfolio companies.To register for our events, or to learn more about the National Venture Capital Association (NVCA) visit our website.

The United States military has been the archetype for innovation and power around the world. Over the last two decades, faults within the system have become alarming evident. And the venture industry has the solution. In this episode, we will examine the force and ingenuity behind VCs and how they can disrupt the archaic processes behind our country’s defense framework. We hear from experts how VC-backed startups can form better partnerships with the Pentagon to yield a safer, more competitive America for all.  Ted Schlein, General Partner at Ballistic Ventures and Kleiner Perkins, shares how the VC industry has progressed in cybersecurity and discusses how VC-backed startups in cybersecurity can navigate selling their products to the federal government. Michael Brown, Director of the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) in the U.S. Department of Defense, provides the perspective from the intersection of the federal government and VC to the conversation. Michael explains the challenges faced by VC-backed companies   while partnering with the Pentagon, and how the Pentagon is reforming the acquisition process. Shaan Gandhi M.D., D.Phil., 2022 NVCA Rising Star winner, recalls his story of the power of drug development that motivated him to support the next generation of biotechnology companies.Brandon Shelton, Managing Partner of TFX Capital, explains why military veterans bring unique value to the VC industry and offers advice to veterans wanting to launch their own startups. To register for our events, or to learn more about the National Venture Capital Association (NVCA) visit our website.

The climate crisis is desperate to be solved. America’s startup ecosystem is at the frontline of the solution. In this episode, we explore how startups are advancing breakthroughs in climate technology, making cities greener, and we establish where policy stands on VC investment and climate solutions.NVCA’s Manager of Government Affairs Jonas Murphy gives an update on past, current, and future federal policy that addresses investment in climate startups and how VCs can advocate for the right policy to solve the climate crisis. Founder and CEO of BlocPower Donnel Baird grew up in a poor Brooklyn neighborhood where heating low-income housing was a challenge. His childhood experiences helped spawn the idea for BlocPower. Donnel shares how BlocPower is now working to decarbonize buildings, make cities greener, and employ and train people from vulnerable communities to work in climate tech. Co-founder of Accel Arthur Patterson won the 2022 NVCA Lifetime Achievement Award. He has mentored countless investors and shares insight gained from decades of VC experience. Congressman Ro Khanna (D-CA 17th District) discusses how to make the tech industry work across places in rural America, why VC investments need to be decentralized and dispersed, and how he addresses these in his new book, Dignity in a Digital Age: Making Tech Work for All of Us.To register for our events, or to learn more about the National Venture Capital Association (NVCA) visit our website.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is coming down hard on private markets, proposing new regulations that would make life difficult for startups and their investors. In this episode, we explore why the SEC is going after private funds, and what the consequences could be on the VC industry. Congressman French Hill  (R-AR) explains how the SEC’s new proposal disrupts the balance between public and private companies. He helps us understand what the job of the SEC is, and what are alternative ways they could move forward to address the private market concerns they have. NVCA’s Senior Director of Government Affairs Charlotte Savercool explains who the SEC’s proposal targets and how this could create a chilling effect on startups and their investors. She then discusses how we can get the SEC to understand the dire effects this proposal can have on the VC industry. Lastly, former SEC Director, Advocate for Small Business Capital Formation shares unique insight into how the SEC perceives the public market vs private market. Martha explains how an SEC member’s experience influences their approach to issues, and she shares how we can advocate to help people understand their blind spots and hear alternative perspectives. To register for our industry events, or to learn more about the National Venture Capital Association (NVCA) visit our website.