Vanessa Larco joins VC Mastermind to discuss how the rules of seed investing are changing — from founder preferences and DPI strategy to consumer-driven AI and what it means to build a venture firm like a startup.
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From a $6M proof-of-concept to a $52.9M institutional fund, Samara Hernandez shares how she built Chingona Ventures and why going earlier and backing overlooked founders is her edge.
View episode![[Members Podcast] From $6M to $50M: A Resilient Solo GP’s Playbook for Differentiation & Scale with Samara Hernandez of Chingona Ventures](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c8/42/c8426118-ae82-4f11-b966-6618827ddedf/content/images/size/w640/format/webp/2025/08/Samara-Hernandez--Chingona-Ventures---VC-Mastermind-1.png)
Global VC leader Vishal Harnal shares how 500 Global scales across 81 countries, tailors regional strategies, manages across time zones, and plans for succession—all while navigating liquidity, valuations, and long-term impact in emerging markets.
View episode![[Members Podcast] Managing a $2.3B AUM Borderless VC Firm with Vishal Harnal of 500 Global](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c8/42/c8426118-ae82-4f11-b966-6618827ddedf/content/images/size/w640/format/webp/2025/04/VC-Mastermind-Podcast-VishalHarnal-1.png)
![[Members Podcast] From Solo GP to Institutional VC: Learnings from Building a Thematic-Focused Firm with Dan Rosen of Commerce Ventures](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c8/42/c8426118-ae82-4f11-b966-6618827ddedf/content/images/size/w640/format/webp/2025/05/VC-Mastermind-Podcast-THISONE.psd--3--3.png)
Dan Rosen shares how he scaled Commerce Ventures from a solo GP to an institutional firm by staying disciplined on thematic focus—rooted in mobility, payments, and fintech—and why team depth, constant thesis development, and liquidity readiness are critical for long-term success.
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Kristen Ostro, founder of Strut Consulting and NEA alum, shares how mission, vision, and values (MVV) are essential for building a resilient VC firm. She explains how MVV guides hiring, branding, and decision-making, and why it’s never too late to set a strong foundation.
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Kristen Ostro, founder of Strut Consulting and NEA alum, shares how mission, vision, and values (MVV) are essential for building a resilient VC firm. She explains how MVV guides hiring, branding, and decision-making, and why it’s never too late to set a strong foundation.
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