NEA Partner Vanessa Larco to Deliver Keynote at GenAI Summit Silicon Valley🦄
If you’re looking to dive deeper into the world of generative AI and unlock its full potential, the GenAI Summit (November 1–3, 2024) is an event you won’t want to miss.
And one of the featured speakers at this must-attend conference is Vanessa Larco, a Partner at NEA since 2016, where she focuses on enterprise and consumer investments. She has spearheaded investments in companies like Assembled, Kindred, Rewind AI, Cleo, Evernow, Rocket.Chat, and Mejuri. Vanessa also serves as a board observer for Forethought, SafeBase, Orby AI, Granica, Modyfi, and HEAVY.AI, and was a board observer for Robinhood up until its IPO in 2021. Before entering venture capital, she led product teams at Box, Twilio, Disney, and Xbox.
The Journey from Product to Venture
Vanessa Larco’s path to venture capital is as unique as her investment philosophy. Growing up in a tech-forward household with a computer scientist mother, Vanessa developed an early passion for technology and its potential to transform industries. Her career journey took her from Microsoft as a product manager to roles in gaming and enterprise software before landing in venture capital.
This diverse background has shaped Vanessa’s approach to investing, giving her a unique perspective on what it takes for startups to succeed. She brings her product management experience to bear when evaluating companies, focusing not just on revenue metrics but on user engagement and product-market fit.
The Art of Sourcing and Evaluating Deals
One of Vanessa’s key insights is the importance of looking beyond traditional tech hubs for investment opportunities. Early in her venture career, she found success by focusing on emerging ecosystems like Atlanta, where she could leverage her network and find promising companies that were often overlooked by Silicon Valley investors.
When it comes to evaluating deals, Vanessa emphasizes the importance of founder quality and market potential over short-term revenue metrics. She looks for founders who have a deep understanding of their target market and the drive to build something truly transformative. As she puts it,
“I need to believe that there’s something in them, whether their drive, persistence, connections, all of the above, that no matter what, they’ll figure out how to build a huge business.”
Building Authentic Relationships in Venture Capital
Vanessa stresses the importance of building genuine relationships in the venture capital world. She advises against being purely transactional, instead focusing on getting to know founders and understanding their vision. This approach has paid dividends, with founders often recommending her to their peers even when she hasn’t invested in their companies.
Her networking strategy is intentional and focused. Rather than trying to meet everyone at an event, she aims to have meaningful conversations with a select few people. This allows her to build deeper connections and truly understand the potential of the companies she encounters.
Balancing Technical and Business Due Diligence
As a technically proficient investor, Vanessa brings a unique perspective to due diligence. While she can dive deep into technical aspects when necessary, she emphasizes that for many companies, especially at the application layer, user engagement and retention are often more telling indicators of success than technical innovation alone.
For companies claiming significant technical breakthroughs, Vanessa isn’t afraid to dig deeper and verify these claims. However, she also recognizes that many successful companies win through better execution and user experience rather than purely technical advantages.
Portfolio Construction and Sector Focus
Vanessa’s approach to portfolio construction is both strategic and passion-driven. While she ensures a balanced portfolio across different sectors and stages, she also follows her interests and expertise. This allows her to bring genuine enthusiasm and insight to the companies she works with.
Her diverse interests, from jewelry brands to customer support software, reflect her belief that transformative companies can emerge in any sector. She emphasizes the importance of understanding the unique dynamics of each industry and how technology can create value within them.
Lessons from a Tech-Savvy Mother
Many of Vanessa’s core principles as an investor stem from lessons learned from her mother, a pioneering woman in computer science. The persistence, work ethic, and ability to balance career and family that her mother demonstrated have deeply influenced Vanessa’s approach to both life and investing.
One key lesson she highlights is the importance of maintaining energy and enthusiasm, even in the face of challenges. This mindset has served her well in the often grueling world of venture capital, where persistence and a positive outlook can make all the difference.
The Future of Venture Capital
Looking ahead, Vanessa sees opportunities in emerging technologies like AI, but cautions against hype-driven investing. She emphasizes the need for thorough due diligence, even in fast-moving sectors, and the importance of understanding the real-world applications and market demand for new technologies.
Her vision for the future of venture capital is one where diverse perspectives are valued, and where investors can make a real impact by supporting transformative founders and technologies. By staying true to her principles of authentic relationships, thorough evaluation, and genuine passion for technology, Vanessa Larco is helping to shape this future.
🤠Want to hear more of Vanessa’s deep insights about venture investing?
🤩 Want to learn more about how to become a truly transformative AI founder?
🤓 Join us at the GenAI Summit Silicon Valley in November!
Even better 👉
As a special offer from us, enjoy 15% off your tickets to this must-attend event!
🎟️ Get your tickets here:
Use discount code: DAOFRIEND15
