Episodes
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According to a BCG report, only 19% of VCs have some kind of scientific or technological competence. And that creates a translation problem between deep tech founders and investors.
To close that gap, Arkady Kulik and his cofounder, Tamaz Khunjua, built RPV, a venture fund that brings scientific expertise to the market and helps scientists become strong entrepreneurs.
On this episode of The Boost VC Podcast, Arkady joins us to explain how the RPV team’s extensive background in science and entrepreneurship serves deep tech startups.
Arkady describes how starting a venture fund differs from founding other companies and shares his excitement around ‘being at the edge of science’ as a frontier tech VC.
Listen in for Arkady’s unique take on what it means to be useful to others and learn how RPV is working to make talented scientists billionaires!
Topics Covered
The idea behind RPV
Help scientists become strong entrepreneurs‘Commercialization of science’How Arkady got into venture capital
Moved to US to be part of scientific exploration of humanityLack of funding in prototyping stage of deep tech startupsArkady’s biggest accomplishment before age 20
Launched first company at 18 without external investmentScaled to annual revenue of $5M in third yearHow starting a venture fund differs from starting other companies
More competitive, thousands of similar funds raising moneyHarer to differentiate and properly tell story of nicheWhat part of being a VC Arkady enjoys the most
Being at edge of science and meeting interesting peopleFinding processes that make things workThe secret skills Arkady is most proud of
Developed extreme level of disciplineExtremely organized in managing time and dataHow Arkady thinks about being useful to others
Provide with relevant information or connectionsPut smile on someone’s face, make life betterThe most valuable thing RPV provides for deep tech startups
External proof point for science and technologyEntrepreneurial experience and change managementArkady’s ‘deathbed test’ to measure success
Nothing ‘could have but didn’t achieve’Self-actualization (happy, complex person)Connect with Arkady Kulik
RPV https://rpv.global/
RPV on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/rpvglobal/
Arkady on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/arkady-kulik/
Arkady on X https://twitter.com/arkadykulik
Resources
Starburst Aerospace https://starburst.aero/
Cantos VC https://cantos.vc/
Countdown https://countdown.capital/
Fifty Years https://fiftyyears.com/
Productivity Planner https://www.intelligentchange.com/products/productivity-planner
Terraforming Mars https://www.fryxgames.se/games/terraforming-mars/
Breakfast with Pops: A Venture Capital Handbook by Adam Draper and William H. Draper III https://www.amazon.com/Breakfast-Pops-Venture-Capital-Handbook/dp/B0C1JHXTQF
Connect with Boost VC
Boost VC Website https://www.boost.vc/
Boost VC on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/boostvc/
Boost VC on X https://twitter.com/BoostVC
Boost VC on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/boost_vc/
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If a VC is excited about a deep tech company upfront, what can we do to temper our enthusiasm and make a rational decision on whether to invest?
Maryanna Saenko is Cofounder and Partner at Future Ventures, an early-stage VC firm that focuses on mission-driven companies at the cutting edge of disruptive technology.
Future Ventures looks to back visionaries who push the boundaries of possibility. Some of their recent investments include Beeflow, Deep Genomics and Earthshot Labs.
On this episode of Boost VC, Maryanna joins us to share her definition of deep tech, describing how Future Ventures looks for opportunities ‘unlike anything we’ve ever seen before.’
Maryanna offers her take on why the two-person structure of a venture firm is ideal and discusses some of the deep tech deals she wishes she’d been closer to.
Listen in for Maryanna’s insight on building organizations around big shifts in science or technology and learn her process for dialing down the excitement after a pitch to decide whether her YES will hold.
Topics Covered
Maryanna’s biggest accomplishments before age 20
Recognized she wouldn’t survive public high schoolGot into Hopkins prep school on scholarshipHow Maryanna got into venture capital
Worked for early-stage company out of collegeJob offer from Daimler to figure out driverless carsIntroduced to head of innovation lab at AirbusThe most important lessons Maryanna has learned as a VC
Trust your intuitionDon’t waste time justifying a startup’s relevanceHow Maryanna defines deep tech
‘Unlike anything we’ve ever seen before’Index on novelty at Future VenturesWhat Maryanna does when she’s all-in on a company right away
Asks what she must believe about reality for YES to holdDiscussion with partner to temper her excitementWhy Maryanna prefers the two-person structure in venture
Ideal for its efficiency and intellectual honestyNever puts someone in tie-breaker positionMaryanna’s superpowers as a venture investor
Confident in ability to assess tech on first principlesKnow how to build orgs around shifts in science or techWhat deals Maryanna wishes she had been closer to
Structure of open AIDeep seabed mining, recycling battery technologyMaryanna’s definition of success
Feel landscape of possibility was totally exhausted‘Everything I could give to this, I did’Connect with Maryanna Saenko
Future Ventures https://future.ventures/
Future on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/FutureVenturesVC
Future on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/future.ventures/
Future on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/futureventures/
Maryanna on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/maryannasaenko/
Maryanna on Twitter https://twitter.com/FutureSaenko
Resources
Lux Research https://www.luxresearchinc.com/
DARPA Grand Challenge https://www.darpa.mil/about-us/timeline/-grand-challenge-for-autonomous-vehicles
Airbus BizLab https://www.airbus.com/en/innovation/innovation-ecosystem/airbus-bizlab
Beeflow https://www.beeflow.com/
Decoding the World by Po Bronson and Arvind Gupta https://www.amazon.com/Decoding-World-Questioner-Po-Bronson/dp/1538734311
Redwood Materials https://www.redwoodmaterials.com/
American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin https://www.amazon.com/American-Prometheus-audiobook/dp/B000OZ0J0W/
Connect with Boost VC
Boost VC Website https://www.boost.vc/
Boost VC on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/boostvc/
Boost VC on Twitter https://twitter.com/BoostVC
Boost VC on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/boost_vc/
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Missing episodes?
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Deep tech founders are either technically gifted or great at building a business. But it's seldom both, at least in the beginning.
So, what should venture investors pay attention to when we’re choosing founders in these disruptive technologies?
Greg Castle is Founder and Managing Director at Anorak Ventures, a firm that invests in early-stage deep tech startups.
An entrepreneur and corporate marketer turned VC, Greg has invested in 120 companies, including Oculus, Flexport and Mux.
On this episode of Boost VC, Greg joins us to explore how his view of venture investing has changed since he wrote his first check, explaining what he looks for in a founder and how he evaluates deep tech startups differently.
Greg shares his mixed feelings about the VR market right now and how he benefits from having a partner to engage in conviction-based decision-making.
Listen in for Greg’s advice on where to deploy capital in deep tech and learn how Anorak chooses founders who apply disruptive technologies to business problems in any industry.
Topics Covered
How Greg got into venture capital
Curious person who advocates for people he believes inGot lucky in first few personal investments, e.g.: OculusThe most important lessons Greg has learned as a VC
What high-functioning teams and companies look likeNot to take it personally when things don’t go as plannedWhat Greg pays attention to when he’s choosing founders
How they interact with cofounders, react to feedbackPunctuality at meetings, preparedness and responsivenessThe questions Greg asks himself before he invests in a startup
Do I believe in the founder?Do I believe in the market?How Greg evaluates deep tech companies differently
Move forward with presumption that anything’s possibleConsider if technically gifted person can build businessGreg’s mixed feelings about the VR market right now
Viable platform where developers make real moneyFrustrated by lack of competition, Meta fumbling the ballGreg’s thoughts on Apple entering the VR/AR market
‘Nobody can make a product cool like Apple can’Not well-positioned in immersive gaming (primary use case)The Anorak investment thesis
Handful of technologies will have outsized impact on futureFind teams leveraging those technologies, industry agnosticGreg’s advice on where to deploy capital in deep tech
Always comes down to peopleBuild out ecosystem of investors, foundersHow Greg thinks about scale in venture investing
Find great people in areas that are not your strengthsScale of funds = $15M to $25M per partnerHow Greg benefits from taking on a partner
Need to explain yourself to thought partnerCan still move quickly when he needs toGreg’s biggest accomplishments before age 20
Building group of friends in collegeStill works with many of themGreg’s definition of success
Confident and comfortable in your own skinContent with what you haveConnect with Greg Castle
Anorak Ventures https://www.anorak.vc/
Anorak on Medium https://anorakvc.medium.com/
Anorak on Twitter https://twitter.com/AnorakVentures
Anorak on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/anorak-ventures/
Greg on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregorycastle/
Greg on Twitter https://twitter.com/gpcastle12
Resources
Greg Castle on Boost VC EP001 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2PyO3LpZD9Q
Greg Castle on Boost VC EP089 https://open.spotify.com/episode/6qYRcDMoemjrMHDxKONu4A
Oculus https://www.meta.com/quest/
GOLF+ https://www.golfplusvr.com/
FitXR https://fitxr.com/
Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman https://www.amazon.com/Neverwhere-Novel-Neil-Gaiman-ebook/dp/B000FC130E
Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson https://www.amazon.com/Snow-Crash-Novel-Neal-Stephenson-ebook/dp/B000FBJCJE/
Hyperion by Dan Simmons https://www.amazon.com/Hyperion-Cantos-Book-1-ebook/dp/B004G60EHS/
Neuromancer by William Gibson https://www.amazon.com/Neuromancer-Sprawl-Trilogy-William-Gibson-ebook/dp/B000O76ON6/
Breakfast with Pops: A Venture Capital Handbook by Adam Draper & William Henry Draper, III https://www.amazon.com/Breakfast-Pops-Venture-Capital-Handbook/dp/B0C1JHXTQF
‘Perception Is Reality’ Presentation https://www.anorak.vc/post/perception-is-reality-8-startup-marketing-principles
Connect with Boost VC
Boost VC Website https://www.boost.vc/
Boost VC on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/boostvc/
Boost VC on Twitter https://twitter.com/BoostVC
Boost VC on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/boost_vc/
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How does a venture firm approach investments in deep technology?
Seth Winterroth is Partner at Eclipse Ventures, a VC firm that partners with exceptional entrepreneurs to build companies that redefine physical industries.
Seth has nine years of experience in venture capital, serving as Associate at GE Ventures before he joined the team at Eclipse.
On this episode of Boost VC, Seth joins us to explore how Eclipse thinks about investing in emerging technologies, explaining how the team engages with customers and leverages internal expertise to identify high-magnitude market opportunities.
Seth shares his interest in robotics, discussing why the acquisition of Kiva Systems sparked his interest in this particular deep tech field and how he identified the opportunity to invest in 6 River Systems—the first deal he led at Eclipse.
Listen in for Seth’s advice to young VCs on cultivating patience and responding to chaos with calm, engaging with founders in a way that’s rational and devoid of fear.
Topics Covered
The thesis at Eclipse Ventures
Small teams of engineers solving hard development problemsIndustries that operate in physical world (80% of global GDP)How Seth thinks about investing in emerging technology
Start with markets, customer pain pointsFind specialist to develop n-of-1 solutionAdd traditional engineers with experience scaling technologyWhat gets Seth excited about robotics
Kiva Systems acquisition by Amazon sparked interestSaw market trends driving adoption of autonomous systemsThe success of Seth’s first investment at Eclipse, 6 River Systems
Robotics company in supply chain logisticsAcquired for $500M by Shopify in 2019How Seth identified the opportunity to invest in 6 River Systems
Ideal team profile and product differentiationGap in market to replace Kiva SystemsEclipse’s institutional process of thesis development
Engage with customers, purchasing decision-makersInternal engineering expertise to identify gapsEclipse’s internal venture equity program
Cases where did research but didn’t find right opportunity Engineer storm vs. wait for lightning to strikeWhat Eclipse does to win deals
Build relationships with foundersProvide evidence of value-added capitalThe part of a deal Seth is most excited about
Find high-magnitude market opportunity to match worldviewGo to partners with conviction and say THIS ONEWhat Seth would tell his 25-year-old self
Be patient, don’t rush to have track record in ventureRespond to chaos with calm, be rational and devoid of fearWhat differentiates Eclipse from other venture firms
Tackle category of economy traditional VCs shy away fromDeep involvement with companies to improve oddsSeth’s biggest accomplishments before age 20
Live on own and travel worldSpend meaningful time with and learn from grandfatherConnect with Seth Winterroth
Eclipse Ventures https://eclipse.vc/
Eclipse on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/eclipse-vc/
Eclipse on Twitter https://twitter.com/eclipseventures
Seth on Twitter https://twitter.com/Sethwinterroth
Seth on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/sethwinterroth/
Resources
Kiva Systems Acquisition https://techcrunch.com/2012/03/19/amazon-acquires-online-fulfillment-company-kiva-systems-for-775-million-in-cash/
Willow Garage https://www.businessinsider.com/a-look-back-at-willow-garage-2016-2
DARPA Grand Challenge https://www.darpa.mil/about-us/timeline/-grand-challenge-for-autonomous-vehicles
6 River Systems https://6river.com/
Bright Machines https://www.brightmachines.com/
BrightInsight https://brightinsight.com/
Foxglove Studio https://foxglove.dev/
Kevin Kelly’s Blog ‘You Are Not Late’ https://medium.com/message/you-are-not-late-b3d76f963142
Richard Hamming’s Talk ‘You and Your Research’ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1zDuOPkMSw
Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln by Doris Kearns Goodwin https://www.amazon.com/Team-Rivals-Political-Abraham-Lincoln/dp/0743270754
Lincoln https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0443272/
Connect with Boost VC
Boost VC Website https://www.boost.vc/
Boost VC on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/boostvc/
Boost VC on Twitter https://twitter.com/BoostVC
Boost VC on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/boost_vc/
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What inspires a venture firm to focus on deep tech?
Ian Rountree is Founder and General Partner at Cantos, a venture fund that invests in potentially world-changing deep tech startups.
Cantos focuses on hardware and bio investing at the intersection of climate and industrials, life sciences and AI, aerospace and defense, and next-generation computing.
On this episode of Boost VC, Ian joins us to share his definition of deep tech and explain why he underwrites technical risk rather than market risk.
Ian discusses the value of founder empathy, challenging VCs to see the entrepreneur as their customer and LPs as shareholders in the portfolio.
Listen in to understand what drives Ian to make a global-scale impact, backing founders who tackle climate change, disease, armed conflict, poverty and existential risk.
Topics Covered
Ian’s biggest accomplishment before age 20
Getting Vanderbilt to accept him off waitlist Refused to take NO as answerIan’s take on who is the customer in venture capital
Founder = customerLP = shareholderWhat inspired Ian to focus on deep tech
Tackle big problems, e.g.: climate change, povertyDeep tech startups outperformed rest of portfolioHow losing his father early informs Ian’s work
Feels hard deadline to career and lifeWants to play small role in changing worldThe criteria Ian uses to decide if a startup is ‘important’
Nonzero chance of global-scale impactTackles climate, disease, armed conflict or povertyHow Ian defines deep tech
Taking technical risk rather than market riskCantos specializes in hardware and bio investingHow Ian thinks about growing the Cantos organization
From solo GP to 4 equal partners‘Fire’ himself by age 55What’s behind Benchmark’s equal partnership structure
Set up for generational turnover from jumpMay also be consequence of early successWhy a deep tech VC doesn’t need to be technical
Ask expert if violation of physics involvedStartups that change world challenge status quoWhat differentiates software investing from deep tech
Software involves market risk, easy to pivotDeep tech involves technical risk, hard to pivotIan’s diligence criteria
Size of market, potential margins at scaleFounder who understands their WHYConnect with Ian Rountree
Cantos https://cantos.vc/
Cantos on Twitter https://twitter.com/cantos
Ian on Twitter https://twitter.com/ianrountree
Ian on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/ianrountree/
Near Frontier Podcast https://nearfrontier.castos.com/
Resources
Fred Wilson’s Blog ‘The VC’s Customer’ https://avc.com/2005/11/the_vcs_custome/
Fred Wilson’s Blog ‘The VC’s Customer (Continued)’ https://avc.com/2009/07/the-vcs-customer-continued/
Radiant https://www.radiantnuclear.com/
Tim Urban’s TED Talk on Procrastination https://www.ted.com/talks/tim_urban_inside_the_mind_of_a_master_procrastinator/c
Benchmark https://www.benchmark.com/
eBoys: The First Inside Account of Venture Capitalists at Work by Randall E. Stross https://www.amazon.com/eBoys-Inside-Account-Venture-Capitalists/dp/0812930959
Benchmark Part I on the Acquired Podcast https://www.acquired.fm/episodes/benchmark-capital
Benchmark Part II on the Acquired Podcast https://www.acquired.fm/episodes/benchmark-part-ii-the-dinner
Union Square Ventures https://www.usv.com/
Cerebras https://www.cerebras.net/
Eric Vishria on Twitter https://twitter.com/ericvishria
Connect with Boost VC
Boost VC Website https://www.boost.vc/
Boost VC on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/boostvc/
Boost VC on Twitter https://twitter.com/BoostVC
Boost VC on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/boost_vc/
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Many independently minded, young scientists are too ambitious for academia… But the startup world isn’t quite right for them either.
How might decentralized science provide a space for these innovators to do their work?
Niklas Rindtorff is the classical scientist behind LabDAO, an online home for inventors that builds open tools for scientific research. Niklas coauthored his first paper before the age of 20, and he has expertise in CRISPR and cancer research.
On this episode of Boost VC, Niklas joins us to explain how classical science emerged after World War II and explore the problems with the NIH grant funding process.
Niklas shares his open-access approach to consuming scientific media and describes how DeSci is experimenting with different ways to measures the importance of new science.
Listen in to understand how decentralized science can serve as the bridge between research organizations and science startups, building an ecosystem for inventors who don’t fit into the nonprofit or for-profit world.
Topics Covered
How Niklas defines science
Formal knowledge generation processFishing at edge of what is knownHow World War II changed the way we do science
Conflict won because of US sophisticated techNIH funding created class of full-time scientistsSystem doesn’t always maximize progressHow the importance of new science is determined
Measured by citations vs. marketsDeSci experiments with different accountingHow Niklas consumes scientific media
Used to use few free, open-access journalsNow leverage Twitter bookmarks, preprintsWhat LabDAO does for scientists
Provide tools to work wherever they areCurrent focus on computational biologyWhat inspired Niklas to build LabDAO
Experience with inventions stuck in bureaucracyMeasure number of patients treated vs. citationsThe age distribution of NIH grant recipients
Ages with scientists who were firstNo market discipline, don’t answer to publicHow we might equalize the demographic of NIH winners
Create more NIHsPrivate funding agency with philanthropic matchHow we might invest in a portfolio of science
Charge higher fee to run research-oriented fundOnline collectives do research sponsorshipsHow LabDAO itself is funded
Nonprofit governed by tokenPrivate investors buy token for stake on projectsThe relationship between academia and DeSci
Connective tissue among existing organizationsInventors who don’t fit in academia or startupsNiklas’ definition of success
Strive toward personal valuesInvent cool stuffConnect with Niklas RIndtorff
LabDAO https://www.labdao.xyz/
LabDAO on Discord https://discord.com/invite/labdao
LabDAO on GitHub https://github.com/labdao
LabDAO on Snapshot https://snapshot.org/#/labdao.eth
LabDAO on Medium https://medium.com/@labdao
LabDAO on Twitter https://twitter.com/lab_dao
Niklas on Twitter https://twitter.com/niklas_tr
Resources
Broad Institute https://www.broadinstitute.org/
‘Science the Endless Frontier’ 1945 Report to Congress https://www.nsf.gov/od/lpa/nsf50/vbush1945.htm
National Institutes of Health https://www.nih.gov/
Public Library of Science https://plos.org/
bioRxiv https://www.biorxiv.org/
New Science https://newscience.org/
VitaDAO https://www.vitadao.com/
Connect with Boost VC
Boost VC Website https://www.boost.vc/
Boost VC on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/boostvc/
Boost VC on Twitter https://twitter.com/BoostVC
Boost VC on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/boost_vc/
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In academia, most scientists publish their ideas and stop there. But if we want our breakthroughs to benefit society, we have to take it a step further.
So, what does it look like to commercialize scientific research? What mindset do academics need to work at the intersection of science and industry?
Ben Lamm has a career of building successful deep tech businesses, and George Church has a career of commercializing academic science.
Together, they are the cofounders of Colossal, a breakthrough bioscience and genetic engineering company that is pioneering animal de-extinction technology to restore lost ecosystems for a healthier planet.
On this episode of Boost VC, Ben and George join us to explain how bringing back the woolly mammoth addresses climate change and explore their approach to the ethical concerns around de-extinction.
They discuss the benefits of Colossal technology beyond Arctic rewilding, describing how their work helps endangered animals and promotes conservation.
Listen in for Ben and George’s insight on commercializing science and learn how to get comfortable enough with risk to turn academic ideas into industry.
Topics Covered
How George defines science
Predict and create new options for humanityGoal to build better worldWhy Ben & George are bringing back the woolly mammoth
Restore previous ratio of grass to treesSequester carbon at rate only possible in ArcticHow Ben & George approach the ethical concerns re: de-extinction
Believe in radical transparencyLearn from negative feedback, people who questionWhy George works at the intersection of academia and industry
Likes to work with curious young peopleExposure to diversity of ideasWhy Colossal needs government collaboration and support
Several governments, Indigenous groups in ArcticClimate change, biodiversity and species preservationHow woolly mammoths promote carbon removal
Knock down trees so more grass can growCold, Arctic grasslands sequester carbon particularly wellThe benefits of Colossal technology beyond Arctic rewilding
Eradicate EHV virus in elephantsPromote species conservationHow Ben & George think about commercializing science
Go beyond publication to help societyFeedback from investors and academiaWhat makes Ben & George’s partnership work
George’s lab provides idea from academic studyBen figures out product-market fit and fundingGeorge’s advice to academics on commercializing products
Can’t be afraid of failureCan come back from bankruptcyHow Ben & George think about taking big risks
Ben believed grandmother saying he could do anythingAcademic failures taught George he would surviveThe impact Ben & George hope to make with Colossal
Ex utero development, species preservationThousands of Arctic elephants to sequester carbonAdvancements in reading and writing of genomesHow Ben & George define success
Benefit society, facilitate survival of speciesCreate things that are additiveConnect with George Church & Ben Lamm
Colossal https://colossal.com
Colossal on Twitter https://twitter.com/ItIsColossal
Colossal on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/itiscolossal/
Colossal on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/itiscolossal/
George on Twitter https://twitter.com/geochurch
Ben on Twitter https://twitter.com/federallamm
Resources
Citizen Science https://www.citizenscience.gov/#
Personal Genome Project https://www.personalgenomes.org/
How to Grow (Almost) Anything https://www.media.mit.edu/courses/htgaa/
DIYbio https://diybio.org/
Church Lab https://arep.med.harvard.edu/
Hypergiant https://www.hypergiant.com/
Pleistocene Park https://pleistocenepark.ru/
Chris Mason Author Talk https://mitpress.mit.edu/blog/author-talk-the-next-500-years-by-christopher-e-mason/
Prehistoric Planet https://tv.apple.com/us/show/prehistoric-planet/umc.cmc.4lh4bmztauvkooqz400akxav
Connect with Boost VC
Boost VC Website https://www.boost.vc/
Boost VC on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/boostvc/
Boost VC on Twitter https://twitter.com/BoostVC
Boost VC on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/boost_vc/
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Why invest in decentralized science?
James Sinka is a classically trained chemist and materials engineer and DeSci investor at Orange DAO, a fund for crypto projects supported by an alliance of Y Combinator alumni.
On this episode of Boost VC, James joins us to discuss where he sees opportunities in DeSci, describing the benefit of publishing null results and how open science helps us get to the truth more quickly.
James explains how the Orange Fund and Orange DAO work together to finance crypto projects and shares his advice to scientist-founders on generating your own luck through action.
Listen in for James’ insight on the first use cases for decentralized science and learn how investing in DeSci can democratize access to research and help rebel scientist-entrepreneurs ship products in the real world!
Topics Covered
How James defines science
Process to uncover truths about worldNot an institution of truthWhat attracted James to DeSci
Benefits of publishing null resultsLess wasted science effort and moneyHow James got into crypto
Exposed to Bitcoin in collegeOffers financial freedom to bet on selfHow Orange DAO works
$50M fund for crypto projectsY Combinator alum support effortsJames’ advice for founders
Bias toward actionBe willing to be wrongWhere James sees opportunity in DeSci
Free flowing access to informationGet to truth more quicklyWhat’s wrong with academic science now
Research for prestige, not passionValue determined by citation numbersHow the Alzheimer’s fraud happened
Conflict of interest at NIHNo reverse accountability systemWhat inspires James to invest in DeSci
Push boundaries of scientific researchHelp scientists build real productsJames’ take on the first use case for DeSci
Data warehousing (null results)New forms of publication open to allJames’ definition of success
Time, space and resourcesAbility to do what you loveConnect with James Sinka
Orange DAO https://www.orangedao.xyz/
Orange DAO on Discord https://discord.com/invite/DVncb7UxGB
Orange DAO on Snapshot https://snapshot.org/#/orangedaoxyz.eth
Orange DAO on Etherscan https://etherscan.io/token/0x1bBD79f1Ecb3f2cCC586A5E3A26eE1d1D2E1991f
Orange DAO on OpenSea https://opensea.io/collection/alumni-gems
Orange DAO on Twitter https://twitter.com/OrangeDAOxyz
James on Twitter https://twitter.com/jamessinka
Resources
Through the Wormhole https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1513168/
Y Combinator https://www.ycombinator.com/
NEAR Protocol https://near.org/
Algorand https://www.algorand.com/
Blockchain Capital https://blockchain.capital/
The Memo by Howard Marks https://link.chtbl.com/thememobyhowardmarks
Multicoin Capital https://multicoin.capital/
Solana https://solana.com/
Exploring Decentralized Science with Balaji Srinivasan https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrcRI_hYDtQ
Naval https://nav.al/
Brian Armstrong https://twitter.com/brian_armstrong
Epsilon3 https://www.epsilon3.io/
Benchling https://www.benchling.com/
Amplitude https://amplitude.com/
Sci-Hub https://sci-hub.se/
Patrick Joyce on the Boost VC Podcast https://www.boost.vc/bvc/2022/08/04/desci-ep-2-addressing-the-misalignment-of-incentives-in-science
DeSci Labs https://desci.com/
Connect with Boost VC
Boost VC Website https://www.boost.vc/
Boost VC on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/boostvc/
Boost VC on Twitter https://twitter.com/BoostVC
Boost VC on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/boost_vc/
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Under the current centralized system, drug development happens in silos.
Pharmaceutical companies don’t share information. Scientists run the same failed experiments over and over again. And the process of bringing a drug to market typically takes ten-plus years.
But Paul Kohlhaas and Tyler Golato are building a new way to do drug development. A system that allows for collaboration and dramatically increases the speed of breakthroughs in healthcare.
CEO Paul and CSO Tyler are the Cofounders of Molecule, a decentralized biotech protocol that establishes a Web3 marketplace for research-related intellectual property.
On this episode of Boost VC, Paul and Tyler join us to explain how their personal experiences with the failures of healthcare inspired their interest in changing the system.
They discuss Molecule's end-to-end ecosystem for bringing drugs to market, describing how their IP-NFT both protects innovation and makes it more open, sharable and collaborative.
Listen in for insight on Eroom's Law and learn how open science leads to enormous efficiency gains in the drug development process.
Topics Covered
How Paul & Tyler define science
Empirical discovery of knowledgeProgressive search for truthWhat inspired Paul & Tyler’s interest in science
Personal experience with failures of healthcarePotential for DeSci to foster new behaviorsPaul & Tyler’s failed experiment with crowdfunding
Tried to raise money for microdosing studyPartnership with University of TorontoHow Molecule has evolved since 2019
Ecosystem for bringing drugs to marketIP-NFT framework for collaborationHow to make scientists more open to sharing
Improve user experienceStreamline funding processThe power of Molecule’s IP-NFT framework
Intellectual property rights held on chainCollectively owned by patientsThe value prop for open science
Creates enormous efficiency gainsMakes drug development much cheaperJack Scannel’s naming of Eroom’s Law
Technology to discover drugs improvingYet drug discovery output in declineThe goals for DeSci over the next decade
Extend quality of human health spanMake science self-sovereign, self-awareHow Paul & Tyler define success
Remain true to values and vision for lifeNet positive impact on every personConnect with Paul Kohlhaas & Tyler Golato
Molecule https://www.molecule.to/
Molecule on GitHub https://github.com/moleculeprotocol
Molecule on Discord https://discord.com/invite/uAGW7K4hQU
Molecule on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWYW5ho3L_d0EO_a619E7RQ
Molecule on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/molecule-protocol
Molecule on Twitter https://twitter.com/molecule_dao
Paul on Twitter https://twitter.com/paulkhls
Tyler on Twitter https://twitter.com/GolatoTyler
Resources
Linum Labs https://www.linumlabs.com/
Molecule’s Crowdfunding Experiment with the University of Toronto https://www.molecule.to/blog/psychedelics-on-the-blockchain
NIH Grants and Funding https://www.nih.gov/grants-funding
Simon de la Rouviere on Bonding Curves https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-k4M6QAW2pM
Jack Scannell on Eroom’s Law https://refoundable.com/research/life-after-erooms-law-interview-with-jack-scannell.html
Meme Lordz https://memelordz.io/
North American Association of Technology Transfer http://aim.autm.net/
Ray Kurzweil https://www.kurzweilai.net/
Peter Diamandis https://www.diamandis.com/
Abundance 360 https://www.abundance360.com/summit
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Boost VC Website https://www.boost.vc/
Boost VC on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/boostvc/
Boost VC on Twitter https://twitter.com/BoostVC
Boost VC on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/boost_vc/
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The internet has given content creators of all kinds a way to monetize their talents. Writers have Medium. Teachers and vloggers have YouTube.
But scientists don’t have a platform to earn money for their research.
That’s why Dr. Jocelynn Pearl calls scientists the ‘unappreciated creator class.’ And that’s why she’s working to further the DeSci movement, leveraging Web3 technology to enable breakthrough research through better incentives.
A molecular and cellular biologist by training, Jocelynn serves as cofounder of LabDAO, a design marketplace for life science research, and host of The UltraRare Podcast, a show about the builders behind the decentralized science movement.
On this episode of Boost VC, Jocelynn joins us to explain how DeSci solves for speed of translation and communicates science better than existing systems, exploring how the movement might specifically facilitate breakthroughs around rare disease.
Jocelynn discusses how academia owns the best scientific minds without rewarding them appropriately and describes how DAOs offer alternatives to classic academic publishing and drug development.
Listen in as Jocelynn makes the case that scientists are the unappreciated creator class and learn how access to the right advisors and capital can accelerate the decentralized science movement.
Topics Covered
How Jocelynn defines science
Process of exploring unanswered questionsConversation among people trained to be criticalHow Jocelynn defines decentralized science
Way of democratizing resourcesCommunicate science better than existing systemsWhat inspired Jocelynn’s interest in DeSci
Centralization of research inhibits progressSolve for speed of translation, cost reductionHow DeSci might facilitate breakthroughs in rare disease
Explore drug development through DAOsCommunication of collective knowledgeLeveraging DeSci to incentivize scientific research
Change academic publishing through tokenizationAllow patient group to co-own drug developmentWhy Jocelynn sees scientists as the unappreciated creator class
Writers have Medium, vloggers have YouTubeNo platform for scientists to monetize contentWhat needs to change for scientists to be appreciated creators
Activists like Seemay Chou who encourage sharingAlternative model to academic publishingHow academia owns the best minds (without rewarding them)
Earn $30K/year working full-time in PhD programDoes form you as scientist and provides networkHow CROs address the lab space shortage
Stands for contract research organizationFarm out research can’t perform in-houseThe challenges of establishing decentralized science
Traditional academia and publishing will fight backMuch work required to override existing systemWhat's stopping the DeSci space from accelerating faster
Struggles to bring in advising and capitalWorking on projects outside day jobsJocelynn’s definition of success
Lasting change in scientific ecosystemPivot how progress happensConnect with Jocelynn Pearl
Jocelynn’s Website https://www.jocelynnpearl.com/
LabDAO https://www.labdao.xyz/
LabDAO on Twitter https://twitter.com/lab_dao
LabDAO on GitHub https://github.com/labdao
LabDAO on Discord https://discord.com/invite/labdao
UltraRare Podcast https://rss.com/podcasts/ultrarare/
Resources
A Guide to Decentralized Biotech https://future.com/a-guide-to-decentralized-biotech/
The DeSci Wiki https://www.jocelynnpearl.com/
Molecule Protocol https://www.molecule.to/
Ben Hills https://twitter.com/0xboodle
Vibe Bio https://www.vibebio.com/
Experiment.com https://experiment.com/
Arcadia Science https://www.arcadia.science/
Invisible College https://www.invisiblecollege.xyz/
Charles River Laboratories https://www.criver.com/
Cameron & Tyler Winklevoss on Boost VC EP102 https://podbay.fm/p/the-boost-vc-podcast/e/1606903200
Manhattan Project https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/the-manhattan-project
Thiel Fellowship http://www.thielfellowship.org/
Connect with Boost VC
Boost VC Website https://www.boost.vc/
Boost VC on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/boostvc/
Boost VC on Twitter https://twitter.com/BoostVC
Boost VC on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/boost_vc/
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Only 1% of first year PhD students become research professors.
This creates a hypercompetitive environment where scientists will do whatever it takes to get funding, even if that means tweaking statistical analyses to make their findings seem more significant.
But decentralized science is working to address this egregious misalignment of incentives and reward science done the right way.
Patrick Joyce is the Cofounder and COO of ResearchHub, a Reddit-style forum that allows anyone to share, discuss and curate scientific papers—and earn ERC-20 tokens for doing so.
On this episode of Boost VC, Patrick joins us to discuss the misalignment of incentives in science and describe the problem with using bibliometrics to determine who receives funding.
Patrick explains why decentralizing science is so important, exploring how DeSci will increase the adoption of open science practices and accelerate innovation in the space.
Listen in to understand how DeSci can pressure large academic journals to pay content creators for their work and learn how ResearchHub is leveraging Web3 to make capital available to scientists.
Topics Covered
How Patrick defines science
Pursuit of knowledgeVerifiable resultsWhat’s behind the replication crisis in science
Hypercompetitive job marketQuality judged by bibliometricsWhy decentralizing science is important
Tweak analyses to maximize perceived impactNot honest, transparent or reproducibleOnly most cited scientists receive fundingPatrick’s take on the first breakthrough for DeSci
Increase adoption of open science practicesNo longer career risk to share work in openWhat drives Patrick’s conviction around DeSci
Success not based on work ethic, intelligenceLittle innovation in drugs for mental healthHow ResearchHub rewards quality science
Allows anyone to share and discuss papersEarn ERC-20 tokens for participationHow Patrick builds trust in the scientific community
Provide funding and publishing outletsHelp meet goals of open scienceWhat success looks like for decentralized science
Paywall journals provide open access optionsPay science content creators for workWhy the science incentive structure hasn’t changed
Previous attempts not fundablePirate organizations like Sci-Hub not legalPatrick’s take on what makes publishers the enemy
Responsible to own incentive to make moneyCharge scientists to publish, subscription feesPatrick’s uniting purpose for the DeSci community
Web3 offers ROI to invest in scienceMakes capital available to scientistsHow Patrick defines success for ResearchHub
Take power away from bibliometricsCreate rockstar scientists who define cultureConnect with Patrick Joyce
ResearchHub https://www.researchhub.com/
ResearchHub on Twitter https://twitter.com/researchhub
ResearchHub on Discord https://discord.com/invite/ZcCYgcnUp5
ResearchHub on Medium https://medium.com/researchhub
ResearchHub on Reddit https://www.reddit.com/r/ResearchHub/
ResearchHub on GitHub https://github.com/ResearchHub
Resources
Brian Armstrong & Patrick Joyce on The Sheekey Science Show https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FmhHLPrUIU
Clarivate Analytics https://clarivate.com/
OpenAlex https://openalex.org/
r/medicalstudent https://www.reddit.com/r/medicalstudent/
r/ImmunoPsychiatry https://www.reddit.com/r/ImmunoPsychiatry/
eLife https://elifesciences.org/
Open Science Framework https://www.cos.io/
Nature Neuroscience https://www.nature.com/neuro/
Chris Hill on Boost VC DeSci EP02 https://www.boost.vc/podcast
Authorea https://www.authorea.com/
F1000Research https://f1000research.com/
Sci-Hub https://sci-hub.se/
Stack Overflow https://stackoverflow.com/
Hindawi https://www.hindawi.com/
MetaMask https://metamask.io/
Fast Grants https://fastgrants.org/
Kaggle https://www.kaggle.com/
Connect with Boost VC
Boost VC Website https://www.boost.vc/
Boost VC on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/boostvc/
Boost VC on Twitter https://twitter.com/BoostVC
Boost VC on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/boost_vc/
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The system for publishing scientific research is broken.
Academic success is measured by citations rather than scientific quality. And publishing companies have a monopoly on the knowledge scientists produce.
Can we use blockchain technology to promote the verifiability of scientific findings? And make science accessible to everyone?
Dr. Christopher Hill is an interdisciplinary scientist with a background in neuroeconomics and machine learning. Phillip Koellinger is Professor of Social Science Genetics in the Department of Economics at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.
Together, Chris and Philipp are Cofounders of DeSci Labs, an initiative that aims to make science more replicable, accessible, transparent and fair by way of Web3 technologies.
On this episode of Boost VC, Chris and Philipp join us to explain what inspired their interest in decentralized science and explore what differentiates success for science versus individual scientists.
They walk us through the goals of the open science movement and weigh in on how DeSci tech provides new ways of funding research and makes scientific knowledge available to everyone.
Listen in for insight around the grassroots movement known as metascience and learn how DeSci is working to improve the quality of the scientific record and reward scientists for the value they create.
Topics Covered
What inspired Chris & Philipp’s interest in decentralized science
Bureaucracy and broken publishing system in academiaPassionate about open science, reproducibilityImprove durability and quality of scientific recordUplift material conditions of early-career scientistsThe goals of the open science movement
Make research more transparent, accessible to everyoneBetter markers of scientific quality than impact factorImprove and promote verifiability and reproducibilityWhat differentiates success for science vs. success for scientists
Scientific success = verifiable new knowledgeSuccess for scientist = prestigeHow Chris & Philipp define decentralized science
Tech stack for true open access to researchMakes science more transparent and reproducibleAllows scientists to recapture value they createThe problem with measuring value by impact factor (IF)
Metric derived exclusively from citation ratesPublishers have monopoly on scientific knowledgeHow DeSci technologies can benefit scientific research
Accelerate pace of knowledge progress and accessibilityProvide new ways of funding researchBusiness models that reward scientists for contributionsPotential for rapid experimentation at scaleCreate accountability in peer review processThe interdisciplinary grassroots movement of metascience
Check work of other scientists through replicationsConduct basic hygiene of scientific ecosystemThe transition from scientific manuscripts to research objects
Store artifacts of journey, including peer review feedbackPermanent knowledge graphs to secure scientific recordConnect with Chris Hill & Philipp Koellinger
DeSci Labs https://www.desci.com/
DeSci Labs on Twitter https://twitter.com/descilabs
DeSci Foundation https://descifoundation.org/
DeSci Foundation on Twitter https://twitter.com/DeSciFoundation
Resources
David Deutsch https://www.daviddeutsch.org.uk/
‘Raise Standards for Pre-Clinical Cancer Research’ in Nature https://www.nature.com/articles/483531a
‘Why Most Published Research Findings Are False’ in PLOS Medicine https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1182327/
Gitcoin https://gitcoin.co/
Connect with Boost VC
Boost VC Website https://www.boost.vc/
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At Boost VC, we’re known for supporting early-stage blockchain startups.
Why is that such an important part of our identity? Because institutional trust is dying. And that trust is being passed down to the individual through peer-to-peer technologies.
Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are solving for trust in our financial system. But what other institutions are ripe for this kind of disruption?
Where else might we apply decentralization as a way to drive innovation?
On this edition of Boost VC, I’m sharing a framework for the next several episodes of the podcast around decentralized science or DeSci.
I discuss the incentive system that drives publishing in science and how it constrains which breakthroughs make it to the world—and which ones do not.
Listen in for insight on the decline of institutional trust and learn about the rebel scientists who are defining the future of scientific innovation.
Topics Covered
Why Boost VC is known for supporting crypto startups
Find where talent escapes to earliestAccelerate path to solve important problemsHow we think about the growing distrust in institutions
Passed down to individual through P2P techConsider where applicable beyond financeWhy institutions governing science are ripe for disruption
Bottleneck for breakthrough tech to emergeConstraints re: what innovations make it to worldWhat we will cover in the next 5 to 10 podcast episodes
Revolution of rebel scientists building DeSciFuture of breakthroughs in scienceConnect with Boost VC
Boost VC Website https://www.boost.vc/
Boost VC on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/boostvc/
Boost VC on Twitter https://twitter.com/BoostVC
Boost VC on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/boost_vc/
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The media is filled with experts comparing today’s market with the dot-com crash of 2000. But few, if any, of these experts actually lived and worked through the dot-com boom and bust.
Marc Andreessen is Founder and General Partner at Andreessen Horowitz, and Tim Draper is Founder and Managing Director at Draper VC. And both Marc and Tim were either running or investing in tech startups at the time.
So, what was it like to experience the dot-com crash? What did Marc and Tim learn that might give us clarity around how to navigate an uncertain economic future?
On this episode of Boost VC, Marc and Tim join us to explore the likelihood that we’re headed into a recession and explain what they’re encouraging founders to do right now.
Marc and Tim discuss the mistakes they made in the early 2000s and describe why a downturn can be good for the best companies.
Listen in for insight on retaining employees in a remote or hybrid setting and get Marc and Tim’s advice on contingency planning to survive an economic crisis—without losing your business.
Topics Covered
Where Marc and Tim go for their media
Timeless source of info = books prior to 1960Direct conversations with foundersScience fiction to predict futureWhat Marc was doing in the early 2000s
Launch Netscape in 1999 at high point in marketLifting weights to burn off stressWhat Tim was doing in the early 2000s
Just raised $1.4B to bring VC to worldHosted party ‘2001 Cyberspace Odyssey’What it takes to be a successful entrepreneur
Smart, open to new ideas and determinedSocial skills to build team, raise money, etc.Disagreeable (think against the grain)The likelihood that we’re headed into a recession
Good people laid off start own businessesEconomy too complex to predict futureWhat a16z is encouraging founders to do right now
Think in terms of scenarios and contingenciesConsider specific circumstances of your companyCut deep enough that only do layoffs onceTim's experience as an investor in the dot-com crash
Reactive approach, scrambled to raise moneyLost 4 businesses with $100M in revenuesThe difference between the dot-com crash and 2008
2000 was equity-driven, credit crisis in 2008Tech companies don’t run on debtWhat Marc did right and wrong in the dot-com crash
Underestimated how bad things could getIPO saved company from bankruptcyWhy a downturn can be good for the best companies
Eliminates competitionEasier to recruit, gain market shareHow to retain employees in a hybrid/remote setting
Create intense social bonding experiencesManagement training, employee developmentHow tech innovation is flowing out of the Bay Area
COVID as catalyst, other cities rise in importanceTexas and Florida are attracting entrepreneursHow governments are in competition for entrepreneurs
Regulations push businesses outUS can remain #1 if allow startups to innovateMarc and Tim’s greatest qualities + accomplishments
Tim fearless in engaging with boldest ideasMarc transformed the VC businessConnect with Marc
Andreessen Horowitz https://a16z.com/
Andreessen Horowitz on Twitter https://twitter.com/a16z
Marc on Twitter https://twitter.com/pmarca
Connect with Tim
Draper Associates https://www.draper.vc/
Tim on Twitter https://twitter.com/TimDraper
Draper University https://www.draperuniversity.com/
Meet the Drapers https://www.meetthedrapers.com/
Resources
Tom Swift Books https://tomswift.net
The Hard Thing About Hard Things by Ben Horowitz https://www.amazon.com/Hard-Thing-About-Things-Building/dp/0062273205
My Years with General Motors by Alfred Sloan https://www.amazon.com/Years-General-Motors-Alfred-Sloan/dp/0385042353
The a16z Podcast https://future.com/a16z-podcast/
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/sarbanes-oxley_act
Draper Innovation Index https://index.draperhero.org/
Connect with Boost VC
Boost VC Website https://www.boost.vc/
Boost VC on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/boostvc/
Boost VC on Twitter https://twitter.com/BoostVC
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Dr. Edward Lu is an astrophysicist and former NASA astronaut who logged 200-plus days in space between 1995 and 2007. Today, he serves as the Cofounder and Executive Director of the Asteroid Institute at the B612 Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to protecting Earth from asteroid impacts. On this episode of Boost VC, Ed joins us to discuss what makes space fun, describing what daily life is like in zero gravity and why he thinks we’ll colonize space within the next few decades.
Ed shares his experience training for a rescue mission to the International Space Station, weighing in on how spacecraft tech has (and has not) evolved and why we can’t stay in space for longer than six months at a time. Listen in for Ed’s insight on the likelihood that aliens exist and learn about the most recent advancements in asteroid tracking—and why it’s crucial to predict where they’re headed decades in advance.
Topics Covered
What makes being in space fun for Ed
Dream to fly, incredible ship made by peopleAmazing view (new continent every 15 minutes)Ed’s experience on a rescue mission to the space station
Supplies/transport cut off after Columbia crashTrained to command Soyuz in just 9 weeksWhat inspired Ed to become an astronaut
Worked as astrophysicist, became pilot for funFriend at work mentioned NASA applicationEd’s take on what it takes to be an astronaut
Ability to operate ALL systems of spacecraftPilot, scientist and submarine crew combinedHow daily habits are different in zero gravity
Can’t put items down on tableNo arc when passing objectsWhy we can’t stay in space for long periods
6-month lifetime of spacecraftFuel decays, one-time use batteries for reentryHow spacecraft tech has evolved since the 1960’s
Style of rocket similar (dictated by physics)Systems inside spacecraft ALL differentEd’s work with the B612 Foundation
Protect Earth from asteroid impactsFind and track path with telescopesThe greatest advancement in asteroid tracking
LSST opening in 2023 at Rubin ObservatoryCollect more data than all telescopes combinedWhy it’s crucial to track asteroids
Identify 1 to 2 near-Earth asteroids per weekGives decades of notice to plan and deflectThe biggest change in space tech over the years
Reduction of cost in both launch and electronicsAllows for more small startups to innovateWhy Ed thinks we’ll colonize space in a few decades
Reduction in cost = cheap infrastructureRecent compound growth in space sectorHow Ed thinks about the likelihood that aliens exist
Hundreds of millions of planets in our galaxyShocked if there isn’t life somewhereConnect with Ed
B612 Foundation https://b612foundation.org/
B612 on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/b612foundation/
B612 on Twitter https://twitter.com/b612foundation
Ed on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/edward-lu-3a997833/
Resources
James Randi https://web.randi.org/about-james-randi.html
Tunguska Event https://earthsky.org/space/what-is-the-tunguska-explosion/
Vera C. Rubin Observatory https://www.lsst.org/
LeoLabs https://www.leolabs.space/
Chess.com https://www.chess.com/
Kepler Space Telescope https://www.space.com/24903-kepler-space-telescope.html
Connect with Boost VC
Boost VC Website https://www.boost.vc/
Boost VC on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/boostvc/
Boost VC on Twitter https://twitter.com/BoostVC
Boost VC on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/boost_vc/
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A total of $2T in apparel is sold online each year. But 30% to 40% of that apparel is returned. So, what if consumers could snap a couple of photos with their smartphone camera and get clothes that are the right fit for their body?
Vadim Rogovskiy is the Cofounder and CEO of 3DLOOK, a deep tech startup solving the problem of apparel returns for retail. Vadim is an experienced entrepreneur, building and selling two companies in the adtech space before creating 3DLOOK. He also serves as an angel investor and mentor for the VC firm 500 Startups.
On this episode of Boost VC, Vadim joins us to explain how 3DLOOK helps consumers choose the right size for apparel and share the process he used to find the right market for his team’s software. He discusses his mission to build a startup hub in the Ukraine, describing the developer ecosystem that exists there and the challenge of getting talented entrepreneurs to stay. Listen in for Vadim’s insight on deciding when to shift markets and learn about the fundraising process for a retail application like 3DLOOK.
Topics Covered
What problem Vadim is solving with 3DLOOK
Limit number of eCommerce apparel returnsConsumer snaps 2 photos to get right sizeWhat inspired Vadim to become an entrepreneur
Work in variety of companies (business management)Always thinking about how to make things betterVadim’s shift from adtech to deep tech
Fascinated by apps powered by smartphone cameraMore challenging to raise money with slides aloneThe market for the service provided by 3DLOOK
30% to 40% of apparel sold online is returned$2T apparel sold online/yearHow Vadim’s digital body passport evolved into 3DLOOK
Start with avatar to dress up but no way to monetizeShift to health and fitness, track body changesVadim’s process for deciding when to shift strategy
Interviews with 20 companies from each segment Apparel needs tech to survive vs. nice-to-haveWhy Vadim had to look for investors beyond Silicon Valley
3DLOOK tech too specific for Silicon Valley VCsBoston, New York invest in retail and eCommerceVadim’s mission to build a startup hub in the Ukraine
Entrepreneurship not popular and few success storiesCreate accelerator, leverage developer ecosystemVadim’s experience with fundraising for 3DLOOK
$6.5M raise with 3 VCs, including Almaz CapitalScramble to get paperwork to all 24 SAFE holdersConnect with Vadim
3DLOOK https://3dlook.me/
3DLOOK on Twitter https://twitter.com/3dlook_me
3DLOOK on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/3DLOOK.me/
3DLOOK on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/3dlook_me/
3DLOOK on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPQIzvlU_Ht0b1g1oV7s3gQ
3DLOOK on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/3dlook/
Vadim on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/vadim-rogovskiy/
Resources
Dixit https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/39856/dixit
Imaginarium https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/218804/imaginarium
L’Oreal Virtual Makeup https://www.lorealparisusa.com/virtual-try-on/makeup.aspx
Almaz Capital https://almazcapital.com/
Marc Benioff at Salesforce https://www.salesforce.com/company/leadership/bios/bio-benioff/
Life and Learning After One Hundred Years: Trust is the Coin of the Realm by George P. Shultz https://www.hoover.org/sites/default/files/research/docs/shultz_finalfile_web-ready.pdf
Connect with Boost VC
Boost VC Website https://www.boost.vc/
Boost VC on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/boostvc/
Boost VC on Twitter https://twitter.com/BoostVC
Boost VC on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/boost_vc/
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Design is about much more than just making things look good. Design is valuable because it translates the complexities of technology to us mere mortals. It serves as a way to educate the market and make tech easy for everyday people to use. But what is the design process that gets us to that end?
Daniel Scrivner is the CEO & Chief Design Officer at Flow, the project management software used by teams at Apple, Shopify and TED. A leader in the fields of design and investing, he has been invited to speak at some of the world’s most innovative organizations, including Andreesen Horowitz and Designer Fund. Daniel has 15 years of design experience, serving as Head of Design at both Digit and Square and working on teams at Apple, Nike and Disney.
On this episode of Boost VC, Daniel joins us to share his take on what makes design valuable, explaining how the design process gets you to an end product the average person can use. He offers insight on what makes most crypto design hostile to everyday people, discussing what we can do to improve the user experience and give crypto mass appeal. Listen in to understand Daniel’s agnostic approach to investing and find out how he applies concepts learned in one discipline to other areas in his skill stack.
Topics Covered
What Daniel has built that he’s most proud of
Redesign of Flow over last two yearsGrowing investment portfolioDaniel’s agnostic approach to investing
Qualitative vs. quantitative (early-stage companies)Broad interest in investing in entrepreneurs at all stagesWhat inspired Daniel to start his own podcast
Conversations with people in top 1% across industriesDecode what they’ve mastered, what propelled to topHow Daniel thinks about optimizing his learning
Learn things and apply in other areasLean into growth curve in all areasDaniel’s take on what makes design valuable
Interface between complexity of tech and humansFastest way to educate given marketDaniel’s insight around the design of crypto
Hostile to average peopleIncompatible with being ‘future of money’How to improve the crypto user experience
Simple explanation of termsGet input from everyday peopleWhat inspired Daniel to invest in Bitcoin
Bet on things probable to play outInvest in multiple ways to winWhat’s behind the rise of the operator-investor
Herding creaturesLowering barriers to entry in all areasDaniel’s definition of success
Work in service of othersGrow into best version of selfConnect with Daniel
Flow https://www.getflow.com/
Flow on Twitter https://twitter.com/flowapp
Flow on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/c/FlowApp
Daniel on Twitter https://twitter.com/danielscrivner
Outliers with Daniel Scrivner https://link.chtbl.com/_Ygn_FIY
Resources
Good Egg https://www.goodegg.io/
Stripe https://stripe.com/
Gusto https://gusto.com/
Superhuman https://superhuman.com/
Notion https://www.notion.so/
Bison Trails https://bisontrails.co/
Filecoin https://filecoin.io/
Verlyn Klinkenborg on Outliers https://www.danielscrivner.com/notes/verlyn-klinkenborg-outliers-show-notes
Several Short Sentences About Writing by Verlyn Klinkenborg
Scott Adams https://twitter.com/ScottAdamsSays
Scott Adams on Talent Stacking https://www.scottadamssays.com/2016/12/27/the-kristina-talent-stack/
Listen Notes https://www.listennotes.com/
Kevin Kelly https://kk.org/
Kevin Kelly on Outliers https://www.danielscrivner.com/notes/kevin-kelly-outliers-transcript
Casa https://keys.casa/
Coinbase https://www.coinbase.com/
CoinList https://coinlist.co/
TrustToken https://www.trusttoken.com/
TruFi https://truefi.io/
Robinhood https://robinhood.com/us/en/
Oculus https://www.oculus.com/
AngelList https://angellist.com/
EquityZen https://equityzen.com/
Fortnite https://www.epicgames.com/fortnite/en-US/home
Roblox https://www.roblox.com/
Unreal Tournament https://www.epicgames.com/unrealtournament/en-US/
Endel https://endel.io/
Tony Anderson https://www.tonyandersonmusic.com/
Focus on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/genre/focus-page
Richard Feynman http://www.feynman.com/
Surely You’re Joking, Mr. Feynman! (Adventures of a Curious Character) by Richard P. Feynman https://www.amazon.com/Surely-Feynman-Adventures-Curious-Character/dp/0393316041
Six Easy Pieces: Essentials of Physics Explained by It’s Most Brilliant Teacher by Richard P. Feynman https://www.amazon.com/Six-Easy-Pieces-Essentials-Explained/dp/0465025277
Henry Ford’s Rouge https://www.thehenryford.org/visit/ford-rouge-factory-tour/history-and-timeline/fords-rouge/
Titan: The Life of John D. Rockefeller, Sr. by Ron Chernow https://www.amazon.com/Titan-Life-John-Rockefeller-Sr-ebook/dp/B000XUDGHG
Connect with Boost VC
Boost VC Website https://www.boost.vc/
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Orla Harris is the Cofounder and COO of SideQuest VR, an early-access testing platform for virtual reality with headquarters in Northern Ireland. Orla and her team provide tools that enable developers to grow a community around their app and solicit feedback from users in the early stages of development. Prior to SideQuest, Orla spent eight years working as a project manager in the construction industry and dabbling in virtual reality as a hobby.
On this episode of Boost VC, Orla joins us to share the origin story of SideQuest VR, explaining how it evolved from side project to startup and when she finally realized it was a business. She describes what it’s like to found a tech company in Ireland, discussing how SideQuest built a network of VCs beyond the borders of her home country and why she’s optimistic about the startup’s continued growth. Listen in for insight on the openness unique to the virtual reality developer community and get Orla’s perspective on what is special about the industry at this particular moment in time!
Topics Covered
The idea behind SideQuest VR
Enables developers to test product with consumersThird-party app store for Quest, other VR devicesThe origin story of SideQuest VR
Developed app, declined by Oculus (no reason given)Create place for users to sideload and give feedbackOrla’s take on the VR developer community
Unique in willingness to help each other outOpenness feels different from other experiencesWhat’s driving the success of SideQuest VR
Still in honeymoon phase (growing every day)Positive results, can’t help but be optimisticHow Orla thinks about where VR is as an industry
2020 = transformative yearInformed by release of Quest 2 and pandemicWhat it’s like to build a tech startup in Ireland
Daunting to look for investors beyond home countryPart of accelerator in Ireland that propelled to BoostOrla’s advice for founders on networking with VCs
Find person with connections, ask for introductionsOne connection can change everythingWhen Orla realized SideQuest was an actual business
Cofounder proposed quitting jobsDecision based on site analytics, talking to VCsWhat is special about VR right now
Small developer pool but large user poolUsers starved for contentOrla’s insight on the growth of SideQuest VR
Apps submitted to platform every dayAndroid mobile developers pivoting to VROrla’s definition of success
Wake up every morning feeling contentClarity of mind, no stress or worryConnect with Orla
SideQuest VR https://sidequestvr.com/
SideQuest on Twitter https://twitter.com/SideQuestVR
SideQuest on Discord https://discord.com/invite/r38T5rR
SideQuest on Reddit https://www.reddit.com/r/sidequest
SideQuest on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/SideQuestVR
SideQuest on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/sidequestvr/
Orla on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/orlaharris/
Resources
Oculus Quest https://www.oculus.com/quest/
Oculus Quest 2 https://www.oculus.com/quest-2/
Facebook’s Developer Revenue Update https://uploadvr.com/oculus-quest-revenue-update/
Steam https://store.steampowered.com/vr/
Doodle Jump https://doodlejumpgame.com/
Connect with Boost VC
Boost VC Website https://www.boost.vc/
Boost VC on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/boostvc/
Boost VC on Twitter https://twitter.com/BoostVC
Boost VC on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/boost_vc/
Topics Covered
The idea behind SideQuest VR
Enables developers to test product with consumersThird-party app store for Quest, other VR devicesThe origin story of SideQuest VR
Developed app, declined by Oculus (no reason given)Create place for users to sideload and give feedbackOrla’s take on the VR developer community
Unique in willingness to help each other outOpenness feels different from other experiencesWhat’s driving the success of SideQuest VR
Still in honeymoon phase (growing every day)Positive results, can’t help but be optimisticHow Orla thinks about where VR is as an industry
2020 = transformative yearInformed by release of Quest 2 and pandemicWhat it’s like to build a tech startup in Ireland
Daunting to look for investors beyond home countryPart of accelerator in Ireland that propelled to BoostOrla’s advice for founders on networking with VCs
Find person with connections, ask for introductionsOne connection can change everythingWhen Orla realized SideQuest was an actual business
Cofounder proposed quitting jobsDecision based on site analytics, talking to VCsWhat is special about VR right now
Small developer pool but large user poolUsers starved for contentOrla’s insight on the growth of SideQuest VR
Apps submitted to platform every dayAndroid mobile developers pivoting to VROrla’s definition of success
Wake up every morning feeling contentClarity of mind, no stress or worry -
When serial entrepreneurs Thibauld Favre and Joris Delanoue joined forces to build the future of fundraising, the Frenchmen chose San Francisco as their home base in large part because of its investor mindset. So, how do Silicon Valley VCs think differently from other investors around the globe?
Thibauld and Joris are the Cofounders of Fairmint, a continuous financing instrument that allows startups to raise money WHILE they build—rather than taking time away from business to pitch investors. The Fairmint model is built around community alignment, putting equity in the hands of a company’s employees, customers, partners and fans. Both Thibauld and Joris have ten-plus years of experience building successful tech companies, and they are on a mission to transition the world to stakeholder capitalism.
On this episode of Boost VC, Thibauld and Joris join us to explain what differentiates the Fairmint system from traditional fundraising and how the platform makes everyone their own exchange. They introduce us to the idea of a CrypTech company, describing the role the blockchain plays in Fairmint’s infrastructure and sharing their own personal evolution as Bitcoin enthusiasts. Listen in for insight around the Silicon Valley investor mindset and find out why Thibauld and Joris moved to California, where VCs will take a risk on ‘rational people doing irrational things.’
Topics Covered
What Joris & Thibauld do at Fairmint
Get equity into hands of stakeholdersProvide continuous financing instrumentHow Fairmint differs from traditional fundraising
Raise money WHILE you buildContinuous Agreement of Future Equity (CAFE)Joris & Thibauld’s shared vision for Fairmint
Democratize access to wealth‘Everyone is their own exchange’What makes Fairmint a CrypTech company
New financial instrument = FinTechBenefit to using blockchain in stackWhy Joris & Thibauld ended up in Silicon Valley
Provides worldwide marketAffords company credibilityThe potential digitization of Silicon Valley
Important for founders to spend time thereTeam doesn’t have to be there (distributed execution)The Silicon Valley investor mindset
Willing to take risks to find deal firstAccept rational people doing irrational thingsJoris & Thibauld’s definition of success
Impact society by changing economyDo work kids can be proud ofConnect with Joris & Thibauld
Fairmint https://fairmint.co/
Fairmint on Twitter https://twitter.com/fairmintCO
Fairmint on GitHub https://github.com/fairmint/
Fairmint on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/fairmint/
Thibauld on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/thibauld/
Joris on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/delanoue/
Resources
Singularity University https://su.org/
Allmyapps https://www.linkedin.com/company/allmyapps/
Bitcoin Whitepaper https://bitcoin.org/bitcoin.pdf
Nexteem https://www.linkedin.com/company/nexteem/
IDEO https://www.ideo.com/
Adam’s Post on Delaware C-Corps https://twitter.com/AdamDraper/status/1334702452684156934
Connect with Boost VC
Boost VC Website https://www.boost.vc/
Boost VC on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/boostvc/
Boost VC on Twitter https://twitter.com/BoostVC
Boost VC on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/boost_vc/
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More and more people understand that crypto is going to be big. But they don’t really know why. And they don’t want to be forced to turn all of their money into cryptocurrency right off the bat. So, what if there was a way to demonstrate the benefits of the technology with US dollars and then migrate users to digital currency over time?
Andy Bromberg is the new CEO of Eco, a wallet designed to simplify everyday finances and maximize earning power. Andy began his career in startups as the CEO of political media platform Sidewire before cofounding CoinList in 2017, where he served as CEO for the last three years. Andy was also a member of the legendary Stanford Bitcoin Group from 2012 to 2014.
On this episode of Boost VC, Andy joins us to discuss his introduction to crypto at Stanford and explain his decision to transition from CoinList to Eco. He weighs in the challenges of onboarding remotely and describes the skill set he brings to the Eco team. Listen in for Andy’s insight around the benefits of the Eco app and learn how his team provides users with a migration path from USD to crypto.
Topics Covered
What got Andy into the crypto ecosystem
Part of Stanford Bitcoin GroupCofounded CoinList in 2017The challenges of onboarding remotely
Connect with team in Zoom settingEncourage natural interactionHow Eco makes your money work for you
Put money in, earn up to 5% APY5% cashback on purchasesEco’s approach to broad crypto adoption
App based around US dollarsEducate on tech over timeWhat inspired Andy’s transition to Eco
Token design makes senseMigration path (USD to crypto)The skill set Andy brings to the Eco team
Build community/attentionLaunch project successfullyAbility to scale organizationAndy’s definition of success
Things feel natural, peacefulIn flow state most of timeConnect with Andy
Eco https://eco.com/
Eco on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/eco-pay/
Eco on Twitter https://twitter.com/eco
Andy on Twitter https://twitter.com/andy_bromberg
Resources
CoinList https://coinlist.co/
Coinbase https://www.coinbase.com/
Earn https://www.coinbase.com/earn
Andreessen Horowitz https://a16z.com/
Balaji Srinivasan https://balajis.com/
Bolt https://www.bolt.com/
Cognito https://cognitohq.com/
AngelList https://angel.co/
Protocol Labs https://protocol.ai/
MyCrypto https://mycrypto.com/account
Fidelity Digital Assets https://www.fidelitydigitalassets.com/overview
BlackRock https://www.blackrock.com/us/individual
The Power Broker: Robert Moses and the Fall of New York by Robert A. Caro https://www.amazon.com/Power-Broker-Robert-Moses-Fall/dp/0394720245
Barbarian Days: A Surfing Life by William Finnegan https://www.amazon.com/Barbarian-Days-Surfing-William-Finnegan/dp/0143109391
Connect with Boost VC
Boost VC Website https://www.boost.vc/
Boost VC on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/boostvc/
Boost VC on Twitter https://twitter.com/BoostVC
Boost VC on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/boost_vc/
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