Venture Winter Dynamics

The period of reduced venture capital activity where 75% of capital concentrates in top-tier firms while 40% of smaller seed funds close, creating survivor dynamics and zombie funds that manage existing portfolios without new investments.

4 episodes

Tariffs and Economic Uncertainty: How We Got Here and What's Next | Michael Weinstein, Ep 28

Tariffs and Economic Uncertainty: How We Got Here and What's Next | Michael Weinstein, Ep 28

Michael Weinstein, a fractional CFO with decades of Wall Street and corporate finance experience, analyzes the current economic uncertainty driven by tariff policy, Federal Reserve decisions, and structural market challenges. He explains how tariffs function as a massive tax increase, why venture capital liquidity has frozen, and how uncertainty prevents corporate investment—while arguing that entrepreneurship and new business formation will ultimately lead the economy out of stagnation.

Earning Every Win: Grit, Innovation, and Knowing When to Venture | Lisa Calhoun, Ep 25

Earning Every Win: Grit, Innovation, and Knowing When to Venture | Lisa Calhoun, Ep 25

Lisa Calhoun, managing partner of Valor Ventures, discusses her fourth-generation entrepreneurial background and leading seed-stage B2B AI and SaaS investments across the South. She explains venture capital's relational nature, the 2024 venture winter that shuttered 40% of smaller funds, and how AI is eliminating coding as a constrained resource while transforming software development economics.

2025 Trends: AI, Venture Capital, and the Future of Work | Bryan Dennstedt, Ep 22

2025 Trends: AI, Venture Capital, and the Future of Work | Bryan Dennstedt, Ep 22

Bryan Dennstedt, fractional CTO at Tech CXO and sustainable investing advocate, discusses 2025 trends with host Todd. They cover venture capital's conservative shift post-SVB, AI's permeation across business (from agents to trust frameworks), the rise of niche podcasts and influencer marketing, and crypto's regulatory thaw under new US leadership. Core insight: AI and blockchain will become as fundamental as electricity, but organizations must navigate trust, compliance, and the trough of disillusionment before realizing transformative value.

From Rowing to Venture Capital: Lessons in Teamwork and Growth | Mark Flickinger, Ep 04

From Rowing to Venture Capital: Lessons in Teamwork and Growth | Mark Flickinger, Ep 04

Mark Flickinger, partner at BIP Ventures, discusses his journey from mechanical engineering and competitive rowing to venture capital. He explains BIP's platform-heavy approach to supporting portfolio companies, the firm's focus on high-net-worth investors, and strategies for navigating the current venture market. Flickinger emphasizes the importance of board governance, team-based competitive experience, and building sustainable businesses during economic downturns.

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