Curious about the future of venture capital and how individual investors can break into private markets? On this episode of Female VC Lab, co-founder and president of XA Investments, Kimberly Flynn, reveals the game-changing innovations allowing retail investors to participate in private equity and venture capital. From the evolution of private funds to emerging opportunities and risk-mitigating strategies, this episode is packed with actionable insights for anyone interested in advancing their investment portfolio. Don’t miss Kimberly’s guidance on market trends, fund structures, and how the landscape is opening up for broader access—you’ll come away with a fresh perspective and practical tips for navigating the new world of investing.

Guest Information

Guest Name: Kimberly Flynn
Bio: Kimberly Flynn is co-founder and president at XA Investments, an asset manager and consultant based in Chicago. With over 25 years of industry experience, she specializes in building high-performing products for individual investors and helping firms enter the private wealth space.

Links:

• XA Investments: xainvestments.com
• Kimberly Flynn on LinkedIn

Episode Outline

1. Mission & Inspiration
Discover Kim’s journey from investment banking to founding XA Investments, and how the mission to open up access to private market strategies for individual investors drives her work.
More about XA Investments

2. Demystifying Private Markets & Fund Structures
Learn how the private equity, real estate, and infrastructure markets operate for endowments and pension funds, and how new products—including evergreen funds—are making these opportunities accessible to retail investors. [05:26]

3. The Future of Venture Capital & Accessible Portfolio Allocations
Get Kimberly’s predictions for the next two years: how risk-mitigated and diversified fund structures are transforming access to venture capital, and ways investors can participate in emerging themes like AI. [12:13]

Related Episodes & Additional Resources

• Books & articles:
  • The Tattooist of Auschwitz (personal recommendation)
  • Financial Times, The Economist, Barron’s, CityWire, Wealth Management
• Industry tools:
  • FundFire, Ignites

Host & Show Info

Podcast Website: femalevclab.com

Community & Calls to Action

 Rate & Review on Apple Podcasts – Support Female VC Lab and help others discover these empowering conversations!

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Transcript

For a full transcript of this episode, visit: 

Why listen? You’ll learn what makes a VC distinctive, how Play Ventures disrupts itself, and why consumer apps are the new frontier for gaming’s best practices. Phylicia Koh also offers a candid look at founder hustle, the realities of raising VC money, and bold predictions about the future of venture capital—including the rise of new investment vehicles and retail investor participation.

Guest Information Guest Name: Phylicia Koh

Bio: Phylicia Koh is a General Partner at Play Ventures, an early-stage global venture fund focused on gaming, consumer apps, and infrastructure. Drawing upon nearly a decade in startup growth and product leadership, she brings a unique founder’s eye to investing, prioritizing curiosity, adaptability, and operational experience.

Links:

• X: @pphyl
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/phyliciakoh/
• Play Ventures: https://www.playventures.vc/

Host & Show Info Host Name: Barbara Bickham

About the Host: Barbara Bickham is the Host of the Female VC Lab and an experienced technologist, investor, and advocate for diversity in early-stage startups.

Podcast Website: https://femalevclab.com

Community & Calls to Action

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Sign up for our newsletter: https://femalevclab.com/subscribe

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Kristina dives into why a founder’s personal health, relationships, and identity are crucial for long-term business success, and how 11 Tribes underwrites for sustainable, middle-market exits rather than chasing billion-dollar unicorns. The conversation touches on industry shifts, with founders raising less and pursuing earlier, impactful exits. Kristina also shares her current reading—Katherine Graham’s autobiography—and reflects on identity and confidence themes that resonate both with her work and personal growth.

Tune in for an insightful look at how venture capital can evolve to truly put founders first, and why “founder outcome” might just be the next big metric in investment success.

Guest Information
Guest Name: Eva Yazhari
Bio: Eva Yazhari is the Managing Partner of Beyond Capital Ventures, a purpose-driven venture capital firm investing in seed to Series A rounds across Africa and India. With roots in institutional finance, Eva brings a wealth of experience in fund management, deep due diligence, and impact investing, focusing on technologies and services that uplift the “need to haves” through conscious leadership and stakeholder alignment.

Links:

• Beyond Capital Ventures
• LinkedIn – Eva Yazhari
• Instagram – @consciousinvestor
• The Good Your Money Can Do (Book)
  
  

Episode Outline
How Eva Yazhari Entered VC & Built Beyond Capital Ventures
Hear Eva’s unconventional journey from math major to fund-of-funds to founding her own emerging markets VC, and the unique skill set she carried into her new role. Resource: Beyond Capital Ventures Team

Formalizing Informal Markets in Emerging Economies
Explore “formalizing the informal,” and learn how Beyond Capital Ventures invests in businesses that empower smallholder farmers and aggregate resources for scalable, sustainable impact, featuring a spotlight on agritech company Cinch.
Resource: Portfolio Companies

Conscious Leadership & Redefining VC Alignment
Gain insight into Eva’s approach to authentic, stakeholder-centered leadership, including her innovative decision to share GP carry with both her team and portfolio founders—creating alignment and community while driving results.
Resource: The Good Your Money Can Do

Related Episodes & Additional Resources

• Book Recommendation: The Culture Code by Daniel Coyle – Eva’s pick for building strong, collaborative cultures

Host & Show Info
Host Name: Barbara Bickham
About the Host: Barbara Bickham is the founder and Managing Partner of Trailyn Ventures, technology executive, and passionate advocate for diversity and innovation in venture capital.
Podcast Website: femalevclab.com

Community & Calls to Action
Primary CTA: Rate & Review on Apple Podcasts – This is the most impactful way to support the show. https://taplink.cc/femalevclab

Follow us on social media:

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Comment on LinkedIn, send us a message at femalevclab@trailyn.com, or share your key takeaways using #FemaleVCLab.
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Guest Information
Guest Name: Najada Kumbuli
Bio: Najada Kumbuli is the Vice President and Head of Investments at the Visa Foundation, where she champions impact investing and ecosystem growth for small businesses and entrepreneurs worldwide. Leveraging her unique upbringing in Albania and global expertise, Najada leads a holistic investment strategy with a focus on inclusion, sustainable growth, and measurable social impact.

Links:

• Visa Foundation Website: https://usa.visa.com/about-visa/visa-foundation.html
• LinkedIn: Najada Kumbuli LinkedIn
  
  

Episode Outline
Origins & Inspiration for Impact Investing
Najada shares her powerful personal journey from communist Albania to global investing, revealing what motivated her to pursue impact investing and advocate for “conscious capitalism.”

• Learn more about impact investing from the Visa Foundation
  
  

Visa Foundation’s Investment Thesis & Global Strategy
A deep dive into how the Visa Foundation’s thesis centers on championing small businesses with access to capital, digital tools, and financial skills—spanning micro-entrepreneurs in Nigeria to high-growth startups in India.

• Visa Foundation Annual Report: See their latest impact and portfolio highlights
  
  

Trends Shaping the Future of Venture Capital
Najada gives her perspective on what’s ahead for VC: the expanding role of AI and deep tech, greater discipline in investing, increased attention to emerging markets like Africa and Latin America, and the rise of responsible, impact-driven investments.

• Acquired Podcast – a favorite resource mentioned by Najada
  
  

Resources for Founders & Fund Managers
Discover how to get connected with the Visa Foundation, access reports, and tap into support and tools for scaling your impact-driven business.

• Contact Visa Foundation or access their resources
  
  

Further Reading & Resources:

• Visa Foundation Impact Report: Read here
• Book: “Conscious Capitalism” by John Mackey & Raj Sisodia
• Acquired Podcast
  
  

Host & Show Info
Host Name: Barbara Bickham
About the Host: Barbara Bickham is a veteran technologist, investor, and founder committed to amplifying women’s voices in venture capital. She brings her expertise in innovation, investing, and entrepreneurship to every episode of Female VC Lab.
Podcast Website: https://femalevclab.com

Community & Calls to Action
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Contact the show: femalevclab@trailyn.com

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X (formerly Twitter): @femalevclab
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Join the conversation: Comment on LinkedIn, X, or share your key takeaways using #FemaleVCLab.

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Erika dives into her investment thesis, which centers on supporting women and minority-owned startups in sustainability, wellness, the future of work, and education—plus adjacent sectors like biotech and agriculture. She discusses her passion for early-stage investments and highlights the critical role that founder EQ (emotional intelligence) plays in her decision-making process.

The conversation also explores how AI is transforming research, due diligence, and even founder discovery, while acknowledging the ongoing need for human connection in investment decisions. Erika also touches on her interest in food sovereignty, driven by her experiences in the disaster-prone Philippines, and how that shapes her perspective on the global supply chain.

Tune in to hear Erika’s insights on the future of angel investing, the evolving impact of technology, and the importance of community-driven investments. Don’t miss her tips for founders, her recommended reads, and her candid reflections on the challenges and opportunities in today’s rapidly changing investment landscape.

To connect with Erika, visit erika-aquino.com or find her on LinkedIn and Instagram.

Mary pulls back the curtain on Aligned Climate Fund’s investment thesis: investing in companies taking real action to decarbonize our infrastructure—including clean energy, resilient infrastructure, electric transport, and sustainable land use. You’ll hear insider stories about backing geothermal breakthroughs, innovative microgrid solutions, and the growing impact of point source carbon capture. Mary and Barbara also dive deep on challenges in climate tech VC, how AI could transform investment diligence, and why distributed energy and resilience are game changers for communities around the world.

Whether you’re in the climate space, an entrepreneur, or just passionate about shaping a sustainable future, you’ll walk away with fresh insights and inspiration for what’s next in climate innovation and venture capital.

Guest Information Guest Name: Mary King Bio: Mary King is vice president at Aligned Climate Fund, the venture strategy for Aligned Climate Capital. She invests in early-stage companies driving decarbonization across clean energy, resilient infrastructure, electric transport, and sustainable land use. Links:

• Mary King’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maryeking/
• Aligned Climate Capital: https://alignedclimatecapital.com/

Episode Outline

Aligned Climate Fund’s Investment Thesis Mary explains how Aligned invests in seed to Series B companies with proven climate solutions, focusing on clean energy, resilient infrastructure, and decarbonization.
More about Aligned Climate Capital

The Role of Emerging Technologies: Geothermal, Microgrids & Carbon Capture A look at how Aligned approaches geothermal and microgrid investments, plus insights on distributed energy and point source carbon capture for scalable climate action.
Resource: What is Geothermal Energy?
Resource: Distributed Energy Resources

The Future of Climate Tech and VC: AI, Diligence, and Industry Shifts Mary predicts how AI will soon revolutionize VC deal flow and diligence, enabling faster, smarter investment decisions—and what this means specifically for the climate sector.
Resource: AI in Venture Capital

Transcript For a full transcript of this episode, visit: https://femalevclab.com

About the Host:
Barbara Bickham is a venture investor, technologist, and founder of Female VC Lab.
She champions women in venture and spotlights game-changing leaders investing for a better future.

Podcast Website: https://femalevclab.com

Rate & Review on Apple Podcasts – This is the most impactful way to support the show. Review us here!

Contact the show: femalevclab@trailyn.com

Follow us on social media:
Instagram: @femalevclab
X (formerly Twitter): @femalevclab
Youtube: @femalevclab

Join the conversation: Comment on X, send us a message, or share your favorite takeaway using #FemaleVCLab.

Share this episode with a friend! If you enjoyed it, tag us on social media and let us know your favorite takeaway.

The conversation also delves into Katelin's reading habits, which include the Artemis Accords related to space exploration, and her views on how the venture capital landscape is evolving. She emphasizes the need for VCs to provide more than just capital, advocating for expertise and operational support to the founders. Barbara and Katelin also explore the role of AI as a fundamental platform shift affecting all businesses, likening its impact to that of the Internet revolution.

Tune in to gain insights into investment philosophies, the changing world of venture capital, and the influential role of AI in the future of various industries.

Marcia discusses her fascination with people's mindsets and relationships with money, emphasizing the importance of democratizing investing. She highlights her initiatives to educate and invite more people, especially women, into the investing realm through her podcast "The Angel Next Door" and her book "Do Good While Doing". Reflecting on the future, Marcia envisions a more accessible private investing landscape, akin to the evolution seen in public markets, and advocates for expanding the definition of an accredited investor. Tune in to explore how these changes could foster greater inclusivity and innovation in the venture capital world.

Join us as we explore how AI can predict extreme weather events far beyond historical patterns, and how it can help cities prepare for unprecedented challenges. Learn about the revolutionary concept of probabilistic forecasting and its implications for emergency preparedness. We also discuss the idea of citizen-centric smart cities, where technology elevates the convenience and inclusivity of public services.

However, it's not all about shiny new tech. Daniel and Barbara also tackle the pressing issues of data management, standardization, and the ethical use of AI. They highlight the importance of public-private partnerships and the need for robust data systems to build truly smart cities.

From the Amazonification of government services to the ethical development and deployment of AI, this episode covers a spectrum of topics that are shaping the future of urban living. We wrap it up by discussing the broader implications of AI, including job displacement, privacy concerns, and the potential for misuse by authoritarian regimes.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the convergence of technology, urban planning, and ethical considerations in building the cities of tomorrow. Tune in and get inspired about the future of smart cities!

In this enlightening episode of the Female VC Lab podcast, host Barbara Bickham sits down with Liz Kukka, CEO of Purpose For Profit. Liz dives deep into her groundbreaking work with Purpose For Profit, a tokenized lending fund dedicated to building affordable, mixed-income housing. 

Discover how they are leveraging blockchain technology to provide below-market-rate loans, offering a transparent and revolutionary way to fund and manage real estate projects. Liz also discusses the motivation behind their innovative funding structure, the challenges nonprofits face in raising capital, and the potential of crypto assets to make a real-world impact.

Tune in to hear Liz share her insights on the future of venture capital and digital assets, the importance of affordable housing, and her personal journey towards creating a more equitable financial system. Whether you're an investor, a tech enthusiast, or someone interested in social impact, this episode offers valuable perspectives on how financial innovation can drive meaningful change.

Key Takeaways:
- Understanding Purpose For Profit's unique thesis and funding mechanism
- The role of blockchain in real estate and philanthropic initiatives
- The impact of affordable housing on education and health outcomes
- Future trends in venture capital and the rise of digital assets
- Liz's vision for a more transparent and equitable investment landscape

Don't miss this episode packed with innovative ideas and practical insights. Listen now to learn from one of the leading voices at the intersection of finance, technology, and social impact!

In this enlightening episode of the Female VC Lab Podcast, host Barbara Bickham sits down with Julia Krieger, the dynamic force behind Pari Passu Venture Partners. Julia shares her journey to becoming a venture capitalist, driven by her passion for building and creating. She reveals the innovative model of Pari Passu, which focuses on individual SPVs and robust support systems to ensure the success of their diverse portfolio.

Barbara and Julia delve into the meaning and inspiration behind the name "Pari Passu," emphasizing equal footing and deep founder support. Julia also discusses the importance of having operatives on the cap table who bring invaluable experience and insights to the businesses they invest in.

Listeners will gain insights into Julia’s current personal growth journey, highlighted by her reflections on The Surrender Experiment by Michael Singer. Julia shares her philosophy of "flow versus force," explaining how this mindset can influence leadership and operational success.

Looking forward, Julia and Barbara explore future trends in venture capital, such as the increasing emphasis on value-add investors and the thoughtful selection of cap table participants. They also touch on emerging industries that promise interesting opportunities for investors.

Don't miss this engaging conversation filled with practical wisdom, future forecasts, and the innovative approach of Pari Passu Venture Partners. Tune in to discover how this unique venture capital model fosters a supportive, dynamic community for founders and investors alike.

Key topics discussed:

• Julia Krieger's journey to venture capitalism

• Unique SPV-focused model of Pari Passu Venture Partners

• The significance of the name "Pari Passu"

• Concept of "flow versus force" in leadership

• Emerging trends and industries in venture capital

• Pari Passu’s commitment to creating a supportive investment community

Contact Information: Julia Krieger - julia@ppvp.com
Pari Passu Venture Partners App [Available on app stores]

Tune in and be inspired by Julia Krieger's innovative approach to venture capital!

Listen in as Keara delves into emerging sectors like longevity and distinguishes between health span and lifespan, emphasizing preventative biotech diagnostics. She also shares her current reading habits, blending a mix of professional venture documents with personal interests in longevity and biohacking.

Barbara and Keara explore the future landscape of venture capital, highlighting the need for more specialization and collaboration among venture funds, private equity, and investment bankers. They also discuss how venture capital needs to adapt by offering diverse financial instruments.

Looking ahead, both Barbara and Keara ponder how venture capital will evolve over the next two years, stressing the importance of inclusive thinking and collaborative efforts to bring in more female voices and varied funding strategies.

Tune in for invaluable insights and forward-thinking discussions that are reshaping the world of venture capital, one investment at a time.

Previously, Ms. Iskenderian worked at the International Finance Corporation, the private sector arm of the World Bank, and the investment bank Lehman Brothers. Ms. Iskenderian is a permanent member of the Council on Foreign Relations, as well as a member of the Women’s Forum of New York and the UN’s Business and Sustainable Development Commission. She
serves as a Director on the Board of the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation.

Ms. Iskenderian holds an MBA from the Yale School of Management and a Bachelor of Science in International Economics from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service. Recently, she was recognized in the Forbes 50 over 50: Investment list, which highlights female investors and financial leaders. Her first book, There’s Nothing Micro About a Billion Women: Making Finance Work for Women, was published by MIT Press in April 2022.

Claire Chang [00:00:13]:
Sure. Thanks for having me. My name is Claire Chang, founding partner at IgniteXL Ventures.

Barbara Bickham [00:00:19]:
Wonderful. Thank you, Claire. So what inspired you to become a venture capitalist or, an investor?

Claire Chang [00:00:29]:
I think there are 2 things that I can talk about. 1, is the fact that I am passionate in helping others. And I believe that comes from the fact that I myself have been a beneficiary of being helped by many others. I'm an immigrant, child. I came here with my family when I was 12 years old. None of my family members spoke a word of English. And so you can imagine from settling in to going to school, learning our ways through, we had to rely on helps from many, others. So that's one.

Claire Chang [00:01:05]:
Having been a single mom with 2 children working full time Oh. It all had That's another one. And I absolutely relying on family and friends to fill in, taking care of the kids, Right. Being filling in that father's role, and just being mentored. It takes a village to raise a child and might think working full time as a single mom, there's no way you could do this by yourself.

Barbara Bickham [00:01:28]:
Absolutely.

Claire Chang [00:01:30]:
Having experienced that, the beauty of getting help, has made me wanna help others just as in return. So that's one. And, of course, if you've and all of us have have experience helping others, and the feeling that you get, the rewarding feeling that you get when you know that you have made an impact or difference, in others, I think that is what keeps you wanting to, be that helping hand when there's a call for it. Second thing I would say is the fact that I love working with passionate startup founders. The energy and the passion that they exude is really contagious and addictive.

Barbara Bickham [00:02:16]:
You know what? I'm glad you said that because it is very addictive. It can be addictive. That's a good word for it.

Claire Chang [00:02:22]:
It is. Right? Many in the media, we see all these shining lights on these unicorn startup founders, but many of the founders, we struggle. The founders struggle. The the failure rate is very high, north of 95%. 90 90 some percent? 90. Right? It's not a it's a very tough and sometimes lonely journey. Yes. And I think I read most recently that start up founders are 2 times more likely to, suffer from depression.

Claire Chang [00:02:56]:
Wow. Twice more likely to suffer from suicidal thoughts. Three times more having substance abuse. And get this, 10 times more, likely to, be suffering from bipolar disorder. I was like, damn.

Barbara Bickham [00:03:14]:
Wow. That's so interesting.

Claire Chang [00:03:16]:
That's extreme. But at the same time, I think you can also see that because I when you're a founder, you have to constantly put on the space of being confident and and and at the same time, you're going through internal battle of self doubts and all these struggles that you're going through, but you can't show that upfront. I can see that, yeah, that bipolar

Barbara Bickham [00:03:38]:
The pressure. Now there's a constant pressure there as a founder, you know. Right. Right. There's a constant pressure and that can lead to many of those issues you discussed. So thank you for bringing that out, Claire.

Claire Chang [00:03:52]:
And and yet, you have these founders that are just, you know, absolutely passionate in working on the the solutions products because they believe that they're solving a problem And then we'll be better placed with this solution. I know myself having gone through a personal experience of being in a start up where I was one of the the 6 team members, 5 engineers, 1 female. We were literally sleeping, eating, working in, you know, one office. Really just excited at what we were working on. We we really truly believed that this was going to change the world. You know, that whole the HBO Silicon Valley. Right. It's very true.

Claire Chang [00:04:33]:
You you operate with this notion that you are doing something so important. You're so zeroed in what you're working on. It's that passion. And then, also, I think I started a global accelerator back in 2014. I was helping entrepreneurs in Korea to expand to the US markets. I worked with over 200 founders where I got to experience these amazing resilient founders. They had language barrier, cultural barrier. They weren't sleeping just because they needed to get ahead, to compete with the local founders here.

Claire Chang [00:05:06]:
And none of that none of those challenges stopped them from what they wanted to do. And having worked with them over and over again, understanding the the kind of challenges that they face, but they were relentless, in their pursuit of getting the products, and solutions to the market. And it was through that experience, the understanding the need for capital. As an accelerator, we were connecting them to their customers, partners, mentors, investors. But at the core, you needed the capital. The capital. Key resources that these founders needed. So, back in 2019, I decided, okay, I love working with founders, but I can't in order to be relevant, in order to be sustainable, I need to create a fund.

Claire Chang [00:05:52]:
I need to go raise money so that I can continue to do what I love, which is to support founders. And so rather than, oh, I wanna become a VC, it was more of I need to create a fund to be to infuse capital into

Barbara Bickham [00:06:05]:
these enterprises. To move those passions of those startups and those founders forward. That's great. That's great. Thanks so much for that, Claire. So tell me a little bit about your investment thesis and the motivation behind your investment thesis.

Claire Chang [00:06:19]:
Sure. So our investment, we're very excited about this future of beauty and wellness. Our investment business, we're a global seed fund investing in the, igniting the kick ass entrepreneurs. We we we say that unapologetically. Kick ass entrepreneurs at the intersection point of technology, beauty, and wellness. And we are targeting pre seed and seed seed companies. We are global. We are US we are we are based in the US, but our belief is that beauty and wellness is global.

Claire Chang [00:06:54]:
And that the innovation can come from really anywhere. And so we have made investments in Brazil, UK, of course, US, as well as Asia. And we also have strong ties, in Asia, especially Korea, Japan, China, where we have connections to manufacturers, to distribution partners, to customer insights where we add value to the founders that we back.

Barbara Bickham [00:07:21]:
That's great.

Claire Chang [00:07:21]:
That's our investment, thesis. Why are we so excited about this industry? Yeah. We really start with the premise that the beauty, is not just skin deep, but that it is it's much more holistic, that it's inside out, that it includes mind, body, soul. Mhmm. We're really looking at this through the lens of health and beauty. And when you look at and and when you look at these 3, things, 1, on the consumer base, we have Gen z's that are really redefining the definition of beauty. Again, it's it's not just, again, covering up, but it's really being authentic, self confident. And that's really inside out.

Claire Chang [00:08:11]:
Your health, well-being is really at the core. They're also beauty means conscious. Right? They demand the the the the clean ingredients, cruelty free. ...

Welcome to another insightful episode of the Female VC Lab podcast! In this session, we had the pleasure of speaking with Vera Schroeder, an associate at Safar Partners, who shared her unique journey from chemistry academia to venture capital and her role in bringing groundbreaking technologies to market.

Key Points Discussed:

• Vera’s Background: Discover how a Ph.D. in Chemistry led Vera to venture capitalism, driven by a desire to see academic projects come alive in the business world.
• Investment Thesis: Learn about Safar Partners' focus on investing in university spinouts from MIT, Harvard, and the University of Rochester across clean tech/advanced materials, life sciences/medical devices, and AI/IT robotics.
• Long-term Partnership Philosophy: Understand why building deep relationships is central to their strategy and how they support portfolio companies through all growth stages with investments up to $20 million.
• Innovation Beyond Technology: Hear Vera's insights on innovating business models and revenue strategies once technology breakthroughs are achieved.
• Case Study - Radical Plastics: A fascinating discussion on recent investment into bio-plastics highlighting innovation not just in product but also leveraging industry expertise for rapid scalability.

Bonus Question Insights:

• The Future of Venture Capital: Anticipate more small specialized funds emerging as fund managers navigate raising capital amidst cautious LP spending.

Connect with Vera: To reach out or follow her work within venture capital space:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vera-schroeder/

We thank Vera for sharing her time and thoughts on today's show. Don't forget to tune into future episodes for more behind-the-scenes perspectives from female VCs shaping tomorrow’s innovations!

Guest: Dr. Silvia Mah, Adastra Ventures

Host: Barbara Bickham

In this insightful episode of the Female VC Lab podcast, host Barbara Bickham welcomes Dr. Silvia Mah from Adastra Ventures to discuss her journey into venture capitalism and her passion for empowering female-led businesses and founders of color.

Key Points Discussed:

• Introduction to Guest: Dr. Silvia Mah shares her background as part of Adastra Ventures.
• Becoming a VC: The impetus behind becoming an investor was the desire to bring access to capital within the ecosystem; she describes herself as an "accidental investor."
• Professional Journey: With 15 years in startup fields commercializing University Technologies at UC San Diego, coupled with a Ph.D. in biochemistry/molecular biology and an MBA, she brings a unique understanding of both science and business.
• Addressing Access to Capital: Discusses challenges faced by entrepreneurs regarding access to early-stage capital, especially women founders and people of color.
• Personal Investment Philosophy: Inspired by an unexpected inheritance from her father, decided to invest in female-led businesses and those run by people of color; industry agnostic approach.
• Creating Ecosystems & Community Impact: Emphasizes building ecosystems around these investments that nurture communities - when you invest in women, you're investing in their entire community due to their efficiency with money management.
• Investment Thesis Motivation: Shares how personal experiences shaped her investment thesis focusing on impact-driven ventures led by underrepresented groups.
• Reading Habits & Resources: Enjoys reading books like 'Dare To Lead' alongside articles for current insights (mentions Medium) while staying connected with local news through publications like San Diego Business Journal; also listens to podcasts including servant leadership topics along with daily bible readings reflecting spiritual practices.

Evolution Of Venture Capital: Dr. Mah observes tactical shifts towards smaller check sizes due diligence risk mitigation strategies amidst economic changes while strategically noting collaboration trends among larger firms or introduction new general partners driving well-capitalized funds forward; anticipates continued evolution accommodating diverse investor profiles through different financial vehicles enabling sustained entrepreneurial impacts despite size limitations on individual investments.

Connectivity: Listeners can connect with Dr. Silvia Mah via LinkedIn (Sylvia M.), visit her website at sheinvests.com which hosts information about personal investment thesis/portfolio companies or explore collaborative opportunities at stellalabs.org particularly referencing upcoming Women's Venture Summit events designed advocate support network growth amongst female founders/investors alike fostering stronger collective advancement initiatives across sectoral boundaries.

Join us next time on Female VC Lab where we continue uncovering stories behind influential investors shaping future innovation landscapes one conversation at time!

Episode Title: The Journey of a Venture Capitalist: Insights from Barbara Bickham

Introduction:

• Host: Barbara Bickham, Managing Partner and Founder of the Women's Innovation Fund Accelerator.
• A unique episode where Barbara shares her personal journey into venture capitalism and the ethos behind her investment thesis.

Barbara’s Background & Inspiration to Become a VC:

• A blend of technical and business education including Computer Science from Berkeley, software engineering, and a mini MBA from the University of Chicago.
• Triggered by recognizing funding gaps for women and underserved communities while driving her car five years ago.
• Experience running an angel group called Fewer Angels in Los Angeles between 2007–2009 which grew to 450 angels under her leadership.
• Transitioned into private equity/merchant banking raising over $50 million across various companies including significant sums in film funds and blockchain/crypto ventures.

Investment Thesis Explained:

1. Gender-balanced C-level teams as part of promoting diversity within leadership roles.
2. Focus on all emerging tech excluding biotech/nanotech; areas include AI, AR/VR, IoT, blockchain, quantum computing, robotics etc., targeting advanced future technologies.
3. Providing acceleration services that include thorough due diligence processes along with creating sustainability plans for portfolio companies emphasizing ESG (Environmental Social Governance) importance.

Sustainability Importance Highlighted:

• Discusses how large corporations are shifting towards sustainable practices through examples like Apple's green bonds initiatives reflecting on why startups should follow suit to attract modern consumers who value sustainability.

Learning During Global Pandemic & Building Resilience in Ventures:

• Shares insights about repositioning Trail Ventures to focus on educating about emerging technology relevance for businesses and investors during challenging times.

Advice on Investment During Uncertain Times:

• Emphasizes staying active as VCs even during crises like COVID19 highlighting opportunities that arise when others may be hesitant or ‘frozen.’
• Contact Information & Community Engagement Request:
• Encourages listeners to connect via LinkedIn at BARBARABICKHAM
• Invites feedback for community building around the podcast series suggesting it is not just about one perspective but many shared journeys.
• Closing Remarks:
• Expresses hope that listeners enjoyed getting insight into her journey as a VC
• Anticipates sharing more stories through upcoming episodes
• Reiterates desire for listener engagement regarding content preferences

Thank you so much for tuning into this special installment where we got an insider look at what drives one woman’s mission in shaping the world of venture capital!