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Dec. 26, 2023

E19: Union Square Venture’s Rebecca Kaden on How the Firm Develops Their Theses

E19: Union Square Venture’s Rebecca Kaden on How the Firm Develops Their Theses

In this episode of Turpentine VC, Erik Torenberg sits with Rebecca Kaden, Managing Partner at Union Square Ventures. They discuss USV's partnership-driven model, different venture strategies, whether automation in venture is imminent, and what USV looks for in investors.

In this episode of Turpentine VC, Erik Torenberg sits with Rebecca Kaden, Managing Partner at Union Square Ventures. They discuss USV's partnership-driven model, different venture strategies, whether automation in venture is imminent, and what USV looks for in investors. If you need an ecommerce platform, check out our sponsor Shopify: https://shopify.com/momentofzen for a $1/month trial period.


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RELATED SHOWS: https://link.chtbl.com/thelimitedpartner

If you like Turpentine VC, check out our show The Limited Partner with David Weisburd, where David talks to the investors behind the investors: https://link.chtbl.com/thelimitedpartner


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X / TWITTER:

@rebeccakaden (Rebecca)

@eriktorenberg (Erik)

@Turpentinemedia

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TIMESTAMPS:

(00:00) Intro

(00:51) Understanding Union Square Ventures' Approach

(03:03) Venture Strategies and Future Trends

(05:58) The Role of Technology and Data in VC

(10:32) The Importance of Partnership Models in VC

(18:07) Sponsors: NetSuite | Shopify

(20:43) Generational Transition in Venture Capital Firms

(23:27) Criteria for Hiring Investors at Union Square Ventures

(25:16) Anatomy of a Partner Meeting

(26:26) Managing Cash and Discussing Opportunities

(27:00) Sharing Knowledge and Encouraging Participation

(27:11) Reviewing the Entire Portfolio Weekly

(27:42) Maintaining Fluency in Business Conversations

(28:08) Exploring Opportunities in Unconventional Spaces

(29:20) The Power of Ideas and Thesis Development

(29:46) Pushing Boundaries in Mental Health and Education

(31:52) Exploring the Potential of Personalized Education

(36:38) The Future of Virtual Learning

(38:17) Exploring Opportunities in Mental Health

(43:37) Investing in the Trucking Industry

(45:48) Exploring Opportunities in the Fertility Space

(50:16) The Role of Networks in Investment

(51:01) Advice for Emerging Managers