Upfront Summit 2020

Jeffrey Katzenberg and Sujay Jaswa of WndrCo sit down with CNBC's Julia Boorstin to discuss WndrCo's investment thesis, the opportunities they see in NFTs, lessons from Quibi, and the latest on the cybersecurity landscape. 

Recorded March 2, 2022 at the Upfront Summit.

Why Jeffrey Katzenberg and Sujay Jaswa Believe in the Future of Digital Tech | Upfront Summit 2022

Ron Conway and Topher Conway of SV Angel speak with Upfront managing partner Mark Suster about the firm's investing strategy, learnings from being one of the OG angel investors, as well as the announcement of their first-ever growth fund, SV Angel Growth.

Learnings of Being an OG Angel Investor: Ron Conway and Topher Conway | Upfront Summit 2022

Dannie Herzberg and Jess Lee of Sequoia Capital sit down with Alex Konrad of Forbes to discuss how the two partners became involved with Sequoia, what makes the firm stand out, and recent industry trends they lean into as they look ahead. 

Recorded at the Upfront Summit on March 1, 2022.

Sequoia's Dannie Herzberg and Jess Lee on Building an Enduring Firm | Upfront Summit 2022

Bessemer partner Elliott Robinson sits down with Upfront managing partner Kara Nortman to discuss his strategy in leading Bessemer's growth investment practice, the firm's value props, what success means for him and the importance of supporting the Black venture community.

Recorded March 1, 2022 at the Upfront Summit.

Elliott Robinson on Bessemer's Growth Investment Strategy  | Upfront Summit 2022

Airtable CEO Howie Liu sits down with Axios reporter Kia Kokalitcheva to discuss the makings of Airtable, the company’s long-term vision, thoughts on the competitive landscape, and pandemic learnings from working remotely. 

Recorded at the Upfront Summit on March 2, 2022.

Airtable CEO Howie Liu On Democratizing Software Creation | Upfront Summit 2022

Tom Colicchio of Crafted Hospitality and Founder and CEO of Bowery Farming Irving Fain sit down with Los Angeles Times Columnist Jenn Harris to discuss vertical farming - the technology behind the process and how it's reimagining farming in today's world. 

Recorded at the Upfront Summit on March 2, 2022.

Providing an Alternative to Growing Food: Tom Colicchio and Irving Fain | Upfront Summit 2022

Erik Sebusch of Mercer Alternatives Group sits down with Kevin Moore of Spur Capital Partners, Nancy Donohue of Summit Rock Advisors, and Nat Fraser of Agility, to discuss how LPs make investment decisions, what they look for in GPs, and what emerging managers can do to successfully raise funds. 

Recorded at the Upfront Summit on Tuesday, March 1, 2022.

What Can Emerging Managers Do to Get Interest From LPs? | Upfront Summit 2022

Michael Johnson interviews Olympian and entrepreneur Allyson Felix on having a mindset of a competitor, her transition from being a full-time athlete to where she is today, and using her platform to fight for the causes she believes in.

Recorded March 2, 2023 at the Upfront Summit.

Allyson Felix & Michael Johnson: The Mind of a Competitor | 2023 Upfront Summit

Jeffrey Katzenberg of WndrCo sits down with Alex Pall and Drew Taggart of The Chainsmokers to discuss their journey into venture capital with Mantis VC.

Recorded March 2, 2023 at the Upfront Summit.

From Music to Startups to Venture: The Chainsmokers' Journey to Mantis VC | 2023 Upfront Summit

Forbes Senior Editor Alex Konrad sits down with Benchmark General Partner Sarah Tavel to chat about the firm's differentiation, lessons learned from web3 and how they work with founders.

Recorded March 2, 2023 at the Upfront Summit.

Sarah Tavel: Setting the Benchmark For Future Startups | 2023 Upfront Summit

Upfront Chief Operating Partner Stuart Lander sits down with institutional LPs Caitlin Fitzmaurice (Selby Lane Capital), Chris Prestigiacamo (State of Wisconsin Investment Board), David York, (Top Tier Capital Partners)and Randy Ojukwu (Morgan Stanley) to discuss today's landscape, how to best work with LPs, and the advice to emerging managers.

Recorded March 1, 2023 at the Upfront Summit.

How Institutional LPs are Thinking About VC and Evaluating Managers In 2023 | 2023 Upfront Summit

Upfront Partner Kobie Fuller sits down with Michael D. Ratner of OBB Media and Hailey Bieber of rhode to discuss the intersection of content and commerce, as well as their differentiated approach. 

Recorded March 2, 2023 at the Upfront Summit.

Hailey Bieber & Michael D. Ratner on the Intersection of Content and Commerce | 2023 Upfront Summit

Hamet Watt of Share Ventures sits down with NBA Champion Dwyane Wade to discuss the transition into his entrepreneurial journey and how his basketball career has shaped his life today. 

Recorded March 2, 2023 at the Upfront Summit.

A Fireside Chat with Dwyane Wade: Life Beyond The Court | 2023 Upfront Summit

Upfront Partner Aditi Maliwal sits down with Nick Grossman and Rebecca Kaden of USV to hear the two's journey in venture, how to keep true to their strategy, and the firm's distribution strategy.

Recorded March 1, 2023 at the Upfront Summit.

USV On Being One Step Ahead Of the Market and What's Coming Next | 2023 Upfront Summit

Anduril Co-Founder and Founders Fund Partner Trae Stephens discusses the state of defense tech with Upfront Partner Nick Kim. In the session, Trae delves into the importance of investing in defense tech, the opportunities Anduril is pushing for, and the company's approach to working with the government. 

Recorded Feb 29, 2024 at the Upfront Summit.

Defense Tech: State of the Union with Trae Stephens | 2024 Upfront Summit

Michael Yanover from the Creative Artists Agency interviews Yummers Pets Co-Founders Jonathan Van Ness and Rebecca Rudisch to discuss the founding of their pet food and lifestyle brand, why they decided to go into this industry, and their mission to empower pet parents to take better care of their pets. 

Recorded Feb 28, 2024 at the Upfront Summit.

A Different Tail: The Building of Yummers Pet Supply | 2024 Upfront Summit

Upfront Chief Operating Partner Stuart Lander interviews author and journalist Dan Senor about Israel's history as well as how its unique community and culture have played a critical role in shaping the tech ecosystem and driving capital to the nation. 

Recorded Feb 28, 2024 at the Upfront Summit.

Author & Journalist Dan Senor on the Resilience of Israel | 2024 Upfront Summit

Outlander Managing Partner Paige Craig interviews Founders Fund Partner Brian Singerman on how he thinks about strategy as an investor and at the firm, how he thinks about the market, his process for investing in founders. 

Recorded Feb 28, 2024 at the Upfront Summit.

Founders Fund - Funding the Future with Brian Singerman | 2024 Upfront Summit

Wall Street Journal reporter Berber Jin interviews Index Ventures Partners Nina Achadjian and Shardul Shah about how the firm has built its track record, what VC Spring means for investors and founders, and the sectors that they're excited about. 

Recorded Feb 28, 2024 at the Upfront Summit.

Index Ventures: Building a Firm for the Next Generation | 2024 Upfront Summit

Jason Rapp of Whisper Advisors sits down with Yahoo CEO Jim Lanzone to discuss his established career in media and tech, the importance of being a product-first company, and the opportunities he sees in the future of content. 

Recorded Feb 29, 2024 at the Upfront Summit.

Product Matters: Yahoo’s Equation for Growth from CEO Jim Lanzone | 2024 Upfront Summit

Anita Ramaswamy of Reuters sits down with Olaf Carlson-Wee, founder of Polychain Capital to discuss the bull case for crypto, including what he's most excited about, lessons from the recent crypto winter, and where he seems the opportunity as an investor. 

Recorded Feb 28, 2024 at the Upfront Summit.

The Bull Case for Crypto in 2024 with Olaf Carlson-Wee of Polychain Capital | 2024 Upfront Summit

Deborah Benton of Willow Growth Partners interviews Katy Perry and De Soi CEO Scout Brisson about the founding of their sparking non-alcoholic apéritif brand, what made them want to tackle this specific beverage category, and how they've brought the brand's vision to life. 

Recorded Feb 29, 2024 at the Upfront Summit.

Katy Perry Redefines Beverage in the Non-Alcoholic Space with De Soi

Amanda Groves of PLUS Capital sits down with Cameron Diaz and Katherine Power to talk about the founding story of their organic wine brand, Avaline. During the interview, they discuss how they've been able to scale the business and bring transparency to the wine industry.

Recorded Feb 29, 2024 at the Upfront Summit.

Avaline: The Modern White Space in an Age-Old Industry | 2024 Upfront Summit

Upfront Partner Seksom Suriyapa interviews Nand Mulchandani, the CIA's CTO, to dispel common misconceptions about the agency, his career trajectory leading up to his position today, and the critical role humans play in a world of emerging technology. 

Recorded Feb 29, 2024 at the Upfront Summit.

Technology in An Age of Geopolitical Friction with CIA CTO Nand Mulchandani | 2024 Upfront Summit

Upfront Partner Kevin Zhang sits down with Hemant Taneja of General Catalyst to discuss what it takes to build an enduring firm, what approaching ecosystems in healthcare look like, and the biggest trends he's keeping an eye on. 

Recorded Feb 28, 2024 at the Upfront Summit.

General Catalyst Hemant Taneja: Can VC Truly Tackle Long-Term Problems? | 2024 Upfront Summit

The Verge Deputy Editor Alex Heath interviews Lightspeed Partner Michael Mignano and General Partner Nicole Quinn to talk about the use cases of AI for consumers, where they see the biggest opportunities, and what entrepreneurs should be thinking about when building. 

Recorded Feb 28, 2024 at the Upfront Summit.

Where Consumer Meets AI: What Lightspeed Sees for the Future | 2024 Upfront Summit

Sozo Ventures Rob Freelen sits down with Hide Kobayashi of Tokio Marine Innovation Lab and Keisuke Seki of Development Bank of Japan to share insights into raising money from Japanese LPs. They discuss common mistakes they see from GPs, the advice they'd give to those coming to Japan, and their firms' investment priorities for 2024. 

Recorded Feb 28, 2024 at the Upfront Summit.

The Beginner's Guide to Raising Money from Japanese LPs | 2024 Upfront Summit

Upfront Partner Kobie Fuller interviews Menlo Ventures Partner Matt Murphy about the current state of venture, the firm's investment strategy in AI, and the importance of building a framework early on. 

Recorded Feb 28, 2024 at the Upfront Summit.

Melting the Ice: Menlo Ventures' Approach to VC Winter with Matt Murphy | 2024 Upfront Summit

Jeff Berman, CEO of WaitWhat, sits down with Affectiva founder and AI investor Rana el Kaliouby and Oracle SVP Greg Pavlik to discuss the implications of AI in schools, regulations that should be implemented, and ways to bring more transparency to the industry. 

Recorded Feb 29, 2024 at the Upfront Summit.

Masters of AI with Rana el Kaliouby of Affectiva and Greg Pavlik of Oracle | 2024 Upfront Summit

Upfront Partner Aditi Maliwal chats with ZMC Founder & Managing Partner and Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick to discuss his career journey, strategies for innovation in the entertainment industry, and how to find balance in one's career and life. 

Recorded Feb 29, 2024 at the Upfront Summit.

Strauss Zelnick on Embracing Change Through Innovation and Creativity | 2024 Upfront Summit

Mark Suster (Managing Partner, Upfront Ventures) presents thoughts on the state of VC, the increase in "private IPOs", how VC is now really three distinct markets and the global dynamics at play to make this a great time for investors.

Slides available here: https://www.slideshare.net/msuster/is-vc-still-a-thing-final

Mark Suster Presents Is VC Still a Thing? | Upfront Summit 2019

Keith Rabois of Founders Fund sits down with Dan Primack of Axios to discuss making big bets in venture, how Founders Fund operates as a partnership with unique perspectives, and his views on the upcoming election cycle.

Keith Rabois Interviewed by Dan Primack | Upfront Summit 2020

Chairman of the LA Clippers and former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer sits down with Upfront Ventures partner Greg Bettinelli to discuss:
- How he got into basketball ownership and how a basketball team is like a tech company
- Why philanthropy matters and how to measure government impact
- Operating as a non-founder business lead and why he encourages everyone to drop out
- His favorite search engine

Steve Ballmer Interviewed by Greg Bettinelli | Upfront Summit 2020

Reese Witherspoon and Sarah Harden discuss creating their media company Hello Sunshine and developing projects that put marginalized creative voices and storytelling at the forefront - how it was started, the untraditional power structure at the head of the company, and how they're architecting the business for the next 20 years. 

They also discuss how much they love data and books, about the journey of Reese's Book Club, and what it takes to change and diversify the media landscape.

Reese Witherspoon and Sarah Harden Interviewed by Mark Suster | Upfront Summit 2020

Ice Cube sits down with Hamêt Watt (Share Ventures) to discuss his entrepreneurial journey in founding BIG3 - where his drive and work ethic come from, why the league is on track for profitability and longevity, the importance of authenticity and really listening to the customer, and how he remembers and honors Kobe Bryant's legacy.

Ice Cube Interviewed by Hamêt Watt | Upfront Summit 2020

John Legend and his mentor James Lowry talk with Upfront Ventures partner Kobie Fuller about the importance of mentorship and the mutual benefit in a mentor-mentee relationship; John Legend's work in criminal justice reform and local political reform; James Lowry's roadmap for building black economic power and a more positive future for everyone; and John's experience as a BCG consultant building PowerPoint slides by day and creating music by night.

John Legend and James Lowry Interviewed by Kobie Fuller | Upfront Summit 2020

Bad Robot Co-CEOs JJ Abrams and Katie McGrath talk to Upfront Ventures partner Kara Nortman about scaling and productizing creativity; building an equitable partnership and a company that looks like its audience; what it was like to helm a franchise like Star Wars; the importance of creative guardrails and feedback; and the simple way to fix diversity in an organization.

JJ Abrams and Katie McGrath Interviewed by Kara Nortman | Upfront Summit 2020

Ted Sarandos (Chief Content Officer, Netflix) talks with REDEF's Jason Hirschhorn about the business of global storytelling; the changing nature of the content medium; Netflix's strategy of original content and animation; the consumer lifespan strategy for Netflix; and the prognosis of growth moving forward.

Ted Sarandos Interviewed by Jason Hirschhorn | Upfront Summit 2020

Union Square Ventures partners Fred Wilson and Albert Wenger talk with Erin Griffith (The New York Times) about the firm's investing thesis to solve the climate crisis. Topics covered include:
- The firm's entry into climate technology and recent portfolio investments
- What the firm looks for in climate technology sectors
- How capitalism can co-exist with climate solutions, and the role for government
- Why there's reason for optimism

Fred Wilson and Albert Wenger Interviewed by Erin Griffith | Upfront Summit 2020

Former Director of the NSA and Commander of Cyber Command Admiral Michael Rogers talks with Niloofar Razi Howe about nationstate activity in cyberspace as a tool for attacking money, systems or information; why it's important for the United States to be active in cyber engagement; the roles for public and private sector collaboration; and how to build a technology-backed cyber system that reflects American values.

Admiral Michael Rogers Interviewed by Niloofar Razi Howe | Upfront Summit 2020

a16z Managing Partner Jeff Jordan speaks with Upfront partner Kara Nortman multi-stage investing at the firm; trends in VC; how and in what sectors he makes investment decisions including Airbnb and Overtime; how his experience as an operator informs his role as a board member; and the benefit of sports experience as a VC.

Jeff Jordan Interviewed by Kara Nortman | Upfront Summit 2020

Founder and Managing Partner of First Round Capital Josh Kopelman talks with Upfront Managing Partner Mark Suster about scaling a VC with early stage as a focus. Topics include:
- What's changed in the early stage ecosystem
- Why Josh believes 70% of VC is picking the right founder
- His advice for new funds and for LPs considering new venture investments
- How and why they've invested in platform as a value-add service

Josh Kopelman Interviewed by Mark Suster | Upfront Summit 2020

Founder and CEO of Happy Returns, David Sobie, shares his perspective on the myth of the "retail apocalypse" and why DTC brands are well situated to the new retail reality.

David Sobie Explains Why DTC Brands are Opening Retail Stores | Upfront Summit 2020

The Upfront podcast features a variety of guests to discuss startups, venture capital, and current events - providing an insider's view into entrepreneurship and technology.

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