Podcast · 58 episodes
Venture Unlocked: The playbook for venture capital managers
by Samir Kaji · English
Venture Unlocked is the playbook for starting, operating, & scaling a successful venture capital firm. Samir Kaji, Host of Venture Unlocked has +20-years of experience assisting & advising startups and venture firms. Listen for VC fund guidance. ventureunlocked.substack.com
Latest episodes
Wins Above Replacement: The New Way to Judge FoundersCarter Reum (M13 co-founder) explains how to judge founders using “wins above replacement,” and how venture firms should balance a founder’s “microscope” (ruthless execution) with a “telescope”…9 Sep 2026 · 55 min
From the early days of Facebook and learning from Zuck to building a $2B+ VC franchise w/South Park CommonsAditya Agarwal’s career arc from early Facebook engineer to CTO at Dropbox, then investor/VC-builder of South Park Commons (SPC), plus SPC’s founder-evaluation framework and how they run early-stage…11 Aug 2026 · 55 min
Has venture capital lost the plot?Why small-seed funds (sub-$100M) can outperform “trillion-dollar dream” strategies; includes Foundry Collective’s thesis, capital-efficiency arguments, and a 25-year exit study.28 Jul 2026 · 48 min
All episodes
Wins Above Replacement: The New Way to Judge FoundersCarter Reum (M13 co-founder) explains how to judge founders using “wins above replacement,” and how venture firms should balance a founder’s “microscope” (ruthless execution) with a “telescope”…9 Sep 2026 · 55 min · 21 chapters
From the early days of Facebook and learning from Zuck to building a $2B+ VC franchise w/South Park CommonsAditya Agarwal’s career arc from early Facebook engineer to CTO at Dropbox, then investor/VC-builder of South Park Commons (SPC), plus SPC’s founder-evaluation framework and how they run early-stage…11 Aug 2026 · 55 min · 18 chapters
Has venture capital lost the plot?Why small-seed funds (sub-$100M) can outperform “trillion-dollar dream” strategies; includes Foundry Collective’s thesis, capital-efficiency arguments, and a 25-year exit study.28 Jul 2026 · 48 min · 18 chapters
Deep Tech Gold Rush: Smart Boom or Future Bust?Roundtable on the “deep tech gold rush” and whether it’s a smart boom or a future bust, covering how deep tech is defined, why capital is surging, and how concentration, consensus investing, and…4 Jun 2026 · 54 min · 20 chapters
Betting on Founders Who Build the Real WorldLior Susan, Founder and Managing Partner of Eclipse Ventures3 Dec 2025 · 38 min
Unpacking "A Crisis Moment In Seed"A behind-the-scenes look at the venture capital industry, focusing on strategies for starting, operating, and scaling VC firms.12 Nov 2025 · 39 min
Platform Shifts, AI, and the Future of Consumer InvestingThe playbook for venture capital managers24 Sep 2025 · 48 min
The GP of 2030: AI, Automation, and the Future of Capital FormationIn this episode of "Venture Unlocked," Samir Kaji speaks with Alex Robinson, CEO and Co-Founder of Juniper Square.20 Aug 2025 · 48 min
Jack Altman on the transition going from building a Unicorn with Lattice to starting a venture firmJack Altman on the transition going from building a Unicorn with Lattice to starting a venture firm30 Jul 2025 · 45 min
How to win in seed stage investing todayThe Playbook for Venture Capital Managers16 Jul 2025 · 52 min
What is happening in VC today and the role of wealth management in growing the private markets?[Link to Podcast](https://ventureunlocked.substack.com)13 Jul 2025 · 1 h 42 min
Navigating growth stage investing in today's AI driven market with Logan Bartlett of RedpointLogan Bartlett, Managing Director at Redpoint Ventures18 Jun 2025 · 51 min
The New World of VC and Building a Durable Firm with Category Ventures' Villi IltchevThe New World of VC and Building a Durable Firm with Category Ventures' Villi Iltchev4 Jun 2025 · 44 min
The Benchmark Way: Running of an Iconic firm with Victor LazarteRunning an Iconic Firm with Victor Lazarte19 Mar 2025 · 45 min
Tomasz Tunguz on where we are in the AI S-Curve and the Evolving Investment LandscapeTomasz Tunguz on where we are in the AI S-Curve and the Evolving Investment Landscape5 Mar 2025 · 36 min
The Solo GP Playbook: Zal Bilimoria on Fundraising, Portfolio Strategy, and Founder RelationshipsZal Bilimoria on Fundraising, Portfolio Strategy, and Founder Relationships19 Feb 2025 · 47 min
The Evolution of building a legacy firm at Venrock with Brian Ascher In this episode of Venture Unlocked, host Samir Kaji interviews Brian Ascher, a veteran venture capitalist at Venrock, which has a rich history dating back to 1969 as part of the Rockefeller family…5 Feb 2025 · 44 min
Evolving Venture Liquidity Solutions with Gaurav Mathur of Pinegrove Capital Partnersis a podcast focused on providing insights and playbooks for starting, operating, and scaling successful venture capital firms.22 Jan 2025 · 47 min
The blueprint for starting a new firm with Chemistry Ventures, including the work needed before choosing your partners and non-consensus decision making.The blueprint for starting a new firm with Chemistry Ventures, including the work needed before choosing your partners and non-consensus decision making.30 Oct 2024 · 43 min
Meet the Expert: Venture Fund Banking with Sam Heshmati and Vincent Timoney of Citizens Private BankIn this episode of Venture Unlocked, host Samir Kaji speaks with Sam Heshmati and Vincent Timoney from Citizens Private Bank.16 Oct 2024 · 48 min
Saga Ventures on key lessons on raising a Fund I, building healthy partnerships, and winning in a competitive seed market Saga Ventures on Key Lessons on Raising a Fund I, Building Healthy Partnerships, and Winning in a Competitive Seed Market26 Sep 2024 · 48 min
Building a firm to last, lessons from nearly three decades of investing, and the path to hiring great venture teams with Glenn Solomon of Notable Capital (FKA GGV Capital)The playbook for venture capital managers28 Aug 2024 · 41 min
Doing a successful GP led secondary in Venture Capital, Why seed funds can scale, and what a good VC platform team looks likeBen Sun, Co-founder of Primary Ventures8 Aug 2024 · 52 min
Investing in USV Fund I, lessons learned as a LP, and why Emerging Managers are so importantSamir Kaji, an experienced venture capital advisor with over 20 years in the industry.1 Aug 2024 · 1 h 3 min