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What most VCs won’t tell you about raising capital

Venture capitalists Ross Fubini (XYZ Ventures) and Leslie Feinzaig (Graham & Walker Ventures) pull back the curtain on how VCs build their own go-to-market strategies— not just how they evaluate startups, but how they win over LPs and founders alike. In this episode of Build Mode, they share hard-won lessons from raising their first funds…

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8 months ago

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Venture capitalists Ross Fubini (XYZ Ventures) and Leslie Feinzaig (Graham & Walker Ventures) pull back the curtain on how VCs build their own go-to-market strategies— not just how they evaluate startups, but how they win over LPs and founders alike. In this episode of Build Mode, they share hard-won lessons from raising their first funds and how that experience allows them to empathize with founders. They discuss why “founder-market fit” applies to VCs too, how authentic thought leadership beats manufactured content, and why the best investor relationships start years before you need the money. Plus, the importance of building trust over transactions and why your network truly is your competitive advantage in venture.

Chapters:
00:00 Intro
01:01 Meet the VCs: From Netscape to Costa Rica
03:06 The Horror Show of Raising a First Fund
05:29 Building a Fund as Proof of Concept
08:52 The Schtick: Why VCs Need a Unique Thesis
11:44 Thought Leadership That Actually Works
15:34 The Qualification Process: Knowing in Two Minutes
19:06 Authentic vs. Manufactured Content
27:59 Building Relationships Before You Need Money
30:00 Founder-Market Fit for VCs
32:52 Key Takeaways: Person, Firm, Terms—In That Order
36:45 Field Notes: Creative Ways VCs Court Founders

New episodes of Build Mode drop every Thursday. Isabelle Johannessen is our host. Build Mode is produced and edited by Maggie Nye. Audience Development is led by Morgan Little. And a special thanks to the Foundry and Cheddar video teams.

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Science & Technology

How to Stand Out in the Ocean of AI Slop | Mick Mahler | TED

AI artist Mick Mahler has a counterintuitive take: the more powerful the machines get, the less the technology actually matters. Showing delightful examples of his own art, from jazz-playing spiders to a Kafka-inspired beetle film, he explains how you can use new technology to serve your vision (not replace it). (Recorded at TEDNext 2025 on…

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July 27, 2026

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AI artist Mick Mahler has a counterintuitive take: the more powerful the machines get, the less the technology actually matters. Showing delightful examples of his own art, from jazz-playing spiders to a Kafka-inspired beetle film, he explains how you can use new technology to serve your vision (not replace it). (Recorded at TEDNext 2025 on November 10, 2025)

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The TED Talks channel features the best talks and performances from the TED Conference, where the world’s leading thinkers and doers give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes (or less) — plus originals, podcasts and exclusive content. Look for videos on Technology, Entertainment and Design as well as science, business, global issues, the arts and more. Visit for our entire library, transcripts, translations and personalized recommendations.

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CNET

Oura Ring 5 Had Me Cheating on My Wedding Ring | All Things Mobile

I tested the Oura Ring 5 for two months to see if its smaller design lives up to the hype and whether it’s worth the higher price. You can find the products mentioned in this video linked below Oura Ring 5 – Gold World’s Smallest Smart Ring OURA Ring 4 Silver Smart Ring *Cnet may…

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July 27, 2026

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I tested the Oura Ring 5 for two months to see if its smaller design lives up to the hype and whether it’s worth the higher price.

You can find the products mentioned in this video linked below
Oura Ring 5 – Gold World’s Smallest Smart Ring
OURA Ring 4 Silver Smart Ring
*Cnet may get commission on this offer.

Read more about it on CNET.com
Oura Ring 5 Review: I Wore It for a Month and My Wedding Band Is Jealous
Oura Ring 5 vs. Oura Ring 4: New Features Explained and if You Should Upgrade

0:00 Introduction & Why Wearables Fail
0:27 Price, Subscription & Is It Worth It?
0:52 Key Upgrade: Design & Scratch Resistance
1:49 Battery Life Improvements
2:20 App Features & Symptom Radar
2:58 Cycle Tracking for Women
3:15 Accuracy & Sensor Upgrades
3:31 Improved Workout Detection Test
3:57 Heart Rate Accuracy vs. Chest Strap
4:19 Smart Ring vs. Smartwatch
4:50 Should You Buy the Oura Ring 5?

Video Credits
Host: Vanessa Hand Orellana
Videographer: Celso Bulgatti
Editor: Jonathan Gomez

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#ouraring #smartring #wearabletech #fitnesstracker #techreview #cnet

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Science & Technology

How Nvidia Sees The New Entrepreneurship Wave

A tsunami of entrepreneurship is coming and VCs who don’t expand their networks are going to miss out. NVIDIA’s global venture capital alliances and partnerships lead Sydney Sykes joins Isabelle Johannessen on this week’s Build Mode:

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July 26, 2026

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A tsunami of entrepreneurship is coming and VCs who don’t expand their networks are going to miss out. NVIDIA’s global venture capital alliances and partnerships lead Sydney Sykes joins Isabelle Johannessen on this week’s Build Mode:

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