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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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9 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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    December 16, 2025 at 1:36 pm

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CNET

What if We Shot Satellites Into Space With a Giant Gun?

The world’s largest gun belongs to Longshot Space, which plans to go even bigger in the hopes of harnessing its technology to shoot satellites into space instead of using rockets. Read more about Longshot Space on CNET.com: World’s Largest Gun Aims to Shoot Satellites Into Space Timecode Chapters: 0:00 The Problem With Rocket Launches 0:38…

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3 days ago

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September 6, 2026

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The world’s largest gun belongs to Longshot Space, which plans to go even bigger in the hopes of harnessing its technology to shoot satellites into space instead of using rockets.

Read more about Longshot Space on CNET.com:
World’s Largest Gun Aims to Shoot Satellites Into Space

Timecode Chapters:
0:00 The Problem With Rocket Launches
0:38 Longshot Space’s Kinetic Launch Concept
1:30 How the Giant Space Gun Works
1:59 Testing the 6-Inch Prototype Gun
3:14 Scaling Up to the Full-Diameter Version
3:42 The Physics Behind Horizontal Launches
4:33 Can Satellites Survive the High G-Forces?
5:07 Future Testing and Next Steps

Video Credits:
Host: Andy Altman
Scripted by:Andy Altman
Producer: Andy Altman
Camera: Celso Bulgatti
Video Editor: Jon Gomez
Thumbnail Designer: Cole Kan

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#space #launch #longshot #spacelaunchsystem

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CNET

How to Stream Every NFL Game in 2026

If you want to stream every NFL game this regular season, this is all you need to know. From cable options to streamers, Wes Ott covers everything that will have you watching every NFL game. He’s even got a few tips that might help you save. Are you ready for some football? Read more about…

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3 days ago

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September 6, 2026

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If you want to stream every NFL game this regular season, this is all you need to know. From cable options to streamers, Wes Ott covers everything that will have you watching every NFL game. He’s even got a few tips that might help you save. Are you ready for some football?

Read more about streaming NFL games on CNET.com
Best Live TV Streaming Services of 2026

Timecode Chapters:
0:00 Intro
0:17 NFL Streaming Services
1:13 NFL Streaming Costs

Video Credits:
Host: Wes Ott
Producer: JD Christison & Jon Gomez
Camera: Owen Poole
Thumbnail Designer: Cole Cook

Add CNET as a trusted news source
Never miss a deal again! See CNET’s browser extension 👉
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#nfl #streamingfootball #steaming #services

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Science & Technology

Your Q&A Can’t Save a Bad Pitch

Demetri Maxim thought the Q&A was where he could really win investors over. Then he realized: if you lose them during the pitch, they may never ask the questions that let you shine. Hear what Demetri learned from pitching Nephrogen at Startup Battlefield on the latest Build Mode with Dr. Eike Gerhardt.

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4 days ago

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September 5, 2026

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Demetri Maxim thought the Q&A was where he could really win investors over.

Then he realized: if you lose them during the pitch, they may never ask the questions that let you shine.

Hear what Demetri learned from pitching Nephrogen at Startup Battlefield on the latest Build Mode with Dr. Eike Gerhardt.

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