268. Breaking the Founder Stereotype, Mastering Conviction Over Zoom, & the Contrast between European and American Entrepreneurs (Maren Bannon)

Maren Bannon of January Ventures joins Nick to discuss Breaking the Founder Stereotype, Mastering Conviction Over Zoom, & the Contrast between European and American Entrepreneurs. In this episode, we cover:

• Walk us through your background and path to VC
• What’s the thesis at  January Ventures?
• How are you and your team at January Ventures making tech more of an equal opportunity?
• What is your approach to portfolio construction in this fund and how will that evolve in the future?
• What's one thing you know now that you wish you knew prior to raising the fund?
• You take meetings with founders VERY early — no warm intro, no pitch deck, or no revenue required to pitch to January Ventures. How do you evaluate the potential this early?
• How do you filter all of the opportunities -- what is your pre-filter process?
• How have you changed your work/process at January post COVID?
• What is your experience like moving from SF to Europe and what is your view of the European tech ecosystem?