247. Leaving Kleiner Perkins to Start Defy Partners, The State of Venture in the Bay Area, and Maintaining a Beginner's Mind (Trae Vassallo)

Trae Vassallo of Defy Partners joins Nick to discuss Leaving Kleiner Perkins to Start Defy Partners, The State of Venture in the Bay Area, and Maintaining a Beginner's Mind. In this episode, we cover:

• Can you talk about your transition from Kleiner Perkins?
• How tough was that decision to make?
• What was it like to work with John Doerr?
• What’s the thesis at Defy Partners?
• When you began Defy you chose not to look at San Francisco. Can you talk about why that is?
  • How do you think this plays out? What will tech and venture in the Bay Area look like a few years from now, when COVID is behind us?
  • Any stats on flight of talent form Bay area to other cities/regions?
• What changes have you observed in venture/tech that this crisis has either caused or accelerated?
• You’ve been a founder and can relate w/ the folks you’re working with. How do you try and keep that beginner’s mindset as you gain more experience and get further away from your founder journey?
• What are some the biggest mistakes you see founders making when pitching investors?
• What tips can you give founders around building relationships as well as pitching in a completely virtual environment?
• You experienced a severe personal experience… near death situation a few years ago. How has that changed you as a person and as an investor?
• 3 data points…
  • Let’s say you’re approached to invest in a consumer hardtech startup.
  • The startup is doing $1.5M ARR
  • It’s growing at 15% MoM
  • And LTV:CAC is 4:1
  • Catch is, you can only ask 3 questions for 3 specific data points, in order to make your decision. What three questions do you ask?