The first (mini!) episode of the Collective VC podcast features Javier Caruso, an Angel investor based in Argentina, founder of Webstarted and Webstarted Ventures. 🚀
He shares his insights on the Latin American VC market, his investment philosophy focused on people and software-as-a-service companies, and building conviction in founders. ✊
➣ https://webstarted.com/
➣ https://www.webstartedventures.com/
➣ / jdcaruso
0:00 - Introduction to Javier Caruso and Collective VC Podcast
0:06 - Javier's Background and WebStarted Initiative
1:07 - Venture Institute Experience and Future Plans
1:29 - Challenges and Opportunities in Latin America's VC Market
2:37 - Startup Ecosystem and Investment Focus in Latin America
3:13 - Promising Sectors: Fintech, Climate Tech, HR Tech, Education
3:57 - Investment Philosophy: People Over Projects
5:26 - Building Conviction in Founders Before Product-Market Fit
7:16 - The Importance of Aligning with Founders' Visions
8:09 - The Role of a VC in Supporting and Connecting Startups
9:28 - Monthly Check-Ins with Invested Companies for Growth Support
10:34 - Leveraging Connections for Business Opportunities
11:44 - Separating Investment and Business Services
13:53 - Encouraging Founders to Make Their Own Decisions
14:26 - Best Hiring Practices for Founders
16:39 - The Critical Importance of Early-Stage Hiring
17:47 - Co-Founders' Roles in Early Stage Startups
19:00 - The Role of Venture Capital in Latin America and Globally
22:13 - Advice for Founders on Picking the Right VC Partner
24:35 - The Impact of VC Partnerships on Startup Direction
26:06 - The Importance of Asking for Advice Over Seeking Funds
27:42 - Shoutout to Portfolio Companies in Latin America
28:06 - Closing Remarks and Thanks
