Venture capitalists Ross Fubini of XYZ Ventures and Leslie Feinzaig of Graham & Walker Ventures pull back the curtain on how venture capitalists build their own go-to-market strategies. They explain not only how they evaluate startups, but also how they win over both limited partners and founders.
In this episode of Build Mode, they share hard-won lessons from raising their first funds. They discuss how that experience allows them to better empathize with the founders they support.
The conversation covers why the concept of “founder-market fit” applies to venture capitalists as well. They explore how authentic thought leadership consistently beats manufactured content, and why the best investor relationships often start years before the money is needed.
The discussion also highlights the importance of building trust over transactions. Both guests affirm that in the venture world, your network truly is your competitive advantage.
New episodes of Build Mode are released every Thursday. The host is Isabelle Johannessen. The show is produced and edited by Maggie Nye, with Audience Development led by Morgan Little. Special thanks are given to the Foundry and Cheddar video teams.