Daring Ventures

Gold Stars for Showing Up? Why VCs Need to Raise Their Hiring Bar   I attended a VC panel this morning where the moderator asked, "What's your view on traditional versus non-traditional backgrounds when thinking about hiring?"   Most started with the predictable "it depends" dance before revealing their true colors: traditional pedigrees win. Every. Single. Time.   Am I surprised? No. Am I rolling my eyes? Absolutely.   But what really made me snort-laugh? One investor claiming his consulting background landed him his VC gig because it proved he could "complete a process end-to-end and deliver every time."   Seriously? That's the gold standard?   What this actually tells me: he checked a comfortable box for VCs who want "safe" hires, not someone who's proven they can source killer deals, earn founder trust, or bulldoze through brick walls when deals get complicated.   Completing processes isn't impressive—it's the baseline expectation for having a job. You know what actually impresses me?   1️⃣ The student working full-time while acing college classes 2️⃣ The D1 athlete balancing 5AM practices with engineering exams 3️⃣ The founder who skipped college, bootstrapped a business, and refused every "no".   These are people who think creatively, make magic happen with nothing, and double down when things get brutal. These are the talents VC desperately needs   At Daring Ventures, we live this. Our team and founders reflect it. The more zigzags in your career path, the more interesting your perspective tends to be.    The VC world needs non-traditional backgrounds like these industry disruptors:   Cyan Banister (Long Journey Ventures): High school dropout → self-taught coder → tech support → early Uber/SpaceX angel investor   Arlan Hamilton (Backstage Capital): No degree, formerly homeless, music tour manager → self-taught VC fundamentals and built Backstage Capital from scratch with zero connections   Mac Conwell (RareBreed Ventures): Navy veteran → self-taught coder → launched RareBreed Ventures for overlooked founders   What other non-traditional VCs deserve recognition? Drop names below.   #VentureCapital #NonTraditionalTalent #VCHiring #DaringVentures

🔥 BIG REVEAL TIME: Let's Be Heard Podcast Is LIVE! 🔥   I've been working on something special behind the scenes, and it's finally here…   My women's health podcast "Let's Be Heard" has officially launched, and I couldn't be more excited to share it with you all!   For those who know me, you've heard me talk endlessly about my passion for women's health. I've always been drawn to supporting the incredible women founders, researchers, providers, investors, and policymakers transforming this space. Now I'm adding my voice to the conversation in a whole new way!     What's "Let's Be Heard" all about?   We're turning whispers about women's health into POWERFUL conversations! No awkward silences, no off-limit questions, zero judgment – just real, honest dialogue about our bodies and health. We're breaking down barriers, sharing stories, and creating the health conversations we all wish we had growing up.   This podcast is for every woman who's ever Googled a symptom at 2 AM, wondered "is this normal?", or felt dismissed in a doctor's office. I'm bringing my perspective as a consumer/patient and interviewing absolute ROCKSTARS who are building game-changing solutions and forward-thinking experts whose knowledge deserves to be accessible to all women.     First Episode DROP!   I'm truly honored to kick off this podcast with a real pioneer in women's health – Carine Carmy, CEO and Co-Founder of Origin, the leading nationwide provider of women's health and pelvic floor physical therapy.   Carine and I get real about all things pelvic floor (totally unfiltered!). She shares her personal health story that led to creating Origin, and the conversation is as informative as it is empowering.   Check out the podcast links in the comments below! 👇   I hope you enjoy listening as much as we enjoyed creating it! And hey – know any other incredible women revolutionizing women's health? Tag them in the comments!   Also big shout out to all my early supporters who've been waiting patiently for this first episode to drop – your encouragement means the world! ❤️   Katie Kuechler Suzie Meling Allie Molner Brooke Wanford Vibha Vadlamani Hannah Samano Tiffany Rickard Cheryl Kerr Soo Jeon Ashleigh Marie Brown Aubrey Chappellet Flagler Stephanie Winans, MBA Anish Sebastian Ashley Ryder Eris Hanson Guillaume ("G") Cohen-Skalli Natalie Benamou Madeleine Stockton Isabelle Sinclair Jess Schram Olivia Bruno Leslie Schrock Andrea Linna Sarah O'Reilly Mia Farnham Emily Zhen Justin Williams, M.S. Mei Headley Mary Campbell     #WomensHealth #LetItBeHeard #PelvicHealthMatters #BreakingTaboos

Tech's Toxic Gods: Why Investors Keep Funding "Brilliant Jerks" Sarah Wynn-Williams' new memoir, Careless People, exposes the toxic culture at Meta, detailing her uncomfortable experiences with Zuckerberg and Sandberg. Fired in 2017 for “poor performance,” Wynn-Williams’ story sheds light on what many already know about Meta. But this isn't just about Meta. It's about how our industry consistently rewards, protects, and enriches leaders who mistreat others.   While the book exposes much of what we already know about the dark side of Meta, it serves as a critical wake-up call for investors and startup employees alike: We must do better when it comes to calling out bad behavior and sticking firmly to our values. Standing up for what’s right, even when it’s hard, is non-negotiable.   When 30 Under 30 Becomes Most Wanted The Forbes 30 Under 30 list has morphed into a rap sheet of tech's worst behavior. Yet instead of consequences, these founders often receive more funding. We've normalized bad behavior as the price of innovation.   Why? Perhaps because: -Drama drives headlines (and investor FOMO) -"Eccentric genius" remains tech's favorite mythology -Profits still trump principles in boardrooms   We need to hold ourselves to a higher standard. Investors must demand accountability from tech leaders like Zuckerberg instead of allowing them to gaslight and silence those speaking out. Billionaire status doesn't make you untouchable.   The Cult Problem Even well-intentioned employees like Wynn-Williams can become ensnared in tech's cult-like environments. When you're working 80-hour weeks "changing the world," the line between visionary leadership and toxic control blurs quickly. While her memoir bravely calls out Meta's issues, she too played a part in enabling it.   The world doesn’t need “more masculine energy,” as Mark suggested earlier this year. Look at how that turned out for Sheryl — leaning in too far, she became everything that’s wrong with tech.   A Better Way Forward At Daring Ventures, we believe investors have a responsibility to break this cycle. This means: -Rejecting the false choice between "brilliant jerks" and business success -Conducting thorough reference checks on founder behavior -Building ethics clauses into investment agreements -Supporting whistleblowers when they speak up   The tech industry doesn't need more cult leaders. We need founders who can build exceptional companies without leaving a trail of damaged people behind them.   Let's do better. Share your thoughts below 👇   #TechEthics #VentureCapital #StartupCulture #Leadership #MetaCulture

The Best VC Money You’ve Never Heard Of 💰👀 While traditional VCs play it safe and coastal, 43 states are now quietly writing checks to founders everyone else ignores.   Why Nobody's Talking About This Opportunity The VC world remains obsessively fixated on four coastal cities while entrepreneurs across America struggle to fund brilliant ideas. During the pandemic, we saw a brief "gold rush" to inland innovation hubs, but as soon as lockdowns lifted, coastal capital retreated faster than a Series A investor from a pre-revenue startup.   Enter the Silent Revolution: State-Backed VC Unlike traditional VCs hunting unicorns and 10x returns, state-backed funds are laser-focused on something more sustainable: local job creation and economic development. What this means for founders: -Fewer strings attached than traditional VC money -Less pressure for unrealistic growth trajectories -Freedom to build where YOU want (not where your investors demand)   Rhode Island: The Newest Player in the Game Rhode Island just announced their $2M fund that will launch later this spring and be managed by Rogue Venture Partners: Focus: RI-based small businesses (industry agnostic) Sweet spot: Pre-seed & seed rounds Requirements: <5 years old, <$1M revenue, limited prior equity funding   The Hidden Advantage Most Founders Miss Traditional VCs need massive exits to survive. State funds need sustainable local businesses that create jobs. This fundamental difference in incentives means these funds often support founders that traditional VCs would never touch. For entrepreneurs tired of hearing "move to San Francisco or don't bother pitching," state-backed VC offers a powerful alternative. Is your startup in one of the 43 states with VC programs? Have you explored this overlooked funding source? Share your experience below 👇 #AlternativeFunding #StateVC #StartupCapital #VentureCapital #EconomicDevelopment #FundingStrategy

Silence Won't Get You That Promotion (But Your Voice Will)   As women, we've been programmed to keep our heads down, stay quiet, and hope someone notices our hard work. The result? Lower pay, missed promotions, and watching less qualified (often male) colleagues advance by simply speaking up.   I learned this lesson the hard way as a junior VC investor. Battling imposter syndrome, I worked harder hoping others would notice my contributions. Why? Because I believed the greatest lie women are told: "Work hard, stay humble, and you'll be recognized."   Spoiler alert: The system isn't designed to recognize quiet excellence.   The Silent Achiever's Career Obituary   I remember thinking "if I just source one more amazing deal" or "if I just work through another weekend," surely someone would notice my value.   Meanwhile, my male colleagues were openly discussing their wins, casually mentioning their contributions in meetings, and—surprise!—getting recognized for them.   The most painful realization? My silence wasn't humility. It was permission for others to define my worth.   From Grateful Analyst to Unapologetic GP   When I finally landed my VC role, I was so terrified of "rocking the boat" that I accepted the first offer without negotiation. Years later, I learned hiring managers literally BUDGET for negotiations.   Before I forged my own role as a General Partner at Daring Ventures, I had plenty of stomach-churning conversations about my value in previous firms. Yes, they were awkward. Yes, my voice sometimes shook. But with each conversation, a superpower grew—the ability to advocate for myself without apology.   Your Self-Worth Arsenal   Document everything from day one: -Investments you influenced or sourced -Founder relationships you've cultivated -That diligence report everyone referenced for months -The portfolio company you helped through a crisis   When promotion time comes, don't hope they remember—SHOW them your impact.   The most powerful career move I've made wasn't a brilliant investment—it was learning to say "This is what I've accomplished, and this is what I'm worth" without flinching.   Your excellence doesn't speak for itself. YOU have to speak for it.   What's holding you back from advocating for yourself? Drop it in the comments 👇   #BreakTheGoodGirlRules #KnowYourWorth #WomenInVC #UnapologeticAmbition #CareerAdvancement

🚨 Quiz results are in! 🚨 It’s great to see more people (both women AND men) familiar with women’s reproductive health, but there’s still so much work to do! 💡   Huge congrats to the ONE person who got a perfect score! 🏅 I’m aiming for more “Gurus” next time, but I’m excited that everyone got at least 20%!   Note: This quiz was a bit tougher than your typical “women’s health 101” because I included not just anatomy, but also conditions that are often overlooked. ⚠️   We need more education on women’s health — and not just for women, but for everyone (myself included)! If I hadn’t created this quiz, I’d probably be in the “advanced” stage too. 😅   Check out the results below and share which question surprised YOU the most! 👇 #WomensHealth #HealthEducation #ReproductiveHealth #PublicHealth #HealthEquity #WomenEmpowerment #HealthMatters