🎙Stride VC's Fred Destin on how to build trust in a competitive, chaotic world

🎙Stride VC's Fred Destin on how to build trust in a competitive, chaotic world

Author: Michael Sidgmore January 18, 2024 Duration: 55:55

Welcome back to the Alt Goes Mainstream podcast.

On today’s show, we welcome a long-time VC investor who brings the perspective from both sides of the pond. Fred Destin, the founder of Stride VC, a seed fund operating out of London and currently investing out of its second £123M fund, shares his views on the venture capital industry.

Prior to Stride, Fred was a General Partner at Accel and Accomplice (fka Atlas Venture). He’s invested in some of venture’s big winners, including Deliveroo, Pillpack, Cazoo, Zoopla, Secret Escapes, Integral Ad Science, and more, generating over $1.4B in value to investors and a blended multiple in excess of 7x. Fred has been featured on the Forbes European Midas List a number of times. 

Fred and I had a fascinating conversation about the hows and the whys of early-stage venture. We discussed:

* How VCs can navigate the difference between decision points and discovery zones.

* Why a positive bias towards people can be a driver of returns in venture.

* Why venture capital is often a poor experience for founders.

* Why trust, truth, and empathy make for a strong and enduring founder relationship.

* Why Fred thinks that the most product of a venture capital organization is decisions.

* Why and how simplicity can be core to company-building.

* How to evaluate risk versus reward at early-stage.

* How younger investors can hone their craft.

* The future of early-stage venture.

Thanks Fred for coming on the podcast to share your wisdom on early-stage investing.

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This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit altgoesmainstream.substack.com

Hosted by Michael Sidgmore, Alt Goes Mainstream is a conversation about the shifting landscape of investment. This podcast explores the practical journey of alternative assets-from private equity and venture capital to real assets and private credit-as they move from the periphery into core portfolio strategy. Each episode features candid discussions with leading investors, allocators, and entrepreneurs who are actively shaping this transition. You’ll hear firsthand about the due diligence, the structural challenges, and the evolving opportunities within private markets. The focus is on actionable insight, moving beyond theory to understand how these decisions are made and implemented in real time. For anyone involved in business, entrepreneurship, or investing, this series offers a clear-eyed look at the tools and philosophies building the portfolios of the future. Tune in for a direct line to the nuanced thinking that defines modern asset allocation.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

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