Money Moves Podcast with Neil Devani @ Necessary VC
Mike Annunziata @ Also Capital on Building and Investing in Hard Tech
A few months back, I sat down with my friend Neil Devani, Founder of Necessary Ventures. We talked about my time as a founder of a Hard Tech startup, building Also Capital, and what we look for in the founders and companies we back at inception.
More from Neil and the links to the video and podcast below!
In this episode of Money Moves, host Neil Devani sits down with Mike, a seasoned investor and entrepreneur, to discuss his journey from institutional investing to launching his own venture firm, Also Capital. Mike shares his early career experiences, starting at the Soros Family Office and later working at the Cornell Endowment, where he gained deep insights into different asset classes and investment strategies. He reflects on the pivotal moments that led him to take the leap into entrepreneurship, co-founding a Hard Tech startup, and ultimately transitioning into venture capital to support other Hard Tech founders.
The conversation dives into the challenges of raising capital in deep tech, the importance of resilience in fundraising, and how identifying world-class talent is the key to successful investing. Mike provides practical advice on pitching investors, navigating early-stage funding, and building strong founder-investor relationships. Whether you’re an aspiring founder, an investor, or someone interested in the future of Hard Tech innovation, this episode offers invaluable insights into the evolving landscape of venture capital and entrepreneurship.
Topics Discussed in the Episode:
Mike’s transition from institutional investing to entrepreneurship and venture capital
The challenges of raising capital in Hard Tech startups
Key lessons on pitching investors and building resilience in fundraising
How to identify and support top-tier engineering talent in hard-tech industries
The future of Hard Tech investing and how Also Capital is shaping the space
Check out the full conversation on:
YouTube:
Apple: