Vijay Reddy, partner at Mayfield, talks about the latest innovations and trends shaping the artificial intelligence (AI) landscape. He shares his venture capital journey and describes Mayfield's unique focus on cognitive plumbing and Cognition-as-a-Service (CaaS), unraveling what these concepts entail. Vijay also offers practical advice for startup founders keen on tapping into the myriad opportunities within the realm of AI.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

[1:24] From a 10th grade circuits and chips enthusiast to technology executive and founder

[5:50] Vijay’s evolution as a venture capital investor fueled by technology curiosity

[13:41] Debate about AI being a good or bad thing - it’s not worthy!

[15:04] Get these 3 things right for success with an AI-first startup.

The non-profit organization that Vijay is passionate about: Upward

About Vijay Reddy

Vijay Reddy is a partner at Mayfield with over a decade of AI and deeptech investing experience. Prior, Vijay was an investor at Clear Ventures and Intel Capital. He witnessed AI's rise from its inception, and with a founder-first approach, he has invested across the AI stack, backing companies like SambaNova, DataRobot, and BabbleLabs. He began his career as an entrepreneur, co-founding a startup after leaving his PhD program, and has held senior roles at Broadcom and Intel.

About Mayfield

Mayfield is a Silicon Valley-based venture capital firm that invests in AI-first companies

at the Seed, Series A and Series B stages. The firm has raised 20 U.S. funds since 1969, and currently has $3 billion under management. Mayfield takes pride in an investment team that has a founder DNA and operates from a shared set of beliefs and partners for the long term with entrepreneurs pursuing big ideas. Companies in Mayfield’s portfolio include: Outreach, seekout, alchemy, auradine, chemix, crunchbase, Gutsy, LexCheck, OwnID, Qwiet, Vijil, VERSA Networks among others.

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Philip Edmundson, founder of Corvus Insurance (recently acquired by Travelers), shares the captivating journey of Corvus, from its inception to its recent acquisition. He discusses the company's unique approach to cyber risk and its mission to revolutionize commercial insurance with advanced data science and an AI-driven approach. Philip also discusses opportunities for innovation in insurance, and gives insights into crucial startup matters such as early team building and selecting the right investors.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

[2:45] From ‘78 to 2024: How has the insurance industry evolved?

[5:03] The genesis of Corvus, and reasons for focusing on cyber insurance

[13:25] Hiring the first set of team members: lessons and tips for founders

[19:20] Notable achievements and challenges faced while building Corvus

[26:31] Advice on choosing the right investors for your startup.

[33:51] Areas of opportunity for insurtech entrepreneurs to innovate.

The non-profit organization that Phil is passionate about: Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology

About Philip Edmundson

Philip Edmundson is the founder and CEO of the insurtech company Corvus Insurance. With a background in insurance broking and tech entrepreneurship, Philip started Corvus in 2017, aiming to enhance insurance underwriting and assist policyholders in risk reduction through data and technology. Philip emphasizes that insurance should go beyond risk transfer. Before Corvus, he co-founded William Gallagher Associates, acquired by Arthur J Gallagher, and played key roles in industry networks.

About Corvus Insurance

Corvus Insurance (now a subsidiary of Travelers Insurance) is an insurance company that focuses on cyber risk, loss prevention, and mitigating adverse events using data-driven and AI-powered tools. The Corvus mission is to make the world safer from cyber threats. The company delivers insights to broker partners, helping to make them smarter about the complex risks their clients face.

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Tommy Leep, founding partner at Jetstream, shares insights on climate tech investing and nurturing startups for a sustainable future. He delves into climate tech trends, opportunities for startups, and challenges that early-stage investors face (such as greenwashing). Tommy also advises founders on articulating their vision, avoiding the "founders' curse of knowledge" and the importance of sales skills.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

[2:05] Startups attract people who love to be part of disruptive innovation.

[4:53] Finding purpose in setbacks: the story of how Jetstream started

[9:59] Trends and opportunities in climate tech investing.

[14:03] Building a startup in the climate tech space

[19:47] Founders’ curse of knowledge - what is it? How can founders avoid the curse of knowledge?

[25:21] There’s something special about a founder who can influence an investor to make subjective decisions.

About Tommy Leep

Tommy Leep is the founder of Jetstream. He is a seasoned entrepreneur, investor, and business advisor with experience in startup funding and growth. He held key roles at Floodgate and Rothenberg Ventures before delving into venture capitalism. With experience at Meraki, Inc., Intuit, and Yahoo! Music, he brings a diverse skill set. Tommy advises startups like Around, Payable, and Patreon, and formerly led Rothenberg Ventures' SF office. He's also advised Orchestra Inc. (now part of Dropbox).

About Jetstream

Jetstream is a venture capital firm investing in pre-seed climate, sustainability, and biodiversity startups. Companies in Jetstream’s startup portfolio include Verdi, Pachama, Windborne Systems, Glacier, Albebo, Lightship, Pathways, Cecil, Wildgrid among others.

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