The world of startup investing has undergone massive transformations amid the AI boom, changing capital markets, and an intense degree of competition from new entrants into the space. So what does it take to succeed in venture capital? How does an investor know if they have what it takes? On this episode, recorded in San Francisco, we speak with Nina Achadjian, a partner at Index Ventures. She talks about her career, how she differentiates herself from other investors, and the sectors she’s most excited about, including what areas are poised to benefit from AI. This transcript has been lightly edited for clarity.
Key insights from the pod:
About Index Ventures — 3:01
What VC does for founders — 4:27
What happens at private company board meetings — 7:23
Technical expertise needed for VC — 8:27
VCs writing checks in 2001 — 12:05
Competing against other VCs — 13:59
What it takes to succeed in VC — 16:46
Nina Achadjian’s job history — 20:35
Tackling the big questions in AI — 25:19
Moats around AI businesses — 27:20
Applications for AI — 28:36
Why Europe lags behind in AI — 33:41
Agent applications in AI — 35:51
