
VC10X - Stop Competing with Sequoia: Finding Alpha in Secondaries & Emerging Markets
16/12/2025 | 41 mins.
In this episode, we sit down with Maxim and Pavel from FinSight Ventures to explore their unique "secondary-first" investment strategy, which allows them to capture equity in giants like Anthropic, SpaceX, Stripe, and Palantir. We dive deep into their newly launched $50M Generative AI Index Fund, a novel product bringing index investing logic to private markets. Maxim and Pavel also break down their distinct approaches for different geographies—operating as a "fund of funds" in India while pursuing "local monopolies" and super-apps in emerging markets like Uzbekistan. Tune in to understand why they believe AI-native startups will beat incumbents and how they find alpha in inefficient markets globally.⭐ Sponsored by Podcast10x - Podcasting agency for VCs - https://podcast10x.comIn this episode, we cover:- Why the "middle" is missing in private market investing.- How to buy secondaries from early employees and liquidity-seeking funds.- The "Fund of Funds" strategy for penetrating the Indian market.- Why AI-native startups have a long-term advantage over incumbents.Companies & Concepts Mentioned:Portfolio Highlights: Zoom, SpaceX, Anthropic, Palantir, Stripe, Razorpay, Medibuddy.Concepts: Secondary Markets, Index Funds, Super Apps, Fund of Funds, DPI (Distributed to Paid-In Capital).Links -FinSight Ventures - https://www.finsightvc.com/Maxim - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nazarovmaxim/Pavel - https://www.linkedin.com/in/pavelgurianov/Website: https://VC10X.comLinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/choubeysahabTimestamps:(00:00) - Finsight's unique value proposition in securing competitive deals.(00:23) - Finsight's secondary-first strategy for its growth stage portfolio.(00:41) - Adapting investment strategies to find alpha in different markets.(01:30) - Episode introduction and sponsor message.(03:12) - Finsight's core investment thesis across diverse global markets.(04:46) - The logic behind Finsight's $50 million generative AI index fund.(06:10) - How the growth of secondary markets enables an index fund strategy.(07:28) - Securing allocations in category-defining companies like Anthropic and SpaceX.(09:09) - Who sells in the secondary market: employees vs. VCs.(10:15) - How Finsight sources secondary deals from individual employees.(12:00) - Finsight's specific investment angle and focus in the Indian market.(15:05) - Comparing the US secondary approach vs. the India fund-of-funds model.(16:49) - The philosophy of finding alpha by understanding a fund's strengths and weaknesses.(18:10) - Key trends in enterprise AI adoption and the shift to sustainable revenue.(22:09) - How to judge the stickiness and sustainability of an AI startup's revenue.(24:03) - Using gross margin as an indicator of a product's ROI.(25:17) - The conviction behind investing in Uzum, Uzbekistan's first unicorn.(27:40) - Insights into building a global VC firm with diverse strategies.(30:59) - Evaluating Anthropic in the competitive landscape of large language models.(34:36) - The biggest misconceptions about Finsight's global investment strategy.(38:21) - Start of the Rapid Fire Round.For sponsorship or guest appearance requests, write to [email protected] to VC10X on Youtube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts.#VentureCapital #GenerativeAI #SecondaryMarket #Investing #SpaceX #Anthropic #IndiaStartupEcosystem #PrivateEquity #TechInvesting

VC10X Micro - Why Bond Yields Are Rising Again (And What It Means for Investors)
11/12/2025 | 5 mins.
Global bond yields are quietly climbing again in late 2025—even as central banks start cutting short‑term rates. In this video, we break down what’s actually happening in the bond market, why the 10‑year government bond is so important, and what higher yields could mean for stocks, startups, real estate, and your portfolio.Using simple charts and real numbers, we explain concepts like term premium, bear steepening, and duration in plain English, then walk through a few realistic scenarios for 2026 instead of doomsday predictions.Key Takeaways- Long‑term government bond yields in major markets have moved higher again, as investors demand more compensation for inflation and fiscal risk.- This raises the discount rate used to value long‑duration assets like growth stocks and startups, putting pressure on high multiples even if earnings look strong.- At the same time, short‑term bonds and cash‑like instruments now offer attractive yields, so investors finally have genuine fixed‑income alternatives to equities.Glossary – Financial Terms Explained- Yield: The annual return you earn from a bond, expressed as a percentage of its price. If price falls, yield rises, and vice versa.- Basis Point (bps): One‑hundredth of a percentage point. 50 bps = 0.50%. Useful for talking about small rate moves precisely.- Risk‑Free Rate: The yield on high‑quality government bonds (often the 10‑year US Treasury), used as the baseline return investors can get with very low credit risk.- Yield Curve: A line that shows bond yields from short maturities (e.g., 3‑month) to long maturities (e.g., 30‑year). It summarizes market expectations for growth and inflation over time.- Bear Steepening: A situation where long‑term yields rise faster than short‑term yields. It usually signals markets are worried about future inflation, debt, or growth risks.- Term Premium: The extra yield investors demand for locking money into long‑term bonds instead of rolling short‑term ones. It rises when there’s more uncertainty about inflation, deficits, or who will buy all the new debt.- Duration: A measure of how sensitive a bond (or stock-like asset) is to interest‑rate changes. Higher duration = bigger price swings when yields move.- Investment‑Grade Bond: Debt issued by governments or companies with strong credit ratings, viewed as relatively low default risk.- High‑Yield / Junk Bond: Debt from weaker issuers with higher default risk. They pay higher yields to compensate investors for that risk.- Discount Rate: The interest rate used to convert future cash flows into today’s value. When this rate goes up, the present value of distant cash flows (like future startup profits) goes down.SUBSCRIBE FOR MORE VC & STARTUP STRATEGYVC10X breaks down the most important stories in tech, startups, and investing every week. If you want actionable insights to help you build or invest in the next great company, subscribe now.LET'S CONNECTWebsite: https://VC10X.comX / Twitter: https://x.com/choubeysahabLinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/choubeysahabCOMMENT BELOWHow do you think this will play out in 2026?#BondMarket #InterestRates #Investing #StockMarket #Finance #Economics #FederalReserve #BondYields #10YearTreasury #MacroEconomics #MarketAnalysis #PassiveIncome #BearSteepening

Founder10x - The $250B Patent Cliff: How AI is Reshaping Drug Discovery
09/12/2025 | 25 mins.
In this episode, we sit down with Caitlyn Krebs, Co-founder and CEO of Nalu Bio, to discuss how her company is leveraging generative AI to revolutionize drug discovery. Caitlyn shares how they are creating novel chemical entities five times faster than traditional methods to tackle massive unmet needs like endometriosis and post-surgical pain.We also dive deep into the business of biotech: the looming $250 billion "Patent Cliff" facing big pharma, the reality of the fundraising "rollercoaster," and why bringing innovation back to the US is critical for the industry's future.If you are interested in the intersection of AI and biology, the future of pain management, or the grit required to build a life sciences startup, you won't want to miss this conversation.⭐ Sponsored by Podcast10x - Podcasting agency for VCs - https://podcast10x.comKey Topics Covered:- The Next GLP-1? Why the endocannabinoid system is the largest regulator in the human body.- AI in Biotech: How Nalu Bio uses "digital twins" and virtual patients to de-risk drug development.- The $250B Opportunity: Understanding the massive patent cliff approaching the pharma industry.- Women's Health: Solving endometriosis with non-hormonal, non-opioid therapeutics.- Founder Resilience: Caitlyn’s story of a lead investor walking away at the final document stage and how she bounced back.- Building Moats: How to protect IP and technology in a competitive market.Connect with Caitlyn & Nalu Bio:* Website: https://nalubio.com* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caitlynkrebs* Email: [email protected] website - https://VC10X.comDon't forget to LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and turn on notifications for more deep dives into the future of technology and healthcare!#Biotech #AI #DrugDiscovery #Endometriosis #Startup #NaluBio #HealthTech #Entrepreneurship #GLP1 #Pharma

VC10X Micro - CODE RED🚨 at OpenAI - Is this the beginning of the end for Chatgpt?
04/12/2025 | 5 mins.
Two years ago, Google declared a "Code Red" because of ChatGPT. Now, the tables have turned. On December 1st, 2025, Sam Altman sent a panic memo to OpenAI staff, declaring a "Code Red" to fix ChatGPT as traffic plunges for the first time in history.In this deep dive, we break down why OpenAI is suddenly losing the AI war to Google's Gemini and the viral "Nano Banana" tool. We analyze the 6% user drop that terrified Sam Altman, the massive $500 Billion valuation bubble that could burst, and why OpenAI's lack of a "moat" is finally catching up to them.KEY TAKEAWAYS✅ Why ChatGPT traffic is down 6% in just two weeks✅ The viral success of Google's "Nano Banana Pro" vs. OpenAI's expensive Sora✅ The risk behind OpenAI's $500 Billion valuation and $20B ARR target✅ Why top talent like Mira Murati is leaving OpenAI✅ How Google's infrastructure advantage (TPUs, Data Centers) is finally winningTIMESTAMPS:(0:00) - Intro(0:51) - Why the sudden panic?(1:23) - Nano Banana Pro threat(1:39) - Google's infrastructure edge (2:01) - The burden of massive valuation(2:28) - Heavy reliance on consumer subscriptions(2:50) - Chaos in product roadmap(3:39) - Empire strikes back(4:21) - Is this the end for Chatgpt?SOURCES & DATA- SimilarWeb Traffic Data: ChatGPT down 6% daily active users- The Information: "Sam Altman Declares Code Red"- Valuation Data: OpenAI at $500B vs SpaceX at ~$200BSUBSCRIBE FOR MORE VC & STARTUP STRATEGYVC10X breaks down the most important stories in tech, startups, and investing every week. If you want actionable insights to help you build or invest in the next great company, subscribe now.LET'S CONNECTWebsite: https://VC10X.comX / Twitter: https://x.com/choubeysahabLinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/choubeysahabCOMMENT BELOWHave you switched to Gemini or are you loyal to ChatGPT? Let us know in the comments.#OpenAI #ChatGPT #GoogleGemini #SamAltman #ArtificialIntelligence #TechNews #VentureCapital #CodeRed #StartupStrategy

VC10X - Why Fundraising is Now a Numbers Game (And How to Win) - Braughm Ricke, Founder, Aduro Advisors
02/12/2025 | 34 mins.
Fundraising used to be a relationship business. Now, it’s a volume game.In this episode, we sit down with the founder of Aduro Advisors to unpack the data behind the current venture capital landscape. With $131 Billion+ in assets under administration across 650+ firms, they have a bird’s-eye view of the market that few others possess.We dive deep into the "haves vs. have-nots" dynamic in VC, why the era of the generalist firm might be ending, and the exact operational mistakes that stop emerging managers from scaling. If you are raising a fund or managing a firm in 2025, you need to hear this.⭐ Sponsored by Podcast10x - Podcasting agency for VCs - https://podcast10x.comTopics covered:- Shift to Solo GPs: The rise of individual managers over large platforms.- Fundraising Reality: Why raising capital is now a volume-based "numbers game."- Market Polarization: The widening gap between the "haves" and "have-nots."- Specialization Wins: Why LPs favor sector-focused funds over generalists.- The 100% Rule: Data showing funds that invest 100%+ of capital outperform.- Smaller Funds: The strategic advantage of "right-sized" funds for faster returns.- Individual Investors: The massive influx of High Net Worth individuals into VC.- AI & Operations: Using AI to automate fund administration and data reporting.About the Guest:Aduro Advisors is a premier fund administration firm supporting over 650 venture capital and private equity firms with more than $131 Billion in assets under administration. Their platform, FundPanel, leverages data and AI to streamline operations for the next generation of investors.Timestamps:(00:00) - Introduction and episode overview(00:02:43) - Inspiration behind founding Aduro Advisors(00:04:25) - Major shifts in fund operations and data flow(00:05:58) - Aduro Advisors' data insights on fund performance and market recovery(00:09:48) - Evolution of fund sizes and LP composition(00:11:22) - Common mistakes made by first-time fund managers(00:12:40) - The importance of sector specialization versus diversification for LPs(00:17:24) - Surprising findings from Aduro Advisors' Q2 2025 report(00:20:16) - Longevity of firms and the "haves and have-nots" dynamic(00:23:09) - Characteristics of top-decile performing funds(00:25:48) - How Fund Panel streamlines fund administration and reporting(00:27:17) - The role of AI in fund administration(00:30:38) - Changes in fundraising approach post-pandemic(00:32:23) - Biggest opportunities for innovation in fund operations(00:33:54) - Where to learn more about Aduro Advisors and Fund PanelLearn more about Aduro Advisors:Website: https://aduroadvisors.com/FundPanel: https://fundpanel.io/VC10X links:VC10X website - https://VC10X.comFollow Prashant on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/choubeysahab#VentureCapital #Fundraising #PrivateEquity #EmergingManagers #StartupInvesting #AduroAdvisors



VC10X - Investing, Venture Capital, Asset Management, Private Equity, Family Office