Podcast by Paige Soya
30 April 2026
In this episode of High Stakes, Paige Soya sits down with Dadi Akhavan, a startup-to-IPO founder and angel investor, to break down one of the most important dynamics in early-stage investing: angel investors vs venture capitalists.
While both play critical roles in the startup ecosystem, the way they invest and what they need from their investments iis fundamentally different.
We explore how those differences shape everything from deal selection to decision-making to founder outcomes.
Key themes include:
Dadi also shares insights from his own journey, from building companies to taking one from startup all the way to IPO, and how that experience shapes his approach to investing today.
This episode is a deep dive into the mechanics behind startup funding decisions, and what founders often overlook when choosing between angels and VCs.
00:00
39:50
16 April 2026
How do venture capitalists actually find deals and how can founders break into those conversations? In this episode of High Stakes, Paige Soya and Nick Duafala are joined by Taylor Margot (Partner at Lytical Ventures) to break down one of the most important, and often misunderstood, parts of venture capital: deal sourcing. They unpack where deals really come from, from warm referrals and deep networks to unexpected moments of curiosity, and why the strongest opportunities are often driven by relationships, not cold outreach. The conversation goes beyond surface-level advice to explore how sourcing has evolved, the role of personal brand, and why depth matters more than breadth in today’s market. For founders, this episode is a playbook. The group shares practical strategies for getting in front of VCs, from leveraging your network the right way to standing out at events, and what not to do if you want to build lasting investor relationships. They also dive into the psychology behind cold outreach, why most inbound gets ignored, and how to increase your odds of getting that first meeting. Whether you're an investor looking to build deal flow or a founder trying to raise capital, this episode offers a clear, tactical look at how connections actually turn into deals and how to position yourself on the right side of that equation. What you’ll learn: -How VCs really source deals (and why it’s not just about “who you know”) -The difference between warm intros, cold outreach, and organic discovery -Why deep relationships outperform wide networks -How founders can effectively get in front of investors -The biggest mistakes founders make when approaching VCs -Why venture is a long game—and how to play it
00:00
49:45
02 April 2026
Venture capital is one of the most misunderstood asset classes in investing and one of the most powerful when approached correctly.
In this episode of High Stakes, K Street Capital Managing Partner Paige Soya sits down with investor Jill Ralph (Motley Fool’s former President of Global Membership, and former VP of Chemonics Capital) to break down Venture Capital 101, from both the investor and founder perspective.
They unpack what venture capital actually is, how it fits into the broader investing landscape, and why it operates so differently from traditional asset classes like public equities. From risk and liquidity to diversification and portfolio strategy, this conversation covers the fundamentals every new investor should understand before entering the space.
But this episode isn’t just for investors. For founders, Paige and Jill dive into a critical question: Is your company even a fit for venture capital? They explore what types of businesses are best suited for VC, what taking on venture funding really means for your company’s future, and how it can fundamentally shape your growth trajectory.
They also cover:
Whether you’re an aspiring investor looking to break into venture or a founder evaluating funding options, this episode provides a clear, foundational understanding of the risks, rewards, and realities of venture capital.
Because while venture is high risk and long-term, it also offers something unique: the opportunity to back innovation early and watch it grow from the ground up.
00:00
31:37
12 March 2026
Welcome to Season 4 of High Stakes and this season we’re starting with the fundamentals.
In Venture Capital 101, K Street Capital Managing Partner Paige Soya and Principal Nick Duafala break down how venture capital actually works for founders, investors, and anyone curious about the startup ecosystem.
In this opening episode, Paige and Nick share the origin story of K Street Capital and their own paths into venture, from Wall Street and investment banking to founding and exiting a fintech company.
They discuss:
Along the way, they also talk about some of the companies K Street has backed, from digital health platforms to AI-powered robotics, and what makes those opportunities exciting.
This episode sets the stage for the rest of the season, where Paige and Nick will walk through the full venture capital playbook, including angel investing vs. VC, startup evaluation, deal terms, portfolio strategy, and more.
If you're a founder thinking about raising capital, an investor interested in venture, or just curious about how the startup funding world works, this season is designed to be your starting point.
Listen to the full episode and follow along as we break down Venture Capital 101.
00:00
35:36
09 December 2025
In this episode of High Stakes, host Paige Soya, Managing Partner at K Street Capital, sits down with Julie Castro Abrams, GP and Founder of How Women Invest, for a candid look at one of the most important shifts happening in venture capital today: the surge of women stepping in as LPs, angel investors, and fund leaders.
Just over a decade ago, there were only 12 women-run funds. Today, there are more than 380. We are in a watershed moment—one filled with opportunity, friction, and long-overdue change. Julie breaks down not just why this moment is happening, but what’s still holding women back from fully participating in the ecosystem.
Together, Paige and Julie uncover the lived experiences, expertise, and decision-making strengths that women bring to venture—and the systemic obstacles that still stand in their way, from misaligned financial advisor incentives to outdated assumptions about risk, time, and wealth.
Whether you’re a GP, an operator thinking about becoming an LP, or simply curious about how capital flows and who gets to shape innovation, this episode is packed with insights you won’t want to miss.
00:00
47:08
20 November 2025
In this episode of High Stakes, K Street Capital Managing Partner, Paige Soya, sits down with Gabriel Jarrosson, Managing Partner at Lobster Capital, to unpack how Y Combinator’s internal tool “Bookface” is reshaping investor-founder relationships in 2025.
YC’s Bookface allows founders to rate their experiences with investors — creating a private reputation system that influences who founders choose to work with in the future. The result? A new era where investor behavior, transparency, and credibility matter just as much as capital.
💡 In this episode:
Watch now to learn how your reputation has become your strategy in the evolving world of startup investing.
00:00
47:47