Podcast by Paige Soya
05 June 2025
In this episode of High Stakes, host Paige Soya sits down with Myrto Lalacos, Principal at VC Lab, for an in-depth conversation on landing a job in VC. Myrto shares her unique career journey—from leading accelerator programs in the UK to co-founding a B2B SaaS fund and launching the Venture Institute, an initiative aimed at connecting diverse, emerging talent with pathways into VC. Together, Paige and Myrto explore what it really takes to be a fund manager, and the often-overlooked skills critical to running a venture firm—not just sourcing deals.What
You'll Learn in This Episode:
● How Venture Institute is reshaping VC education to cultivate tomorrow’s top investors
● Why deep roots in the startup ecosystem aren't just helpful—they’re your unfair advantage
● Myrto’s bold leap from accelerator programs to deploying capital
● The incredible story of a candidate who coded their way into a VC role
● What sets Venture Institute’s analyst training apart
● The fundraising muscle every fund manager must build
Whether you’re an aspiring investor, curious about breaking into VC, or want to understand how new funds are formed, this episode is packed with real world insights and inspiration.
#startups #venturecapital #careerventurecapitalist #VC #VCLab
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22 May 2025
What really happens when a startup shuts down? In this revealing episode of High Stakes, host Paige Soya sits down with Dori Yona, founder of SimpleClosure and seasoned entrepreneur, to unpack the complex—and often hidden—realities of shutting down a startup. After navigating the painful process of closing his own VC-backed company, Dori realized just how broken and opaque the process was, and became determined to fix it. Now, after guiding over 500 shutdowns in 2024 alone, he brings clarity to a topic most founders and investors would rather avoid. From legal minefields and IP entanglements to payroll risks and emotional tolls, Dori shares what every stakeholder needs to know about ending a startup the right way.Key Points From This Episode:
Whether you’re a founder, operator, or investor, this episode is a must-listen for understanding the realities of startup shutdowns—and how to navigate them with integrity.
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08 May 2025
Not every startup story ends in a big exit. Sometimes, despite best efforts, companies miss key milestones, burn through their runway, or become what investors call “zombie startups.”
In this episode of High Stakes, host Paige Soya sits down with Tony Chan, partner at ORIC and seasoned venture capital and M&A expert, to explore the hard truths of venture investing. Tony shares insights into what happens when deals go south—and what investors can (and should) do when startups are struggling.
Key Points From This Episode:
• Common examples of how companies can handle early closures and exits.
• The importance of early, honest conversations when things aren’t going to plan.
• Why founder optimism and investor caution can be hard to reconcile.
• Founder trust in VCs: how it hinges on operating experience and credibility.
• Navigating misaligned incentives among early and late-stage investors.
• What really happens behind the scenes before and after a board meeting.
• How disciplined investors avoid FOMO and spot underfunded opportunities.
• Why some startups are turning to even-sided mergers instead of IPOs.
• The growing role of secondaries in private market liquidity.
• How VC is shifting as private equity becomes more accessible to retail investors.
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24 April 2025
Why do some VCs lead while others follow? On this episode of High Stakes, host Paige Soya sits down with Mark Volchek, founding partner at Las Olas Venture Capital, to explore the dynamics of leading versus following in venture capital. With a focus on early-stage B2B software, Mark brings insights from his journey, from founding a FinTech company during the dot-com crash to launching and managing multiple successful funds since 2016. Together, they unpack the pros and cons of leading investment rounds, how firm size and resources influence strategy, and how to navigate key decisions like taking board seats, aligning with co-investors, and allocating resources. Mark also shares advice for founders on finding the right VC fit and explains why there is a firm out there for every type of startup. Tune in for a deep dive into how venture firms decide when to lead and when to follow, and what that means for investors and founders alike!
Key Points From This Episode:
• Mark’s journey from entrepreneurship to venture capitalism.
• Lessons from being an angel investor and limited partner (LP).
• The value of being on the board of companies you’ve invested in.
• Key advantages and challenges of leading investments.
• How to take the size and resources of your VC firm into account.
• The difficulties of following on in oversubscribed rounds.
• Unpacking the necessity of aligning with co-investors.
• Mark’s advice to founders on how to find the right VC fit for your company.
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11 April 2025
How do you make it in venture capital when the path is anything but straightforward? In this episode of High Stakes, Ethan Austin, Founding Partner at Outside VC, shares his journey and the key lessons he's learned as a founder in the world of early-stage investing. From the importance of empathy and people skills over traditional finance experience to the power of networking and taking bold, unconventional actions to set yourself apart, Ethan breaks down what it takes to succeed in VC. He also reveals why storytelling, strategic name-dropping, and putting your own capital on the line can make all the difference in your career. Whether you're looking to break into the industry or refine your approach, Ethan's insights will help you navigate the highs and lows of venture capital success. Tune in to learn how to leverage relationships, embrace failure, and become a smarter, more resilient investor!
Key Points From This Episode:
• No straight path: a founder’s guide to a career in early-stage venture capital.
• Why empathy and people skills matter more than traditional finance experience.
• The power of networks: how relationships open doors.
• How the best investors assess risk, luck, and opportunity.
• Key traits of successful VCs, including dedication, creativity, and resilience.
• Insight into what it really takes to break into the venture capital world.
• Taking bold, unconventional action to stand out from the crowd.
• The magic of winging it, embracing failure, and just making the leap.
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27 March 2025
When choosing to invest in a company, there are a lot of elements for VCs to consider—and government policy is no exception. Today on High Stakes, we explore the role of government policy in venture capital and its impact on the industry. Joining Paige Soya to break it all down is Bruce Andrews, who has spent the last 30+ years at the intersection of business, public policy, and politics. Over his career, he’s occupied a range of consequential roles, both in government and commerce, from Deputy Secretary of the US Department of Commerce to Vice President for Global Public Policy at SoftBank. Bruce unpacks the ways government policies affect VCs, how a change in administration can impact startups, and what companies should do to prepare. He sheds light on his time at SoftBank and what it taught him about the VC industry before expanding on how the company helped startups by giving them access to government affairs experts. We also hear Bruce’s reflections on failure and success, his advice to listeners, and more. Join us for a fascinating exploration of government policy and its impact on the industry of venture capital!
Key Points From This Episode:
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
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