Breaking Into Venture—No Straight Paths, Just Bold Moves | Ethan Austin

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.