The Rise by Nucleus

Alex Klein
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  • Investing
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The Rise tells the stories of the builders shaping the future of venture. From first-time fund managers to operator angels and LPs, each conversation explores what it really takes to raise, invest, and win at the early stage. Created by Nucleus Talent, this is where the next generation learns from each other.

Episodes

  1. 12/24/2025

    Story as Leverage: From Glossier to Coalition w/ Ashley MayerAshley Mayer

    Ashley Mayer is a Co-Founder and General Partner at Coalition, an early stage venture firm powered by active operators. Coalition invests at the Pre-Seed and Seed and is obsessed with connecting founders in their portfolio and beyond with world class operating talent. In this episode, Ashley shares her path from Box during IPO prep, to shaping narrative at Social Capital, to helping build Glossier, and ultimately starting Coalition. We discuss storytelling as a true competitive advantage, messaging versus story market fit, intentional cap table design, and why we are in a particularly sloppy era for startup storytelling. Ashley also shares advice for first-time angels and emerging managers. A grounded conversation on narrative, conviction, and building companies and funds with intention. Learn More About Nucleus: https://nucleustalent.io/ Follow Alex: https://x.com/alexklein0x  Timestamps: 00:00 - Welcome to The Rise 01:41 - Why storytelling matters 03:38 - Lessons from Box and Social Capital 07:26 - Glossier and consumer storytelling 10:11 - Founding Coalition 21:05 - Intentional cap tables 25:02 - Human energy and company building 25:58 - Messaging versus story market fit 29:35 - First-time versus repeat founders 31:17- Expertise, AI, and credibility 38:30 - The sloppy era of storytelling 40:05 - Advice for emerging managers 45:23 - One company Ashley admires 46:20 - An emerging manager to watch 47:20 - Closing #venturecapital #investing #podcast #vc #startup #tech

    48 min

  2. 12/19/2025

    Michael Gilroy on Founding Marathon, the Rule of 200, and the Future of Fintech

    Michael Gilroy is the Founding Partner at Marathon. In this episode, we unpack Michael’s path from Canaan to Coatue and the decision to launch Marathon alongside Gokul Rajaram. We dive deep into the Rule of 200, Michael’s framework for evaluating fintech companies, how he thinks about global fintech expansion, what it takes to build a four-pillar investment team, where he sees Marathon a decade from now, and his advice for emerging fund managers building enduring firms. Learn More About Nucleus: https://nucleustalent.io/ Follow Alex: https://x.com/alexklein0x  Timestamps: 0:00 - Welcome Michael Gilroy To The Rise 00:59 - 2025 as the year of the spinout 05:16 - Founding Marathon 10:00 - Hosting startups inside the Marathon office 12:30 - Why building in different geographies matters 13:25 - What an ideal Marathon company looks like 17:57 - Michael’s path into venture capitall 28:00 - Getting hired at Coatue 34:30 - Investing in Mercury and broader fintech trends 37:59 - The rise of angel investing among founders 40:05 - The Rule of 200 43:35 - Challenges of global expansion in fintech 46:50 - How Michael defines his investment style 49:54 - The four partners at Marathon and building the firm 56:00 - The fintech white paper 57:30 - Marathon in 10 years 01:00:16 - Rapid fire: one founder to back, one LP you’re grateful for 01:01:54 - Advice for emerging managers 1:05:20 - Which firm Michael would prioritize getting allocation in 1:07:00 - Thanks for joining, Michael #venturecapital #investing #podcast #vc #startup #tech

    1h 7m

  3. 12/03/2025

    The Rise of Work-Bench: Inside the $375M Enterprise Fund w/ Jonathan Lehr

    Jonathan Lehr is the Co-Founder and General Partner of Work-Bench, the NYC early-stage enterprise firm managing $375M across four funds with investments in companies such as Socure, Spring Health, and Cockroach Labs. In this conversation, we walk through the origin story of Work-Bench, how the team planted a flag in New York’s enterprise ecosystem, the role of community in their model, and the experience of navigating institutional LPs as an emerging manager. Jonathan also shares how Work-Bench evaluates early GTM strength, lessons from backing category-defining companies, and what is ahead as the firm raises Fund IV. Learn More About Nucleus: https://nucleustalent.io/ Follow Alex: https://x.com/alexklein0x Timestamps: 0:00 — Welcome Jonathan Lehr to The Rise 0:45 — Planting the Flag in NYC’s Enterprise Ecosystem 3:03 — The Enterprise Tech Meetup: Bridging Corporates and Startups 5:39 — Raising Fund I to $160M: The Early Grind 7:44 — How NYC’s Tech Landscape Evolved 9:58 — Institutional LPs: Navigating Process, Challenges, and Momentum 14:55 — Portfolio Deep Dive: Spring Health and Socure 24:05 — How Work-Bench Evaluates Startups & GTM Strength 26:12 — Community as a Durable Moat 31:23 — Go-to-Market Lessons From the Portfolio 33:53 — Preparing Founders for the Series A 40:16 — Raising Fund IV: What’s Changing 44:42 — Shoutouts & Emerging Managers to Watch 48:30 — Thank You Jonathan — Like & Subscribe #venturecapital #investing #podcast #vc #startup #tech

    49 min

  4. 11/11/2025

    Turner Novak: Building Banana Capital and a Following That Compounds

    Turner Novak is the founder and solo GP of Banana Capital and the host of The Peel Pod, with guests spanning from Benchmark’s Eric Vishria and Cendana’s Mike Kim to Weekend Fund’s Ryan Hoover and Sweetgreen’s founder and CEO, Jonathan Neman. From his beginnings in Winnipeg to building Banana Capital out of Ann Arbor, Turner has become one of the most recognizable and trusted voices in venture, known for pairing curiosity and humor with real conviction. He’s built a following of hundreds of thousands and a portfolio that includes BeReal, ScienceIO, Bee, Chainguard, and more. On this episode of The Rise, Turner unpacks the origin of Banana, the flywheel behind his personal brand, and how he’s built a reputation for speed, transparency, and founder trust. Learn More About Nucleus: https://nucleustalent.io/ Follow Alex: https://x.com/alexklein0x  Timestamps: 0:00 – welcome turner novak to the rise 0:48 – from winnipeg to venture 2:15 – building banana capital from scratch 5:32 – discovering the power of social 9:41 – creating the peel pod and landing top guests 13:50 – portfolio wins: bereal, scienceio, bee, chainguard, and more 17:22 – the art of moving fast and earning trust 21:03 – raising institutional capital and lessons learned 25:26 – how social compounds into deal flow 29:17 – what founders really want from investors 33:08 – what’s next for banana capital #venturecapital #investing #podcast #vc #startup #tech

    39 min

  5. 11/07/2025

    Inside Also Capital: Mike Annunziata on Conviction, Builders, and the Future of Hard Tech

    At Also Capital, Mike Annunziata partners with founders solving the hardest problems in space, energy, and advanced manufacturing. His portfolio includes Radiant Nuclear, Northwood Space, and Varda Space Industries where he serves on the board. We talk about the mindset behind conviction investing, the role of trust in early partnerships, and and what it means to be the first call for frontier builders. Learn More About Nucleus: https://nucleustalent.io/ Follow Alex: https://x.com/alexklein0x  Timestamps: 0:00 – Welcome Mike Annunziata to The Rise 0:45 – Early influences and what shaped his mindset as an investor 2:20 – From Soros Fund Management to founding Also Capital 6:05 – Backing the next generation of Hard Tech founders 10:12 – Inside the portfolios of Varda Space, Radiant, K2 Space, Northwood, and ConductorAI 14:18 – Serving on the board at Varda Space and staying close to the build 18:07 – Conviction before consensus: how Mike makes early calls 23:26 – The role of trust and partnership in company building 28:35 – Building Also Capital as a firm with long-term gravity 33:42 – Lessons from operating and investing in frontier sectors 39:50 – How the next era of Hard Tech will be built 44:55 – Rapid-fire questions 47:30 – Closing reflections and advice for emerging managers #venturecapital #investing #podcast #vc #startup #tech

    1h 5m

  6. 11/04/2025

    The Billion Dollar Fund Built On Innovation and Impact w/ Craig Shapiro of Collab Fund

    Craig Shapiro is the Founder & Managing Partner at Collaborative Fund. Founded in 2010, Collab Fund focuses on early-stage investments that intersect profit and positive social impact, particularly in the areas of food, climate, health, and finance. Investments include Sweetgreen, Beyond Meat, Reddit, Lyft, & more. In this conversation, we discuss Collab's successful portfolio, their $200 billion climate fund, the Shared Future Fund, a new AI residency in New York City, the evolution of New York's venture ecosystem and the importance of mission-driven investments. Learn More About Nucleus: https://nucleustalent.io/ Follow Alex: https://x.com/alexklein0x  Timestamps: 0:00 - Welcome Craig Shapiro to The Rise 1:00  - The Mantra: Better for Me and Better for the World 2:22 - Starting Collab Fund in New York 4:38 - The Evolution of the New York Venture Ecosystem 8:04- Success Stories: Portfolio Companies 14:45 - The Beyond Meat Investment 23:54 - Fundraising Challenges and Early Supporters 28:58 - Institutional Investors and Fund Growth, AI Partnerships 33:09 - Graffiti Art and Collaborative Fund 34:45 - Partnership with Sesame Street 37:47 - AI Residency Program 40:51 - Crypto Spin-Out: Collab Currency 47:56 - Mission-Driven Investment Approach 52:46 - Advice for Emerging Managers 57:35 - Future of Collaborative Fund 1:05:00 - Thanks Craig For Joining! Like & Subscribe #venturecapital #investing #podcast #vc #startup #tech

    1h 5m

  7. 10/30/2025

    Keith Rabois on What It Takes to Be #1 in Venture | The Rise x Nucleus100

    The Rise kicks off with the launch of the Nucleus100, the new benchmark for early-stage performance. Leading the list is Keith Rabois, a rare investor who led early in Ramp and Faire and built a career backing generational founders. From PayPal and Square to Founders Fund and Khosla, Keith has set the standard for outlier investing. We cover how he built that record, what drives conviction, and his advice for the next generation in venture. Learn More About Nucleus: https://nucleustalent.io/ Follow Alex: https://x.com/alexklein0x  Timestamps: 0:00 - Welcome Keith Rabois - #1 On The Nucleus100 02:08 - Ramp Investment Story 09:18 - The Era of AI and Young Founders 13:45 - Backing Emerging Managers 16:48 - Advice for Aspiring VCs 21:01 - The Importance of Early Investments 30:25 - Fair Investment Journey 35:34 - Conviction and Competition in Startups 40:10 - The Importance of Talent and Team Building 44:48 - Evaluating Talent and Finding an Edge 48:13 - The Role of a Venture Capitalist 52:43 - Hiring and Building a Strong Team 57:37 - Keith's Time Management & Prioritization 01:00:19 - Future Trends 01:03:12- Thanks Keith For Joining The Rise! #venturecapital #investing #podcast #vc #startup #tech

    1h 7m

  8. 10/26/2025

    The Rise: Amanda Robson from Cowboy Ventures to Founding Modern Technical Fund

    Amanda “Robby” Robson is the Founder and Managing Partner of Modern Technical Fund, a $22M debut seed fund backing deeply technical founders in infrastructure, security, and software. In this episode, Robby shares her journey from banking to Norwest and Cowboy Ventures to launching MTF, her disciplined approach to early-stage investing, lessons from building high-impact founder communities, and how she’s redefining what a modern, founder-first seed firm looks like. Learn More About Nucleus: https://nucleustalent.io/ Follow Alex: https://x.com/alexklein0x  0:00 - Welcome Robby To The Rise! 0:30 - Robby Going To Cowboy Ventures 3:04 - Early Career and Venture Capital Journey 6:00 - Technical Founders and Investment Strategy 8:30- AI and Cybersecurity Investments 09:53 - Israeli Venture Ecosystem 13:16 - Joining Cowboy Ventures 16:27 - Investment Philosophy and Diligence 28:45 - Fundraising Challenges and LP Relationships 31:36 - First Big Believer and Community Building 37:05 - Building Purpose-Driven Communities 44:12 - Day in the Life of a Fund Manager 52:18 - Advice for Emerging Managers 53:41 - Connecting with Like-Minded Individuals 56:00 - Thanks Robby For Joining! Like & Subscribe #venturecapital #investing #podcast #vc #startup #tech

    57 min

  9. 10/23/2025

    The Fortune of Reinvention: Aydin Senkut on Building Felicis and Betting on the Next Generation

    Aydin Senkut is the Founder and Managing Partner of Felicis Ventures and shares the story behind building it into one of the most admired firms in venture, with 19 IPOs, 27 unicorn exits, 31 active unicorns, and 245 portfolio companies. He explains how Felicis operates in founder mode, moves with conviction and speed, and builds deep alignment with the founders it backs. Aydin reflects on why reinvention beats pattern recognition, how his Google roots shaped his approach to investing & firm building, and what drove the decision to bring on Peter Deng, former VP of Product at OpenAI and CPO at Airtable. We also touch on recent AI bets like Supabase and Mercor, and close with how Felicis is approaching hiring and Aydin’s advice to emerging managers getting started today. Learn More About Nucleus: https://nucleustalent.io/Follow Alex: https://x.com/alexklein0x Timestamps: 0:00 - Welcome Aydin Senkut to The Rise 2:13 - Felicis Ventures: Philosophy and Success Stories 07:39 - The Founder Development Pledge 10:47 - The Importance of Founder-Led Firms 13:49 - Aydin’s Early Days at Google 22:58 - Reinvention and Strategy at Felicis 29:47 - Building a Winning Team Culture 30:18 - Overcoming Adversity and Celebrating Wins 31:54 - The Importance of People in Business 32:32 - Identifying and Supporting Outliers 35:11 - Felicis’ Team and Growth Strategy 37:02 - The Role of AI and New York Expansion 50:43 - Advice for Aspiring Venture Capitalists 56:06 - The Future of Venture Capital and Emerging Managers 58:28 - Rapid Fire and Closing Thoughts 59:30 - Thanks Aydin For Joining! Like & Subscribe #venturecapital #investing #vc #startup #tech

    1 hr
  • 9 Episodes

About

The Rise tells the stories of the builders shaping the future of venture. From first-time fund managers to operator angels and LPs, each conversation explores what it really takes to raise, invest, and win at the early stage. Created by Nucleus Talent, this is where the next generation learns from each other.

Information

  • Creator
    Alex Klein
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    9
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Alex Klein
  • Show Website
    The Rise by Nucleus