Fireside with a VC

Andrew Romans
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Andrew Romans, General Partner of 7BC Venture Capital, 3x author, and university professor, talks to VCs, founders and other VC-startup ecosystem players about all things venture capital, startups, entrepreneurship, technology, CVC, and big corporate tech titans.

  1. Building the Future of Manufacturing with AI – Insights from Tyson Tuttle (former CEO of $8B acquisition of Austin’s Silicon Labs)

    APR 4

    Building the Future of Manufacturing with AI – Insights from Tyson Tuttle (former CEO of $8B acquisition of Austin’s Silicon Labs)

    Fireside with a VC E131: Discover how Tyson Tuttle, CEO of Circuit AI, is leveraging AI to revolutionize manufacturing, supply chain, and enterprise workflows. This conversation covers strategic company growth, technological innovation, and the future trajectory of AI-enabled industrial solutions. · Tyson Tuttle's journey from semiconductor leadership to AI entrepreneurship · The application of AI in manufacturing and supply chain optimization · Strategies for go-to-market, customer engagement, and scaling of AI solutions · The role of VC funding, growth plans, and long-term vision for Circuit AI · Insights into Texas's evolving financial and manufacturing ecosystem · Tyson shares his experience leading Silicon Labs through $3.5B IPO and $8B acquisition · Details Circuit AI’s focus on automating technical workflows within manufacturing · How AI transforms complex sales processes, CPQ, and technical data management · The importance of land-and-expand strategies inenterprise AI deployment 00:00 - Introduction: Tyson Tuttle’s background and recent successes02:29 - Silicon Labs IPO and strategic pivot into IoT04:51 - Transition from hardware to AI software solutions07:14 - Founding Circuit AI with co-founder Matt Weiss09:09 - Building a strong leadership team and company culture 11:23 - Circuit AI’s focus: Enabling manufacturing with AI12:52 - The value of AI in technical document understanding and automation 14:21 - Targeting manufacturing and supply chain for AI application 15:38 - Impact of AI on manufacturing workforce and productivity18:05 - Automating front-end sales workflows with AI (CPQ & quotes)19:58 - Reducing manual workflows, onboarding, and scale strategies23:01 - Use cases: Contract review and document analysis in supply chain24:37 - Long sales cycles in manufacturing and strategies to shorten them26:46 - Land-and-expand approach with large manufacturing clients28:08 - Cost savings and productivity improvements (Culligan case study)29:55 - Importance of user adoption and ROI in AI deployment31:21 - VC interest in rejuvenating American manufacturing33:28 - Differentiators: Vertical focus, manufacturing-specific solutions35:23 - Company financing and future fundraising plans36:39 - Vision for Circuit AI: Growth, customer acquisition, and vertical expansion38:05 - Implementation and scaling of AI-powered CPQ systems41:23 - Building Texas's financial ecosystem via Texas Stock Exchange44:27 - Texas's advantages over traditional markets and regulatory environment 45:47 - Closing remarks: Exciting outlook for AI-driven manufacturing · Circuit AI https://www.circuit.ai/ · Texas Stock Exchange andrew@7bc.vc          If you are a VC or LP join the next 7BC European Roadshow with stops in Frankfurt, Munich, Zurich, Geneva and Monaco this June. ⁠https://www.7bc.vc/events

    47 min
  2. E130: VC Secondaries — ROFRs, SPVs, Fees, and How Not to Get Blocked

    FEB 24

    E130: VC Secondaries — ROFRs, SPVs, Fees, and How Not to Get Blocked

    In this episode of Fireside with a VC, Andrew Romans explains how VC secondaries really work in large private companies — and how buyers and sellers can avoid common mistakes. We cover: · Secondaries vs. primaries · Stock transfer permissions and why deals get blocked · ROFRs and the ROFR price · Direct to cap table vs. layered SPV structures · How to calculate the all-in cost (with or without carry) · Fake brokers, daisy chains, and wasted time · Liquidity post-investment This episode draws on 20 years of experience, 70 SPVs, and five pooled VC funds. 🎙️ More episodes: https://www.7bc.vc/podcast 👉 Events: https://www.7bc.vc/events✅ Apply: https://lu.ma/user/usr-8Y0b18KjVLZhAPm📩 Contact Andrew: andrew@7bc.vc Important: This content is for informational and relationship management purposes only. It is not an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any security. Any offering will be made only to eligible investors, through private communications, pursuant to applicable offering documents, and only where permitted by law.

    30 min
  3. E129 — Silicon Valley Real Estate – Selling Google their first building - Barry DiRaimondo, CEO, SteelWave

    FEB 11

    E129 — Silicon Valley Real Estate – Selling Google their first building - Barry DiRaimondo, CEO, SteelWave

    E129 — Silicon Valley Real Estate – Selling Google their first building - Barry DiRaimondo, CEO, SteelWave In this episode of Fireside with a VC, I sit down with Barry DiRaimondo to understand the history, present and future of Silicon Valley real-estate market from a lifetime veteran who sold Google their first building.   The story of selling Google their HQ buildingIs Commercial RE a hard asset, a financial asset, or asocial asset?What is the difference between design and architecture?How has the workplace evolved over time?How technology real estate differs from other real estate. How to think about risk? What types of risks CAN be underwritten and what types CAN'T be underwritten? Lessons learned from those that CAN'T be underwritten?The future of the industry going forward and compare that towhere its been.Upcoming live events — Global VC Demo Day (VC–LP Tour) 👉 Register and view dates: https://www.7bc.vc/events📌 Next stops include: Dallas, Zurich, Geneva, Munich, San Francisco, Austin, New York, Singapore, Berlin, and London.Apply to attend: https://lu.ma/user/usr-8Y0b18KjVLZhAPm All episodes: https://www.7bc.vc/podcastWatch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/IGbVQYRDV0k?si=d7SgBXcHYHs1jpW_Contact Andrew Romans if you are an active LP interested in investing in VC funds and would like to join us at VIP luncheons, dinners, or Global VC Demo Day events. andrew@7bc.vc

    1 hr
  4. E128 — Biju Ashokan (CEO, Radius): AI-native operating system for real estate brokers

    JAN 22

    E128 — Biju Ashokan (CEO, Radius): AI-native operating system for real estate brokers

    In this episode of Fireside with a VC, I sit down with Biju Ashokan, CEO of Radius, to unpack how AI and automation are reshaping the real estate agent workflow—from lead to close. We discuss: · How AI and automation can help agents buy or sell five times more properties per year (in the right operating model). · What an “always-on” assistant looks like: proactively sourcing inventory, matching buyers and sellers, drafting complex documents, and handling back office tasks—so agents can spend more time on relationships and closing. · What is changing in the US real estate and brokerage industry. · Why the number of agents may decrease, while productivity and income per agent may rise. Learn more about Radius · Website: https://www.radiusagent.com/ · Contact: Biju Ashokan (CEO) — biju@radiusagent.com Upcoming live events — Global VC Demo Day (VC–LP Tour)👉 Register and view dates: https://www.7bc.vc/events📌 Next stops include: Dallas, Zurich, Geneva, Munich, San Francisco, Austin, New York, Singapore, Berlin, and London.Apply to attend: https://lu.ma/user/usr-8Y0b18KjVLZhAPm · All episodes: https://www.7bc.vc/podcast · Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/PSX2bxFjNr4 Contact Andrew Romans if you are an active LP interested in investing in VC funds and would like to join us at VIP luncheons, dinners, or Global VC Demo Day events. andrew@7bc.vc

    43 min
  5. E127 AI-native all-in-one CRM | Simo Lemhandez, CEO, Folk on Fireside with a VC

    JAN 9

    E127 AI-native all-in-one CRM | Simo Lemhandez, CEO, Folk on Fireside with a VC

    In this episode of Fireside with a VC, I sit down with Simo Lemhandez, CEO, Folk We discuss: CRM built today with native-AI technology. How one CRM draws data from email, CRM, WhatsApp, meeting notes and more. Integrating data enrichment, mining your data, sending email sequences and follow up reminders all in one dynamic application. How CRM can become a virtual assistant. Allowing CRM to do much of your busy work combining many expensive static software suites into one central application. Start your 2-week free trial here: https://www.folk.app/.   Upcoming Live Events  Global VC Demo Day VC–LP tour 👉 Register here: https://www.7bc.vc/events 📌 Next stops on our global tour include Dallas, Zurich, Geneva, Munich, San Francisco, Austin, New York, Singapore, Berlin, and London. Check dates and availability: https://www.7bc.vc/events. Apply to attend our upcoming events: https://lu.ma/user/usr-8Y0b18KjVLZhAPm Find all Fireside with a VC episodes at: https://www.7bc.vc/podcast. Find this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/cCWlvnVJirY.   Contact Andrew Romans if you are an active LP seeking to invest in VC funds and would like to join us at any of our VIP luncheons, dinners, or sunset yacht cruises, or Global VC Demo Day events.

    27 min
  6. E126| Fabrice Grinda, General Partner, FJ Labs | AI valuations angel at scale

    12/04/2025

    E126| Fabrice Grinda, General Partner, FJ Labs | AI valuations angel at scale

    In this episode of Fireside with a VC, I sit down with FabriceGrinda, founder of FJ Labs investing in seed at scale : 3 investments per week We discuss: Valuations of AI Seed to Series A startups All things market places, take rates, valuations, exits Secondaries, how to sell, when and how much Take rates and how to layer revenue on a marketplace Why the seed VC market outperforms the growth market   Global VC Demo Day Miami – Art Basel 👉Register here: https://luma.com/ulz95tfo Contact Andrew Romans if you are an active LP seeking toinvest in VC funds and would like to join us at any of our VIP luncheons, dinners, or sunset yacht cruise during Art Basel Miami, December 4–7, 2025. 📌 Next stops on our global VC–LP tour include Dallas, Zurich, Geneva, Munich, San Francisco, Austin, New York, Singapore, Berlin, and London. Check dates and availability: https://www.7bc.vc/eventsApply to attend our upcoming events: https://lu.ma/user/usr-8Y0b18KjVLZhAPm

    57 min
  7. E125 | Arvin Grover, General Partner, Digital Health Venture Partners – AI in Healthcare

    11/12/2025

    E125 | Arvin Grover, General Partner, Digital Health Venture Partners – AI in Healthcare

    In this episode of Fireside with a VC, I sit down with Arvin Grover, General Partner at Digital Health Venture Partners (DHVP), to dive into how AI is reshaping healthcare and where the biggest opportunities are for founders and investors. We discuss: · Why roughly 22% of the healthcare sector has adopted AI compared to 9% in the broader economy · The most compelling use cases for AI across the healthcare value chain · How targeted AI solutions and sector-focused innovation can rejuvenate America’s competitiveness · What it takes for a digital health–focused venture fund to thrive (or fail) under shifting market conditions 📧  Connect with ArvinLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/arvin-grover/Email: arvin@dhvp.ioWatch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/uB9xhrFQVe8 Meet Arvin Grover at 7BC’s Global VC Demo Day in Miami during Art Basel on December 4, 2025, alongside 100+ VCs, family offices, institutional investors, HNWIs, startups, and more. Join us for a 2-hour networking reception following 7 hand-selected VCs presenting their funds. 👉 Register here: https://luma.com/ulz95tfo Contact Andrew Romans if you are an active LP seeking to invest in VC funds and would like to join us at any of our VIP luncheons, dinners, or sunset yacht cruise during Art Basel Miami, December 4–7, 2025. 📌 Next stops on our global VC–LP tour include Dallas, Dubai, San Francisco, Austin, New York, Singapore, Berlin, and London.Check dates and availability: https://www.7bc.vc/eventsApply to attend our upcoming events: https://lu.ma/user/usr-8Y0b18KjVLZhAPm

    25 min

  8. 11/04/2025

    How VC Fund of Funds (FoF) Work

    This video explains how a VC Fund of Funds (FoF) works. It explains how we raise LP capital from investors, how cash is paid into the fund and how cash is paid back to LPs. I explain how the management fees and carry work, how this compares to a classic VC fund that invests directly in startups, how the risk is lower, how the payments back to LPs are expected to be much steadiers, multiples, and other ways to compare an FoF to a VC fund and how they work together.

    20 min
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Ratings & Reviews

4
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

Andrew Romans, General Partner of 7BC Venture Capital, 3x author, and university professor, talks to VCs, founders and other VC-startup ecosystem players about all things venture capital, startups, entrepreneurship, technology, CVC, and big corporate tech titans.

Information

  • Creator
    Andrew Romans
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    137
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Andrew Romans
  • Show Website
    Fireside with a VC