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Connie Loizos & Alex Gove
  • 4.7 (23)
  • TECH NEWS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Each week, StrictlyVC Editor-in Chief Connie Loizos and Alex Gove, a former journalist, VC, and operating exec, review the top stories in StrictlyVC and interview a mover and shaker in the world of tech. 

  1. 1D AGO

    VC Aileen Lee Still Sees the Most Promise in Mundane Tech

    In this episode TechCrunch Editor in Chief, Connie Loizos, is joined by Aileen Lee the founder of Cowboy Ventures. Aileen coined the term "unicorn" in a TechCrunch article all the way back in late 2013. In this conversation, they discuss what’s on the horizon for Cowboy Ventures and how she’s thinking about AI’s impact on job creation, automation, and new business models—while also giving listeners a glimpse into Cowboy’s own recent team changes. Chapters: 00:00 - Introduction 04:30 - The Startup Liquidity Crisis and Venture Capital Overload 06:59 - The Secondary Market and Startup Exits 12:00 - Investing in "Unsexy Tech" 19:46 - Changes at Cowboy Ventures and Team Transitions 21:30 - The Workforce of the Future and AI’s Role 31:25 - AI’s Role in Reviving Consumer Tech 34:21 - AI’s Potential to Reinvent Everyday Processes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    35 min

  2. MAR 5

    Can Kevin Rose and Alexis Ohanian bring Digg back?

    In this week's episode, Connie Loizos is joined by Kevin Rose, best known for founding Digg. The news aggregator changed the way people engaged with the news back in 2004, and it's apparently coming back. That’s right. Kevin joined forces with Alexis Ohanian – his former rival and the co-founder of Reddit, and Digg’s new CEO Justin Mezzell to relaunch Digg for a completely new and expanded audience. In this conversation, Rose shares the story behind repurchasing Digg, why now is the perfect moment for a comeback, and how AI will play a key role in moderating and enhancing online discourse. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    38 min

  3. FEB 26

    Chris Farmer of SignalFire is betting the venture industry will never look the same

    In this episode of StrictlyVC Download, Connie Loizos is joined by Chris Farmer, founder of SignalFire, to discuss the current state of venture capital. With many startups stuck in financial limbo and no clear path to exit, Farmer shares why he believes the industry has a structural problem. He also shares his perspective on new funding mechanisms, including secondary sales and venture buyouts, and why founders should rethink their exit strategies. Plus they touch on AI-driven investing and why having a decades worth of industry data gives SignalFire a competitive edge.  00:00 - Introduction 02:02 - Chris Farmer on SignalFire’s Investment Strategy 04:28 - The Role of Data and AI in Venture Capital 06:52 - Measuring SignalFire’s Performance and Returns 08:38 - The Liquidity Challenge in Venture Capital 10:18 - The Rise of Secondary Sales and Venture Buyouts 13:02 - Alternative Financing Models for Startups 14:00 - The Impact of Political and Economic Shifts on VC 16:33 - Closing Thoughts and Future Predictions Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    18 min

  4. FEB 18

    Slow Ventures creates a creators fund, Meta enters the humanoid bot race, and everything else you may have missed

    This week on StrictlyVC Download, we're catching our breath and catching up with all of the news that's been happening in the industry. Connie Loizos and Alex Gove are breaking down the top headlines from Slow Ventures’ new creator fund, to Meta’s step into the humanoid robot race, to the continued saga between Elon Musk and Open AI.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    22 min

  5. FEB 11

    Nirav Tolia is turning to AI to keep things neighborly on Nextdoor

    In this episode, Nextdoor CEO Nirav Tolia joins Connie and Alex to talk about the challenges of running a public company, his strategy to improve user engagement, and why he’s betting on AI and third-party content to make Nextdoor indispensable. They also get into Nextdoor's current product overhaul and whether an acquisition is on the table. Chapters: 00:00 - Introduction 03:49 - Fixing Nextdoor’s Product and User Experience 05:42 - Bringing in New Content and Third-Party Publishers 08:01 - Addressing Toxicity and User-Generated Content Challenges 12:54 - Using AI to Improve Conversations and Reduce Conflict 15:38 - Privacy, Data Use, and AI Training at Nextdoor 21:12 - Who Owns Nextdoor and Investor Confidence 23:18 - Financial Challenges and Nextdoor’s Path to Growth 26:44 - The Role of Acquisitions and Industry Consolidation 27:44 - Would Nextdoor Consider Selling? 28:43 - A Radical Reimagining of Nextdoor’s Future Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    32 min

  6. FEB 4

    Dub, an app at the intersection of TikTok and Wall Street, has teens talking

    In this episode, hosts Connie and Alex sit down with Steven Wang, the 23-year-old founder of Dub, a rapidly growing copy trading platform. Wang shares how Dub is revolutionizing retail investing by allowing users to automatically mirror the portfolios of top traders, hedge fund managers, and even politicians like Nancy Pelosi. He also dives into the challenges of navigating financial regulations, his entrepreneurial journey from dropping out of Harvard, and his vision for reshaping the asset management industry. Chapters: 00:00 - Introduction 01:57 - How Copy Trading Works 04:18 - User Demographics and Popular Portfolios 06:09 - Dub’s Growth and Fundraising 06:29 - Customer Acquisition and Marketing Strategies 07:37 - Influencers, Hedge Funds, and Monetization 12:39 - Regulation and Compliance Challenges 15:29 - Social Investing vs. Traditional Investing 17:56 - Risk, Education, and Investor Behavior 19:56 - Dub’s Business Model and Revenue Streams 22:50 - Expansion Plans and Future Innovations 26:04 - Steven’s Entrepreneurial Journey 30:53 - Regulation’s Role in Fintech Innovation 31:47 - Investing, Gambling, and Market Accessibility Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    35 min

  7. JAN 28

    As Boom breaks the sound barrier, founder Blake Scholl says supersonic travel is around the corner

    In this episode, we sit down with Blake Scholl, CEO of Boom Supersonic, to discuss the company’s ambitious mission to revolutionize commercial aviation. From developing the Overture, a supersonic airliner, to embracing sustainable aviation fuels, Blake shares how Boom plans to make faster, greener air travel a reality. They also discuss their recent test flights, with plans to break the sound barrier over the Mojave Desert. Chapters: 00:00 - Introduction and Boom Supersonic’s Mission 02:11 - Landscape of Supersonic Aviation Today 04:09 - Balancing Consumer and Defense Markets 08:10 - Sustainable Aviation Fuels and Environmental Impact 12:06 - Challenges in Scaling Sustainable Fuel Production 15:53 - Innovation Stagnation in Commercial Aviation 18:02 - The Need for Entrepreneurial Rebirth in Aviation 20:55 - The XB-1: Boom’s Prototype Supersonic Jet 24:12 - Breaking the Sound Barrier: XB-1 Test Plans 28:06 - Overcoming Regulatory and Noise Challenges 30:27 - Funding Boom Supersonic: The Road Ahead 32:19 - Closing Remarks and Future Aspirations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    33 min

  8. JAN 17

    Fifth Wall’s Brendan Wallace on wildfires, insurance, and the unquenchable demand for data centers

    In this episode, Brendan Wallace of Fifth Wall Ventures shares his insights on the transformative power of PropTech in addressing modern challenges like sustainability, housing affordability, and urban resilience. From rebuilding wildfire-stricken Los Angeles to navigating the intersection of real estate and AI-driven data centers, Wallace explores the innovations shaping the future of cities and the real estate industry. Chapters: 00:00 - Introduction 01:35 - TikTok Ban 03:35 - The Los Angeles Wildfires: 09:10 - The Role of Civic Pride in Political and Urban Change 11:05 - Insurance Challenges in California’s Real Estate Market 14:01 - Wildfires and the Changing Landscape of Real Estate Valuation 19:10 - The Future of PropTech and Wildfire Mitigation 27:39 - Data Centers, Energy Development, and the AI Revolution 30:50 - Closing Thoughts: PropTech’s Role in Building Smarter Cities Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    32 min
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    Ratings & Reviews

    4.7
    out of 5
    23 Ratings

    About

    Each week, StrictlyVC Editor-in Chief Connie Loizos and Alex Gove, a former journalist, VC, and operating exec, review the top stories in StrictlyVC and interview a mover and shaker in the world of tech. 

    Information

    • Creator
      Connie Loizos & Alex Gove
    • Years Active
      2020 - 2025
    • Episodes
      167
    • Rating
      Clean
    • Copyright
      © 2024 StrictlyVC, LLC
    • Show Website
      StrictlyVC Download

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