DrinksWithAVC (DWAVC)
Grab a drink and join Vik (Green Cow Venture Capital) and Bree (Cooley) as they sit down with top venture capitalists to uncover the stories behind the spreadsheets. Each episode blends laughter, quirks, and candid conversation with practical frameworks founders can use to build, grow, and fundraise more successfully.
If you’re a startup founder, VC, or LP, this show helps you get to know the people you may be partnering with for the next 7–10 years. From Tuvan throat singing and mini piano playing to our signature “Fidelity Five” lightning round, you’ll discover surprising sides of the investors shaping the startup ecosystem.
We feature leaders from powerhouse firms like Bessemer, Costanoa, Scale VP, and Lightspeed, as well as emerging funds such as Touring, Better Tomorrow Ventures, Hustle Fund, and Precursor. Expect founder-tested advice, real talk about venture, and plenty of laughs along the way.
New episodes drop monthly. Pour your favorite drink and dive in.
Episodes
38 episodes
DWAVC Episode 38 | Tae Hea Nahm (Storm Ventures)
We filmed this episode back in May, before Bree welcomed a new life into the world and before Vik lost his mother. A lot has changed since then. As we release it now, it feels more relevant than ever. Drinks With a VC has always been about more...
DWAVC: Drew Glover | Ep. 37
In this episode of DrinksWithAVC, we sit down with Oakland-native Drew Glover, Co-Founder of Fiat Growth and General Partner at Fiat Ventures, for a masterclass on identity, resilience, and rewriting the rules of venture capital.
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DWAVC: Andrew Ackerman | Ep. 36
What do tiddlywinks, a quarter trick, and a failed Palantir deal have in common? They all show up in Andrew Ackerman’s one-of-a-kind path from founder to family office director, accelerator operator, and venture capitalist to now SPV syndicate ...
DWAVC: Arun Mittal | Ep. 35
In this episode of Drinks With a VC, co-hosts Vik Lakhwara and Bree Hanson are joined by Arun Mittal, co-founder of MBM Capital. Arun discusses his journey from receiving an electrical engineering degree from Stanford and co-founding Chutney Te...
DWAVC: Ben Freeberg | Ep. 34
Get ready for a rollercoaster of an episode! This week on DrinksWithAVC, Bree and Vik are joined by the multi-talented founder and GP of Oncology Ventures, Ben Freeberg. Ben shares his inspiring journey from active 24-year old pursuing a career...
DWAVC: Jeremy Kaufmann | Ep: 33
From growing up as a quiet kid in New Jersey and biking across the US in support of affordable housing, to moving west to join Salesforce and eventually becoming a partner at Scale Venture Partners, Jeremy Kaufmann shares his compassion-filled ...
DWAVC: Amy Cheetham | Ep: 32
Join us for an exciting episode featuring Amy Cheetham, partner at Costanoa Ventures. From mucking stalls in rural Maine to making the Forbes 2023 Brink List, Amy’s journey is both inspiring and insightful. Bree & Vik dive into her favorite...
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DWAVC: Leshika Samarasinghe | Ep: 31
Pour a mint julep and join us on DrinksWithAVC as we dive into the dynamic world of Leshika Samarasinghe, founder and GP at Twine Ventures. In this episode, Leshika recounts her beginnings at Google, where she was instrumental in developing cor...
DWAVC: Priya Saiprasad | Ep. 30
Pour your favorite champagne and join us in toasting Touring Capital's co-founder and GP, Priya Saiprasad! Learn how Priya's nomadic childhood created her superpower, how she took the leap from established firms like M12 and Softbank Vision to ...
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DWAVC: Dan Conner | Ep. 29
Settle in with a Sazerac for the latest installment of DrinksWithAVC, brought to you by Fidelity for Startups! Vik and Bree cover it all with St. Louis-based globe trotter, low-key adrenalin junkie, and venture capitalist Dan Conner. D...
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DWAVC: Howie Diamond | Ep. 28
Bree and Vik dive into a captivating conversation with Howie Diamond of Pure Ventures. From his early days in Chicago reminiscent of a John Hughes film to his rockstar nights drumming for Low v. Diamond on shows like Letterman and Leno, Howie's...
DWAVC: Manan Mehta | Ep. 27
Discover the profound depths of venture capitalism in this week's DWAVC with guest Manan Mehta of Unshackled Ventures. Vik and Bree explore Manan's adoption of 'curious acceptance,' his admiration for ancient and modern stoicism, and his insigh...
DWAVC: Dan Rubin | Ep. 26
Join DWAVC's latest episode for an intriguing mix of intellect and stamina, featuring Dan Rubin from Alloy Ventures. This episode delves into Dan's voracious reading habits, the relentless spirit he brings from the athletic world, and his keenn...
DWAVC: Matt Bigge | Ep. 25
Toast to St. Patrick's Day weekend with the latest DWAVC episode featuring Crosslink Capital's Matt Bigge, a decorated Army Ranger, Georgetown and Harvard Business School alumnus, and doting dad. Dive into our 'Shots with a VC' special as we ex...
DWAVC: Rishi Taparia | Ep. 24
Gear up for the weekend with DWAVC's latest episode featuring Rishi Tiparia from Garuda Ventures. Bree and Vik sit down with Vik's old friend and venture capital colleague to dissect the nuances of Seed investing and what Garuda Ventures looks ...
DWAVC: Kobie Fuller | Ep. 23
DrinksWithAVC welcomes Kobie Fuller of Upfront Ventures, merging the worlds of athletic excellence and venture capital. Bree and producer Reyn delve into Kobie's history as a record-setting athlete and explore how the competitive spirit and dis...
DWAVC: Anoushka Vaswani | Ep. 22
DrinksWithAVC swings into the new year spotlighting Anoushka Vaswani of Lightspeed Venture Partners, the 'OG of PLG'. With accolades spanning from her lauded academic journey at Columbia and Harvard to shaping strategies at McKinsey and Matrix ...
DWAVC: Ben Narasin | Ep. 21
Holiday cheers with a visionary on Drinks With A VC featuring Ben Narasin of Tenacity Venture Capital. Tracing back to his roots as an e-commerce pioneer with Fashionmall.com, Ben shares tales of early-stage triumphs, from DropCam to Kabbage. V...
DWAVC: Kate Shillo Beardsley | Ep. 20
Episode twenty of DrinksWithAVC launches with venture virtuoso Kate Shillo Beardsley. Join us as Kate shares her journey from bartending to becoming a Managing Partner at Upslope Ventures and a pivotal figure at Lerer Hippeau Ventures. Vik and ...
DWALP?: Eric Sippel | Ep. 19
DrinksWithAVC serves up episode nineteen with a refreshing twist, featuring their inaugural Limited Partner guest, Eric Sippel. Esteemed philanthropist and Chair of Bay Area Goodwill, the former COO of Eastborn Capital Management, Eric offers a...
DWAVC: Jim Dugan | Ep. 18
DrinksWithAVC chugs along, introducing episode eighteen with Jim Dugan, CEO & Managing Partner of OCA Ventures, harmonizing EMPATHY, PASSION, DETERMINATION, HUMANITY, and a touch of FRANK SINATRA. With 23 years of venture experience, Jim ha...
DWAVC: Lan Xuezhao | Ep. 17
DrinksWithAVC presents episode seventeen, featuring the trailblazing Dr. Lan Xuezhao, Founding Partner of Basis Set Ventures, a firm making waves with its women-led team. Lan's impressive background spans from spearheading the Corporate Develop...
DWAVC: Matt McCall | Ep. 16
Episode sixteen of DrinksWithAVC features standout guest, Matt McCall of Pritzker Group, lauded as one of the top 100 VCs in the U.S. and recognized as a power player in media and Hollywood. Vik and Bree delve into Matt's political roots, discu...
