#145 Climate x Industrial Automation, Climate Storytelling, Changing Cap Table Construction, & More w/ Jay Kapoor (VSC Ventures)

On this episode, we interview Jay Kapoor, General Partner at VSC Ventures. VSC Ventures is a Seed-stage VC fund focusing on climate adaptation and industrial automation. Their central thesis is that although starting a company is becoming easier, its becoming harder and harder to get noticed. Their solution? Storytelling. Confused? Listen to this episode – you won’t be disappointed.Jay needs no introduction – he has a podcast himself, comes from a VC and media background, and left a lasting impression on us as one of the most well-spoken guests we've ever had.---🌎 If you'd like to see the full PodLetter, go to our substack to see all the written content that supplements the audio interview.  ---🚨🚨🚨 Shoutout to our sponsor Net Zero Insights — Net Zero Insights is the leading market intelligence platform on climate information with all the latest you need on funding rounds, VCs, and the climate tech ecosystem. Use this link to schedule your demo and get a 10% discount!! 🚨🚨🚨---📺 👀 Prefer to watch: Subscribe on YouTube.Want to be part of the community and engage further? Check out the Slack Channel. Topics: **5:50 Focus on Industrial Automation**9:39 The Intersection of Industrial Automation and Climate**15:26 Augmentation vs Replacement in Automation**17:23 The Importance of Good Storytelling in Automation**20:03 Jay’s Accidental Transition to Climate Investing**25:40 Engaging with Government and Incumbents**34:28 Founder/Market Fit: Founders from The Industry**40:24 Impact on Fundraising and Time Horizons; Fund Size**47:50 The Importance of Choosing the Right Investor**50:47 Changing Cap Table Construction**58:28 The Evolution of VCs' Value Prop**1:02:20 The Role of PR in Climate Investing**1:06:43 Founder vs Company Journey; Paint Jet's Story**1:11:53 The Power of Storytelling in Pitch Decks**1:17:06 Hiring and Building a Team**1:20:53 Identifying Founders Willing to AdaptLinks: **Connect with Jay | VSC Ventures**Connect with Somil | Connect with Silas**Check out our sponsor, NextWave Partners, for all your Climate, Renewables, and Sustainability recruitment needs.**This podcast is NOT investment advice. Do your homework and due diligence before investing in anything discussed on this podcast.Support the showIf you're gonna change the world, you're gonna need a world-class team. Partner with ErthTech Talent to help you do that, for less.70+ Placements5+ Years (exclusively in CleanTech)The Lowest Fees in the Market (12-15% of first-year salary)90-day placement guaranteeIt's really hard to say no to that. Wait?! -- The best service is also the cheapest? Seems too good to be true, but it's the entire reason we started this company. We believe that Climate entrepreneurs are doing important work, and there should be a firm to help them find the best talent, without it breaking the bank. Reach out today for a free assessment of your hiring process. [email protected]