A $400M Fund's Contrarian Bet Against AI Startups | Denis x spectup

In this exclusive episode, we reveal why a $400M New York fund is passing on standard software loops to invest heavily in the physical industries building the future.A few days ago, Niclas Schlöpsna sat down with Denis, the visionary lead behind 2BF Global Ventures, a premier New York-based venture capital firm commanding over $400 million in assets under management. Drawing from his fifth consecutive fund and an impressive portfolio featuring market leaders like ServiceTitan and Fubo, Denis shares a contrarian investment thesis that directly opposes standard industry logic. As a former rocket scientist holding dual Master’s Degrees from the prestigious Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, he has built one of the world's most foundational global communities for SpaceTech founders.What You’ll Learn in This Video Podcast?You will learn how to align your goals with the expectations of an experienced investment fund manager.- The $400M Fund Thesis: Inside the capital allocation strategy of 2BF Global Ventures’ fifth active fund.- 11,000 Pitch Decks Decoded: The core patterns, fatal errors, and traction markers analyzed across 12 years of venture profiling.- The Frontier Tech Paradox: Why a trained rocket scientist focuses on heavy foundational industries over fleeting digital trends.- Building a SpaceTech Community: Deconstructing how specialized global networks help niche tech operators scale efficiently.- The Contrarian Investor Mindset: Overcoming standard analyst groupthink to capture exceptional value in uncrowded, high-barrier markets.About spectup:Capital advisory for companies raising from institutional investors (family office, VC, private equity) and for GPs raising a new fund and need intros to Limited partnersSubscribe for weekly startup funding advice and analysis. Tell us in the comments which part of the venture capital strategy process you want us to cover next. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit dealmakersandfakers.substack.com