Building a Fund Around Founder Empathy and Regional Needs

Not every startup is built to become a unicorn, and forcing founders into that mold can undermine the business they are actually building. In this episode of "The Innovation Imperative," Patrick Driscoll and Partner Danielle Price sit down with Aurelia Edwards, co-founder and general partner of Edin Capital, to discuss her journey from founder and operator to emerging venture capital fund manager. Ms. Edwards shares how her experience raising capital and building startups influenced Edin Capital's founder-first investment philosophy. She reflects on watching founders relocate to Miami in search of venture funding, only to feel pressure to reshape their businesses to fit a Silicon Valley venture capital model that did not align with their goals, markets or long-term potential. She also discusses the importance of understanding regional markets, supporting founders beyond capital and building investment strategies that generate both financial returns and community impact.