Episode 28 - Cheryl Cheng, Founder & CEO of VIVE

🎙️ Welcome to this insightful episode featuring Cheryl Cheng, founder and CEO of Vive Collective, as she joins Norm Volsky to delve into the dynamic world of venture capital. With a background steeped in finance and venture capital, Cheryl shares her invaluable experiences from her time at Blue Run Ventures, shedding light on the intricacies of the industry. Throughout the conversation, Cheryl underscores the importance of grasping the business side of venture capital and navigating the unique challenges within healthcare. She offers her perspective on investment strategies, emphasizing transparency and collaboration as essential components of the process. Cheryl explores the qualities she seeks in founders, stressing the significance of integrity, maturity, and practicality, particularly in the healthcare sector. Furthermore, she provides invaluable advice for entrepreneurs navigating fundraising in a competitive market, while also addressing the vital aspects of maintaining wellness amidst the demands of the job. As the discussion unfolds, Cheryl shares her takeaways and insights, touching upon crucial elements such as market timing, leadership, and the significance of emotional intelligence in the VC landscape. Additionally, she outlines her areas of interest for investments, including pharma tech, back-office, and oncology spaces. Join us for a deep dive into the world of venture capital, where Cheryl Cheng's wealth of knowledge offers invaluable guidance for both investors and entrepreneurs alike. Don't miss out on this enriching conversation! Chapters:Cheryl's Background and Venture Experience03:18Lessons from Blue Run Ventures05:34Lessons from Successful Investments08:35Lessons from Investments that Didn't Go Well11:02Starting Veev Collective26:45Building Veev Collective33:44Investments at Veev Collective44:36Transparency and Collaboration in Investing45:05Characteristics of Founders46:31Importance of Analysis, Decision-Making, and Strong Operators47:29The Need for Strong Operators in a Sluggish Market48:25Maturity and Stepping Aside for Strong Leadership49:34Integrity and Understanding the Business in Founders50:01Avoiding Scaling Too Quickly and Understanding Healthcare51:28Defining a Great Operator52:29Building a High-Performing Team and Cross-Functional Cooperation53:54Hiring, Firing, and Leveling Up the Team55:03The Importance of Emotional Intelligence in VC56:08Organizational Issues in Tech Companies57:12Advice for Founders Raising Money in a Difficult Market58:40Fundraising Process and Managing Existing Board and Investors01:01:30Areas of Interest for Investments01:05:07Balancing a Stressful Job with Wellness01:09:55Healthy Recipes and CommunityFollow, connect and subscribe:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/digital-health-heavyweights-podcastYoutube: https://youtube.com/@DigitalHealthHeavyweightsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/digitalhealthheavyweights/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@heavyweightspodcast