Episode #3: Consumer Tech Napkin | Building great teams in consumer tech

Great consumer teams still start with the customer. AI is changing the speed, tools and team structures around them, but the fundamentals of building enduring consumer companies remain remarkably consistent.In Episode 3 of the Consumer Tech Napkin series, produced in partnership with True Global, ⁠Andreas Munk Holm⁠ speaks with ⁠Rishabh Kaul⁠ (Venture Partner at ⁠Hoxton Ventures⁠), ⁠Mike Martin⁠ (Director, Investment at ⁠True Global⁠) and ⁠Camilla Dolan⁠ (General Partner at ⁠Eka Ventures⁠).Together, they discuss the DNA of successful consumer teams, what investors look for in founders, how AI is reshaping product development, hiring and experimentation, and why customer obsession, distribution and execution continue to separate the best consumer companies from the rest.The conversation also explores defensibility in the AI era, whether consumer investing has truly changed and which consumer categories excite investors most.HighlightsWhat great consumer teams have in commonWhy customer obsession still matters mostHow AI is changing product developmentDistribution as a consumer startup superpowerWhat investors look for in consumer foundersHow to build AI-native teamsThe biggest red flags in consumer investing------Learn more about the Love Tomorrow Summit and the programmes EUVC is curating, and secure your tickets ⁠here⁠.------Timestamps(00:00) Introduction(02:00) What makes a great consumer team?(07:45) Customer obsession vs. distribution as competitive advantages(13:10) Building teams that can scale with the company(21:10) How AI is changing consumer founders and products(26:00) Can AI-native teams stay lean?(31:10) Why experimentation is becoming a competitive advantage(35:00) Hiring in the AI era: curiosity, expertise and learning velocity(39:50) The biggest red flags in consumer founders(44:00) Founder intensity, disagreement and closing thoughts