Ken Horenstein, Pack Ventures - "The ethos and foundation of Pack started here on campus"

Sound Investments: Exploring Seattle's VC Scene with Ken HorensteinIn this episode of Sound Investments, host Ed Barker delves into the Pacific Northwest venture capital ecosystem with Ken Horenstein, Founder and Managing Partner at Pack Ventures. Ken shares his personal journey in venture capital, from his educational roots at the University of Washington to his role in supporting Seattle-based startups. The discussion covers the founding and principles behind Pack Ventures, the fund's focus on UW-affiliated ventures, and the broader Seattle startup scene. Key topics include the diversification of investment sectors, the evolution of the venture space in Seattle, and the future potential driven by AI, biotechnology, and robotics. Ken also emphasizes the importance of building a community and sharing insights to foster innovation. The episode offers perspectives for anyone interested in venture capital, startups, and the dynamic technologies shaping the future.00:00 Introduction to Sound Investments00:13 Meet Ken Horenstein: Founder at Pack Ventures01:35 Ken's Entrepreneurial Journey04:23 The Birth of Pack Ventures05:54 Fund 1: Proof of Concept10:00 Fund 2: Doubling Down on UW Ecosystem12:45 Investment Strategy and Focus Areas20:08 The Role of LPs and Fund Structure25:31 Seattle's Unique Venture Ecosystem26:58 AI and Local Capital Dynamics29:47 Challenges and Opportunities in Life Sciences32:05 Future of AI and Data in Healthcare39:08 Exciting Projects and Investments41:02 Staying Informed and Connected44:50 Final ThoughtsAbout Your HostEd Barker has enjoyed a weird and varied career. Ed is a Brit now resident in Seattle and has started three startups, enjoyed a long career in corporate strategy, and most recently was a VC. He's now building a podcast production company. Sound Investments is a small attempt to shine some light on the fantastic work being done in the Pac NW entrepreneurial community.Ken HorensteinA founder at heart, Ken has supported dozens of entrepreneurs in their fundraising over the last 5+ years. An alum of M12 - Microsoft's Venture Fund, Ken cofounded the Venture Out community and accelerator. He has also angel invested in multiple companies in the Seattle area. Ken is a Double Dawg with both a BA and MBA from the University of Washington. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.