VC10X - Investing, Venture Capital, Asset Management, Private Equity, Family Office

AI isn’t just replacing jobs anymore — it’s starting to hire humans.

In this episode of VC10X, we break down two viral projects that reveal where AI agents are really headed: one where AI agents rent humans to execute real-world tasks, and another that functions as a social network built exclusively for AI agents.

These aren’t gimmicks. They’re early signals of how labor, coordination, and intelligence may evolve in an AGI world.

We explore:

• Why AI agents need humans to operate in the physical world
• How agent-to-agent social networks accelerate collective intelligence
• What “humans as execution layers” actually means
• The new startup categories this unlocks
• Why AGI may emerge as a network, not a single model
• What fund managers and investors should be paying attention to now

If you care about AI, AGI, venture capital, and how human labor fits into a machine-driven future — this episode is for you.

LINKS

Prashant Choubey - https://www.linkedin.com/in/choubeysahab

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In this episode, Kevin Moore shares the unfiltered story behind starting his first VC fund after nearly 15 years of preparation—from leaving a stable engineering career, to learning sales the hard way, to discovering why LPs don’t care about your past track record the way you think they do.

⭐ Sponsored by Podcast10x - Podcasting agency for VCs - https://podcast10x.com

We go deep into:

- Why there is never a “right time” to start a fund

- The biggest misconceptions first-time GPs have about LP fundraising

- Why selling is at least 50% of a VC’s job

- The hidden costs (financial and emotional) of becoming a fund manager

- How to think about fund size, LP targeting, and early credibility

- What separates aspirational GPs from those who actually close Fund I

- Kevin also opens up about doubt, discipline, faith, and the internal routines that helped him stay grounded through long stretches of uncertainty.

If you’re:

Considering launching your first fund

Exploring a transition into venture capital

Curious how LPs actually evaluate emerging managers

Or simply want an honest look at what VC really looks like behind the scenes

This episode is for you.

Timestamps:

(00:00) - Preview

(00:45) - Introduction to the episode and guest, Kevin Moore

(01:35) - Sponsor Read: Podcast10X

(02:16) - Kevin's 16-year journey to starting a VC firm

(02:53) - The origin story: From civil engineer to financial advisor

(04:45) - The "never a right time" philosophy for making big leaps

(05:03) - Key lessons learned from being a financial advisor

(05:25) - Why sales skills are crucial for a General Partner (GP)

(06:29) - Why choose venture capital over other finance paths?

(08:15) - The first order of business when starting a VC firm

(08:28) - The challenge of securing working capital and startup costs

(10:06) - Balancing GP commitment and operational expenses

(10:47) - How to de-risk a fund launch by pre-vetting LPs

(12:40) - How to right-size your first fund

(13:57) - Identifying and targeting the ideal LP profile

(15:48) - The biggest misconception about LP fundraising

(17:57) - What to do differently in the first 10 LP conversations

(19:19) - How to pace conversations with LPs

(20:00) - The "Know, Like, Trust" framework for LP relationships

(22:14) - The most valuable "No" from an LP

(25:42) - Designing the fund's identity and investment focus

(27:44) - The most underestimated part of building a firm

(29:12) - The first non-obvious hires and processes needed

(30:52) - Overcoming serious doubts during fundraising

(32:24) - Using daily routines to manage external uncertainty

(33:54) - The most overrated advice for starting a VC firm

(36:24) - The one thing to pressure test before quitting your job to start a fund

(37:55) - Rapid Fire Round: Serac Ventures' Investment Strategy

Connect with Kevin:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinjosephmoore/
https://substack.com/@kevinatseracvc

Podcast Links:

Prashant Choubey - https://www.linkedin.com/in/choubeysahab

Subscribe to VC10X newsletter - https://vc10x.beehiiv.com

Subscribe on YouTube - https://youtube.com/@VC10X

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Subscribe on Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7F7KEhXNhTx1bKTBFgzv3k?si=WgQ4ozMiQJ-6nowj6wBgqQ

VC10X website - https://vc10x.com

For sponsorship queries, reach out to [email protected]

When a fintech unicorn exits to a traditional bank, the headline says “successful exit.” This video looks deeper.

We analyze the acquisition of Brex by Capital One and what it signals for fintech, startup founders, and venture investors.

Topics covered:

- Why this exit matters beyond valuation

- What it reveals about fintech business models

- Why balance sheets, regulation, and distribution still matter

- How fintech exit paths are changing

- What founders and VCs should learn from this deal

LINKS

Prashant Choubey - https://www.linkedin.com/in/choubeysahab

Subscribe to VC10X newsletter - https://vc10x.beehiiv.com

Subscribe on YouTube - https://youtube.com/@VC10X

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/vc10x-investing-venture-capital-asset-management-private/id1632806986

Subscribe on Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7F7KEhXNhTx1bKTBFgzv3k?si=WgQ4ozMiQJ-6nowj6wBgqQ

VC10X website - https://vc10x.com

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#brex #fintech #venturecapital investing #exits

In this episode, West Point grad and Airborne Ranger Brad Harrison reveals how Scout Ventures backs frontier tech at the intersection of national security and innovation.

From underwriting "impossible" breakthroughs like Casimir force energy from space vacuum to AI semiconductors deemed unfeasible by experts, Brad shares the deep diligence, non-dilutive government funding edge, and leadership playbook behind their success.

⭐ Sponsored by Podcast10x - Podcasting agency for VCs - https://podcast10x.com

Key Topics:

- How military SOPs shaped Scout's 40th-revision investment process
- Fundraising truths: "It takes a really long time to make money in the fund business unless you're raising lots and lots of money"
- Culture as moat: "Culture starts with leadership" and "My job is to prevent war"
- Deep tech diligence: "Ten years ago, nine out of ten physicists you talked to told you that was impossible"
- Portfolio evolution: Engineering DPI in 18-year fund lives, unicorns like Unite Us, and avoiding herd mentality
- Founder advice: Recruiting is the #1 gap, and "you always gotta follow your gut"

Timestamps:

(00:00) - Preview

(01:25) - Introduction to the episode and guest, Brad Harrison.

(02:51) - How Brad's military background shaped Scout Ventures.

(05:09) - Pivotal firm-building decisions at Scout Ventures.

(07:30) - Advice for new GPs on building a multi-fund firm.

(08:24) - The importance of in-person meetings and investing in your team.

(10:05) - The role of culture, leadership, and values in venture capital.

(11:56) - Discussing Brad's film, "Brothers on Three".

(13:10) - Key components of LP reporting for new managers.

(14:59) - Building trust with LPs through communication and face time.

(16:20) - Scout's sharpest edge in sourcing and winning founders.

(17:56) - How to underwrite technical risk and IP strength at the seed stage.

(20:05) - The process of underwriting seemingly impossible technologies like Casimir Space.

(22:40) - The competitive advantage of using non-dilutive government funding.

(24:04) - How frontier tech investors navigate the typical 10-year fund cycle.

(26:30) - The importance of actively engineering liquidity in deep tech.

(28:05) - The "Four Rs" for helping founders: Raising capital, Revenue, Recruiting, and Retention.

(28:36) - Why recruiting is the most underdeveloped skill in early-stage teams.

(30:27) - The hardest part of the recruiting process for founders.

(31:50) - Scout's portfolio construction approach and how it has evolved.

(37:15) - Using an annual portfolio review to refine investment decisions.

(38:21) - Lessons learned from the flagship success of Unitus.

(40:13) - Biggest learnings from investing in startups over the years.

(42:00) - The danger of a "pack mentality" in venture capital.

(44:11) - Start of the Rapid Fire Round.

(44:27) - Sectors and regions Scout invests in.

(44:40) - Typical stage of investment.

(44:51) - Typical check size.

(44:59) - How founders can get in touch.

(45:07) - Where listeners can follow Brad Harrison.

Connect with Brad:

📧 [email protected]
💼 Bradley C Harrison on LinkedIn
🌐 scout.vc

Podcast Links:

Prashant Choubey - https://www.linkedin.com/in/choubeysahab
Subscribe to VC10X newsletter - https://vc10x.beehiiv.com
Subscribe on YouTube - https://youtube.com/@VC10X
Subscribe on Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/vc10x-investing-venture-capital-asset-management-private/id1632806986
Subscribe on Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7F7KEhXNhTx1bKTBFgzv3k?si=WgQ4ozMiQJ-6nowj6wBgqQ
VC10X website - https://vc10x.com

For sponsorship queries, reach out to [email protected]

#VentureCapital #DeepTech #NationalSecurity #FrontierTech #ScoutVentures #WestPoint #DefenseTech

The era of the ad-free intelligent internet is officially over. Sam Altman once famously said ads were a "last resort" for AI. Well, we have reached the last resort.

In this episode of VC10X, we break down OpenAI’s "Code Red" decision to introduce ads to the free tier of ChatGPT and the new "ChatGPT Go." This isn't just about banner ads; it’s a signal that the subscription-only model for AI is failing.

We analyze the 3 massive drivers behind this pivot:

1. The $14 Billion Hole: The projected burn rate for 2026 forced their hands
2. The Apple Failure: How losing the default Siri slot to Google Gemini crushed their distribution plans.
3. Sticky Revenue: Why investors now prefer "sticky" ad revenue over high-churn $20/month subscriptions.

If OpenAI, the market leader, can't make the unit economics work without ads, what does that mean for every other AI startup? We discuss the bifurcation of the market into "Ad-Tech AI" and "Privacy Premium AI."

TIMESTAMPS:

0:00 - The Broken Promise: "I Hate Ads"
1:29 - The $14 Billion Panic: Why the Math Stopped Working
2:04 - Startup Lesson: Why Ad Revenue is "Stickier" than Subscriptions
4:06 - Signal for investors

LINKS

Prashant Choubey - https://www.linkedin.com/in/choubeysahab

Subscribe to VC10X newsletter - https://vc10x.beehiiv.com

Subscribe on YouTube - https://youtube.com/@VC10X

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/vc10x-investing-venture-capital-asset-management-private/id1632806986

Subscribe on Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7F7KEhXNhTx1bKTBFgzv3k?si=WgQ4ozMiQJ-6nowj6wBgqQ

VC10X website - https://vc10x.com

For sponsorship queries reach out to [email protected]

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#OpenAI #ChatGPT #SamAltman #AIInvesting #TechNews #Google #VentureCapital #BusinessStrategy #ArtificialIntelligence #AdTech