For entrepreneurs, by entrepreneurs (a Silicon Valley VC & a Dragon Den’s Investor) | Andrew D’Souza, Clearco
We’ve got startup lending on the brain this week as serial VC Andrew D’Souza sits down with Lloyd to talk working capital, angel mentorship and so much more.
As Founder and CEO of Clearco, Andrew made his name raising hundreds of millions of dollars in venture capital and is an adviser and investor to companies such as WealthSimple, Properly, and Tulip Retail. Since graduating engineering and working for McKinsey, he’s joined Chamath Palihapitiya in his venture right after his exit from Facebook in 2010, meeting the teams behind Instagram (before being Instagram) and Slack (before being Slack) whilst being in the Andreessen Horowitz’ fund. Today, he runs Clearco, an equity-free startup lender that has reached a $2B valuation.
To kick off the episode, Andrew walks Lloyd through Clearco’s aim to offer founder-friendly capital solutions for e-commerce, mobile apps, and SaaS founders; as well as access to a powerful global network, insights and data, and recommendations through their Angel branch, the conversation dives into the ways Andrew’s entrepreneurial journey since the age of 10, and how couples that work, can work.
Listen here:
Couples that Work, Professor Jennifer Petriglieri
Episode Highlights:
02:42: The difference between traditional venture capitalists and Clearco
08:57 Why the world doesn’t need another VC firm
11:04: Clearco’s $2B valuation
14:43: How Clear Angel offer founders access to a powerful global network, data, and mentorship
17:24: How data can help to get through business volatility
20:54 How to keep sane as a co-founder of a rocket ship
26:17: Being an entrepreneur since the age of 10
28:24: The difference between an engineer and a strategy consultant
29:38: How was Silicon Valley in 2010
41:00: How to leverage the geographic diversity of talents and founders
43:55: The issue of the distribution system of capital / Why half of the world is overweight and half still starving?
48:31: Couples that work
58:24: Andrew’s Mana
