VC Partner on Investing in Web 3.0 Projects & Guiding Start-ups to Billion-Dollar Valuations

Summary

In this episode of 'Kaahwa 3.0', host Y interviews Daria Vasa, Founding Partner at FD Capital, who shares her journey from investment banking to becoming a serial entrepreneur in the blockchain industry. Daria discusses FD Capital's mission to attract experienced professionals to blockchain, their investment strategy focusing on product-market fit and team quality, and the importance of community and mentorship in entrepreneurship. She also provides insights on the future of finance and technology, offering advice to aspiring entrepreneurs and investors on navigating the blockchain space successfully.

Takeaways

• 😀 Daria Vasa, a founding partner at FD Capital, has transitioned from investment banking to serial entrepreneurship in the blockchain industry.
• 🚀 Daria started her entrepreneurial journey by creating an equity advising boutique in 2017 and has a strong background in corporate finance, including a PhD.
• 🌟 FD Capital was founded in March 2023 with a mission to bring experienced professionals from traditional finance and big tech to the blockchain industry.
• 🔍 FD Capital focuses on projects with strong product-market fit, team quality, and uses a special scoring system for founders during due diligence.
• 📈 The firm is particularly interested in infrastructure projects and has reviewed over 100 blockchain projects in the last six months, identifying key opportunities.
• 💡 Daria emphasizes the importance of mentorship and strategic guidance for tech entrepreneurs, drawing from her experience in equity advising and selecting successful projects.
• 🗣️ As a public speaker, Daria discusses topics such as blockchain technology, fundraising, investor relations, and economic trends in the industry.
• 🧘‍♀️ She stresses the importance of work-life balance and mental health for founders, ensuring sustainability throughout the entrepreneurial journey.
• 📚 Daria recommends that aspiring entrepreneurs discover hackathons, grant programs, and acceleration programs as entry points into the blockchain industry.
• 🔑 Staying updated in the blockchain space involves following media, investor relations, and research reports to keep abreast of the latest developments.
• 🛠️ For those entering the blockchain space, Daria advises starting with a clear problem-solution fit, leveraging available resources, and not just chasing market trends.

Q & A

What is the background of Daria Vasa before she became a serial entrepreneur in the blockchain industry?

Daria Vasa has a background in investment banking, specifically in the fixed income market, where she was trading for 10 years. She then transitioned into entrepreneurship by creating an equity advising boutique in 2017 and pursued her PhD in corporate finance.

What inspired Daria Vasa to transition from investment banking to the blockchain industry?

Daria was inspired to transition due to her family's extension into the industry, and her desire to create a platform for entrepreneurs to communicate, find investors, and be heard.

Can you explain the mission of FD Capital in the blockchain and investment space?

The mission of FD Capital is to bring experienced professionals from investment banking and Big Tech to the blockchain industry, aiming to open limitless opportunities by utilizing blockchain technology and supporting projects that have been in the industry for over a decade.

What are the main factors FD Capital considers when investing in projects?

FD Capital primarily considers three factors: the product, the market, and the team. They have a special scoring card for founders, and they conduct due diligence in several phases to build lasting relationships with projects.

What type of projects is FD Capital currently investing in, and what are their industries of focus?

FD Capital is investing in projects that are in the infrastructure space, specifically agnostic infrastructure. They believe in the potential of L1 and L2 projects and have reviewed over 100 chains in the last six months.

How does Daria Vasa's background in finance aid in advising tech entrepreneurs and startups?

Daria's finance background helps her contribute to projects in strategy, finance, and investment. She reviews business models, sustainability, and financial numbers to ensure the project's effectiveness and long-term viability.

How does FD Capital provide strategic guidance, operational support, and funding opportunities to tech entrepreneurs and startups?

FD Capital contributes to projects they believe in by planning to follow on with investments, showing serious intentions to be part of the project's journey, and supporting them through their growth to achieve their goals.

What are some key ideas and trends that Daria Vasa often discusses when it comes to the future of finance or technology?

Daria Vasa discusses topics such as blockchain technology, fundraising, investor relations, and the trends and opportunities in the investment landscape. She focuses on the economy and the implications of blockchain in the real world.

How does Daria Vasa manage her time and stay focused with her multiple responsibilities?

Daria manages her time by focusing on the future and understanding the purpose of each role she plays. She finds pleasure in managing her responsibilities and emphasizes the importance of life-work balance and mental health.

What advice does Daria Vasa give to aspiring entrepreneurs and investors looking to navigate the blockchain industry successfully?

Daria advises aspiring entrepreneurs to start by discovering hackathons, participating in grant programs, and joining acceleration programs. She emphasizes the importance of finding a problem-solution fit and not just chasing the market.

How does Daria Vasa stay updated on the latest developments in the blockchain space, and what resources does she recommend for the community?

Daria stays updated by following media, engaging in investor relations, and conducting research and analytics. She believes that these three aspects form a triangle of awareness for anyone looking to stay informed about the industry.

Outlines

00:00

🚀 Introduction to Daria Vasa and FD Capital

Daria Vasa, the founding partner at FD Capital, is welcomed by the host for an inaugural interview. Daria shares her journey from investment banking to becoming a serial entrepreneur in the blockchain industry. She discusses her initial foray into entrepreneurship by creating an equity advising boutique and her ongoing PhD in corporate finance. Daria's motivation for her career shift is attributed to her family and the growing community of entrepreneurs. FD Capital, established in March 2023, aims to attract experienced professionals to the blockchain industry and capitalize on the technology's potential. The firm's mission is to support projects from seed to Series A stages, focusing on infrastructure within the blockchain space.

05:02

💼 Daria's Investment Philosophy and FD Capital's Strategy

Daria elaborates on FD Capital's investment strategy, emphasizing the importance of product-market fit, team quality, and the founders' vision. The firm employs a multi-phase due diligence process and uses a scoring card to evaluate potential investments. FD Capital is particularly interested in infrastructure projects and has reviewed over 100 blockchain projects in the past six months. Daria also discusses her personal experience in advising tech entrepreneurs, highlighting the significance of mentorship and strategic guidance. She shares her approach to building a supportive community for entrepreneurs through the Founders to Founders Tech Community.

10:05

🌟 Balancing Multiple Roles and Staying Informed in the Blockchain Space

Daria talks about managing her diverse roles as an investor, entrepreneur, community builder, and public speaker. She emphasizes the importance of a work-life balance and maintaining mental health to sustain long-term success. Daria shares her insights on staying updated in the rapidly evolving blockchain industry, advocating for the use of media, investor relations, and research analytics. She also discusses FD Capital's initiative to publish a semi-annual report on blockchain technology to provide insights and opportunities in the market.

15:05

🛠️ Advice for Aspiring Blockchain Entrepreneurs and Investors

In the final part of the interview, Daria offers advice to those looking to enter the blockchain space. She encourages participation in hackathons, leveraging grant programs, and joining acceleration programs to gain entry and support. Daria stresses the importance of identifying real problems and creating effective solutions, rather than merely chasing market trends. She concludes the interview by thanking the host and expressing her appreciation for the opportunity to share her insights on the venture capital world and the blockchain industry.

Keywords

💡Investment Banking

Investment Banking refers to a division of a bank that helps governments and corporations raise capital by underwriting or acting as the client's agent in the issuance of securities. In the script, Daria Vasa mentions her background in investment banking, which is a significant departure from her current role in the entrepreneurial and investment space within the blockchain industry.

💡Serial Entrepreneur

A serial entrepreneur is someone who has started multiple businesses. Daria Vasa transitioned from investment banking to becoming a serial entrepreneur in the blockchain industry, indicating her involvement in creating and running several ventures in this space.

💡Blockchain

Blockchain is a decentralized, distributed ledger technology that allows for secure and transparent transactions. The video's theme revolves around the blockchain industry, and Daria Vasa discusses her journey and work in this field, including her role as a founding partner at FD Capital.

💡FD Capital

FD Capital is an investment firm focused on the blockchain industry. Daria Vasa explains the mission of FD Capital, which is to bring experienced professionals from investment banking and Big Tech into the blockchain space to explore the limitless opportunities offered by the technology.

💡Venture Capital

Venture capital is a type of financing that investors provide to startups in exchange for an equity stake in the company. The script mentions Daria's experience as an operations investment partner and her current role as a founding partner at FD Capital, both of which involve venture capital activities.

💡Corporate Finance

Corporate finance involves the financial decisions that managers make in managing a firm's resources. Daria Vasa's PhD in corporate finance is mentioned, indicating her academic and professional expertise in finance, which she applies to her work in advising and investing in tech startups.

💡Tech Entrepreneurs

Tech entrepreneurs are individuals who start and run technology-related businesses. The script discusses how Daria's background in finance aids in advising tech entrepreneurs, providing strategic, financial, and investment expertise to help them succeed.

💡Strategic Guidance

Strategic guidance refers to advice or direction provided to help organizations or individuals make decisions that align with their long-term goals. In the context of the video, FD Capital offers strategic guidance to tech entrepreneurs and startups in the blockchain sector to help them navigate their growth and development.

💡Operational Support

Operational support involves providing assistance with the day-to-day operations of a business. The script mentions that FD Capital offers operational support to the projects they invest in, helping them to grow and succeed in the blockchain industry.

💡Funding Opportunities

Funding opportunities refer to the availability of financial resources for investment or business expansion. Daria Vasa discusses how FD Capital provides funding opportunities to tech entrepreneurs and startups in the blockchain sector, which is crucial for their growth and development.

💡Community Building

Community building involves creating and fostering a sense of community among a group of people, often with shared interests or goals. Daria Vasa mentions her role in building a tech community, Founders to Founders, which is a platform for entrepreneurs to support and help each other.

💡Public Speaking

Public speaking is the act of speaking to an audience. The script highlights Daria's transition to becoming a public figure and her engagement in speaking at different events and forums, which is a key aspect of her role as an investor and community builder.

💡Investor Relations

Investor relations is the management of relationships between a company and its investors. The script discusses the importance of investor relations in communicating a company's mission, updates, and news to its stakeholders, which is a critical part of Daria's work in the investment industry.

💡Research and Analytics

Research and analytics involve the systematic investigation and analysis of data to inform decision-making. The script mentions the role of research and analytics in staying informed about the industry, with Daria's involvement in creating reports to showcase opportunities in the blockchain market.

💡Acceleration Program

An acceleration program is a structured initiative designed to support the growth and development of startups. The script refers to acceleration programs like Hub 71, which provides support to entrepreneurs, as a way to help them enter the market and grow their businesses.

Highlights

Introduction of Daria Vasa, founding partner at FD Capital, as a guest on the show.

Daria's transition from investment banking to serial entrepreneurship in the blockchain industry.

Her experience in creating an equity advising boutique and her PhD in corporate finance.

FD Capital's mission to bring experienced professionals to the blockchain industry.

Daria's vision for the market's change in the next 10 years and her role as a builder.

Criteria FD Capital uses for evaluating potential investments: product, market, and team.

FD Capital's focus on infrastructure within the blockchain space and their due diligence process.

The creation of the 'Unleashing Blockchain Technology Report' to showcase opportunities in the market.

Daria's background in finance and how it aids in advising tech entrepreneurs and startups.

The importance of mentorship and support in building a successful project.

FD Capital's approach to providing strategic guidance, operational support, and funding opportunities.

Daria's public speaking engagements and the key topics she covers, including blockchain technology and investor relations.

Balancing multiple roles as an investor, entrepreneur, community builder, and speaker.

Advice for aspiring entrepreneurs and investors on navigating the blockchain industry successfully.

Importance of hackathons, grant programs, and acceleration programs for entering the blockchain market.

Staying updated on blockchain developments through media, investor relations, and research.

Final advice for those interested in entering the blockchain space, emphasizing problem-solving and effective instruments.

Transcripts

Asam alikum I'm Y and welcome back to

kaahwa

[Music]

3.0 in today's episode we have with us

entrepreneur speaker investor founding

partner at ffd Capital Daria

Vasa Daria thank you so much for being

on our show we're very excited to get to

know you more and know more about FD

Capital as well thank you you so much

yesman for this invitation I would like

to thank K man for having us today this

is our inaugural interview and I'm

pleased to share with you my story we're

honored to have you so for our first

question can you tell us about your

journey from Investment Banking to

becoming a Serial entrepreneur in the

blockchain industry this is the first

question and what inspired this

transition thank you very much for this

question this is my favorite part to

talk about um I've been trading in Mur

Market fixed income for 10 years years

and this is totally different world

comparing to invest preneurship so I

started my journey from creating Equity

advising Boutique back to

2017 and that meanwhile I was you know

creating the sandbox so other

entrepreneurs who could communicate and

you know uh be heard and find their

investor and at the same time I was

doing my PhD in corporate finance so

that was amazing journey amazing start

and the main reason for that was um my

um my family extension to be honest you

know but like uh now my family is 5

million entrepreneurs that are appearing

every month you know in this amazing

world wow that's amazing so can you

please provide us more about FD capital

and what is MI what's the mission of FD

capital in the blockchain and investment

space yeah so um we started FD Capital

um in March 2023 so my main purpose was

to become agnostic because I started my

journey in V three from uh the open

network blockchain where uh I was

operations investment partner for one um

of the most promising Venture Builders

they have renamed themselves lately uh

as their amazing product guys but they

they are limited to their ecosystem and

really wanted to expand and extend my

presence so um our mission is to bring

more more tr5 people and experienced

investment bankers people from Big Tech

to the blockchain industry so they can

open this Limitless opportunities of

utilizing this um technology and uh

amazing people that are building

blockchain for more than 10 years

already so we believe that the market

will change in the next 10 years and I

want to be one of the builders here yeah

and you will so as the founding partner

at FD Capital I'm curious to just

understand what kind of projects do you

invest in that are currently catching

the attention um and what sort of points

do you and your team take into

consideration before investing in

projects so when we are looking uh at

the project there are main three things

that we consider which is product market

and the team of course so we have even

like special scoring card for the

founders because depending on the stage

of the development of the project you

know their metrics will differ their uh

like redness will differ so um we make

this due diligence in a several phases

which help us to know project better and

build this lasting relationship where we

can contribute and where project can

succeed and get to the next level so our

stages are uh from C to round a and

industries mainly are uh like in

infrastructure and uh like we're

agnostic infrastructure so uh we believe

that um like um L1 and l0 L2 uh like as

a little bit uh uh overwhelmed there are

a number of projects that already

succeeded and we're building since 2018

So within this last six months we

reviewed more than 100 chains and we

decided to create um unleashing

blockchain technology report which will

be uh issuing shortly to

Showcase um the opportunities in this

market as well for the tradify people

you know for the one that are entering

the market so to compare to show the

utility to show the metrix where it

stands now and when it's going in the

next from 5 to 10 years very interesting

okay so let's go back to your background

in finance I'm interested to know how it

came in handy when advising you know uh

Tech entrepreneurs or startups um can

you share some stories with us on you

know how your background in finance

aided in that and Advising Tech

entrepreneurs and start yeah so that's

exactly where we have started so I

started from Equity advising uh within

several years we sourc more than 800

projects and I've chosen only 16 where I

contributed that was agnostic that to

Market projects and four of them

succeeded uh I wouldn't say that like

one of them is around a already project

and we started earlier so uh they they

made it and I would say the most

important thing is to have this uh not

even advisory but mentorship and support

on this path of building so the most

important thing is to contribute and

understand what expertise the project

have so my expertise I contribute on the

strategy finance and investment um

expertise where we review the business

model where we see the sustainability

where we play the numbers my favorite

numbers where we can show that this

project is effective that um understand

they're not only burn but where they're

going to H and how do they test hpoes

what these hypothesis might bring them

um in the short and long term and of

course like uh on the advisory part um

one one what I want wanted to say that

advisor not for everyone because um one

of the things what I have done to cover

this advisory part so not to be an

advisor at all so I created um one of

the biggest Russian speaking Tech

Community Founders to Founders from 15

countries we're going to get into that

yeah yeah that's uh that's was the place

where like entrepreneurs themselves

started supporting each other and

helping you know answering the questions

because like uh one of the important

things um once your VC is to add value

and advisor is a constant job and um

yeah I'm very happy and pleased um

helping other entrepreneurs to succeed

so maybe we covered it a bit but can you

tell us how does FD Capital provide you

know strategic guidance Operational

Support and funding opport opportunities

to Tech entrepreneurs and startups in

the blockchain sector I would say if you

asked me me this question five years ago

I would tell you like very exact script

how we do it because we were planning it

as a product but right now I would say

this is not like a product oriented

thing we contribute to projects that we

believe in because the project that we

take on a preit to support them uh we

are planning to follow on with

Investments so we are interested in grow

in growing them in seeing all the

project that appear in the market so to

have them with us to contribute early

and to show our uh serious intention to

be part of their Journey um to their

unicorn dream you're up on Spa stage a

lot and you're speaking at different

events and forums right I I presume what

are some of the key ideas and trends

that you often dive into when it comes

to you know the future of Finance or

technology yes so first of all uh I

switched to a public uh person just in

2021 so for me that was a big challenge

to start talking to express yourself but

like uh the best thing is that uh first

it's the most important skill for

founder and other thing is that it's an

opportunity as well to make your

discoveries and research because before

the conference you prepare the agenda

the topic usually I cover such topics as

um as blockchain techn ology as um

fundraising investor relations and

everything that uh is dedicated to as

well economy you know the trends where

the market is moving what are the uh key

opportunities in investment landscape so

right now my focus in is in that three

space so I believe that the right and

the best time to build so as much people

uh will know about the industry and see

the comparison and implication to real

world as much great people people will

have in our industry right very very

very motivating so good on you um which

goes to my next questions you're

balancing your role as an investor

entrepreneur Community Builder speaker

and of course you have your personal

life and it sounds like you know it's a

very it's it's it's very hectic we can

say um how do you manage your time and

stay focused with all these

responsibilities do you know like there

is a joke about the Swiss knife so

investors tend to say don't build this

this knife once you're um you know

creating your uh company and I would say

that combining rules is something that

is happening to us every day and um uh

as much hats you need to wear to succeed

you will do that and the most uh uh

Brilliance and uh and Excellence is when

you can uh switch it without faing any

frustrations frustration inside so um

managing it is a big pleasure pleasure

because you are not focused on where you

are right now but you looking forward

and you understand why do you need

exactly this instrument to get to your

next point and I would say that um

Founders usually build 24/7 but this

life work balance is important and um

like mental health and your uh like

internal sustainability so you're alive

and you know uh once you get to your

round a for instance you you still have

more strength to to get to the round D

and and and and and then finish as a

public company in case you you would

like to be a public company yeah no

that's very inspiring um so just like

your life the blockchain space is also

rapidly evolving um what advice would

you give to aspiring um entrepreneurs

investors looking to navigate in this

industry successfully can you share a

memorable success story or achievement

you know from your career yeah of course

so first of all my my like uh main word

expression is keep building but there

are several you know incentives that can

help you on your path of building so I

would definitely recommend for All Tech

entrepreneurs to start from discovering

hackathons you know because they are the

best entry point to the industry you can

see the problems that exist on existing

ecosystem systems plus there are a

number of Enterprise that are trying to

find blockchain Specialists who can

solve their like existing problems and

you and and from this prototype you can

move to the next like creating the real

product uh with already existing pivot

and and and and implication so next

level will be Grant programs so Grant

programs are well used and well known

there are a number of um uh Grand Grant

programs from layer ones and everyone

who are interested in building their

Deval relationship they making these

incentives to build the community of

developers around their projects and um

the last but not the least thing which

will help on entering the market is

acceleration program so in year there

are a number of incentive from the

government such as Hub 71 uh that is

baked by madala aggm and a Department of

Economic Development of Abu Dhabi so uh

they help entrepreneurs to enter the

market and they have right now more than

200 residents already uh within their

program another another amazing uh

program uh was made number of verticals

was made by DFC so um like and there are

much more than that so like once you

Mentor the market you have to look

around and to see who are supporting at

what stage so you can fit your existing

n to what can be offered but um I'm

pleased to to see that uh Founders can

find this support yes they are mentors

they doors to get where they see

themselves 100% the Mina region is a

place to be okay so coming to the end of

this conversation how do you stay

updated on the latest developments in

you know the blockchain and fch space

and what resources do you think the

communities need in order for them to

stay informed yeah thank you for this

question so uh of course media yeah I

wanted to say that at the end but this

open dialogue you know this uh like

platform where you can read news because

for instance in 35 world how do you

start your morning you from reading your

newspaper from reading the news flow so

um it's important to get the sentiment

and and cover what's going on in the

industry by by different you know

resources that can be printed that can

be platform that can be application but

anyway media is super uh have a vital

and super important um role in in

staying informed about what's what's

going on uh another thing is uh investor

relations is an instrument because all

the companies have to uh to bring the

message to their stakeholders and

stakeholders is not only shareholders so

like everyone who are your user you have

to bring the message starting from the

mission to uh up to the updates and

latting news that can help

to navigate you know uh the company U

track so um another important part of

the industry is research and analytics

so I believe that we have to see more

and more uh teams that are bringing

public reports to the industry with some

specification with what they are

covering that's why we decided not only

to make a solo report you know for our

power purposes but we invited other

collaborators other VCS and moreover

other foundations to give the the quotes

about what they think about the industry

so people can read and enjoy uh and see

and shortcut um on getting the most

update and information so we will do

that on the semianal um basis but of

course I wish we could that do that on

the Min basis so um yeah these three

things so research um um investor

relations public relations from from the

companies and the media are like the

triangle of awareness right totally

agree so coming to our last question

what advice would you give to those who

are interested in entering the

blockchain space whether they're

aspiring Tech entrepreneurs or startup

Founders yeah so first of all uh make

the first tab yeah uh um you know uh in

case you cannot manage the risk and of

course like um once you just to start

the risk level is very high but every

Next Step will reduce the risk and um

like uh once you know your goal you're

going to all the resources are here for

you people uh industry players Market

leaders uh government companies everyone

need your product in case um you know um

what problem you are solving so the most

important thing is just to find um the

problem solution feed and start you know

not chasing the market but the attract

by um bringing effective instrument that

can solve real

problems thank you so much um for coming

to our show and thank you so much for

giving your insights on the VC world and

we're we're much I appreciate thank you

guys so much for watching if you have

any comments requests or any other

entrepreneurs you'd like to see on our

show don't forget to leave it in the

comments below until

then