Innovating Hard Tech: In-Depth with Amish Patel of Conduit Venture Labs

Sound Investments host Ed Barker chats with Amish Patel, Managing Director of Conduit Venture Labs, about his dynamic career transitioning from Microsoft to launching startups in the hard tech space. They explore Patel's vision for Conduit Venture Labs, its innovative venture studio model, and its emphasis on the synergy between hardware, software, and entrepreneurship. The discussion covers various sectors Patel is passionate about, including health and human performance, physical industries like agriculture and energy, and dual-use technologies. Notable projects include medical devices, AI-powered wearables, and environmental tech solutions. Patel highlights the studio's strategy of leveraging a network of experts to address the 'valleys of death' in hardware development and shares how Conduit is contributing to the Pacific Northwest's innovation landscape.

00:00 Introduction

01:53 Guest Background

02:12 Career Journey at Microsoft

06:00 Entrepreneurial Path and Hardware Experience

08:30 Founding Conduit Venture Labs

11.25 Venture Studio Model

15.56 Corporate Studios

17.22 Sector Focus

24.19 Making the Model Work

30.10 Cap Table Strategy

34.00 Working in the PNW

42:06 Current Portfolio and Projects

47:10 Closing Thoughts

About Your Host

Ed Barker has enjoyed a weird and varied career. Ed is a Brit now resident in Seattle and has founded three startups, enjoyed a long career in corporate strategy, and most recently as a VC. He's now building a podcast production company, Studio 1878. Sound Investments is a modest attempt to shine some light on the fantastic work being done in the Pacific Northwest entrepreneurial community.

Amish Patel, Managing Director, Conduit Venture Labs

Amish Patel is the Founder and Managing Director of Conduit Venture Labs, a venture studio based in Seattle, Washington, that focuses on developing innovative solutions at the intersection of physical and digital technologies. He has a strong background in product design and technology strategy, having previously held leadership roles in various startups and at Microsoft, where he was involved in the development of wearable devices and consumer health platforms.

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Behind the Curtain: Sarah Applebaum on Hard Tech and Venture Capital

In this episode of Sound Investments, Ed Barker interviews Sarah Applebaum, partner at Pangaea Ventures. They discuss Sarah's journey into venture capital and her work at Pangaea, an investment firm focused on hard tech and sustainability. The conversation covers the startup ecosystem in Vancouver, the importance of hard tech for addressing global challenges, and specific investment sectors like industrial decarbonization, green chemistry, and semiconductor manufacturing. They also dive into the dynamics between Pangaea and its corporate partners and explore current trends and challenges in the venture capital landscape.

Pangaea Ventures Hard Tech report can be found here.

00:00 Introduction to Sound Investments

00:17 Meet Sarah Applebaum: Partner at Pangaea Ventures

02:37 Sarah's Journey into Venture Capital

09:47 Understanding Hard Tech and Planetary Health

13:03 Strategies and Challenges

23:02 Investment Opportunities

34:57 Corporate Partnerships and Future Outlook

37:59 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

About Your Host

Ed Barker has enjoyed a weird and varied career. Ed is a Brit now resident in Seattle and has founded three startups, enjoyed a long career in corporate strategy, and most recently as a VC. He's now building a podcast production company, Studio 1878. Sound Investments is a modest attempt to shine some light on the fantastic work being done in the Pacific Northwest entrepreneurial community.

Sarah Applebaum, Partner, Pangea Ventures

Sarah brings more than a decade of venture capital and company building experience to the team. Sarah has cultivated expertise in building entrepreneurial teams, scaling early stage ventures, and venture financing. Sarah is an active mentor to early stage entrepreneurs and a startup community activator and advocate. Sarah led Pangaea’s investments into PolySpectra, Correlia Biosystems, and pH7. Sarah holds a BSc. From Dalhousie University and an MBA from the Schulich School of Business. Outside of work, you can find Sarah on the local trails with her dog, Indie, out on her road bike, or spending time with friends and family.

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Inside Illuminate Ventures: A Conversation with Partner Jennifer Savage

In this episode of Sound Investments Ed Barker talks to Jennifer Savage, Partner at Illuminate Ventures, a venture capital firm specializing in seed-stage investments in enterprise software. Jennifer discusses her journey into venture capital, the unique operating model of Illuminate Ventures, and their focus on impactful enterprise solutions. She highlights the firm's extensive advisory council, consisting of industry leaders who provide hands-on support and strategic guidance to portfolio companies. Jennifer also touches on the growth and challenges of the tech and venture capital ecosystem in the Pacific Northwest, the evolving landscape of AI investments, and the current economic climate. The episode provides valuable insights into Illuminate's strategic approach and the broader venture capital scene.

00:00 Introduction to Sound Investments

01:04 Meet Jennifer Savage of Illuminate Ventures

03:31 Illuminate Ventures' Investment Focus

04:57 The Role of the Advisory Board

09:07 Diversity and Inclusion in Venture Capital

11:52 Finding and Supporting Portfolio Companies

16:31 The Seattle Tech Scene and Venture Capital

21:17 Current Trends

29:04 Portfolio Highlights

38:49 Closing Remarks

About Your Host

Ed Barker has enjoyed a weird and varied career. Ed is a Brit now resident in Seattle and has founded three startups, enjoyed a long career in corporate strategy, and most recently as a VC. He's now building a podcast production company, Studio 1878. Sound Investments is a modest attempt to shine some light on the fantastic work being done in the Pacific Northwest entrepreneurial community.

Jennifer Savage, Partner, Illuminate Ventures

In this role, Jennifer identifies and leads new investments (with a particular interest in companies in the Pacific Northwest), assists with due diligence efforts, and provides strategic and operational advice to Illuminate portfolio companies. In addition, Jennifer creatively fosters strategic relations with Illuminate’s extended B2B Enterprise network - including our Advisory Council and business school interns. She currently plays a board role for Illuminate portfolio companies Hoopla Software and Pyze and as a board observer with several other companies.

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