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Venture Capitalists Are Using Podcasts to Lure in Founders


Instead of performing the usual courtship rituals, newcomers and veterans alike are tapping into their audio fame to land the next unicorn. “The product becomes the people,” says one venture insider. “It’s a very different way of looking at the world.”

Ben Gilbert, who cohosts the PhD-level-researched podcast Acquired, believes this iconic image shaped Andreessen Horowitz’s radical strategy a decade-plus later to embrace owned and earned media, as evidenced by PR whiz Margit Wennmachers joining the firm as a partner a year into its existence. It’s a recipe that has worked for the once camera-shy Jared Kushner, who has appeared on podcasts like All-In and MIT research scientist Lex Fridman ’s show in recent months (think: more friendly fireside chats, less Kara Swisher vs. Mark Zuckerberg grillings). “I think what you’re seeing is very sharp, smart VCs with their own sometimes controversial points of view transcending their little walled gardens of Sand Hill Road and going and becoming more mainstream media figures,” explained investor and podcaster Kevin Rose.

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