In this episode of Tech Scenes Unplugged, Jeff James Martin sits down with Ethan Austin, Founding Partner of Outside VC, to discuss venture capital, outsider founders, and the power of community and empathy in investing. Outside VC is a pre-seed venture firm dedicated to supporting founders outside traditional funding networks, with the goal of lifting 100M people to the middle class over the next decade. The conversation explores the challenges faced by non-traditional founders, the role of peer learning and transparency in venture, and the importance of investing in people over ideas. Ethan also shares insights on mental health for entrepreneurs, scaling teams effectively, and the impact of AI on business operations. Key Takeaways: Venture capital is not a meritocracy—outsider founders often build the best businesses. Founders want investors they connect with, not just those proving they’re smart. Community and peer learning play a crucial role in founder success. Empathy and transparency are essential in venture capital relationships. Fun matters in the startup journey—not everything has to be serious. Mental health is a superpower—sleep, stress management, and mindset shape success. AI is transforming venture capital and how startups scale. Employee equity structures need reform to better reward workers. Exceptional founders focus on execution, not just ideas. Reverse engineering success helps entrepreneurs navigate long-term growth. YouTube Chapters: 0:00 - The Human Element in Venture Capital 3:09 - The Journey of Outsider Founders 6:08 - The Role of Community in Entrepreneurship 9:13 - Investing: A Passion for Supporting Founders 11:57 - The Impact of Personal Background on Entrepreneurial Drive 14:49 - Empathy and Transparency in Venture Capital 18:03 - The Importance of Fun in the Startup Journey 28:05 - Investing in People, Not Just Companies 30:06 - Mental Health Strategies for Entrepreneurs 31:27 - The Role of Empathy in Venture Capital 32:57 - Building Effective Teams in Startups 36:10 - Reverse Engineering Success 40:04 - The Importance of Mission and Vision 41:50 - Building the Engine to Scale 43:59 - Key Traits for Investment 46:07 - Navigating AI in Business 47:51 - Employee Equity and Fairness 51:01 - Desert Island Album Choice Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell to stay updated with all our episodes, where we bring you the untold stories of innovation and leadership from the tech world, only on Tech Scenes Unplugged. Learn more about the book Peak Teams - Mastering the Habit of Unstoppable Venture-backed Companies - https://a.co/d/hp5Jtnu Visit Collective Genius™ to Build Your Venture-backed Team with the Peak Operating System™ - https://www.collective-genius.com/ Music by Andrew Applepie - https://soundcloud.com/andrewapplepie #TechScenes #OutsideVC #VentureCapital #StartupGrowth #Entrepreneurship #Investing #jeffjamesmartin #EthanAustin #FounderSupport #AI #ProductLedGrowth
