Podcast Summary: Slay The Gatekeeper
Episode: Ungatekeeping Venture Capital with Kate McAndrew
Release Date: December 10, 2024

Introduction & Guest Background

In the episode titled "Ungatekeeping Venture Capital," host Courtney Johnson welcomes Kate McAndrew, a seasoned venture capitalist and author, to discuss the often opaque world of venture capital. Their conversation delves into breaking down barriers in the industry, leveraging personal reputation, embracing authenticity, and balancing professional ambitions with personal well-being.

Quote:
Courtney Johnson [00:03]: "Welcome to Slay the Gatekeeper. I'm your host, Courtney Johnson, and I am here to un-Gatekeep the gatekept. Thank you so much for being here. Enjoy. Welcome, Kate."

Personal Reputation vs. Personal Brand in Fundraising

A significant portion of the discussion centers on the distinction between personal reputation and personal brand in the context of fundraising. Kate emphasizes that while personal brand refers to how founders present themselves online, personal reputation is about the trust and credibility built through personal interactions and third-party validations.

Quote:
Kate McAndrew [05:06]: "Personal reputation is critical with fundraising. Personal brand is not."

She further explains that personal reputation allows investors to make quick trust assessments, especially when decisions involve significant financial commitments.

Importance of LinkedIn and Online Presence

Both hosts agree on the necessity of maintaining a robust LinkedIn profile. Kate advises founders to "go clean up your LinkedIn" by adding thought leadership content, updating connections, and showcasing professional achievements. This online presence serves as a tangible reflection of a founder's capabilities and accomplishments, facilitating easier investment decisions.

Quote:
Kate McAndrew [06:43]: "Go clean up your LinkedIn. Put some thought leadership up there. Make sure your connections are current."

Courtney adds that even in industries like engineering and product development, where a heavy online presence might seem less emphasized, maintaining a LinkedIn profile is crucial for visibility and credibility.

Quote:
Courtney Johnson [08:00]: "If people cannot find your LinkedIn, like."

Embracing Authenticity and Feminine Archetypes in Branding

Kate introduces the concept of integrating feminine archetypes into branding, challenging the traditionally masculine-focused archetypal systems based on Carl Jung’s models. Collaborating with her sister, Kate developed "Goddess Guide to Branding," which ties brands to feminine archetypes such as Athena the Wise, Persephone the Dream, and Diana the Free. This approach aims to create more authentic and relatable brand identities that resonate on a deeper level with customers.

Quote:
Kate McAndrew [15:50]: "We have this shared mission that we have in this life is really to uplift the archetypal feminine."

Courtney shares her appreciation for the book, highlighting how it provided a sense of representation and alignment with her intuitive and creative side.

Quote:
Courtney Johnson [15:00]: "I have never seen anything like this. It's incredible."

Self-Care as a Career Longevity Strategy

The conversation transitions to the importance of self-care in maintaining long-term career success. Kate discusses her personal self-care routines, such as dance, which she describes as having a higher return on investment (ROI) than traditional vacations. She underscores that self-care is essential to sustain the "sprint marathon" nature of venture capital.

Quote:
Kate McAndrew [26:28]: "Self care is like the number one thing you have to do to have career longevity."

Courtney echoes this sentiment, advising the removal of "should" from one's vocabulary to prioritize personal desires over obligations.

Quote:
Courtney Johnson [24:18]: "Remove the word should from your vocabulary."

Balancing Personal Life and Professional Goals

Kate shares her approach to balancing her role as a venture capitalist with her responsibilities as a mother. She emphasizes the importance of setting boundaries and conducting quarterly relationship reviews with her partner to ensure harmony between personal and professional life. This practice not only supports her well-being but also enhances her effectiveness in her career.

Quote:
Kate McAndrew [28:00]: "I now do quarterly relationship off-sites with my boyfriend."

Courtney commends Kate for being a role model for integrating motherhood and entrepreneurship, highlighting the scarcity of such examples in Silicon Valley.

Quote:
Courtney Johnson [37:53]: "Seeing examples of it is the most special thing to me."

Kate's Big Ambitions and Investment Focus

Kate reveals her unwavering commitment to investing in ventures that have the potential to create billion-dollar values. This high ambition drives every aspect of her work, from selecting founders to strategic decision-making. She stresses that venture capital, by nature, is a long-term and selective endeavor, focusing on a mere 2% of businesses that align with her vision.

Quote:
Kate McAndrew [40:00]: "I have committed my career to that 2%. Which means every day everything that I do has to ladder up to creating a billion dollars of value."

She elaborates on her investment focus, mentioning that her firm, Baukunst, specializes in leading pre-seed rounds for U.S.-focused companies at the intersection of design and technology.

Quote:
Kate McAndrew [43:09]: "We specialize in leading pre seed rounds of funding. That's all we do."

Notable Quotes

• Kate McAndrew [02:28]: "Everyone splits. 50/50. It's like, dude, I look at thousands of cap tables a year. How many cap tables have you seen this year? Like, it's not 50/50 out there."

• Kate McAndrew [12:58]: "If you're looking for someone that's going to build a billion dollar plus business, they are generally not motivated by money."

• Kate McAndrew [34:38]: "It's a totally simple free, takes one minute to do. And it is such an easy tool to just get out of your thinking head out of the swords."

Conclusion and Contact Information

As the episode wraps up, Kate shares ways for listeners to connect with her, including her presence on TikTok and LinkedIn. She also promotes her book, "The Goddess Guide to Branding," available on Amazon, encouraging founders to embrace authentic branding aligned with feminine archetypes.

Quote:
Kate McAndrew [42:29]: "I am on TikTok, Kate McAndrew probably put link in something and I'm also on LinkedIn."

Courtney invites listeners to follow Kate’s journey and leverage the insights shared to navigate the venture capital landscape more effectively.

Quote:
Courtney Johnson [43:52]: "Thank you so much for being here, Kate."

This episode offers invaluable insights into demystifying venture capital, emphasizing authenticity, strategic personal branding, and the essential role of self-care in entrepreneurial success. Kate McAndrew's experiences and strategies provide actionable advice for founders seeking to navigate fundraising with integrity and purpose.