Discover how Blue Moon is completely revolutionizing seed-stage venture capital by screening 20,000 startups a year using advanced AI. Join Jake Aaron Villarreal as he sits down with Ben Orthlieb to reveal the data-driven secrets behind finding the next billion-dollar unicorn.

We dive deep into the philosophy of investing in the founders behind the technology, comparing startup success to Olympic endurance. Learn why a founders resilience, upbringing, and tolerance for pain are the ultimate predictors of a massive exit in the competitive tech landscape.

Ben shares the incredible story of discovering Merkor before its massive valuation and explains why building a venture fund like a pure technology company allows Blue Moon to achieve a staggering 70 percent market coverage. If you are an AI startup looking for funding or a founder wanting to understand what top-tier VCs are really looking for, this episode is packed with invaluable insights.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Personal Stories 01:20 Blue Moon: A Tech-Driven Venture Fund 02:47 Ben Orthlieb's Background and Experience 06:02 From LinkedIn to Venture Capital 08:33 Market Gaps in Traditional VC 11:05 Using Data and AI to Evaluate Founders 13:12 The Olympics Analogy for Founder Obsession 15:47 Deep Conversations with Founders 19:35 AI in Deal Sourcing and Screening 23:03 Managing Deal Flow and Outreach 26:02 Value-Add Beyond Capital 29:20 Building Relationships and Trust 32:16 Fund Performance and Investment Returns 35:09 Notable Investments and Success Stories 38:24 Founder Drive and Obsession 43:18 Building for the Future with AI 45:21 Lessons Learned and Future Plans 47:54 Closing Remarks and Key Takeaways

Host: Jake Aaron Villarreal leads the top AI recruitment firm in Silicon Valley, www.matchrelevant.com, uncovering stories of funded startups and going behind the scenes to tell their founders’ journeys. If you are growing an AI startup or have a great story to tell, email us at: jake.villarreal@matchrelevant.com