Sand Hill Road
Business & Finance
About
What makes Silicon Valley the innovation capital of the world? It all starts on Sand Hill Road, considered the mecca of venture capital. Join us for insightful interviews from the heart of Silicon Valley with the VCs, start-ups and innovators behind the trending technologies of tomorrow. Hosted by NBC Bay Area business and technology reporter and host of Press:Here, Scott McGrew.
Episodes
- David Spreng: Why Debt Isn't a Dirty Word
David Spreng, founder of Runway Growth Capital, discusses his career providing loans to companies that are too established for traditional venture capital and too unconventional for bank loans.
- Leah Solivan: Muscle of Conviction
Leah Solivan, who founded TaskRabbit and later became an investor, shares insights on the venture capital system, its incentives, and how founders can use this knowledge. She is also looking for someone to create an AI-native version of Ta…
- Jack Leeney of 7GC: Why IPOs Are Optional Now
Jack Leeney, partner at 7GC, discusses his career, IPO pricing, and the changing public markets. He highlights 7GC investments, including Anthropic, and explains the opportunity in enterprise AI adoption.
- Entrepreneurs First: Investing Before the Idea
Alice Bentinck details the Entrepreneurs First program, which aids individuals in forming companies even without an initial team or idea. The organization has backed companies now valued at over $10 billion, with many participants securing…
- Rudina Seseri Knew AI Was Cool Before You Did
Rudina Seseri, founder of Glasswing Ventures, shares her experience investing in AI startups for over ten years, detailing Glasswing's evaluation process and common founder errors. The episode also covers her path from immigrant to AI inve…
- Adeo Ressi: Why the World Needs More Venture Capitalists
Adeo Ressi says his organization helps launch between 60 and 70 percent of new venture capital firms worldwide. In this episode, the Decile Group and VC Lab founder explains why starting a VC fund is far harder than most people expect, why…
- Who Wins When ChatGPT Does the Searching?
Alex Halliday made his first fortune at 15 building fan sites in the early web. Now he’s back at the center of another digital reset — helping brands survive AI-driven search. In this episode, he explains why “information gain” beats spam,…
- Brewing Medicine: Christina Smolke and the Race to Reinvent Drug Manufacturing
Dr. Christina Smolke runs a brewery, except the yeast isn’t making alcohol. It’s making medicine. At Antheia, Smolke has turned a long-shot Stanford research project into a new way to manufacture critical pharmaceutical ingredients, using…
- Dr. Ed Engleman: Vivo Capital’s Cancer Hacker
Legendary Stanford immunologist Dr. Ed Engleman helped create the foundations of modern cancer treatment. From early breakthroughs in immune-cell training to a brand-new discovery, Engleman explains how the immune system can now be switche…
- The Fastest Startup in Tech: Maria Palma on Lovable
Scott's conversation with Freestyle Capital's Maria Palma ranges from venture capital hype cycles to ethics, engineering creativity, venture regret, and even the art of naming startups (“Cluster Fudge” stays). Palma also offers a personal…
- Design First, Lean Always: The Gamma Playbook
Gamma co-founder and CEO Grant Lee and lead series A investor Vas Natarajan of Accel are building one of the fastest-growing creative-tools startups in tech. With 70 million users, 100M ARR and just 50 employees, Gamma has become the “anti…
- Physics & AI: N47’s TJ Rylander Is Reimagining Engineering
TJ Rylander, general partner at N47 is exploring the next frontier of artificial intelligence: the physical world. Rylander explains how companies like Luminary Cloud are revolutionizing engineering by merging AI with physics, enabling des…
- Rewiring the Special Relationship with the UK's AI Minister
Kanishka Narayan isn’t your typical politician. A Stanford GSB grad, he’s now the United Kingdom’s Minister for Artificial Intelligence — a job that didn’t even exist a few years ago. In this episode, Narayan talks about how Britain is usi…
- Eugene Malobrodsky's Bet on Immigrant Founders
Eugene Malobrodsky came to the U.S. as a teenager and went on to co-found Hotspot Shield, the VPN that became a symbol of free speech during the Arab Spring. Now he’s a venture capitalist at One Way Ventures, backing immigrant founders bui…
- Christina Farr: The Storyteller's Advantage
Startups need an interesting story. Not just for the media, but for investors and clients. Former CNBC reporter turned venture investor turned author Christina Farr explains what makes a great story and how being boring is the worst strate…
- Abhinav Asthana: Building for Developers, Not Headlines
Postman began as a side project by Abhinav Asthana and his two co-founders, and turned into the most widely adopted API collaboration platform, used by millions of developers worldwide. In this conversation, Abhinav breaks down why develop…
- Katelin Holloway's Billion-Dollar Box Scores
Venture capitalist Katelin Holloway—founding partner at 776— unpacks the new math of sports investing. From incubating Angel City FC and LA Golf Club to why women’s sports offer the biggest upside, Holloway explains where value is created…
- Ireland’s Big Bet on Silicon Valley
Ireland is making an aggressive play to strengthen its ties with the West Coast. IDA Ireland—the nation’s foreign investment agency—has launched a trade mission aimed at securing €250 billion (about $300 billion) in new capital and creatin…
- NEA's Aaron Jacobson on Robotics, AI Startups and Defense Innovation
NEA partner Aaron Jacobson joins Sand Hill Road to discuss the next wave of robotics and AI — from warehouse automation and drone manufacturing to autonomous construction and defense innovation. Jacobson explains why the future of robotics…
- Steven Lee: From Last Kid Picked Up to Earliest Money In
Steven Lee raised $40 million in five weeks to fund his own venture firm — with just his reputation, network, and a bet on AI. From being the last kid picked up at school to becoming one of Silicon Valley’s earliest investors in breakout c…
- Rehan Jalil's Four Wins and a Vision
Rehan Jalil has sold three companies. His fourth, Securiti AI, might be his first to go public. A decade after we first met him as the founder of Elastica, Rehan returns to explain why protecting enterprise data is the gateway to unlocking…
- The Meme is the Message: Kanyi Maqubela on Crypto, Culture, and the Future of Value
Kanyi Maqubela’s journey is nothing short of extraordinary—from fleeing apartheid South Africa as an infant, to living in a homeless shelter in New York City, to becoming a venture capitalist in Silicon Valley. As managing partner at Kindr…
- Heavybit Announces Its Largest Raise Yet: $180m
Scott McGrew sits down with Tom Drummond, co-founder of developer-first VC firm Heavybit, fresh off the announcement of the firm’s fifth fund and second opportunity fund. Drummond explains why the traditional enterprise sales model is fadi…
- 2025 Summer VC Reading List
It's our annual tradition—venture capitalists and startup founders share the books that shaped them. From sci-fi and civil rights to artificial intelligence and management, this year's reading list offers insight into the minds of Silicon…
- The Systems Leader vs The Lone Wolf with Robert Siegel
Stanford lecturer and venture investor Robert Siegel argues the lone-wolf CEO is not just outdated—but dangerous. In this episode, he joins Scott to explain why today's most effective leaders are those who can hold competing truths at once…
- From MySpace to Liquid Death: Mike Jones on Building Brands People Love
(Encore! Encore!) Mike Jones has helped launch some of the most unexpected breakout brands in consumer goods—from canned water with a death metal vibe to subscription underwear and a prayer app. The former CEO of MySpace and founder of Sci…
- Practicing Venture Not Performing It: Joseph Alalou’s Outsider Ethos
Joseph Alalou of Daring Ventures says too many VCs choose "performance" over discovery — prioritizing brand-building over finding overlooked talent. In this episode, he shares how his journey from washing cars at Enterprise to investing in…
- Biotech and Bold Bets with Jessica Owens, Inititate Ventures
Jessica Owens of Initiate Ventures joins Scott McGrew to talk biotech, bold bets, and what happens when venture capital meets whiteboard-stage science. From her early days in a CDC biohazard lab to co-founding an $8 billion cancer detectio…
- Masha Bucher Day One Ventures
This week on Sand Hill Road, a remarkable conversation at the kitchen table of Masha Bucher. Scott McGrew talks with the founder of Day One Ventures about her transformation from PR powerhouse to unicorn-spotting investor, the emotional to…
- Lori Rosenkopf's Unstoppable Entrepreneurs
Sand Hill Road Host Scott McGrew speaks with Wharton Vice Dean of Entrepreneurship Lori Rosenkopf, author of Unstoppable Entrepreneurs: 7 Paths for Unleashing Successful Startups and Creating Value through Innovation. They talk about break…
- Entrepreneurship through the eyes of Navin Chaddha
Sand Hill Road Host Scott McGrew spoke with Navin Chaddha, managing partner at Mayfield Fund, to learn more about what the world of entrepreneurship really is. Chaddha has placed in the Top 10 of Forbes' Midas List four times and is hoping…
- Larry Gadea's startup journey
Sand Hill Road Host Scott McGrew spoke with Larry Gadea, CEO and founder of Envoy, to learn more about his early days at Twitter, now known as X, and Google and what led him to make the entrepreneurial jump. Sand Hill Road is hosted by Sco…
- Bobby Franklin’s unkillable movie monster
Just like Godzilla and Frankenstein were misunderstood, so is the case with tax breaks on carried interest, according to those who benefit from it. Some would characterize venture capital as a high-risk business, and the economic incentive…
- How AI is transforming the cybersecurity landscape
There's no shortage of cybersecurity companies, and artificial intelligence continues to help transform that competitive landscape. So, how do investors decide who's worth helping? Casber Wang, a partner at Sapphire Ventures, identifies wh…
- Diagnosing diseases and saving lives with AI
Dr. Joshua Reicher, co-founder and CEO of Imvaria, initially missed the opportunity to develop a company similar to DraftKings and instead decided to focus on saving lives. As a serial entrepreneur, he has been committed to using artificia…
- AI 's role in developing category killer therapeutics
Dr. Jim Tananbaum, founder and CEO of Foresite Capital, has always had two areas of interest: mathematics and computer algorithms, biology and healthcare. With his passions in mind, he has developed and managed a venture firm with close to…
- Fungus among us? 'Canadian values' in the Bay Area VC market
Terry Doyle, managing partner and vice president of Telus Global Ventures, is vocal about spreading the firm's mission, from changing names to understanding how 'Canadian values' play a role in the venture capital market. Sand Hill Road Ho…
- Why does Steve Vassallo of Foundation Capital choose to invest early?
Steve Vassallo, a general partner at Foundation Capital, has been known to invest at the intersection of design, technology, and business, but at a very early stage. He said much of it has to do with hearing the lessons of his "helicopter…
- A $40 Million Investment in Exploding Kittens
Exploding Kittens, a kitty-powered version of Russian Roulette, has become a household staple. The company launched on Kickstarter and has never lost its edge. However, despite much success, the company's founding team decided to accept a…
- Bay Area Venture Market Remains King
The state of venture capital appears to be rocky at the moment. A report from PitchBook Data and the National Venture Capital Association highlights potential weakness ahead in the venture industry. The Pitchbook/NVCA Venture Monitor First…
- San Francisco's Death is Greatly Exaggerated
Analysis by SignalFire shows the Bay Area still has more tech than 10 other cities combined. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
- Mike Schroepfer is Saving the World, One Big Step at a Time
The Gigascale founder has big ideas on clean power and clean air. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
- Brian Cho is Ready to Play
Patron Fund's co-founder invests in video games. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
- Michael Marks of Celesta Capital
Marks discusses global supply chains, manufacturing and his stint as interim CEO at Tesla in 2007. This episode was first released on Nov. 22, 2023. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our co…
- Rob Smith of M13
Smith talks about AI company misconceptions and his journey from startup fixer to venture capitalist investor. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for…
- Mike Maples Jr. on Pattern Breakers
The Floodgate co-founder considers how some startups change the future. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
- James Joaquin's World Positive Outlook
The co-founder of Obvious Ventures gets deep into the science. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
- "Astounding and Inevitable": SVB's Second Act
Silicon Valley Bank's Marc Cadieux examines the bank's past and ponders its future. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
- Friends & Family Capital
Colin Anderson funds public safety company Peregrine. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
- Scott Beechuk is Bullish on SF
Norwest Ventures announces a new $3 billion fund. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.