In a compelling fireside chat hosted by Giovanni Amodeo for ION Influencers, Sabrina Paseman and Simon Lancaster, co-founders of Omni Ventures, shared valuable insights into the evolving landscape of private equity, particularly in manufacturing technology and deep tech investments.

Key Topics Discussed:

Background & Vision of Omni Ventures

• Omni Ventures specializes in manufacturing technology venture capital, leveraging the founders’ extensive engineering and corporate experience at Apple, Google, and BlackBerry.
• Both founders transitioned from operating roles to venture capital to drive impactful change in the industry.

Challenges and Red Flags in Early-Stage Investments

• Customer Feedback is Crucial: Lancaster emphasized the importance of speaking with at least 100 customers before launching a product.
• Iterating in Isolation: Paseman highlighted that failing to engage with the market and adapt to feedback is a major red flag.
• Adaptability: Founders must remain flexible, as only rare visionaries can predict market needs accurately.

Future Aspirations for Omni Ventures

• Expansion into Frontier Tech: Lancaster expressed excitement about diversifying into biotech, synthetic biology, precision fermentation, and space tech.
• Scaling Fund Size: Lancaster committed to keeping Omni Ventures under the $100M mark while challenging industry norms.
• Driving Meaningful Change: Paseman emphasized the power of directing capital to transform industries beyond manufacturing.

Takeaways for Investors and Entrepreneurs:

• Engage with customers early and continuously iterate based on their feedback.
• Investors seek adaptability and market awareness in founders.
• Omni Ventures aims to redefine venture capital by backing transformative technologies beyond manufacturing.

Key timestamps:

00:07 Introduction to the Fireside Chat
02:11 The Evolution of Private Equity
04:54 Market Dynamics and Early Stage Opportunities
06:36 Defining Uniqueness in Venture Capital
08:59 Bridging Startups and Industry Needs
10:37 Sourcing Deals in a Competitive Landscape
13:57 Funding Strategies for Founders
17:20 Aligning Interests Between Founders and VCs
19:04 Adapting to Market Changes
19:51 The Importance of Customer Feedback
21:06 Identifying Investment Red Flags
21:51 Vision for the Future of Omni Ventures
23:08 Transitioning from Operators to Venture Capital
23:58 Closing Remarks and Acknowledgments