Investing in B2B SaaS Companies with Michael Cardamone from Forum Ventures

<p>In this podcast, Michael Cardamone, founder of Forum Ventures, shares his valuable insights on the startup world and his journey in founding and running a leading seed-stage SaaS venture VC firm. He talks about the importance of building relationships and being transparent about your track record when raising funds. He also provides insights on investing in startups, moving upmarket into enterprise, and building channel partnerships. Additionally, he discusses the topic of diversity in venture capital and the future of the venture capital landscape, and much more!</p><p><strong>Timestamps</strong></p><p><em>How Michael got into startups [00:00:22]</em> Michael talks about his transition from working for a family business to getting into tech and venture startups.</p><p><em>Partnerships and KPIs at Box [00:02:01]</em> Michael discusses the partnership goals and KPIs at Box, including building credibility in certain industries and driving more sales.</p><p><em>Founding Forum Ventures [00:04:59]</em> Michael talks about founding Forum Ventures, including his idea for a differentiated accelerator and how he raised his first $1 million.</p><p><em>Fundraising Challenges [00:08:15]</em> Michael talks about the challenges of fundraising for his accelerator and seed funds, including finding early believers and building top of funnel.</p><p><em>Founder Characteristics [00:11:23]</em> Michael discusses the qualities and characteristics he looks for in founders and companies, including founder-market fit, ability to recruit, and obsession with the business.</p><p><em>Investment Strategies [00:14:05]</em> Michael explains the three different ways Forum Ventures engages with founders, including the accelerator, studio, and seed fund, and the ticket sizes and follow-up strategies for each.</p><p><em>Investing in SaaS Startups [00:16:43]</em> Michael talks about investing in a SaaS startup and the importance of building relationships with founders.</p><p><em>Moving Upmarket into Enterprise [00:17:37]</em> Michael discusses wh