UVC: Dave Richards from Capria Ventures on their unique VC fund and fund of funds approach, challenges faced by global south founders, and unsustainability of 'spray and pray' investment strategy
In the latest episode of the Understanding VC podcast, Dave Richards, Managing Partner at Capria Ventures, provides insights on Capria's unique approach of functioning as both a VC fund and a fund of funds. He discusses the advantages of this approach and how it allows Capria to bring cutting-edge venture capital innovation combined with impact and ESG management practices to its portfolio of market-leading companies.
Dave also talks about the challenges faced by founders from the global south, highlighting how they differ significantly from those faced by their counterparts in the global north. He shares his perspective on the most common mistakes made by founders or founding teams, and why the "spray and pray" investment strategy is unsustainable.
Further, Dave explains how Capria nurtures its partnerships with fund managers across different regions by building trust and understanding the local context. Finally, he discusses Capria's focus on the global south and the potential of the region to achieve the same level of wealth as the global north over time, while also emphasizing the important role that impact investing can play in sustainable development.
In this episode you will learn:
- Why does Capria Ventures act as both a VC fund and a fund of funds, and what benefits does this approach offer?
- What is the "state of the art venture capital innovation" that Capria Ventures brings?
- How does Capria Ventures nurture its partnerships with fund managers across different regions?
- What are some of the challenges that founders from the global south face and how different are they to the global north?
- According to Dave, what is the most common mistake made by founders or founding teams?
- Why is the "spray and pray" investment strategy unsustainable, according to Dave?
- Why does Capria Ventures focus on the global south, and is it possible for this region to achieve the same level of wealth as the global north over time?
About
Dave Richards is Co-Founder & Managing Partner of Capria Ventures.
Dave is an experienced entrepreneur, operating executive, and venture capital investor. He co-founded Capria Ventures in 2012 and has since made 60+ investments in early- and early-growth tech startups across the Global South -- India, SE Asia, Latin America, and Africa.
Previously, Dave led Unitus Group, a leading early venture catalyst and capital investor in microfinance in the Global South. He has also held business operating leadership roles with RealNetworks, Sybase, and Symantec managing large global teams and building multiple zero to $100M technology-led businesses in digital media, databases, and business productivity tools. Dave received his Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of British Columbia.
Dave Richards
Co-Founder & Managing Partner of Capria Ventures
Dave is an experienced entrepreneur, operating executive, and venture capital investor. He co-founded Capria Ventures in 2012 and has since made 60+ investments in early- and early-growth tech startups across the Global South -- India, SE Asia, Latin America, and Africa.
Previously, Dave led Unitus Group, a leading early venture catalyst and capital investor in microfinance in the Global South. He has also held business operating leadership roles with RealNetworks, Sybase, and Symantec managing large global teams and building multiple zero to $100M technology-led businesses in digital media, databases, and business productivity tools.
Dave received his Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of British Columbia.
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