Mike Collins, CEO of Alumni Ventures, joins Amir to unpack what it really means to democratize venture capital and why the next wave of value creation will happen in private markets long before it hits the public exchanges. He explains how Alumni Ventures lets accredited investors build a meaningful venture portfolio, why diversification and time matter more than stock picking, and how this model changes the game for both founders and individual investors. If you are a tech professional who cares about innovation, wealth building, and staying close to what comes next in AI, energy, health, and more, this conversation gives you a clear window into how the venture world actually works and how you can take part in it without becoming a full time investor. Key takeaways • Venture capital is a hits business, so the real game is building a broad portfolio, not trying to pick one or two magic startups • Diversification and time are the core levers for venture investing, especially for busy professionals who are not watching markets all day • Alumni Ventures acts as a large scale co investor with top venture firms, letting individual investors ride along with the same lead investors founders already want • Value creation is shifting to private markets, since many of the most important tech companies now stay private far longer than in past cycles • Alumni Ventures is building a global, tech enabled platform that aims to support founders and investors across regions, stages, and themes Timestamped highlights [03:01] Mike breaks down what venture capital really is and why random one off startup bets look more like gambling than investing [04:40] Why diversification is your superpower and how a portfolio of 30 to 200 startups changes the risk profile for individual investors [07:40] The rise of private value creation and why waiting for the open AI or Stripe IPO means missing the first big wave of upside [11:38] Venture as a time machine, looking five to seven years ahead at technologies the public will only hear about much later [17:48] How Alumni Ventures plays the role of co investor of choice for founders by bringing a global alumni network and real customer access [21:48] Roughly 300 deals a year and multiple themed funds, and what that volume unlocks for different types of accredited investors [25:31] The next ten years, going global, and why Mike wants Alumni Ventures to become the most valuable venture capital firm on the planet A line that stayed with me “Diversification is your superpower and time is really an asset.” Ideas you can use • Think of venture as a small but intentional slice of your overall portfolio, alongside public stocks, fixed income, and real estate • Treat venture like an ETF for innovation, where you build exposure to many teams across multiple years rather than buying a single hot deal • Use your curiosity as a filter, follow companies whose work you genuinely want to track over years, not days Call to action If this episode helped you see the venture world in a clearer way, follow the show, leave a quick rating, and share it with a friend who cares about tech and investing. To stay close to upcoming conversations with founders and investors who sit at the edge of innovation, connect with Amir on LinkedIn and make sure you are subscribed so you never miss an episode.
