Spotting the Best Applied AI Startups with Neville Teagarden

In this episode, we talk with Neville Teagarden, Managing Partner at AI Capital, a venture capital firm specializing in early growth stage, enterprise applied AI software companies. Neville shares his journey from leading in data management to becoming an advisor and investor. He discusses his experience in venture investing, lessons from raising a VC fund, and how to spot and secure great deals. We also explore early AI use cases, key trends in Colorado’s defense tech sector, and Neville's practical advice for founders on effectively approaching VCs and navigating the investment landscape. Subscribe to the VNTR Podcast to deepen your knowledge of investing and discovering winning opportunities. VNTR is building the world’s largest investor community by sharing lessons, hosting events, and offering opportunities. Active VC investors can join by claiming a free investor account at (https://app.vntr.vc/). Hosts: - Yuri Rabinovich (http://linkedin.com/byuric) - Niko Leon (http://linkedin.com/nikoleon) Chapters: * 0:00 Intro * 4:40 Transition to corporate life * 7:15 Neville’s startup * 9:00 Investing in ventures * 17:05 Successful investments * 19:50 Fundraising for VC fund * 25:40 Finding the best deals * 32:00 First AI use cases (decades ago) * 37:32 Best way to reach out to a VC * 41:00 Colorado Defense Tech Follow Neville: * https://www.linkedin.com/in/nteagarden * https://www.ai.vc/ Neville's Bio: A graduate of Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Mr. Teagarden studied under Dr. Marvin Minsky in the MIT Artificial Intelligence Laboratory in Cambridge, Massachusetts and Dr. Ken Salisbury, currently at Stanford University, and was a close colleague of Dr. Doug Lenat of Cycorp. He brings an extensive background and expertise in Deep/Machine Learning, Semantics, Robotics, Analytics, and Natural Language. Neville has built and deployed artificial intelligence systems across a variety of industries and companies, including Texas Instruments, Nabisco, Goldman Sachs & Co., JP Morgan Chase, Royal Dutch Shell, and many more. He has also held CIO/CTO-type roles with Janus Capital, Navigant International, and Prologis. After his corporate tenure, he co-founded and successfully exited an AI software company based in Austin, TX. In 2016, he co-founded AI Capital to capitalize on a vision of investing in early growth stage, enterprise applied AI software companies.