Katelin Holloway – Human Side of Venture Investing at 776 (EP.490)

Katelin Holloway, founding partner at 776, explores the intersection of human and venture capital, drawing on her experience at Pixar, Reddit, and in HR. Holloway emphasizes that early-stage investing is fundamentally about people and systems, mirroring HR processes. She details 776's sourcing strategy, leveraging Alexis Ohanian's extensive network and their proprietary software, Cerebro, to connect founders with resources. Holloway prioritizes the founder's qualities, such as openness to coaching and ability to compel, often valuing these above immediate product-market fit. She also highlights the importance of intentional culture, citing Pixar's success as a model, and shares 776's Growth and Caregiving Program, which provides grants for founders' personal growth and caregiving needs.