In this episode of The CTO Show with Mehmet, we’re joined by Adrian Mendoza, General Partner and co-founder of Mendoza Ventures. Based in Boston, Adrian has carved a unique path from being a tech founder and CTO to a venture capitalist, specializing in AI, fintech, and cybersecurity investments. With firsthand experience navigating the startup ecosystem, Adrian brings a unique empathy and understanding to his role as an investor. He shares his journey from startup founder to venture capitalist, discussing the valuable lessons he learned along the way.
Adrian begins by describing his early career as a tech founder, where he built and sold two startups. His background as a founder-turned-CTO gave him a deep understanding of the challenges tech founders face, from bootstrapping and scaling to managing exits. In this conversation, he explains why he decided to move “to the other side of the table” as an investor, emphasizing his desire to bring an empathetic, founder-focused approach to venture capital. Adrian’s unique perspective has shaped Mendoza Ventures, where he and his partners are committed to creating meaningful connections between founders and investors.
The conversation delves into the VC world, demystifying how venture funds operate and what they seek in early-stage startups. Adrian outlines the typical process startups go through when approaching VCs, highlighting common mistakes founders make when pitching. He discusses the importance of finding the right investment partner—someone who understands both the technical aspects of the business and the market potential. Adrian also stresses the need for founders to view fundraising as a sales process, where it’s essential to qualify leads and tailor pitches to the specific interests of investors.
