Family Office with Three Sisters Finds Alpha Through VCs

Alexa Binns, a seasoned investor and marketer, takes us through her remarkable journey from non-profit roots to establishing herself as a venture capital investor, overseeing her family office alongside her three sisters. Drawing from her dual roles as an angel investor and limited partner, Alexa provides invaluable insights for founders and venture capitalists alike, enriching the conversation with her wealth of experience and perspective. In this episode: [2:03] Alexa’s path to venture capital: Discover how Alexa transitioned from her role in a non-profit organization to making her mark in the competitive world of venture capital. [8:26] Three critical aspects that every founder should understand about angel investors to optimize their interactions and avoid common pitfalls. [12:38] The significant impact of new emerging managers on the venture capital landscape and what this means for the industry. [16:40] The "Three S’s" – sourcing, selecting, and stewardship – essential criteria for assessing and choosing the best emerging fund managers. [22:33] The current state of investment in female founders: are they receiving the funding they rightfully deserve? [28:11] Swimming with Allocators podcast, where limited partners share their decision-making processes in VC investments. The non-profit organization that Alexa is passionate about: Norman Lear Center USC About Alexa Binns Alexa Binns is a seasoned investor and marketer, known for her acute ability to identify emerging trends and technologies. Over her career, she has risen from associate to partner in venture capital, making significant investments at firms such as Maven, Halogen, and Spacecadet. Some of her notable angel investments include Chipper Cash, Sana Benefits, and The Flex Co. In addition to her investing prowess, Alexa brings a decade of operational experience, having developed both digital and physical products for high-profile clients including Planned Parenthood, MTV, Disney, and Target. She excels in innovative marketing strategies; her accomplishments range from writing a master’s thesis on building a brand on YouTube to helping sell the Twitch influencer marketing platform NoScope. She was also nominated for a Mashable Award for her work with Foursquare and pioneered some of the first advertising campaigns on Twitter. Alexa also co-hosts Swimming with Allocators, a venture podcast that offers insights from the limited partner (LP) perspective. Alongside Earnest Sweat, she interviews top allocators and industry leaders weekly, exploring their strategies and perspectives on the next decade of venture capital. Subscribe to our podcast and stay tuned for our next episode.