“We have such weird jobs because so much of our lives is spent talking to world’s leading experts in subjects that we’ve basically just heard about and then determining whether or not we believe them.”

- Maryanna Saenko

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ABOUT THIS EPISODE

Deep tech investments hold immense promise and often spark enthusiasm among venture capitalists. However, balancing that excitement with rational decision-making is crucial to ensure the best possible investment choices. In our latest episode, Adam Draper talks with Maryanna Saenko, co-founder and Partner at Future Ventures, an early-stage VC firm that focuses on mission-driven companies at the cutting edge of disruptive technology. Maryanna shares her thoughts on how to navigate the initial excitement and make informed investment decisions in the world of deep tech startups.

Maryanna's first lesson is to trust your intuition. Gut instincts can often provide valuable initial insights. However, it is crucial to validate those instincts through a thorough analysis of the startup's fundamentals. Conducting due diligence, evaluating the market potential, assessing the team's capabilities, and scrutinizing the technology are vital steps to ensure a rational investment decision.

When a venture capitalist finds themselves genuinely excited about a deep tech company, it is essential to approach the situation with a measured perspective. While enthusiasm can be a positive indicator, it is important to temper it with rationality to evaluate the investment opportunity thoroughly.

Maryanna defines deep tech as ventures that are "unlike anything we've ever seen before." Future Ventures, under Maryanna's guidance, seeks out novel and groundbreaking technologies that have the potential to create unprecedented shifts in industries. This perspective enables the firm to embrace the truly transformative opportunities that push the boundaries of innovation.

For Maryanna, success is derived from the feeling that she has explored the full landscape of possibility. It is a sense of knowing that she has contributed everything she could to a venture, leaving no stone unturned in her pursuit of innovative breakthroughs. This relentless dedication to pushing the boundaries of science and technology defines her vision of success.

Maintaining rationality in the face of excitement is a crucial aspect of venture capital, especially in deep tech investments. By trusting intuition, validating with reason, and focusing on the transformative potential of deep tech startups, venture capitalists can make informed investment decisions. Maryanna Saenko's insights provide a roadmap for navigating the initial enthusiasm, ensuring that investments align with long-term goals and support the mission-driven companies that shape the future.

Topics Covered

Maryanna’s biggest accomplishments before age 20

 Recognized she wouldn’t survive public high school
 Got into Hopkins prep school on a scholarship

How Maryanna got into venture capital

 Worked for an early-stage company out of college
 Job offer from Daimler to figure out driverless cars
 Introduced to the head of an innovation lab at Airbus

The most important lessons Maryanna has learned as a VC

 Trust your intuition
 Don’t waste time justifying a startup’s relevance

How Maryanna defines deep tech

 ‘Unlike anything we’ve ever seen before
 Index on novelty at Future Ventures

What Maryanna does when she’s all-in on a company right away

 Asks what she must believe about reality for YES to hold
 Discussion with a partner to temper her excitement

Why Maryanna prefers the two-person structure in venture

 Ideal for its efficiency and intellectual honesty
 Never puts someone in a tie-breaker position

Maryanna’s superpowers as a venture investor

 Confident in ability to assess tech on first principles
 Know how to build orgs around shifts in science or tech

What deals Maryanna wishes she had been closer to

 Structure of open AI
 Deep seabed mining, recycling battery technology

Maryanna’s definition of success

 Feel the landscape of possibility was totally exhausted
 ‘Everything I could give to this, I did’

Connect

Future Ventures https://future.ventures/

Future on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/FutureVenturesVC

Future on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/future.ventures/

Future on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/futureventures/

Maryanna on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/maryannasaenko/

Maryanna on Twitter https://twitter.com/FutureSaenko

Resources

Lux Research https://www.luxresearchinc.com/

DARPA Grand Challenge https://www.darpa.mil/about-us/timeline/-grand-challenge-for-autonomous-vehicles

Airbus BizLab https://www.airbus.com/en/innovation/innovation-ecosystem/airbus-bizlab

Beeflow https://www.beeflow.com/

Decoding the World by Po Bronson and Arvind Gupta https://www.amazon.com/Decoding-World-Questioner-Po-Bronson/dp/1538734311

Redwood Materials https://www.redwoodmaterials.com/

American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin https://www.amazon.com/American-Prometheus-audiobook/dp/B000OZ0J0W/