My First Steps into Venture Capital
A founder’s journey from building startups to backing them.
I’ve always believed that founders shape the future, not just by building startups, but also by enabling others to build. After years of building my ventures, supporting early-stage startups, and writing Future Forge, I’ve taken a new step in that direction.
I’m thrilled to share that I’ve been selected to join LvlUp Ventures’ VC in Residence program (VIR).
This milestone feels like a natural extension of my journey — not a pivot, but a deepening of purpose. In this log, I want to unpack why I joined the VC industry, what it means for me (and for you as a reader of Future Forge), and where things go from here.
Why Venture Capital — and Why Now?
The short version: I’ve spent the last few years building startups, advising founders, and learning from the trenches of startup life — from bootstrapping to fundraising, from product-market fit struggles to go-to-market sprints.
Along the way, something became clear: I was often the first person founders turned to for honest feedback, startup strategy advice, or introductions to venture capital investors. The lines between founder, advisor, and connector started to blur.
Joining a VC program formalizes this role. It gives me the backing of a venture capital firm to spot and support high-potential early-stage startups while staying close to the ground truth of what’s being built. I’m not stepping away from building — I’m doubling down on helping the next generation of startup founders do it better and faster.
What This Means for Future Forge
If you’ve been following Future Forge, you know this isn’t just a newsletter — it’s a launchpad for ideas, people, and companies shaping the future of innovation and entrepreneurship.
As a venture partner-in-training, I now have a direct channel to back bold founders, and this newsletter becomes even more valuable as a deal flow and signal engine. Here’s what’s changing (and what’s not):
✅ More founder spotlights: I’ll feature innovative startups I’m evaluating or backing, giving you a front-row seat to early-stage innovation.
✅ More funding insights: Expect deeper dives into the venture capital process, what investors look for, and how to navigate early-stage startup funding.
✅ More opportunities: If you’re a startup founder, I may be able to help you get in front of early-stage VC investors. Just reply to any issue.
❌ What’s not changing: My voice, my independent thinking, and my belief that great founders are the real heroes.
What’s Next: From Builder to Backer
The venture role is just the beginning. Here’s how I’m thinking about the next 12 months:
🔍 Discover: I’ll be actively identifying promising startup founders who are pre-seed to Series A, especially in emerging sectors like SaaS, Future of Work, and ClimateTech.
🤝 Support: For a select few, I’ll go deeper, offering hands-on support around go-to-market strategy, startup fundraising, and growth planning.
🧭 Invest: I’ll be backing high-conviction startups through the scout program.
🛠️ Build: I’m not done building startups. I’m just getting smarter about what to build next — and with whom.
A Note to Startup Founders Reading This
If you’re building something with ambition and clarity, I want to hear from you. You don’t need a pitch deck (yet). Just a real problem you care deeply about and the courage to forge ahead when things get hard.
Reply to this email. DM me on X or LinkedIn. Or Book a Meeting!
Let’s build the future — together.
Until next time,
The Forgemaster