Zal Bilimoria of Refactor Capital on Seed-Stage Venture, Investing in Founders, and Being a Solo GP

Zal Bilimoria, the co-founder and solo capitalist of Refactor Capital, joins the podcast to talk with host Conor Gaughan about launching and leading the seed-stage venture capital firm as a solo GP, the importance of investing in founders over ideas, and how Refactor’s portfolio of human and planetary health-focused startups marges profits, sustainability, and technology.

🎙 Zal Bilimoria of Refactor Capital on Seed-Stage Venture, Investing in Founders, and Being a Solo GP, Consensus in Conversation Season 3, Episode 34

Knowing whether or not to invest in a startup isn’t easy – it’s a skill that makes VCs like Zal Bilimoria extremely valuable. And Zal, the co-founder and solo GP of seed-stage VC firm Refactor Capital, is leveraging his knowledge to build a portfolio of human and planetary health-focused startups merging profits, sustainability, and technology.

Zal honed his skills and eye for the market working for tech industry giants like Microsoft and Google through pivotal moments in their history, and even created a new role for himself at Netflix, pioneering their dedicated mobile platform, before turning his hand to investing at a16z. It was there that he recognized his passion for health, biotech, and other impact-oriented industries, and in 2016, Zal struck out on his own to launch Refactor Capital. The firm has since invested in over 100 companies – four of which have gone on to reach unicorn status – and recently finished raising its fourth $50M fund.

Hear Zal share key insights from his time at tech and VC behemoths, the importance of believing in founders over ideas, and which startups and technologies could literally change the world for the better.

Episode Highlights:
00:00 Zal Bilimoria on super responsiveness
00:44 Conor Gaughan introduces Zal and Refactor Capital
07:03 Early passion for computers, UPenn, and Microsoft
11:36 Google, head of mobile at Netflix, and product management
18:05 Biotech and health, angel investing, and shifting investment strategy
21:49 Launching Refactor Capital, being a solo GP, and hard tech
28:47 Getting deals done, communication, and managing portfolios
36:20 Aligning profit and impact, exciting tech, and sci-fi vs science reality
42:53 Climate tech and human health, urgency, and Checkerspot
47:42 Aether Biomachines, founder dinners, and entrepreneurship
52:15 Leaving a legacy and defeating defeatism
56:01 Conclusion and end credits

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LISTEN 🎙
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/zal-bilimoria-of-refactor-capital-on-seed-stage/id1646449053?i=1000670031273
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/27HWO94eIy4tg1Xj6vC8mb?si=XmNe1qGoS1Kb5pYhQzcoTQ
Everywhere else: https://pod.link/1646449053/episode/794af42e161021e00ed7463106649159

LEARN MORE 📔
https://refactor.com
https://www.linkedin.com/company/refactor-capital
https://www.linkedin.com/in/zalzally

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http://www.linkedin.com/in/ckgone
https://www.threads.net/@ckgone
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If you liked this episode, listen next to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LEu8keZH_rE&t=2s

Consensus in Conversation is hosted and executive produced by Conor Gaughan. This episode was produced by Will Gatchel and Geoff Rock, with editing from Reasonable Volume.

Special thanks to the Consensus team, including Creative Director, Kate Tucker, Greg Herrigel on research, and Patrick Gallagher on strategy.

Consensus in Conversation is a podcast by Consensus Digital Media produced in association with Reasonable Volume.

Have a question for Conor or Zal? Or a great idea for our next guest? Leave us a comment!

Soundstripe: PIKIYBVNAGH2I8JP