E418: AI, Venture Capital & the Future of Investing
Most venture firms think AI is another productivity tool. David sits down with John Melas-Kyriazi co-founder and CEO of Standard Metrics—the AI-native portfolio management platform used by leading venture capital and private equity firms—to discuss how AI is transforming every stage of investing, from sourcing and diligence to portfolio management, follow-on decisions, and firm operations. John explains why the best venture firms are becoming AI-native organizations, how investors are using large language models today, why every investment memo should be "red teamed" by AI, the rise of MCPs, when firms should build software versus buy it, what Standard Metrics is seeing across more than 12,000 portfolio companies, and why human judgment will become even more valuable as AI automates everything else.
Highlights:
- How AI is changing every stage of venture investing.
- The AI workflows top VC firms already use every day.
- Why every investment memo should be "red teamed."
- MCPs explained and why they'll reshape enterprise software.
- Build vs. buy: what VC firms should develop internally.
- The surprising data behind today's fastest-growing AI companies.
- Why judgment—not research—becomes the scarce resource.
- How Standard Metrics analyzes thousands of private companies.
- Hiring lessons from building an AI-native company.
- Why culture matters more than tools in the AI era.
Guest Bio:
John Melas-Kyriazi is the co-founder and CEO of Standard Metrics, an AI-powered portfolio management platform trusted by many of the world's leading venture capital and private equity firms. Before founding Standard Metrics, he was an investor at Spark Capital and previously worked as a research scientist at Stanford University. Today, he works with thousands of investors and portfolio companies, giving him a unique perspective on how AI is transforming the future of venture capital.
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We’d like to thank AlphaSense for sponsoring this episode!
Sponsor:
AlphaSense is the AI-powered market intelligence platform trusted by 85% of the S&P 100, helping investment professionals make faster, more confident, data-driven decisions. Built for hedge funds, asset allocators, private venture capital firms, and investment bankers, AlphaSense uses advanced AI and powerful search across premium proprietary content to surface the insights that matter most—before the market moves. Elevate your research and stay ahead of the competition. Visit https://www.alpha-sense.com/howiinvest/ to learn more.
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X/Twitter: @dweisburd LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dweisburd/ Weisburd Pierce: https://www.weisburdcapital.com/
Stay Connected with John Melas-Kyriazi:
LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmk/
Questions or topics you want us to discuss on How I Invest? Email us at [email protected].
Disclaimer:
This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment, financial, legal, or tax advice. Nothing in this episode should be interpreted as an offer to buy or sell any securities or to participate in any investment strategy. All opinions expressed by the host and guests are their own and do not represent the views of Weisburd Pierce. Participants may hold positions or have financial interests in the companies, funds, or investments discussed. Any references to specific investments are for illustrative purposes only. Investing involves risk, including the potential loss of capital. Past performance is not indicative of future results, and any forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties. Any third-party data or opinions have not been independently verified. Listeners should conduct their own research and consult their own advisors before making any investment decisions.
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Transcript
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