E411: How AI Is Creating a New Generation of Venture Firms

Highlights:

• Why AI should automate venture capital—not replace investors.
• The hidden cost of missing great startups.
• How Earlybird built an AI-native investment platform.
• Why founder branding has become a competitive advantage.
• The surprising traits shared by successful AI founders.
• How machine learning improves venture capital decision-making.
• Why the best investors optimize for judgment, not activity.
• The framework Andre uses to evaluate every AI startup.
• How proprietary data creates lasting venture alpha.
• Why exceptional investors spend less time screening and more time thinking.

Guest Bio:

Andre Retterath is a General Partner at Earlybird, where he leads the firm's AI and infrastructure investment practice, focusing on frontier AI models, databases, developer tools, automation platforms, and AI infrastructure. He has led investments in companies including Aleph Alpha, Black Forest Labs, DeepCode, EthonAI, and Energy Robotics, while helping build one of Europe's leading AI-focused venture franchises. Before joining venture capital, Andre worked as a process automation engineer at ThyssenKrupp and as a management consultant at GE. He also earned a Ph.D. from the Technical University of Munich researching machine learning and the value of data in venture capital, research that continues to shape Earlybird's AI-native approach to investing.

Are you interested in sponsoring the How I Invest Podcast? Please email David Weisburd at [email protected].

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.

Stay Connected with David Weisburd:

X/Twitter: @dweisburd LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dweisburd/ Weisburd Pierce: https://www.weisburdcapital.com/

Stay Connected with Andre Retterath:

LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/andreretterath/ Website: https://earlybird.com/ Newsletter: https://datadrivenvc.io/

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.