A Conversation with Courtney Russell McCrea | Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Recast Capital | ex-Managing Director of Weathergage Capital | Silver Partners | Weston Presidio | MBA @ Kellogg

In the conversation with Courtney, we talk about her journey into the world of investing, starting as a Kauffman Fellow - to becoming an LP and now running Recast Capital, a platform supporting and investing in emerging managers in venture. We also learn more about their recent fellowship - for emerging VC investors. We hear Courtney's perspective on how the changing market environment is impacting growth of the VC industry. Finally, we talk about some hard facts on gender biases in this ecosystem, their root causes and how can they be changed.

Transcript

Here's a quick summary of our conversation with Courtney

• Kauffman fellowship and how it changed her life. 1:44
  • The importance of diversity in the venture capital community.
• Recast’s mission and vision and how they raised the fund. 4:12
  • The mission and vision of Recast
  • The accelerator program that Recast launched last month.
  • The only thing we ask is that they provide information on the companies they invest in. 6:05
  • Paying $100,000 of operating expenses for free.
  • Biggest learnings from running the fund.
• State of Venture Capital and running the fund. 7:44
  • Challenges for emerging managers in venture capital.
  • Women fund managers are very low.
• What are some of the things that the industry can do to improve gender diversity? 9:19
  • How the industry can improve its representation.
  • Investors have biases against individuals that have not made the money in the past. 11:01
  • Investors need to understand beyond biases.
• What advice do you have for aspiring female investors? 14:06
  • Advice for aspiring female investors, keep track of accomplishments.
  • Find mentors.
  • Don't be afraid of having both male and female