Navigating the Seattle VC Landscape with Elisa Lava of Trilogy Equity Partners

In this episode of Sound Investments, host Ed Barker interviews Elisa Lava, Principal at Trilogy Equity Partners in Seattle. They discuss Elisa's journey in venture capital, the distinct qualities of the Pacific Northwest's startup ecosystem, and emerging trends in AI and early-stage investing. Elisa shares her insights on investment strategies, the importance of community building in tech, and the evolving market dynamics affecting early-stage companies. The episode also highlights the challenges and opportunities present in the current investment climate for startups.

00:00 Introduction

00:30 Elisa La Cava from Trilogy Equity Partners

01:31 The Seattle Startup Ecosystem

02:48 Elisa's Journey into Venture Capital

04:46 Transition to Consulting

05:54 Entering the Venture Capital World

10:57 Joining Madrona and Trilogy Equity Partners

11:54 Trilogy's Investment Strategy

16:38 Community Building

20:36 AI Trends and Investment Opportunities

26:47 Challenges in Seed Stage Investing

28:14 Funding Milestones and Investor Expectations

34:04 Portfolio Companies

41:30 The Impact of AI Tools on Venture Capital

46:35 Future of AI in Media

51:11 Conclusion

About Your Host

Ed Barker has enjoyed a weird and varied career. Ed is a Brit now resident in Seattle and has founded three startups, enjoyed a long career in corporate strategy, and most recently as a VC. He's now building a podcast production company, Studio 1878. Sound Investments is a modest attempt to shine some light on the fantastic work being done in the Pacific Northwest entrepreneurial community.

Elisa La Cava, Principal, Trilogy Equity Partners

Prior to joining Trilogy, Elisa spent five years as an investor at Madrona Venture Group where she focused on funding early-stage startups building enterprise software applications. She also held positions at MATH Venture Partners and AT&T Corporate Development / M&A. Before receiving her MBA, Elisa worked at Deloitte Consulting, where she held roles as U.S. West Region chief of staff and consultant. Earlier in her career, Elisa gained early-stage company building experience at a biofuel startup where she wore several hats, including business development, project management, and HR.

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