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Emerging VC Talent Series: Edition 3
- James Shecter, Vice President at Fika Ventures, shares key takeaways and insights on his career journey and venture capital investing. Shecter explains how he developed both his qualitative and quantitative skills, improved team dynamics, and what he prioritizes when evaluating deals. When learning about new industries, Shecter recommends speaking with people who are actively building in the space, to gain a better understanding of the industry. Lastly, Shecter provides advice for emerging VC talents, saying that doing only what is asked means you're only doing 50% of the job.
- Fika Ventures is a Los Angeles based early-stage venture capital firm founded in 2016 with over ~$350M in AUM. Fika invests across enterprise/AI, fintech, marketplaces, and health tech.
- Shecter draws parallels between his hobbies, surfing and playing guitar, to VC investing by looking for where the waves are going to be and the creativity involved in improvising. These skills translate to sourcing and conducting due diligence.
- When evaluating a team or founder, Shecter sees a spectrum of characteristics, each with an ideal aspect and an adverse aspect. For example, storytelling: ideally, it enhances the pitch, but adversely, it can lead to a forced narrative. Inquisitiveness is great for uncovering risks but can also lead to indecisiveness.
- Shecter reveals concerns over the state and structure of early-stage VC, as it faces challenges due to an increase in capital allocators favoring top-tier managers. To thrive, Shecter believes the IPO window to reopen, interest rates to lower, and regulatory shifts that favor entrepreneurship.
- Shecter advocates owning tasks, finding creativity solutions, and constantly adding value in the industry. He attributes persistence, delivering successful deals, and documenting everything as key aspects to earning a promotion.
- When learning about new industries, Shecter recommends speaking with people who are actively building in the space, to gain a better understanding of the industry.
- Shecter advises emerging VC talents to adopt the mindset of doing more than is asked, stating – “If you’re doing 100% of your job, you’re only doing 50%.”
- Shecter's first paid job involved selling doughnuts and through the experience, he learned to make the most out of any opportunity.
- Shecter looks up to his dad and his ability to compartmentalize work and family life. His biggest insight or piece of advice is to keep looking for ways to add value and that there is always something more to do beyond what is asked.
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