Inside Illuminate Ventures: A Conversation with Partner Jennifer Savage

In this episode of Sound Investments Ed Barker talks to Jennifer Savage, Partner at Illuminate Ventures, a venture capital firm specializing in seed-stage investments in enterprise software. Jennifer discusses her journey into venture capital, the unique operating model of Illuminate Ventures, and their focus on impactful enterprise solutions. She highlights the firm's extensive advisory council, consisting of industry leaders who provide hands-on support and strategic guidance to portfolio companies. Jennifer also touches on the growth and challenges of the tech and venture capital ecosystem in the Pacific Northwest, the evolving landscape of AI investments, and the current economic climate. The episode provides valuable insights into Illuminate's strategic approach and the broader venture capital scene.

00:00 Introduction to Sound Investments

01:04 Meet Jennifer Savage of Illuminate Ventures

03:31 Illuminate Ventures' Investment Focus

04:57 The Role of the Advisory Board

09:07 Diversity and Inclusion in Venture Capital

11:52 Finding and Supporting Portfolio Companies

16:31 The Seattle Tech Scene and Venture Capital

21:17 Current Trends

29:04 Portfolio Highlights

38:49 Closing Remarks

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.

Jennifer Savage, Partner, Illuminate Ventures

In this role, Jennifer identifies and leads new investments (with a particular interest in companies in the Pacific Northwest), assists with due diligence efforts, and provides strategic and operational advice to Illuminate portfolio companies. In addition, Jennifer creatively fosters strategic relations with Illuminate’s extended B2B Enterprise network - including our Advisory Council and business school interns. She currently plays a board role for Illuminate portfolio companies Hoopla Software and Pyze and as a board observer with several other companies.

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Supporting Female Entrepreneurs: Anne Kennedy and The Mastersfund's Innovative Approach

In this episode of Sound Investments, host Ed Barker engages in a comprehensive discussion with Anne Kennedy, general partner at The Mastersfund. The conversation delves into the fund's mission to address the underfunding of female founders by leveraging a unique structured exit model that mitigates risk for investors and promotes financial stability for startups. Anne shares her journey from serial entrepreneurship to venture capital, highlights significant growth in portfolio companies, and explains the importance of diversity and profitability in investment strategies. The episode encompasses insights into scaling business operations, the importance of AI in various sectors, and reflections on fostering a supportive environment for women-led startups.

00:00 Introduction to Sound Investments

01:42 Meet Anne Kennedy

03:34 Challenges in Female Entrepreneurship

05:30 The Mastersfund: Mission and Model

10:30 Structured Exits: A New Investment Approach

23:44 Global Business Perspectives

25:51 Diversity in Leadership

28:08 Tech Investment Focus

31:40 Service-Based Business Models

34:38 Diligence and Investment Strategy

40:23 Portfolio Companies

47:22 Future Plans and Scaling Up

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.

Anne Kennedy, Managing Director, Mastersfund Partner

Branding, marketing & global networking. Founder, entrepreneur, board director and advisor worldwide. Founding director of Helium.com, acquired by RR Donnelley and now the RRD Content Network. One of the earliest and most respected names in global digital marketing. Pioneer SEO, launched Zillow, Philips Lifeline, and other household names onto the web, building the world’s largest consortium of digital marketing agencies. Author of Global Search Marketing. Co-host & producer of CEOcoach podcast.

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Bridging the Funding Gap: Evan Poncelet's Mission to Empower Underrepresented Founders

In this episode of Sound Investments, host Ed Barker interviews Evan Poncelet, co-managing partner of Dreamwood VC. Evan shares his journey from a career in software engineering to founding a venture capital fund focused on closing the funding gap for underrepresented founders, particularly within the black community. He discusses his family's legacy of economic empowerment through the establishment of the Liberty Bank in Seattle and how this inspired him to Africatown Community Land Trust and, later, Dreamwood Ventures. The conversation covers the challenges and rewards of building a new VC fund, the importance of economic equity, and the role of innovative sectors like med tech and FinTech in Dreamwood's investment strategy. Evan also highlights his efforts to educate and onboard more black angel investors and his broader mission to create generational wealth within underrepresented communities.

00:00 Introduction to Sound Investments

00:59 Meet Evan Poncelet

03:52 Building Africatown

08:23 Founding Dreamwood Ventures

14:27 Investment Focus and Community Building

21:59 Exploring Regional Strengths

23:37 Building Deal Flow and Community Engagement

25:58 Challenges and Opportunities for Black Founders

30:19 The Role of Corporates

34:05 Inspiring Investments and Future Plans

36:47 Addressing Economic Disparities

39:49 Closing Thoughts

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.

Evan Poncelet — Founding Managing Partner of Dreamward Ventures

Evan founded Dreamward to back underrepresented founders, especially Black entrepreneurs, building high-growth startups. A former engineer and program manager at Fluke Networks and Cisco, Evan brings over a decade of tech industry experience to his investing. He’s also the Executive Director of Venture Black, co-founder of the Washington Black Angel Network, and a driving force behind the Black Founder Launchpad Expo. Evan’s work is rooted in a legacy of economic justice—his grandfather co-founded Liberty Bank in Seattle to fight redlining in the 1960s.

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