![[Venture Capital Series] How Venture Capital Really Works Beyond the Myths With Mike Collins @podcaststrategy](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/wo9DzhXmzgE/maxresdefault.jpg)
Uploaded June 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Book a Complimentary B2B Podcast Strategy Call:
rise25.com/bookcall
Download our B2B Podcast Strategy & Tools List PDF:
rise25.com/podcastcheatsheetyt
Mike Collins is the Founder and CEO of Alumni Ventures, a leading venture capital firm that enables individual accredited investors to access diversified venture portfolios and co-invest alongside top-tier VCs. He is a serial entrepreneur and experienced venture capitalist who has founded multiple companies, including Kid Galaxy, Big Idea Group, and RDM. He also launched Green D Ventures, Alumni Ventures’ first alumni fund, where he oversaw the portfolio as Managing Partner. Mike has spent his career helping investors and entrepreneurs build innovative, high-growth businesses, and holds degrees from Dartmouth College and Harvard Business School.
Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:
• [0:00] Intro
• [4:52] Mike Collins explains how asking “what is right” guides tough business decisions
• [8:28] Business lessons from sports and guarding Michael Jordan
• [11:51] Why VCs embrace failure and focus on finding a few big winners
• [15:43] Mike shares Alumni Ventures’ biggest missed investment opportunities
• [20:55] Why venture capital risk drops with 100+ company portfolios
• [26:53] How co-investment creates unique advantages over lead investing
• [33:23] Tips on joining and customizing Alumni Ventures’ investment funds
• [36:15] The global strategy behind the Japan-US Bridge Fund launch
In this episode…
What does it really take to succeed in venture capital, where uncertainty is constant, and failure is often part of the process? What separates investors who consistently build strong portfolios from those who don’t?
For Mike Collins, a seasoned venture capitalist and serial entrepreneur, success in venture capital comes from focusing on people over pure ideas and building disciplined, diversified portfolios to manage inevitable risk.
Sponsor for this episode
At https://rise25.com, we help B2B businesses give to and connect to your Dream 200 relationships and partnerships.
We help you cultivate amazing relationships in 2 ways:
#1 Podcasting
#2 Strategic Gifting
#1 Our Predictable Podcast ROI Program
We’re committed to helping you connect with your Dream 200 referral partners, clients, and strategic partners through our done-for-you podcast solution.
We’re a professional podcast production agency that makes creating a podcast effortless. Since 2009, our proven system has helped thousands of B2B businesses build strong relationships with referral partners, clients, and audiences without doing the hard work.
What do you need to start a podcast?
When you use our proven system, all you need is an idea and a voice. We handle the strategy, production, and distribution — you just need to show up and talk.
The Rise25 podcasting solution is designed to help you build a profitable podcast. This requires a specific strategy, and we’ve got that down pat. We focus on making sure you have a direct path to ROI — plus, our podcast production company takes any heavy lifting of production and distribution off your plate.
We make distribution easy.
We’ll distribute each episode across more than 11 unique channels, including iTunes, Spotify, and Amazon Podcasts. We’ll also create copy for each episode and promote your show across social media.
Cofounders Dr. Jeremy Weisz and John Corcoran credit podcasting as being the best thing they have ever done for their businesses. Podcasting connected them with the founders/CEOs of P90x, Atari, Einstein Bagels, Mattel, Rx Bars, YPO, EO, Lending Tree, Freshdesk, and many more.
The relationships you form through podcasting run deep. Jeremy and John became business partners through podcasting. They have even gone on family vacations and attended weddings of guests who have been on the podcast.
#2 Our Comprehensive Corporate Gifting Program
Elevate business relationships with customers, partners, staff, and prospects through gifting.
At Rise25, thoughtful and consistent gifting is a key component of staying top of mind and helps build lasting business relationships. Our done-for-you corporate gifting service ensures that your referral partners, prospects, and clients receive personalized touchpoints that enhance your business gifting efforts and provide a refined executive gifting experience.
Whether you’re looking to impress key stakeholders or boost client loyalty, our comprehensive approach makes it easy and affordable to create lasting impressions. Get started today and experience the difference a strategic gifting approach can make.
You can learn more and watch a video on how it works here: rise25.com/giftprogram
Contact us now at support@rise25.com or message us here: rise25.com/contact
Powered by Rise25 Podcast Production Company - rise25.com
Book a Complimentary B2B Podcast Strategy Call:
rise25.com/bookcall
Download our B2B Podcast Strategy & Tools List PDF:
rise25.com/podcastcheatsheetyt
Mike Collins is the Founder and CEO of Alumni Ventures, a leading venture capital firm that enables individual accredited investors to access diversified venture portfolios and co-invest alongside top-tier VCs. He is a serial entrepreneur and experienced venture capitalist who has founded multiple companies, including Kid Galaxy, Big Idea Group, and RDM. He also launched Green D Ventures, Alumni Ventures’ first alumni fund, where he oversaw the portfolio as Managing Partner. Mike has spent his career helping investors and entrepreneurs build innovative, high-growth businesses, and holds degrees from Dartmouth College and Harvard Business School.
Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:
• [0:00] Intro
• [4:52] Mike Collins explains how asking “what is right” guides tough business decisions
• [8:28] Business lessons from sports and guarding Michael Jordan
• [11:51] Why VCs embrace failure and focus on finding a few big winners
• [15:43] Mike shares Alumni Ventures’ biggest missed investment opportunities
• [20:55] Why venture capital risk drops with 100+ company portfolios
• [26:53] How co-investment creates unique advantages over lead investing
• [33:23] Tips on joining and customizing Alumni Ventures’ investment funds
• [36:15] The global strategy behind the Japan-US Bridge Fund launch
In this episode…
What does it really take to succeed in venture capital, where uncertainty is constant, and failure is often part of the process? What separates investors who consistently build strong portfolios from those who don’t?
For Mike Collins, a seasoned venture capitalist and serial entrepreneur, success in venture capital comes from focusing on people over pure ideas and building disciplined, diversified portfolios to manage inevitable risk.
Sponsor for this episode
At https://rise25.com, we help B2B businesses give to and connect to your Dream 200 relationships and partnerships.
We help you cultivate amazing relationships in 2 ways:
#1 Podcasting
#2 Strategic Gifting
#1 Our Predictable Podcast ROI Program
We’re committed to helping you connect with your Dream 200 referral partners, clients, and strategic partners through our done-for-you podcast solution.
We’re a professional podcast production agency that makes creating a podcast effortless. Since 2009, our proven system has helped thousands of B2B businesses build strong relationships with referral partners, clients, and audiences without doing the hard work.
What do you need to start a podcast?
When you use our proven system, all you need is an idea and a voice. We handle the strategy, production, and distribution — you just need to show up and talk.
The Rise25 podcasting solution is designed to help you build a profitable podcast. This requires a specific strategy, and we’ve got that down pat. We focus on making sure you have a direct path to ROI — plus, our podcast production company takes any heavy lifting of production and distribution off your plate.
We make distribution easy.
We’ll distribute each episode across more than 11 unique channels, including iTunes, Spotify, and Amazon Podcasts. We’ll also create copy for each episode and promote your show across social media.
Cofounders Dr. Jeremy Weisz and John Corcoran credit podcasting as being the best thing they have ever done for their businesses. Podcasting connected them with the founders/CEOs of P90x, Atari, Einstein Bagels, Mattel, Rx Bars, YPO, EO, Lending Tree, Freshdesk, and many more.
The relationships you form through podcasting run deep. Jeremy and John became business partners through podcasting. They have even gone on family vacations and attended weddings of guests who have been on the podcast.
#2 Our Comprehensive Corporate Gifting Program
Elevate business relationships with customers, partners, staff, and prospects through gifting.
At Rise25, thoughtful and consistent gifting is a key component of staying top of mind and helps build lasting business relationships. Our done-for-you corporate gifting service ensures that your referral partners, prospects, and clients receive personalized touchpoints that enhance your business gifting efforts and provide a refined executive gifting experience.
Whether you’re looking to impress key stakeholders or boost client loyalty, our comprehensive approach makes it easy and affordable to create lasting impressions. Get started today and experience the difference a strategic gifting approach can make.
You can learn more and watch a video on how it works here: rise25.com/giftprogram
Contact us now at support@rise25.com or message us here: rise25.com/contact
Powered by Rise25 Podcast Production Company - rise25.com
![[Venture Capital Series] How Venture Capital Really Works Beyond the Myths With Mike Collins](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/wo9DzhXmzgE/mqdefault.jpg "[Venture Capital Series] How Venture Capital Really Works Beyond the Myths With Mike Collins
Book a Complimentary B2B Podcast Strategy Call:
https://rise25.com/bookcall
Download our B2B Podcast Strategy & Tools List PDF:
https://rise25.com/podcastcheatsheetyt
Mike Collins is the Founder and CEO of Alumni Ventures, a leading venture capital firm that enables individual accredited investors to access diversified venture portfolios and co-invest alongside top-tier VCs. He is a serial entrepreneur and experienced venture capitalist who has founded multiple companies, including Kid Galaxy, Big Idea Group, and RDM. He also launched Green D Ventures, Alumni Ventures’ first alumni fund, where he oversaw the portfolio as Managing Partner. Mike has spent his career helping investors and entrepreneurs build innovative, high-growth businesses, and holds degrees from Dartmouth College and Harvard Business School.
Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:
• [0:00] Intro
• [4:52] Mike Collins explains how asking “what is right” guides tough business decisions
• [8:28] Business lessons from sports and guarding Michael Jordan
• [11:51] Why VCs embrace failure and focus on finding a few big winners
• [15:43] Mike shares Alumni Ventures’ biggest missed investment opportunities
• [20:55] Why venture capital risk drops with 100+ company portfolios
• [26:53] How co-investment creates unique advantages over lead investing
• [33:23] Tips on joining and customizing Alumni Ventures’ investment funds
• [36:15] The global strategy behind the Japan-US Bridge Fund launch
In this episode…
What does it really take to succeed in venture capital, where uncertainty is constant, and failure is often part of the process? What separates investors who consistently build strong portfolios from those who don’t?
For Mike Collins, a seasoned venture capitalist and serial entrepreneur, success in venture capital comes from focusing on people over pure ideas and building disciplined, diversified portfolios to manage inevitable risk.
Sponsor for this episode
At https://rise25.com, we help B2B businesses give to and connect to your Dream 200 relationships and partnerships.
We help you cultivate amazing relationships in 2 ways:
#1 Podcasting
#2 Strategic Gifting
#1 Our Predictable Podcast ROI Program
We’re committed to helping you connect with your Dream 200 referral partners, clients, and strategic partners through our done-for-you podcast solution.
We’re a professional podcast production agency that makes creating a podcast effortless. Since 2009, our proven system has helped thousands of B2B businesses build strong relationships with referral partners, clients, and audiences without doing the hard work.
What do you need to start a podcast?
When you use our proven system, all you need is an idea and a voice. We handle the strategy, production, and distribution — you just need to show up and talk.
The Rise25 podcasting solution is designed to help you build a profitable podcast. This requires a specific strategy, and we’ve got that down pat. We focus on making sure you have a direct path to ROI — plus, our podcast production company takes any heavy lifting of production and distribution off your plate.
We make distribution easy.
We’ll distribute each episode across more than 11 unique channels, including iTunes, Spotify, and Amazon Podcasts. We’ll also create copy for each episode and promote your show across social media.
Cofounders Dr. Jeremy Weisz and John Corcoran credit podcasting as being the best thing they have ever done for their businesses. Podcasting connected them with the founders/CEOs of P90x, Atari, Einstein Bagels, Mattel, Rx Bars, YPO, EO, Lending Tree, Freshdesk, and many more.
The relationships you form through podcasting run deep. Jeremy and John became business partners through podcasting. They have even gone on family vacations and attended weddings of guests who have been on the podcast.
#2 Our Comprehensive Corporate Gifting Program
Elevate business relationships with customers, partners, staff, and prospects through gifting.
At Rise25, thoughtful and consistent gifting is a key component of staying top of mind and helps build lasting business relationships. Our done-for-you corporate gifting service ensures that your referral partners, prospects, and clients receive personalized touchpoints that enhance your business gifting efforts and provide a refined executive gifting experience.
Whether you’re looking to impress key stakeholders or boost client loyalty, our comprehensive approach makes it easy and affordable to create lasting impressions. Get started today and experience the difference a strategic gifting approach can make.
You can learn more and watch a video on how it works here: https://rise25.com/giftprogram
Contact us now at support@rise25.com or message us here: https://rise25.com/contact
Powered by Rise25 Podcast Production Company - https://rise25.com")
![[eCommerce & SaaS Series] Smarter Forecasting, Fewer Stockouts, and More Cash Flow With Ara Ohanian](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/yO1ys4ed0cU/mqdefault.jpg "[eCommerce & SaaS Series] Smarter Forecasting, Fewer Stockouts, and More Cash Flow With Ara Ohanian
Book a Complimentary B2B Podcast Strategy Call:
https://rise25.com/bookcall
Download our B2B Podcast Strategy & Tools List PDF:
https://rise25.com/podcastcheatsheetyt
Ara Ohanian is the CEO of Netstock, a global provider of AI-powered inventory optimization and supply chain planning software for mid-market businesses. An experienced B2B SaaS and enterprise software leader, he brings deep insight into the challenges companies face when managing inventory, forecasting demand, and scaling operations. Ara leads Netstock’s mission to help businesses reduce stockouts, lower excess inventory, and unlock working capital. He has held executive roles at Systech, Unite Us, Infor, and Dubilier & Co., bringing broad expertise across supply chain, ERP, compliance, and growth strategy.
Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:
• [0:00] Intro
• [3:29] Ara Ohanian explains Netstock’s mission to modernize inventory planning for mid-market companies
• [6:11] How Netstock integrates with ERP systems to add predictive inventory visibility
• [11:12] Using demand signals to move inventory across warehouses and markets
• [15:07] Why pricing, promotions, and shelf life make retail forecasting more complex
• [20:33] Building a customer-focused culture around transparency, empowerment, and mission
• [28:32] Ara shares leadership lessons on curiosity, mentorship, and building an enduring business
In this episode…
Inventory can either fuel growth or quietly drain cash from a business. When companies rely on spreadsheets or outdated planning systems, they risk tying up working capital in the wrong products while missing demand for the right ones. So how can growing businesses forecast smarter, reduce stockouts, and keep cash moving?
Ara Ohanian, a seasoned B2B SaaS and enterprise software leader, says businesses need better visibility into what inventory they should have in the future, not just what they have today.
Sponsor for this episode
At https://rise25.com, we help B2B businesses give to and connect to your Dream 200 relationships and partnerships.
We help you cultivate amazing relationships in 2 ways:
#1 Podcasting
#2 Strategic Gifting
#1 Our Predictable Podcast ROI Program
We’re committed to helping you connect with your Dream 200 referral partners, clients, and strategic partners through our done-for-you podcast solution.
We’re a professional podcast production agency that makes creating a podcast effortless. Since 2009, our proven system has helped thousands of B2B businesses build strong relationships with referral partners, clients, and audiences without doing the hard work.
What do you need to start a podcast?
When you use our proven system, all you need is an idea and a voice. We handle the strategy, production, and distribution — you just need to show up and talk.
The Rise25 podcasting solution is designed to help you build a profitable podcast. This requires a specific strategy, and we’ve got that down pat. We focus on making sure you have a direct path to ROI — plus, our podcast production company takes any heavy lifting of production and distribution off your plate.
We make distribution easy.
We’ll distribute each episode across more than 11 unique channels, including iTunes, Spotify, and Amazon Podcasts. We’ll also create copy for each episode and promote your show across social media.
Cofounders Dr. Jeremy Weisz and John Corcoran credit podcasting as being the best thing they have ever done for their businesses. Podcasting connected them with the founders/CEOs of P90x, Atari, Einstein Bagels, Mattel, Rx Bars, YPO, EO, Lending Tree, Freshdesk, and many more.
The relationships you form through podcasting run deep. Jeremy and John became business partners through podcasting. They have even gone on family vacations and attended weddings of guests who have been on the podcast.
#2 Our Comprehensive Corporate Gifting Program
Elevate business relationships with customers, partners, staff, and prospects through gifting.
At Rise25, thoughtful and consistent gifting is a key component of staying top of mind and helps build lasting business relationships. Our done-for-you corporate gifting service ensures that your referral partners, prospects, and clients receive personalized touchpoints that enhance your business gifting efforts and provide a refined executive gifting experience.
Whether you’re looking to impress key stakeholders or boost client loyalty, our comprehensive approach makes it easy and affordable to create lasting impressions. Get started today and experience the difference a strategic gifting approach can make.
You can learn more and watch a video on how it works here: https://rise25.com/giftprogram
Contact us now at support@rise25.com or message us here: https://rise25.com/contact
Powered by Rise25 Podcast Production Company - https://rise25.com")
![[Direct Response Series] Boardroom Inc: Light Bulb Moments From 1.3 Billion Pieces of Direct...](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/zuP5KqSZgVQ/mqdefault.jpg "[Direct Response Series] Boardroom Inc: Light Bulb Moments From 1.3 Billion Pieces of Direct...
Brian Kurtz is a Direct Marketing Veteran and former Executive Vice President of Boardroom Inc., where he spent 34 years helping grow the company to $150 million in annual revenue through direct response marketing. During his tenure, he oversaw the mailing of more than 1.3 billion pieces of direct mail and played a key role in launching multimillion-dollar marketing campaigns. Brian is widely recognized for his expertise in direct response marketing, customer acquisition, and list strategy. Today, he shares his knowledge with entrepreneurs and marketers, teaching timeless principles for building profitable, long-lasting businesses.
In this episode… What turns an overlooked product into a multimillion-dollar success? Is it the product itself, or the strategy behind how its marketed? And do timeless direct response principles still outperform todays trend-driven tactics?
For Brian Kurtz, a Direct Marketing Veteran and bestselling author, enduring success comes from pairing proven direct response principles with great offers and relentless testing. He highlights that businesses dont always need to create something new — often the biggest opportunities come from repackaging, repositioning, or acquiring underutilized content. By refining headlines, segmenting audiences, and tailoring offers to the right customers, marketers can dramatically improve results without changing the core product. Brian also explains why fair partnerships, creative product sourcing, and testing across multiple channels are essential for long-term growth. His approach shows that understanding customer behavior and continuously optimizing campaigns can turn overlooked ideas into lasting, profitable businesses.
In this episode of the Inspired Insider Podcast, host Dr. Jeremy Weisz sits down with Brian Kurtz to discuss timeless direct response marketing strategies for building multimillion-dollar businesses. They explore sourcing winning products, increasing revenue through better offers and list segmentation, and using direct mail to scale growth. Brian also shares insights on repositioning underperforming products and building lasting customer relationships.")
