From Google to Nava: Manish Patel’s playbook for Series A investing

Driving Alpha

What does it take to turn early traction into scalable momentum? And how do you know if your startup—and your engine—is even built for venture capital?

Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:

• 00:43 Introduction to Driving Alpha Podcast

• 02:20 Meet Manishh Patel: From Google to Nava Ventures

• 03:17 Growing Up in Rural Kentucky

• 05:24 The Journey to Venture Capital

• 08:17 Founding Nava Ventures

• 16:22 The Series A Focus

• 19:57 Building the Flywheel: Operational Infrastructure

• 20:41 Refining the Business Model

• 22:30 Hiring and Team Dynamics

• 22:52 The Importance of Closing Learning Loops

• 25:07 The Role of Venture Capital in Building Companies

• 28:22 Advice for Founders on Raising Venture Capital

• 35:07 Vetting Venture Capitalists

• 38:31 Final Thoughts and Contact Information

In this episode,

Host Zoe van den Bol sits down with Manish Patel, managing partner at Nava Ventures, for a candid and insightful conversation on what really matters at the Series A stage.

Manish shares his journey from rural Kentucky to Google PM, to building Nava Ventures into one of the most focused Series A firms in the game. With lessons drawn from his operating days and years of backing breakout companies, this is a must-listen for founders, investors, and anyone building in early-stage tech.

They also discussed why Series A is the most critical inflection point for a startup, how to build a real “flywheel” for growth, and when venture capital acts like fuel—or becomes a liability. Manish also shares what he looks for in founders, how Nava’s high-conviction, low-velocity model gives them an edge, and the key signals that differentiate enduring companies from fast, flashy ones.