Josh Payne: Opensky Ventures

The Investor With Joel Palathinkal

Joel Palathinkal chats with Josh Payne about his journey from entrepreneur to venture capitalist. They delve into earn-outs in acquisitions, Josh's role as an angel investor, and strategies for building an LP pipeline. The episode explores brand building for funds, deal sourcing for emerging managers, and Nashville's tech and VC scene. They discuss OpenSky's pre-seed investment strategy, comparing KPIs for pre-seed versus seed investments, and evaluate DTC brands and marketing strategies. Concluding with quarterly learnings, this episode offers valuable insights for aspiring investors. (0:00) Introduction to the podcast and guest Josh Payne (0:41) Josh Payne's early career, entrepreneurial journey, and venture capital transition (5:21) Earn-outs in acquisitions and becoming an emerging angel investor (13:24) Differences between investor roles and building an LP pipeline (17:26) Brand building for funds and deal sourcing for emerging managers (20:08) Nashville's tech and VC ecosystem and key sectors of focus (23:40) Building an ecosystem and community around a brand (25:16) OpenSky's investment focus and the importance of pre-seed investments (26:58) KPIs for pre-seed vs seed investments and evaluating DTC brands (31:03) Marketing and long-term SEO strategies for DTC brands (37:05) Team evolution from pre-seed to series A and quarterly learnings (44:21) Closing remarks and appreciation