🎙️ New Ep. Grace Gong | Curate for Outcomes, Not Optics: Lessons on Building Founder-Investor Community

Hey There,

The newest episode of The Startup Growth Podcast is live!

Grace Gong is the Founder & CEO of Smart Venture Media, podcast host, angel investor, and author. She’s interviewed 500+ founders, investors, and operators on her podcasts, then parlayed that network into a high-signal community: curated founder–VC dinners, conferences (including the Smart AI Summit), and rooms where intros turn into customers and checks. The flywheel started during the pandemic with 5 pm Friday Zooms—and evolved into tightly curated IRL events supported by sponsors and operators.

In this episode, Grace outlines a practical approach to community-building: curate for outcomes, not optics (every seat should benefit from every other seat). Her angel filter doubles as her invite list. Online → IRL is the sequence: earn trust digitally, concentrate it offline.  For founders aiming to stand out without burning cash, this is a clear primer on turning audience into deal flow.

Listen to the episode here.

Key Topics Covered:

• Building community has to happen organically.

• Engaging with entrepreneurs can lead to unexpected opportunities.

• Sales and storytelling are crucial skills for success in VC.

• Offering value to others is key to building relationships.

• The people you meet at events can significantly impact your journey.

• Planning events requires meticulous attention to logistics.

• Creating a curated experience enhances networking opportunities.

• AI is transforming the media landscape and how we build companies.

• Networking is essential for both founders and investors.

• Continuous learning and adaptation are vital in the fast-paced tech world.

I hope you find this educational content valuable and can apply it in your business. Until next week - keep experimenting, keep scaling, keep building.

David J Phillips

Founder & CEO at Fondo

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