Why Founders Get Rejected by VCs: Kamran Ansari on AI, Fund Strategy, and Venture Capital

Kamran Ansari, Founder and Managing Partner of Capital Ventures and Venture Partner at Infiniti Ventures, joins the show to break down how venture capital is evolving in an AI-first world.

A longtime investor in companies like Plaid, Klarna, Lithic, Venmo, and Acorns, Cameron shares what’s changing in early-stage investing, why the VC market is splitting into mega-funds vs early specialists, and why founder quality still matters more than ever.

We cover:

• How AI is changing venture sourcing and underwriting
• Why early-stage venture is still driven by trust and relationships
• The current state of fintech, IPOs, and M&A
• Where AI is actually creating value in fintech
• Why some of the best investments come from “exceptions”
• What Cameron looks for in great founders

A great episode for anyone interested in venture capital, fintech, startup fundraising, and AI-driven investing.

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