New to Venture25 Sep 2024

Ep 022 - Jonny Zhang, Investor at General Catalyst

Video Games Meets Venture Capital?! 🎮

I sat down with my good friend Jonny Zhang, who may have the best job on the planet. Jonny invests in games at the illustrious General Catalyst as well as invests in the brightest student founders as a lead for GC Venture Fellows. Jonny found a way to combine his passion for video games with the world of venture capital. If you’re looking to do the same, make sure you give a listen to episode 022 of “New to Venture”!

Key Takeaways:

1️⃣ Find a speaking style that works for you! For the introverts or people that want to break into venture, confident communication is an underrated skill. Take the time to find a voice that feels genuine and complements your energy.

2️⃣ Separate your personal opinions on a market or company from your due diligence. It’s incredibly easy for your personal tastes to bias your investment theses. Take a step back, get a hold of as much data as you can, then build your thesis.

3️⃣ Gaming has become an essential part of our society. Video games create communities, friendships, relationships, hobbies, and play a big role in pop culture. It is an exciting time for the world of gaming with so much room to grow.

Timestamps:

(00:00) - Introductions!

(01:50) - Jonny’s love for Broadway and Common App essay

(05:27) - Jonny’s path into venture

(09:28) - Harvard Student Agencies + COVID Era

(13:42) - How to get better at speaking!

(16:54) - Transitioning to investor

(20:19) - Intern to full-time

(22:56) - Jonny’s outlook on games

(26:17) - The reputation of games investing

(30:42) - What makes a gaming startup VC backable?

(33:46) - The future of gaming

(35:54) - Investing in student founders with GC Fellows

(41:14) - A day in the life

(42:48) - Ceremonial final Qs

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