Found In The Rockies
Do you want to hear about when the idea hit the founder? When they took the leap?
Found In The Rockies
Trent Mano (Convoi Ventures) \\ First to find and fund Utah's next breakout founders and startups
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Les Craig
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Season 4
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Episode 3
In today’s episode, I talk with Trent Mano. Trent is a General Partner at Utah-based Convoi Ventures. We dive into the Utah startup community, Convoi’s specific approach, and the growth of AI startups.
Here’s a closer look at the episode:
- Growing up in the Bay Area and serving as a financial advisor to startup founders.
- Convoi’s Utah-focused venture capital fund and its unique approach.
- Why they want to be the first check.
- Diversifying investments across FinTech, consumer tech, and Utah-based companies, with a focus on early-stage companies and value-add beyond check writing.
- Investor-founder relationships and the importance of vulnerability.
- Founders struggle with fear of failure and loss of identity after shutting down their businesses.
- AI-powered pitch competition at Utah Startup Week.
- AI startups and their potential for success.
- Early-stage funding challenges in the current market.
- Fundraising environment and founder traits for successful startups.
- Authenticity and community in investing and life.
Resources:
Website: https://www.convoiventures.com/
Trent’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trentmano/
Trent Twitter: https://twitter.com/TrentMano
Convoi LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/convoi-ventures/