Going From Operator to Funder with Leo Polovets

Matt Preuss
Marketing Manager
About Leo What You Can Expect to Learn from Leo
Unlock your investor relationships. Try Visible for free for 14 days.
Start your free trial

On the third episode of the Thrive Through Connection Podcast, we welcome Leo Polovets, the General Partner at Humba Ventures and Co-founder of Susa Ventures. Humba Ventures invests in early-stage deep tech startups and is part of the broader Susa Ventures network. Leo joins us to talk about his journey from operator to supporting over 100 companies as an investor at both Humba and Susa.

About Leo

Before founding Susa, Leo worked as a software engineer at companies like Google and LinkedIn. Since launching Susa with a $25M fund in 2013, the team has raised over $750M across both Susa and Humba Ventures. Leo and the team have had a front-row seat in helping scale a portfolio that includes Robinhood, Flexport, Stord, and many more.

Mike, the CEO and Founder of Visible, had an opportunity to sit down and chat with Leo. You can give the full episode a listen below:

  • Spotify Link
  • Apple Link
  • Google Link

What You Can Expect to Learn from Leo

  • Why Leo and Susa Started Small
  • How Seed Stage Companies Can Prepare for a Series A
  • The Importance of Building Relationships Before a Fundraise
  • How Investor Updates Can Create Traction
  • Why Storytelling is Crucial to Raising Capital

Stay up to date with the Thrive Through Connection Podcast by subscribing wherever you listen to your podcast. You can find links to your favorite podcast hosts below:

You may also enjoy:
Customer Stories
Building Trust and Vulnerability in Business with Max Yoder
On the fourth episode of the Thrive Through Connection Podcast, we welcome Max Yoder, the Founder of Lessonly and author of Do Better Work. Lessonly was an Indianapolis-based company that grew to over 300 employees and $30 million in annual recurring revenue before being acquired by Seismic in 2021. Max joins us to share the lessons he learned from scaling Lessonly and writing Do Better Work. About Max In addition to growing Lessonly to 300+ employees and leading it through a successful exit, Max became known for his thoughtful approach to leadership, insights he captured in his book, Do Better Work. He’s had a front-row seat to the highs, lows, and daily challenges that startup founders and leaders face. In this episode, Max breaks down the countless relationships that shaped both Lessonly and Do Better Work. Mike, the CEO and Founder of Visible, had an opportunity to sit down and chat with Max. You can give the full episode a listen below: Spotify Link Apple Link What You Can Expect to Learn from Max How the mission and vision for Lessonly came to life How mentors helped shape decision-making and strategy in the early days The advantages of having a strong network What it means to lead with vulnerability The importance of aligning with investors and partners Stay up to date with the Thrive Through Connection Podcast by subscribing wherever you listen to your podcast. You can find links to your favorite podcast hosts below: YouTube Spotify Apple
Fundraising
Finding the Right Investors with Laurel Hess
Reporting
Navigating Investor Relationships with Brett Brohl
Fundraising
Going From Operator to Funder with Leo Polovets