Sonia Nagar is the Founder and Managing Partner of SNAK Venture Partners. SNAK is a Chicago-based firm that invests in Seed stage marketplace startups. We talked about why SNAK loves marketplaces, what surprised Sonia about starting a new firm, why SNAK prefers B2B to B2C, first-mover advantages, and how AI has and hasn’t changed marketplaces.
The episode is now available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon, and YouTube Music.
Chapters
01:25 Launching SNAK Venture Partners
02:51 The Shift from B2C to B2B Marketplaces
05:58 Understanding Marketplace Dynamics
09:03 The Future of B2B Marketplaces
12:05 Capital Efficiency in Marketplaces
14:41 Advice for Marketplace Founders
16:22 Building Networks in the Marketplace Ecosystem
18:39 Changing Perspectives on Founding Teams
20:01 Geographic Focus in Startup Investing
21:18 Skepticism Towards AI in Startups
22:32 Closing Thoughts and Opportunities
Takeaways: B2B Marketplaces, Seed Investing, and Emerging Manager Life
SNAK is focused on seed stage investments in digital marketplaces.
The transition from B2C to B2B is driven by market saturation in consumer categories.
B2B marketplaces have significant white space and opportunities for disruption.
Network effects create competitive moats in marketplace businesses.
Capital efficiency is more achievable in B2B marketplaces compared to consumer.
Founders should qualify their investor leads based on industry interest.
Building a strong founder network is crucial for marketplace success.
AI should enhance marketplace efficiency, not be the primary value proposition.
Geographic focus can lead to discovering untapped talent in non-coastal areas.
It's important to adapt perspectives on founding teams and their composition.
The content here is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as investment, legal or tax advice. The opinions expressed by guests are their own and do not reflect the views of Seaplane Ventures. Our host, guests and clients may hold investments discussed in this podcast. Please invest responsibly.