Amber Illig is the Founding General Partner of The Council, an early stage venture firm focused on essential industries like supply chain and healthcare. Amber has a deep operating background having worked at Apple, Cruise, Snap, and Eli Lilly. We talked about why Amber loves essential industries, how she built a proprietary network of operator angel investors, how she and that network help support founders, and her nuanced take on AI.
The episode is now available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon, and YouTube Music.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Startup Investing
00:49 The Council and Essential Industries
03:00 Investing in Critical Problems
05:54 Navigating Supply Chain Challenges
08:48 Building a Proprietary Network of Angel Investors
12:09 Supporting Founders in Pre-Seed Stage
14:51 Lessons from Family and Personal Experience
18:55 The Role of AI in Venture Capital
24:11 Future Aspirations for The Council
30:01 Conventional Views in Venture Capital
Takeaways
Investing in essential industries is crucial for stability.
Critical problems must be addressed for successful investments.
Supply chain challenges require innovative solutions.
Building a network of angel investors enhances deal flow.
Empathy is essential in supporting founders.
AI has potential but must be approached cautiously.
Pre-seed funding is a vital stage for startups.
Collaboration with other firms can lead to better outcomes.
Understanding market dynamics is key to investment success.
Personal experiences shape investment strategies.
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.