Using data to make better investment decisions is a common theme these days, but Nnamdi Okike, co-founder and managing partner of 645 Ventures, a firm that uses unique, data driven methodologies to improve sourcing while helping to eliminate the biases that often present themselves when assessing new opportunities. Using public data that to accompany their own automated systems, they’ve found an interesting way to consistently find undiscovered founders.
After leaving Insight Ventures, Nnamdi co-founded 645 Ventures in 2013 with Aaron Holiday, starting with a $8MM proof of concept fund. Since then, they raised a $40MM Fund 2, and most recently closed Fund III at $160M making them one of the largest underrepresented led managers in the United States. The fund focuses primarily on seed and series A and has a portfolio that includes companies such as Iterable, Goldbelly, Eden Health and Squire.
Prior to starting his career, Nnamdi got his bachelor’s, JD, and MBA from Harvard.
Our wide ranging conversation covers: considerations when growing fund sizes dramatically, the power of using data driven approach to sourcing, and his lessons as a venture investor over the last decade.
In this episode we discuss the following topics:
01:12 Nnamdi’s journey into venture capital
03:37 The opportunity he saw to start 645
09:20 How and why they raised $8M for their first fund
12:27 Methodology around data that they use to decide on investing
16:32 How 645 Ventures weeds out bias in their methodology
20:58 The evolution of and growth of 645
26:27 Deciding to jumping up weight class in the ecosystem; the value they add
30:31 Using their connected network as a strategic advantage
32:48 The future of data in VC
34:06 His best advice to emerging managers
36:22 His biggest portfolio miss
40:31 What emerging managers should think about as they are starting
Mentioned In This Episode:
Insight Ventures
We’d love to know what you took away from this conversation with Nnamdi. Follow @SamirKaji and give your insight and questions using the hashtag #ventureunlocked. If you’d like to be considered as a guest or have someone you’d like to hear from (GP or LP), drop a direct message on Twitter.
Podcast Production support provided by Agent Bee Agency
Nnamdi Okike of 645 Ventures on thoughtfully growing funds, data driven sourcing in venture to reduce bias, and building one of the largest BIPOC led venture firms.