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Money Moves with Neil Devani
Money Moves is the podcast about fundraising, investing, and building in the world of venture capital and startups. Hosted by Neil Devani, it's perfect for pre-seed founders, venture capitalists, and anyone interested in raising capital, making smart investments in new technologies, and building great businesses.
Each week, Neil and his guests share stories and practical advice from people who’ve successfully pitched ideas, closed investors, and navigated the acquisition process. From raising hundreds of millions of dollars to delivering 10x+ returns to investors, the achievements of our guests speak for themselves.
Join us on Money Moves to hear about their successes and failures in the world of venture capital investing and startups.
Money Moves with Neil Devani
020 Ariana Thacker on being a VC founder vs. startup founder and back-to-back $10M+ raises
In this episode of Money Moves, Neil Devani sits down with Ariana Thacker, a venture capitalist turned entrepreneur, to discuss her journey from launching a VC firm to founding MoldCo, a healthcare startup tackling mold-related illnesses.
Ariana shares the highs and lows of raising her first fund, her relentless hustle to secure investors, and the lessons she learned from hundreds of rejections. She also provides insights into her investment selection process, the common mistakes she’s seen founders make, and how she pivoted from venture capital to launching a mission-driven company.
Ariana’s transition to MoldCo was deeply personal—born from her own health struggles caused by toxic mold exposure. She details the extensive research that led her to understand the market opportunity, the scientific gaps in mold illness treatment, and the challenges of building a healthcare company from the ground up. From navigating funding rounds to assembling a top-tier team, Ariana’s story is one of resilience, innovation, and deep conviction in solving an overlooked health crisis.
Topics Discussed in the Episode:
- The relentless process of raising a first-time VC fund and overcoming investor rejections.
- How to refine and iterate on a pitch for better success rates.
- The personal health crisis that led Ariana to found MoldCo.
- The challenges of diagnosing and treating mold-related illnesses.
- The transition from venture capitalist to healthcare entrepreneur and lessons learned.
Connect with Ariana Thacker:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/arianadthacker/